Page 87 of Malice

I shake my head. “It’s already dead. This banishment is temporary, and I have a feeling the Horror did something to the spirits to get away. I just don’t know what or how. I saw them here, but they’re gone now.”

A thud in the hallway catches our attention, and we climb out of bed, rushing to see what it is. Before us, spirits lie in the hallway, broken wood and drywall scattered around them.

“What happened?” I ask. “Where’s Crash?”

“Here,” he says, crawling out from under a slab of drywall. “That was gnarly.”

“What happened?”

The house spirits rise slowly from the rubble, and the one the Horror possessed joins them. I can see them all more clearly than I ever have, and when Hudson gasps and wraps his hands around my arm, I realize he can too.

“I can see them,” he whispers. “Wow.”

“Is everyone okay?” I ask, realizing that’s a ridiculous question. They’re dead.

“We’re okay,” Crash says, turning to smile at the spirits. “The force of the Horror losing its hold on us sent us flying, releasing enough energy to smash us into the wall.”

“How did it get to you guys?”

“What we think happened is that your visit to the astral plane inadvertently gave the Horror the idea of possessing one of the house spirits. It may have accessed Wilder’s thoughts. It happens sometimes.”

“Great.”

“Yeah. More bad news. Because of all that, the Horror is now fully aware of your connection to its target. Clearly, it’s less than pleased about it. Its intent now is to destroy you first, then Hudson.”

“Super. I looked everywhere. Where were you guys?”

“The Horror sucked all of our energy away temporarily and used it to distract you and get to Hudson. It’s smart. Wicked smart.”

I rub my forehead. “Okay, well I’ve got its name now, so game on.”

Crash’s eyes widen as a smile spreads across his face. “Seriously? Oh, this is good. You’re so close.”

I nod. “I need the house spirits to retreat and let the Horror regain strength so I can do what I have to do.”

“No,” Crash says. “You already have its name. You should start getting your banishing circle ready.”

“Oh.” I rub my forehead. “Right. Okay. I’ll consult the handbook.”

“You can’t drag it back in its current state, but you don’t have to let it fully manifest. You don’t want that.” Crash glances at Hudson then back at me. “This is the worst part, you know. A threatened Horror is a nightmare, and the mortal is in real danger. If the Horror can drag him down to the Below before you banish it, Hudson dies.”

Hudson’s breath catches and I wrap my arm around his waist. “I won’t let that happen.”

The house spirits crowd around us, pulsing with palpable energy. A woman, the one who often initiates communication with me, opens her mouth and as loud and clear as the sun is bright says, “We will help protect the mortal.”

My jaw drops and Hudson gasps softly.

“Did you hear that?” I ask.

“Yes,” Hudson says. “You did too?”

“Yep.”

“Oh good,” Crash says, bouncing on his toes. “That means the connection is strong. They’ve fully accepted you as a friend. Both of you.”

That knowledge warms my core. “Thank you. All of you.”

A shy-looking man steps forward, dressed in clothes I would describe as colonial, with a puffy, loose fitting white shirt, thick brown trousers, and white stockinged feet. His brown hair hangs in his face slightly.

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