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That is unacceptable, he growled.
And with that, his spirit moved around my protection circle and raced toward the barn’s doors. He hit them, and bounced back. The interior of this barn
was his prison. He couldn’t move beyond the barn’s walls or doors—not without Belle’s help, and only then to whatever new life fate had decreed his soul be reborn into.
Damn it, let me out. I need to see her.
You can’t help her, Belle said. Not now. But you can stop what has happened to you from happening to others.
I don’t want to help, he growled. I want to see Elsie.
The force of Belle’s magic crept into the connection. She was now compelling him—forcing him to remember what he obviously had no desire to even acknowledge. It was something very few spirit talkers could do.
Tell me what happened yesterday, John.
No. It was sullenly said.
Her pressure increased. What brought you into this barn yesterday, John?
I needed a tractor part. The damn thing was playing up again.
And then what happened.
Fire. He hesitated. I saw fire.
Where?
It was sitting in the corner, all curled up like a ball.
What did you do?
What do you think I did? I grabbed a hose and tried to put it out.
Then what happened?
His energy twisted, turned. Fighting the memories. I don’t know.
Yes, you do, Belle said. I need you to tell me.
Damn it, no!
Yes. Belle’s magic surged a third time. Tell me.
When the water hit it, John said, the thing unfurled and damn if it didn’t look like a woman. I kept spraying it with water, but it didn’t seem to make any difference. She came at me and then... and then.... He stopped, a catch in his mental tones.
And afterward? Belle said gently. What happened after her flames kissed you?
I was standing in the same spot, but there was this red thing at my feet. He hesitated, the crack in his voice increasing. And then I saw myself, walking out the door. But that can’t be possible. How can I still be here and yet have walked out of the barn?
“The soucouyant is wearing his skin?” came Aiden’s abrupt comment.
I glanced at him and nodded. “My phone is in the backpack if you want to put out an APB. But warn your people not to go near him if they spot him.”
He nodded, propped his phone on the wheel arch of the nearest tractor to keep recording, and then grabbed my phone out of the pack and started making the call.
My attention returned to Belle. Her weariness was beginning to slither down the connection between us. Angry or confrontational ghosts always took far more out of her than the peaceful ones.
The being you saw walking out of here wasn’t you. It was a spirit wearing your image.
