Page 65 of Guarded By the Gargoyle

“You can’t yourself, but what if someone you know could go for you?” Sarah was looking thoughtful.

“Someone I know?” I shook my head. “What do you mean?”

“Well, you’re a Medium, aren’t you?” she asked reasonably. “So all you have to do is open a channel of communication with someone dead who youknowwent to Heaven and ask them to talk to Kael for you.”

“But I don’t know—” I started to say and then cut myself off abruptly. “Pop-pop,” I whispered.

“Who?” Sarah frowned.

“My grandfather—his name was Giovanni but I always called him ‘Pop-pop,’” I explained. “If he’s not in Heaven, I don’t know who is. He gave his life to save me from my abusive ex.”

“He sounds like a wonderful man,” Sarah said softly.

“The best.” I nodded. “He raised me and he loved me so much. I’m sure if I could contact him he would talk to Kael for me.”

“You should do it!” Sarah exclaimed, getting excited. “Do it right now! What do you need for the spell? I’ll get you the ingredients.”

“It’s not like that.” I shook my head. “I don’t really need any ingredients or props—I just need to open myself to the other side.”And this time I have to be damn careful not to open a door into The Pit,I added silently to myself.

“Then do it!” Sarah urged me. “Unless you’d rather be alone and do it in privacy,” she added, obviously worried she was making me uncomfortable.

She wasn’t, though. And in fact, I would rather have a friend near when I did it—I told her so.

“Okay, good—then I’ll stay and be your witness. But first we have to set the scene.”

She jumped up from the comfy, oversized couch we were sitting on and went to turn off some of the lamps. Soon the only light was the golden glow of the fire across from the couch. One thing I loved about Hidden Hollow was the fact that you could have a fire almost all year long and every house here seemed to have a fireplace.

Sarah sat down beside me again, but gave me a little distance. Then she looked at me expectantly.

“Okay—is there anything else you need?”

“I don’t think so.” I shook my head. “Just let me concentrate…”

I closed my eyes and thought about the spirit realm…then I thought even harder about my Pop-pop. I conjured his kindly, faded blue eyes and his shock of hair which had stayed thick his whole life, gradually turning from black to salt and pepper to pure white. I thought of his booming laugh and his loud, happy voice and his big bear hugs that always made me feel so much better when I was blue. Goddess, I missed him so much! If only I could talk to him again…

And then I heard a familiar voice murmuring in my ear.

“I miss you too, Willow my love. Heaven is wonderful, but I’m still lonely sometimes without you.”

“Pop-pop?” My eyes flew open for a moment, but I realized there was nothing to see. There was no swirling fog this time—just a pure mental and emotional connection. When I closed my eyes, I could actually see him better because of the memories I had stored up.

“Yes, sweetie-pie—it’s me,” he murmured. “I felt you yearning for me and feeling sad—tell me, what’s wrong?”

“Oh Pop-pop—I fell in love with an angel!” I blurted out. “A fallen angel, I mean. He was cursed to come to Earth and serve and protect women and the golden key you gave me fit his lock—the lock around his neck, I mean.”

“Ah yes—the key. That was handed down to me from your great-great-great grandmother, you know,” he remarked. “Never did know exactly what it went to, I just knew it would offer you protection during times of danger.”

“Kaeldidprotect me!” I exclaimed. “But then I had to let him go. Pop-pop, I miss himso muchbut there’s no way to contact him.”

“You leave that to me, Willow my love,” he said firmly. “But first tell me—was this boy—this angel—good to you?”

“He was my protector, Pop-pop,” I told him. “He killed Carlo to save me.”

“Ah-ha! I like him already!” Pop-pop exclaimed. “You don’t worry about a thing, my sweet. I’m going to talk to him and see if he can contact you.”

I felt tears welling in my eyes.

“Oh, thank you, Pop-pop! I knew I could count on you.”

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