Herne cleared his throat. “You’re correct in that. There are so many natural portals. Get the wrong one and you may never make it back here. As for Sasquatch, he’s nothing to mess around with. And there are different races within the species—high up in the cold mountains, they’re known as yeti.”
I nodded. “I’ve often wondered what it would be like to go dimension hopping, but even a trip to Annwn makes me nervous. Though there’s part of me that wonders about the great lands of TirNaNog and Navane across the Great Sea. Do they despise my type there? Or is it only in their namesake cities here that I’m pariah?”
Herne slowed, turning right onto a long drive. “The great Fae lands over the Great Sea are glorious and beautiful, and terrifying. If you think the skirmishes here between the Light and Dark are bad, over there it’s been a full-scale war since the cities were first built. And yet, they never seek to fully destroy the other—both sides know they need the other to exist. But it’s like the battle between light and shadow—too much light and it burns the eyes, too much shadow and the cobwebs grow. Together, they make the whole—the balance.”
“I have a question,” I said, glancing at the wooded thicket we were passing through. This was obviously a private lot, but the driveway was a long, compacted dirt road. The snow was swirling, coming down harder now, and there was about a five-inch accumulation on the ground.
“Save it for later, unless it relates to the case, because we’re here.” Herne pulled through the end of the driveway into a clearing. The drive ended in a large parking area in front of a single-story house that overlooked Puget Sound. The yard spread to the side and around the back of the house, but even from here, I could tell the view from inside must be spectacular.
There was a pickup parked in the driveway—one that looked more utilitarian than for show—and Herne parked to the side. A moment later, Viktor pulled in behind us. As we got out of the car, the chill of the air and the fall of snow made me shiver. Angel looked around nervously, while Raj bounded around in the snow, snuffling as he kicked it up with his hands.
Raven took a step toward the yard, staring out at the water. “There’s something unnatural about this snow,” she said.
Angel nodded. “Something feels off. Even I can tell that.”
Viktor, Yutani, and Talia crossed over to stand beside us as the front door opened and a bear of a man came bounding out. He crossed to Herne, clasping his hand. The men hugged, patting each other’s backs, and then stood back.
“Angus Lesley, you look better than ever,” Herne said. “Meet my crew,” he added, pointing to each of us in turn. “This is Ember, who also happens to be my girlfriend. Angel, Viktor, Talia, and Yutani. And this is Raven BoneTalker.”
Angus stood well over six feet tall, and he had long red hair down to his shoulders and a braided beard that reached his chest. He was burly and looked like he could easily win a log-tossing contest. His eyes were glittering green, and a pale nimbus surrounded him, probably from the fact that he was one of the magic-born.
He shook hands with each of us in turn. He stared at Raven for a moment. “Ante-Fae, are you? We have a number of Ante-Fae over here.”
Raven nodded. “My kind tend to congregate in wild areas.”
“Right. Well, come in, all of you. Get out of the snow.” Angus led us up the steps. “Is this everyone?”
“Rafé should be here any moment. Technically he’s not part of the Wild Hunt, but he’s doing us a big favor. He’s Angel’s beau.” Herne wrapped his arm around my waist and we started to follow Angus. At that moment, Rafé pulled up. He joined us and Herne introduced him to Angus as we crowded into the house.
Angus’s house was rustic-chic. It had the feel of a log cabin, but was fully functional. A woodstove was roaring, heating the air nicely, and a tea kettle sat on top, steaming away. The living room was painted a pale green, and lace sheers covered the windows, while heavy drapes trailed to the floor on each side. The floors were hardwood, and the furniture was sturdy oak, with a leather sofa and loveseat taking center stage. I didn’t see a television, but a computer sat to one side on a desk, a tablet beside it. The living room led into a large eat-in kitchen, and a hallway to the left had several doors along either side. A door to the right of the living room probably led into the garage, from what I could tell by the outside of the house. All in all, it felt cozy and sheltered from the elements.
In the kitchen, a large sliding glass door by the table overlooked the backyard, and there was the view I had expected. We could see straight out over the sound. The backyard stretched for a good hundred feet before dropping off over the cliff’s edge. I crossed to the window, staring at the boiling clouds that were letting loose with snow.
“The weather’s getting worse.” I said, turning back. “This is quite the storm.” I was still feeling unsettled from my leap over the side of the ferry.
“That’s one of my concerns,” Angus said. “Fiona won’t be home till early evening. Would you like some lunch? I’ve got stew on the stove and biscuits in the oven.” He glanced at Raj. “I’m not sure what your gargoyle eats.”
“Raj will eat anything we can, except citrus. He’s partial to meat, but he’s not picky.” Raven gave Angus a gracious smile, but I could tell she was uneasy. There was a look that Raven got when she was unsettled, a shifty, jittery look that I was beginning to recognize.
“Then it’s settled. Lunch it is,” Angus said, opening a cupboard. He gathered bowls and bread-and-butter plates and carried them over to the table. “Do you mind if I put Raj’s food in a metal bowl? Fiona would have my head if I fed a gargoyle off the good china. Nothing against him, but we’ve had this set since we first arrived over here, and she’s partial to it.”
“Raj can be clumsy, so that’s probably a good idea.” Raven crossed over to the sliding glass door, staring outside.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Angel asked.
“You can take the biscuits out of the oven,” Angus said. “The oven mitts are to the side of the stove. There’s a basket for them on the counter.”
Before long, we were gathered around the massive oak table and Angus was dishing out the stew. Everything smelled incredible, with the scent of beef and tomatoes and gravy wafting up. I cut open one of the biscuits and slathered it with butter, digging in. Hot cider completed the meal, and we set to, eating quietly while Herne and Angus chatted. I had the feeling that in this house, at least, serious conversation waited till after the meal.
After we were done, Rafé moved aside with Angel, where they talked in low tones. The look on her face said everything. This might be the last time she would see him, if things went bad. We all knew Rafé was taking a big chance, but he was our best hope for now.
I turned away to find Herne watching them. He motioned for me to follow him and we crossed over to the sliding glass doors, staring out at the tumultuous waves.
“It’s his choice, Ember,” Herne said. “He made the offer, and we have to allow him this chance to do his part. Rafé knows that he’s walking into danger. You have to let people do their part, to have their moments of courage. We can’t protect him from everything just because he and Angel are an item.”
“You keep telling me that and I keep telling you I know. I think you’re trying to convince yourself, Herne.” I glanced at Angel. “I think she’s falling in love. I know what you’re saying is true, but damn it, why couldn’t Morgana find someone to go in his stead? Someone who’s trained for this sort of danger?”
“Morgana and I talked about this. She said that sometimes, fate hands you what you need, regardless whether you think it’s the correct choice. She said to let Rafé go.” He slid his arms around my shoulders. “When you jumped over the railing on the ferry, my first inclination was to follow you and bring you back aboard. But I knew you were doing what you felt you needed to, and I respected that. Respect Rafé’s desire to help us out.”
I looked away for a moment. “I just don’t want to
see Angel get hurt.”
“I know, and neither do I. But we’re here, and we have to take this opportunity. Come on, let’s see Rafé off with a brave face. He needs to know that we believe in him.” He turned, walking me over to where Angel was tearily pressed against Rafé’s shoulder.
“I hate to interrupt, but…” Herne said.
Rafé nodded. “I need to get a move on. Everything’s set, and I have the location where I’m supposed to meet them. Then…well…let’s hope this works.” He tipped Angel’s face up, kissing her tears. “I’ll be back. Trust me, I have no desire to stretch this out longer than I have to.”
She nodded, wiping her nose with a tissue. “Come back in one piece.”
Raven joined us then. “You’re my blood-oath brother. You take care of yourself.” She paused, then let out a sigh. “Ulstair would be proud of you.”
Rafé shivered. “I needed to hear that.”
Ulstair had been Raven’s fiancé and Rafé’s brother. He had vanished and Raven hired us to find him, only to discover that he had been murdered by a psychopath. Rafé had pledged himself to be Raven’s brother, to stand in for Ulstair. The pair had looked very much alike, with coppery red hair and lean, muscled bodies. I had thought being around Rafé might be difficult for Raven, reminding her of her lost love, but Rafé’s presence seemed to comfort her.
She gave him a long hug, kissing him on the cheek. “Be safe. Come back to Angel and me.”
Rafé nodded. “I’d best head out, then. I’ll let you know when I reach Port Angeles.” He shook Angus’s hand. “Thank you for your hospitality,” he said, then shook Herne’s hand. He waved to the rest of us before heading out the door.
“I hope to hell he makes it back,” Yutani said softly.
“Big case?” Angus asked.
Herne gave him a short nod. “Yes, and one I can’t talk about. But that man is putting his life on the line. If, by chance, anybody asks, he’s never been here, and you’ve never met him.”
“Understood,” Angus said. “Shall we sit down so I can tell you about Fiona and why I’m so worried? I’d like to get through the discussion before she comes home or she’ll be furious that I was talking behind her back.”
He guided us into the living room, where we settled ourselves. I glanced out the window overlooking the driveway. Rafé was gone, and the snow was still falling.
“The truth is, I know something’s wrong with Fiona. She seems distant and abrupt, and before you say anything, Herne, I mean more than usual. She’s become secretive, and goes out without telling me where she’s going or when she’ll be home. When I ask, she tells me to mind my own business.” A hurt look crossed Angus’s face. “We’ve always been close, but lately, I feel like I don’t know her anymore. I’m not sure what’s going on, but I think…I truly think that something’s possessed her.”
“Could there be some other cause? I don’t mean to bring up suspicions, but that sort of behavior goes hand in hand when one partner’s having an affair,” Talia said.
“I agree, which is why I tailed her a couple times. She’s headed out into the woods, and then…it’s like she vanishes. I will be trailing her and the next moment, she’s nowhere in sight. Now, both she and I know these woods like the back of our hands, and we’re familiar with all the denizens of the dark living out there. I can track with the best of them, but Fiona…it’s as though she’s learned a teleportation spell or something of that sort. Yet, I know she hasn’t.”
“When did this start?” Herne asked.
Angus leaned forward, his elbows propped on his knees. He clasped his hands together. “This didn’t start until about ten days ago. Until then, everything was as usual.”
“What happened around that time? What might have triggered this off? Can you think of anything unusual that occurred in the past couple of weeks?” Herne frowned, his brow in furrowed lines.
“Not really. Things have been fairly normal.” Angus paused as his phone rang. “Excuse me,” he said, glancing at the screen. “It’s Fiona. I’ll be right back.”
I kept staring out the window. “There’s something going on out there. I can feel it.”
“So can I,” Angel said. “Why don’t we take a walk to see if we can key in on whatever it is?”
“Is that all right?” I asked Herne. “Do we need to be here?”
He let out a sigh. “Go ahead, but take Viktor with you. I will tell you this. Angus isn’t a man given to hyperbole. He doesn’t exaggerate. If he’s worried about Fiona, something’s amiss. So be cautious and watch your step. With the number of spirits walking the land over here, possession is definitely on the list of possibilities.”
As Angel, Viktor, and I made our way outside, a sudden gust of wind blustered past, sending strands of my hair flying as I braced against it.
“I don’t like the way the wind feels,” Viktor said. “I feel like we’re being watched.”
“I think we are,” I said, shivering. “This storm’s alive and aware. And I think that it knows we’re here.”
With that, we headed toward the woods on the right, the trees looming like dark sentinels in the gloom of the afternoon. The snow continued to fall, and it was all I could do to force myself toward the trail leading into the woods. Something was watching us, all right, and waiting, and it felt like whatever was there was weaving a web in which to snare us.
“Whatever this is, it doesn’t like us, or trust us,” Angel said.
Nodding, I silently plunged into the undergrowth as we entered the forest.
CHAPTER FIVE
We were standing on the edge of the woodlands surrounding Angus’s house. The copse was thick, but the snow created a counterbalance to the dark of the wood. The flakes were thicker now, wet and sticking. I zipped up my jacket and pulled on a pair of gloves. Angel followed suit, while Viktor blew on his hands and stuck them in his pockets.
“I hope Rafé makes it to Port Angeles without any problem,” Angel said. “The highway can be treacherous in the rain, let alone the snow. Maybe if it’s too thick, he won’t be able to go wherever they’re going to take him,” she said optimistically.
“I still don’t like that we have no idea where they plan to sweep him off to. I hope they don’t intend to head into the backwoods. The Olympic National Park isn’t any place to meddle with if you don’t know what you’re doing,” Viktor grumbled.
I paused, my thoughts turning from Rafé as I heard a noise that sounded like icicles crashing down. It came from within the woodland.
“Did you hear that?” I asked, looking around. “There’s something out here!”
“It could be a fox,” Angel said, her voice trembling.
“That’s no fox.” Viktor glanced around. “Not in this weather.”
“Sub-Fae?” I asked.
He squinted, staring at the trees in front of us. “Could be. Over here, it doesn’t matter whether you’re in town or out, creatures are watching. Some are sub-Fae, others—well, others are right out of somebody’s nightmare. You think the Cascades are haunted with ghosts and creatures? The Olympic Peninsula is older and deadlier…and it has an alluring energy to it. I grew up on tales of the woods around here.”
“I sense treachery,” Angel said, closing her eyes.
I stared at her. “Do you really think you ought to be reaching out, given how strong of an empath you are?”
She ignored me, staring at a narrow trail that led into the thicket. Seconds later, she began to walk into the copse of trees.
“Angel? Angel!” I started toward her, concerned, but she began to jog through the snow, ignoring me. I quickened my pace, following her, and Viktor chugging along behind. “Angel, where are you going?”
She didn’t answer, just rounded a curve in the thicket. I poured on the speed, following her, but as I rounded the bend behind her, I skidded to a halt. Angel was nowhere to be seen. I spun a one-eighty, frantic, looking for her, but then noticed that Viktor wasn’t behind me, either. Where the
hell had they gone?
“Viktor! Angel? Where are you?” I turned to retrace my steps but the path had vanished. Instead, I was faced with a thick patch of undergrowth, heavy with snow. The snowbank sparkled, mesmerizing me, and I moved toward it. The next moment, the snow exploded as a creature leaped out to confront me.
I stumbled back, trying to take in what I was seeing.
He was like a frog, and yet…not. As tall as me, he stood on hind legs that folded the wrong way at the knee—at least for a human. His wide, fat feet were flippered, and his hands were webbed. He was the color of holly leaves, a shiny green mottled with olive splotches. His head was both human-like and yet that of a frog’s, as if the product of some horrible genetic mashup. His eyes bulged out, glassy and bulbous, and they flickered with a tangerine light that gave him a cunning look. His tongue lolled out of his mouth and he licked the rim of his open maw, drool splashing over the edges of his lips.
“What the fuck are you?” The words escaped my mouth before I realized I was speaking. I stumbled back, wishing I had brought my crossbow with me. I had my dagger, strapped to my right leg, but I’d left all my other weapons in the car.
The creature lurched forward, springing on those great flippered feet to land in front of me, his tongue whipping out to coil around my right arm. Immediately, I felt a burning sensation as the drool began to sizzle against my jacket.
“Crap! Acid!” I couldn’t free my arm to grab my dagger and I couldn’t twist to gain hold of it with my left, so I moved in closer and thrust my knee up, catching the underside of his massive head. He let out a whistling noise and reached for my other arm with his other hand. I brought my arm up to block him, then swept around his arm and pulled hard, yanking it out of the socket.
The Silver Mist: A Wild Hunt Novel, Book 6 Page 5