Chapter Twenty-One Linda #2
Linda let all of the new intel float in her brain…
crazy intel… as she became increasingly horrified over what the Afflicted were enduring.
She tried her best to recall what she’d learned before she lost consciousness.
About the amulet Rayo wore around his neck.
“Okay, so what you’ve explained about the amulets, that would mean…
that would mean that Rayo possesses the original, right?
That’s what he’s been wearing. He’s in cahoots with the dorlis. ”
“I think so. Practically, a dorlis always needs some sort of human ally in order to succeed in its plans for manifestation. All Rayo would’ve needed to do was create replicas of the original amulet and then figure out a way to distribute them.”
“Which he’s been doing with his special gatherings after the Equinox, ostensibly meant to share knowledge about so-called mystical worlds out there,” Linda said. “That’s what I discovered when I was scoping his place out.”
“I’m pretty sure the gatherings he’s been holding have been a ruse,” Fonsi said.
“Rayo doesn’t care about informing folks about how we can safeguard ourselves against ghosts or have a better understanding of spirit realms. I say his primary goal has been to distribute as many copies of the amulet as possible, to give the dorlis as many opportunities as possible to manifest. I just don’t know how he got in contact with a dorlis in the first place. ”
“I think I know,” Linda said. “I did a search on everything connected to Rayo over the past few months. He was in New York City at the exact time of the Ghost Equinox. You said spirits were running amok, able to operate far more freely than normal. What if he was contacted by the dorlis? What if he’s possessed?
Or fell under its influence in some way? ”
Fonsi snapped his fingers. “Makes sense. According to El Gran Libro, a dorlis can make mystical promises that would speak to a human ally’s heart’s desire.
A deal with the devil. If a human could make things happen with an amulet, the dorlis would grant his ally some type of elevated power or mystical ability.
” Fonsi paused. “I don’t know Rayo, obviously, but who knows what his heart’s desires are. What he could’ve been seduced by.”
“Well, outside of figuring out what to do about Rayo, all of this madness is done. I destroyed the dorlis with my gift.” Linda felt a surge of relief, that her being so banged up was worth it. She’d done her job. Folks would be safe. “I willed that thing to be blown apart. It’s gone.”
“You blew it apart?” Maxine uttered with a scowl. “With your empathy? I didn’t know you could do that. You’ve never used your gift in that way.”
Fonsi’s face remained somber. “I’m sorry to say this, but it may not be so easy to destroy the entity.
Not really. I could be wrong, but like I said, I’ve consulted with other Guardianes as well, including Estelle.
A dorlis, once manifest, is notoriously difficult to destroy.
It’s a creature of shadow, able to be both solid and ethereal.
It can be blown apart temporarily, but it will continue to come back.
Even destroying the amulets, presuming we could somehow find all of them…
It’s too late. The dorlis has already feasted enough on its victims so that it can permanently manifest in the human realm. ”
“So… that’s it, then?” Linda couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You said that thing’s connection to its hosts are permanent. So it’s just… just going to exist now and feed on the Afflicted? Roam around and do whatever the fuck it wants? There’s gotta be something we can do.”
“I think the only thing to do is figure out a way to destroy the spirit itself, at its source, where it resides in El Intermedio. My cousin Gwendolyn might be able to pull it off with her gifts, as she can manipulate the very fabric of ghostly realms, but she’s overseas.
I’ve called and texted her, told her there’s an emergency, but I haven’t heard back.
Even if she dropped everything, it’ll take her a minute to get to DC.
And keep in mind there’s really no way for us to find the dorlis at this point.
As I mentioned, it’s essentially able to hide itself at will. ”
“Which means this thing can continue to have its way with people,” Linda said. “The rest of the Afflicted… have any more died?”
“We don’t know,” Maxine said. “Elton’s keeping things close to the chest, but when I spoke to him… the way he sounded. I just have a feeling things are bad. I haven’t even shared with him what Fonsi figured out.”
“I… I didn’t know what to do,” Fonsi said.
“I was just featured on the news, so I have press contacts now. But I thought just going on a show and spouting this sort of thing could induce mass panic. I wanted to get to you, get your advice on how to handle ASAP. But then when I’d heard you’d been hurt… ”
“You did the right thing,” Linda said. “First and foremost, we have to get people away from the amulets. Tell them to dump them, throw them in the sea, burn ’em… whatever they need to do. And the message, ideally, needs to come from the cops or the feds.”
“On it. Sending a message to Elton now,” Maxine said.
“And if he’s slow to respond, Fonsi, reconnect with CNN, or try MCURY, or both.
Let them know you have the answer to what’s been happening with the Afflicted.
If there’s anyone who you can find to back up your claims, maybe another Guardián, that would be great.
If not, put on the big-boy pants. You’re gonna have to come across as in the know and share a message with the masses, let people know they’d better listen to what you have to say. We don’t have time.”
Fury ran through Linda’s veins. “It’s fuckin’ nuts—this thing has been right in front of our face the entire time. Cops and feds say they’ve been searching for a culprit, but what good were they?”
“I honestly don’t think the authorities fully understood what to look for,” Fonsi said. “Think of how there’s been such a proliferation of wards and charms meant to keep away evil spirits. It’s easy to miss. We missed it, Linda, and we’re far more in the know about this sort of thing.”
“Right. You’re right,” Linda admitted. “We need to get to Rayo. He may have more answers as to how we can make sure this thing is gone.” She took a deep, deep breath, ignored the pain and strain that it took to scooch herself over, lift the sheets, and move her legs to the side of the bed.
“The doctor believes you’ve been concussed,” Maxine said. “And they’re concerned you might’ve bruised a rib. Or two. You shouldn’t be moving.”
“There’s no time to wait. I don’t have any of my shit here.
” Linda stood up and the room spun. She closed her eyes, felt Maxine’s and Fonsi’s arms supporting her.
She took another deep breath and opened her eyes.
“Thank you… thank you both for being here. For all your help. I’m sorry to have gotten you involved in this. ”
“We’re just trying to be hard and heroic like you,” Fonsi said. His words were accented by what Linda had come to recognize as bashfulness. Maxine didn’t reply, just gave her boss the stare that said, Where else would I be?
“I appreciate it, really. And my clothes… my piece… my phone…” Linda glanced down, realized she’d felt chilly for their entire conversation because she was wearing nothing but a thin hospital gown.
A bandage had been wrapped around her left forearm.
Her torso had been wrapped in bandages as well.
Two large Band-Aids covered both her knees.
Maxine ran over to a chair in the corner of the room and grabbed a duffel bag resting against its front legs.
“Brought you a change of clothing. They cut off what you were wearing, which was pretty much ruined by the crash. As for your gun and phone, they’ve been squared away in the hospital’s safe. We’d need to get that from admin.”
Linda took a moment to digest the intel.
Communicating with hospital staff would mean contending with bureaucracy, paperwork, and well-intentioned but annoying medical staff advising her to stay put, to fully recover before she checked out.
Wasn’t going to happen. “I have my backup pistol and phone at agency,” she said.
“Maxine, you’ll be point of contact with Elton and anyone else as we head back, give him updates as needed.
First and foremost, we need to get everyone away from the amulets. ”