Lucky Stars (Ghosts and Reincarnation #5)(147)

“It’s likely,” Cassandra entered the discussion, “and has happened before, that whoever pushed Belle didn’t even know they were pushing her. They might not even have been aware they were here at all. If Caldwell’s spirit is strong enough, he could take over his host’s body and the host would have no memory of the acts he or she was perpetrating while Caldwell had control. It’s almost as if they don’t share a soul like, say, you and Joshua or Belle and Brenna. If it’s like this then it’s like a spirit inhabiting a body. It can lie dormant or it can take over. If it’s strong enough and angry enough, it’ll take over.”

“That’s bloody ridiculous,” Jack growled.

“It may sound it, but it’s true,” Lachlan replied quietly, his eyes now on Jack, his elbows still to his knees but his body was alert in response to Jack’s swiftly deteriorating mood and Jack made note not to underestimate him. A flirt with a ludicrous profession he might be but by the look on his face and his posture, it was clear he was not easily bested. “It would explain why there’s no readings or traces of his ghost or presence in this house. If Caldwell had never taken over his host, even the children wouldn’t sense his existence. He certainly would leave no trace, as you and Belle haven’t of Brenna or Joshua.”

“Does this mean Brenna or Joshua can take over Jack or me?” Belle asked and all members of the quartet nodded.

“Fucking hell,” Jack clipped out.

“My guess, and Lewis might be able to confirm,” Lorna stated, “is that’s the way this has to go. Brenna, through you, has to do something, what, we don’t know yet. Or, perhaps, both of you need to do something. That’s what we’ve got to find out. All the players are here, we just don’t know what they have to do to release the children.”

“And how do you find that out?” Jack asked.

“We talk to the wee ghosties and hope they know,” Angus answered.

“And if they don’t?” Jack pushed.

The quartet looked amongst themselves then their gazes came to Jack. But it was only Angus that shrugged.

They had no idea.

“Bloody brilliant,” Jack muttered.

“So you need to call them,” Belle noted, her eyes going between Lachlan and Lorna.

“Aye,” Lachlan answered.

“And if you do that, it’ll be gently?” Belle asked.

“No harm will come to them, Belle,” Lachlan replied softly.

Jack felt Belle straighten at his side and she declared, “Well then, let’s do that now.”

“Fucking hell,” Jack repeated on a mutter.

“We have another problem,” Cassandra remarked and Jack’s eyes cut to her. “When we figure out how to send the children to the other plane, which we will do, Belle, I promise,” she said to Belle then went on. “We still have the reincarnated soul of Caleb Caldwell walking around. He intends harm. He’s proved that and we need to neutralise him.”

This was precisely what had been preying on Jack’s mind since Dempsey shared his news on Belle’s cottage steps that morning.

“Caldwell is reincarnated in my brother Miles,” Jack told them what they needed to know but he didn’t relish saying and felt all eyes on him.

“You sorted that, lad?” Angus asked quietly and Jack felt his eyes narrow.

“You knew already?” he shot back.

“Got the niggle when I first met him,” Angus replied. “The diary I told you about, local lore we’ve been hearing, Cass and me pieced it together. We can’t be sure, unless Cass touches him, but that’s our guess.”

Jack thought of Miles’s visit earlier that week, targeting his Belle who was unprotected and he felt a burn start in his stomach as he asked bitingly, “Did you think maybe to share that niggle in an effort to protect the inhabitants of this house?”

“Laddie, you’ve made it clear you aren’t thrilled about all the goings-on and Joy is a sweet lass. We’re not sure of that kind of information, information about your brother, we share it with you without any proof to back it, do you think you’d pat us on the back and give us a medal?” Angus returned.

“Maybe not but I would have taken measures to protect the inhabitants of this house,” Jack fired back.

Angus had the good grace to look uncomfortable as he muttered, “Point taken.”

It was done, all was well so Jack decided to move the conversation on.

“It’s highly unlikely you can confirm this as it’s highly unlikely that Miles will ever return to The Point. This I know since he’s vowed not to do so again,” Jack reported.

“He might not have a choice if Caldwell takes over his host. He won’t even know he’s doing it,” Lorna put in. “Therefore, we need to seek him out and neutralise him.”

“And uh, how would you go about doing that?” Belle asked cautiously.

“A spell, or, more accurately, a potion,” Cassandra answered. “The good news is, I have some. The other good news is, I’ve used it before and it works a charm. The bad news is, it’s like medicine. You don’t take it once and then, poof, entity gone. You have to take it once a month for the rest of your life in order to keep the spirit inside latent.”

“Fucking hell,” Jack muttered yet again.