A wave of heat rolled out of the house. Cecil urged us to take cover behind the trucks. The fighting all around Sophia’s property had abruptly stopped. Wolves shifted into men.
“What the fuck?” one of them asked. “Why are we here?”
Another asked, “Why have we been taking orders from Sophia?”
“The hell if I know, but I remember painting her fucking house.”
Grumbles came from all around.
I kept staring at the house and praying that no dolls would walk out of the flames.
The wolf around whose waist my legs were wrapped said, “The damned witch cast a spell on us. She’s been controlling us.”
I had never before heard such rage in a person’s voice. Loosening my legs, I released him and willed myself back into being. Colby, still in his wolf form, trotted to my side and put himself between me and the werewolf. His muzzle and teeth dripped with the blood of those who had opposed him. I could feel his power tingling within my blood. He directed deep, rumbling growls and fury at the werewolf.
“Colby! He helped me! Without him, I would have failed. It was a nightmare down there.”
Sam and Hunting Wolf joined us. Both of them looked tired from the battle with the wolves. What was left of Pascal’s former pack stood around as though waiting for orders. They seemed lost.
Cecil said over the crackling flames, “We need to catch that crow and perform an exorcism but not tonight.”
Colby shifted. A power radiated from him, and he turned the full force of it on the wolf who had joined forces with me. “Touch her again, and I’ll kill you.”
Rather than turning belligerent, he bowed his head and submitted.
“You did well, little one,” Cecil said to me. The house crackled behind us as flames greedily licked up its sides. Paying it no mind, Cecil got inside of Sam’s truck. “I’m hungry. Where can we get a hot meal? I’m an old man. Battling evil spirits is hard work. I need food, rest, and meditation before engaging the dark one in battle again.”
Sam, Hunting Wolf, and Colby exchanged exasperated expressions. Hugging myself, I said, “I could eat, but first I really want to wash.” Sniffing at my hands, I gagged. The scent of embalming fluid had seeped into my pores and was trapped in my nose.
Meanwhile, the werewolves continued to stand around unfocused. Breaking into their thoughts, Colby asked, “Is there anywhere around here where we can get some food and rest?”
While Colby spoke to the wolves, Hunting Wolf led me over to Colby’s truck, helped me inside, and sat beside me. My hands were shaking. Catching them between his palms, he held them still for a moment. Then, he rummaged through a bag, pulled out a towel, soaked a corner of it with water, and handed it to me.
I scrubbed at my face and hands. “Elizabeth is the one who has it all over her,” I said quietly. “What’s going on out there? You all were just fighting to the death a few minutes ago. Now, they’re like Puck and Macduff after a big dinner and snoozing by the fire.”
Colby was at the back of his truck where he was pulling on jeans and a shirt and speaking to several wolves.
“He beat every wolf who challenged him. They have accepted him as their Alpha.”
“But, he’s in Holden’s pack.” The news stunned me.
“Yes, I do not know how this development will play out. Holden and his wolves are more powerful than those who are here.”
I watched Colby as he walked over to Sam and spoke to him. He seemed more like his old self again, the way he was before Elizabeth had attacked us. Colby nodded his head at the werewolves, and they shimmered into their wolves and started trotting down the road. Sam drove after them. When Colby took his seat beside me, he asked, “How would you like to sleep in a real bed, take a bath, and have a nice dinner?”
Hunting Wolf said, “All of that sounds lovely. It’s a date.”
Colby smirked at him.
“Rozene, what happened in the witch’s house?” Hunting Wolf put his arm around me and kissed my forehead.
With an involuntary shiver chilling me from within, I rubbed at my arms and during our drive told them about my horrendous experience. The flames engulfing her house were soon no more than a glimmer in the background.
Chapter Four
Colby’s new friends led us to a well-kept hotel. It was where they resided each year for a few months at a time. Since the pack seemed to be on good terms with the hotel staff, we were quickly settled. The pack was treating us like royalty. The five of us were given adjoining suites on the third floor. At the door to our room, Colby slid the key into the lock and turned the key. He held the door open for me.
“Oh, nice,” I said in appreciation as we entered.
The room was spotlessly clean with two king-sized beds. Obviously, the rooms we had been given were the best ones the hotel had to offer. Briefly, I wondered if these rooms had previously been occupied by their former Alpha. Our room was decorated in neutral shades of tan, white, and blue. Commandeering the bathroom, I filled the tub and stripped. Then, I shifted into Elizabeth and stripped her, too. Myself once more, I submerged myself into the hot water. While I scrubbed, I heard the door to our room open and close, but I didn’t worry. Between my three strong husbands, I knew I was safe. After both of my forms were squeaky clean and dry, I wrapped myself in a complimentary bathrobe and got under the covers of the bed farthest from the door. I drowsed while patiently waiting for all of them to get cleaned up.
Eventually, all of us appeared to be somewhat civilized, and we went down to the hotel’s restaurant to eat. The dining room had chandeliers, white tablecloths, high-backed chairs, and framed art on its walls. There wasn’t a booth in sight. Feeling underdressed, I sat on the chair Colby held out for me at a large, round table and placed my napkin on my lap. Most of the tables were full, so I was glad we’d managed to snag one. Then, I noticed the reserved sign when the waitress removed it and provided us with glasses of water. There were only three choices on the menu for the evening, so it didn’t take us long to order, and our meals were brought out quickly.
The five of us ate as though we hadn’t done so in weeks, but the restaurant was filled with supernatural beings who had voracious appetites. Aside from the werewolves, many of the locals had decided to eat out. It didn’t surprise me. Gossip travelled fast when people were bored, and our arrival was more interesting to them than watching the grass grow. The restaurant’s patrons conversed in quiet whispers. I couldn’t hear what was being said, but my husbands and Cecil could. What they said seemed purposeful, like there was a problem that they wanted the wolves to overhear and handle. It made sense. Pascal’s pack had been a powerful force in the area for decades. They ate in silence and listened to the hushed conversations with grim faces which were matched by the members of Colby’s new pack.
Colby locked eyes with a few of his new packmates and gave them a nod of his head, silently communicating his plans with them. I was about to question him when Hunting Wolf nudged my knee with his. I turned to him and raised an eyebrow.
After finishing off his slice of apple pie, Hunting Wolf said, “Rozene, stay here with Cecil. Do not leave the hotel. We will return in a few hours.” He drank what remained of his sweet tea, wiped his mouth on his napkin, and stood.
“Behave,” Sam said to me in an imploring tone. He leaned in close, kissed my cheek, and got up.
“Wait! Where are you going? I want to go.”
Cecil said, “They must go but fear leaving me here alone and unprotected. Even with my ability to shift into a mighty bear and to fight the dark magics so prevalent here, they consider me to be feeble. However, you have the power of the Wendigo.” Cecil scowled at my husbands and shook his head.
“Don’t wait up. Get some sleep, baby,” Colby said. He lowered his face to mine and waited for me to pucker my lips before he kissed me. An odd sensation passed over me. Colby had put a compulsion to obey into his words.
Sam chuckled at him and winked at me. “I wouldn’t dare,�
�� Sam said to me. “He’s only been an Alpha for a few hours, Honey. Don’t be too mad at him.”
Colby didn’t look apologetic. He looked pleased with himself.
Sighing, I said, “I’m tired anyway. Just promise me you’ll be careful, wherever it is you’re going.”
“We promise,” Hunting wolf said.
Each of my husbands gave Cecil and me looks of warning before leaving with several werewolves following after them. At least, they had backup. Once they had gone, I asked, “What are they doing?”
“They heard rumors and are going to investigate the truthfulness of them. Will you help me up to my room?” He struggled to get up from his chair which had me rushing to help him. With his arm over my shoulders for balance, Cecil and I made our way from the restaurant and up the stairs. “Did you notice how half of them followed Colby?”
“I noticed.”
Moving silently and swiftly after him, they had acted like they were his private bodyguards or something. The others had remained and watched us. I wasn’t sure how I felt about being left alone in a hotel full of werewolves. We were officially ensconced within their territory. Cecil didn’t seem to be concerned about it, and had they thought it dangerous, my husbands would never have left us here alone. It did strike me as odd that hours earlier, they had been fighting to the death but were now allies or even family of a sort. Once I had Cecil tucked into his bed, I went back downstairs to find out what was going on. One of the waitresses told me everything. I caught her alone while she was refilling her water pitcher.
In a quiet, breathy whisper, she said, “Word came to us that a store clerk several miles from here was murdered. It wasn’t a robbery. Nothing was stolen. All of the money was still in his register. He must have really pissed someone off over a drug deal or something like that. Someone was sending a message. His body was found impaled on top of an old utility pole. It was straight through him. Can you imagine? Now, how the hell would the killer or killers have gotten him up there?”
Sick dread filled me and turned my guts to frozen sludge at her news. I could only assume that the clerk in question had been the one who had told me how to find Sophia. Likewise, it had to have been the dark one who had taken his life as revenge. Now, I understood why Cecil had played along, pretending to be weak and frail, to keep me here. The two of us were probably next, and he thought he could better protect us here.
The waitress said, “Don’t you worry none. The pack is here, and there’s a new Alpha. They’ll keep us safe. They always have, even through the worst of the looting after the war. We take care of them, and they take care of us.” She nodded her head reassuringly at me for emphasis.
She had no idea that I could unmake someone with a touch. I chose not to enlighten her. The werewolves alone were no match for the evil we faced. “Thank you for telling me.”
“No problem, but I’ve got to get back to work. My tables won’t wait themselves.” She rushed off to tend to her customers.
Leaving the restaurant, I scoped out the hotel’s exits. A pack member guarded every door which made me feel somewhat better. One of them raised an eyebrow at me and shook his head as if to say, “Don’t even think about leaving.” They had heard Colby telling me to stay put and had taken his words as law. He’d left an army protecting me, and Sam had left his medicine man. Wrinkling my face up like I smelled something unpleasant, I turned on my heel and continued my exploration. In doing so, I found a laundry room on the second floor and decided to wash our dirty clothes. Besides, sleeping wasn’t an option. Going to bed alone in a big, unfamiliar room after demonic dolls coming to life and attacking me held little appeal. I’d wait up for Colby, Sam, and Hunting Wolf to return, and there was no way I would admit to them that I was afraid to go to sleep. But, the dolls…. An involuntary shiver had me shaking myself free of the nightmarish memory. Staying busy would keep my mind occupied.
Dumping all of our dirty clothes out onto a blanket, I grabbed enough change to fill my pockets, flung the bundle over my shoulder, and went down to the laundry room. The four of us already had enough for two full loads, lights and darks. Relieved the hotel never shut off its power and offered complimentary little boxes of detergent, I started my machines and took a seat. There wasn’t anything to read or do, so I crossed my arms over my chest and examined the room. The almost silent agitation occurring within the machines was the only reason I had any warning that I was no longer alone. Seeing something out of the corner of my eye, I jumped in my seat.
He filled the doorway with his hands braced above his head on each side of the frame. Above a blond beard, a smoldering pair of eyes glared down at me. It was easier for me to look at the white T-shirt which was left exposed by his black leather jacket. His eyes were full of pain, despair, disbelief, and other things which it hurt me to acknowledge.
“Holden….”
“You killed her. You fucking killed her and burned down her home.”
“Holden….”
He didn’t give me a chance to explain. “I’ve seen it! I’ve seen what you’ve done! Now, you’re going to pay her the respect she deserves.” He was on me before I could get out of the chair, picking me up and tossing me over his shoulder.
“It’s not what you think!” I said while trying to roll off his shoulder.
He thwarted my attempts, strode down the hall, and jogged down the steps. From my position, I saw destruction.
“Stay down,” one of Holden’s men ordered. He wasn’t talking to me. His order had been given to one of Colby’s new pack members. They had tried and failed to defend the hotel against Holden and his wolves. With their Alpha away and the former strongest members of their pack defeated, they hadn’t stood a chance. The error had been ours. We’d been distracted from thinking about Holden.
Now, his voice was thick with pain. “I think you hunted Sophia down and killed her. I think you left the mother of my child out like fucking roadkill! The mother of my child!”
Tears stung my eyes. They slid to the corners of my eyes and rolled onto my forehead and into my hair. The agony in his voice had done it. I’d never before caused anyone so much emotional pain.
He strode through a door which someone held open. Motorcycles filled the parking lot. Holden put me on my feet and pointed at the seat of his bike. “You will sit behind me. You will hold on, and you will not pull any of your stupid shit. Do you understand me?”
Tears continued streaming down my cheeks. “Holden,” I said as I looked up into his eyes. I choked on what I had been about to say. His eyes were full of unshed tears. Instead of speaking, I nodded.
He climbed onto his bike, and I got on behind him. He lifted up and brought his weight down. The bike rumbled to life along with at least a dozen others. I hid my face against his back and clutched my cold hands together in front of his chest. His bike roared forward almost leaving me behind. Tightening my grasp, I tried to explain to him what had happened, that Sophia’s death had been an accident, the result of a clumsy accident in our desperate race to escape the burning house and possessed dolls. It wasn’t what he wanted to hear. He ignored me, even though with his hearing, I knew he heard every word I had said even over the wind and bikes.
He was distraught because we hadn’t given her a proper burial. I couldn’t argue or defend against it. I had been intent on getting away. I had been more concerned with washing away the stink of my own fear and the sickening smell of the embalming fluid. Burying the evil witch hadn’t crossed my mind, assuming she would burn with her house. Holden’s feelings were valid and so was his grief. We’d left a horror for him to discover.
After several miles of silence, I said, “Holden, I’m sorry.”
When we got to the road with the trees which formed a nightmarish tunnel of sorts above it, I held onto him even tighter, terrified of hordes of tree roaches returning to blanket us without the protection the trucks had provided. Fortunately, we passed along the stretch of road without being assaulted. My fear increased when
he parked in her yard. I wanted to beg him to turn around and go back, to take me back to the hotel. It was as though he smelled my fear, and it placated him. Some of his men had remained when they had gone to track me down. I could hear shovels rhythmically striking into the earth while they dug Sophia’s grave.
The house was blackened timber and smoldering ash. When Holden dismounted his bike, I went with him. It was then when I saw a blanket enshrouded bundle on the ground near the open grave. Cords had been secured around it to keep it around her frail form. Turning my face away from the sight, I searched the surrounding trees for signs of the dark one.
“See what you’ve done? Do you see?” Holden grabbed my chin and forced me to look at her.
“Holden, her death was an accident.”
“How do you reckon that? Did you come all of the way out here to New Mexico to have a cup of tea and a chat?” He squeezed my face before giving it a shove and pushing me away.
“I came out here to tell her to stop attacking us with dark magic, and you know it.”
The shovels stopped. Holden left me and walked over to Sophia. Crouching down, he gently picked her up and jumped down into the grave with her cradled in his arms. Climbing out once more and with his back to me, he began shoveling dirt over her. I kept my mouth shut. He wasn’t ready to hear the truth. His men weren’t saying anything either. The sounds of the shovel and falling dirt masked the arrival of hundreds of crows.
One of Holden’s men was the first to spot them. “Boss, we’ve got company.”
The other wolves went on alert scanning the trees.
Near the grave, a crow fell from a branch to the ground. A biker touched it with the toe of his boot, but the bird was stiff and lifeless. From the trees, several more birds fell to the ground dead, like leaves. Petrified, I stood still. The pack gazed around but did an excellent job of hiding their fear.
One of them said, “Perhaps, the polluted fumes from the fire were toxic to them.”
Wendigo Conjuring Page 5