Page 46 of Jacinth

Niko’s smirk was all kinds of wolfish. “Doesn’t make a difference for me.”

“I actually hate you a little right now.”

I had been thinking it, but it was a bit of a shock to realize the words came from Skyler.

Sky shrugged like it should have been expected. “You have both had the opportunity and means to look after our girl. Me? I got words and visions of possible futures.”

I hadn’t thought of that. I was surprisingly uncomfortable with the idea I had been inadvertently cock-blocking my brother by not offering him time with Jace while she had the amulet on. It was too soon to risk taking it off again, so it looked like Niko would be the only lucky bastard able to spend any physical time with Jace tonight.

With very little further conversation, we got to work setting up. The fall weather had been relatively mild, however we knew not to take it for granted. So we had packed sleeping bags and gear to build a fire and rough campsite without disturbing Jace‘s grave—because heaven forbid we make a mess of her dirt home.

Eventually we were all set up. Niko pulled marshmallows from god knew where and gathered sticks to start roasting. I looked at him quizzically.

“Marshmallows? What, are we ten?”

Niko shook his head in frustration. "Shut up. Sugar keeps other cravings at bay, so sue me. Unless you'd like me to use sex instead...."

I shook my head quickly and glanced over at Sky. “I feel like we might need to try and give Sky some alone time with her next chance we get,” I said, keeping my voice low.

Niko nodded in agreement.

***

It started slowly. First the night time bird calls dropped off. Then the crickets. After a while, we all became aware there was no noise at all outside of our small bubble.

“Does anyone else feel like it’s too quiet?” Jace whispered. “This is the first time I have ever found the cemetery creepy. What’s going on?”

With no sounds of life existing out there in the darkness, the circle of firelight felt a disturbing combination of protection and beacon to who knew what.

“What I would give for Harley to come running out right now and tell me she’s pulled some stupid trick,” Niko muttered, more to himself than anything.

Jace grunted, her eyes scanning the darkness for unseen threats.

A scream tore through the silence. If I were being honest, it scared the shit out of me. Noise, like something tearing through the underbrush, could be heard heading toward us. We all instinctively moved closer to the fire, creating a defensible circle and watching the direction from which the sound had come.

An elderly-looking male spirit burst through the tree line and looked madly about our small group.

“Hide me, please. He’s going to get me. Don’t let him—”

An oddly solid arm of black smoke wrapped around the specter from behind and yanked him out of sight. Niko let out a shout, and we rearranged ourselves to ensure Jacinth was at the center of our group. Whatever was out there, they were gunning for the spirits in the graveyard.

As I thought about it, I remembered Niko mentioning the lack of ghosts around lately. I thought of what Jace had reported about Gladys and the battle with Father Dare.

I remembered where I had seen that damn van before.

I was cursing in my head, even as I had no idea how it was probable. He was gone. Years had passed since he had been killed.

Then there was no further time for denial as the man himself stepped into view in the exact spot the old ghost had just disappeared. He gave me his trademark grin, as though he had been waiting for me the entire time.

“Orion. So good to see you. Shame about the company you keep these days.”

I would not react, but I knew we were in really deep shit. Subtly as I could, I flicked my eyes behind to confirm Jace was completely out of the psychopath’s direct line of sight and turned back to my ex-best friend.

“Alisdair.”

CHAPTER 33

Niko

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