“Dylan, come away from there!” Mel shouted and ran toward the bonfire. As she ran toward them, crows began to swoop and dive toward her, trying to peck her face and her hands as she shielded her eyes. She thrashed wildly with the crowbar, trying to wave them off but they kept coming toward her.
“Mel!” Ana screamed and ran toward her; the crows began their aerial assault on her, and she too used her piece of wood as a shield and a weapon.
“Stay back, with me.” Hedy heard Raluca whisper the words and she hollered for the girls to stop.
“Come back. Raluca says to come back!” Hedy screamed as loud as she could, hoping they could hear her over the sound of the dive-bombing crows. The girls turned and ran back, hunched over as far as they could to shield their faces. The crows stopped the attack.
“They are guarding her. Guarding the children.” Raluca’s voice scraped out the sounds of words. “I can help. But I must be closer. The crows must…” Raluca paused, catching her breath again.
“How can we get closer with those crows?” Hedy grabbed a tissue out of her pocket and handed it to Mel so she could dab at the scratches along her arms.
“I can help with that.” Yami said, shrugging off her jacket. She slipped out of her clothing before anyone knew what was happening.
The transformation was sudden and alarming to watch. Hedy heard herself gasp as she saw Yami’s body shift into a large fox with fur bristling from her body and two large tails swirling around her.
“What the bloody hell…” Darro muttered and Hedy didn’t know whether she should be frightened or amazed by the sight.
The huge fox turned away from them and then gave a loud high-pitched screaming howl, nothing like the wolf sound or dog growl that Hedy would have expected. It was a terrifying scream and the sound filled the air around them. Three more loud screams pierced the night. The crows, unsettled by the sound, were shifting and cawing but not budging from their ring around the fire. The kids themselves had gone quiet, watching with intent eyes.
From the edge of darkness at the far end of the field, Hedy saw them. Eyes gleaming from the bonfire, small reddish fur glinting in the light. First a pair, then three more, then two more came from the darkness, answering that monstrous call. Near the huge fox that had been Yami, a ring of foxes perched, waiting.
With some silent signal, the foxes turned and began their assault on the crows. They slunk along the ground, keeping their muzzles clear of any talons or beaks. With precision striking, their sharp needle teeth pierced the necks of any crow within their reach. The gurgling caws and the gnashing of the fox teeth filled Hedy’s ears and turned her stomach, the whole thing horrifying.
“Mother Mary, saints preserve us,” Darro muttered and the group watched the carnage as the foxes ripped the crows to pieces in front of them. Hundreds of crows took to the sky, shrieking as they flew into the darkness. The bonfire was surrounded by the corpses of savaged crows.
“Oh, my God,” Hedy heard Mel breathe next to her. The large fox turned back toward the group and loped over toward them. The summoned foxes were drifting back into the night. With only moments between, the fox became a human again, crouching low toward the ground.
“We better hurry. The crows may not stay gone for long,” Ana urged. She was the only one with the composure to say anything after what they witnessed. Yami dressed quickly beside them.
“Closer,” Raluca said to Darro and he carried her closer to the bonfire. He had no idea what the old woman would do once he brought her there; she hardly seemed to have the energy to even rest in his arms.
“The stone. Get the stone.” The voice rasped again and this time, Yami pulled a large orange crystal from the small cloth satchel at her side. It had a dull orange glow compared to the roar of the bonfire.
“Energy. We need energy to reverse the evil.” Raluca shifted slightly, as if she were trying to get down from Darro’s arms. The kids around the bonfire were beginning to move, restless at the sight of the stone. Lyssa’s shadowy figure pulled closer to them. Hedy gasped to see her again. Now she was a dark and withered wraith instead of the red-haired nemesis that Hedy remembered so vividly.
“Give us the stone. If you don’t, we’ll jump into the fire,” Dylan’s voice called out to them, taking a step toward the bonfire. He was only a few feet from its flames.
“No!” Mel yelled at him, and she stepped toward him before Ana grabbed her arm.
“Don’t, Mel. It might make him panic.”
“We will jump into the fire if you don’t give us the stone. We want the stone,” Dylan’s voice called out again as the shadow was draped around him like a shroud.
“Quickly. Girl, hold the stone with me.” Raluca pointed at Mel, pulling herself forward, and Darro set her lightly on the ground. Yami took the stone and placed it into Raluca’s wrinkled hand. Mel took a step toward her and placed her own hand on top of the crystal. It was warm under her palm.
“Focus on the boy. Focus your love,” the old woman rasped and Mel closed her eyes, thinking of Dylan. Love for the chubby baby, as a toddler who loved eating Cheerios, as a small boy who collected Matchbox cars, the nights on the swing set when he begged her to push him higher, the drawing he made for her that was still on their refrigerator, his smile when they rode the Scrambler at the Fair. Love for the shy boy who hugged her goodbye, even at twelve years’ old.
She let every memory flood over her, every smell and taste and sound that she could remember. Every camping trip with gooey s’mores, every Christmas morning with breakfast casserole at her uncle’s house. Every memory was a brick in the wall of love that her mind built; a bulwark against the horror of him standing by the fire. The stone under her hand was getting hotter, as if her hand were on a warming burner, but she didn’t really notice it. She kept her mind in the memories, focusing everything she had Dylan’s face.
“No!” One of the kids screamed into the night and then, one by one, they fell to the ground, writhing as if snakes were thrashing inside every limb. The shadow hovered over them, but they kicked and thrashed at it.
Mel saw something else in her mind, another figure. A young woman, who must have been Raluca, when she was just a girl. The figure was in some old city, flanked by two figures that seemed cloaked in darkness. But the girl had a light around her, as if she glowed from it. The girl paused and turned to look at Mel and she heard the words echo in her own ears.
“This is a good way to die. I am glad I can bring some good with my final breath. The stone will be destroyed. The children will be saved. And, so too the waystations, though they will feel my loss. But this is a good death. I am happy.” The young Raluca gave her a smile and then she gone from Mel’s mind.
The stone beneath her hand seared hot and then went cold. Mel opened her eyes to see Raluca crumpled to the ground. The bodies of the children were silent and still, and the shadow was gone.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Mel ran to Dylan, who had fallen dangerously close to the fire. With no crows to stop her, she sprinted and reached his side in moments. She pulled his limp body away from the heat and cradled his head in her lap, lightly petting his hair.
“Dylan...Dylan...wake up,” she murmured, keeping her voice far calmer than the panic she felt inside. What if he never woke up? What if the destruction of the crystal had destroyed him with it? She couldn’t think of that or she would start screaming.
She watched his chest rise and fall; at least he was breathing, but his body was still against her. The other children were lying where they had fallen, softly breathing in the cold night air.
Darro, Yami, and Hedy were circled around the crumpled form of Raluca, but Ana had joined Mel, kneeling down next to her. She put her arm around Mel’s shoulder and gave her a squeeze, saying nothing. Nothing she could say in this moment would help. No one knew whether Dylan would wake up or not.
It seemed ages while the only sounds were the crackling of the bonfire and the soft breathing of the children. Mel
continued to stroke his hair, cradling his head in her lap as if he were just sleeping. Tears were clinging to her lashes, ready to fall down her cheeks.
“Mel, look. Over there, at the girl.”
Mel looked at the figure next to them and she saw the girl’s arm twitch slightly. Ana stood up and moved closer to the girl, crouching again when she reached her side.
“She’s waking up, Mel.” Ana heard a sharp intake of breath from Mel. If the girl was waking, then maybe Dylan would as well.
There were the slightest movements coming from the children and she watched Dylan’s still face for any flicker or twitch. After several still moments, she saw his eyelids flicker.
“Oh, thank God. He’s waking up, Ana.” Mel grabbed one of Dylan’s hands and gave it a squeeze. It was still warm from the bonfire.
“What happened?” The girl was the first to speak, with no trace of the mocking tone she had used earlier. Ana was helping her to sit up slowly.
“Take it easy. You are safe. Everything is alright.” Ana’s words were soothing and washed over the girl quietly. The other boys were beginning to sit up, blinking at the bright firelight in obvious confusion.
“Do you remember anything?” Mel spoke to the girl, but she kept her eyes fixed on Dylan’s micromovements.
“I remember going into a cave with a weird orange light. Then it seemed like I was dreaming. Like I was watching a dream version of me doing things, but I wasn’t the one doing them. If that makes any sense. Are we at the tree farm? Where’s my mom?” The girl was starting to look worried.
“We’ll get you to your mom, don’t worry. For now, you need to take it easy.” Ana stood up and gave a signal toward Hedy, who broke away from the group and walked toward the fire.
“Mel?” Dylan’s voice was quiet as he looked up at his cousin. One of her tears splashed down on his cheek and she quickly wiped it away.
“Hey, kiddo. You gave me a fright. But you are okay now. Everything is okay.” She gave his hand another squeeze and before he could protest, she leaned down and kissed him on the head.
“Hedy, we need to get these kids to their parents. You better take Raluca back to your house before people start showing up. Mel and I can finish up here,” Ana said, standing close to Mel again.
“Yes, if you think you two are alright, I think we should go. We can take Raluca back with us in Darro’s truck. Can one of you drive the Corvair back later?” Hedy watched Ana look expectantly at Mel since Ana had no idea how to drive a car.
“Yes, I can drive it. We’ll come back to the house after I call my uncle and all the kids get picked up. No idea how we’ll explain all this, but we’ll figure something out.” Mel was already pulling her phone out of her pocket and pulling up her uncle’s phone number.
“OK, see you soon.” Hedy gave Ana and Mel a quick hug before turning to hurry back toward the retreating figure of Darro carrying the limp Moroica toward his truck.
✽✽✽
Darro placed Raluca on the bed in her room. At the moment, they didn’t know what to do with her, but it seemed the best place for her body. Hedy heard the stairs creaking as he came back downstairs to join the two women in the shop. They were sitting at a table, drinking tea.
“Well, now what?” Darro pulled out a wooden chair and lightly set his girth down.
Hedy took a deep breath, letting it all push past her lips before speaking.
“I will call the Concierge and inform them. They’ll need to tell me what we do next. I can’t imagine the death of their leader is going to be welcome news.” Hedy raised the teacup to her lips and let the scent of chamomile drift around her before taking a sip. She needed to be calm. Would her waystation recover from this?
“And, no offense, but what about her?” Darro gestured toward the still figure of Yami seated to his right.
Hedy paused for a moment, looking at the Kitsune who watched her intently.Yami said nothing. “I’m not the police, Darro. I’ll tell the Concierge what has happened, and after that, it is out of my hands.” Hedy took another sip of tea.
“I’ll make amends in my own fashion, whether the Concierge calls for it or not.” Yami finally spoke, then raised her own cup and took a small sip.
“So that’s it, then? The old woman dies, and you will ‘make amends’?” Darro continued staring at Yami but she said nothing further.
“Darro, I suspect the Concierge will handle this situation fully. There is nothing we can do tonight, other than call them. And remember, she helped us save the children. We never would have saved them without her.”
“What about Lyssa? Is she gone for good, finally?” Darro spoke the words but Hedy wondered the same thing.
“With the crystal destroyed, I don’t know if she will ever regain her full power, but I wouldn’t count on her being gone for good. You should all take care. She was going to use the Moroica to destroy the Concierge. She may still have that plan. And I will have to live with giving her the idea for it,” Yami said with a measure of sadness in her voice. She would have to atone for the part she played in the old woman’s death.
Hedy watched Darro’s face soften a bit and he said nothing else. She poured him a cup of tea and passed the plate of scones to him.
“Try a scone, Darro. I believe you will be pleasantly surprised. Adelaide shared a secret she learned from your Granny Raith,” Hedy told him, watching Darro pause in mid-bite of the crumbling scone. “It seems spirits can speak with one another. She asked your Granny for the recipe.” Hedy smiled even though Darro’s face had gone quite pale. Nevermind how long it had taken to get the information out of Adelaide; it was worth the effort. Living with Adelaide had made her forget that not everyone was used to ghostly communications from long dead grannies.
Before Darro could respond, there was a rap on the door. Hedy knew it wasn’t Mel or Ana - they would have come right in. The closed sign was up so it wasn’t likely a customer. She left the table and headed into the entry, which was still awash in silver light from the Christmas tree.
Hedy opened the door to find Michael standing on her porch. She must have looked shocked because he began to blush.
“I’m sorry for intruding, I just wanted to come by to see how you were after the incident at the market. If this is a bad time…” Michael took a step back from the door though Hedy was shaking her head.
“No, it’s not a bad time. Well, it’s not a good time, but what I mean is...oh, please come in.” She opened the door for him, and he stepped into the entry. She really should have told him to come back another time, but for a moment, seeing him reminded her of better things. Things that did not involve a dead Moroica in her guest bedroom.
“Please, join us in the shop. We were just having some tea.” Hedy led the way back to the table with Yami and Darro.
“Michael, this is my gardener, Darro, and a recent guest here, Yami. We’ve had a rather trying evening, so our apologies for not being in better spirits.” Hedy pulled a chair out for Michael, who sat down at the table.
“I don’t want to intrude. I was just worried after the brouhaha at the market that perhaps you might need a hand. Those children seemed to have wrecked the whole event. They stole a car not long after they tore down your display. Did you know that?” Michael said and Hedy gave him a small smile in return.
“Yes, we know about the car. The good news is that the children have been found and I think things will be getting back to normal for them.” Hedy poured him a cup of tea but said nothing else to explain.
“Hedy, you do know that your friend is not human, yes?” Yami spoke for the first time in a while, looking squarely across the table at Michael.
“What are you on about?” Darro spoke before either Hedy or Michael could say anything.
“I know another shapeshifter when I see one, Darro. He’s an imp,” Yami said simply as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Michael began to rise from the table, but Hedy held out a hand on his forearm to stop him.
“Yes, I know. A friend told me, though I didn’t know about the imp part. Michael, I’m sorry for this. I’m sure this isn’t how you would have wished to start this conversation.” Hedy could have imagined a dozen better ways to broach the subject with Michael, but maybe Yami’s direct approach was for the best. No more secrets.
“Hedy, I really don’t know what to say. I’ve never had this happen before. But…yes, I am an imp, if that makes a difference.” Michael looked supremely uncomfortable as he spoke.
“‘If that makes a difference’? How could it not? You’re a bloody demon?” Darro stood up from the table. Shapeshifting foxes, possessed children, and now a demon sitting at table - it was too much for him. He needed to get home and get pissed drunk.
“Darro!” Hedy tried to say more but Michael interrupted her.
“No, Hedy, it’s fine. Really. Now you know why I don’t lead with that piece of information. Yes, I am a demon, Darro. Well, not really, not in the way you think. An imp is not a full demon with the power to possess others or take souls. I haven’t done the...things...that are required for that full transformation. As an imp, I have only minor powers and abilities. Even those, I try not to use. I am trying to lead a normal life.” Michael finished speaking, quite sure he hadn’t begun to answer their questions.
“Well, I am going home. I need a drink and a smoke and to be away from this craziness for the night. I’ll be back next week, Hedy. Call if you need me before then.” Darro gave a nod to Hedy before heading toward the entry.
The door creaked open and Darro gave a roaring “Hallo,” causing Hedy to jump up from the table.
A familiar voice said, “Hedy, do you have room for a salamander who has come back?” Around Darro’s large frame, she saw Bren Aldebrand standing there, suitcase in hand. All the words she had wanted to say to him for the last few weeks flew right out of her mind.
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