by Cadie Snow
Jaime called a meeting with her sisters. The dream hallucination had spooked her. Nefarious was getting too close. Their ability to terrorize her sleep had made a point. Jaime couldn’t escape them; it was only a matter of time before they had her in their grip.
That meant Jaime’s life was in peril. The cousins had agreed that Iris had been murdered because she was the leader of the coven. That meant Jaime was next. She’d known that for a while, but the touch of Nefarious was too close for comfort.
The sorcerers’ magic had infiltrated her bedroom, clouded her dreams, and controlled her mind. It had to end. The only way was to find the murderer and stop him. A man in a black cloak was fairly nondescript. But the sheriff had gotten involved, so might soon have a suspect.
Yet that was wishful thinking. Nefarious had long avoided the authorities. The power of the law was no match for the supernatural.
The sheriff had jurisdiction over the people in his region. But that jurisdiction didn’t extend to the elements that weren’t quite human. Nefarious listened to no one, obeyed no one. Their leader orchestrated the criminal activities of the group, as was their mode of operation.
Jaime recalled something her mother had told her about Nefarious. There had been many stories about the first discovery of gold in Georgia. The gold rush in that state had preceded the one in California.
Then, from the early to mid-eighteen-hundreds, Georgia produced its highest gold yield. Almost two million dollars of gold had been mined and sent to the mint in Philadelphia. As impressive as that was, there was something people hadn’t known.
That was the story Jaime remembered. Dahlonega, currently less than an hour’s drive from Blairsville, had produced over six million dollars in gold coins. The mines delivered that much under sorcery’s spell. The rush for gold had caught the attention of Nefarious.
Being in the crime business, the leader united his group of sorcerers to cast a powerful spell. After that, the mines had seemed to pour forth gold in buckets. Jaime’s mother didn’t detail those affluent years under sorcery’s control.
But the point was made. People suffered under the oppression of Nefarious, while the sorcerers raked in wealth. It wasn’t difficult to imagine why the group had formed an attachment to Blairsville and surrounding areas.
Currently, gold wasn’t abundant, but there was plenty of wealth in the area—money to steal, treasures to amass. Jaime hadn’t thought about Nefarious for a while, had assumed that they’d moved on. Unfortunately, that didn’t appear to be true.
Jaime got a text from Olivia that made her curious. I’ve been doing my part, as you asked. I’m on my way to our meeting. Harper is with me.
The Book of Shadows wasn’t merely for show. Jaime needed the spells and charms from its pages. Jaime abandoned her bookkeeping; she wasn’t getting any work done anyway. Then she went to meet with her sisters.
Jaime arrived first and went into the living room to wait. The house reminded her of Iris and how much Jaime missed her. The place was quiet, no mischievous ghosts playing games. That was just as well, since she wasn’t in the mood for frivolity.
Olivia and Harper arrived within minutes and sat on the sofa across from Jaime. “What have you found out?” Jaime asked.
“I researched criminals in this town,” Olivia said. “It wasn’t too hard to narrow down. It’s a small town. And I was only interested in recently deceased criminals.”
“Were you successful?”
“Of course,” Olivia said. “What I couldn’t find through books or the internet, I gained from our cousins’ psychic abilities—and memories—to find our man.”
“You found him?” Harper said, her eyes wide.
“It has to be him,” Olivia said. “One photograph caught him smiling, sort of a scary smile—but it showed his teeth.”
“Rotten teeth?” Jaime said.
“Yep, you got it,” Olivia said. “And I recognized him from the images we saw the last time he entertained us here.”
“So, who is the ghost trapped in this house?” Harper said.
“His name was Ned Clarkton, and he was a common criminal,” Olivia said. “I can’t explain why he can’t leave here, though.”
“I think we should ask him,” Jaime said, then stood to go to the stairway; her sisters followed. “Calm your mind and see if Ned appears.”
“He seemed anxious to scare us before,” Harper said. “I don’t know why he’d miss another chance. But he is a ghost, so we shouldn’t have anything to be afraid of.”
Jaime didn’t want to tell her that ghosts had been known to use various methods to harm or kill. But that didn’t matter. It was vital to learn Ned’s dilemma and find out why he was stuck there.
The house didn’t stir, even though Jaime stood quietly with her sisters. “Open your minds and call him forth.”
Then an image began to emerge. It looked like swirling smoke that moved down the stairs. Halfway down, the image took shape. It was Ned, with an evil grin, showing bad teeth. This time, Jaime wasn’t content to observe. She wanted answers.
Jaime used her psychic wavelengths to communicate that she wanted to talk. Mentally, she conveyed that she had learned who he was. Ned Clarkton. That appeared to enrage the ghost. He loomed closer, and his image darkened.
Then Harper whispered, “He’s talking to me. I can hear him telepathically.”
Jaime and Olivia stood silently, allowing the communication to take place. After a few minutes, the ghost began to fade. Before leaving, he narrowed his eyes at Harper, then she nodded. The ghost vanished. The stairs were empty.
Jaime grabbed Olivia’s and Harper’s hands and raced back to the living room. After they took a seat, all eyes were on Harper. “Tell us. What did he say?” Jaime said.
“I wasn’t sure I could connect with him,” Harper said. “But I seemed to be able to tap into his wavelength. We know that Nefarious uses humans to do their bidding. Ned handled petty crimes when they asked. He was rewarded for it.”
“So how did he end up here?” Olivia said.
“Nefarious doesn’t tolerate betrayal. There was one thing that made Ned balk, and that was murder.”
“Did he do it?” Jaime said.
Harper shook her head. “But it cost him his life. Ned was supposed to kill Iris, but he couldn’t go through with it. He made it as far as this house, then he backed out. Only with Nefarious, there is no backing out.”
“I’m beginning to understand what happened,” Olivia said.
“Nefarious cursed Ned, so he’s doomed,” Harper said. “He’s stuck in this house until the curse is lifted.”
“When will that be?” Jaime said.
“That’s the thing,” Harper said. “The sorcerer from Nefarious who trapped him promised to break the curse if he did as he was told.”
“I’m getting a bad feeling about this,” Jaime said.
“Ned cooperated,” Harper said. “He was granted increased ability, more strength than a ghost usually has—but only temporarily. He was ordered to control the murderer, to be a voice in his head, and whisper the message to kill Iris—to finish the job he’d failed to do. Then he would be freed—only the sorcerer didn’t keep his part of the bargain.”
Jaime was certain that was how Nefarious operated; the group didn’t let anyone defy their orders. It cleared up a lot. “A ghostly curse was the cause of our aunt’s murder.”
“Yes, Ned did prompt the murder,” Harper said, “even if he didn’t commit the crime.”
“But Nefarious was behind it,” Olivia said.
Jaime’s mind raced. “Who was the murderer? What is his name?”
Harper sighed. “I asked, but Ned didn’t know. He was shown who to haunt but he wasn’t given names. I guess Nefarious was too smart for that.”
“Why did you nod just before Ned disappeared?”
“I told him that we would break the curse.”
“You what?” Jaime said. “Just how are we supposed to do that?”
<
br /> CHAPTER 14
Harper didn’t look apologetic. “We can break the curse…I promised.”
“You should have checked with us first,” Jaime said. “It’s not a simple thing to do, and I’m not sure we should anyway.”
“It was good that Ned talked,” Olivia said. “But he’s not exactly innocent. He was a criminal and aided Nefarious.”
“That was under duress,” Harper said. “I’m not excusing it, but he did refuse to kill Iris. Okay…he helped later. But still…” She looked at Jaime. “Do you really want a cursed ghost in the house permanently?”
“Of course not,” Jaime said. “And if Nefarious was going to hold up their end of the agreement and free him, they would have.”
“Exactly,” Harper said. “So I vote that we use the Book of Shadows. That’s what it’s for…to do good.”
“I’m afraid that this is borderline good,” Olivia said. “But I’ll go along with it.”
Jaime sighed. “All right, but I’m not happy about it. Yet we must do what we can.”
Olivia and Harper stood in front of the fireplace, and Jaime joined them. Holding hands, they closed their eyes so Jaime could recite the incantation. The Book of Shadows appeared when called forth, and they placed it on the pedestal for easy reading.
“Let’s see,” Jaime said, flipping through the pages. “Well, there are several ways to break a curse, but this is a unique situation. I wasn’t the one who was cursed, so these first spells aren’t useful.”
“Isn’t there one for breaking a sorcerer’s curse?” Harper said.
“Yeah, but there’s a problem with that,” Jaime said. “It says that the person who is cursed can break it by doing a selfless act…like dying instead of the intended victim.”
“Well, Ned can hardly do that,” Olivia said. “He’s already a ghost.”
“I’ve got it,” Jaime said, pointing to handwritten directions. “Instructions to break a sorcerer’s curse.”
Olivia and Harper said in unison, “What does it say?”
“Get together certain items: a white candle, cloves, frankincense, hyacinth, lilac, pine, and sage. Plus, a rabbit’s foot charm.”
“It’s a good thing that Iris was a witch,” Olivia said. “She must have that stuff around. Harper you get the candle, frankincense, and rabbit’s foot. Jaime, you go to the kitchen for the cloves and sage. I’ll go outside for the other items. We’ll meet back here…ten minutes, tops.”
Jaime found what she needed, then returned to the book. “Got everything?”
Olivia and Harper nodded.
“Burn the ingredients in a fireproof container,” Jaime read, then motioned toward the hearth. Harper handed her an appropriate container, then dumped all the ingredients into it.
After the burning, Jaime said, “Let’s go back to the stairs. Ned has to be present for this last part.”
As before, they tapped into the ghost vibrations and Ned appeared on the stairs. He didn’t look any happier than he had earlier.
“He wants to know if we are really going to free him,” Harper said.
“Tell him to watch and listen.” Jaime held the container of burned items, then placed the rabbit’s foot over her heart and told her sisters to chant with her:
With rabbit’s foot and magic verse
I turn around this wicked curse
As these words of mine are spoken
Let this evil curse be broken!
After several repetitions, Ned’s image began to fade. Before disappearing, he frowned at Harper. Then he was gone.
“Did it work?” Jaime said.
“It broke the curse, all right,” Harper said. “Ned is no longer trapped. But before he left, he told me it wouldn’t make any difference for you, Jaime.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s too late,” Harper said. “The wheels are in motion. Ned already played his part. The murderer’s bloodlust will be enough motivation—he wants you, Jaime.”
“The force that killed Iris,” Olivia said, “was more powerful than a single ghost. Nefarious was behind the deed, so breaking the curse will anger them.”
“I don’t see how it could get any worse,” Jaime said. “They already want me dead, and a killer is stalking me.”
That night, Abigail had a dream, a premonition, and woke Jaime to tell her. “I’m scared, Mama. It was so dark, like a bottomless pit, or oblivion or something.”
“That isn’t what a young girl should have to experience.”
“But what if I do have to?” Abigail said. “I couldn’t tell what it was all about, but the dream was a warning. Bad things are coming.”
“Come here, honey.” Jaime hugged her. “I’m with you. We will be cautious.” She released her. “You’re still wearing the talisman?”
Abigail reached inside her nightgown and lifted the necklace so the black stone dangled. “I haven’t taken it off.”
“I created it to protect you when I’m not around.”
“I hope it works, Mama. I’ve never been so scared.” Abigail turned to go back to bed. “I’m a grownup girl now. I can sleep in my own bed, even if I am afraid.”
Jaime didn’t call her back, realizing the truth in what her daughter had said. She couldn’t be around every second to protect Abigail. She prayed the charmed necklace would be enough. Yet the dream that Abigail described was a premonition of darkness to come.
The next morning at breakfast, Andrew and Landon seemed concerned too. Maybe Abigail had shared her dream. Even if she hadn’t, the boys had perceptions of their own. They weren’t oblivious to danger when it reared its head. It was a matter of whether they could defend against it.
Jaime kept the mood as light as possible, then sent the kids to school. Once they were gone, she called Roxanne to learn more about Nefarious. It was important to know about the enemy she was up against. For over an hour, Roxanne told tales about the sorcerer sect, their history, and their crimes.
The stories went from appalling to horrifying. One thing was clear: Nefarious was ruthless. Jaime would do well not to underestimate them. Roxanne ended by saying, “I meditated in order to tap into more about the plot against us. And I don’t like what I perceived.”
That didn’t surprise Jaime. The sorcerers had orchestrated Iris’s murder. Having removed one coven leader, they were after the next…and the next. Where would it stop?
Jaime was rattled. She wasn’t sure if knowing more helped or only succeeded in scaring her. But she had no choice but to face the inevitable. What she needed was a friend.
Ian was in his office, and he was able to take a break. He suggested coffee, and Jaime agreed. A cappuccino would hit the spot, and a few minutes with Ian would be good for her mental health. He had a calming effect—maybe because he had no awareness of what she had to deal with. In Ian’s view, anything supernatural was purely imagination.
But before Jaime took the first sip of her drink, she had a vivid premonition. It was as clear as dreams she’d had, except she was fully awake. In her mind’s eye, she saw a dark shadow coming for her. The presence was as real as Ian, maybe more.
The figure approached without being deterred by anything Jaime could do. Pressure gripped her chest and she had trouble breathing. Fear rode up her spine like a lightning rod.
“Are you okay?” Ian said.
“I’m sorry,” Jaime said. “I just… It was something I thought of.” Then she decided to be honest. “I just had a horrible premonition.”
“About what?”
It was time that Ian knew what was up. He was a good friend, and in case anything happened to Jaime, she wanted him to be aware of the danger she fought. She told Ian about her aunt’s death being the result of a curse; she told him everything.
“I know you don’t believe me,” Jaime said. “But I’m next. The killer is after me now.”
“I believe you,” Ian said. “I’m not sure about the curse. But people have strange ideas about witches. It’s
reasonable that the killer attacked your aunt because she was the leader of the coven—and that he would target you next.”
“Thanks,” Jaime said.
“For what?”
“For trusting me.”
Ian squeezed her hand. “The authorities are pursuing the investigation. More details and evidence will be gathered. There are methods for tracking down a murderer.”
Jaime’s heart sank. “I’m not sure that law enforcement will find him in time…”
Jaime was on guard and took extra precautions. When she drove the boys to school, she walked them to class—despite their protests. And she waited outside the door for class to let out, then took them home. She couldn’t be too careful.
Abigail got rides with another parent, who had been alerted to the incident with Elijah. The same procedure was implemented. The driver was a classmate’s father, who looked capable of defending himself, and Abigail too.
One afternoon, after the boys were inside having an afterschool snack, Jaime went out in the backyard. She felt suffocated, because she couldn’t live a day without looking over her shoulder. It was frustrating. But she didn’t know what else to do.
Jaime had the urge to walk in the forest to commune with nature and talk to her mother. She lingered at the edge of the yard, peering with longing at the path between the trees. Then she squinted to be sure that she was seeing what she thought.
It was Dahlia hovering at the edge of the tree line. Her white dress hung long, yet vanished below the knees—as though its wearer was too weak to create the complete image.
Dahlia hadn’t been that far out before. Jaime had only encountered her deep in the forest, so had no idea the ghost had the strength to move so far. Jaime jogged toward the trees.
Dahlia appeared distressed. “I had to come.”
“What is it?” Jaime said.
Dahlia appeared fragile. Her image was filmy, nearly invisible. And she faded in and out. “Danger. There is danger. The man is back. He’s in my forest, lurking. Watch out…” Then Dahlia slipped away, as if dissolving into thin air.
