by Joyce Lavene
Duran’s disciples took their places around the fire and began chanting. Osisko crept closer to me, and began to untie my hands.
He pointed to the big horse that looked alive in the glow of the fire.
“I don’t know what to do or how to stop it,” I whispered to him. He hadn’t spoken but I knew what he wanted. The cult members were too busy looking for the demon horses to notice what we were doing. It was possible Duran could see Osisko too. “What should I do?”
He put out his hands flat on the tree as though he were setting them on something to understand it as I would.
“I think he wants you to touch the horse,” Mary Catherine said. “I think that may be the answer, Dae.”
“No. Don’t do it,” Jake said. “I saw what happened to you after you touched one of the small horses. You may not survive if you touch the big horse.”
“We’ll figure out something else,” Kevin reasoned with me. “There’s another way besides you touching that thing.”
I was scared, no doubt about it. I also didn’t understand how touching the big horse would help. All I would be able to see was how it was made, and the terrible things it had been called on to do in the past. How would that make any difference?
Yet I knew that Osisko understood how my gift worked. He knew how to stop the horses. I had to trust him, and myself. “I can’t stop this by touching the horse.”
He jumped up and down like a monkey, slapping the charred bone on the sand.
“Don’t do it,” Mary Catherine urged. “Help me get free. We can get away from here, and I can call the wild horses.”
“Let’s get the sheriff, huh?” Jake said. “It’s not like I don’t believe the horses would help. I don’t want to see any of them get shot either. We need backup with guns.”
“Let’s just get out of here,” Kevin said. “You can’t do this alone.”
I’d finally freed myself from the tree and the ropes, and started toward Mary Catherine to get the rope off her too. Osisko had other ideas. He grabbed my arm in a surprisingly strong hold, and began pulling me toward the big horse on the other side of the fire.
“No!” I fought him off. “I have to free my friends first. You don’t understand.”
He wouldn’t listen. We skirted the edge of the clearing, and were finally within arm’s length of the horse. He grabbed me and dragged me to the feet of the statue. The cult members were too entranced by the fire and the chanting to see what I was doing.
“Dae!” Kevin called out, the fire gleaming on his angry, frightened face as he fought to free himself.
I kept pulling back as Osisko tried to propel me forward. We were standing close to one of the horse’s legs. He outstretched one of my arms and I fought him, suddenly terrified that touching the statue could be the end of me. I’d thought that he understood my gift, but it seemed I was wrong.
I finally screamed out of fear and frustration. The flames from the center of the fire changed color from red/orange to black.
The demons were coming.
Chapter Twenty-five
As the legs, torsos, and heads began to emerge from the inferno, a cold certainty that the horses could do everything Duran had predicted grabbed me. The terrified faces of the cult members surrounded me. Maybe it was one thing to practice summoning the demons—which was what I believed had happened—and another to have them destroy the bridges that connected us to the mainland. Anyone who lived here knew what that would mean.
As the first horse clawed its way out of the fire, three cult members shrieked and ran away. The remaining members continued to chant.
It was a now-or-never situation. The demons had to be stopped. I didn’t know what I could do by touching the horse, but I had to try. There wasn’t time to go for help. This was happening now.
I reached for the large horse’s stone leg, the smoke from the fire blowing into my face, choking me. Duran noticed what we were doing.
As my hand went flat against the cold stone, Duran rushed at me, screaming the chant he’d been repeating.
Too late. The impressions and power of the horse began to surge through me.
Unlike the smaller stone horse that Jake had compelled me to touch, this one was clear and easy to understand. I saw the stone workers carving it, and a priest of some kind blessing it. It was thrown in the fire as soon as it was completed. The red stone glowed until the horse’s body was completely orange. It was as though the stone had absorbed the fire.
It had been created for only one thing—destruction. That was why the early cult members had finally entombed it where it could never come near fire again. The blood shed by the demon horses flooded through it, and through me. I could feel the demons rising from a dark place to answer the summons of the stone horse, and the cult members, again.
Words that I didn’t understand spewed from my lips. I was above all of it, coldly dispassionate, like the horse I was touching. My rational mind still clung to my thoughts, and who I was, while the demons tried to rip away everything good and human in me.
Duran stepped quickly back from me. His face contorted, filled with fear. He stared at me, shaking his head until he finally ran out of the circle of light created by the fire.
Chief Palo had arrived, bringing Sheriff Riley with her. They were rounding up the remaining cult members and putting them into a van. Kevin was walking into the firelight, staring at me. Mary Catherine was untying Jake.
“Get her away from that horse,” Jake yelled at Kevin.
“Somebody tell me what’s going on,” Sheriff Riley interrupted.
“No!” Mary Catherine stopped Kevin from coming toward me. “Not yet. Osisko believes she can stop the demon horses. You can’t take her away yet. They’ll destroy everything.”
“What demon horses are you talking about?” Sheriff Riley demanded. “I should have all of you arrested for being crazy.”
“I can see them,” Chief Palo yelled. “Look! Right there beside the fire. They’re huge. Someone has to stop them.”
All weapons were directed toward the horrible creatures coming from the fire. Bullets meant nothing to them. They weren’t made of flesh like real horses. They kept fighting to be free, to destroy everything they encountered.
“Dae can do it,” Mary Catherine said. “She’s holding them back right now. Just give her some time.”
I understood her words, but I wasn’t sure she was right. I was frozen to the stone leg, unable to move. There was friction between me and the stone that was holding my hand in place. It felt like my hand would tear away from my wrist if I tried to move it.
“We have to get her out of there,” Kevin growled. “This could kill her.”
“Not yet.” Mary Catherine put her hand on his shoulder.
Then I could see the red and black horse demons. They were staring at me with their yellow eyes. Mary Catherine was right. They were waiting to be released on their targets. Duran and his followers didn’t control them anymore—I did.
I fought to hold them and then realized that they had to return to the black fire. I had to send them away, even though it was the hardest thing I’d ever done. Their power and ferocity made my insides quiver. I could imagine how Duran had felt, drunk on the ability to control them. It was like holding back a hurricane. Their thoughts whispered obscene promises of wealth and power.
“Dae?” Kevin yelled. “Can you hear me?”
I could hear him, but I couldn’t answer. It was all I could do to hold the demons in place and begin the process of turning them to go back into the fire. I was disconnected from the normal functions of my body. All my energy, everything I was, went into keeping the horses from achieving the goal Duran had set for them.
They were slowly returning to the flames. Their mighty hooves struck against the earth leaving fire where they fought to stay. Sparks flew out with their angry breaths. They didn’t want to go back. They didn’t want to listen to me. They recalled the past when they’d been called to rain fire and d
eath on humans.
But I kept pushing them until they had all jumped back into the fire.
Osisko was still beside me. He was smiling and crying. His hand was on my face, and I knew I’d done the right thing. This was how he’d managed to stop the horses the last time they’d been called a thousand years ago at this spot. He’d been the one who had decided to bury the stone horses so they could never be brought back. He’d convinced several tribes to get the job done, although it took years and many men were lost. He was the one who’d ordered them to bury him alive with it. He never dreamed that one of his descendants would bring them back.
As the horses began to fade into the fire, the flames turned red again, and died down. There was no one to feed the fire. I could feel the energy draining away. As it did, my hand slid down the length of the horse’s leg. I blinked, and realized it was over.
Mary Catherine ran to my side, followed quickly by Jake and Kevin.
“Are you all right, Dae?” she asked. “Do you need to go to the hospital?”
“I’m fine.” I smiled and stared back at them. It wasn’t the truth, but I couldn’t discuss what I’d experienced yet. It was all I could do to get up from the ground. My muscles didn’t want to cooperate, and my brain was mush.
Osisko was gone, probably for good this time. Mary Catherine shrugged when I looked at the place beside me. I understood—she couldn’t see him either.
“Let’s get back to your place.” Kevin put his arm around me.
“Maybe she should chill for a while on my sofa,” Jake said.
“She needs to go home,” Kevin said more forcefully. “I think you’ve gotten her in enough trouble already tonight. Get out of my way.”
Jake put his hand on Kevin’s arm. The two men glared at each other.
“Boys, I think Dae needs to go home. If you can’t manage it without your egos getting in the way, I’ll take her home.” Mary Catherine ended their debate.
Kevin and Jake were silent. Sheriff Riley walked over. “Exactly what am I supposed to do with these people?”
“Arrest them for the murder of Dr. Sheffield and Tom Watts,” Kevin said. “They called back the demon horses and used them to kill both of them.”
“I can’t arrest someone for calling up demon horses,” Sheriff Riley said. “I knew I shouldn’t have come. Palo!”
She put her hand on his arm. “There’s more to it than that. Just hear them out, Tuck.”
I’d never seen Sheriff Riley back down that way before. Chief Palo was letting everyone know about their relationship in a big way. How was he going to handle it?
“Heidi, you know we can’t arrest people for doing things with demons. That’s crazy—I won’t get reelected.”
“Let’s figure this out,” she said calmly. “There are old witchcraft laws on the books, right?”
“Yeah, sure, but I don’t want to be the one to use them.” He stared at what was left of the enormous fire as the night settled around us. “Besides, I never saw a thing, not really. I shot where you said to shoot.”
“We’ll just hold them for now,” she suggested.
He agreed with that. “Okay. You keep ‘em in your jail until we figure it out. Maybe we can prosecute the ringleader, if nothing else. Anyone know who that is?”
“It’s Duran, Dr. Sheffield’s assistant.” Jake gave him a brief description. “He’s the one you should look for.”
“You mean he got away?” Kevin glared at Jake. “Nice going, cowboy.”
Jake took a step toward him, one hand raised in a fist.
“Settle down, gentlemen,” Chief Palo said. “Don’t make me lock all of you up for trespassing while we try to make sense of this.”
“This is my property,” Jake reminded her.
The conversation swirled without me taking part in it at all. I just couldn’t get the images of the demon horses out of my mind. My brain felt stuck on them like a song repeating over and over again. The chant Duran has used to raise them still burned through me. It was all I could do not to go back and try to bring the demons out again.
When they’d finished deciding what each of their first steps was, Sheriff Riley glanced at me. “Someone take her home. She looks like a zombie or something. I don’t want Horace blaming me for this.”
Chief Palo handled any debate from Jake and Kevin by saying she would drive me and Mary Catherine home in her police car. There was a touch of the general ordering her troops in her voice. Kevin and Jake went to their vehicles without saying another word.
We got in the car, and Mary Catherine put her hand on my forehead, staring into my eyes. The dash light was dim and slightly green. “I believe I understand how you feel, Dae. The first time I spoke with a blue whale, I had the same expression on my face. You’re overwhelmed, but you’ll feel better once you’re home and you get a good night’s rest. Just sit back, and try not to worry about a thing. Everyone else will take care of what needs to be done.”
It seemed like a short trip to the house. Mary Catherine and Heidi helped me out of the car. Jake and Kevin had managed to beat us there. They helped me upstairs, and I collapsed on the bed. I vaguely remember Mary Catherine helping me out of my clothes and boots before I fell asleep.
The night was fraught with nightmares and the horrors I’d seen by touching the big horse. To think that could have happened to people in Duck and Corolla made me violently ill. I crept back to bed after my visit to the bathroom, wishing there was something to take this away from me.
My grandmother’s watch was in the drawer of my bedside table. I never wore it because I was afraid something might happen to it. I clutched it then out of misery and fear. What if I could never get past what I’d seen? How would I live with this in my mind for the rest of my life?
There was a way to go back in the past. Grandma Eleanore had told me at our impromptu tea party. I closed my eyes, and allowed it to happen. When I opened them again, I was seated at the kitchen table downstairs, bright sunlight coming in through the windows, but at a time when she was still alive.
“My goodness, Dae!” She jumped visibly. “I didn’t expect you.”
I noticed that she was winding the same watch I’d held to get here. “Is this before or after we met when I touched the first horse?”
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about so I’d say before. I assume we had some conversation about it?”
I watched her delicate hand as she set the time on the worn gold watch. She seemed younger, not as frail. “When I came back last time, you were looking for something on the island where Rafe Masterson used to bury his treasure.”
“Don’t tell me anymore.” She held up her hand. “It’s not good to know too much about one’s future. I’m so happy to see you, honey. What brings you back to me?”
I told her everything that had happened as she made pancakes and bacon for breakfast. She listened patiently, and didn’t interrupt until it was all out. Just telling it made me feel better. Still, the monsters lurked at the edge of my awareness.
“You had quite an adventure,” she said. “I’m sorry I can’t offer you pancakes.”
“That’s okay. I just wanted to see you again. I knew you’d understand.” I glanced around the kitchen. Some things were different, but many things hadn’t changed. “When am I? I mean, have I been born yet?”
“Not yet. Your mother is pregnant. You’ll be here soon.”
I watched her finish making breakfast, thinking about her warning not to get too far ahead in her timeline. She’d died before I was born. I’d thought she was sick, but she looked healthy. Maybe it had been something that had come on quickly. I suddenly realized that we’d never talked about how Grandma Eleanore had died.
I also thought about Osisko coming forward from his time to help me with the horses. I wanted to ask her about it, but Now wasn’t the time.
“Hush now. Your mother and your grandfather don’t have our gift. They won’t be able to see or hear you.”
My heart started beating fast and I started crying. I was going to see my mother again. My heart was filled with joy, pushing away the evil and darkness I had experienced.
“Morning, Mom.”
Chapter Twenty-six
My mother, Jean O’Donnell, with her flyaway hair like mine and the smile I’d never forget. She was so young—and so pregnant.
I wanted to touch her, call out to her. I sobbed with her loss as though she’d just died. My heart was breaking. I wanted to feel her arms around me so badly.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Grandma Eleanore said to her. “Eat your breakfast before you run out the door. It’s not good to go without eating when you’re pregnant.”
“So you keep telling me.” My mother smoothed her hand over her baby bump. “But if I keep feeding her, she’s going to burst right out of me.”
“That won’t happen.” Grandma Eleanore laughed. “She’ll just be healthy and beautiful like her mother.”
“Who are we talking about now?” Gramps asked as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
“We’re talking about your granddaughter.” Grandma Eleanore smoothed his tie down against his brown sheriff’s uniform. “Sit down and eat. The bad guys will wait until you get there.”
Gramps looked so young and handsome. He was still a deputy with Dare County. He wouldn’t run for sheriff until the next election.
This was an important time in my family’s history. I was on the way. Gramps would be sheriff soon. Grandma Eleanore would die. Everything would change. It was hard knowing, and not saying anything, but I was new to this and had to assume my grandmother knew what she was talking about.
Gramps and my mother left for work. It was beyond wonderful being there with them, even if I couldn’t interact. Being with my mother brought back all my memories of her. The way she laughed. The way she cut her pancakes into tiny pieces before she ate them. All those details we miss about the ones we love when they’re gone.