“I have an idea. There’s just one part you won’t like.”
“You said the same thing when we started this whole mess.”
She angled her head and ran her fingers over the symbols. “Yeah, well, this time, you’re really not going to like it.”
“What’s she talking about?” Derrick asked.
“The link between Ella and Tessa.” Vivian led me to a chair and flattened my hand against her séance table. “I’ve been thinking about it. Why the connection? What does it mean? Whenever the symbols glow, you experience a memory or insight into Ella’s life. In her house, she led you to her room and her father’s letters. Then, at the fountain, you experienced her final moments. When you read her journal just now, your symbols acted up. What if we could use the journal and your link to Ella to discover what she saw the night she followed Helen?”
“How?” Wariness strained my voice.
“Possession.”
So, there was the part I wouldn’t like.
“You mean, the crazy thing that happened between you and Sophie? No way. Can’t you do it?”
“It won’t be the same—the link is stronger between you two. With Sophie, the connection was faint. She was disjointed, unable to stay or speak for long.”
“But Ella doesn’t have her memories.” I grasped at straws, trying to think of reasons it wouldn’t work.
“Some of her memories will return once her spirit has taken over. We can bind the journal entry to her spirit and amplify the memory. I think.”
“You think?”
Derrick stepped between us. “Tessa, you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. We’ll find another way.”
Vivian made a face and slung her arms across her chest. “This is the way. Why else is there a link between them? We can use it to our advantage. You won’t feel anything, if that’s what you’re worried about. It’s like taking a nap.”
“With a ghost inside you.”
“Temporarily.”
I groaned and closed my fist, sick of seeing the glowing symbols. Was this what it had come to? Was I even considering it? My whole body cringed at the idea, but Vivian had a point. If we could use the link to our advantage, we had to try. It was the least I could do for Derrick. Well, not the least. There was nothing small about letting a ghost use you for recreational housing.
Honestly, the things I did for ghosts.
“Fine. I’ll do it.”
Vivian clapped her hands together and flew across the room to gather her candles and sage bundle. She was enjoying this a little too much.
Derrick sat beside me and brushed his thumb across my palm. “Are you sure?”
“Not really. I’m afraid Vivian doesn’t know what she’s doing, and I’ll end up possessed by an evil spirit and give it corporeal form.”
“I can hear you.”
“I should hope so, I’m not whispering.” I squeezed Derrick’s fingers. “But I want to do this for you. Maybe, in some small way, it will make up for what happened before, with the other witch.”
“That wasn’t your fault.”
“No, but if there’s something I can do to bring you and your family peace after Sophie’s death then I’ll do it.”
He pulled me against his chest. “Thank you, Tessa.”
I fiddled with the cuff of his sleeve and made a reluctant face. “Just promise me that if I become evil, you won’t try to chop off my head. Allow me to live out my maniacal days in the mountains somewhere.”
Derrick stifled a smile and staged a sigh. “I can’t promise you that. The law has very strict rules on letting evil roam free.”
