The Darkest Gateway

by Jeri Westerson

  Erasmus stared at Doc, a rather astonished look on his face. I reached down and clutched his hand. He looked at me with the same expression.

  I waited. No one said anything. They shuffled in the cold, but I could tell there was a lot of thinking going on. I saw a gleam as someone raised a rifle and I held my breath. But the man only positioned it on his shoulder. He stepped forward. “Nicole was my sweetheart,” he said with a shaky voice. “Do you know what happened to her?”

  I slowly nodded. “Yes, I think I do. And I’m sorry. But she’s…she’s gone.”

  “What kind of creature was it?” he asked, face a blank. “The one we saw?”

  “Um…no. Something called a kelpie, a water spirit. It looked like a white pony.” There were a few gasps out there from the women. Could be that they had seen it too. “But I killed it…with this.” I raised my hand and the front door slammed open. The crossbow whooshed through and slapped into my hand. More gasps from the crowd, followed by louder murmuring. “Everyone, lots of creatures have been coming out of the Booke. I’ve killed a bunch but there are more. I have a plan to stop the Booke once and for all. Soon, you’ll all be safe again. It might be a good idea for everyone to get out of town for a while. Doc can let you know when it’s okay to come back.”

  “So wait.” A young teen girl, maybe a little older than Jolene, shoved forward. “You’re doing this? Killing all the bad creatures?”

  I wiped my face again. “Yeah. It’s my fault. And frankly, it’s kind of up to me. I’m only just beginning to understand all that’s happening.”

  “Did you bring all this with you to our town?”

  “No! It all happened here, in Moody Bog.” I choked up a bit. Seraphina touched my hand and continued for me.

  “Kylie never knew any of this existed. It was when she found the Booke of the Hidden that it all began. But she has been tirelessly fighting for you all. She’s been in danger herself more times than we can count, fearlessly taking on this task. It isn’t her fault. Call it fate or whatever you’d like. But Kylie is a hero. One of the best, in fact. And she could use your help.”

  “What could we do?” asked the girl.

  I didn’t know. I looked to Doc.

  “I’ll tell you what you can do, folks. You can believe her, for one. For another, you can make sure you keep safe. If you have to leave your house, travel with a buddy. And report any strange things you see directly to Sheriff Ed.”

  The girl marched up to the front and stood beside Jolene. “I’m going to help them. I’m not leaving. This is my town. I want to protect it.”

  “You get away from them, Jessica Marie!” cried an adult from the crowd.

  “No, Mom! I want to help.”

  There was more murmuring, more arguments. We waited.

  Another teen walked forward, a boy this time. “I’m standing with the Wiccans,” he said, his voice breaking.

  A group of teenage boys that I assumed were his friends came forward to stand beside him.

  I could see more cars arrive. When the people got out, I could tell they were expecting an inferno or at the very least a fight. Instead they asked what was going on with confused looks on their faces.

  Flashing lights came down the road. Ed’s interceptor pulled up and screeched to a stop as his siren wailed and then wound down. On the loudspeaker he called, “Disperse! Or I’ll arrest all of you.”

  I cupped my hands on both sides of my mouth. “It’s okay, Ed!”

  His interior light come on as he opened the car door and stepped out, head above the crowd. “What?”

  “It’s okay. They’re coming around.”

  He looked almost as shocked as Erasmus.

  Some people did start to disperse, those who just couldn’t get out from under their own fears and prejudices. But many more stayed, and the coven started talking to each of them, explaining. It was the strangest thing to ever happen to me…and that was saying something.

  Erasmus pulled me aside. “I don’t believe what I am seeing.”

  “Me neither. It’s a miracle.”

  “These humans are siding with you. I…I have never seen such a thing.”

  “Believe me, neither have I.”

  “I was certain they would burn you.”

  “I was kind of getting the feeling they would too. Except I knew you would rescue me.”

  “Of course I would have!” He puffed up.

  “I never doubted it.” I looked at him tenderly and then leaned in and kissed him.

  “Kylie,” he said, casting a suspicious glance around. “You confessed to these people that I’m a demon. You can’t be seen—”

  “Kissing you? Too bad.” I clamped my hand around his neck and pulled him in again. He fought for only a moment before he gave in.

  “You’re a foolish mortal,” he said, lips grazing my temple before he let me go.

  “I know. But look at all these other foolish mortals. Erasmus, do you know what this means?” I was suddenly feeling a little giddy. I might have even giggled. “It means…now we have an army.”

  Chapter Ten

  Erasmus paced. So many people were stuffed into my shop listening to Doc’s lecture that I decided there was no room for me. So I stayed in my back garden on my glider, swinging back and forth…as Erasmus paced.

  “What’s wrong, Erasmus?”

  He stopped and turned his head to look at me. “I’m worried. We must go to the Netherworld soon but I don’t think we are adequately prepared. If we can’t offer Satan your soul, what can we offer Him?”

  “I don’t know. Hey, is there something he’s always prized that only a human can get?”

  He stared at me, his brows furrowing so low I thought they’d never be able to come back up. “Something he prizes? I hadn’t thought of that.”

  “See. I’m still good for something.”

  He stalked forward and stood over me. “I can think of many things.” His shoulders smoldered almost as much as his eyes.

  “Now, now,” I admonished softly. I patted the seat beside me. “Come sit with me.”

  He eyed the glider suspiciously and gingerly sat on the wooden bench. I pushed off with my feet and he grabbed hold of the edge of the seat with both hands. I laughed. “Calm down. We’re only swinging.”

  Cautiously, he let go, but I could tell he was still nervous. So I scooted over until I was right up against him, shoulder against shoulder, knee against knee. “Isn’t this nicer than in there?”

  His eyes followed the places we touched. “Decidedly,” he murmured.

  “We’ve got all this help now. It makes me feel so much better that we can actually prevent more killings. It really does. So I think we’d better go in the next day or so.”

  “I understand your urgency. I, too, am anxious to put the book to rest. As long as I don’t disappear with it.”

  I slipped my arm in his and laid my head on his shoulder. He stiffened for a second then relaxed. Perhaps he didn’t realize that he didn’t need permission to touch me. “I won’t let that happen. I’ll ask for that too. I’m sure we can give Old Scratch something worthwhile. I think I’m going to need my soul for a long time…as long as I’ll be hanging with you.”

  He turned to me. His eyes glittered in the dark. “Kylie?” he said softly. “You…want a life with me?”

  “Yeah. Didn’t I ever mention…that I’m in love with you?” I smiled up at him. I wasn’t afraid to think it out loud anymore. I knew I’d held back. Maybe I had been a little frightened at the prospect of what it might mean. But it had always been there. Even when I was with Ed, I couldn’t stop thinking about Erasmus.

  I reached up and stroked his cheek. Smoke wisped off his shoulders.

  “You love me?” Those dark brows furrowed again.

  My fingers brushed his cheek. I raised my face up as I brought his down. “Yes. Didn’t you know?” I kissed him. My lips were gentle on his, lingering. When I drew back, he still looked surprised. Maybe not just surprised. A
westruck.

  “But you’re human. How can you truly be in love with a demon?”

  “Because…you’re you. Oh, Erasmus, you irresistible devil. Don’t you think you’re worth it?”

  “I never gave it any thought before.”

  “Well…think it. Because this is happening. I told you that if both parties feel the same way, being in love can be a wonderful thing.”

  He didn’t say anything. He slipped his arm around me and squeezed. His look of awe turned into something more tender.

  “I don’t suppose it happens very often,” I said. “A human falling in love with a demon…and vice versa.”

  “Not in my experience. But as you’ve taken pains to point out before, technically, I have very little experience as far as that is concerned, being awakened only briefly every few hundred years.”

  I snuggled against his shoulder again. “Then I guess we’re lucky.”

  His fingers entwined with mine. “And yet…I’d be hard-pressed to characterize it that way.”

  “Why?”

  “Because—”

  A clap of thunder right in front of us hurled us away from each other. But it wasn’t a storm. It was Shabiri.

  “Oh, for goddess’ sake!” she shrieked. “Can’t you leave these animals alone for one minute?” She was yelling at Erasmus. Which meant that I was the—

  “What do you want, Shabiri?” he grumbled.

  She seemed agitated. Since she was usually oozing with confidence, something must’ve been up.

  “There’s a problem. I absolutely hate to say it, but Doug is going to need…” She took a deep breath. “Your help.”

  “What?” I couldn’t stop myself from laughing, though I tried to hide it behind my hand. “That’s a good one.”

  “Stop your cackling, meat girl. I knew it was a stupid idea coming here.” She paced in a circle and even wrung her hands. “It’s not as if I like doing this. But I don’t have enough power by myself.”

  That made Erasmus sit up. “What are you talking about?”

  “Doug and his stupid Ordo. They’re in big trouble.”

  “Good,” I said, drawing my knees up and wrapping my arms around them. “Now he’s getting a taste of his own medicine.”

  “Yes, yes. Ha, ha. Revenge is jolly, isn’t it. But it’s just a teensy bit more than that. You see, Baphomet no longer wishes to play. I’m afraid he’s turned on the Ordo, on all of Hansen Mills. Someone over here in Kylieland got him mad.”

  Uh oh. I let my legs flop down. “What’s really going on, Shabiri?”

  “Like I said, Lord Baphomet isn’t playing around anymore.”

  “You’re the one who helped Doug summon him. Aren’t you two working together to get the Booke? Wasn’t that the whole plot to begin with?”

  I waited. Puffs of smoke feathered off her shoulders and she was trembling with rage. She flicked a glance at Erasmus and shook her head. Her face was a rolling parade of different emotions. I tried to decipher each one as they morphed and disappeared into the next one.

  “Yes,” she hissed. “It was the plan. It’s still his plan. But…now I don’t think…maybe it… Oh, Beelzebub! Can’t a girl change her mind?”

  “Uh, I guess. Are you saying that—”

  “We’re wasting time.”

  For once, I was convinced by her sincerity and confusion. I put my hand up for the crossbow. It came to me as I stalked into my garden to the gate. “Come on, Erasmus. I’m going to get my car.”

  “Shouldn’t you just—” She gestured toward Erasmus.

  “I’m not just appearing anywhere you say. I don’t trust you that much. It might be a trap. I’m taking my Jeep.”

  She clenched her fists and muttered something like, “Dreadful monkey.”

  “Shall we meet you at Doug’s, Shabiri?” I called over my shoulder.

  “Yes. And hurry!” She vanished in a puff of green smoke. Nice touch.

  I threw the crossbow into the back seat as Erasmus got in on the passenger side. “Be careful with my crossbow!” he cried.

  “It’s fine.” I started up the Jeep and scattered the leaf duff as I pulled a j-turn and headed toward the back road.

  There was no moon yet and it was dark out there. My headlights were the only thing keeping me from careening off the road, lighting just a little bit of each bend in the highway as I drove. And just as I rounded a curve, my headlights swept over a man on a black horse, rearing up in the middle of the street.

  I cranked over the steering wheel and screamed as we bumped over the verge and down into a ditch. The airbags didn’t deploy so it wasn’t that much of a jolt but it sure felt like it. “Are you okay?” I said to Erasmus, heart pounding.

  He looked at me like I was crazy.

  “You saw that, didn’t you?” I opened the door and stepped out…but had no idea that my door and the running board were poised over the deepest part of the ditch. Down I went.

  “Kylie!” Erasmus yelled.

  “I’m all right. Just bruised my…ego.” Getting up and rubbing my backside, I glanced over the hood to the road. “Holy shit! Is that a… That’s a headless horseman!”

  Yup, there he was on a black horse, cradling his head under his arm. Instead of a sword, he was swinging around a glowing whip. Was this guy from a re-enactment of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow?

  Nope, it was way too creepy for that. And he wasn’t running away or coming to help me like a real person would have. He had to be from the Booke and one of the weirdest to date.

  He cracked his whip a few times and it seemed to get longer the more he did it. There was something odd about that whip, too. Maybe odder than the head in the crook of his arm.

  “Is that whip made out of a…spine?”

  It elongated again as he cracked it almost over my head. The greenish face of the head under his arm was pulled into a hideous grin from one ear to the other. Much like Erasmus when he did that thing with too many shark teeth in his mouth. His eyes were glowing too but they never stopped looking around and rolling in the sockets. He opened his mouth and laughed like a crazy man.

  “Oh, this is not good. Really not good.” The crossbow flew out of the car and slipped into my hand, as if telling me, You’re gonna need this. “What in the hell is that, Erasmus?”

  “I believe that is the Dullahan. A headless rider with the spine of a corpse for a whip. He kills by calling out your name.”

  “Oh shit. And we both said each other’s names. How do I stop that?”

  He gave me that “you are so stupid” look again. “Use the damn crossbow.”

  Oh yeah. I put the crossbow up to my shoulder. As soon as I did, the spine-whip snapped at it, pulling it from my hand. The Dullahan laughed out of his moldy face again. The crossbow sailed into the darkness.

  “I know you, Kylie Strange,” he said in a creepy, high-pitched voice.

  I stopped dead, fear clutching at my heart. It seemed to stutter…but nothing else happened. I felt all over my torso with my hands and looked up at Erasmus. “I’m not dead.”

  “No. You certainly don’t appear to be.”

  The Dullahan looked pretty pissed about that. “Erasmus Dark!” he screeched.

  Erasmus gave the creature a filthy look. “I’m a demon,” he said. “I can’t die.”

  I could have sworn that head mouthed, “Well, fuck!” before he reared his red-eyed horse again and plunged into the depths of the forest.

  I glanced at Erasmus. “Why didn’t I die?”

  He walked toward me, took my left wrist, and turned it over, exposing the tattoo. “It seems this offers you some protection.”

  “Not just my soul, huh? That’s handy.”

  “Yes. Extraordinary.”

  “You mean you didn’t expect that?”

  “I expected…something. I didn’t think his calling your name would kill you.”

  “Why not?”

  “It was just a theory. Now I’ll never know if it’s true.”

 
; “WHAT?”

  “No need to shout. Your exposure to the Netherworld. To, er, me.”

  I stood blinking at him for some time. “You infected me?”

  “Exposed you. It could be that. Or it could be the tattoo.” He put a hand to his scruffy chin and stroked it. “Or it could be a combination of both. Clearly a question for your junior Wiccan.”

  I scrambled around the car and headed for the last place I figured the crossbow had landed. “Here, chthonic crossbow.” I raised my hand for it, worried it might be broken, but it sailed toward me like a trained falcon. I looked it over. “Seems okay.” It had unarmed itself. “Should we hunt it or go on to Doug’s.”

  “I have never seen Shabiri so distressed. I am inclined to pursue her coven.”

  “But what about the harm the Dullahan could wreak?”

  “Use your contraption to call your Wiccans. They’re probably wondering what happened to you.”

  “I’ll need a tow truck anyway to get my car out of this.”

  He shook his head at me as I got my phone out. The Jeep was suddenly glowing and rising from the ditch. It hovered over the marshy grasses and slowly backed toward the road where it was gently set down.

  I stared at Erasmus. He looked a little proud of himself.

  “That was awesome. I won’t ever need triple A again with you around.” I clicked on Doc’s number and he picked it up right away.

  “Kylie, where in blazes are you?”

  “I got an emergency summons from Shabiri saying that Doug was in trouble with Baphomet. There’s something going on in Hansen Mills.” I looked in the direction of the town and saw a tell-tale glow in the distance. “It doesn’t look good. Erasmus and I are heading over there.”

  “Do you need back-up?”

  “I don’t know yet. You seem pretty busy with the townsfolk.” I could hear the commotion in the background.

  Doc turned to say something to someone, but it was muffled. Sounded like one of the teens that had come over to the Wiccan side. “I can’t tell you how surprised and pleased I am by their willingness to help,” he said, returning to the phone. “I am truly humbled.”