Page 113 of The Curse of Redwood

But all thingsdidend. The mansion with all its beautiful dead things was proof of that. Even the most vibrant flower eventually wilted. Love was the same way.

Minutes passed, then more, until finally our dance, too, came to a close. Headlights came up the driveway, and we walked back to the entrance hall in silence. There was nothing either of us could say that would change anything.

Zeke placed his hand on my lower back as we stared out the window at the sleek black car that had pulled in. The door opened and Callum stepped out.

It was time.

Chapter Twenty

“Why are you putting a damn pentagram on the floor?” I asked Callum, as he made the design in the entrance hall, directly under the dome. A beam of moonlight hit the area, bouncing off the salt circle. “Isn’t that satanic?”

“The Christians have taken many pagan things and announced their supposed satanic ties,” he said, before examining the design and nodding in approval. He looked at me. “They’re full of shit. Satanists have been known to use an upside-down pentagram for their religion, but this is different. The points on the star represent the elements; earth, fire, air, water, and spirit.”

“Okay.” I blinked at the information overload. “What’s it supposed to do then?”

“The symbol is a protection against evil,” Callum explained. “Many people argue over the true meaning of the pentagram, but in my experience, it represents whatever energy you put into it.”

“And it’s supposed to be made out of salt?”

“Yes,” he answered, before looking at Zeke. “Does he ask you this many questions too?”

“You have no idea.” Zeke’s lips twitched with a smile.

“Well excuse the hell out of me for wanting to know the reason for it,” I said, crossing my arms.

“Very well.” Callum sighed as he went over and pulled candles from his bag. “The salt is closer to the earth than chalk, and it’s especially strong for banishment and cleansing rituals. It repels negative spirits. It can also hold them, like a devil’s trap but for spirits.”

“Like fromSupernatural?”

Callum pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yes, I suppose.”

“Can I be Dean?”

“You can stand there and keep your mouth closed. How about that?” Callum glared at me before grabbing a candle, holding it to his chest and closing his eyes, then placing it on one point of the star.

I was about to ask what he was doing, when Zeke grabbed my shoulders and turned me to face him. He was smiling.

“If you interrupt him again, I firmly believe he’ll just let the spirit have you.”

I snickered. “You’re probably right.”

The mark tingled on my chest, and I felt myself weakening by the second. Once the clock hit nine, the sigil would break and fade away, giving Philip control over me again.

Callum placed an unlit candle on each point before standing and facing me. He pulled something from his pocket and walked over. “Put this on. And before you ask, it’s an obsidian stone necklace. It will ground you and give you strength in the battle of wills against the negative energy. You’ll need it.”

I put it on without a word. Callum arched a brow in surprise.

“I can shut up when I want to,” I said. “It’s not that shocking.”

“Thank you for helping him,” Zeke said, grabbing my hand and squeezing it.

Callum averted his eyes to the salt circle. “Do not thank me just yet. I have never performed a spell of this strength. The entity inside Carter is stronger than I’ve ever felt. I will need absolute concentration once I begin.” He eyed me. “So no interruptions.”

I ran my finger and thumb over my mouth in a zipping motion. “Not a peep from me. Promise.”

Ignoring me, Callum looked at Zeke. “Do you have the items I requested?”

“I do.” Zeke stepped over to a large bundle of cloth he’d placed on the table earlier and brought it over to Callum.