Ghost Tale - Part 03

 

"Thank you for releasing me from that prison...." the ghost hisses, stale and rancid air coming out of her mouth. The ghost sees Kado move and hisses, "You move and I'll snap her stupid little neck. Or worse..." It chuckles. "You're all so kiiiind and full of looooove." The words drip with disgust. "My parents were the same way - a bunch of idiots."

Kado stares at the creature. Hiroto was way off. This was a revenant...or worse. If he could just get closer he'd be able to use his particular skills. This was his wheelhouse.

"Your body...Pretty Hair..." the ghost chuckles, "...you can save this one by coming with me...to the basement...for a chat...."

Hiroto's skin starts to alter.

Kado knows that in moments, Hiroto will be dead.

Cindy fills with rage. She feels played. Used. She doesn't think, she acts. She brings the Shanto up hard and fast and connects with the ghosts head. "YOU ASSHOLE!" Cindy feels power surging through her.

Hiroto falls into Kado's arms - limp and shaking.

Cindy screams, "I'm DONE with you!" She grips the Shanto in both hands and brings it down on the ghost again. "B!TCH! GO TO HELL!"

The ghost shrieks and shoves Cindy back with inhuman force and sends her flying back into Claire and Olivia.

Tanner draws her gun, but the ghost thing screams out a curse and Tanner freezes in place.

The ghost starts her own chanting - guttural and satanic. Cindy starts to feel sick.

Kado springs at the ghost, grips it hard, and slams her to the table with a grunt. He starts to chant before the ghost can regain her footing, knowing she's too physically strong to handle one on one.

Kado presses down hard and chants. He has to work fast - this is taking a lot of his power and he's not sure how long he can keep going.

Cindy crawls up and helps to hold the thing down. She tries to avoid the ghosts legs as they kick and try to find purchase. "Damn it...."

Claire dives in, gripping the Shanto and touching it to the things face. She doesn't know if it will do anything, but has to try. She smells burning meat and smiles, but then the creature knocks the Shanto away and grips her neck.

Olivia rises and tries to work a protection spell over her people. She can feel the creature's negative energies working away at her own positive energy, but continues.

The spell Olivia is weaving slowly snaps Tanner out of her trance. "Ya piece 'a shite, ya..." she groans.

The protection spell loosens the things grasp on Claire and she falls back and away from the flailing ghost.

Kado focuses all his energy on driving the ghost away. He growls out the ancient words and feels the ghost growing weaker.

One of the jerky hand movements catches Cindy in the face and she falls back into Darcy.

Darcy pulls Cindy back and checks her eye.

Kado growls out the last bit of the powerful spell, then realizes he needs to damage the physical body to break the bonds to this world. He's weak and does know if he can do more. He sees Tanner out of the corner of his eye. "TANNER! SHOOT!" He pulls back.

Tanner doesn't hesitate. She fires four times in a spread not really knowing where she was supposed to hit. All four shots find their marks.

The ghost cries out....and is gone.

Tanner pants out, "Well....tha' took a turn fer the worse."

Kado lifts Hiroto up gingerly. "Is there a room I can take her to?"

"Mine...this way..." Darcy says.

"Olivia, I may need your help when you're done with Claire." Kado stomps away with Hiroto.

Cindy touches her necklace. "Will she be ok?"

Kado calls back over his shoulder straining to carry the girl, "I believe so..."

Claire shakes. "She was....taking me...."

"Shhhh...you're ok now dear. You're ok."

Tanner slips the gun away and feels her throbbing head. Whatever that was, it was powerful magic if it broke through the spells of protection Olivia has worked on her.

_______

Epilogue

Hours later, Kado heads back downstairs. Hiroto is sleeping soundly and he finally feels like she's safe. Olivia's help made the process far easier than it would have been on his own.

Cindy stands in the dimly lit room staring at the Christmas tree.

"Hello, " Kado says as he stands before her.

"How is she?"

"I think she'll be fine. Olivia's healing powers are a wonder. Combined with your tea, of course, which was....wonderful." He smiles.

"It's so strange to hear your voice...outside of my head." Cindy smiles.

"I owe you an apology, Cindy. I was trying to make sure you were...who and what you said you were. With Olivia's troubles in Italy of late, I just had to be sure. I won't use the crystal ball anymore. It wasn't right for me to intrude that way."














Cindy smiles. "Well...maybe we can still use it to talk...once we get to know each other a bit better?"

Kado looks into her eyes and smiles. "I'd like that very much."

Cindy feels a strange attraction. She wants to press herself into him. Smell him. Feel his arms around her. She touches the necklace around her neck....and decides that can all come in time...if it's meant to be.

"You must be tired. You can sleep in my room." She sees the look on his face change a bit. "I'LL sleep in my roommates room." She grins.