Page 133 of Monstrous Travels as Wicked as Sin

Joe knew what he was referring to. Yet he had no answer. He hadn’t had one since that night.

“You know,” Percy threw a stone, which skipped well and far across the water, “the Lord’s Prayer scares ghosts.”

Joe threw his own stone in response, which skipped even further. “Maybe they don’t know any better.”

“It’s possible,” Percy replied. “But it might suggest something is out there.”

“It’s not that.” Joe turned the pebbles over in his fingers as he recommenced their stroll. He needed to walk, and to stare down at the mud along the edge of the lake, to distract himself while he sorted through his knot of thoughts. “I feel like I’m letting him down.”

Percy knew he was referring to Father Milton, who had raised him. Percy walked by his side in silence, listening.

“I never really believed, I think.” Joe tried to laugh, but instead sighed out a defeated breath and gave a sidelong glance at Percy. “But I wanted to. I really, really wanted to. And it’s not as though I don’t know that exorcisms evoke the protection of God for the victim. It’s not as though supernatural lore hasn’t grown up with two halves. Good and evil. And that’s what I tried to put my faith in. Because, if he… I don’t know, what if Father Milton’s watching? What if he knows, and I’ve let him down?”

“Joe.” Percy took his hand and slowed him to a stop. “Then he must know the rest. He must know what that’s done to you. Being in the Church. Denying yourself everything you might have wanted for so long. Do you really think he’d want you to be unhappy?”

Joe shook his head, turning to face the lake. “No. He wanted to help people. That’s why he did what he did for me. But what ifhe was right about God? About faith? What if he’s up there, and he’s watching me, and he knows I’ve… I don’t know… betrayed him? I promised to follow the path of light, then I embraced dark magic to bring you back. And here we are, talking about going to find the Necronomicon, the Book of the Dead, the most evil book in existence, to gain eternal life… How do I come back from that in his eyes?”

“Darling, I’m not convinced these things are so very different.”

“No, you wouldn’t be,” Joe laughed out.

“I mean it. You did what you did with a purity of heart. You did it for love. And what ghost or god couldn’t understand that?” Joe made a mouth-movement like he was about to interrupt, so Percy talked on. “If we start down this path, chasing the dark arts as a means to thwart God’s grand plans for us, well, what of it? We’re hardly going to turn into villains tomorrow because of it. And we’ve done our time. So what if we buy a few more years to enjoy ourselves? Listen.” He pulled Joe’s full attention over with a gentle hand on his chin. “You’ve been nothing but good and kind your whole life.” Joe tried to turn away again, with a pained expression, but Percy refused to let go. “You’re the best man I’ve ever known, and I love you for it. And I know that will never change. I know it with all my heart. I trust you, and I love you, and anyone who’s ever known you knows that just as well as I do. Joe… I never thought I’d say this, but I don’t think you should leave the Church.”

Joe pondered Percy for a time, eyes wide, then he took one small step back from him. “Did you do a séance without me?”

“What?”

“Are you possessed right now?”

Percy broke a handsome, slanted smile.

“Where’s Percy?” He scanned their surroundings. “There aren’t any sheep around here, are there?”

Percy looped an arm around Joe’s waist and manoeuvred his head to his shoulder as he led him on. “You know it’s all bullshit as well as I do. So why not one less bullshitter in their ranks? You did good work there. You believed inthat. What’s faith got to do with exorcisms, anyway? I can pull them off just as well as you can.”

“That’s true,” Joe conceded.

“You wanted a place in this world to make a difference, and I’ve seen you do it. It’s how we met. It’s how I fell in love with you. And you look so good when you wear that?—”

“Percy!”

Joe gave him a shove, but Percy was right back at his side. “And I really want to rail you in the confession booth while you’re wearing it.”

“Jesus Christ.” Joe stepped away in the other direction, bright red, but Percy tripped in front of him, halting him with a kiss. It was authoritative and loving, and when he looked at Joe again, Joe knew that was the one true and unerring thing he could always put his faith in.

He fell onto Percy’s chest. “How far is it to the Witch’s Head from here?”

“Not far,” said Percy. “Shall we go for a drink?”

“Did you return the skull?”

“Of course. Secretly. Though I’m pretty sure they knew it was me.”

“And I bet they forgave you, too.”

“It’s not as though the place burned down.”

“Then yes. Let’s go for a drink and…” He looked back at Barmiston Hall, across the lake, as dark and brooding and atmospheric as it ever was. And not at all where he wanted to be. “Do you want to take the night off? Away from the Hall? Maybe stay at the inn?”

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