Page 22 of Deceiver

“Right. Is it safe to go up there?”

“I think so. For now.”

While Keagan is upstairs, I walk around the room, dragging my hand over the walls to get a sense of the energy. Definitely negative. They must have been attracted when Keagan used the spirit board. The air shimmers around me, and I know what that means. Sure enough, Farnsworth appears in front of me, his lips pursed as he hands me a manila envelope.

“I know,” I say. “The target used a spirit board on his own.”

“Well done. Now you have six Horrors to deal with. Some of the others appear to be benign and took off.”

I take the envelope, opening it and glancing at the information. “Seriously?”

Farnsworth nods. “Seriously. A high school choir group, of all things. They died in a bus accident but seem particularly hostile.”

“Great. As if teenagers aren’t terrifying enough.”

Farnsworth pats my shoulder. “Good thing you know what you’re doing.” He sniffs the air. “Ew. The energy here is awful.”

“Tell me about it. I’m taking the target with me to get him out of here for now.”

He waves his hand in the air. “I trust you to handle it.”

Then he’s gone.

“Who was that?” Keagan asks, peering down from the middle of the stairs.

There’s no way he saw Farnsworth. “Who?”

“You were talking to someone. I heard you.”

“Mental notes to myself.” I offer a slight smile to cover the lie. “Ready?”

He nods, joining me in the living room. “Guess so. It’s quiet upstairs.”

“Calm before the storm, I’m afraid.”

“I really messed up, didn’t I?”

“A moot point. You can follow me in your car or I can drive.”

“Where do you live?”

“Salem.”

“Of course,” he mumbles. “My car’s been having some trouble. I can ride with you.”

I gesture towards the front door. “After you.”

Keagan grabs the doorknob and tries to open it, but it doesn’t budge. For fuck’s sake.

He twists the knob with no results. “It won’t open.”

“Stand back.”

Keagan moves behind me, but keeps his curious gaze trained on my every movement. I reach into my pocket to pull out a vial filled with an unlocking potion. All it takes is a small smear on the door before the spirits blocking it shriek and shrivel away.

After opening the door, I turn to look at Keagan, who is staring at me with his mouth open.

“What just happened?”