Page 17 of Ghost Hunters 2

“It is a conjure bag,” Bane answered her. “A Gris-Gris bag to be exact.”

Dino looked over at him. “How the hell do you know that?”

“Voodoo caught my interest. But I like research of all kinds.” Bane shrugged.

Jillian looked back and forth at them. “Dino likes that too.”

Dino shrugged as if that meant nothing. He then looked back over at the bag. “Next thing you will be telling me is that it casts a spell and that is why we have ghosts and illusions happening."

“Dino,” Jillian spoke up. “A dark shadow just... Well, it killed your grandpa. I think you need to—”

Tilly gasped and backed away. “It is voodoo!”

Dino looked around at them all then and back to Tilly. “Don’t tell me you actually believe in that crap?”

“Son, you are talking to a ghost,” Bane reminded him. “I think it’s time to leave logic out of this.”

Dino glared at him. “Nothing here makes any fucking sense. You of all people should know better than to believe in fantasy, in otherworldly crap. Like you killed people for money and lived to reap the benefits. And that is reality, not this shit.”

Jillian gasped and stared at Dino then she looked over at Bane.

He nodded at her. “All true. Except that the benefits aren’t what you think.”

“And you believe in voodoo? Come on man!” Dino argued.

Bane sighed. “I’ve seen it at work. For myself, down in the bayous. It exists.”

Tilly cocked her head at him. “Is that why you wear that silver cross?”

Bane looked over at her and asked, “How did you know about that?”

“I can feel it. See it.” Tilly shrugged.

Bane pushed his fingers through his hair and explained how he got the cross, “A man called The Priest gave it to me. I hoped it would keep them back.”

“The Priest?” Dino questioned. “So you could make the ghosts stay away?”

“Yeah...Those ghosts are the benefits of my work as you called them.” Bane nodded.

Dino snorted in disbelief. “Wow, DAD! You need to start writing novels. That’s great fiction.”

Bane showed no anger or any emotion really as he nodded. “See, I would be just as skeptical as you are, kid. Except for the fact that I was shown that many things exist that make no sense, that were supposed to be fantasy like you said. Only sometimes it is not fantasy.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Dino snapped. “Talking in riddles tells us nothing.”

Bane gave him a smile...A cold smile. “You are like me in some ways. The ways that count anyway. Let me tell you why I believe everything this ghost says.” He motioned at Tilly. “I once met a young woman who...well, she had what is called the Sight. I’m unsure what it is called. But she sees things.”

“Like ghosts?” Jillian asked.

He nodded. “She claimed to see at least a dozen around me. Following me around.” He looked over at Tilly. “And they weren’t like you. They were full of hate, rage and retribution.”

“Because you killed them. Right?” Dino asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Jillian stared at Dino then looked over at Bane.

“Yes and I never deny what I am or what I did,” Bane replied calmly. “These men were all bad while they were alive. Killers themselves or misery makers as we call them. I never accepted jobs to kill females or children. I refused to cross some lines, Dino. I can obviously see that your avoidance of me has merit. I was not a good person for most of my life. I wasn’t human really. But I got a second chance and even I did not think I deserved it. But see, this woman I spoke of that has the sight? She is the one that warned me of your life being in danger. She told me all about this Inn and where it was. How do you think I found you in the first damned place? She told me about this Beau guy and the Voodoo. She said that it wasn’t a curse like most. It was laid in by an evil alliance. She said you were set to die.” He looked angry for a few seconds then he added, “You can think of me as you will. But I only found out recently that I had a son. I will be damned if I just sit on my ass and let him die.”

The room got real quiet.