Page 37 of Queens Will Play

I decided a change of subject was in order. “So, you say you’ve dealt with shandigoes before?”

“You don’t like talking about Boney?” Wilbur laughed. “Yes, I have dealt with shandigoes. They were common down in the South American jungles when I was there. In fact, the shamans of the Jaguar Warriors taught me how to keep an eye out for them and what to do with them, once we caught them. They used them against their enemies at times.”

“Wilbur,” I asked, “Can you go out on the astral?” I’d never actually known how extensive Wilbur’s powers were. That he’d managed to bring Martin back to life and keep him for as long as he had meant he had to be fairly powerful.

“Sure can, honey,” he said. Suddenly, he let out a squeal. “What the hell?”

I turned around to see a tendril of Smoky’s hair curled around Wilbur’s neck.

“Respect. You will give my wife respect,” Smoky said, staring down at Wilbur.

“Smoky!” I was about to intervene when Smoky withdrew his stranglehold and stared at Wilbur. “Wilbur, are you all right?”

Wilbur cleared his throat. “Yeah, I’m fine. Why I ever let myself get involved with you lot, I’ll never know.” Glaring at Smoky, he added, “Yes, Camille, I can go out on the astral. And I can take someone with me.”

Smoky sat back in his seat, looking satisfied. “Good. That will help. We’re going to have to go over to the astral to fight them, and I can take Camille and one other, but I can’t everyone. You’ll take Morio.”

Wilbur started to sputter, but a strand of Smoky’s hair rose up again and he quickly quieted down. We drove the rest of the way in silence.

By the time we got there, Marion was in her car with Douglas. We met at the porch and Marion unlocked the door, but she stood there, as though dreading entering the house again.

“Douglas and I are staying at a hotel right now,” she said. “I have no desire to enter this house alone. I have the awful feeling that whatever it is, it’s hanging around in the day now. I want my home back!” She suddenly teared up. “It was bad enough losing our other house to fire, but now this one to ghosts?”

Douglas wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Honey…”

She buried her face in his shoulder. “I don’t want to have to start over again.”

I winced. The pain in her voice crept through. Marion could be so strong, but beneath everything, there was a vulnerable woman who wanted to feel safe in the place that should be her haven.

“We’re here, Marion. And we know what’s attacking you now, and we’re going to try to put a stop to them,” I said. “I don’t remember if you’ve met Wilbur, but he’s here to help us. He’s a necromancer.”

Marion glanced at him. “You look familiar, but…”

“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” Wilbur said. “I’ll do what I can to help.” He could be polite when he wanted to. It wasn’t often that he chose to be, but he held out his hand. She detached herself from Douglas to shake and he gave her a respectful nod.

As soon as we entered the house, I could feel the energy from the shandigoes. It had permeated the very air, and I shuddered. “They’re thick,” I said.

“You bet your pretty ass they’re thick,” Wilbur said, narrowing his eyes. He turned to Marion. “What did you do to attract them?”

“What do you mean? I didn’t do anything.”

“It had to be something. They don’t usually just show up on random chance,” he said.

“What are they?” Marion asked. “Are they ghosts? You said there are more than one of them?”

“They’re called shandigoes, and they’re essentially psychic leeches,” I said.

“They’re more than that,” Wilbur said. “I first encountered them down in South America, in the jungles when I was training with the shamans. They’re attracted to psychic energy. They’re useful in spells, so the tribe I worked with created specialized statues that drew them in—the statues were enchanted and they were specifically targeted at attracting shandigoes.”

Marion gasped and turned to Douglas. “That crap your aunt left to you?”

Douglas groaned. “You said South America?”

Wilbur nodded. “Yeah.”

“Wait here,” Douglas said. He took off upstairs.

I looked at Marion, waiting.