“I’m the guardian of Blackbird Inn. I see the chains in the moonlight, yes. This is why I can only leave for a few days at a time. I’m destined to stay here, or some might call it cursed to stay. When the blackbird flew out of sight, it marked the edge of one of many circles.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Yes, more Wallace Stevens. His poetry means a lot to me. I don’t mind being bound here, even if I am trapped for my whole life. I belong here.”
“But this can’t be real.” She covered her mouth with her hands. “Those chains can’t be real.”
“Oh, they’re real. And the fact that you can see the chains means you’ve got power, too.” He stepped closer. “You must have witch’s blood.”
Sophia cringed. She’d heard the stories her great-aunt told. She’d never believed her. But how to explain…this? “I don’t know…”
“You’re part something. At least now I know why I can’t leave, thanks to my great-grandmother’s journal. I’ve got to make sure Alexandra stays where she belongs and that no demon frees her.” He sighed and his eyes turned back to blue as the moon went behind a cloud. “Looks like I’ll be busy tomorrow night. And I’ve got to make sure you don’t help the demon...”
The fire roared back to life, spitting and crackling.
Sophia ran.
Chapter 8
Sophia ran, her bare feet stinging from the bleeding cuts from the pointed rocks and sticks in the yard. Her white nightgown’s hem was stained with mud and damp from the mist that rose from the ground. She stopped at the cemetery gate, her heart thudding in her throat.
“Garren?” she called.
The cemetery lay still and silent. Not even an insect made a sound.
The moon illuminated the tombstones and cast long shadows across the tall grass. Sophia opened the iron gate and it creaked as rusty hinges groaned under the effort. She stepped inside, letting the gate fall open.
“Garren, where are you?”
She slipped between rows of curved stones and shattered crosses. Two large mausoleums occupied the center of the small cemetery and she moved closer. Garren’s family name was carved into the lintel, moss-covered and dirty, it was barely legible. AMSEL.
A loud shriek sounded and Sophia turned.
In front of her, a large creature paced, flames shooting from its nostrils on each breath. Silver blue scales lined its back and a lengthy, barbed tail trailed behind it. The creature faced her, its eyes large and red, its mouth dripping blood.
It roared to the moon then crouched as the ground split open and bright light fractured the dark sky.
Sophia tried to run, but she couldn’t move. She tried to scream, but no sound came from her mouth. In the distance, the inn raged a fiery death, lighting the sky in pink-orange.
The creature pounced and Sophia fell as darkness washed over her soul…
She sat up in bed, shaking and damp with perspiration. When had she fallen asleep? And why so many nightmares at the inn? She looked at the clock. It was after four AM. She hadn’t slept for long. She tugged the covers up. Once again, she’d fallen asleep in her clothes—well, in Garren’s T-shirt. Her suitcase, half-packed, was back on the chair.
I’ve got to get out of this crazy place.
She rubbed her eyes and lay back on the pillow. So many things happening, and none of them made sense. Only her time with Garren felt right. She could almost feel his touch now. But all the wild stuff had to go.
And all this talk of demons and witches and curses…was it all an elaborate Halloween prank?
I saw Garren’s chains. They were real.
She should pack her bag and get the heck away from Blackbird Inn. Who cared if Mr. Beck paid her or not? She hadn’t found anything to help save the inn and there was enough crazy going around to last her the rest of her life.
It’s just a job.
But running away would mean leaving Garren. Yes, he was odd and mysterious, but somehow, being with him felt right. Being around him made her feel comfortable—like she belonged somewhere for the first time in her life.
If I run, I’m running from Garren, too.
A soft white orb materialized over her and she studied it. No sense of fear overwhelmed her this time, but a strong feeling of warmth and comfort came over her. She sat up in bed to watch the hovering light as it moved closer.
“What do you want?” she asked. “Why are you here?”
The orb glimmered and moved to the edge of the bed where it pulsed and flickered. Then, the light began to morph and grow larger, brighter than any light except the sun. Sophia shielded her eyes with her arm. The air heated and a low hum filled the room.
She repeated, “What do you want?”
The orb shifted into a person-shaped mass and gradually solidified, the light growing dimmer by the moment. Sophia peeked, then stared, still unafraid. It was like the orb was giving off peaceful vibes.
The light went out and Sophia turned on the bedside lamp. Where the orb had been now sat Bernadette, smiling. She wasn’t dressed to be working in the kitchen, but wore a long dress reminiscent of times gone by, a calico pattern with a white petticoat peeking from underneath.
“W-what?” Sophia wondered if Garren had slipped her a hallucinogenic compound. Things had gone from weird to crazy really fast. Why was the cook here, and how?
“My child, don’t be afraid.” Bernadette placed her hand over Sophia’s. “Everything’s going to be okay. I promise.”
The touch tingled but had no pressure. It was like Bernadette was weightless.
“What do you want from me?” Sophia whispered.
Bernadette pulled her hand back and stared at the floor. After a few seconds, she met Sophia’s gaze, her own filling with tears. “I need your help saving Blackbird Inn.”
“That’s why I’m here.”
“No, I need your help fighting the demon and keeping the portal closed. He will be strong, but you have magic that can help.”
“I don’t have magic.” Sophia recoiled. Was everyone in the inn crazy?
“You do. I sensed it the first time I encountered you, on the stairs when Garren brought you to your room. You have a deep soul magic that only the oldest witch families possess. I didn’t mention it to Garren at the time because I wanted to get to know you a little better.” Bernadette crossed her hands in her lap. “And I’m afraid that your presence here is no coincidence.”
Bernadette was the ghost orb she’d seen in the stairwell. Realization stuck Sophia like a truck in the pit of her stomach. How many ghosts were at the inn? Did they live here, or just visit? “I’ve heard stories that there were witches in my family, but I’m not one. I’ve never even met one.” Sophia pushed her hair back. “And what do you mean, not a coincidence? I was sent her by Arturo Beck to help Garren.”
“Do you really think Arturo needs you?”
“I thought so…”
“No.” Bernadette shook her head as sadness filled her face. “He plans to use you. I’ve only just put all the pieces together. He needs you somehow when the portal opens tomorrow night. For what, I’m not sure. But he needs you here.”
Sheer terror flashed through Sophia. “Are you saying Arturo is…a demon?”
The room grew frigid and she pulled the covers up higher.
“Yes. He stayed here with Alexandra back when I was guardian of the inn. He’s coming to reclaim her and he needs a witch to help him.”
“I’d never help him! Not with something that would hurt Garren.” She tucked her hair behind her ears. “I should leave. Now.”
“No!” Bernadette barked. “We need you and we will protect you. Otherwise, Garren is going to be pushed into the portal and locked there for eternity. I can’t let that happen and I don’t think you can, either.”
“Who are you? How do you know so much about the portal and Garren and Blackbird Inn?” Sophia rocked, her legs like jelly. Maybe she was still dreaming. She might wake up any second. Things were so messed up…
but she’d seen the ghosts and the golden chains. Could demons be any different?
Bernadette smiled. “You haven’t put it together yet?”
Sophia shook her head. “Put what together?”
“I’m Bernadette, Garren’s great-grandmother. I help him protect the inn.”
Sophia gulped. “But that’s not possible.”
“Yes, it is.” Bernadette smiled. “I’m a ghost, so I’m not able to help much, but I try. And tonight, Garren is going to need all the help he can get. Once Arturo arrives, things are going to go downhill quickly.”
“I don’t…know. This is all so—”
“Overwhelming?” Bernadette stood. “Yes. But you’ve seen enough with your eyes. Use your heart to look. I think you’ll see that you need to stay here and help Garren.”
Bernadette’s form began to shimmer and then she popped out of sight.
“What the hell is going on around here?” Sophia asked. She flopped back into bed, intent that she would figure everything out by morning. She could still pack and run if she chose to do so. Arturo a demon? That seemed even more far-fetched than seeing ghosts.
Chapter 9
When Sophia entered the sitting room, Garren looked up and smiled. Early afternoon sunlight streamed through the dusty windows, casting a filtered haze over the room.
“Get a good night’s rest?” He stood and kissed her on the cheek, his hand lingering on the small of her back.
She hugged him, her heart flip-flopping with a mix of relief and anxiety. Maybe she was making a big deal out of nothing. Maybe this was all a giant Halloween trick with treats to come later. “Tell me the demon thing is all a nightmare. Tell me we don’t have to fight it.”
“I wish I could.” He pulled her close and stroked her hair. “I’m sorry you got pulled into this. But then again, if you hadn’t, we might never have met.”
She smiled, melting under his ministrations. She should’ve stayed in his room overnight, not run away like a scared child. She took a deep breath. “Bernadette came to talk to me.”
He hugged her. “And?”
“And she told me everything she knows about the situation. Part of me still has a hard time believing it. Ghosts and demons and portals. It’s a lot to take in.”
“I’m sure. The whole thing is crazy.” He sighed. “I grew up knowing ghosts were real, and knowing I needed to stay close to the inn. But I never knew there was a veil portal on the property. I thought they were in sacred locations or caves or something. Not here in New England.”
“It’s crazy.”
He kissed her on the forehead, his lips lingering a moment before he stepped back. “I’m sorry. I should’ve told you about the ghosts and the chains.”
The chains. She’d forgotten about them. She stepped back. “Yes, you should have, but I wouldn’t have believed you. Who would, without seeing them? Truth is, I don’t know what to believe anymore.” She turned her back to him. How could she accept all this? So many odd things, and yet she’d seen many with her own eyes. Realization and acceptance washed over her. She needed to follow her heart, not her mind.
“Please, sit down.” Garren put his hand on her shoulder. “Let’s talk through this. We’ve got to have a plan. Once Arturo gets here our time will be limited.”
She faced him. “He isn’t here? Maybe he changed his mind about making the trip up.”
“Unlikely. He’s been planning this for a hundred years. Come, sit.” He gestured to the couch and Sophia dropped into it. He joined her. “He’s not going to give up easily. Not with Alexandra trapped behind the veil. He’s planned this out carefully. Waiting till the veil is at its thinnest. No, he’s not going to give up.”
She laid her head on his shoulder. “What can we do? It’s not like we have a demon gun or something.”
He chuckled. “I wish there were such a thing. But that’s only in stories. No, we’re going to have to handle this with human ingenuity. And hope for a bit of luck.”
She ran her hand over his chest. “Bernadette said I was part of his plan. What does that mean? I don’t know anything about demons or portals. How would I help him?”
“I wish I knew for sure. I think having a witch nearby unlocks some of the magic around the objects, or in this case, the portal. Or maybe he intends to draw from your power to force the portal open. He may plan for you to be the sacrificial lamb.”
She sat up. “That’s not happening. And I don’t have any power he can take. He’s made a major mistake in choosing me.”
“You can see the chains binding me. You have power. Maybe you don’t know how to use it, but it is there, and it’s strong.” Garren hugged her tight. “After tonight, we’ll be free to live again.”
“I’m scared.”
“Me too, a little. But together, we can handle Mr. Beck and whatever he brings.”
Not if he’s like the creature in my dreams. She snuggled onto Garren’s shoulder and he stroked her head.
“That feels good.” She pressed her lips against his neck, his hair tickling her lips. “I want this to all be over, Garren.”
“Soon.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“One way or another, this will be over tonight. We’ll either save Blackbird Inn, or we won’t.”
She sat up. “Do you think the state is really trying to take the inn? Or is it a cover story?”
“I’m not sure, but I’m betting it’s something Mr. Beck set up.” He rubbed his eye. “I should’ve called and double-checked as soon as I got the letter, but why would I doubt it? It looked so official.”
“Yeah. No reason to doubt a letter from the state of Pennsylvania.”
“I’ve been so slack and trusting. I’ve got to learn to handle people better. Try to read them before I trust.”
“You do just fine.” A pecking at the window caught her attention. “Look!”
Garren turned. “Ah, another guardian. One of my blackbirds.”
The bird perched on the sill, its black plumage iridescent in the sunlight.
“You have birds? Don’t tell me they talk, too.”
He laughed. “No, I don’t talk to the birds. But there is a flock of blackbirds that hangs around the inn. I jokingly call them guardians, too, though I doubt they know the inn is their namesake.”
The bird tapped on the window again then flapped its wings furiously.
Sophia rubbed her hands on her jeans. “Why is it doing that?”
The bird pecked a rhythm on the glass then flew off.
“That was odd.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “It’s almost like it was alerting you, or warning you.”
“Blackbird Inn is odd.” Garren nodded. “And maybe he was warning me. A good omen, I hope.”
“I’ll say.” She put her hand on Garren’s knee. Somehow, just touching him relaxed her. “So, what about Henry? How does he fit into the inn’s oddness? Will he help us tonight?”
Garren leaned back. “Well, it’s a long story. Henry is a ghost, like my great-grandmother, Bernadette. A great-great uncle, born well before the time you and I were. He helps guard the inn.”
“Is he trapped, too?”
“No.” He shook his head. “But he chose to stay and help. There are others, but they mostly stay hidden from humans, unless they are playing pranks. My family is pretty attached to the inn.”
Sophia scanned the room. No sign of demon portals. The room looked quite ordinary. Nothing out of place. “What about your grandmother? And your parents? Are they here, too?”
He cast his gaze down. “No, my parents never came back. Nor my grandmother. I don’t know how the whole ghost thing works. They don’t, either. For whatever reason, I have six family ghosts here helping out. A distant cousin ghost disappeared last year, without warning. So I suspect these ghosts have unfinished business, and when it’s over, they will also disappear.”
“This is all so unbelievable.”
“But you do believe.”
She bit
her lip. “Yes, yes I do. I don’t understand why they never told you about the portal till now. If they wanted you to truly guard the inn, they should’ve told you about it.”
“Bernadette said she was prepared to tell me when it was time to know. Even if we hadn’t found the journals, which I assume she placed for us to find, she would have told me before tonight. I guess they didn’t want to worry me.”
“Still, it would’ve been nice to have some time to prepare.” Sophia shuddered as a gust of frigid air swept through the room, ruffling the curtains and rattling the windowpanes.
Bernadette stood at the door. “Arturo Beck has arrived.”
Garren leapt to his feet. “Where is he?”
“Parking.” Bernadette’s eyes widened. “Remember, don’t let him know that you’re aware of what is going on. You’ll lose your advantage.”
He nodded and turned to Sophia. “We don’t have a plan yet.”
“I know.”
Chapter 10
Arturo Beck was perhaps the prettiest man Sophia had ever seen. She tried not to stare at him while they sat at the kitchen table having tea with Garren. Blond curls framed a tan face, inset with melted chocolate eyes. He was perfectly proportioned, wide shoulders and narrow hips, and the slim-fit gray suit he wore showed off his assets. She set her teacup down.
Garren had a different kind of good looks, and his ran deep. He was a good man.
“I wanted to thank you for coming out ahead of me to start the research,” Arturo said. “I’m sure you’ve saved us some billable time. Did you get a lot done? Find anything interesting?”
Garren slurped his tea and she shot him a look.
“You’re welcome, Mr. Beck. I wish we had more information to give you.” She added, “But we’re trying. We looked through a ton of inn receipts and ledgers yesterday.”
“Please, call me Arturo.”
She nodded. “Okay. Sorry.”
Bernadette set another steaming pot of tea on the table and removed the old pot.
Garren cleared his throat. “What do we do next? You both know I can’t lose the inn. I have to keep it in the family.”
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