Page 39 of Sinistram
Helene chanted louder. Travis added his voice to hers in the rite of banishment.
“Look!” Brent pointed to a new ghost who appeared nearly in the middle of the stand-off. He was tall and lanky with dark skin and workman’s clothing from a century past. He held a knife in his left hand and a vodun cross in his right.
Eagle Eye Ike. He came, Travis thought.
Ike raised the cross and planted himself between the lion and the living. His mouth moved, but Travis couldn’t hear Ike’s words, although the ghosts recoiled.
More ghosts appeared along the old rail line, but these wore clothing from a variety of time periods, the spirits of people killed in accidents over the decades. They interposed themselves between the circus specters and the living people.
“Ike bought us time, and the new ghosts are holding back the dangerous spirits,” Travis said. He didn’t know how long their unexpected defenders could hold back the others. “Brent, now!”
“Fire in the hole!” Brent called out as he lit up the talisman. Flames leaped higher than they should have for the amount of fluid he used, hissing and popping, and Travis swore he heard screams.
The tiger roared, and its solid-looking apparition vanished. So did the lion and the vengeful performers. The protective ghosts were the last to go, remaining until the threat was gone as if they were unaffected by the burned talisman and left of their own accord. One of them tipped his fedora to them before winking out of sight.
That left Ike, who also seemed unaffected by the ritual.
“Thank you,” Travis said to the ghost. Brent and Helene added their thanks as well. Ike just smiled, inclined his head in acknowledgment, and vanished.
Travis let out a breath. He looked to Helene and Brent. “Is everyone okay?”
Helene nodded. “A little drained. I was saying protective spells, and I also sent out a psychic call to Ike. I guess you couldsay that he and I are old friends. He’s come to lend a hand on several occasions.”
Travis turned in a slow circle, searching the area for any sign of remaining ghosts. “Do you think that will send the dangerous ghosts away for good?”
“Guess we wait and see.” Helene replaced several ritual items into her bag. “It shouldn’t affect the protector spirits. They choose to stay as guardians, like Ike. I hope we’ve sent the others on to find peace.” They waited for half an hour, but nothing stirred. Travis and Brent walked Helene back to her car.
“Good working with you,” she told them. “Call me if you need anything else. I’m happy to help. I don’t control when Ike shows up, but he’s often on board for a good cause.”
Elated but tired, Travis and Brent headed back to Pittsburgh. By unspoken agreement, they kept the conversation light on the drive and during lunch at a diner they passed on the way.
Travis’s phone rang as they got back into the Crown Vic after their meal. He frowned and swore under his breath.
“Trouble?” Brent asked.
“Sinistram,” Travis replied. “Dominick here,” he said as he answered the phone, using only his last name. He didn’t bother with pleasantries, and his tone made it clear the contact wasn’t welcome.
A cold chuckle on the other side fed Travis’s anger, and he recognized the voice of Father Liam, his Sinistram mentor.
“Dominick. Still the same. Some things never change.”
“What do you want?”
“I’m calling to warn you. The world is changing. The end is near. Return to the Sinistram and you’ll be protected,” Liam said.
“The world is always changing. Warn me about what? Protect me from whom?” Over the years, the Sinistram had tried andfailed to entice Travis to return to its authority. Time had just increased his conviction to remain free of their entanglements.
“We’ve been patient,” Father Liam said, and his voice hardened. “That time is over. Return or face the consequences.”
“Fuck you.” Travis ended the call before Liam could reply. Only then did he realize that his hand shook as he held the phone. Just the sound of Father Liam’s voice knotted Travis’s stomach.
“That didn’t sound good,” Brent observed. “Do you need a break? I can drive.”
“I’ll actually process better if I’m driving,” Travis replied. “I’ll just stew if I’m the passenger.”
“Suit yourself. The offer stands.”
Travis headed toward home. Neither man spoke for a while. Brent had to notice that Travis opted for back roads rather than the highway, but he didn’t mention it.
