Ghosts of July (Shamans of the Divide, Book 1)

Chapter Twenty-four

I knew Skye was on his way, so I gave Nana a call to check in. Her voice sounded weak and she didn't try to hide her fatigue.

"Still no word on Lara," she said.

Something gnawed at my stomach thinking about Lara. Nana interrupted my thoughts.

"I need to sleep, Buttercup," she said. "I'm so sorry. I just don't think I'd make the drive home. Are you going to be okay again tonight? Any chance you can go sleep at your friend's house again? I'd feel better if you did. This whole business has me worried."

I told her that I'd sleep at Camille's house if possible, but I knew I was lying. Hanging up the phone, I went downstairs to feed Muffin dinner when I heard gravel out front.

Skye pulled up. He jumped out and ran to the porch.

"Did you hear anything from anyone?" I asked.

He shook his head and the look on his face had me worried. Skye's mouth was set in a grim line and the smile that usually reached his eyes was gone. He was worried about his father and his cousin.

"What are we going to do?" I walked to the passenger side and let myself in and Skye piled his tall frame into the driver's seat.

"My first guess would be to go out to the Stones," he threw the Explorer into reverse and jammed on the gas. I flew forward and put my hand out to stop myself from slamming against the seatbelt. I let out an oof.

"Sorry," he said. "My driving takes a little getting used to."

"Yeah," I muttered. "And a hefty life insurance policy."

Gravel flew as Skye peeled out and I was so thankful my grandmother wasn't home. She'd likely have jumped in her own car, chased him down, and yanked me back to the house. She didn't tolerate much by way of teenaged nonsense.

"Your ghost have anything helpful to..." he started but stopped abruptly and glanced in the rearview mirror. I looked at the expression on his face.

"What is it?"

Taking his eyes off the mirror, he spoke in a very quiet voice.

"He's here."

"Who?" I asked, panicked and looking out my window in the dark. "Who's here, Skye?"

"He's talking about me, kid."

My head whipped to the backseat to find Ernie sitting there, looking comfy as can be. I looked from Ernie to Skye and back again. Skye wasn't looking in the backseat but he looked nervous and kept his eyes on the road.

"You see him?"

"Of course I see the kid," Ernie began but I put my hand up in the air to hush him.

"Not you," I said over my shoulder. I was looking at Skye.

He glanced in the rearview mirror again but shook his head.

"I can't see him," he finally said. "But I know he's here. I can't explain it. There's this knot in my chest and if I concentrate, I can make out a really hazy outline of him. But I can't really see him."

"Tell him to stop trying so hard to see me or you two are gonna end up on the wrong end of a pine tree like me."

That made me smile. A little.

"He said to keep driving."

Skye nodded and kept quiet.

"Where have you been?"

"No clue," Ernie said. "Too much time out here with you makes me weak and I can't come back for a while. How long's it been?"

Glancing at the clock on the dash, I told him it'd been about an hour.