Free Savannah Sacrifice by Danica Winters

she wasn’t as alone as she felt, but there was little he could do to protect her from the spirits.
    She glanced down at the plaque on the mausoleum and noticed the building was dedicated to an entire family.
    We’ll be seeing you on our side soon …
a male ghost said. His English-accented baritone reminded her of Boris Karloff, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
    No
Starling closed her eyes. Leave me alone. I’m only visiting.
    That’s what we all say when we first step foot in this place, but people like you … you have no hope. Your spirit will easily be taken by those who reside here.
    Starling pulled tightly against Jasper’s side. “Let’s hurry.”
    “Section E is just ahead. Are you okay?”
    “Yeah,” Starling replied, trying to summon the last bits of her waning courage. “The spirits here are restless.”
    Jasper’s footfalls sped up and she raced to stay beside him.
    A black wrought iron fence came into view, its bars tipped with spikes. On the gate was the name Gracie Watson .
    “Epione didn’t mention where we would find the books.”
    Jasper shook his head. “Do you think you can talk to Gracie? Maybe she can tell us something.”
    “I can try, but it doesn’t always work,” Starling said, taking hold of the metal growing cool in the evening hours. Inside the fence on the ground was a memorial telling the story of how Gracie had passed away from pneumonia at the age of six. Her sadness grew; the spirits of children were the most wrenching when they came to Starling and asked for help.
    By her feet was a marker with the girl’s last name, Watson. Small pebbles had been placed at the top and a dead leaf littered the corner. Reaching down, Starling brushed the leaf away. She rested her hand on the stone and shut her eyes.
    Gracie?
She concentrated, hoping to hear a child’s voice, but no one answered. Gracie, are you here?
    Nothing.
    Gracie, my goddess, Epione, sent me here for a collection of books. She said you could help me. Are you here?
    No answer.
    “Is it working?” Jasper asked.
    Starling shook her head.
    “Remember what the cabby said about people putting gifts and money in her hand? It’s worth a shot.”
    “How are we going to get through the gates to reach her?”
    “Don’t worry,” he said with a wicked smile, “I got this.” He pulled out his wallet and grabbed a wire-type tool. After a few well-practiced motions, he picked the lock, and the gate squeaked opened.
    “You must have done well in bodyguard school,” Starling said, acutely that she was in the presence of a man who could, if necessary, be deadly.
    “Oh, I learned that way before I trained to be a bodyguard.”
    There was so much she didn’t know about him. Then again, did she want to know Jasper Gray? Undoubtedly, he would only hurt her again. And even if she did open her heart, it would only put him in danger. Her kind couldn’t love.
    “Hand me some coins. I’ll go in,” Starling said, trying to think about anything but how close they were to one another.
    Jasper pulled the money out of his pocket and handed it over.
    Sliding through the barely opened gate, Starling walked over to the statue and dropped the money into the little girl’s hand.
    Gracie? Please come to me. I need your help. Please.
    A child’s laughter filtered through the trees and down on her.
    Sweetheart, are you here?
    There was a tug on Starling’s pants leg. Looking down, she couldn’t see anything, but her skin was cold.
    “Hi, Gracie. It’s nice to meet you.”
    Hi…
The little girl answered shyly.
Can you see me?
    Starling shook her head. “I’m sorry, I wish I could, but I’m not magic. I can only talk to you.”
    Did you come to play?
    “Would you like to?” she asked.
    It’s been a long time since someone wanted to play.
    “What do you like? Do you know ‘Ring Around the Rosie?’” She couldn’t miss the irony in singing a children’s song about the dying with a dead girl.
    I love that