The Unusual Companion

James Riccio eagerly prepared the elements for the ritual. Sitting on his knees, he looked over the triangle he'd scratched into the living room's hardwood floor with a red-flecked Jasper stone. Satisfied, he set the stone aside and reached for the small nylon-handled cloth bag on the coffee table. Salt, a silver coin, vervain root, and a scrap of parchment paper with the number three inscribed went into the bag, which he then hung around his neck.

He picked up a white candle and scratched...