Page 20 of Ghostly Touches

Viktor’s brows slam together as his nostrils flare and a vein bulges against his temple.

“How dare she—”

“I’m back!” Willow says, strolling into the room, cutting off Viktor’s bellow. “And look who I brought with me.” Behind her glides a spirit of a young man who looks no older than twenty. His mouth is split into a wide grin as he follows behind Willow like a puppy dog, his eyes only for her. “Everyone, meet Jonah O’Neely. AKA, the monster you have tied up in the other room.”

The spirit pulls his eyes away from Willow to glance around us. “Hey, guys.”

I open my mouth ready to say something, but my jaw just dangles there as Willow and the spirit come to a stop next to the bed. Well, I’ll be damned. That came from inside the Shadebroode?

“We were wondering if you had any idea how to help poor Viktor here? Apparently, you were with the book when they found you, so maybe you know something about it?”

Jonah looks down at Viktor’s body and shrugs.

“I have no idea. If I could do something, do you think I’d still look like thatthing?” he shakes his head. “Everyone who has touched that book has met a horrible fate.”

Willow frowns. “I haven’t.”

I don’t miss the dark sideways look he shoots at her. “Yet, you haven’t met your horrible fateyet.”

“Great, so he’s no help.” Viktor shakes his hooded head. “What are we going to do now?”

“It was worth a shot,” I tell him.

“Come on, Mr. O’Neely—” Willow says.

“Call me Jonah,” he corrects quickly, flashing her another wide grin.

“Okay, Jonah, let’s go.” Willow tugs at the spirit’s hand. “I have to put you back into your body. You really shouldn’t be out of it.”

I stare. How is she touching him?

“Once you figure out how to remove his curse, can you guys work on me next?” Jonah asks as they head towards the door.

This man’s fate is the least of my concerns, but I close my jaw and nod.

“Viktor, how are you moving your fingers?”

Kwil’s question makes all of us turn to look at the body on the bed. My attention zeroes in on the pinky finger on Viktor’s left hand. It’s definitely moving.

“I’m not doing anything,” Viktor grumbles as he turns to look at his body. “What the hell is going on!”

“Oh shit…” Willow whispers before she whirls around to Jonah. “Go to your bodynow!”

Chapter8

WILLOW

Iwish I could say that the Sliver trying to work its way into Viktor’s body is the only problem we’re about to have.

Unfortunately, the smell of sulfur and crackle of energy not from this realm are beginning to fill the room at an alarming rate. I’ve only run into a demon once before, but once was enough to know that I never, ever wanted to face another one. With a twist of my wrist, Jonah’s soul is thrown out of the room and back into his body. In the same breath, I wave my hand in front of me to make the Sliver visible to the others. The thing has already worked itself halfway into Viktor’s body.

“What the hell is that?” Viktor demands and lunges across the bed to defend his body.

I’m already on it.

Without having to touch it, I use my powers to yank the Sliver away from the empty vessel. The white, filmy, faceless, and shapeless soul thrashes around in my grasp, but I hold it tight. Focusing hard on it, I call forth more of my power. In the next instant, the creature dissolves before us. Guilt eats at me. I just destroyed the essence of what was once a human being.

Itisn’t a person anymore, I remind myself.

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