Page 58 of Ever After

“So, the transference happened during his run. I will retrace his route.”

“How can you do that?”

“His aura lingers like a faint trace of colour wherever he walks.”

“I didn’t know that. I only see his aura occasionally if I concentrate hard.”

“You are not a spirit. You would not be aware of it. Some people’s auras are dull and faint. Levi’s blazes with the energy of the sun. It makes him the focal point of attention.”

“It’s not the only element of him that does that.” I look unseeingly at the garden. “So, what do we do? Do you know how to get the entity out?”

“I believe I do.”

Loud voices suddenly sound from the front of the house. One is shrill and loud. The other is unmistakably my husband.

CHAPTER 9

BLUE

“Levi.” I go towards him, but a force stops me. “Let me go,” I snap. “I need to get to him.”

“Wait.” Branok’s voice is hurried and growing faint. “I do not know how long I have left. Once you are inside the cottage, I cannot help you. Look for what wasn’t there before.”

“What does that mean?”

“Levi was probably given an object this morning, so it will be something you haven’t seen before. Find it, destroy it, and Levi will come back. You must hurry. Otherwise, the entity will drain the vessel like a husk.”

“The vessel? Do you mean Levi? It’ll kill him?”

“Yes, you haven’t got much time.” Branok’s voice is getting fainter and fainter and I can barely hear him over the raised voices from the front of the house. “Destroy the object,” he says and then he’s gone.

I race to the front of the house. When I come round the corner, I find Levi with the grocery delivery man. Shit. I forgot I placed an order. This is all we need right now.

“Everything okay?” I ask as I near them.

The delivery man’s face is bright red with anger. “No, mate,” he snaps. “It isn’t. I don’t think I’ve ever been spoken to so rudely.”

“With your driving ability, I don’t think that is true,” Levi says.

“My driving ability is fine, thank you.”

“Not true.” My husband—or whoever is currently directing him—has put a gloating look on his pretty face. He stops and looks suddenly thoughtful as if listening to an invisible conversation. “It is as bad as your gambling habit.”

The man’s eyes go wide. “What?”

Levi nods. “It is a habit that will cost you your family, but humans are as ever weak. Your wife thinks so too, Mr Wallings. ’Tis why she falls so readily into bed with your best friend while you are out working. But don’t worry. When she leaves you, the children will not weep. They already hate you.”

“Levi,” I snap. “Go inside.”

He smirks at me and disappears into the house. I turn to see the man backing away from me. “The food is in the bags,” he says hoarsely.

“No, wait. I’m so sorry.” I put out my hand. “He’s not well.”

“He’s a fucking nutter,” he cries. “Don’t order from us again.”

“I’m sorry,” I say again, but he runs through the gate and quickly climbs into his van.

“Shit,” I mutter, watching him drive away.