“It’s a trick,” Cid said. “She’s going to gut you and renew Arnold.”
“I don’t think so. Look at him. He’s not going to cooperate.” He looked over at Miss Gee and said, “Untie me and tell me again what I have to do.”
The demon looked at the crucifix wrapped around Bridgeton’s hands and knew this was something she could not touch. “Untie him,” Miss Gee ordered Cid.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t participate in this farce,” Cid said crossing his arms.
“You’re not only going to participate but you’re going to be the first man I sacrifice. Acolytes!”
Father Santos was lifted up and shook by an unseen hand. He was dumped semiconscious on the floor. The woman with the torn cloak materialized and pulled the white cloth out of his pocket. She screamed as the holy altar cloth burned her hands. She scattered the four crystals on the floor, and Gadus chanted. Four acolytes shot out of the crystals and moved to the north, south, east, and west points of the summoning circle.
Father Simon ran at Gadus and pierced her back with the dagger. She pulled it from her and waved her hand, and he flew backwards, crashing into the wooden screen, exposing Jesse sitting on the steps.
Jesse got up and pulled the unconscious priest from the wreckage. He lifted him in his strong arms and ran him up the stairs, following Faye who opened the door of a bedroom. Together they tried to stabilize the man.
Father Simon opened his eyes. “I think she broke my ribs, but my lungs are sound,” he said through clenched teeth. “Seek out help. All is not lost. There is only one way to get rid of her now.”
“The circle must be activated,” Jesse said.
“Yes, but these words need to be changed,” he said and gave Jesse the information.
“Rest, I’ll get you help as soon as I can,” Jesse promised. He opened the door to leave, and before him was the woman with the torn robe. “Maybe not.”
CRACK!
Murphy’s axe came down and bisected the ghost. “Quick, grab her knife before she disappears!”
Jesse did so. The ghost lost its fight to stay manifested.
Jesse looked down at the knife. “How is this possible? It feels real.”
“Remember Fiorentino’s chisel? It’s so real you can cut wood with it. This place still holds a lot of evil energy. That knife is no different. If you cover it with salt, it may slow her regeneration, unless her bones are about. Either way, hurry and execute plan B.”
“What’s plan B?” Jesse asked.
“There is always a plan B,” Murphy said.
Jesse ran down the hall and down the stairs. He jumped over the wreckage, surprising everyone in the room.
Chapter Twenty-nine
“Does your mate have to be a Borgia, Gadus?” Jesse asked. “The Holden family are a prolific lot. I’m sure my children will be no different.”
“You?” Gadus asked stunned.
“I’m looking at the competition here. Aside from Cid who doesn’t want you, the pickings are slim. Arnold deserves to meet his maker. Bridgeton is too stupid to understand he really doesn’t have much of a choice. Surely, you must be tired of bolstering political ambitions. All I want is to build an empire of goodness with you at my side.”
“I don’t know you, Jesse Holden,” Gadus said.
“You didn’t know the Borgias either. Ask Cid if I’m a good man.”
“Jesse, you don’t want this,” Cid warned.
“Why wouldn’t I? I’m tired of moving to find the perfect place to live. With Gadus’s help, I can make it. No pollution, no poverty, hell, we may even take a stab at reversing climate change. That is possible isn’t it?” Jesse asked the demon.
“It’s ambitious,” Gadus worried.
“Come on, old girl, you must be up for a challenge,” Jesse teased. “Take a moment and weigh your choices.”
To Jesse’s amazement, she did.
Faye returned from topping off her energy to an impatient Daniel who was pacing in the kitchen.
“What took you so long?” he asked.
“They’re gone. They left a note, something about taking away the pawns. I found the trailer a mile from here.”
“I’m sorry.”
Faye smiled at the ghost. “It’s okay. I realized you would be worried.”
“We need to convince the beasts to help us,” Daniel said.
“Well, first, don’t refer to them as beasts. They are just like us but are an egg short of a dozen.”
Daniel smiled. “More like eleven eggs short of a dozen.”
Faye giggled and then caught herself. “Sorry, this is serious business.”
Daniel grabbed her hand. “If you can find humor in the most dire times, then you are ready for the challenges life, or in our case death, has in store. Let’s see if we can recruit some help.”
Father Santos kept an eye on Arnold from his position standing beside Bridgeton. Arnold was either rapidly aging or putting on a persona. He wished he was more sensitive to be able to tell the difference. He wasn’t quite sure what Jesse was doing. He suspected that he was buying time, but for what? Where was Stephen Murphy? He assumed he was watching the acolytes, but there were so many of them. Five were here. The sixth one had yet to show itself. When Mia had asked him if he wanted her to come home and help, he told her no, he could handle this. He worried that his sin of bravado was going to get them all killed or, worse, tempted to join the dark side. He had gambled a lot on altering the floor. Gadus needed to want the floor
