Those were the stories that started Pinky's obsession with the history and folklore of the area. She never thought any of that information was going to be useful to her or anyone, but now she was glad to have it.
The ground felt soft underneath her feet as they walked the grassy pathway through the forest. Closer to the entrance, some of the grass had been worn away, exposing the sandy soil underneath. Surrounding them were the tall pine trees that called the Pine Barrens their home.
Where the trees were thicker, it was harder to see the path or choose which direction to turn. Luckily Pinky knew exactly where she was heading, but she was still grateful for the moon lighting their way.
Pinky spotted Faith as the path opened up into the clearing. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail. Faith's long skirt fluttered as she paced. Waving her hands, she looked as though she was talking to someone even though she was alone. As soon as she saw Pinky, she ran over to her and put her hands on Pinky's arms as if making sure she was really there.
"I've been replaying that night in my mind, and I really don't know how that could have happened to your father. He asked me to open the portal. He believed I unknowingly did it for Abel, but I pointed out that if I didn't know I did it, I didn't know how I was supposed to do it again."
She shook her head, grimacing, still deep in thought. Then she turned and pointed in the direction of the area she was pacing.
"Your dad and I were right there. I remember because it was already worn, like someone paced that spot a lot. And you know Abel and I stayed in an old house not far from here before..."
His death. Pinky didn't need Faith to say the words, she understood how difficult the loss must have been, but she also knew enough about the dual spirits of shifters and death to suspect that that was when the portal was opened.
"Faith, I'm sorry to bring this up, but when Abel died, did you feel or see his coyote spirit leave him?"
Faith shook her head. "No, but I was so upset. I mean, I killed him. I killed my first love."
"I know this is hard, Faith. But please think back."
Pinky hated having to push Faith to relive a sad time in her life, one that didn't happen very long ago, but she needed to find out what happened in case something like this ever happened again.
Faith wrung her hands then tugged the sleeves of her shirt over them. "Towards the end, Abel said his coyote spirit left him. He said he was finally free. I wanted to fix him. I thought I could heal his wounds, but he didn't want me to. He wanted his freedom. He wanted to get away from the coyote and he knew if he was healthy, it would come back."
Faith turned away from Pinky, her head down. Her breath shook as she breathed in slowly.
"I tried, I really did. I wanted to help your father but I don't know what I did. And even that same night when I rescued Hannah, I wasn't thinking, just doing. I did everything on instinct."
"Shh!" Rafael said as he sniffed the air. "Stay right here, in the center. Don't go near the trees."
"What's going on?" Pinky asked.
"Keep working on getting your father. I'll be right back."
Rafael quickly shifted into his bear form. He circled the clearing, stopping to sniff every few feet, then took off into the woods. Pinky picked up his clothing then wrapped her arms around herself as she tried to control her shaking.
She knew who Rafael was after. She suspected that's what called him away when they were in Milford, but she had to push the thought of a killer in their midst out of her head. She didn't have a lot of time left to save her dad.
"When I was here with your father, I did what I always do," Faith whispered. "I concentrated and focused on what I imagined the portal was and what it looked like. I tried several times, but nothing happened. Nothing at all. Eventually, your dad gave up too and told me I could go home."
"So he stayed here after you left?"
"Yes," a woman's voice interrupted from behind them. "But he wasn't alone."
Pinky spun around towards the voice. Emerging from the pathway, a woman with short curly black hair in a yellow housecoat walked towards them. Her hair was a little mussed and there were smudges of dirt on her cheeks. The hem of her housecoat was frayed and covered with traces of earth. It had been years since Pinky saw Pea, but she would recognize her anywhere.
"I'm so sorry about your father, Pinky," Pea said as she approached. "I didn't mean for it to happen. After Faith left, your father stayed and the portal appeared. You have to remember that even though I wasn't part of your world anymore, I was able to watch those whom I love."
"So why were you watching my father?"
"I wasn't. It was a full moon, so I was waiting for Hannah. Well, more like hoping for her to come."
"I did come. I was there that night and I called you," Hannah said, entering the clearing with her mother Eliza and joining the other women.
Pea sobbed as tears began rolling down her cheeks. She put her arms out towards Hannah. "I've missed you so much," Pea said.
Hannah took a step forward, then stopped. A confused look crossed Hannah's face. "Are you...alive?"
Pea wiped at her tears, smudging dirt across her face more. "Yes, but it was an accident. Jerry made the portal appear and because I was watching, I was there at the opening. I think he was surprised to see me. He reached out to me and without thinking, I took his hand. The pull, the sensation of touching a human, of having a small part of me out of the spirit world, it was all too much. I tried to let go, but something was holding our hands together. I yanked my hand back and your father was sucked into the portal as I was pushed out. I turned around to see if I could reach him, but the portal was gone."
"Then you have to go back," Pinky said. "You can't leave my father in there. It's not his time yet."
Pea nodded sadly. "You're right. And it's about time I do the right thing. I've been hiding, staying wherever I could find shelter, afraid no one would accept me, not even my family because of the horrible things I've done to them. I was here that night when you came, Hannah. I was already out of the portal, but I was so confused and felt so guilty that I stayed in the shadows."
She turned to Faith and Eliza and smiled softly at them. "I never thought I'd see my two beautiful girls standing together as adults," Pea said. "Faith, I'm so sorry for what I did. To say I was young and stupid is only an excuse. And the same goes for you, Eliza. The only excuse I have for the pain I've caused you girls is my own selfishness. I'm not asking for forgiveness. I'm just asking that you remember how short life really is. Enjoy your time here and make the most of it. There's nothing worse than spending eternity with regret."
Hannah rushed into Pea's arms and held her tight. Pinky looked up at the moon and sighed. She took a few steps away from the Cranes, wanting to give them some time alone together. Time was running out, but this was their last chance with Pea, and she wasn't going to interfere.
Rafael in bear form stepped out of the woods and walked over to Pinky. She rubbed the fur on the top of his head and smiled sadly at him. In her arms, she carried the clothing he left behind when he changed into the bear.
He changed back into human form and gave Pinky a hug. She swallowed hard, but feeling his warmth around her chipped away at her wall and the tears began to spill onto her cheeks.
"Don't say a word, love," he said. "And don't argue with me. I heard everything. I know you don't want to take Pea away from them, but you need someone to take his place to get your father back. I'll do it. I'll go in."
"No!"
"Listen to me. I'll go in. You need him, your family needs him, just like that family needs her."
"You can't do that!"
"I'm going to. All I ever wanted is for you to be happy. I've spent two years of my life here waiting for you, and I got you. I don't need anything else but a smile on your face. I love you, Pinky. I'll do whatever I can to make you happy. Even this."
Pinky tried to speak, but the knot in her throat kept everything in. She blinked b
ack what was left of her tears and looked up at the moon again, then at the Cranes. She couldn't allow Rafael to sacrifice himself, but she didn't know what choice she had.
Rafael growled as he let her go. In a blink he was back in bear form, his jaw opening wide as he bellowed in anger. From the woods stepped a handsome naked man with glowing amber eyes and the leaner physique of a werewolf.
"Well, isn't this a sweet reunion?" Sean said.
Chapter Twelve
Sean entered the clearing but kept his distance. His eyes stayed on Rafael, who was ready to pounce. He had enough of Sean's games. With Rafael ready to sacrifice himself for Pinky's father, Sean was at a disadvantage. Rafael didn't care about the ramifications of his actions anymore. It was time to settle things, even if it meant Sean's death.
With his large bear head, he nudge Pinky towards the other women, who stood with their arms around each other.
"Gather the stones, Hannah," Pea said as she looked at the dark blue sky. "We're running out of time."
As Pinky joined Hannah, Sean changed into his wolf form. His eyes were even more wild and his fangs frothed with saliva. He leapt towards Pinky, but Hannah stepped in front and glared at him with her amber wolf eyes. Before she could shift into a wolf, Rafael pounced on Sean mid-air and slammed him to the ground.
Rafael brought his large paw down hard on the wolf's head, momentarily stunning him, but he slipped free from the bear and ran out of the woods with Rafael close behind.
Running as fast as he could, Rafael kept close to the wolf. Sean weaved in and out of the trees trying to lose him, but it was useless. Sean chose the wrong time to show up.
The passing trees grew darker, and Rafael hoped the witches were opening the portal. He didn't want them to run out of time. Pinky getting her father back had to happen.
Rafael slowed his run and came to a stop. He roared with anger when he realized Sean was taking away his last few minutes with Pinky. Chasing Sean was a waste of time. Once Rafael took Pinky's father's place, it was done. Sean was only after Pinky to get Rafael to retaliate. If he wasn't there, Sean had no reason to bother her. Sacrificing himself was the ultimate way of protecting Pinky from Sean.
That wasn't why he was going in to save her dad though. He meant every word he said to her. She was by far the most important thing in his life, and he would sacrifice himself if it meant her happiness.
Snaking his way back towards the clearing, he sniffed the air. Sean was further away. He was controlled by his wolf so much at this point, Rafael doubted Sean realized he wasn't being chased.
The four witches were in a large white stone circle when he entered the clearing. They were near the center, in the grassy sand Faith was pacing in earlier. Pea had her arms folded over her chest and tapped her fingers nervously on her arm. Hannah sat cross-legged in the middle of the circle, her eyes closed, but as he approached, she shook her head.
"I don't know what's going on," Hannah said, opening her eyes. "I'm doing the same thing I do when I call Pea, but nothing's happening."
Rafael changed back and pulled on his jeans. Pinky was chewing her bottom lip as he slipped his arm around her and pulled her against him.
"It's not going to happen," she said. "We can't get my father back."
A heaviness filled Rafael's chest. He looked up at the sky and noticed the faintest bit of light. The sun would be rising soon and then Pinky would have to wait another month before she could try again.
Pea stepped out of the circle, her head down and her eyes sad. "Girls, I know I never taught you much about our craft, but we have to do this now. I shouldn't be here, and Jerry needs to come back. The most powerful number is three. You need to work together."
Faith and Eliza joined Hannah on the ground. Hannah closed her eyes and after a few minutes, she held her hand out to her mother. Eliza took her hand, closed her eyes, and then held out her hand towards Faith.
Faith looked at the two women in front of her. Her brow wrinkled and her chest rose as she took a deep breath. Her green eyes glazed over before she took Hannah's and Eliza's hands in hers.
A flash of light lit the clearing, forcing everyone to cover their eyes until it dimmed. On the edge of the clearing, near the ruins of Miranda Whitman's home, a glowing oval appeared.
Rafael kept Pinky close to him. Slowly, he breathed in her scent, trying to commit it to his memory. This might be the last time he held her. He didn't want to let her go.
Chapter Thirteen
Pinky forced herself away from Rafael. She didn't know if he was going into the spirit world or if Pea would keep her word, but if she stayed in Rafael's arms, she would never let him go.
She could barely breathe and her heart pounded madly in her chest. This might be the only chance she had to save her father and her family, and she was feeling the weight of it come down upon her.
Walking over to the portal, she kept enough distance out of fear of getting too close. It glowed orange and pink, like a sunset after a hot day. Inside the rock circle Hannah, Eliza, and Faith still held hands, but their eyes were open as they watched. Pea stood beside the circle, her hands now on her hips.
"Dad?" Pinky said, peering into the glowing open space. "Dad?"
She called out louder, hoping he would answer. The sky was lightening further and she didn't know how much time she had left, but it wasn't much. Rafael inched closer to her. She wanted so badly to return to his arms and forget this horrible dream, but she couldn't. And she couldn't see a way this nightmare was going to end happily for her. Unless she could get Pea back through to the other side, she was going to lose someone she loved.
Her eyes met Rafael's pale blue eyes. She could barely remember why she had pushed him away for so long.
"I knew you'd end up together," her father said.
She spun around and reached out to him. "Dad!"
"No dear, not too close," he said as he took her hand gingerly. "I can feel the pull Pea spoke of, but I refuse to give into it."
Pinky turned and looked at Pea, her family, and then at Rafael. She didn't know what to do. She wanted her father back, but she didn't want to ruin the chance the Cranes finally had for peace. And she didn't want to lose Rafael. Sighing, she looked back at her father.
"I don't know what to do, Dad."
A wolf howled as it entered the clearing. His head hung low between his shoulders with a menacing look as he moved towards them. Rafael gritted his teeth as he watched the wolf. Slowly, tufts of fur sprouted along his arms and chest. His body grew in size and his nose lengthened, his teeth grew until he was a large grizzly bear.
The bear charged towards the wolf. Quickly leaping into the air, the wolf landed on the bear's back and rolled off onto the ground. Rafael stood, using his massive size to intimidate the wolf. He raised his snout in the air and roared, baring his large teeth at the smaller animal.
His roar shook the trees, making the silence afterwards deafening. Pinky let go of her father's hand and ran closer to the fighting animals.
"Stop! Stop this right now," she screamed.
She didn't know what she was doing, but she was so angry at what was happening she didn't care. She needed it to stop. The dark blue of the sky lightened further and the pale yellow of the sun slowly began taking over the moon. Rafael, still in bear form, moved between her and the wolf.
The wolf took advantage of his being distracted by Pinky and leapt at him. As he sunk his teeth into the big bear's arm, Rafael angrily swatted him away. The wolf was too quick and maneuvered out of the way.
Rafael clutched at his arm and shifted back to human form before collapsing to his knees. His arm was bloody with large puncture wounds. Pinky knelt beside him.
Sean lowered his shoulders, ready to attack. Pinky looked over at her best friend and saw her eyes flash amber, but she was too far from them to help.
"I know you said it before, and I don't think I responded," she whispered to Rafael. "But I love you, too."
"Shh," he said, "ther
e will be plenty of time for this."
She wished she could be as optimistic as Rafael. Staring at the horrendous teeth ready to attack them, she held Rafael's hand as her mind raced. If only she had a weapon, she thought.
Slipping her hand into her jeans pocket, she felt the amulet she had been carrying since Rafael first gave it to her. She pulled it out of her pocket, feeling its weight in her palm. The wolf sprung into the air.
"Dammit, why aren't you human?" Pinky yelled as she threw the amulet at the wolf, then buried her face into Rafael's chest and braced herself for the wolf's attack.
As the amulet flew towards the wolf, the dragon flew out from the medal, encircled the wolf with a gust of air, then flew into the sky. Sean stood naked and human. His eyes were blue and no trace of the wolf spirit was within him. His face fell in shock and horror for a moment and then relaxed peacefully as he hung his head down.
Pea lunged at the weakened man. The force of her body sent him stumbling towards Pinky's father, who reached out of the portal, grabbed Sean, and pulled him in, locking Sean into the spirit world to take his place.
The rising sun reflected off the deep green scales of the dragon in the sky above them. Pinky's father picked the amulet up from the ground and held it up in the air.
"Return!" he commanded.
The dragon blew a ring of fire then flew full speed towards Jerry Smythe. Pinky gasped and reached out in vain to push her father out of the way of the speeding dragon, which disappeared into the amulet.
Hannah, Eliza, and Faith let go of each other's hands and the portal closed. Faith rushed over and knelt beside Pinky and Rafael.
"Let me look," she said as she reached out for his wounded arm.
She ripped the end of her skirt and used the loose fabric to wrap around Rafael's bicep. With the bite covered, she laid her hands over the fabric and closed her eyes.
The Crane Curse Series Complete Boxed Set (Shape Shifter Romance) Page 25