You Don't Belong

Chapter 30 - And Shorter Still

Before Lachlan returned home the twins had conjured the doorway again and summoned all five spirits back with Tori's help. It was agreed that Lachlan would be told, after the twins went to bed. As Tori suspected, he didn't take it well.
"I don't want them involved in this. They're too little." He said angrily.
"I don't either but I have no choice. The mere fact that they can conjure the doorway proves to me that it's their destiny to be like me. A...Guide or Evocator or whatever you call it." Tori said. Lachlan paced back and forth.
"They're too young." He repeated.  "And spirits can touch you."
"They can't touch the twins. We tested it. They can't touch you, either." Tori said. He looked at her.
"But they can touch you. Why is that?" He asked. Tori blinked at the question. It had never occurred to her to find out. She didn't even remember if Russell could.
"I thought it was part of the gift." Tori said, her brain buzzing. Lachlan looked at her.
""You're thinking what I'm thinking. I know it." He said. Tori sighed.
""I don't remember if Russell can touch spirits. He didn't say anything about hurting either, but I do remember him being angry when I shoved a spirit through the doorway. Maybe the energy he takes allows him to touch them." Tori said.
"That's part of what I was thinking. The other part was..."
"Whether I am still connected to the other side, whether I should be dead." Tori completed. He sat down beside her.
"Exactly." Lachlan said. Tori took a deep breath.
"I don't know. That's the feeling I get. And each episode I have..." Tori didn't want to consider what it meant. Lachlan took her hands in his.
"We'll jump that hurdle when we get to it. Until then, you need to prepare. Thursday night we'll hang the symbols everywhere, and we'll be safe. All of us." Lachlan said, and kissed her. She kissed him back, feeling his love flowing, and she fought the desire to break down and cry.
"Tomorrow the girls will do some more summoning after school. It's practice for them, and we can tell the spirits that come to the shop that the spells will be removed on Saturday, if things work out." Tori said. Lachlan watched her, but she avoided his gaze. She, too, knew what he was thinking. She hadn't said that she would remove the spells, just that they would be removed. Lachlan squeezed her hand.
"They are strong then?" He asked, a little reluctantly.
"They are strong together for now, but they will be very strong in their own rights." Tori replied. Lachlan almost winced.
"How much can you teach them in five days?" He asked, and his voice almost broke, she could hear it catch. Tori stood up and moved to him, hugging him.
"Not as much as I would like, or that they would remember, but I hope the spirits stay around for them. Well, two, at least." Tori said. Lachlan pulled back, looking up at her.
"Why only two? You said there were three. Gina, that doctor and the nurse." He said.
"Gina won't be staying around once things finish." Tori said. Lachlan's eyes narrowed.
"How come?" He asked. Tori pulled him closer to her on the couch.
"I didn't tell you everything about Gina." Tori said, and explained who she was, as best she could, and once she had finished, Lachlan was staring at the wall opposite them.
"So..." He started, then stopped, at a loss for words. Tori waited, knowing it didn't help to push him.
"What happens Friday? You battle Russell, you lose, he beats the Judges, Heaven and Hell..."
"And Earth," Tori interjected, and Lachlan faltered.
"Earth too?" He asked. Tori nodded.
"Spirits touching the living, hurting them maybe, influencing the young." Tori said. He frowned.
"Well, all three realms then thrown out of balance. It'd be bedlam. You have to strip him of his powers." Lachlan said.
"That's just a witch thing. Or is it? It's power given by the powers that be, why not this too? I think you're onto something there. A binding spell. Let's research it tomorrow." Tori said. Lachlan nodded.
"We'll meet up at the shop, but we won't be able to test it until Friday. I only have one shot." Tori added. Lachlan moved closer.
"Take energy from the Portal. He won't play fair, I doubt the Judges will mind you taking some energy to stop him." Lachlan said.
"If Russell hasn't used it all." Tori said. He shook his head slowly.
"We need to stay positive. Having a defeatist attitude won't help at all." Lachlan said. Tori nodded absently, though she still felt dejected. Seeing the look on her face, Lachlan stood up, pulling her to her feet.
"Come on." He guided, and they headed to bed, falling asleep in his arms.