Page 34 of Chillingham Castle

“Do you have a plan?” Evie inquired.

“Yes, and a backup one. Let me explain what we’ve discovered.”

Evie looked at me and nodded. While I began explaining, the others started getting ready. Evie was aghast by the time I’d finished.

“Someone we allowed in did this to us?” she exclaimed, horrified.

“I’m afraid so. Dive confirmed they had occult ties, and whatever they were trying to summon clearly backfired.”

“I checked everyone; how could I have missed this?” Evie said, upset.

“Dive had to dig deep, Evie. This is no fault of yours. Individuals like them think they can control shit, and they can’t. Their motives are evil, aimed at harming good people. It’s a shame, but it happens. Scum who just wanna hurt will do so while smiling right at you,” I replied.

“I’ll have to double down in future. Letting paranormal investigators in is part of what we’re about,” Evie said.

“There’s some you should avoid; we can give you a list we carry,” I offered.

“That would be great, Haunt. Thank you.”

“Okay, Evie, tonight is going to be disturbing. Ain’t gonna lie, and you’re bound to be scared. That’s fine. Just remember we’re professionals, and while this isn’t something we’ve come across, we’ve got solid plans.”

Evie agreed but looked doubtful. I completely understood. I’d be worried too. We weren’t prepared for tonight beyond the theoretical, so there was no way Evie was.

“Let’s get ready, guys,” I said, turning around, and my brothers nodded back grimly. This was a fight we’d never faced or anticipated. Should be fun.

Lucky

I watched closely as Haunt drew the containment circle. He carefully chalked the runes into place and added extra protection ones. Lich, Reaver, and Jack checked them over. Haunt was being paranoid, but I couldn’t blame him. We were still preparing when La Llorona suddenly appeared before us.

“Southron,” she hissed and lashed out.

Her arm caught Lich, and he went tumbling.

“Fuck!” Haunt shouted as she turned her red eyes on me.

“Stay back in the name of God!” I roared, holding the Bible and cross up.

She came at me, and Haunt took me down in a flying tackle, yelling in pain.

“Shit!” Reaver yelled, running forward and throwing holy water over her.

A dark laugh escaped her, and she seized him by the throat and lifted him.

“I was a child of God, stupid Southron,” she hissed and launched him. Suga, Coffee, and Trunk burst from the tearoom and raced towards us.

“Get down!” Suga screamed as he threw salt at her. La Llorona shrieked and smacked him aside as she grabbed Lich by his ankle and spun him around before releasing him. Lich hit the stone steps with a groan.

“I think we’re in trouble,” Trunk sing-songed as he ducked and tossed more water at her. La Llorona swung, and he ducked under her arm and punched. He stared in horror as his arm passed through her, and then she solidified, trapping him. But to give Trunk his due, he didn’t hesitate and yanked backwards towards the circle.

La Llorona pulled back and shoved him hard before bringing both her fists down on his head. His arm slid through her body, and she kicked him violently away.

“You will all die,” La Llorona said chillingly. “English dogs. Murderers.”

“Lady! I don’t know your name; I wish I did. John Sage killed thousands of your countrymen, and I’m so sorry. But these here today didn’t commit those crimes. It happened nearly eight hundred years ago,” Haunt exclaimed, getting up.

I winced as I saw the claw marks that had slashed the back of his cut.

“Southron. All English blood shall pay,” she cried and stormed towards Haunt.