Page 29 of An Unlikely Knight

Chapter Nine

Flames of what had to be at least twenty candles scattered around the cramped room provided the only light. Erin shifted in her chair refusing to look at Aubrey. If they made eye contact, one or both of them would burst out laughing. Instead, she looked to the others instead of her cousin. Evalyn, dressed in a long dark purple caftan presided from an ornate chair, her hands held palms up as she chanted what sounded like gibberish. There was a mother-daughter pair who’d pronounced they wanted to hear from the mother’s recently deceased husband, and a woman who looked to be over eighty seeking to communicate with her long-departed sister.

Erin had reported the need to communicate with a dead man named Padriag, who’d been a knight in the sixteen hundreds. Unable to think of anyone dead, Aubrey said she was there to support Erin’s research.

Despite feeling this was not going to help the quest for the spell that would break Padriag free from the curse, Erin found she was enjoying the spectacle.

“Rosa! Who do you wish to speak to?” Evalyn asked in a theatrical voice. “Who are you?”

When the others were silent, Evalyn tilted her head. “Repeat your name, tell me who you are?”

It may have been Erin’s imagination, but just then a breeze swept past shifting the candle’s flames to one side.

“Rosemarie,” Evalyn amended. “Who do you wish to speak to?”

“That’s my sister,” the elderly woman exclaimed, her eyes going wide. “What is she saying?”

“Shhh!” Evalyn hissed. “Wait. Oh yes. Yes.” There was a long silence and then Evalyn’s head fell backward. Lifting her head, she spoke. “Rosemarie says hello and that she is well.”

“Oh.” The older woman sounded disappointed. “Is that all?”

Evalyn shrugged and closed her eyes again. “Rosemarie, do you have a message for your sister?” Once again after a moment her head flopped, this time to her chest. Slowly, she looked up at the elderly woman. “She’s still mad over you kissing Henry Whittle. But he’s there now and you can’t get to him.”

“Henry’s dead?” The elderly woman’s mouth fell open. “I’ll have to send a card to the family.”

There was no communication between the mother-daughter and their dead one. Evalyn told them he was still in the process of transitioning and was busy learning how to be in the other plane. Erin couldn’t help but picture there being some sort of in-processing center for those recently dead along with long video presentations about their new existence.

“You are next,” Evalyn announce motioning to Erin. “This Padriag, how is he part of your life?”

“I date, er, am dating one of his decedents and he mentioned that anyone who was to be with him long-term would have to be accepted by his great-great-great-grandfather, Padriag Clarre.”

“Ah,” Evalyn said, as if it was the most normal of things. “I see.” She frowned and added. “Since he’s been dead for so long, I ask that everyone assist in this. Join hands, close your eyes and repeat what I say in your mind.”

Everyone did as they were told, and Erin felt a pang of guilt for lying. At the same time, she was poised in case something came to her. Perhaps just being there would give her inspiration to write something. To add to the spell she was working on.

Evalyn let out a dramatic breath. “Spirits of beyond. You are welcome here. Speak. We summon Padriag of many years past. Come forth. You are safe here.”

Despite having her eyes closed, Erin tried to roll them at how silly it all was, but she resisted and forced herself to relax.

“It is you.” The voice was masculine, deep and guttural. Everyone gasped, someone let out a yelp, and they all opened their eyes and gawked at Evalyn. Her face was taut, open eyes, completely black, moved from face to face. Each of the people around the table shrank back, eyes wide, mouths agape.

“Hello Erin.”

Immediately Erin recognized who spoke. It was Meliot, the evil wizard from the alter-world. She’d been told he could not inhabit this realm. Yet somehow the evil being was here, his malevolence tangible. Terror and dread seized every part of her body as memories returned, being forcibly taken to the other realm, imprisoned in his dark castle and threatened. Every moment so vivid, it was as if she was back there, not knowing if she’d ever see her loved ones again. A whimper escaped as she tried her best not to cry.

The black eyes focused on her. “His fate is sealed. There is nothing strong enough to break the bonds I have placed keeping Padriag in my world.”

Leaning back as far as she could, Erin slid a look to Aubrey, whose eyes were round as saucers, her breaths coming in short pants.

“I-I will n-not g-give up,” Erin stuttered, unable to keep the shaking from her voice. Immediately, warning bells rung loudly in her head against saying anything more.

Evalyn’s lips curved into a twisted smile that was not her own. “Do you wish to trade your soul for one already damned? Are you willing to sacrifice everything to me? Take his place. Suffer his torment?” Evalyn’s eyelids lowered then lifted, the black abyss of her gaze digging into Erin’s.

Too stunned to speak, she jumped when his cackle echoed around the room and half of the candle flames were doused. “I didn’t think so. Turn away now. Do nothing more or pay the consequences. Stop your useless feeble attempts unless you wish to be bound to me as well.” What felt like an ice-cold finger trailed down the side of her neck, Erin gasped leaning away. Her lungs seized with terror, and she began shaking uncontrollably.

“Don’t touch me,” she cried out.

Everyone turned to look at her. Erin was sure she’d turned as white as a ghost.