“I’m on my way, Lou. Do not start without backup.”
“Hurry.” I turn back to the girl.
“Drink more of the tea,” I say, not liking the blank look creeping across her face. The battle for her soul is very real and in progress. Grabbing the large chunks of Staurolite and a spool of silver wire, I make a crude necklace and bracelet set. I walk over to the loveseat.
“I want you to wear these for me for now, Jenny.”
“Okay?” Her brow furrows and she shakes her head. “I don’t know. Maybe this was a bad idea.”
Seth’s winning. I slip the bracelet around her wrist, and she jerks, blinking.
“Lou?”
“Hang on. This will help.” I add the necklace, and rush back to the shelves, grabbing a bundle of white sage. I light it with a thought and begin to smudge the room. “St Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray. And do you, O prince of the heavenly host by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.” I envision white light as I continue around the room. Magic, especially protective spells, are dependent upon the belief of the user. My God may not look or behave like anyone else’s, but he’s real to me, so his power works for me.
“Lou?”
“I’m here.”
The curtain opens, and she steps in, closing it.
“Whoa.”
I peer over my shoulder and find Jenny studying me with a nearly black gaze.
“Sach, get her cup it should have the salvia we need in it.” I select a pretty blue round jar, fill it halfway with rusty nails, salt, a stick of cinnamon, Spanish moss, blackberry leaves, and rum. I set the Mason jar onto a circular mirror, and begin to decorate it with pretty crystals and shells. Spirits are vain, attracted to shiny o
bjects, and certain scents and the promise of power. I infuse power into every other stone, leading into the jar, and place one inside.
“Here.” Sacha returns with the mug.
“Thank you.” I pour the spit in and draw symbols with white chalk on the table to entice the evil entity to come out of Jenny.
I set the chalk down, place some sweet tobacco in a pipe, and light it. “Sing with me.” I begin an old song, blowing smoke into the air as I study Jenny. Her head tilts up, and I know we’ve piqued Seth’s interest. He can feel the power in the air. I continue to sing and blow smoke. Sacha’s voice raises in harmony beside me. Jenny’s body twitches. Come on, you bastard. I come closer, blowing the smoke toward her as I slowly back toward the table.
Jenny’s back arches. She levitates off the chair. I raise my voice, sending tendrils of power out. I see the darkness shoot out of her body. I blow smoke directly into the jar. It follows the stone path, draining the gems of the magic. Unable to resist the mother lode, it goes into the bottle. I light the alcohol inside with a thought. A shrill cry fills the air as I shove the stopper inside. I grab a black candle, heating it with my mind as I seal the bottle shut. He’s trapped. Bound by the iron, snared and hooked by the salt, Spanish moss, and blackberry leaves. I release a shaky breath, slightly drained.
“Jenny?”
“Lou?” Her eyes have returned to normal, and while she looks exhausted, her aura is already slowly beginning to regenerate.
“We have more work to do. You’re doing really good. I want you to hang in there with me and Sacha, okay? She’s here to help me make you well again.”
“O-okay.” Jenny wraps her arms around her waist. Despite the banishment of the spirit, the darkness is still working on her. We need to purge it.
“Sacha, fill the tub out back. I’ll gather the herbs. I want to get her into a cleansing bath before she goes anywhere else.”
“I’m on it. Here, let me take some sea salt and lavender, to help keep her calm.”
I pour amounts of herbs and a few stones into a manila steeper envelope to a bowl and move to the Keurig where I brew cup after cup of hot water. Jenny is slumped back against the couch, watching with tired eyes. I know you been through a lot, baby girl. It’s almost over now.
“It’s ready.”
“I have some moon-charged quartz crystals, will you grab them?” I ask, making a mental note to replenish the stock I’m depleting.
“Yes, and some of the lavender soap.”
“Jenny, can you take your boots off?”