Page 20 of Possession

My body reacted on impulse, stabbing my pen directly in the middle of his hand.

“Fuck,” he yelped, yanking the makeshift weapon out and throwing it at me. “It was a joke, asshole.”

“She ain’t a joke to me. Watch your mouth.”

His eyes narrowed as he massaged his latest injury. “Well, what are you going to do? You can’t get in touch with her, and haven’t found any new leads…Didn’t you say she was being haunted?”

I nodded, running a hand through my hair in frustration. Just another thing to fret over. I promised to help her get rid of her unwanted sidekick. That’s when my thoughts caught up to his suggestion, my gaze whipped to his knowing one. “We follow through with the seance?”

Triston smirked. “Who better to ask about her whereabouts than her shadow?” he said before his voice dipped lower. “Then, hopefully, you can get rid of that stick up your ass.”

Triston’s dorm room was split in two. One side was set up as a typical guy’s bedroom, while the other was dedicated to his craft. He was a well-respected medium, and his going rate was astronomical. I’d seen him in action many times before, but I’d never requested his services until Ada.

The walls were laden with jars and bottles filled with various concoctions. Lit candles illuminated the dim space, and the strong smell of incense lingered in the air.

“Come,” he said, motioning me forward.

I tread carefully, ensuring I didn’t disturb the outer circle of salt, then sat in the centre, cross-legged on the floor opposite him.

“Did you bring what I asked for?”

I pulled out a handkerchief, stained red with Ada’s virgin blood. As I handed it over, Triston gave a wolfish grin and barely restrained himself from responding.Lucky for him.

“Alright, Grey. Let’s meet your girl’s ghost.”

He outstretched his hands, and I grasped onto his forearms, his eyes lapsing shut as we closed that link. Triston proceeded to chant in an unworldly language, his cadence low and pressured.

The air became heavy as if weighted, and the candles flickered in warning—right before his voice abruptly cut out.

The metamorphosis was uncanny to witness. Although the physical shell remained the same, I could sense the drastic shift in aura. His shoulders rolled back to mimic perfect posture, and when he opened his eyes, I knew with certainty that the person in front of me was no longer my best friend. In his place was another, as shown by his glowing white eyes.

“Who are you?” I asked, adrenaline racing through my veins.

“You’re asking the wrong question, young one. Why have you brought me here?”

I shifted uncomfortably. Triston’s voice was now coated in a subtle accent, and his words were measured, unhurried, as if he were an entity who hailed from another time.

I cleared my throat. “I need to know she’s safe.”

“Who isshe?”

“The one you’ve been tormenting since she turned sixteen.”

“Torment? I am Ada’s destiny.”

Goose bumps rose over my skin. I didn’t like the sound of that, but I had to focus.

“She is in danger. From my father. I’ll do anything to protect her.”

“Anything?”

“Yes.” I didn't know what I was getting myself into, but I didn’t care. If that spirit had the ability to keep her safe, I’d take it.

“Entreat with me, young one. In exchange for her protection, I require a favour in return.”

“What’s the favour?”

“Both everything and nothing. Due now or never…What say you?” The ghostly bastard thought he was slick. In other words, he had no fucking clue or plan. Yet, I didn’t care, ready to sacrifice whatever was needed.