“It’s here somewhere. I’m sure we’ll find it. Granted, this snow isn’t making it easy…” he says, placing his hand above his eyebrows and scanning the landscape. His eyes stop briefly on the gardening sheds and boathouse. “There are so many places we could check. And it’s not like your yard is tiny.”
“Right? We’ve been out here for ages and still…nothing,” I groan.
“What if the entrance isn’t outside?” Wade offers, dropping his hand.
Shaking my head, I turn to him, “Where else would it be?”
Wade shrugs. “Have you looked in any of these out-building or inside the house? I mean, if I wanted to protect an important burial site, I’d make sure no one else has access to it. Look at what happened to my grandpa.”
My eyes widen and I blink back surprise. “I never thought of that—or put the two together. I guess I just figured, if it’s a burial site, you’d want to keep it outside.”
“Did the article mention if the manor itself was on top of the catacombs?” he asks, shifting his gaze back to the house.
“No, it just said it houses the catacombs. God, I wish my dad were here. I could just ask him,” I say, cursing the poor timing.
“Is it really that hard to get ahold of him? I mean, can’t you call him?” Wade asks, scratching at his chin with his pointer finger and settling his silver gaze on me. His eyes are practically the color of the snow, as his pupils narrow in the sunlight. “Doesn’t he have a cellphone?”
I bite my lip and snicker. “That would mean my dad entered the 21st century. No, he’s still pretty old school. Truth be told, I’m surprised the house has internet. I’ve never even seen him use a computer.”
Wade’s dark eyebrows lift. “Geez, it’s like living with my grandpa.”
I nod emphatically. “Very possibly.”
Wade’s phone dings loudly, echoing through the snow-covered trees.
“Speak of the devil and he shall text you,” Wade chuckles, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out his phone. He turns it over, having a quick look at the screen. Dropping his arm, he starts to place it back into his pocket but stops and does a double take. Concern spreads across his features as he holds it out again and unlocks it. With each passing moment, his eyebrows knit themselves closer.
“What is it?” I ask, unable to help myself.
Wade’s jaw clenches and unclenches. “Looks like news about what happened in Mistwood Point cemetery has made it to the rumor mill. Someone thinks they found what’s left of the decomposing bodies. And of course, the tipped-over tombstone is getting people riled up all over again. There’s a newspaper article on it.”
“Did someone send that to you?” I ask, surprised.
“Nah, I have a Google alert set up. I figured it was just a matter of time. Ugh, I really wish this shit wasn’t happening. I’m sure it’ll somehow make its way back to me,” he mutters, closing his eyes and returning the phone to his pocket.
“You don’t know that,” I say, placing a hand on his arm, trying to reassure him.
Glancing down at where my hand rests, he places his over the top. “I appreciate what you’re saying, but I wasn’t even in town when my grandpa’s columbarium was destroyed. They still found a way to make it my fault. We were actually there for this one. Shit, if they find out you were with…” His face loses some of its color and his nostrils widen.
“Don’t worry about me. I can handle myself, Wade. Besides, we’re in this together. We will get it all sorted out,” I say, refusing to let uncertainty or fear get the better of me.
“I wish I had your positivity. I really do, but I don’t know… Things have a way of going pear-shaped around me.” He frowns.
“Good thing I like pears,” I say, shooting him a cheesy grin.
He flashes me a smile, but it does’t quite reach his eyes.
“Oh, come on. Please don’t crack up on me now. I’m supposed to be Drusilla, not you,” I say, sticking out my tongue.
Wade sighs. “According to the article, they’re bringing in some federal supernatural investigators and something about a world-renowned psychic who deals with these types of unusual cases.”
“Good. If they’re so famous, they should be able to sort all of this out. Right?”
He groans, covering his face with both hands. “We were there, remember? I had to kill both of them…again.”
“But that wasn’t your fault. They were attacking—”
“And how long do you think it will take for people to accept that one? Even if they’re pointed directly at it, most people can’t see the truth for themselves. They’re more than willing to keep living in their made-up worlds because it’s easier than saying they were wrong. People have already made their minds up about me. Maybe coming to the school was a bad idea…” he says, running his hand through his hair and taking a few steps away.
“I’m sure it’s not that bad. The psychic could figure out who’s actually summoning the revenants. Wouldn’t that be a good thing?” I ask as I follow him. “We could use an ally at this point.”
Wade covers his face with both hands, sighing into them. After a moment, he peeks through his fingers. “You really have far too much faith in others. You know that?”
I press my lips into a thin line.
Wade chuckles, dropping his hands from his face and placing them alongside mine. “I love that about you. I really do. I wish I had that—but my life experience has taught me something vastly different. Despite my cool, calm demeanor, I’m a cluster of raw nerves most days.”
“I’m sorry,” I mutter. Wrapping my arms around him, I close my eyes, wishing all of this craziness was behind us and we could just relax for once. I don’t remember the last time we were able to spend some time together as a normal couple.
As if sensing my frustration, Wade says, “Hey, how about we get out of here? Forget all this graveyard and catacomb shit and just…be? I need some Autumn time.”
I lift my head, my lips sliding into an easy smile. “It’s like you’re in my brain.”
“Well, we are soul mates,” he says, lifting his hand to my jaw and sliding his thumb across my bottom lip.
I inhale sharply, my heart tripping over itself. Until this very moment, I hadn’t realized how disjointed and almost disconnected I’ve been feeling, but with those simple words, everything seems brighter. “Soul mates? You really think so?”
The corners of his eyes crease, and the sparkle in their depths is back. “Of course. How else do you explain the way we found each other? It was fate.”
My mind drifts to the evening we first met. His easygoing nature and natural charisma… Both of us in the graveyard, sharing so many of the same loves in pop culture. Both supernatural in our own ways.
Maybe he’s right. Maybe it was fate.
Wade grins, leaning forward and brushing his lips to mine.
The spark that follows ignites immediately and I sigh into him, wishing we could just let the entire world and all of its crazy fade away forever.
The chill air whips around us, blowing my hair around us like a shroud of protection. As his lips burn down on mine, his kiss warms every nerve ending of my body, melting away any doubts and worries. Instead, it’s all replaced with the desire to be totally his. Body and soul.
Wade pulls back, his eyes half-open with the same dreamy daze. After a moment, he shudders and says, “Let’s get inside and see what kind of mischief we can find ourselves in.”
I quirk an eyebrow, but my lips slide into a smirk. “Well, we do have the entire manor all to ourselves…”
He tips his head and returns my expression. “That we certainly do.”
Reaching out, I slide my hand in his and lead the way through the trees and back toward the manor. I could kick myself for having walked as far away as we have. Instead, I pick up speed.
Laughing out loud, Wade pulls my hand back, twirling me around in the snow. He steps forward and instinctively, I take a step back, placing my back
against one of the large oak trees. Without a word, he bends forward, pressing his body against mine. Placing his hands on either side of my shoulders, he watches me intensely. In response, I arch my back, pressing my hips forward. I slide my hands around his waist and rest them on the small of his back.
He groans, bending again to press his lips to mine. There’s more force behind this kiss, as he flicks my upper lip with the tip of his tongue. He raises his hands to entwine his fingers in my hair. I open my mouth, unable to stop the moan that escapes, and he takes the opportunity to explore further. His tongue teases my own in a dance of mastery all his own—he knows exactly what to do to make my body temperature rise.
I slide my hands farther, planting them firmly on his butt, as I pull his hips to mine, grinding forward. This time, Wade practically growls, lurching forward and pressing his lips to my neck. His hot breath sends waves of goosebumps surging through my body, making me shudder.
“God, I want you, Autumn…” he whispers against my skin, trying to calm his breath.
I swallow hard, trying to think through this heady aura of desire. Biting my lip, I tip my head to the manor. “Come on, let’s get inside.”
His dark eyelashes flutter and nostrils flare as he pulls in a deep breath. Nodding to himself, he takes a tentative step back, holding out his hand for me. As I take it, he pulls me upright. Shooting him a sideways smile, another shudder rolls through my body. After the months of craziness, the moment finally feels right.
Nervous energy and excitement build in every cell in my body and I just want to get inside as quickly as possible. Neither of us say another word; we just make our way, listening to the quick crunching of our footsteps in the snow. With each passing step, I try to hold onto as much of the moment as possible. I don’t think Wade knows just how incredibly sexy he is.
When we reach the boathouse, I pause, needing to refill my reserves. I turn to him and run my right hand through his dark locks. I’m mesmerized by the way the sunlight sparkles through the strands, highlighting the random reds and golds in his black hair.
Standing up on my toes, I pull him closer. I press my lips to his and inhale his scent of sandalwood and soap as it blends with the winter wind. I don’t know what it is about his touch, or his kisses…but I could stay submerged in the feelings and sensations they evoke forever, if he’d let me.
Chuckling under his breath, he pulls back. “Come on, Autumn. It’ll be much more fun inside. I promise you—”
Suddenly, Wade’s eyes widen and his jaw slacks open. Within a split-second, all color drains from his face.
Pulling back, I twist around, following his tormented stare.
Less than ten feet away, I catch the tail end of an old man materializing like a dust-devil has just brought him into being. Everything about him looks as though it’s made of ash and yet, somehow, still solid. As the man takes an awkward first step forward, I clasp my hands over my mouth.
It’s Wade’s dead grandfather.
Chapter 12
Buzzkill
Instinctively, Wade springs into action, pulling me back and stepping out in front, effectively putting himself between me and his grandfather.
“Is this—normal?” I sputter, unable to take my eyes off the crumbling version of the man I barely knew.
Wade shoots me a WTF look and shakes his head. “What in the hell could possibly be normal about this?” He jabs his right hand, palm side up, toward his grandfather.
“I—I don’t know. You said your family’s powers are dormant. Maybe they don’t kick in until you die?” I sputter, unable to think of anything else that makes sense.
With wide eyes, Wade turns back to his grandpa. “No, this is something else—something unnatural. I’ve never seen anything like this. I...have no idea what to do here.”
My mind wheels through various scenarios, but none of them are good.
“Grandpa—it’s me, Wade. Do you remember me?” he says, splaying his arms out wide, trying to get his grandpa’s attention.
Unfortunately, there’s no recognition hidden in the ashen face of the man standing before us. If anything, he looks almost feral as he crouches down, pulling his elbows back like he’s about to pounce.
“Oh my god, he’s another revenant,” I say, tugging at Wade’s arm.
“Well, yeah, I kinda figured,” Wade replies, tilting his head to the side.
My heartbeat thumps loudly in my chest, and I’m acutely aware of the fact that we’re highly exposed. “He shouldn’t be here. We need to find a way to release him,” I sputter.
Wade takes a step backward, forcing me to do the same. “Well, if you have any ideas, I’m all ears ‘cause I got nothin’. This is so far outside the realm of normal for me.”
“We’ll have to destroy his body, just like the other ones.”
“I can’t kill him,“ Wade practically squeaks.
“Wade, he’s already dead,” I say, unable to even blink away.
With that, the creature lunges forward, hissing as it leaps a good five feet or more into the air. In microseconds, the ashen figure of Wade’s grandpa is on top of us, stretching out its hands as it tries to grab hold of the front of Wade’s leather jacket. Caught off guard by the insanely sudden movement, I jump back, slipping on an icy patch and landing hard on my backside. Wade’s footing also falters, but the creature manages to intertwine its fingers with Wade’s collar, taking them both down as well.
As I scramble back and away, Wade manages to kick the revenant off of him, but only for seconds before it gets its bearings and attacks again.
“Can you get that door open?” Wade yells, pressing his arms straight out and holding the creature. It snaps and snarls, trying to get at its prey as it thrusts its fingers across Wade’s face.
Without even answering, I scramble to my feet and make my way to the side door of the boathouse. Clutching the handle, I give it a twist and thrust my shoulder into it, trying to get it to swing open. The resounding thud reverberates, but the door itself doesn’t budge.
“Dammit,” I curse, immediately scanning the area for a key. “It’s locked.”
I shove my hand into the potted evergreen beside the doorway but come up empty-handed.
“Just kick it in,” Wade yells back, wrestling the revenant from side to side as he struggles to get himself free.
Standing on my tiptoes, I feel around the edge of the trim work. My fingertips graze the edge of something metallic as it drops into the snow beside the door. Immediately I drop to my knees, ignoring the trembling in my hands as I dig through the snow for the key. Finally, my fingertips find the cold metal and I pluck it from the snowbank. Racing to the handle, I thrust in the key and mutter a prayer under my breath that it works.
The locks groans, but clicks, and I fling the door back. “Got it.”
Spinning around, I run up to the revenant, planting my foot along its side with as much force as I can muster. Luckily, the blow is enough to knock him off of Wade, at least momentarily. Thrusting my hand down, I pull Wade to his feet. The revenant turns around, makes another swipe for him, and barely misses.
“Christ, this thing won’t quit,” Wade huffs, his eyes wide and face flushed.
Twisting around, he grabs hold of the revenant instead, bending his legs and rushing the two of them forward into the boathouse. When he’s cleared the doorway, Wade drops the odd, dusty fabric of the creature, letting momentum carry it farther into the space. Without a second’s hesitation, Wade pivots, grabbing the handle and slamming the door shut.
He stands here, his hands gripping the door handle as if his life depends on it—and it does. The creature screams, howling and groping at the door on the other side.
“Here, let me lock it,” I say, stepping forward and twisting the key into place.
As the lock clicks, Wade exhales loudly but doesn’t remove his hands. “Do you think it knows how to unlock doors?” he whispers.
I shake my head, ignoring the fact that my entire
body is trembling. “I—I don’t know.”
The shrieking stops on the other side and an eerie silence greets us. It’s almost as if the creature has vanished completely.
“Let’s not stick around to find out,” Wade says, dropping the door handle and grabbing my hand.
Together, we race for the house, putting as much distance between us and the boathouse as possible. The moment we get to the door of the manor, we open it and dart inside. Without a second thought, we both turn around, thrusting our arms out and slamming the door shut. With Wade still pressing it closed, I flip the lock on the handle and set the deadbolt.
Removing his hands, Wade takes a step back, pressing his hands to his mouth. “Holy shit. That was—”
“Scary?” I breathe, slumping to my knees.
“Intense,” Wade says, nodding and sliding to the floor with his back against the door.
“What the hell was that all about? I mean, was that really him? Or?” I clutch at my chest, trying to take a deep, cleansing breath and failing miserably.
Wade shakes his head, his own breathing jagged. “No clue. Sure as hell looked like him, though.”
“So, what do we do now? I mean, he can’t stay in the boathouse forever…”
Wade shudders. “Who knows if he’s still in there now. Did you see the way he materialized? It was like his ashes were somehow melded together and reanimated.”
“Yeah, that was crazy. But if you really want to know whether or not he’s still in there, we can go back out and…”
“Nope, nope…” Wade says, shaking his head. “I’m good with assuming he’s trapped. At least until we figure out what to do next.”
I bite my lip, thinking through possible scenarios. “What if we call the authorities?”
“And told them what? Hey, guys, there’s a dead guy trapped in the boathouse and we could use some help. Granted, he was recently turned to ash, but he’s now running around like a spry chicken. Wanna come and check it out?”
The Windhaven Witches Omnibus Edition : Complete Paranormal Suspense Series, Books 1-4 Page 33