Evangelina Green (22 page)

She’d need a few supplies, a few people to
sit with her...hmm? Netta would help, but whom else could she
trust? She thought of the workmen and dismissed all but one, Jason,
as she’d seen him talking often with Keaton and he did help her in
the garden. She’d ask him later. Three would have to be
enough—besides three was a lucky number with ghosts. She was
hopeful that she could help Tomas and his family finally fined some
peace. They deserved that.

Tomas wondered how a kind
and pretty girl like Lina was alone and not married with a bunch of
kids. She’d be a wonderful mom. She was very empathetic. He’d known
she was
the one
when he first felt her presence in the house and now he could
find his family and let them rest. He just
knew
they hadn’t moved on yet. He
needed Lina to make that happen.

He knew there was a treasure to be found. He
also knew Elizabeth knew more about it than he did. He needed to
speak with her, one last time. He didn’t want the fortune for
himself. He thought Netta could use the funds to find a doctor that
would cure her. He loved her enough to let her live. He would be
patient.

It was still early in the afternoon, so Lina
continued her work in the dining room and talked a bit with Tomas.
He was an interesting man. She didn’t seem to mind that nobody but
she would see him. Most would figure she was talking to herself.
Again. He had ideas and plans that had never come to be, but still
had merit in this day and age.

As she watched him pace
the floor, she could see he was a handsome man if not for his old
fashioned hair and clothing
. Could ghosts
get makeovers?
She almost giggled at that
thought.

He was tall and broad of
shoulder and had a slim waist with a nice behind! She laughed at
herself and shook her head, thinking Keaton would
not
approve of her
ogling some other man's backside. But, hey!
He left her
, so if he wanted to
approve or disapprove, he’d have to be in her life to begin with.
Even then, she doubted she would let him dictate who or what she
could look at!

"It doesn’t matter, he’s not here. So why
can’t you stop thinking about him?" She was muttering to herself
but when she felt comforting warmth and a pair of arms slowly
hugging her from behind. She stopped and took a deep breath.

"Thank you,” she whispered. She knew it was
Tomas as she could feel his transparency...there really wasn’t
another way to describe it. She did feel better and dusted herself
off.

"I’ll need you to be with us this evening if
you can."

He hesitated, and with a worried look on his
face, nodded then vanished.

She started gathering items together.
Candles of course. What séance would be complete without those? She
had holy water left over from when the local priest had blessed the
house. She then needed a bowl, clean white napkins, an apple, a
sharp knife and some straight pins. Sounded like hoo-doo-voo-doo,
but it was just a way to purify the air or cleanse the way for
spirits to enter into our world.

The holy water would be poured into a clear,
glass bowl and placed in the center of the table. This was
protection for the living. The apple would be cut into thirds, one
piece for each person at the table, covered with one of the napkins
and pinned in place onto the table. This was food for the spirits,
it was one of the pure and natural foods and if they were fed, the
ghosts or spirits would be less likely to hurt the living. Or at
least less likely to attempt a takeover.

She’d seen that only once when younger and
did not want a repeat! A woman speaking as a man and even sprouting
facial hair! Brrrrr! Gave her chills just remembering that night.
That was why she was especially methodical and careful in her
preparations.

Jason was willing to come
over and didn’t seem to mind the reason. Very open minded of him.
She smiled when she thought of him. She liked him in a friendly
way. Besides, he seemed too young for her. Lina felt safer knowing
he would be there. He might be young, but he was built sturdy and
had that air of confidence she’d only seen in Keaton.
Maybe they were related?
Weirder things have happened lately!

Exactly at the first stroke of midnight, the
candles were lit, the other lights turned off. The holy water was
set and as they each became accustomed to the dim light, Lina
simply asked that any friendly spirits nearby come to them tonight.
That’s about all it usually took as Lina was a natural ghost
magnet. She took the apple and cut it into three equal parts,
covered it and pinned it down. Netta and Jason followed her
example. Immediately the candles flickered and a chilly wind blew
through the room. Lina looked up and saw Tomas had arrived.

"Quite an entrance, Tomas.” Netta gasped,
and sat up straighter and looked around the room for him.

"He’s standing behind you, Netta, protecting
you."

Jason raised an eyebrow at the statement
that she knew where a ghost was standing, but also that Netta cared
one way or the other! There was more going on here than he’d been
told. Ever watchful, he kept silent and just looked casually around
the room. The windows were closed, but a faint breeze seemed to
blow the curtains a few inches away from the windows. The room
became downright chilly and if he didn’t know better, he’d assume
there really were ghosts and they were in the room with him right
now. The napkin in front of Lina moved and as Jason watched, his
began wobbling then Netta’s moved. Lina smiled and Jason saw tears
in her eyes.

"Netta, Tomas is filled with joy right now.
You should see his face! His sister Elizabeth is here and so are
his two younger brothers, Jonathan and Byron.” Jason just stared at
Lina and wondered how long he’d sit here and be quiet. This was
hocus-pocus and he was uncomfortable.

"Jason, Elizabeth is
nearest you and says you are a handsome man for a
wolf—
hey
! What
does she mean? Are you a shifter too?" He felt cornered and his
eyes glowed for a second but that was long enough for Lina to catch
it.

"You
are
! Amazing!" Netta just grinned at
how Jason looked—ready to run or maybe attack but he was handling
himself well.

"Elizabeth apologizes if she spoke out of
turn but she thought we knew about you. She’s very pretty, Jason,
and a very sweet, kinda old-fashioned girl. She’s the perfect
southern lady only she may be too old for you now. She’s from the
1800's!”

Jason thought Lina was enjoying this! Maybe
more than she should. He was uncomfortable.

Jonathan and Byron both hugged their
siblings then turned to Lina.

“
They want to know what
happened to their inheritance. Tomas? What inheritance?” Lina
leaned her head to one side and appeared to be
listening.

"Okay, this is what I get from the family.
There was money or gold left for them. Hopefully not confederate
money, it's now pretty much worthless, except maybe to
collectors..." She listened again and explained what she was
hearing.

"Apparently as each child
turned twenty one, they were awarded their share of their maternal
grandparents legacy, but each of them states they
never
saw any funds.
Elizabeth was the, uhh...God, I hate to put it this way… but she
was the last to
go,
being the youngest, and she says she overheard several people
meeting about the
goldmine
and where to hide it. But she didn’t understand
the rest of the talk. Something about steps or stairs and his face
being set in stone? But they could unlock the treasure with
magic.”

Whew! Ghost talk can be
exhausting!
These were the typical cryptic
pieces of information she was getting pissed about. Everywhere she
turned vague and mysterious
hints
!
Why
can’t people, or ghosts, speak in clear terms?
Frustrating, but as she watched Tomas and his family that
frustration quickly bled out. How could she be angry or upset
watching such love being exchanged between brothers and
sister?

Lina began smiling and was soon laughing
with delight. This was just so perfect. The reuniting of Tomas with
his siblings was joyful and tearful. They all looked fit and fine
for ghosts. And while everything seemed fine and they all started
to relax of course, it couldn’t last. The room suddenly shook and a
thunderous noise bellowed from all around them.

"
No
! You will not join together! I
forbid it!"

A dark cloud started forming, billowing over
the table. Lina dipped her fingers into the Holy water and
sprinkled herself, Netta and Jason. Then everyone around the table,
which was just the ghosts who now looked frightened which was odd
since they couldn’t be harmed. Or could they?

By following Lina’s lead and the calm and
collected manner in which she confronted this voice, all the other
people, and ghosts, seemed more at ease.

"Be gone! You are not
welcome here! You must leave and not return. Your fate lies
elsewhere and you cannot enter here. This room and this home are
protected against evil such as you.
Be
gone
foul spirit! Only the good and
honorable may reside here.
Be gone
evil demon! You and all your evil must and will
abide by this! You cannot remain.
Be
gone!”

Lina was a little scary as
she yelled the
Be gone Song,
as it later came to be known. They’d laugh later,
but right now she was all business. She continued to sprinkle holy
water around the room, trying to touch each of them with a drop or
two.

The darkness howled. “I will not allow you
to stop us! We are legion! Your colors will not save you! Not even
he who spawned you witches could not save you. We will prevail!”
The cloud dissipated slowly and not without groaning, moaning, and
then one last clap of thunder. Silence.

"
Wow
! That was, something!" Netta had
her arms around herself and was staring at Lina wide eyed but
smiling. She was scared to death but very proud of her
sister.

Lina received a ghost hug
from each one of the family and watched as they hugged each other.
Then one by one, they seemed to shrink and with a
pop
, they disappeared
with a bright light. She really wanted to discuss the
goldmine
and the other
hint but she also knew the ghosts might only have this one chance
to finish their trip
home
.

Jason and Netta saw the twinkle of bright
lights and without asking, knew the ghosts were going home. There
were three distinctive pops with the three flashes of light. They
all sat in silence for a moment until Netta finally asked

"Only three? Tomas didn’t go, did he? I can
still feel him near me.” Lina cast a look at him, watching him
tenderly touching Netta’s hair.

"Well, Tomas? Are you leaving?" He smiled
and looked at Netta lovingly.

"How
could I
leave her?" He stated matter
of factly as he hugged Netta. Lina just smiled and told Netta that
Tomas would be staying.

"Definitely tea time and I think some of us
may have a splash of bourbon!" Netta swirled out of the room. They
all followed, including Tomas. Lina grinned, noting he stayed close
behind Netta.

They all sat in the kitchen drinking
tea—straight or laced—silently for a good 30 minutes before anyone
spoke.

Lina suddenly blurted out, "We need a plan!"
Everyone either jumped or yelped as they all turned to look at
her.

"Geez, Lina!” Jason growled. “Scare the fuck
outta all of us, why don’t ya?”

They all burst out laughing. It was good
they were laughing more and more lately. It was a healing balm of
sorts and Tashi wouldn’t want them brooding while she was gone.
Lina watched as Tomas grinned also. She was pleasantly surprised as
he’d always been so somber.

He looked up at her at that moment. "I’ve
never had a real reason to smile before now. I love her."

Lina smiled. "I know." Again, everyone
turned to her.

“
Lina?” Netta queried,
appearing puzzled.

"Ghost talk.” Was all Lina said.

After some plan discussing, which soon
dissolved into just general talk, they all agreed they’d had enough
excitement and needed sleep. Jason left with a promise to return
around six that evening and in an aside to Lina, he’d try to get
update on Keaton.

"Whatever you think is best... I couldn’t
care less... I mean...sure we need his help...to rescue Tashi and
Victor...but I don’t care if he...well...can do whatever he
wants...and well...I just don’t care." Lina was rambling and almost
stuttering around her lies. She couldn’t look him in the eye.

Jason just nodded. "Yes ma’am...whatever you
say." He walked out chuckling to himself. The minute he stepped out
the door he felt the tug of the magic. Wards had been placed around
the mansion and Jason was thankful to whoever had taken the
precaution. Once past that barrier however, he felt that prickle of
unease he’d been feeling since the first day he came onto the
property. It was tingling sensation up his spine and it held a
slight scent of...sulfur?

He shook it off and
sniffed and scented the wind for anything else out of the ordinary.
He sensed two of his cousins had passed by here an hour or so
earlier. He had asked them to come by this way if they went out for
a run in this direction, just to take a look and make sure things
were quiet. Other than that nothing seemed
off
or dangerous.