by fox, angie
“Aww,” Pirate said. “Now, that’s nice.”
It truly was. Eddie looked at Rosie as though he’d never seen anyone so lovely. She beamed and she was beautiful.
I remembered that feeling, when I’d first realized I belonged with Dimitri. It was astounding in its pure joy and simplicity.
Grandma joined us, appearing quite satisfied. She had every right to be.
“What did you do?” I asked her. I could see the change in Rosette already.
She smiled knowingly. “Not a damned thing,” she said, leaning on her broomstick. “Some things are better than magic.”
ANGIE FOX BIO
Angie Fox is the New York Times bestselling author of several books about vampires, werewolves and things that go bump in the night. She’s best known for the Accidental Demon Slayer books that follow the adventures of a demon slayer and her Grandmother’s gang of biker witches. The first book in that series, The Accidental Demon Slayer, is available for free right now from your favorite e-book retailer. Be sure to check it out. Also sign up for new release updates at: www.angiefox.com/contact
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THE SOUTHERN GHOST HUNTER SERIES
Southern Spirits - coming January 21, 2015
Ghosts in the Graveyard
by Liz Schulte
Chapter 1
“It’s one day,” I said. “Surely you can be away for one day.” Shelves and shelves of books surrounded the soft, brown leather couches in the archive where we spent most of our time. The castle was fantastic—it was a castle, hello—but it wasn’t homey. Tons of people were always here, most of whom I had never met.
Selene laid the magazine down on her protruding stomach. “I understand that, Kat, but—”
“But nothing. Come on. We need this. We need to have fun and rediscover our witchy side. Being snarky just isn’t enough anymore. It’s Halloween—our time of the year.”
She laughed quickly followed by a sigh. “Cheney won’t like it. He still thinks I’m in danger, and he won’t appreciate us making another magical spectacle.”
“We’re not going to ‘make a spectacle.’”
“Well, I don’t see how it can be avoided. We’ll be the only people in the whole Abyss celebrating Halloween. Someone’s going to see something and after everything with Jess . . .” Selene trailed off, rubbing her temples. “Honestly, I don’t know how much fun it would be with just me, you, and Leslie dressed up in costumes.”
I closed my eyes for a moment. It was like Selene was intentionally misunderstanding me. “First, they’d probably appreciate it because it’s almost like the human population is inviting them to a big ol’ come as you are party. Second, I don’t want to celebrate Halloween in the Abyss. I think we should go home. We can all meet at your grandma’s house—do all the Halloween traditions, see the parade in town, join in the party. . . . And after, we’ll go to the graveyard,” I spoke the last part fast and soft, hoping she wouldn’t catch it, then later I could blame her pregnancy brain.
It had been a rough year for all of us. We lost two of our members and Selene’s grandma. We needed this. We needed to heal, to reconnect, and, if possible, to speak with the dead. Jessica was still out there somewhere and at any moment she could attack. We were no closer now to figuring out how to deal with her than we were after she went batshit crazy. There had to be a way to get her back. We just needed to figure out how, and maybe Devin could give us some insight from beyond the grave.
Selene’s head tilted back with understanding and she absentmindedly rubbed her belly. Neither of us had gone home since her wedding. It was easier to stay here, removed from the rest of the world, and pretend like nothing had changed. Going to her grandma’s meant confronting everything that was different—something I wasn’t thrilled to do either, but it was Halloween. Halloween marked the death of one season and the birth of another—a totally fitting time to say goodbye and get ready for new life.
She bit her lower lip and rolled her eyes. “Okay. I’ll tell Cheney we’re going. But I am not dressing up.”
“Pssh. You know you want to.”
She pushed herself up from the couch with some struggle. Selene had a small frame, and there wasn’t much room on her to grow people so she got big, really big, fast. “Look at me. What am I going to go as?” She held her arms out wide. “The house that fell on you? A basketball?”
I laughed. “You’re glowing.”
She narrowed her eyes and shook her head. “That’s what people tell pregnant women when they run out of other compliments.”
We walked slowly toward Cheney’s office. The castle was enormous and breathtaking even when you were used to it. Intricately carved marble and wood, cavernous rooms, and yet somehow the areas Selene and Cheney lived in still felt homey.
“Haven’t seen Cheney in a few days. What’s he been up to?” I asked.
“Campaigning. When he isn’t giving speeches, he’s holed away in his office going over key points with Sebastian.”
“I thought he didn’t want to be Erlking.”
She shrugged. “He changed his mind at the prospect of someone else taking the office. I mean it would be nice not to have this hanging over us, but we can’t trust just anyone to take over. If Sebastian won’t do it, he really doesn’t have much of a choice.”
I nodded. Selene and Cheney had been through plenty. With the baby on the way, they both hoped for life to settle down for a while, and if any two people deserved some happiness it was them.
“So you and Sebastian?” she asked.
“Practically nonexistent. Apparently I’m unlovable.” I smiled at her.
“You know that’s not true. It’s just complicated.”
“I know. I guess I just want uncomplicated right now.”
We walked into Cheney’s office without knocking. Selene waved at Sebastian, and he moved to get up so she could have his seat. Who wouldn’t like him? Sure, he was a little quiet and serious, but he was cute, had great manners, and if you got to know him he was surprisingly funny in a very, very dry sort of way.
“We’re not staying,” she said. “Katrina and I are going to my grandmother’s house to meet up with Leslie for a girl’s only Halloween celebration.”
Sebastian’s stare locked onto me, making me feel exposed.
Cheney pressed his lips together, obviously struggling with wanting to say something and not wanting to tell Selene what to do—because let’s face it, nothing good ever came from telling her what to do. “I know nothing has happened for a few months, but I can’t help but think this is probably an unnecessary risk.”
My eyes darted to Sebastian; he looked away as soon as our eyes met. So we were still playing that game.
Selene smiled patiently. “We’ll be fine.”
Sebastian cleared his throat. “Jessica is still out there. She knows where your grandmother lived…”
“She also knows where the castle is, but she hasn’t come back here,” I replied sharper than I intended. “Look, yes, Jess is a homicidal psycho, and definitely cray-cray—for now—but whatever she’s doing isn’t about us or she would’ve come here by now?”
“Not necessarily,” Cheney said.
“Any problems at all, Selene. Any.”
“Fine, fine.” She held up her hands innocently.
Cheney moved his golden stare to me. “Any problems, Kat.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I grinned at him and Selene. “I solemnly swear that we will stay on the sidewalks, not take candy from strangers, and only fly our brooms at reasonable heights.”
Sebastian shook his head and Cheney gave me a stern I-am-not-amused look. Sheesh, no sense of humor. None at all. “Okay, dad. Relax. We’ll have you on speed dial. That kid of yours isn’t going to get away with anything. Good thing he’ll have fabulous auntie Kat to keep things fun—the things I do for you people.”
Cheney smiled at last. “Have fun you two.”
Chapter 2
Sand and pine needles provided a cushion beneath our feet as we walked up the path to Selene’s grandmother’s house. The repetitive rumble of waves crashing into the shore carried in the breeze. The sun was still up, but I could feel the magic in the air. A prickling sensation ran up and down my spine until I couldn’t hold back a shiver. Halloween was the best time of year.
Selene unlocked the door, but had to put her hip into it to open it. The house smelled like it had been closed up for months—probably because it had been. A musty odor clung to the air and dust left a fine sheen over everything. The shadows in the corners of the room were dark and deep. Everything was exactly as Edith had left it. Selene’s shoulders fell as she looked around.
Any moment she was going to open her mouth and back out, if I didn’t do anything. I walked in, pulled the curtains open wide, letting the fading sunlight stream through. “We’ll just open the windows, do a little tidying, and before you know it Leslie will arrive and the house will come alive. It will be just like old times.” I looked back at her and smiled, then struggled to get the first window open. “It just needs Katrina.”
“Well, not exactly like old times.” Selene gave me a tight-lipped smile and flicked her wrist, sending the window up before she let her bag fall to the floor. “Let’s do this,” she said with resignation.
It didn’t take long before the house was clean, filled with light and fresh air. A fire had been started in the kitchen fireplace, crackling peacefully. Selene collapsed onto the couch and propped up her feet. “Much better. I should call Cheney.” She made a face at me.
I laughed. “I’m going to the store. Be back soon. Don’t move, don’t answer the door, don’t do anything that could lead to trouble or your husband will murder me.”
The town was already bustling with preparation for the parade and party. Kids laughed in the streets and played games in their costumes. The candy shelves were picked over and the lines were long, but I still managed to scrape together most of what we needed: apples, pumpkins, candles, corn, wheat, and hazelnuts. The rest I would have to depend on Selene’s grandmother to have.
Selene was still on the couch where I left her, but she was sipping tea. “Tsk. Tsk. I told you not to move. What if you burned down the house?”
“You’re as bad as Cheney. What’d you buy?” She followed me into the kitchen and watched me unpack. “Why are we doing this, Kat? Don’t give me that story about how we need to reconnect. We live together. The two of us have never been more connected.”
“Yeah, but what about everyone else? We’re both losing our connection to this world—and it’s important to maintain it, , at least for me and my magic. As my connection fades, so do my abilities. And we’ve been using a lot of magic and not heeding the warnings.”
Selene stared at me, looking very elf-like, then blinked several times and shook her head. “You’re right. I even stopped doing yoga. No wonder everything keeps going wrong. The rule of three. “
I nodded. Everything a witch sent out into the world came back to them times three. I wasn’t saying it was our fault Jessica turned or Devin died, but I was a believer now. We had to be more cautious.
“Okay. Whatever you have planned for tonight, I’m game. No elves, no Abyss, and thank the Lord no politics. Just the great Sabbat, nature, and maybe a little magic.” She held up a hazelnut and raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you past this spell?”
I laughed and took it out of her hand. “Maybe you are, but what are you, like two hundred years old?”
Selene stuck her tongue out, eyes sparkling. Little by little, like the house, she and I were coming back to life too—which reaffirmed in my mind that we all needed this. Elves were great, I loved them, but they were a little uptight and serious and that wasn’t Selene or me or, frankly, any of our friends.
“Hello?” Leslie’s voice called from the front. “I’m here and I have costumes.”
Selene grimaced but I headed out. Leslie curtseyed in her Glinda the Good Witch costume complete with a wand topped with a star and a crown. Her blonde hair was long and curled. I gave her a hard hug. “You look great, lady.”
Selene was right behind me for a hug. “I don’t remember Glinda’s skirt being quite so short. “
“I look cute though, don’t I?” She winked. “I don’t remember you being quite so large. How pregnant are you again?”
“Five months.” Selene frowned. “I know. By ninth months, I won’t be able to move.”
There was a knock on the door.
“Are we expecting someone else?” Leslie asked.
“Yes, I am. I invited Frost,” Selene said hopping to action.
We both looked at her, mouths open. “You did what?” I asked. “But…”
Selene tilted her head to the side. “She’s a girl, she’s human, and she’s a witch. Why not include her?”
“I guess.” Leslie sighed. “She’s kind of creepy though.”
There was another knock on the door.
“Having the necromancer here isn’t how I envisioned tonight, but you’re right. It can’t hurt.” In fact, it would probably make contacting Devin that much easier.
Selene opened the door; Frost stood on the porch, arms crossed over her chest. Her white hair was pulled up into high pigtails, and she wore a black and gray ragdoll dress with red and black gloves that went up past her elbows, matching thigh highs, and a spiked dog collar. She walked past Selene without saying hello and looked at us like we were the last people on earth she wanted to hang around with.
“Frost, it’s so nice to see you. Your black lipstick really brings out your eyes,” I said with a smile.
She settled her hard gaze on me. “So glad the funny one is here. She said to wear a costume.”
Selene clapped her hand between us. “So what’s the plan for tonight?”
“Well, first we need costumes and then we need to set up an alter, carve pumpkins, and maybe do a reading.” Leslie smiled, Selene nodded, and Frost rolled her eyes. “After that we’ll head to the parade and have a little fun downtown, then at midnight, we’ll do a little magic.”
“What sort of magic?” Frost asked.
“Well, it’s Halloween so we should do a blessing for the new year,” Leslie said.
“Oh, and have a bonfire,” Selene added. “Maybe some scrying would be good. It’s a good time of year for clairvoyance.”
I nodded. “All good. We could also have a séance.” My tongue darted out over my lips.
“Wait a second. No one mentioned séances. You know I don’t do scary.” Leslie put her hands on her hips and took a couple steps back. “Nope. Not gonna do it.”
Selene, on the other hand, looked thoughtful.
“Who do you want to talk to?” Frost asked.
“Devin,” I said.
“My grandmother,” Selene said.
Leslie bit her lip. “Just those two?” Selene and I nodded. She took a deep breath. “Okay.”
“We can talk to anyone?” Frost asked.
“If they want to talk to us. On Halloween the
veil between worlds is the thinnest. It’s the time to pay respect and reconnect with those who have passed,” Leslie said. “I don’t like it, but”—she glanced at us—“I’ll do it to see Devin again.”
“Good, we’re in agreement. Now let’s see these costumes you brought.” Selene eyed Leslie’s overnight bag.
Leslie grinned. “I think I did a pretty good job if I do say so myself.” She pulled out a slinky red dress, a matching witch hat, and striped tights, then handed them to me. “I thought we could all go as witches.”
“And who am I supposed to be? A witch or a prostitute?” said Katrina.
“Honey, that’s a decision only you can make,” Selene said with a grin. “I hope mine covers a bit more, though.”
“I had to order yours online, but I think you’ll like it.” Leslie handed Selene a longer black dress with an empire waist, featuring gold trim and lace sleeves. Instead of a hat she had a gold cape with a high collar that framed her face. “And you should carry a broom.”
I slipped into the bathroom to change, and I came out to found everyone in the kitchen. Leslie was setting up pumpkins and knives for carving. Frost was playing with tarot cards, and Selene was picking out dried bundles of herbs we would need for the night.
“If only Sebastian could see you now,” Selene said after she whistled.
“You think the clothes would make a difference?”
She shrugged. “Couldn’t hurt.”
“You know,” Leslie said. “We could always ask the goddess for a bit of guidance on that.”
Heat crawled up my neck and checks. “I bought hazelnuts to find my true match.”
“You could also try the water spell.”
“What are you people babbling about?” Frost asked, looking annoyed. “If you’re really going to waste tonight on love spells, tell me now and I’ll leave. Don’t you have better things to worry about than men?”