by Liz Schulte
He laughed. “That is often the case. Really if we are talking about good and evil or light and dark, that’s more Olivia and Holden’s thing than mine. And if they’re involved, then the coven needs to back away quickly because it’s way out of your wheelhouse.”
We both nodded. The coven had been through enough in the last few years. We certainly weren’t going to look for trouble.
“So we should just let this go?” Katrina asked. “Let whatever it is kill people and what, pretend like we don’t see it or can’t stop it? I can’t do that. I mean I’m not on a mission to save the world or anything, but New Haven is sort of our turf now and whatever it was chose to come here. It feels like a direct challenge.”
“It may not even know you guys are around,” he said.
I pulled out our mailing list and handed it to him. “The first two names on this month’s mailing list are the first two victims. I don’t know if he’ll go after the third name next, or maybe all the names… . All I know is he definitely seems to know we are here.”
Sy ran a hand over his jaw. “You’re right. That’s too much of a coincidence to overlook.” He read over the paper again. “Have you checked on the person next on the list?”
“No. What are we supposed to say? ‘Hi, you signed up for our mailing list. Just wanted to make sure you aren’t dead?’ Not exactly the business plan we were going for,” Kat said.
“Call Selene. Get her back here. We’ll split up and check out the rest of the list to make sure everyone is okay, and then—even though I know I just told you no more magic—a spell to protect or at least mask these people from danger might not be out of bounds.”
While Katrina made the call, I dove into the Book of Shadows looking for any sort of spell that we could cast on these people without actually being with them. There wasn’t much to speak of.
“What about a charm?” I asked when Kat got off the phone. “We could make protection charms for each of them and leave them in their house when we go to check on them.”
She nodded. “That would work if they all stay home.”
“Where are they going to go in this sort of weather? Plus, the other two were attacked in their homes.”
We set to work putting together the charm bags while Sy looked around the store. When Selene arrived we had everything ready to go for blessing and imbuing the bags with magic. It would have been stronger with all of us there, but nothing could be done about that. We did the spell as fast as possible and then split the list. Selene made me invisible to humans again and Sy did the same to Katrina.
“Make sure you get eyes on each person on the list. Once you confirm they’re okay, drop the charm somewhere out of the way and get out. If you run into trouble,” his eyes met Selene’s and she nodded. I had no idea what they were talking about, but that was hardly surprising. Selene and Sy no doubt had some sort of contingency plan. “Otherwise we meet back here.”
And just like that Sy was gone with Katrina. I gripped the plastic bag of charm bags tighter in my hands and let Selene take me away.
The first house we appeared in belonged to the third name on the list, Pam Garwood. Everything was quiet and all the lights were off. The sun was close to setting, giving the inside a pinkish glow. I couldn’t help but think the silence and lack of light were bad things. If she was home, alive, wouldn’t her light be on? Selene and I crept through the house looking for any sign of Pam. As we rounded the kitchen we came across a hallway. One room toward the end revealed a bright yellow strip of light beneath the door. Selene took hold of my sleeve and transported us to the other side of it. Pam was lying in bed, her nose stuck in a book. The dog beside her looked at us and gave a warning bark. She put her hand on his head soothingly as she glanced up.
“No one’s here, silly dog.”
Pam went back to reading. My lungs burned from holding my breath. Being there and not seen was such a strange sensation. Then the feeling hit me. It was the same one the energy on the purse had. The hair on my arms stood up straight. I looked to Selene, but she didn’t seem to notice. She had taken a charm out of the bag and knelt down, pushing it beneath the bed. The dog growled, no longer looking at us, staring at the door instead.
“It’s here,” I mouthed, pointing.
Selene blinked and stood up, squaring off against the door, but nothing happened. “Where?” she mouthed back.
I shrugged.
She transported us back to the living room and we walked through the house again. We saw no trace of anything or anyone, but I couldn’t shake the feeling all around me. We waited for several moments until the feeling was gone. Begrudgingly I let Selene take me to the next house.
It was dark by the time we finished all the houses on our half of the list and made it back to the shop.
“I know it was there,” I said as soon as I could speak freely again.
“I’m not saying it wasn’t,” Selene said patiently, though she had that poor-Jessica-is-scared-because-she-doesn’t-have-magic look on her face. “Maybe we frightened it off. Maybe it only wants easy targets. I don’t know. I couldn’t feel it.”
“But I could.”
“What happened?” Sy asked.
“Jessica said she felt the energy in the first house, but I couldn’t feel it. We stayed there a while, but nothing happened.”
Katrina suddenly wore the same expression as Selene. They didn’t believe me. And why would they? I didn’t have magic like they did. I wasn’t even a tenth as strong as them anymore. If the great and mighty witches couldn’t sense it, then it must not have been there.
I crossed my arms, jaw tight.
“She might have sensed it better than you because it was a subtle energy,” Sy said.
Selene’s head whipped around. “What’s that supposed to mean? I can sense subtle energies. I’m an elf.”
He laughed. “You’re a bulldozer. She’s a pickax. There’s a difference. Think of it like white noise. You have so much power and energy surrounding you that in order to notice something small you either have to look for it or it has to rival your own noise. Everything is quieter around her, making her more sensitive to it.”
Selene looked at me thoughtfully. “I’m sorry, Jess. I should have listened.”
I smiled a little. Selene hated apologies. “For what it’s worth, I think you were right about it having left. I don’t know if it was because of us or if the charm worked how we wanted it to. Either way, I think we saved her and that’s always a good day in my book.”
Selene returned my smile. “Mine too. Any word from Leslie or Frost? I’m starting to worry about them.”
“Leslie texted a while ago, but I would’ve thought she’d call by now,” Katrina said, checking her phone.
“What if whatever this is goes after them?” I could hardly believe I hadn’t thought of it sooner. We had been worried about the customers, and rightfully so, but what about us? Frost and Leslie were just as tied to the store as Katrina and I.
“Between the two of them, I pity anything that goes up against them,” Selene said gently.
Sy didn’t look so certain. “You really have no idea where they are?”
“Leslie said they were in a house in the country. That’s all. She said her phone was in the car most of the day.” Katrina pushed her hand through her hair. “I don’t know why they’re there. Frost was moody—moodier, that is—than normal this Christmas. Maybe it’s the holiday or something. But she has been really withdrawn. I thought all of us spending Christmas together would help, but she’s still locked in her own little world.”
Sy stayed carefully blank. He definitely knew something. Right as I had that thought, he looked up, met my eyes, and winked.
See, it was stuff like that—how he practically read our minds—that acted like a flashing light, saying he was much more than what the world knew him to be. I doubted Selene even knew the full truth about him. I wondered how many people were actually close enough to him that he’d allow them to see the deep dark recesses
of his life.
“You have a visitor,” he said, still looking at me.
I sighed and went to the front door. Donavan stood on the other side, his hands cupped against the glass, his face pressed into the center. Obviously Katrina’s spell hadn’t been strong enough. I unlocked the door. “Can I help you?” I said.
He took a couple steps back, flashing me a charming grin. “I saw the light was on over here. I think we’re the only two people in the whole town who made it to work today.”
I smiled. Or her charm had worked perfectly. “Looks that way.”
“I am Donavan Cassidy.” He offered me his hand. “I own and operate the New Haven Chronicle across the street.”
“I’m a loyal subscriber,” I said with a hit of irony I couldn’t quite keep out of my voice. “Was there something you needed?”
He shook his head. “This is going to sound really strange, but I pulled an all-nighter last night and fell asleep in my office, but I had the strangest dreams about you. When I woke up, you were the first person I wanted to talk to.”
My eyebrows shot up as my brain scrambled for something to say. “That’s a terrible pick up line.”
He laughed and stepped inside. “I told you it was strange.”
I forced a smile. “I’m not sure how to respond to that.”
He looked around the shop like it was the first time he had been in it. “In the dream your ceiling had stuff falling from it and we were investigating a serial killer. I know this is beyond bizarre, but it’s really sticking with me. I thought coming over here might help.”
“Has it?”
He shook his head. “Actually everything looks exactly like it did in my dream.” He looked up at the sign in the window about palm reading and fortune telling. I waited for him to have the same reaction he had before. He surprised me. Totally. “Do you also do dream interpretation?”
“Nope,” I said too fast. “It’s all a bunch of crap.”
He laughed. “How about we just try a palm reading?” He held out his hand.
I stared at it, afraid to touch it. What if that dislodged more memories? “As you can see,” I gestured to my coat that I was still wearing, “I’m getting ready to close up shop for the night. Maybe another time.”
His eyes lingered on the lapel of my wool coat for a moment before he reached forward and brushed his fingers against it like he still wasn’t sure any of this was real. “You’re missing a button,” he said softly.
Everything in me went cold. That’s what caught in his office. I waited for him to produce the button, but he didn’t. He just continued to stare thoughtfully. “It’s been gone for ages,” I said.
He blinked and his eyes narrowed slightly. “You should think about having it fixed. Any idea where it is?”
I shook my head, trying not to look guilty.
“Pity. It’s a nice coat.” He pulled his hand back from me. “I won’t keep you. It’s getting dark, so if you’re heading home, you shouldn’t wait around. But I look forward to seeing you again.” He opened the door to let himself out.
“It was nice meeting you,” I called after him before the door could close.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out. Leslie. Finally.
13
FROST
I glanced from the door Leslie had just departed through, then to the mysterious spell box, then back to door again.
“Damn it,” I mumbled as I shut the box and took back my key.
Her bag was gone from the hallway, so I went downstairs. The sky outside the living room windows was dark and foreboding, and the storm howled. No matter what Katrina and Jessica had going on, we couldn’t get out of here tonight—and Leslie couldn’t just take off without me. I was surprised by the relief that fact triggered. I found her in the kitchen, cell phone pressed to her ear, nodding.
“I know,” she said. “I just don’t think we can leave tonight. It’s snowing like crazy. t might take us a couple days to get back unless Selene can come and get us…I don’t know if Frost will come or not…No, I didn’t ask her…Fine…I said fine… No, I’m not grumpy…I don’t care how I sound…Okay, bye. Be careful…I will.” With a heavy sigh she put her phone in her pocket, turned the burner on the stove to high, and filled the kettle with water.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“For what?” she asked, not looking at me.
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. How was I supposed to know what set her off? Was my telling the truth? I told her coming here would have nothing to do with the coven and yet she came anyway. That was her choice, not mine. It wasn’t my fault we were stuck here. Maybe she was mad I left her alone with the other, potentially dark, coven. Okay, that probably was an asshole thing to do.
“I don’t know,” I finally said when my internal analysis had gone on too long. Besides she would know the truth. Her empathic abilities would ting at any attempt to lie.
She half snorted, half laughed. “Then why are you apologizing?”
“Because you’re angry and I don’t want you to be angry with me. Look, you’re right. I am selfish. I’ve only ever had myself to consider so it doesn’t come naturally for me to consider other people. I’m making an effort, but I can’t change overnight.”
She shook her head, but at least she turned around. “I’ll make you some tea. Read your text messages.”
I sat at the dark wooden table and pulled out my phone. The first message was from Jessica.
“Found a weird pattern of deaths in the news, think they are connected. Two of them shop at the store. Looking into it more, but attaching links. Frost, this is more your area. What do you think?”
I clicked on the first link. It was about a girl who was found strangled in her apartment. The police believed the boyfriend did it. The neighbors said they fought a lot and the boyfriend was missing. Not unreasonable.
I selected the next link. This one was an older lady who committed suicide but the situation was similar. According to Jessica both victims had similar marks on their necks. All in all, it sounded thin to me.
My hand went to my neck, however. Orion said my father was strangled to death by Ornias. It had been over thirty years, though. Surely they weren’t connected. It had to be a coincidence.
Her next message came a few hours later. “There are more unsolved strangulations. A lot more. Dude, seriously, look at these.” She sent more links.
I followed the links—each led to similar stories, true, but the deaths were spread out geographically and over a wide span of years. And in most cases, someone was caught for the crimes—yet there were nagging factors that couldn’t be accounted for, like each death occurred between December and the first week of January. Cause of death was always strangulation of some variety.
I rubbed my forehead. Orion showed up after a lifetime of ignoring me and suddenly claimed I was “ready.” All on the same day Jessica stumbled across these murders that just so happen to be in the exact same way my father died. I went back and looked at all of the deaths again, noting where they were from. At first glance it appeared random, but they were far from it. “Do you have paper?” I said.
Leslie handed me a small notebook and pen. I jotted down dates and locations then reorganized them by date. “There’s a pattern,” I whispered.
“Jessica thinks so too.”
I shook my head. “No, she doesn’t see it. She couldn’t. She doesn’t know what to look for. Whatever she thinks, she’s wrong. The locations, the dates, all of it. It’s following me.”
Leslie raised an eyebrow. “Everything isn’t about you.”
I wanted to laugh, but I was still too shocked. “Seriously. I lived in each of the places one of these murders happened. The two deaths of people who shopped at Enchanted—this is the first really small town targeted. It’s also the first one I’ve spent any time in. It’s been looking for me.”
She sat down across from me. “What is?”
“The thing that killed my fathe
r. Ornias. That’s what Orion called it. He said it was a fallen angel.” Orion hadn’t come because I was ready for anything. He’d arrived because I was out of time. Ornias had found me, but why did he want me? Orion said I had to set my mother’s wrongs right. Was he talking about Ornias? What the hell was I supposed to do against an angel? What were any of us supposed to do against an angel?
Before I could even call for him, an icy breeze came through the house, and Orion appeared. “Can’t you just use a door? You’re hell on a heating bill. What do you know about Ornias?”
“You ask questions that will only confuse you as they did your mother. I have learned my lesson with her. I cannot give you the answers, but you can find them. The answers you seek are here. Everything you need to understand the road before you is under this roof, but you are running out of time,” he said slowly, nodding for emphasis.
Leslie nodded back.
“Please believe me, if I could do more…” Orion met my eyes. What your mother began must be set right. It’s the only way.”
I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, he was gone. “Jessica and Katrina need to come here,” I said at the same time Leslie said, “We need to get into that room.”
“Agreed,” we both said.
Leslie was immediately back on her phone and I went to look at the room behind the red door again. I picked up a knick-knack on my way. I squatted down in front of the door and looked around for signs the massive room was an illusion. I still couldn’t see any. Either the doorway crossed into a different dimension or it was the best illusion I had ever seen. There was only one way to find out. I tossed the polished stone raven into the room. It exploded into a fine dust as soon as it crossed the threshold.
“Holy crap,” Leslie called from the kitchen. “Are you alive?”
“I’m fine—but the room is definitely rigged.”
Leslie came around the corner. “Jess and Kat are going to try to get here. Obviously they can’t drive either, but they’ll see if they can get Selene or Sy to bring them.”
I nodded.
“Why are we bringing them here when Ornias is back there?”