Knight of Betrayal: A Medieval Haunting (Ghosts of Knaresborough Book 1) Read online

  ‘But Charlie and Paul speak English. Language is a function of our brains not our spirits. The guys are just tools for the spirits to use. One more question, did you close the spirit board?’

  Helen looked down at her hands.

  ‘You didn’t, did you?’

  ‘We couldn’t. Something happened—’ she paused and Donna waited for her to continue. ‘It was weird, it was like an explosion of – nothing. But we were sent flying. I fell off the stage and broke my wrist,’ Helen pushed back her sleeve to show her tatty pot, ‘everybody else landed on their arses, and the spirit board just vanished.’

  Donna drew in a sharp breath. ‘And you haven’t found it?’

  ‘No. To be honest, we didn’t look very hard – we were all freaked out. I was hurt, and I don’t think any of us actually wanted to see it again.’

  ‘You have to find it. That’s what is connecting the spirits to your friends.’

  ‘So if we find it, then what, destroy it?’

  ‘Yes, burn it and cleanse the place where you held the séance – was it at the theatre?’

  Helen nodded.

  ‘We’ll also cleanse each individual and hopefully it’s not too late.’

  ‘What do you mean, too late?’

  ‘It sounds like the connection is strong. It’s unusual for spirits to exert so much control unless the person is in trance. Judging by their history, the spirits have unfinished, extremely emotional, business to put right. When was the murder?’

  ‘1170.’

  Donna released a breath and seemed to shrink into herself. ‘So that’s what, eight hundred years?’

  ‘Nearly eight hundred and fifty.’

  ‘That’s a long time for unresolved issues to brew, even in the spirit world.’

  Helen didn’t know how to reply to that, so said nothing. Then, ‘How much will it cost?’

  Donna glared at her, then her expression softened. ‘Don’t worry about that at the moment – the main thing is to stop the spirits replaying their past or exacting vengeance, and make sure everybody is safe.’

  ‘Safe? You think we’re in danger?’ Helen asked, horrified.

  ‘They’ve already hurt you and broken relationships,’ Donna said. ‘God knows what else they’re capable of – it sounds like they’re gathering strength every day.’

  Chapter 32

  ‘Hi Donna, thank you so much for doing this,’ Helen said as she let the Wiccan into the theatre.

  ‘No problem. How long have we got before the others get here?’

  ‘About an hour.’

  ‘That should be fine, but let’s get started. Where did you hold the séance?’

  ‘On the stage.’

  ‘Of course you did.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Helen asked.

  ‘Oh I’m sorry, there’s no need to be defensive.’ Donna laid a hand on Helen’s arm. ‘It’s just that the spirits were given centre stage – it will have given them extra energy. You know how you feel during a show – that high?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘All that energy over countless shows – by everyone who’s ever performed there – leaves an energetic signature behind. Over the years that would have built up, and when the spirits were invited to join you, it would have given them a sizeable boost. That’s probably why they were able to get rid of the spirit board and attach themselves so firmly. Did you look for the board?’

  ‘Yes. Yes I did, but I couldn’t find it.’

  ‘Maybe one of your friends took it and put it “somewhere safe”.’

  ‘But why would they do that?’

  ‘They didn’t – the spirit they’re hosting did.’

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘Not being able to deal with the board makes this much harder. Keep an eye out – especially when visiting your friends. See if you can find it.’

  ‘Okay. Will this work without it?’

  ‘That depends on how strong they are and how badly they want to see this through.’ Donna frowned, then brightened and smiled to reassure Helen. ‘Only way to find out is to try. Let’s get started. The stage first.’

  Helen took a deep breath, then followed Donna through the auditorium and up to the stage where she deposited the large bag she was carrying.

  ‘What’s all that for?’ Helen asked as Donna pulled out bundles of herbs, a lighter, dish, coloured candles, a box, and a cup ornate enough to be labelled a chalice.

  ‘I’ll cast a circle first,’ Donna said, picking up the ornate box. She opened the lid and showed Helen the contents. ‘Salt,’ she said. ‘It will start to purify the place.’ She walked around the stage area in as large a circle as she could fit, sprinkling the salt as she went.

  ‘That covers the main area of the stage,’ she said. ‘Whatever you do, don’t step out of the circle. I’ll cleanse this area first, then go around each part of the theatre, then outside.’

  ‘Okay,’ Helen said, feeling like an extra from Supernatural.

  Donna bent, picked up a compass, and checked that she was in the exact centre. ‘Will you put the green candle there, it represents earth,’ she said, pointing. ‘Left a bit, perfect,’ she added as Helen did as she was told. ‘Now the yellow candle in the east for air. Then a red candle for fire to the south and blue for water in the west. Then come to the middle and stay still.’

  Donna picked up one of the bundles of herbs and the lighter. ‘Sage,’ she said by way of explanation. She walked to the green candle and lit it, muttering under her breath, then round to light the others, ending up back at the green candle. She held the bundle of sage to the flame until it caught, then blew on it until it smoked copiously with no flame.

  ‘With earth I cleanse this place of fear, pain and anger. Henry Plantagenet, Thomas Becket, Hugh de Morville, Reginald FitzUrse, William de Tracy, Richard le Brett, thank you for your time here, please leave now. We send you home and invite light, love and peace to dwell in this place,’ she intoned, walking around the circle anticlockwise, then she came back to the centre, placed the herbs in the dish, and picked up another bundle.

  ‘Cedar,’ Helen said, recognising the smell when Donna lit it.

  Donna said nothing but repeated her chant as she walked around the circle waving the smudge stick.

  ‘Sweetgrass,’ Donna said as she lit the next bundle, this time walking clockwise.

  Helen looked nervously at the amount of smoke and made a mental note to check the smoke alarms. Surely at least one of them should have gone off by now.

  Donna blew out the candles, and Helen strained to hear what she was muttering – it appeared to be a number of thank yous.

  ‘Now for the rest of the theatre,’ Donna said with a smile, picked up the still-smoking bundle of sage and wafted the smoke into every corner and along every boundary of the stage, auditorium and the areas backstage.

  ‘Are we done?’ Helen asked, checking her watch – the others would be here soon expecting a rehearsal not a Wiccan ritual.

  ‘Not quite, I’ll go outside and do the same all around the building – everything I can get to, anyway,’ she said, referencing its semi-detached nature. ‘Then I’ll need to do each member of the cast.’

  ‘What? They’ll never agree to that, not the way they are now,’ Helen said.

  ‘Then find a way to persuade them – and do it on the stage – that has received the most intense cleanse and the spirits’ hold on them should be weakened.’ Donna recognised the distress in Helen’s face and hugged her, careful to keep the burning herbs well away from their bodies. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll help you fix this.’

  Helen nodded and sniffed, surprised to find herself emotional. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered.

  ‘Have a drink of water and just sit quietly and gather your thoughts,’ Donna said. ‘I’ll be back soon.’

  *

  Helen jerked in surprise. The smoke alarms were finally doing their job and an ear-splitting howl transformed what had been a tranquil moment into a nightmare – at least unti
l she realised what the noise was.

  ‘What the bloody hell’s going on here?’ Paul demanded. ‘Dan, shut that thing off will you?’

  Dan waved his script under the sensor to clear the smoke, and the alarm silenced. Until another emitted a high shriek. One by one they were silenced. One by one they screamed.

  Finally, a quiet that lasted. Until Paul broke it.

  ‘Well, Helen? Are you going to tell us what in the name of God you’ve been doing?’

  ‘Actually, that was me,’ Donna said from behind him.

  He spun around and stared at her – eyes insolently examining her from her short blonde hair, down her long pink dress, to her pointed black patent boots, then back up. ‘And who the hell are you?’

  ‘Hi, I’m Donna,’ she said brightly, holding out her hand for a shake. ‘From the Wiccan shop.’

  Paul kept his hands by his sides, then slowly turned back to Helen and arched an eyebrow in question.

  ‘Come and sit down, everyone. We need to talk,’ Helen said, indicating the circle of chairs she’d arranged at the centre of the stage.

  ‘Come on, mate,’ Charlie said, tugging at Paul’s arm. ‘Let’s see what she’s got on her mind.’

  ‘I don’t have time for this,’ Paul said.

  ‘Of course you do. Stop moaning and sit – whoa.’ Charlie dropped Paul’s arm and stepped back as Paul’s hand bundled into a fist.

  ‘Sorry, mate,’ Paul said after a moment and relaxing his hand. ‘Don’t know what’s got into me lately.’

  ‘That’s kind of what I need to talk to you about,’ Helen said and led the way to the circle of chairs.

  Chapter 33

  ‘This is Donna,’ Helen said loudly enough that everyone could hear her, ‘from Spellbound.’

  ‘A witch?’ Charlie said, his voice full of disgust.

  ‘Wiccan,’ Donna corrected. ‘Very different to what the Church portrays as a witch.’

  Charlie muttered something under his breath that sounded remarkably like, ‘Heathen’. Donna glanced at Helen but did nothing else to acknowledge the comment.

  ‘A few weeks ago, you experimented with the spirit world,’ Donna said.

  ‘Load of nonsense,’ Dan scoffed.

  ‘I don’t think so,’ Helen said. ‘Since then, you’ve all been . . . different.’

  ‘Different how?’ Ed asked.

  ‘Well, for one thing you’ve become your characters on stage—’

  ‘That’s what we’re supposed to do,’ Paul said. ‘We’re actors!’

  ‘—and offstage,’ Helen continued as if he hadn’t spoken.

  ‘How do you mean?’ Sarah asked, and Helen narrowed her eyes. Surely Sarah out of everyone realises what’s going on?

  ‘Well, as you said yourself, Sarah, the friendship between Paul and Charlie has changed – you’re far more competitive with each other than before.’

  Paul and Charlie looked at each other and shrugged.

  ‘And you yourself, Sarah – it’s no secret that Mike has fancied you for months . . .’

  ‘Hey,’ Mike said, but Helen ignored him as well as Dan’s cursing.

  ‘But you’ve never entertained him as anything but a friend before – now you’ve moved out and are seeing him. It’s just not you!’

  ‘I bloody knew it, you cheating bitch!’

  ‘Is there any point to this?’ Paul interrupted, holding a hand up at Dan to quieten him.

  ‘Yes Paul, there is a point, you’re not in control.’

  ‘So you’re saying this . . . this mess is down to, what, ghosts?’ Dan asked.

  Helen’s heart sank at the tone of hope in his voice. Whatever the reason, what had been done had been done and there was no going back from it. ‘Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying.’

  ‘So all this, the breakup of my marriage, my kids’ heartache, mine, it’s all because you brought that, that, thing here and made us use it?’

  Helen had no answer.

  ‘No,’ Donna said. ‘Many people use spirit boards every day with no problem. Unfortunately, the spirits you contacted are angry, powerful and have no doubt waited centuries for a chance to come back and put right what was done in their lifetimes.’

  ‘So just bad luck, huh?’

  ‘I’m afraid so.’

  ‘What can we do about it?’ Charlie asked, his voice hesitant as if he had to force the words out.

  ‘We’ve cleansed the theatre, and now, with your permission, I’ll cleanse you. But to be honest, it may not be enough. We need to find the spirit board too – do any of you know what happened to it?’

  ‘It just . . . disappeared,’ Ed said and Donna stared at him.

  ‘Do you know where it disappeared to?’

  ‘No, of course I don’t. I’d have said.’

  ‘Okay, shall we start with you for the cleansing?’

  ‘What? I-I don’t know about that, what does it involve?’

  ‘It’s nothing to be worried about – I’ll just cleanse your aura with sage and ask any spirits to leave.’

  ‘Sounds like pagan devilry to me,’ Charlie said.

  ‘Pagan yes. Devilry no. Everything I do comes from a place of light and love,’ Donna said.

  Charlie’s thoughts were clear enough on his face that he didn’t need to voice them. Donna glanced at him nervously then turned her attention back to Ed.

  ‘Okay, I want you to uncross your legs and arms, close your eyes and relax. Just concentrate on your breathing and let any thoughts drift away.’

  Ed looked relaxed enough and Donna took a smudge stick from her bag, then lit it. She wafted it around Ed, surrounding him in smoke, then placed the sage in a dish and stood behind him, hands on his shoulders and face upturned. ‘I call on my angel guardians and spirit guides to join with Ed and cleanse him of the spirit of . . .’ Donna opened her eyes and looked at Helen in question.

  ‘Hugh de Morville.’

  Donna repeated the name, then repeated the mantra twice more as she waved her hands rapidly upwards from Ed’s feet to the crown of his head, finally clapping her hands together above his head.

  She placed her palms back on Ed’s shoulders and asked him how he felt.

  ‘Okay, I guess,’ he said slowly, blinking as he refocused on the group. ‘Yeah, okay.’ He smiled up at Donna, who moved to Sarah, carried out the same ritual then went on to Mike.

  ‘You’re not touching me, witch,’ Dan said as Donna finished Mike, stood in front of him and picked up the sage.

  ‘I won’t harm you,’ Donna reassured.

  ‘I don’t care, you’re not casting your spells over me!’ He hit out, catching Donna’s hands and she dropped the smoking bundle of herbs.

  ‘Dan!’ Sarah shouted. ‘Stop it, she’s only trying to help.’

  ‘You don’t get to tell me what to do any more, whore,’ Dan sneered. ‘What you think and want is nothing to me, do you understand?’ He jumped to his feet and Sarah recoiled in her chair.

  ‘Fucking heathen bullshit,’ Dan said and kicked the bundle of herbs off the stage.

  ‘Dan!’ Helen cried and ran offstage to retrieve the bundle. ‘You’ll set the place on fire.’

  ‘Oh stop bleating, woman! It’s always melodrama with you. I’m going to the pub, anyone want to join me or would you rather chant spells and set fire to yourselves?’

  ‘Reginald’s right,’ Paul said. ‘Hold on, I’m coming too.’

  ‘And me,’ Charlie said and they both followed Dan out of the theatre.

  ‘Did Paul just call Dan Reginald?’ Sarah asked.

  Helen nodded, her face ashen.

  ‘Things have gone too far,’ Donna said. ‘This is more than I can deal with.’

  ‘So what do we do?’ Helen asked.

  ‘I’ll make some calls,’ Donna said. ‘But to be honest, I think the only people who can stop this are Dan, Paul and Charlie.’

  The others stared at her, then at the exit door.

  ‘Fat chance of that happening any t
ime soon,’ Mike said, then pulled his chair closer to Sarah’s and put his arm around her. ‘You okay, love?’

  ‘You have to find that spirit board, Helen,’ Donna said. ‘It’s probably your only chance.’

  Chapter 34

  ‘Dan! Dan, wait up! Where are you going?’ Paul shouted.

  Dan turned. ‘Harrogate. Had enough of Knaresborough for one night. I can’t stand seeing those two huddled together. I want some real pubs – and some real women – preferably ones I don’t know.’

  ‘Amen to that,’ Charlie cried. ‘Wait up, we’re coming with you. Next bus in what, five or ten minutes?’

  ‘There it is,’ Paul shouted. ‘Come on!’

  They ran in front of the bus, preventing it from leaving the stop outside Sainsbury’s, and giving the driver no choice but to wait and let them board – though he clearly wished to avoid it.

  ‘Onward, Coachman, á Harrogate,’ Paul cried and the three of them creased up in laughter. The young woman sitting near them got up and made her way to the front of the bus where she felt safer, which only amused the three actors further.

  *

  Half an hour later, a relieved bus driver pulled into Harrogate bus station and opened the doors. He’d expected more trouble than raised voices and raucous laughter, but was glad to wash his hands of the three unruly men nonetheless.

  ‘Where to?’ Charlie asked.

  ‘I fancy somewhere grand but cheap,’ Paul said.

  ‘Wetherspoons then,’ Dan said. Situated in the historic Royal Baths, once a place visitors flocked to in their thousands to sample the Harrogate spa waters, the pub had kept the soaring decorated ceilings yet boasted the same prices as any other Wetherspoons in the country.

  ‘Lead on, my good man,’ Paul said, sweeping his arm expansively.

  *

  ‘So what the hell was all that crap about?’ Dan said once they all had full glasses in front of them.

  ‘Devil worship,’ Charlie said.

  ‘Women’s troubles,’ Paul said and raised his glass. The other two spluttered, clinked, then drank.

  ‘Another round, boys?’ Paul said, eyebrows raised. They had all drained their glasses.