Ardal (The Sabbats)

Chapter Five

Thursday, October 31 st .

Nine Saint Gillian Street. Garden District. N’Orleans.

The clock struck twelve as Freddie Binks appeared hovering over the dining room table.

“Freddie, it’s so wonderful to see you, sweetheart. I miss you so much.”

“Another tragedy I owe payback to Moonbeam for. I will avenge your death, my darling.”

Freddie’s apparition was quickly gone and he was replaced by Tarn Lamont.

Gillette smiled. “Where have you been, Tarn? When you stopped haunting my house in Texas, I wondered where you had run off to.”

Ghostly laughter echoed through the room and Tarn was gone.

Luke appeared next and Rowanne began to cry at the sight of him. “I’ve missed you so much, Uncle Luke. Are you happy?”

“My grandmother and I are very happy living in solitude in the bayou and watching over you and Ben and Paul. We love our family and will always be there to protect y’all.”

A tearful moment was replaced by one not as pleasant. Sonny Hart burst through the veil and his essence circled the dining room shouting and hollering at the top of his lungs.

“I’ve come to stay and none of you mortals can make me go back. I’m here to watch my son grow up and I demand a second chance.”

“You’ve had more than enough chances,” said Ardal. “You cannot stay on this side of the veil, Sonny. In your former life you were a serial killer, and you don’t belong in this world any longer.”

“Biding my time on the other side of the veil, my powers have been growing. We’ll battle it out, Ardal, and when you lose, I’ll have my wife and my family back again.”

“I’ll protect you, Gillette.” Rufin jumped up on his chair and tossed up a wall of glass around Gillette.

Sonny could see her but couldn’t touch her. He pounded on the glass and couldn’t break through. He circled the room shouting out a spell in a ghostly voice.

Goddess of the midnight hour

Rufin kneel and give up your power

Helpless as a wilted flower

Your heart cries out sad and sour

My wife Gillette you cannot have

I send you to an early grave

So mote it be.

Rufin fell off his chair stone cold dead.

The glass walls around Gillette disappeared and while the witches watched in amazement, Sonny Hart dove into Lulu’s body. She lifted her big head and bayed at the moon.

“Clearly, this has been a disastrous event,” said Misty. “I’ll take care of Sonny later, but for now we must take down the circle.”

Ardal released the Deities.

Rowanne released the quarters and the elements.

Claire removed the circle.

Misty shook her head and said, “I believe I need a glass of wine.”