Page 109 of Paranormal Payback

The raven on the stairway cawed for a few seconds.

Haley continued her translation. “She says they don’t know what will happen, but they have agreed they would rather be dead than bound to him for life.”

“How can she understand them?” Taran asked.

Haley answered, “I understand Carey, but I don’t know what the rest are saying.”

The ravens continued pecking at the motionless body. His clothes in shreds, his eyeballs gone, they were now feasting on his flesh.

“Do you think we can save the ravens? Will they revert to being women? What about Haley?” Taran asked.

Carey cawed some more.

“They don’t know. I don’t care either. I’d rather die than live bound to him,” Haley answered.

Eilonwy nodded. “So may it be,” she said and went behind the counter, coming back with a silver dagger and an empty mayonnaise jar. She unscrewed the lid and put it in her pocket.

“Stand back, ladies,” she said in a loud but respectful voice.

The ravens reluctantly, one by one, hopped away and took perches around the room.

Eilonwy centered herself, smudged the pentagram with her foot, and spoke: “From death to dust, and blood to dry.” She placed the silver dagger on his body. “I collect your ashes from the sky.”

Surprisingly quickly, the body of Dante Valentine dried into a pile of blue, purple, and black sparkly ashes—not even the coat was left—and then gathered up into a swirl. Eilonwy straightened, with nothing left to touch her dagger to, and held the jar out. The tornado of ashes wound tighter and tighter, leaving a trail of silver smoke as it dove into the jar. Eilonwy quickly capped it closed.

The ravens cawed softly and looked at one another, waiting.

“Haley, are you still here?” Taran asked.

“Yes,” she answered.

“How are you ladies feeling?” Taran asked the ravens.

They bobbed their heads and hopped around, chattering to one another.

Carey cawed again. Haley translated. “She says they feel good.”

“Do you want us to let you out?” Eilonwy asked. “It’s nearly summer, and you can see how you will do. We can keep watch if you have trouble. I don’t know if you’ll change back, but you can come here anytime. My brother and I will be buying this building and opening a coffee shop soon.”

The birds all looked at Taran. “I agree—we will watch out for you, and we’ll be buying this place. I think we’ll call it the Broom.”

The ravens cawed in agreement.

Taran removed the wards and opened the side door. He checked the street for people, and then the ravens hopped out, one by one, and flew up into the night sky. They landed in the tree across the street in the green space, waiting for one another. Eilonwy joined him at the window.

“Carey said she would visit,” Haley informed them.

“I think you might not be a ghost, Haley. You may be a persona. I’ll do some research and see what needs to be done and what your options are,” Eilonwy said.

“In the meantime, I’ll put the door back on your room, and we’ll put your broom back in the office, along with the radio. I think I can fix your mirror, too,” Taran added.

“Thank you, but what will you do about his bookstore? There might be bodies in there, too,” Haley asked, holding the radio herself.

Eilonwy sighed. “I think we’re going to have to tell the Mavens so they can investigate properly. They should know what’s been happening in their city.”

“Can we not tell Uncle Ric?” Taran asked.

“I doubt it. He needs to know you remember now, and we have to tell Wren.”

“Eilonwy, what will you do with the jar?” Taran asked.

“I’m locking it in the cellar with Dad’s jar.”

Taran put his arm around his sister, and she leaned into him as they watched the birds. “Dad might not have loved you the way he should have, but I love you.”

“I know. I love you too, Taran.”