Page 100 of Spellbound After Midnight

Vivian snickered. I was surrounded by court jesters.

“Fine, then wait until you get my bill.”

Laughing, he pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Knowing you, it will be huge.”

“It’ll bankrupt the agency.” I glanced at the clock and shivered. All we had to do now was wait for Ella to appear and convince her to invade my body in a super creepy séance ritual.

Good times.

***

“I’ll do it.” Ella floated closer, nodding her head in excitement. “Will I remember everything?”

Vivian chewed her lip. “Not everything. The link works best when tied to an object. The journal is the catalyst for this memory. You won’t remember the day you died.”

“I understand. I still want to try.”

“You don’t want to think about it for a while? Maybe take a couple of days?” I asked, wringing my hands in my lap.

“Tessa, quit stalling.” Vivian lit the bundle of sage and held it in the air.

“I’m not stalling.” I ground my teeth and tried to calm my nerves. It felt like I was on a runaway cart with no option but to hold on and hope for the best. Derrick was going to have broken fingers by the time this was over. I gripped his hand harder to test his limits, but he didn’t even flinch.

“Don’t let go,” I said.

“I won’t.”

“I’ll know if you do.”

“No, she won’t.” Vivian moved the pedestal candle into the center of the table.

Derrick smoothed a lock of hair out of my face. “I won’t let go.”

I believed him. Nerves settled, I took a deep breath. This wasfine. What was a little possession among friends anyway? It would make for a great story. I’d be amazing at parties. Not that I went to parties—but maybe someday.

Vivian instructed me to place my palm with the glowing symbols over the pages in Ella’s journal. The instant I did, I felt a jolt and a wave of dizziness.

“Are you ready?” she asked Ella.

Moving to stand behind me, Ella settled a translucent hand on my shoulder. “I’m ready.”

That made one of us.

Vivian closed her eyes, and the ritual began. The candles dimmed then flashed the room in white light. Warmth flowed through my limbs, sending me drowsy. I tried to keep my eyes open but they drifted shut, and I went numb, fading into nothing.

***

“Ella? Can you hear me?”

My name sounded faraway, and I struggled against the dark, fighting to bring myself closer. I opened my eyes and blinked to clear my vision.

Vivian sat across from me, her concerned gaze searching mine.How strange.My hand was clasped between the detective’s, his grip firm and reassuring, but there was a hint of fear in his eyes. I’d caused it.

Without thinking, I tried to pull my hand away, but he tightened his grip.

“Don’t,” he said.

That’s right, he made a promise.