Alex sat in front of the fire in the attic, in the centre of a circle of protection, with a single candle burning in front of him. Avery sat opposite him, cross-legged. She’d watched his preparations silently, her lips pressed tightly together.
He tried to reassure her. “Avery, I’ll be okay.”
“You don’t know that! You’ve never done this before!”
She was right, and he was worried, too. He had just spent the last hour trying to summon Helena, seated outside a summoning circle, but she had failed to appear. He’d sensed some kind of block, and unable to work out exactly what it was caused by, he’d opted to travel into the spirit world to find her.
He squeezed Avery’s soft, warm hands that were in his own. “My own magic is now stronger than it ever was.”
“I know. So, I just ground you—give you some power, like when you spoke to the Nephilim in All Souls’ Church?”
“Sort of. Just remember, I might take quite a while, but don’t freak out.”
The candlelight flickered across Avery’s face as she nodded, the rest of the attic in complete darkness. The potion he’d drunk to help him enter the necessary mental state was already taking effect, and as he started to utter the spell that would bring him into the spirit realm, the darkness seemed to get more absolute. Within seconds, Avery’s face disappeared completely, and he was surrounded by a shadowy void.
Alex felt weightless, his body left behind, but still he felt Avery’s warm presence, like a kiss on his consciousness. But she wasn’t just there to support him; she was there to help him find Helena. Whatever he thought about their connection didn’t matter; the important thing was that their connection was strong.
He’d noticed similarities in their looks, around the eyes and slim build, not to mention a certain stubborn set to their features, but there was more than that. Helena was of a similar age to Avery when she died, something that had upset Avery more than anything, especially as she had two young children. But where did she go when she wasn’t in Avery’s flat? And how had she corralled so many spirits on Samhain to walk through the town? Helena was unusual in that she wasn’t a spirit at rest; she still visited the real world, and had managed to retain some kind of control of her actions.
For a few moments Alex tried to orientate himself, and felt a tremor of unease as he realised that was impossible. There were no landmarks here, just shadowy presences that he sensed rather than saw. He was in a grey void. Was this what spirits saw? Or only him, as a live being moving in a place where he probably shouldn’t be?
Enough. Time to move. He willed himself forward, feeling presences brush past him, mostly harmless and curious. But the further he travelled, the stronger their curiosity grew. His spirit was bright in their realm, like a beacon. He paused, trying to detect Helena’s presence, calling out to her with his spirit voice, but he couldn’t feel her at all. Every now and again he felt an echo of her presence, but still pushed on, frustrated at her nebulousness.
Something wasn’t right, he knew it. He was deeper now, and the atmosphere had changed. Spirits fled before him, but with a flash of recognition and a feeling of victory, he picked up Helena’s energy—but following it was like following a fine thread. She was so elusive.
And then he felt something else, something that watched him, waited for him. No, there was more than one presence—there were many more—and he picked up a distinct feeling of resentment from them. He ignored them and called for Helena, projecting his power outwards, and finally heard a cry. A glimmer of light flashed from what seemed to be a long way away before vanishing again.
He was close, he knew it, and he continued on, regardless of the brooding menace of those watchful presences that were too close for comfort. Then he summoned his magic. Using magic here was very different to using it on the Earthly plane. Spells didn’t work as effectively, but his power would be visible to those around him. He flexed it now, so that it pulsed as a warning to others, and then pushed on, Helena’s presence growing closer.
Out of nowhere, something hit him, like a punch to the gut. It sent him spinning away, leaving him confused and disorientated—and feeling smothered.
And worse still, Avery’s presence had vanished.
Alex tried not to panic; that was the worst thing to do. Getting lost in the spirit world was a sure way to die, but the feeling of being restrained was stronger now, as if a bag had been thrown over his head. He was suffocating—which should be impossible—but it was happening.
It was a trap. Was this Helena’s doing?
Anger surged through Alex and he flexed his power again, feeling a wave of magic roll around him. For a moment, he could breathe, just before he felt rough hands on him and smelt something sour and fetid. Alex fought back, desperately trying to break free, but with every struggle, his bonds grew stronger.
What the fuck was happening?
Real panic kicked in then. Something malevolent was here with him, gleeful with his capture. Alex’s spirit struggled wildly, his magic now rolling off him in waves, but nothing seemed to work. He was stuck, and the sour smell returned, thick and oily, filling his mind with death.
And then he felt someone else, someone so familiar that he almost forgot the trouble he was in, and a wave of different power flashed from a point close by. The hands that restrained him weakened, and Alex broke free.
“Alex,” the presence whispered in his ear.
Alex jerked back. “Gil? Is that you?”
Gil’s shimmering face appeared before him, its kind, comforting lines so familiar to him that Alex could have cried.
“It is, old friend. You have ventured too far, Alex. It’s dangerous here. Go back.”
“But why? What’s happening? How did you find me?”
Gil glanced behind him, at nothing that Alex could see, but a hardened resolve appeared on his face. “Another witch, strong like you, has walked these paths, but whoever it was knew exactly where they were going. They’ve been helping old spirits who want revenge. They’re the ones who attacked you. Let’s go.”
Gil sent another flash of power behind him, and then before Alex could comprehend what was happening, Gil propelled them both away. They were travelling swiftly now, streaking through dark, shadowy realms he hadn’t even realised he’d passed through, and so fast that Alex was dizzy and sick by the time they finally stopped. He felt Avery again, a candle in the dark.
Gil looked around once more. “We’ve lost them for now—but you have to go!”
“What witch? Tell me. It’s important.”
“I don’t know who it is. I can’t even tell if they were male or female! It was just their energy that made them stand out.”
“You’re sure it’s not the spirit of a witch?” Alex asked, desperate for answers before he left. “I’m looking for Helena—Avery’s ancestor!”
“Helena?” Gil gave a hollow, empty laugh, his eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and joy. “Why are you looking for her?”
“It’s a long story, but ever since we regained our grimoires, she’s been with us…until recently.”
“No wonder she feels different,” Gil said, nodding as if things were making sense to him. He looked behind him again, fearful of pursuit, and then focussed sharply on Alex. “Yes, I have felt Helena, but she’s trapped, and you won’t get her free—not yet.”
“And you’re sure she’s not the witch you sensed?” Alex was confused now.
“No. The other witch was as real as you are, not a spirit. Causing trouble with the ones who attacked you. You were far deeper than you realised—and you don’t know this place like I do. Skilled though you are, you travelled too far.” Comprehension dawned. “Helena was a lure. You must go—they’re getting closer!” Gil’s spirit pushed Alex again, shepherding him away, and Alex felt desperately sad; he didn’t want to leave Gil so soon after finding him.
“But Helena!” Alex persisted. “I can’t leave her trapped.”
“You must leave her to me, and instead deal with the witch in your world. I’m just sorry I can’t tell you more.” Gil gave him one final push. “Go! Give my love to the others, especially my brother.”
And then he vanished.
For a moment, Alex hung in the dark, and then feeling the vengeful spirits once more, he returned to his body with such speed that his breath left him. He opened his eyes to find Avery staring at him with surprise and relief.
“Thank the Gods!”
But there was no time to rest. “Something’s coming!” Alex leapt to his feet—or tried to. His legs felt numb, and it was more of stagger, but he stood in the dark attic, lit only by the flickering fire and single candle. “Don’t move from the circle!”
“Why?” Avery asked, standing as well and raising her hands, magic balling in her palms.
The words had barely left Avery’s mouth when a whirling object appeared out of nowhere, clattering against their wall of protection and falling to the floor. It was followed by a hollow-eyed spectre wearing rags, and then another, and another. Instead of attacking them, they ransacked the room, causing mayhem.
Alex cast his strongest banishing spell, and with a crack like thunder and flash of white light, he sent them back to the spirit world. For what seemed like endless minutes, they stood there, waiting, just in case something broke through again, but when nothing happened, Alex dropped his hands, satisfied that the door to the Otherworld was sealed.
He turned to Avery and sighed. “Well, that was all kinds of unexpected.”
She looked at him with utter shock. “Unexpected? What the hell happened in there? You’ve been gone for almost two hours!”
Exhaustion hit him as his adrenalin ebbed, and breaking the circle, he dropped on the rug in front of the fire.
Avery sat next to him, her hand resting on his arm. “Alex, what happened?”
He lay flat, his chest heaving up and down, and reached for her hand. There was no way to sugar-coat what had happened. “I saw Gil.”
Avery froze, her eyes wide, momentarily silenced. Her mouth worked as she tried to form words, finally saying, “What? How?”
His heart was filled with sorrow it could barely contain. “Come here.”
She lay next to him, and he pulled her close, glad of her vibrancy, and immensely grateful she was part of his life. Her arms trembled and he kissed her forehead.
“Was he okay?” she mumbled into his chest. “Sorry—that’s a stupid question.”
“It’s not.” Alex’s breathing had settled, and she placed her hand on his chest as he said, “He seemed well, for a spirit. But it was a shock to see him.”
Avery propped herself on her elbow, watching him. “I don’t really understand how the spirit world works. Why haven’t you seen him before?”
“It has never crossed my mind that I should even try to contact Gil. It seems wrong somehow. But,” he admitted, feeling guilty, “I travelled too far into the realm, deeper than I realised. I was so intent on finding Helena, I didn’t stop to think. I guess I was too sure of myself, too. I got into trouble.”
“Alex! I trusted you. You could have died!”
“I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. But I found her—sort of. She’s a prisoner. Don’t ask me how, because I’ve no idea. They used her to lure me to them.”
Avery was clearly more confused than ever. “What do you mean? Who are them?”
“Whoever those spirits are who followed me here.” He rolled over to face her. “Gil said they’re seeking vengeance.”
“On you? Us?”
“I don’t know, and neither did Gil. But he said another witch has been there, strengthening them…stirring their anger.” He lifted his hand and ran his fingers across her cheek. She was so precious to him; he hated to see her upset. “Gil sends his love.”
Avery’s tears welled up. “It’s almost a year since he died. I can’t believe it. What happened in there?”
“The spirits who have trapped Helena tried to trap me—or kill me. Gil saved me.” The feeling of being lost filling him with horror, but he tried not to show Avery that. “I had no idea how far I’d travelled. I’d lost sight of you. I was an idiot. And what’s worse is that I didn’t even tell Gil how much I missed him. I was so focussed on Helena. What a jerk.”
“You’re not a jerk, and Gil knows that. I will be forever grateful that he brought you back to me. But what about Helena? I don’t want you to go back there again—obviously—but how do we rescue her?”
“Gil said to leave it to him. We have another job to do. We need to find the witch who travelled there.”