“Sure,” he encouraged, gesturing her forward. “Why don’t you take this gentleman?”
“Okay.” Gwyn seemed fairly confident as she extended her hand. “Sorry, I’m new, but I think I got it. Oh, if I fumble, my master or his master will take over, don’t worry.”
The ghost must have asked if this was all right. I would in his shoes.
But the ghost was okay trying, clearly, as Gwyn started walking along the path. I had my thermal goggles on, so I could see the ghost’s energy signature without a problem, as it was ice cold and showed up dark blue. She walked steadily and I could see the ghost form up, become more solid, until he reached the end of the path and stepped through a door without her. Interestingly enough, I could see the door as it opened, ushering him through. It was a bright, penetrating light, so bright I had to look away for a second. When I looked back, it was closed and gone.
Gwyn turned and smiled in satisfaction. “I really do think I have this.”
“You did it perfect,” Mack confirmed. “It’s a great place to practice passing. Do it again, Gwyn.”
“Sure!”
Gwyn passed another, and it was just as quick, just as smooth, and I could practically see her confidence building. She had this for sure. She was a quick study—a saving grace in this business especially. She must have been nervous passing these ghosts, as the theater was uncomfortable to be in, but even in this tense atmosphere, she was doing okay.
When Gwyn came back again, Mack paused her. “Gwyn, how do you feel about staying here, helping pass ghosts? I want toback up and support Eli as she goes after those two almost-demonic ones.”
Gwyn’s brows furrowed a little. “I mean, that’s fine, but are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“I will have a monster hunter and Exorcist with me,” Mack pointed out dryly. “But I’m the only one who can exorcise aside from Eli.”
“Ohhh. Gotcha. Yeah, I’ll be fine.”
“C’est bon. Then keep going.”
Gwyn trusting our comrades enough to split from Mack pleased me enormously. Maybe that was silly to think, since she barely knew me or Mack either, but she’d latched on to us like a little duckling. I was happy she realized the rest of our team could be trusted to safeguard her, too.
Mack and I split from them, moving toward the back side of the basement, where Eli had more or less cornered the truly problematic ghosts. I found Lachlan waiting nearby and asked, “Seals?”
He gave me a thumbs-up. “More impenetrable than plot armor.”
“Perfect. I don’t want anything escaping today.” Mostly because I didn’t want said ghosts to ambush us later. Or force us to chase them down.
We kept walking down the hallway, stepping carefully over any salt circles so as not to disturb the granules. Eli was right about it somehow getting darker the farther in we went, despite all of the lights being on. Someone had retrofitted electrical wiring for sockets. Plus, the cables were literally stapled against the walls. I knew the building was at least two hundred years old, and the age showed everywhere you looked.
After traversing about two-thirds of the basement, I spotted the trio ahead of me. Quinn was laying down a salt line,interestingly, and two camping lanterns were set nearby. Booker and Eli both peered into the darkness, Eli explaining something.
“—crap is going to interfere with sight lines,” she stated with exasperation. Then she turned, spying us, and repeated herself. “Past here it’s all one big room, but I think that’s because all of the mechanicals for the building are in here. There’s a lot of duct work, plumbing lines, et cetera. Sight lines are nonexistent. But those two wannabe demons are past here.”
“Salt line is so they can’t escape?” I guessed. “Or seals?”
“Right. I don’t want them getting anywhere near Gwyn. I think a salt line will hold them.”
Mack grunted. “I do appreciate that. She’s with Beau passing ghosts without help, by the way.”
“Yeah?” Eli grinned, proud as punch. “She’s picking it up quick, then. You came to help me?”
“I did.”
Eli hugged him. “You’re such a sweetie. All right, let’s go kick some ass.”
Eli, I thought, was a little frustrated by this case already. If she chose to work out those frustrations on the ghosts, well, who could blame her?
I only had one question before we dove in. “No good ghosts in there, right?”
“Hmm? Oh.” Eli shook her head and assured me, “No good ghosts in here. Just the troublemakers and wannabe demons.”
“Ah, then let’s not hold ourselves in check.” I was all for breaking a few things. Breaking things made me happy.
