Page 35 of Wild Scottish Fortune

“What is this?”

“Your protection.”

“Right.”

I shoved it in the damp pocket of my overalls, wishing I was at home curled up on the bed watching Goldie spin circles in her bowl. A lump formed in my throat as I thought about who would feed her if I had died today. Poor fish, reliant only on me.

“Basil and bay, protective herbs of might, in this mojo bag, they merge with light. By the guidance of spirits, this spell I weave, protection granted to all who believe.”

At Miss Elva’s words, a gentle wash of energy coursed over me, and I swear I could see a soft tinge of light surround us. Miss Elva stepped forward and knocked sharply on the door three times.

I gasped as it blew open, slamming against the wall, and the howling increased.

“I’ll just be by the car,” Rafe called from over our shoulder. “Making sure your friends are safe.”

“Damn fool pirate,” Miss Elva said, sliding me a look. “Too scared the demon will take him back through the veil with him.”

“Would it be easy to do?”

“Oh, we’ve lost Rafe a time or two, I’ll admit it. He’s right to keep his distance. Come on then, stick close.”

Miss Elva strode inside and I glued myself to her back, stopping short of holding on to her caftan like a child grabbing the hem of her mother’s skirt. She stopped abruptly once inside and quickly sprinkled a circle of salt around us.

“Black salt, for protection,” Miss Elva said.

Behind her, movement shifted, a dark shape shimmering into solidity for a moment, and my mouth dropped open.

It didn’t have skin.

Thick veins, black with blood, corded yellow flesh, with arms that draped almost to the ground ending in claws. He was only solid for a moment, his strength waning as he faded into transparency, as though someone was sliding the button down on a photo editing program to make him more see-through.

“Bloody hell,” I gasped.

“Stay with me, Orla. Intent is everything. Kelp?” Miss Elva ordered.

I dug in the bag and held out the damp kelp.

“Into the middle of the circle. We’ll use our magick to start it on fire.”

I dropped the kelp, making a loose pile between us, trying to ignore the wailing that was beginning to make my entire body shake again. Miss Elva shook a loose white powder on top of the kelp, and then using a blowtorch stylelighter, she ignited it. The fire took, and a tendril of smoke drifted into the air.

The nuckelavee lost its mind.

Shrieking, it bounced around the mill, rattling against the walls, and threw loose rocks across the room.

“Gotta move fast now.” Miss Elva grabbed my hands, forcing me to look up at her. “Remember. Intent is everything. Stay in the circle.”

“Like I’m going to leave your side with this one running about,” I muttered and Miss Elva grinned.

“In the name of Papa Legba, gatekeeper divine, let this sacred smoke cleanse and align. With this kelp, I banish all strife, warding off darkness, embracing the light. We call upon Mither o’ the Sea, let this spell cleanse and set the Auld Mill free. No longer may the nuckelavee roam, sweet Mither, we beg of you, take his soul home.”

A roaring sounded behind me, and I realized it was the waves thrashing against the building, the mill wheel creaking as it began to throttle and turn, the stream surging alongside us. I focused on imagining sending the demon home, trying to tap into that little ball of light I could feel deep in my core, which I likened to a battery. It must be my power source, my own little magickal battery pack, and I tapped into it the best that I could. The nuckelavee shrieked, one last long woeful cry, a sound I would never forget, before light flashed, and a window shattered. Glass flew across the room, narrowly missing us, and fell to the floor in pieces like an icicle exploding on the ground.

Silence fell.

I held my breath, my chest heavingwith effort not to run from the building and never return, and Miss Elva squeezed my hand.

“Don’t move until I close the circle.”

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