What Remains by Bailey Bradford (to read list txt) 📕

joining in, Laine felt a ripple of power flow from Sev into him then on to Rogelio.

The kid gasped and looked at Laine with big, startled eyes. Laine tried to smile reassuringly at Rogelio, but in reality, he was a little freaked out himself.

The chanting died down then ceased completely. The circles broke and people started hugging…whoever they could reach, Laine decided as a woman latched onto him and murmured something about ‘many blessings’.

When all the love-thy-neighbor stuff was done, Miriam invited them to form a line and make their way through a buffet of special foods set up in the house.

“What do you think we’re supposed to be eating?” Sev asked. He sounded worried, and Laine couldn’t blame him.

“It’s all organic stuff,” Rogelio answered. “I helped set it out. There’s no meat—Miriam said she didn’t want anyone eating flesh.” Rogelio crinkled his nose. “So it’s vegetarian food, no eye of newt or anything like that.”

“I’d rather have Alma’s cooking,” Laine grumbled, but rabbit food was a small price to pay to get the spirits back.

Sev nodded but got in line. “You’re not the only one, but once this is done, Alma’s promised to make us a huge dinner. Tamales, even.”

“Tamales?” Well, that was different. Laine would eat this vegetarian food a lot more eagerly knowing there’d be tamales in the near future.

And judging by the way Sev snickered behind him, Sev knew it, too.

Chapter Ten

There was a definite energy in the air. It teased at the hairs on Sev’s forearms, making them quiver. “Do you feel that?” he asked Laine.

Laine rubbed the back of his neck. “Feel something. I thought maybe I was just creeped out.”

Sev wasn’t creeped out. He was excited and worried. What if Conner didn’t come back? What if Mrs. Hawkins or Stefan or Mrs. Matthers didn’t come back?

“Stop fretting.”

“How can I not?” Sev asked. “I know you’re worried about them all coming back, too.”

Laine nodded and took Sev’s hand. “Yeah, I am, but it’s their choice. I think. I hope this spell doesn’t force them to return if they don’t want to. That’d be wrong, and more selfish than any of us ought to be.”

It’d suck if they lost any of their friendly spirits, but Laine was right. Miriam approached them, her cell phone in hand. “Everyone’s where they should be. We’re going to set out the candles and Vincent is gathering the herbs we need. We’ll start the chant in five minutes, right at midnight.

“I hope I remember all the words.”

Laine mumbled an agreement. They walked to what Vincent said was the center of town, a spot between a vacant building and a thrift store.

“Form a tight circle,” Miriam instructed as she lit a candle.

Sev and Laine scooted in with the others. Veronica came over and held up a leather necklace with a pouch on it.

“This is for you to wear, Severo. It will keep the curandero from being able to strike against you. Keep it on for as long as it lasts. When the leather breaks, the curandero’s power to harm you will be severed as well.” She settled it around his neck.

The pouch hung low, lying over his heart. Veronica began chanting, words Sev couldn’t quite make out. The pouch felt as if it warmed against his chest. Sev thought he was imagining it at first, but soon his entire upper body seemed unnaturally heated. It didn’t hurt, but he wasn’t sure he cared for it.

Veronica finished the chat with a pat to the pouch. “There. You’re safe now, but remember, don’t take it off until it breaks.” Then she addressed the group. “It’s time to begin. Join hands, please.”

Laine’s hand was rough, warm and familiar. Sev held it tightly. Rogelio was, of course, on Laine’s other side. Sev’s other hand was linked with Ciara’s, a very shy young coven member.

Miriam, Vincent and Veronica began chanting softly. As their voices rose, Sev and the other members of the circle joined in.

“Return to us those who were taken

Whose will to remain was forsaken

Free them of their spiritual prison

Bring back those who we envision

Loved by those left behind

Stolen by evil design

Return those lost to those who are pure

Let their love strengthen and endure

Come to us who’ve gathered here

Break the spell that sent them there

Bind the hands that sought to destroy

Return to McKinton the town’s secret joy.”

They repeated the words over and over, the sense of power and unity growing with each repetition. Sev could feel the strength of their gathering building in the air, making it dense with their words and hopes.

The pouch on his chest was now almost too hot to tolerate. Sev forced his mind away from the pain, unwilling to mess up any part of the chant. His mouth was dry as the Sahara when a sharp, snapping wind slammed over them, snuffing out the candles and leaving them in utter darkness.

No one stopped the chant. Sev tightened his hold. The wind became colder, stinging his skin with a thousand little pricks.

Sev got louder, straining his voice. Nearly shouting, like everyone else.

A loud, unearthly howl ripped through the night. Sev shuddered so hard his eyeballs ached.

Then the wind stopped as suddenly as it had started. Miriam led the chant into softer and softer tones, then stopped it all together.

Silence loomed louder than their chanting had been. Sev waited, feeling oddly bereft.

A sharp tug to his hair and several buzzing bees in his head made him weep with joy.

Laine grunted then gasped beside him. His breath hitched, then Sev was lifted in Laine’s strong arms and rocked back and forth.

“They’re home,” Laine rasped, tears dripping from his cheeks to Sev’s. “God, sweetheart, they’re really home.”

Epilogue

“Talk about déjà vu,” Sev whispered.

Laine grinned, something he hadn’t seemed to be able to stop doing since last night when Conner and the other spirits had returned. There’d been a whole lot of crying there between those two buildings, and probably at each of the other four points where Sev and