Page 21 of Shadow Scorching

Dante was quick on his feet and he grabbed the knife by the handle, tugging at it until whatever seemed to have hold of it let go. He handed the knife to Michael, who unlocked a drawer and slid it inside.

“I’m sorry, I’ve been keeping the knives locked up and, after I made my sandwich, I forgot to put that back in the drawer. Whatever’s in here doesn’t seem to be able to unlock drawers and doors…yet.” He motioned for us to follow him. “Let’s go upstairs. The powder room’s down the hall, beneath the staircase.”

He led us out of the kitchen and, after a brief stop in the den, he led us upstairs. There were three bedrooms on the second floor along with two baths, and then another partially-built bedroom in the attic. The bedrooms hung thick with energy, and Sophia turned a little green. As we headed up to the attic, the energy grew so oppressive it began to make me sick to my stomach. I wasn’t sure my chowder was going to stay down.

Sophia hadn’t said more than a handful of words since we had arrived, but at the top of the stairs, she let out a breath and said, “No. I can’t go in there. Something’s trying to jump me and I don’t know if I can keep it out.”

“Do you need to go back down?” Orik asked.

“Yes, right now. I can manage to keep it at bay down there, but the energy up here is too strong.” She turned and Orik led her back down.

I could feel something, but it wasn’t affecting me as much as it did her. Dante seemed uneasy, but he said nothing.

As Michael opened the attic, a rush of air flew out, and hit me smack in the face. I recoiled, as invisible tentacles latched onto me. The face-hugger scene fromAlienran through my mind and I panicked.

“Crap! What the fuck?—”

Dante immediately turned and reached out to steady me as I lurched back toward the stairs. But then, whatever it was let go and swept past me, back into the attic.

“What’s in there?”

Michael shook his head. “I don’t know what it is. It doesn’t seem to be able to gain control over me—I don’t know why. But one night it tried to possess my wife. That’s another reason that she and the kids are staying at their grandmother’s.”

“It was trying to cut off my breath,” I said, eyeing the attic with suspicion. “I don’t see anything but—wait.” I froze as a mist in the corner began to manifest. It was pale white, like normal mist, but it was thick as sludge, and the tendrils brushed against me. “Get back,” I said, as a wave of anger rose up. “Don’t you dare try it,” I said, growling.

“What’s going on?” Dante asked.

“Whatever it is, it’s trying to latch onto me again.” I let out another growl, and I realized that my demon was rising. “Dante, I better get out of here. I don’t have the control yet to counter what it’s doing to me.”

He gave me one long look and pulled me toward the door. “Come on, back downstairs.” He motioned for Michael to follow. “Let’s get out of here.”

As we headed back downstairs, my control returned. I quieted the demon inside, wondering how the hell we were going to fight this. “I think we’re going to need magical help,” I said.

“Penn?” Dante asked.

“If she can,” I answered. “Let’s go talk to Sophia and see if she’s come up with anything.”

As we returned to the living room, I realized that this case was going to be a doozy. And I had no clue if we’d be able to clear out whatever was haunting this house. Given the background, it might be too engrained in the land. For Michael’s sake, though, I hoped not.

CHAPTER EIGHT

We gatheredin the living room, where Sophia was leaning back in a recliner, her eyes closed. I glanced at Orik.

“She’s shielding,” he said, his voice low.

We settled around her, waiting. After a few moments, she opened her eyes and sat up.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Yeah, I am now. I thought I was prepared, but I had no clue how strong these entities would be. And there are definitely more than one of them, but I feel like the one in the attic is the strongest.”

“Can you tell if they’re ghosts or spirits or say…a god?” I asked.

Sophia squinted, then said, “I probably could if I opened myself up more, but I’ll guarantee you that it would be able to jump me. And I don’t want some unknown entity jumping me.”

“I don’t blame you. Whatwereyou able to figure out?” Dante asked.

“Well,” she said, “I think there areat leastseven entities here, and I believe five of them are spirits. The other three—I’m not sure. They could be astral entities, they could be demonic, they could be something I’m unfamiliar with. I don’t thinkthey’re gods. If they were, they would have been able to jump me.”

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