Page 2 of Ghostly Touches

“Alright guys, huddle up. This will have to be quick,” I call, and wave them forward.

The mass of spirits moves closer. Some hold hands as they approach. Others gulp and exchange worried glances with one another.

“I’ve talked to each of you individually over the past few months about what will happen tonight, so hopefully, I have quelled most of your fears.” I look around, making sure to meet everyone’s gaze. “When I say go, please move in an orderly fashion through the Veil. You have each other; you’re not alone. Once over there, you’ll have an idea of what to do next, okay? Don’t fear the reapers. They are there to guide you.”

At least I hope so.

They should have been doing this from the get-go, but for whatever reason, I haven’t caught a glimpse of a reaper on this side in a long time. I know at least one will be waiting for them.

“Everyone ready?”

A few people voice their confirmation; others simply nod. In the end, it doesn’t matter if they’re ready or not. It’s time to go.

With a smile, I turn my back and force my attention to the ocean before us. The moonlight spills down and brightens the dark waters as it moves with the tide. As I take a deep breath, my hands begin to tingle. I don’t raise them; there’s no need. A familiar coldness gathers in my chest as my power expands. With a little ‘push,’ I let it out. Like water cresting over the ridge of a dam, it rushes forward. Around my calves a swirling mist rushes past me to gather above waves a few feet out. It gathers in one spot before it begins to expand. When it’s three times my height and double that in width, I turn to my audience.

“This is it, everyone. Let’s go!”

Together, the mass of spirits moves. Most are quiet. Some are sending up prayers as they walk. As they pass me, many give me a quick, nervous smile before floating above the waves and stepping through the Veil. Captain McGregor stops beside me and watches his crew.

“If you need anything, lass, you know you can call for me,” he says, giving me a rueful smile.

Knowing that I would never bring a soul back to the Realm of the Living since it’s a big no-no, I only nod.

“Thanks for a fun few months. Give them hell over there, Captain.”

He chuckles. “That I’ll do!”

With a two-finger salute, Captain McGregor follows his crew. I look over my shoulder, making sure there aren’t any reluctant spirits lingering behind. The only thing left on the beach is a dying bonfire and a single set of footprints in the sand that lead to where I’m standing. I turn around, ready to shut the Veil.

That’s when I see that I have a visitor.

Leaning against the edge of the Veil, on the other side, is a hooded figure. The smoky gray cloak and large scythe would probably scare any other living person. A reaper’s appearance usually doesn’t bode well for most mortals. To me, the appearance is simply confusing.

This isn’t the first time I’ve seen this particular reaper. I don’t know how I know, but this is the same one I’ve been seeing for a few years now. Every time I’ve purged spirits from a town, this reaper seems to be waiting just on the other side for the lost souls. But why just stand there and watch? He should be the one to take these souls over to the other realm.

I wish I could ask him what the hell is going on. Unfortunately, I can’t. He’s in the Realm of the Dead, and without his name, I can’t speak to his spirit. And for whatever reason, he won’t cross over here.

The reaper straightens before raising his hand in greeting.

With a half-smile, I return his wave before I let the Veil fall back into place. No need to keep it open longer than necessary. The power it takes to move the Veil back and forth won’t go unnoticed. The Elders of the witch coven located in town will feel it and come to investigate. Then they’ll yell. I roll my eyes as I turn towards the fire that’s now beginning to burn out. Every town has a coven, and they all hate me when I turn up. Necromancy is devil magic, according to them. Whenever I use more than just the little necessary to speak to spirits on the other side, they make it known that it’s not allowed.

This impending visit will be no different.

Chapter2

KWIL

Viktor can’t be dead. Not after all we’ve gone through. Panic threatens to swallow me whole. We’ve gone through too much to lose a member of our triad now.

Theo is sure we can save him. Viktor does have a pulse, and he’s breathing, but his skin is eerily cold and his coloring… I stop as a shiver of fear runs through me. Viktor’s not dead. He can’t be. I won’t believe it. Not until I hear it from the necromancer’s mouth.

Now where the hell is she?

It’s almost two o’clock in the morning with no sign of the woman the people at the bar in town told us about. Moving around the property, I make sure to keep the driveway and the house in sight. The house itself is a large, beaten down, two and a half story Victorian. A window on the second floor is boarded up; another on the first floor is cracked. Shutters are missing, there are cracks throughout the walkway, and the front porch is missing planks. The front door doesn’t even have a lock on it.

But while the outside of the house is shabby and weary looking, the inside is nearly immaculate. The furniture, though old, is in great condition, there isn’t a speck of dust on any surface, the carpets have been cleaned recently, and every bedroom is made up with a fresh set of sheets.

Sitting beside the house is a sprawling old graveyard.

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