Page 65 of Possessed By Shadows

I sighed. This wasn’t going to be easy. I held out my wrist with the bracelet around it. “Does this help at all?”

“A focus to remind you to change your thinking, and again a way to slow down the buildup.” She led me to the sink, turned the water on to cold and ran the stone of the bracelet beneath the flow. The stone chilled from the water.

“It’s this easy? Washing it?”

“What do you feel?”

“The temperature changed because you’re using cold water.” Ever logical, that was me. I reached down to take it off, fumbling with the clasp a little. Then I turned it over in the water, let the coolness of the stone roll in my palm thinking it would warm again, but it felt cool and solid.

“That’s a start. Water is a pure source to help us clear our minds as well as clean our bodies. I recommend cleaning all the stones at least once a week. Clearing them with intent.”

“Which means what? Thinking about them being clean or clear, or whatever?”

“Yes,” Dion agreed. “We will work on more over time.” She turned off the water and I put the bracelet back on. The band was wet, and cool, but I liked the weight of it against my wrist.

I wasn’t yet willing to tell her I doubted all of this. Seeing scary things, believing they were real and somehow drawn to me? None of that sounded normal. Using crystals to clear a room of negative energy or whatever, didn’t sound any saner, but I had to start somewhere.

“Let’s find good placement for these,” Dion said returning to the table full of crystals. “The police will be here soon.”

“I’m not sure they are going to help at all. The police,” I said quickly. “Not the crystals, I mean.” Though I doubted those plenty too. I picked up the top hook attached to the string of crystals. It appeared to be some sort of light catcher, strung in circles of strands all varied in length and size. It was beautiful, and when the lights from the windows hit it, rainbows reflected in dozens of little spirals around the room.

Jet jumped onto the back of the futon to bat at one.

“Well this should be fun,” I said, turning it a little to get the lights to move, which sent Jet into a frenzy. “Maybe this should be further from the windows?” Like that was possible in this tiny space. Maybe up in the loft?

“Let it fill the room with light,” Dion said. “It will give you something to use later.”

I sighed and went to find my tool box. Would any of this New Age stuff help? Not being possessed by shadows would be a great start. Though I was willing to do just about anything in that moment to get Lukas back safe. If that meant giving myself over to the darkness, I’d probably do it. As long as it meant I wouldn’t hurt anyone else in the process.

Micah’s gaze met mine, and there was sadness there. Like he knew what I was thinking. Sacrificing myself to save my brother? Maybe. I hoped there would be another way.