Jude slapped a hand on Ronan’s shoulder. “You and me both. If things had gone much further, I would have hauled your ass over the balcony myself to keep you from doing any more damage.”
“I appreciate that.” Ronan walked to the balcony door and stood watching the strengthening waves hit the shore. The ocean sure as hell wasn’t dead calm anymore. He offered up a quick prayer thanking God for giving him enough energy to resist the possession and keep his family safe.
Ronan would do everything in his power to make sure that entity never hurt another soul, living or dead.
16
Tennyson
Ten was frozen to his bones. If he lived to be a hundred, he’d never forget the look of pure hatred on Ronan’s face when Everly was trying to get rid of the spirit possessing him. Ronan’s response had been getting sick to his stomach, while Ten felt like his blood had turned to ice in his veins.
Leaving Jude to take care of Ronan, Ten, Cope, and Everly were in the kids’ bedroom, surrounded by unicorn stuffies and Ezra’s toys.
“What do we do next? Cope asked, still looking shaken.
“We need to find a way to bring that spirit back without the risk of it trying to possess someone else. Is there a way to do that?” Ten’s eyes were on Cope. He had a feeling the only way to handle this spirit was through the use of spells.
“We could use a spell jar,” Cope said.
“What’s that?” Everly wore an excited look on her face.
“You take a jar and fill it with pebbles or broken glass or coffin nails and command the spirit to count every pebble in every river or every nail in the world. The trap keeps the spirit occupied and would break any haunting the spirit had on this hotel.”
“We could use sand. We’ve got plenty of that on the beach,” Everly suggested.
“That’s a great idea. What do we use for a jar to contain the spell and the spirit?” Ten asked.
“I don’t suppose anyone brought a mason jar. I know we didn’t.” Cope frowned. “I’ve got it! Remember the first night we were here and had drinks at the bar?
Ten nodded. “Could we use a beer bottle?”
Cope shook his head. “There’s no way to reseal the cap once it’s popped off, but I saw Lainie use bottled club soda for a patron who wanted a vodka and soda. It had a screw cap. I think that might work.
“Let’s head down to the bar and grab one. Have the hotel charge it to our room.” Ten was on his feet. He saw Jude sitting with Ronan. He sat beside his husband on the sofa. “Babe, we need to go to the beach.”
Ronan shook his head. “This isn’t exactly a beach day with the rain and high surf.”
“I know, but Cope has a way to trap the spirit to keep it from harming or possessing anyone else. We need sand from the beach.” Ten pressed a kiss to Ronan’s forehead. “Let’s go.”
Ten could feel his entire body buzzing with energy just like it had the last time he and Everly helped Cope with a spell. He ushered everyone out of the hotel room and into the elevator. “We need to make a quick stop in the bar before we head to the beach.”
Ronan wore a confused look, but Jude just laughed. “I just go with it when Cope gets like this. It’s faster and easier not to ask questions.
When they got off the elevator, Ten ran into the Taproom and walked behind the bar, grabbing one of the club soda bottles. He quickly unscrewed the cap and dumped the liquid into the bar sink.
“Are there any napkins and pens back there?” Cope asked, taking a seat at the bar.
Ten quickly found a stack of cocktail napkins. He grabbed a few and set them in front of Cope. “Is this enough?”
“Yeah, I only need one.”
Ten walked further down the bar and found a beer glass filled with pens. He grabbed two of them. “Here you go.” He watched as Cope began to write the spell on the napkin. Ten grabbed one and left a note for the bartender to add the club soda to their room bill.
“What did you write, Uncle Cope?” Everly asked.
“I forbid the malignant spirit of Hurricane Pointe to cross our path or to harm our families. We command you to count every seashell in the ocean, count every grain of sand on every beach beside every ocean, until the sun rises and shines upon you. Begone evil one!” Cope rolled the cocktail napkin and placed it into the bottle before screwing on the cap. “What we need to do is fill this with sand and shells. We’ll read the spell and put the cap on. I’ve seen this spell done before, but have never tried it myself. I’m not entirely sure what will happen.”
“We trust you.” Everly patted Cope’s hand. “Let’s go do this!” She hopped off her stool and ran out of the bar. Ten and Cope followed behind her.
