Karma's Ghost

Disclaimer: own nothing

A/N:

Chapter 25 (The Fight)

"Stop that." Jade crossed her arms as Beck continued to clutch his sides and guffaw. "It isn't funny." She rolled her eyes and sighed as Death leaned in sideways, sliding his finger across his upper lip.

"Actually, it kind of is." She thought back to her initial embarrassed reaction to popping in on Trina and Jason in the middle of sex, having thought something was horribly wrong because she heard Trina screaming. She let out a chuckle and cracked a smile. "See!" Death clapped his hands and Jade swept a strand of hair over her ear. "You're learning to laugh at yourself."

"I can't believe I didn't figure the type of screaming she was doing and just went into panic mode right off the bat." Her tiny smile turned to a broader smirk as her eyes narrowed. "I can say creepily that I was there for conception too…do you think that changes things?" Death leaned back with a hum and Beck silenced, looking over curiously. "What would a baby do in affecting Leroy?"

"I'm not sure that it would do much." There was a certain stigma for unborn babies and the supernatural. Babies were pure, untouched. "This child was made through the love Trina and Jason shared, so evil cannot enter her. It creates a shield that says Leroy cannot influence Trina."

"That's good, except that he's focused on David." At the very least, she could see light at the end of the tunnel. If nothing else brought this family closer together, a revelation that Trina was pregnant just might. "Also, something else about him. I think, not only is he on track to getting better…there seems to be some interest brewing between him and Amber."

"That's something," Beck replied with enthusiasm. Jade smiled and Death nodded, moving his hands behind his back. "I mean hell, maybe there's love for Dave yet. Right?" Death's lips pulled apart to reveal a toothy smile and his eyebrows rose. Seeing this, Jade got the sense he knew more than he was letting on.

"I may not have been completely honest." She furrowed her brow as Death moved forward a few steps. "Yes, Amber and David were childhood friends…"

"Okay? And?"

"They dated in high school." She froze and Beck's jaw fell open. "I have to admit, they were very close, but things changed. David moved away for college and that unhappy marriage Amber was in? She met that husband in her first year of college." Death folded his arms and raised up his shoulders. "How fitting for Fate to bring the two together again, correct?"

"You…" She was so shocked all she could do was stammer. Her hand rose to the side of her head and she blinked multiple times. "You used me?" Beck raised a thumb to the edge of his chin and his right eyebrow lifted up.

"Isn't that what's been happening this whole time, Jade?"

"Shut up Beck." She was amazed and thrilled, as well as no longer surprised to see the potential romance brewing between the pair. "Do you know what this means?" The two men shuffled their feet and looked to her with interest. "This means Leroy's days are numbered."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, love conquers all."

Death raised an eyebrow and Beck blinked twice, staring with a dumbfounded expression. "You know, I was less confused by you when you were obsessed with death and dying." She chuckled softly and started moving down the street with them.

They made their way to the Vega home with sage, incense and everything that was needed to perform a cleansing. Beck was prepared after all his studies, but he was still nervous.

There were no cars in the driveway. "Maybe we need to do this another time." There was hesitation in Beck's voice, but Jade was determined. "I don't want to get in trouble with-" She saw him pale and followed his frozen gaze to the door.

The front door was beginning to open, creaking like something out of a horror movie. "What are you doing here?" Leroy's deep voice boomed from inside and was followed by a dark growl. "Stay away."

Jade rolled her eyes and whisked her hand through the air. "I can do cheap tricks too, Leroy. You don't scare us." Beck was starting to sweat and shake, reminding her that he'd not physically met Leroy before. She put her hands to her hips and hung her head. "Well, I'm not afraid of you, anyway."

Leroy materialized behind her, giving her a start. "You should be." His eyes were like fire and his lips twisted in a vicious snarl. Beck turned his head and opened his eyes wide as the man smirked. "I see you've brought a fresh medium and not a senior medium. Do you think he's a match for my power?"

Leroy raised his arms and the ground started to shake. Beck took a small step back and started to raise some protective gear that he had. With a thunderous howl, Leroy swept his arms forward to release a wave of energy that swept Beck off his feet.

Jade tensed and watched her boyfriend fly into the house, screaming at the top of his lungs as he crashed into the couch. "Shit!" She balled up her fists and stepped between the two. Beck pushed himself up on hands and knees, holding his right shoulder and glaring at the evil being.

The energy in the home felt different, but she couldn't put a finger on it. She looked around, feeling like the entire place could very well be on fire. Sweat trickled down her face and her heart began to pound as the room heated up. "The energy in this house has gotten worse," Death said as he stepped into the house. Leroy twisted his head back, and with a growl, vanished away. Death huffed and shook his head. "He's gone back into hiding…"

Beck pushed himself up, turning his head from side to side. "That might be for the better, but yeah…I don't know if I have enough power to cleanse this." He crossed his arms and turned to Jade, who was just as baffled. "What happened to Cathy watching the house?"

"She doesn't watch it when no one's here, and David is rarely ever here anymore." It was depressive for him, so he wound up purchasing a small apartment near the church. "Leroy is confined to this house, so he must have been able to intensify the negative energy."

"Well it's making me ill." She pursed her lips and looked with concern to her boyfriend. He ran his hand over his brow and closed his eyes. His teeth started to chatter and a groan left his lips. "Physically ill. I feel like I'm going to go insane I stay here any longer."

"Then we need to get out."

"Don't leave just yet," Leroy's voice echoed. Jade leapt in shock and looked around with Death, who seemed unable to track the man. "I've got a gift for you." Death growled and spoke loudly.

"Where are you hiding, Coward?"

"Don't you have a job to do?" Death froze and turned his gaze slowly to Jade. Realizing he had to keep his appointments, lest the freshly dead souls rot, she let out a sigh of defeat and waved him away.

"We got this," Jade remarked. "Don't worry."

"Be careful," Death whispered, "If he is able to hide from me, then he is truly a dangerous threat." She nodded and waited for him to vanish. Once he did, she turned to Beck and grew concerned when she saw him hugging his stomach and doubling over.

"Beck…" She put her hand on his back and her eyebrows closed together. She felt the energy in the room getting heavier and kept her focus on him. "Beck, we need to get you out of here. This is too much."

Just then a screeching noise echoed in the air, catching her off guard. She threw her head up and looked out the door to see a familiar and chilling sight that took her breath away. "It can't be." She cupped her hand over her heart and watched as Samuel Ross emerged from his vehicle and looked at Beck's car.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Ross's voice was loud and mocking. Beck raised his head gently and anger filled his eyes. "Beckett, are you still playing protector? Really? How can you do that when you just caused your girlfriend to go into a coma?"

"Shut up," Beck growled, "What are you doing here?" He ran over to the doorway, gripping the frame on each side with a white-knuckled grip. Ross moved along the sidewalk slowly, smirking wide.

"Oh you know, just following you around and watching you burn." Ross clapped his hands together and scanned the house. "I thought I saw you turn into this neighborhood; so what would the Vegas say to your being here when they're not home?"

Jade started to put her hand on Beck's shoulder. "Beck ignore him, he's just being an asshole." When her fingers touched his shoulder, it was hot to the touch. She yanked her hand back and her eyes grew wide, filling with horror. "No…No!"

"Hope you're ready to have some fun," Leroy said with an evil chuckle. "Care for some popcorn?" She sniffed the air and twisted around sharply, seeing an open pan seated atop a burning stove. Above it, a spilt bottle of oil was pouring into it. "Go ahead Jade, grab some corn from the fridge."

"What the hell are you doing?" She ran for the stove and tried to turn the knobs, but to her horror and dismay, they were stuck in place. She struggled against them and looked at the burning fire under the burners. "Leave it to the Vegas to have a gas stove rather than an electric." She threw her head up, shouting at the top of her lungs. "What's your game, Leroy?"

"I have no game." He appeared behind her, grinning from ear to ear. "I'm going to destroy you, and your meddlesome boyfriend." Leroy stretched out his hand and arm, pointing his palm out at her.

The muscles in her body started to stiffen, forcing her in place. Jade grit her teeth and tilted her head back as waves of pain rolled across her chest. The skin around Leroy's nose creased.

Jade could hear the sounds of another fight breaking out, but couldn't do anything to stop Beck. He and Ross were locked in what seemed to be a fight to the death, fueled by the energy in the house. "You can't win, Leroy." His scowl grew and he began closing his fingers together, causing a crushing sensation that made her scream.

Beck slammed Ross behind them, pressing him against the stove. Jade's eyes widened and she tried to call out to them, but her lungs were burning and she could hardly speak from the pain.

Ross grabbed the pot full of oil and stared at Beck with a smirk. "Gift for you, Beckett." Beck ducked in time to miss being hit by the pot, but some of the oil splashed out on his back and on the stove. The burning fire caught the oil on the stove and counter, but the two men failed to notice.

Jade screamed in vain once more, mustering all her strength to break Leroy's hold on her. The killer growled back at her, balling his hand into a trembling fist. "Why won't you die?" With two blinks, she turned her gaze back to him and remembered the power struggle that could prevent one ghost from wiping out another.

"Because…" She smirked and raised her eyebrows, astonished with the confirmation that she was now powerful enough that Leroy couldn't obliterate her. "As strong as you are, I'm stronger." He narrowed his eyes and she fought through the pain, moving her arms and legs slowly to the center of her body. "Release me."

She swung her limbs out with a shout, and Leroy stumbled backwards. She rushed for him, swinging her fist into his chest. He sprang to the side and brought his arms up into a fighter stance. "You don't want to focus on the fire that's beginning to spread?"

The smell was overwhelming, and Jade knew it was a priority to stop it, but she couldn't let Leroy get away either. "You know what happens if it burns, Leroy?" She smirked at him, her confidence making him hesitate. "You've got two places you're confined to. This house, and your remains at the bottom of the ocean. This house gets destroyed, then you're stuck somewhere in the Pacific."

He froze, his expression turning to horror. Jade wasn't sure if she was entirely correct; but if he believed her words, that was all that mattered. "You're lying."

"Am I?"

"I…"

"Can you really take that chance?" Leroy glared at her, seething and breathing heavily.

"Fuck it." He swept past her, rolling his arms forward and dispersing the flames. Before he could do much else, a bright golden light appeared in the room. A pure energy swept over the area like a tidal wave. Beck and Ross stopped their fighting, which left Ross confused as Beck stared in awe at the angel that appeared before them.

Leroy glared over his shoulder, steam rising from his body. "Cathy," he said with a virulent growl. Cathy turned her head to the left, then to the right. The girl let out a soft hum and walked slowly towards Leroy. "You're the reason aren't you?" He turned to her, hissing like a cat backed into a corner. "That David hasn't been here."

"It is true." Cathy's wings began to expand, causing Leroy to shield his eyes with his arm. "I put the thought in his head to move. To sell the home. He will never return to this place."

Jade looked at Beck, seeing that she needed to get him out of the house. "Beck, we need to go." Beck was still in awe of Cathy's presence and wasn't responding to her. "Beck, now, please." He looked from Cathy to Leroy, tears welling up in his eyes.

"It's amazing," he whispered, "I'm seeing an angel and a demon." Worried about his presence and if David could view cameras, she looked around to see where the security cams were.

To her shock, they were missing. "Where are the cameras?" Leroy sneered at her and spoke out with a tone that seemed to suggest the answer were obvious.

"He had them taken out. Gary and David uninstalled all cameras when he moved out, because there was no more need for them." He sprang up on his feet and with a powerful roar, rushed for Cathy. His arms were outstretched and his fingers seemed to resemble piercing claws. "Die!"

Cathy remained nonchalant and stoic; the young child looked like a powerful warrior staring across a battlefield. Her wings closed around her body, creating a shield that burned Leroy's hands. He reeled back with a painful howl, clutching his left wrist.

When she opened her wings up, Jade saw that the stuffed animal she carried had been changed into a long blade. Her eyebrows furrowed and she found herself frozen in awe. "When a ghost has been cut by a spirit's sword, the effects will remain." Cathy moved forward, holding the sword across her chest and resting upon her left shoulder. "Come, Brother."

Sensing a dangerous fight about to break out, Jade quickly phased into Beck. He had a strong spirit inside of him, so possession was going to be difficult. "Forgive me Beck, but I have to get you out of here." She felt his soul fighting back almost instantly, but to her surprise it wasn't as strong as it should have been. Likely, the effects of Leroy's negative energy weakened him a bit. "I'm sorry I got you into this…"

She ran from the house, hearing Leroy's piercing scream as Cathy sliced his right arm off at the shoulder. When she looked back into the house, she saw Cathy thrust her sword deep into Leroy's groin. She flinched at the sight and turned away, cringing while Leroy cried out in anguish.

"That looked painful." She smirked and shook her head. "I have to ask Death if Spirits can feel all the emotions that we feel." Still running down the road, it wasn't long before Beck's soul evicted her from his body. He looked at her, angry but with some understanding.

"Didn't we talk about the whole possession thing? I'm off limits, it feels weird!" She chuckled nervously and tried to give him a hug, which failed.

"I'm sorry." She sighed with defeat and bowed her head. "I had to protect you. I wasn't sure what was going to happen." He smiled back at her, his eyes growing tender and is expression soft.

"It's okay. Thanks for that."

Death appeared next to them and looked in the distance towards the Vega home. "What in the hell did I miss? I had three people that needed to cross over urgently."

"It got bad," Jade replied. She turned to him, ready to explain everything, but still with questions in her mind. "What happens exactly if you miss an appointment? Don't they just become ghosts?"

"Their soul becomes damaged, corrupted and they are no longer themselves." He cross his arms and sighed. "The soul only leaves the body if a grim reaper touches them and frees the soul. If someone dies and isn't released, the body becomes a prison. It's really more horrible than that, but at the moment I'm more interested in knowing what the hell just happened down there."

"Well, Leroy is now a dickless wonder…" Death raised an eyebrow and Beck coughed. "Curtesy of Cathy and her spirit sword." Death winced and sighed. "Now um, Leroy tried to start a fire hoping that Beck would be so trapped by rage that the smoke would kill him. He tried to obliterate me, but I'm more powerful." She grinned and felt her heart rise when a look of pride shone over Death's face.

"Is he still there? I would like to dispose of him posthaste."

"We can see." Jade instructed Beck to stay put as she didn't want to risk him getting hurt again, then moved with her mentor back to the Vega home.

This time there was a different energy present. She could still feel Leroy's energy, but it was faint and almost unnoticeable where a pure energy covered it. He was gone and Cathy stood in the center of the living room, holding her stuffed animal once more in her arms and burying her chin into it.

"Cathy?" Jade stretched her arm out and Cathy's head rose. "Where's Leroy?"

"He fled. I'm cleansing the house little by little, but I truly cannot continue to travel here. That means he can fill the house with negative energy as much as he wants…you may have to allow the home to be destroyed at that rate."

"What? Why?"

Death grunted, curling a finger over his chin. "She's not wrong. David's going to sell the home to someone, but if Leroy still exists or his negative energy remains, it's going to affect whoever lives in that house."

"You saw that with Beck and Ross," Cathy remarked. "Whosever enters this house can be consumed if not careful…" Her gut began to twist as she thought about how badly the next family to live here could be. Now it was not a matter of protecting the Vega clan, but saving another entire family from Leroy's evil.

Jade took a slow and deep breath, then set a gentle hand on Cathy's shoulder. She knelt down to eye level and smiled gently at the young girl. "Are you okay?" Cathy smiled back at her and nodded gently. "Seeing Leroy like that…are spirits able to feel the same emotions we do?"

Death lowered his hand and Cathy nodded again. "We can and we do. We have more control over our emotions though. When we come to earth, that control isn't as strong."

Cathy sighed and looked up to Death, who moved his hands behind his back. "I was the one that helped her cross over." Jade looked up to the man and he closed his eyes. "Cathy was a tragic ghost. Filled with grief, anger and shock. She didn't realize she was dead at first, because her death came so suddenly, so horrific and of course the shock of who it was that hurt her."

This would have had to mean Cathy didn't cross over at the very start, she would have been frozen in place and left to relieve her final minutes without any help from anyone. "Usually a medium is the best bet to help a ghost cross over, but there wasn't any in the area. My job is a simple, possibly cruel one. If a ghost refuses to cross over at first, I leave it there. My priority is to move a soul over, not to play counselor."

"Cathy was different for you?" Jade smiled gently and wondered now if there was some reason for Death's generosity. Perhaps he had been alive at one point long ago, perhaps something about Cathy's situation touched him because of something he went through in life. "Care to discuss?"

"No." Death walked past her and she frowned at him. "Cathy, thank you for your help today, but I'm sure you must be getting back." Cathy nodded and looked over to Jade.

"Be careful Jade, and send Leroy away soon. Before he can hurt anyone else again."

"I'll do my best, Cathy."

Talk about a close fight. Do you think destroying the home is the answer? What about Leroy? It seems Jade may be stronger than he is. For now, the Vega clan is safe so long as they stay away from the house, but there's always a risk as long as Leroy walks. What are your thoughts?