Sheriff Holt joined them. “We’ll take them to the precinct and check missing persons. We have four beds in the two cells and a couch. We’ll put them up for the night and connect them with their families in the morning.” All the victims were young adults. “Poor kids. Found the wrong party,” the Sheriff said with sympathy and herded them out. The back entrance to the station was accessible through the trees on the church grounds, so they were inside the station, and safe, within minutes.
They organized into groups and got the rest of the young men and women home.
DAY 29
Willow’s Book of Record
My sacrifice is in place. Bethiah’s spell is ready. They’re all dead.
DAY 30
The Barrington Estate
The Sheriff radioed Barrington HQ the next morning. “We have a problem, I think. Actually, I don’t know what to make of it. I’m coming over. Make sure Luke and Nathalie are there.”
Nathalie and Luke waited impatiently for the Sheriff. The huge manor house had become small and confined now that they were not allowed to leave. He finally arrived, taking off his hat and nodding to Claire.
He walked into the salon and handed Nathalie and Luke a piece of paper. It was a sheet with information on a missing teen. Both of them took startled breaths.
“That’s Beth!” Nathalie said in a shocked voice.
It was and it wasn’t. It looked like her but—
“It says her name is Tilly Black and that she’s from Superstition,” Luke said. He was shocked too because it also said she was severely autistic.
“This can’t be right,” Nathalie said, looking at a full colour photograph of Beth and looking for discrepancies.
“Just got this from Limerick. They got it from Superstition in July. Sent it over after I called for any missing person reports,” the Sheriff said.
“The girl’s eyes are turned up to the right corner,” said Luke, pointing at the detail.
“So?”
“So…something’s wrong,” Luke said and ran upstairs to his computer. “Beth doesn’t do that.”
Nathalie and the Sheriff followed.
“How long has she been missing, Nat?” Luke asked as he ran to his desk and started clicking on the computer.
She checked the flyer. “Since… Shit!!! She’s been missing since June 21!”
“The summer solstice,” Luke said grimly. “When all of this started.”
“Oh my God! Rain told me about this girl in her first letter! Her parents are frantic!”
Luke was typing rapidly. “What’s Beth’s last name?”
“Uh…Lace…Lacey, I think!”
“You said her first name is Bethiah, right? It’s not short for Elizabeth?”
“No, yes, that’s right. I remember thinking her name was archaic.”
“I’m getting a hit on a Bethiah Lacey.”
“Really? Where does she live?”
“Not where, when did she live,” he said as he clicked on her name. There was a hushed silence in the room as the information came up. “This is from an article published in The Limerick Times. Bethiah Lacey was a witch, and she was executed for witchcraft and grave robbing on June 21, 1860.”
The Limerick Times—June 21, 1860
Public Execution Announcement
Hear ye, hear ye! It has been decreed by the most Hon. Grant Wraithstone that the following public executions be enacted on this day:
Bethiah Ingrid Lacey (19) is sentenced to hang for the practices of witchcraft, grave desecration, consorting with the devil, and moral turpitude.
Donovan Kirk (31) is sentenced to hang for murder in the first degree.
Old Ben (56) is sentenced to hang for using hoo doo and black magic to influence the prominent Drake Family and thus putting their souls in mortal peril.
The hangings shall commence at high noon at the town square gallows.
May God have mercy on their souls.
There was a grainy picture of the three condemned prisoners. Bethiah was short and plump with dark black hair parted in the middle and tied severely in a bun at the back of her neck. She was unsmiling and unattractive as she stood looking at the photographer. In comparison, Tilly was gorgeous with her long curly blond hair, tall physique, and slender curves.
“She was hung on the summer solstice in 1860. Why is that important? Why does Beth matter?” Luke was pulling his hair in frustration.
Nathalie was frozen. “It’s important because it’s the year Jedidiah Brown died of tuberculosis. Does it say in another article whose grave she desecrated?”
Luke searched. “No, but The Times has a list of grave desecrations…and Jedidiah is on the list.”
“When did he die? What month?” the Sheriff asked curiously.
Luke checked. “Mr. Brown died in March.”
“Any reports of grave desecration after the executions?”
Luke searched. “Nope. Interesting…according to the person who recorded the executions, only Donovan made a fuss, swearing and spitting. Beth went quietly, and so did Old Ben.”
“So, did she die? Is she possessing Tilly’s body? I don’t get it. She didn’t hex anyone…cast a spell…set a curse…something that would link her to this time.”
The Sheriff shook his head. “Too much mumbo jumbo for me. Let me know if you need me to shoot anyone,” he said as he left.
Nathalie was still. Her eyes were flicking back and forth as she processed the information on Beth.
“What Nat? Spit it out.”
“It has to do with the door.”
“What door?”
“The door to the dead—the one that’s wedged open, and the reason we can see the dead.”
“You’re absolutely right, Nathalie,” Wayman said. He had just arrived at the manor and had been directed upstairs by the Sheriff, followed by Taline and Nettie. “Danner the Demon used the open door to reach through time and pull his witch to your time.”
“Luke was right, we needed to worry about what else would come through.” Nathalie sighed.
“Beth’s not a ghost,” Luke said, puzzled. “I don’t see an ‘overlay’ like I do when Willow’s possessing Sadie.”
“That’s because she’s not. We think Danner grabbed Beth from her time just as she was being executed, and forced her on Tilly—pushed Tilly’s consciousness to the side. With a physical body to inhabit, Beth’s a person. We figure they’re ‘living together,’ so to speak,” Taline said.
Wayman looked at Luke. “Have you ever really taken a good look at Bethiah, Luke? With your sight? It manifested with Sadie when the hex was activated, but you love Sadie. Even the littlest changes are noticeable. Perhaps to your mind that was just Beth’s natural state, if you even noticed anything odd.”
“It’s possible,” Luke said doubtfully. “I can’t say I ever did ‘sight’ her. You asked me to once, but she was gone when I left, and I just forgot.”
“But why choose Tilly, a disadvantaged girl? Why not a normal person?” Nathalie asked.
“Danner has probably been looking for a suitable and amenable human host for Beth for years. Tilly lives in Danner’s town. He has probably been prepping her to help him since she was small—a voice whispering in her ear. Because she’s autistic he probably considered her easy pickings—minimal struggle from the host intelligence. When he was ready, he called her and she went. I’ll bet Tilly wouldn’t even think to put up a fight.” Wayman sighed. “The fact is, Danner’s had hundreds of years to plan this. So has Willow.”
“There’s no doubt this situation is unique. Tilly’s brain is wired differently and she may not be struggling. Maybe it’s easy to hide someone else inside,” Taline suggested.
“I wish I had thought to ask Rain to send me a poster,” Nathalie said sadly, thinking of the type of girl Bethiah was and how she had abused poor Tilly’s body with Venius. Moral turpitude didn’t even begin to cover it.
“Nathalie, there’s no way you could have ever made that connect
ion. Who would have thought occupying someone else’s body was possible? My God, it’s unbelievable and improbable,” Luke replied with disbelief. “I mean, the chances are…”
“Not calculable, resident genius, so don’t bother,” Wayman said dryly.
“So what do you think they have planned?”
“I don’t know, but Beth is key for some reason.”
“We’ll know tomorrow,” Nathalie said with a catch in her voice. She tried not to freak out when she thought about Dean, but it was hard. Her stomach was a constant storm of churning nerves. Please don’t hurt him, she prayed silently in her head, over and over again.
Search parties were still out, knocking on doors and combing the woods.
“Nope, nothing,” was all that ever came back over the walkie talkie from the volunteers. Nathalie was trying not to panic. The Crofts had been updated with what was happening and waited in anguish for news of their son.
“The fact is, Nathalie, it may not matter after tomorrow,” Luke said, defeat creeping into his voice.
Nettie frowned at Luke’s attitude, and tried to reassure Nathalie. “Timing is key for a spell of this magnitude, lass. We know a ritual will take place tomorrow and that she’ll cast. Until then, she’ll keep him alive. She’ll no waste his blood.” But it was obvious even Nettie was worried.
Nathalie touched her necklace, the match to Dean’s. It was still warm and pulsed with life where it lay nestled close to her heart. She was sure it was a sign he was still alive.
The town was bursting with life. Even with all the crazy newspaper articles and threats of disease and violence, visitors to the town hadn’t been fazed. Stores overflowed with people, and lineups were long due to missing staff going through withdrawal. Strange behavior was just perceived as poor manners. The fair was peaking. Even more strangers had arrived and set up shop, swelling the fair to three times its size.
Missing person posters with Dean’s picture went up around Town Circle and the fair. A few false alarms were reported, but otherwise, nothing.
All those people and still no sight of him. Where was Willow hiding? Not even the woods were private anymore. Strangers were camping in there now. Thrill seekers ranged the woods at night, looking for the ghost of Willow Kellar, and daring each other to do stupid things. The Doc had reopened for business now that he and his wife were no longer “sick.” They were treating a lot of alcohol poisoning cases, broken bones, and scrapes.
“Idiots,” Dr. Peabody could be heard saying.
The suggestion to stay inside had become a decree to hit the streets at night for adventure. Others were feeling better after overcoming the “contagion” and were back out looking for fun. People had no fear.
“This town is going to be a shithole to manage come tomorrow,” the deputy said with concern. “I hate Halloween.”
“Yep,” the Sheriff replied, not bothering to chastise his deputy for foul language. Today, he was right.
DAY 31
Willow’s Book of Record
Today, they all die. The pigs.
The Barrington Estate
Halloween dawned sunny and windy. Happy visitors streamed into Barrington, and townsfolk of all ages dressed in costumes, determined to enjoy the last day of The Harvest Festival.
“What’s going to happen? There are so many people,” Nathalie said with awe. She and Luke were standing at the library looking at Town Circle. The restaurants had lineups. Even The Spells and Stars Restaurant was open for business. Joe’s Java Coffee House was busting at the seams. The Rotunda was full. Waiters bustled through the tables placing food and hot coffee.
“Buses came early,” the Sheriff said, watching with Nathalie and Luke as he sipped his coffee. He looked tired. His efforts, and those of his deputy, had been pretty heroic in the last month. Lines had been carved into his thin, leathery face.
“You look tired, Sheriff,” Nathalie said kindly. She knew that he had pulled every string he could to try and find Dean. “I truly appreciate all you’ve done,” she said sincerely.
He smiled at Nathalie. Damn nice kid. “I know I’ll be sleeping tonight, one way or another, but thank you for noticing.”
“The trams have been dumping full loads of people since seven this morning. They doubled the schedule to meet demand,” his deputy added as he joined them.
“It seems so innocent. It’s hard to believe all this bad stuff is happening at the same time. They’re so…oblivious.”
“Believe it,” Luke said grimly. Of them all, he had changed the most. Gone was the goofy, carefree, infatuated boy of the summer. His face had hardened with what he’d had to endure. Luke was no longer the naive bookworm. He had a plan. He would win at any cost.
They watched and waited, nerves churning, but enjoying the breeze and the sun. There was no sign of Willow or any of her gang.
Where was she? What was she doing?
By noon the wind started to pick up.
By the time the sun had set, the town had been spelled.
Halloween Night
Visitors and partygoers reveled at the Halloween celebrations. The town was fully decorated. The Rotunda was bursting with diners and dancers. The festival was packed with visitors. Not one person noticed the hollow-eyed teenagers heading to The Rock. Not one parent noticed that their teenager was missing.
The call came softly and unremarkably, like a thought. The Circle’s families were told not to let their children out of their sight, but slowly, one by one, they slipped away.
Tess Smith was certain Nathalie had called and asked her to meet her at The Rock, and that it was urgent.
Nathalie was suddenly sure she knew exactly where Dean was, but to rescue him she had to go alone. Too many people would raise the alarm and he would be killed. She left the Barrington’s salon to use the washroom and didn’t return.
Luke went to get some air, but his plan was to go get his girlfriend. He suddenly knew the spell to extricate Willow from Sadie’s body and destroy her, but he had to do it himself.
Reginald was at The Rotunda with his friends when he realized that he could get Beth back by confronting her boyfriend, and his success was assured if he snuck up on him right now. Without saying anything to his friends, he walked away.
James Sweet finished his shift at Ye Ole Sweete Shoppe and left. His mother was busy with customers and his father was in Town Circle having beer with the boys. No one saw him go.
Not one visitor noticed that if they wanted to visit the historic landmark, they were subtly detoured to another activity or site. The Rock was reserved tonight for a private party. Willow had cast her spell and made the call to gather.
All the representatives from the original hexed families had arrived. Magic had slipped in and taken control, and Reginald, Tess, Nathalie, Luke, and James looked as if they were sleepwalking.
In the clearing, Danner was waiting beside Bethiah, his huge form flickering. Hannah stood on Beth’s other side. Venius and Clovis stood back in the shadows. Everyone gathered in a semi circle with Willow in the middle. The Rock, with its menacing warning, cast a huge shadow that loomed over the assembled townsfolk, and with it a shadow that looked like gallows. More of Willow’s followers appeared and ringed the chosen ones. They carried torches that burned and flickered wildly in the wind as it blew, bending the trees and causing the fallen leaves to skitter around.
Luke fought through the haze of the spell that was keeping him docile and inert. He had realized almost immediately that his idea to save Sadie was a lie, but he had allowed the spell to coerce him so he could find her.
He could see Sadie and Willow as they stood in the center. Sadie was still except for her black hair and white dress that whipped around her in the wind. She looked angelic in the torchlight, with her pale skin and blood red lips, and Luke felt a tug at his heart. Lightning flashed in the clearing, and between flashes, Luke could clearly see Willow’s outline superimposed over Sadie. She was a few inches taller than Sadie, and the contras
t between Sadie’s billowing white dress and Willow’s black one was startling. Luke stared at her, and he could see Sadie’s essence! Relief flooded him. She appeared to be sleeping as Willow looked on triumphantly at the people gathered there. Then the amulet Taline had given him flared and emitted a burning pulse that radiated throughout his body, and suddenly Luke was clear headed.
Willow was holding a rusty, blood encrusted knife. Beth joined Willow in the center and presented her with a box, which Willow took and emptied into a large and elaborately cast cylindrical bowl on the ground at her feet. It was filled with a black liquid, and the object fell with a squishy plop. Willow took the knife and cut her hand, and then Beth’s, and they clasped hands. Their mingled blood dripped into the metal bowl. Beth chanted as she held hands with Willow. Luke could see Sadie’s purple power feeding Beth as she cast her spell. Above the cylinder a portal opened. Beth yelled a final word and the cylinder blazed and disappeared. In its place was a man.
Luke was shocked with disbelief. He suddenly knew what was happening and the identity of the man Beth had pulled through the portal.
Luke looked up and could see Nathalie motioning frantically to him. Like him, Nathalie was no longer entranced, unlike the others. He guessed her amulet and Lore Keeper heritage were kicking in as well. She also knew who the man was and there was a look of panic in her eyes.
Jedidiah Brown was crumpled at Sadie’s feet, brow on the ground. Luke’s heart leapt as he watched Sadie struggle with Willow for dominance, and win. Willow was gone and Sadie was there, looking around and then down. Sadie was horror struck as she crouched to touch the crumpled being and had to scream above the wind to be heard. “Jedidiah, are you okay?” she asked frantically, turning him over and putting her hand on his forehead.
“No, I’m dying. I’ve got TB. Tuberculosis,” he replied weakly, pushing her hands away. “Who are you? Where am I? You shouldn’t touch me, I’m contagious.” Sadie’s face was close to Jed’s as he spoke in order to be able to hear him over the whine of the wind. So when Jed had a chest spasm, he coughed blood and mucus all over her.
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