Ayry climbed up the ladder and Abel poised at the bottom to follow her up.
She pulled the metal cord to turn on the stark white bulb that barely lit the small dark room. She went to a chest sitting in the corner and opened it. She pushed aside the contents of the chest, a robe and a few cigar boxes that clanked when the contents were disturbed.
“Here!” She found what she was looking for. Another book. She opened and thumbed through it and then pressed her finger on one of the pages, “This, this is it.”
“What?” Abel asked, wishing he could see the pages.
“Anathema.”
“What?”
“That thing, it’s an anathema.” She sat cross-legged on the floor continuing to read out loud. “They are servants that will seek out all magical beings. Specifically magi.” Her face went sheet white. “The necromancer knows that Maynard is a magus.”
“We have to get back to him.” Abel started down the ladder and Ayry followed close behind with both books still in hand. She closed the secret door and waived her hand in the air until the pull-rope disappeared.
She stopped in the living room and took a few more books. Abel was already outside. His motorcycle roared to life and he was gone before Ayry got in the car.
Chapter 7
Abel ran up the steps to the back porch and through the door. “Maynard!”
The kitchen was empty and the house quiet. He stopped for a moment trying to regulate his heartbeat so that he could listen.
A soft light emanated from the parlor. He dashed down the hallway and was relieved to find Silas, Anabelle, and Maynard sitting in the parlor playing Go Fish.
“You’re cheating!” Silas scowled at Maynard. “No fair using your power.”
Maynard smiled and looked up at Abel. “Hello Mr. Abel.”
Abel resisted the need to run to him, to pick him up and hold him forever to keep him safe.
“Is everything okay?” Anabelle stood up.
“Yeah,” Abel lied. “We’ll talk.”
Ayry came into the room and scooped Maynard up in her arms. “Are you okay buddy?”
Anabelle’s mouth hung open seeing her sister bloody and bruised.
“Yeah.” Maynard wrapped his arms around her neck. “Did you have a good ride? Don’t forget you promised to bring me to see the horses.”
“I haven’t forgotten.” She stroked his hair, relieved that he was okay. “Did you have dinner?”
“Pizza!” He smiled and glanced in Anabelle’s direction. “It was yummy.”
“You gave him pizza?” Ayry snarled.
“Yes, pizza. It’s one of the food groups that every child should have.” Anabelle laughed. “We’ve got some left over. Did you want some?”
Ayry shook her head. “Thanks, but I’m not hungry.”
Abel came closer to Ayry and Maynard. A wistful smile spread across his lips. He raised his hand to place it on Ayry’s back, but thought better of it.
The grandfather clock chimed nine bells. “Oh my goodness. It’s bedtime for you little man.”
“I don’t want to go to bed,” he whined.
“I don’t want to pay taxes, but it’s all part of life. Let’s get upstairs and get your teeth brushed. You’ve had a long day and it’s time to rest.” She started up the stairs to get him settled in.
“Good night.” He called over Ayry’s shoulder. “Will I see you tomorrow?” He smiled at Abel.
“Yes, I’ll be here.”
Ayry shot an angry glance in Abel’s direction. He knew that conversation wasn’t over, but he wasn’t budging. He was going to protect his son at all costs.
“Good. That makes the smiling man happy.” Maynard rested his head on his mother’s shoulder as they went up the stairs.
Ayry joined everyone in the kitchen after Maynard fell asleep and she had cleaned up from the ordeal.
“Is he asleep?” Abel asked.
In a cold tone, she answered, “Yes.”
“Are you okay?” Anabelle asked looking at the wounds on her wrists. “Abel told us what happened.”
“I’m okay.” She brushed it off.
“Who is this smiling man?” Abel asked.
“His imaginary friend. The smiling man has been around since Maynard could talk.” Ayry sat at the table with a cup of tea.
“You don’t think that’s a little weird?” Abel asked, looking to Silas for back up.
“No, I had an imaginary friend.” Ayry took a sip of tea.
“Yeah, it was creepy, but apparently nothing to be concerned about,” Anabelle recalled “Flower, right?”
“Yeah, her name was Flower. She always had a big hat covered in flowers.” Ayry laughed.
“I never knew about that,” Abel said.
Ayry bit her lip from saying something ugly. She wanted to rush to him, have his arms around her but she wasn’t quite ready to forgive him. “Shouldn’t you be leaving?”
“Having Abel here would be good. We could set up watch shifts. That way we can keep an eye out for any of those things.” Silas leaned back in his chair.
“Anathemas and they will be the least of our worries. We won’t see any more of them.” Ayry’s expression darkened.
“What is an anathema?” Anabelle asked.
“They are servants of dark magic. They can feel magic and seek it out, then report back to their masters.” Ayry picked up the backpack full of books and took one out. “It says they can do harm, but only if their master is very strong.”
“The one that attacked you certainly did some harm.” Anabelle took Ayry’s wrist into her hands. “This is pretty bad.”
“I’m okay, really.” Ayry snatched her wrist back.
“That thing was definitely going to do you harm.”
“I could’ve handled it,” Ayry snapped.
“It’s not safe for you here.” Sadness laced Anabelle’s tone. “I sort of wish you could’ve stayed, but you have to leave right after the funeral. Maybe sooner.”
Ayry’s expression fell as she thought carefully about it. On the ride home she had thought about leaving right away. “I’m not leaving until I find out who killed dad.”
“Ayry, you can’t stay here. What about Maynard?” Anabelle argued.
“We aren’t going to be safe anywhere. Now that the necromancer knows that Maynard is a magus, he won’t stop pursuing him until he’s dead and the necromancer has his power.” She hung her head. “Nowhere is safe for us now. He’ll find us.”
“What do we do?” Silas asked.
“I kill him.”
“Ayry!” Anabelle scolded. “You can’t take a life.”
“I can and will to protect my son. This son-of-a-bitch killed Dad and he’s coming for Maynard next.” She stood from the table and paced the floor.
“But killing. That’s not who we are.”
“It is if we want to survive. What are they going to do? Put him in jail? No. They can’t, there is no way to contain him.”
“Phaedra can take care of it.”
“She’s right. We have to kill him,” Abel said quietly looking at his hands.
“Not you too. After all that’s happened, you really think that’s the best way to handle this?” Anabelle was shocked.
“A necromancer can’t be contained by anyone.” Abel stood and took his place next to Ayry. “It’s the only way to keep Maynard safe.”
“Until the next threat comes.” Anabelle shrugged. “This…this…curse.”
“Then we’ll handle that threat when it comes,” Abel said with grit in his voice.
Ayry shifted uncomfortably and moved away from Abel. “We have to take care of this now.”
Silas was unsure. “We have to find him first.”
“He’ll find me,” Ayry said.
“Oh no. We are not using you as bait,” Abel argued.
“I already am. I’m certainly not going to let anything near Maynard.”
“There’s got to be another way to draw him out into the o
pen,” Silas said.
“I still think we should talk to Elias and Barnett and let them handle this.” Anabelle locked eyes with Abel for a quick moment. “With all that happened last time, if you’re involved and the necromancer is a member of the coven, you aren’t going to get off with just banishment.”
“I know, but I’ll not have anything in this world threatening my son’s life,” he said with resolve. “I’m going to the hotel to get my things. I’m staying here.”
“I’m not comfortable with that,” Ayry said in a small voice.
Abel let out a frustrated sigh. “You can be angry with me, you can hate me, and you can take my son from me when all of this is over, but you will not keep me from protecting him. I’m not going to let anything happen to him.”
Anabelle shot Ayry a glance and then said to Abel, “Thank you. We’ll take all the help we can get to protect him. Won’t we Ayry?” She demanded.
Ayry nodded reluctantly.
Silas pulled his phone from his pocket and answered it. “Silas…” He listened for a moment. “Okay, I’m on my way.”
He slid his phone back into his pocket. “There’s been another ritual killing in the forest.”
Abel’s eyes widened. “Loner?”
“Possibly, I’ll have to see when I get there. I have to go.”
“I’ll walk you out.” Abel walked out the door and down the steps.
“I’m assuming you have something to say?” Silas smiled.
“Yeah, a couple of questions.” Abel looked back at the house. “What do you know about Blake? Is he in the pack?”
“No, Calvin’s family was here before the pack was. They’re neutral. Calvin keeps to himself, but Blake has been coming into town more often lately spending a lot of time at The Wolf Inn. He was giving Janey a bit of a hassle a few weeks ago. Lyall wasn’t having it and tossed him, but he’s been going back and behaving.” Silas looked down. “I’m not sure what Elias is going to do. They weren’t coming into town often and technically were never on pack territory before. They’ve been out at the Price’s Ranch with Amon for as long as I can remember.”
“The Wolf Inn?” Abel asked.
“Yeah, but you probably shouldn’t be going down there. Elias may have given you permission to be back for the funeral, but that doesn’t mean anyone else wants you around.” Silas’ lips made a straight line. “Sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. It was my own doing.”
“No it wasn’t. Don’t you think it’s time you come clean?” Silas opened the door to his truck.
“No one can ever know, especially Ayry.”
“Then stay put, don’t cause trouble.” Silas closed the door. “I’ll be back when I can.”
“Keep me posted.”
Abel watched as the truck pulled away. He glanced back at the house and down the road toward The Wolf Inn. He went back up the steps and stood outside the screen door. “Ana. Uninvite me.”
“What?” she puzzled.
“Uninvite me. I want to be sure the protections are still in place.”
“Okay, you’re not welcome.” She said toward the ceiling.
“That’s the first smart thing you’ve said all night,” Ayry snapped.
Her comment cut him, but he didn’t have time to be hurt. He had something he had to take care of. He put his hand up toward the door and a zap to his finger told him the protections were still in place. “I’ll be back in thirty minutes. Call me if you need me. I won’t be far.”
Chapter 8
Abel stood outside the back door of The Wolf Inn. He hoped Zenesha was working tonight. Using the pack link he reached out to her. “Zenesha, it’s Abel. Come out back.”
“You’d better not be out back,” she answered.
“Just come outside please.”
A few minutes passed and the back door opened. Zenesha came out and couldn’t believe her eyes. She ran to him and threw her arms around him. “If it’s not my fellow half-breed! What the hell are you doing here? If Elias catches you in town –”
“I’ve cleared it with Elias, he knows I’m here,” he reassured her.
“Oh, you’re here for the funeral. That really sucks, goes to show you never know when your ticker’s just going to stop and poof, it’s all over just like that.” She snapped her fingers.
“Yeah, heart attack.” Abel rolled his eyes.
“That’s what Barnett is saying. Blake too, he’s the one that found him.”
“Is that so. Is he here?” Abel asked.
“Yeah, he’s become a regular. Was harassing Janey but that’s been taken care of now.” She put her hand on her hip. “He’s behaved himself since.”
“What can you tell me about him?”
“Not much, really. He just started coming in a few months ago. He and his dad are loners, but Blake did request entry into the pack back about three months ago,” she recalled.
“Did they let him in?”
“Not yet. They are going to bring it up at the next council meeting. I think Elias doesn’t want him in. Been a loner too long.”
“Do you know anything else about him? Who does he hang out with? Anything at all?” Abel was desperate for information.
“Not really, he likes Miller Lite.” She shrugged.
“That’s not helpful,” Abel pondered. “Is he seeing anyone?”
“There’s been talk of a wolf and a witch hooking up, but I don’t know if it’s him. I’ve never seen him with anyone.” She hitched her thumb back toward the bar. “But you know these guys, they’re all like old women looking for gossip even if they have to make it up.”
“Yeah.” Abel lamented not being able to be part of the community he loved, part of the pack. “Can you do me a favor?”
“What is it?”
“Can you get him to come out here?” A wicked smile crossed his lips.
“What are you going to do?” She asked, squinting into him.
“I just need to ask him a few questions. I’ll behave.” He held his fingers up. “Scouts honor.”
She headed back toward the door. “You were never a Boy Scout.”
“Please.”
She paused holding the door open. “Promise you won’t cause any trouble?”
“Promise.”
“Fine, I’ll send him out front.” She walked into the bar. “Hey, which one of you miscreants owns a red truck?”
Abel worked his way around to the front of the building and waited. The door flew open and Blake stepped out looking toward his truck. Abel grabbed him by the lapels and slammed him against the building. “What the hell was that with Ayry today?” His voice was low and threatening.
“What are you talking about?” Blake’s eyes widened.
“Do you think I’m stupid? I know it was you. You were there.” He slammed Blake against the building.
Blake squeezed his eyes shut, concentrating and straining to shift, but couldn’t.
“Why the fuck were you in the woods?” Abel’s tone was full of threat.
Blake pressed his lips together. “I was worried about her.”
“Why?”
“Because we all know Amon didn’t have a heart attack. I’m worried about her,” he admitted.
“You don’t think Amon had a heart attack?”
“No. I don’t,” Blake answered straight away.
“Explain why you’re telling everyone it was a heart attack.”
“Because Barnett told me to.”
Abel paused trying to work it all out. “That still doesn’t explain why you think Ayry is in danger.”
“The ritual killings are happening again. It’s not safe for anyone.” He pushed Abel away. “I get you’re worried about her, but so was I.”
“Do you know who killed Amon?”
Blake shook his head. “I wish I did.”
Abel still didn’t trust him. Something didn’t feel quite right. He was hoping it wasn’t just his jealousy, but it didn’t look like he was in the woods to p
rotect her. “Thanks for the information.”
Blake nodded, straightening his shirt.
“And stay the fuck away from Ayry.” He called over his shoulder.
Blake didn’t reply. He shook his head and went back inside the bar.
Abel walked down the quiet streets of the little town. There weren’t as many tourists as he remembered there being. Maybe it was the time of year. Maybe it was because it was the middle of the week. Either way, things seemed quieter than normal.
The sheriff’s truck was sitting in front of Delight’s Diner. Time to have a chat with Barnett.
The bell rang on the door when he walked in. Barnett didn’t look up from his plate. “Abel. I heard you were back in town.”
“Yes sir.”
“And that you’ll be leaving after the funeral.” He still didn’t look up.
“Possibly.”
“There’s no ‘possibly’ about it. You’re lucky Elias is letting you stay for the funeral. I would’ve said hell no. Not after what you did.” He peered up at him and took a bite of his steak.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Abel. How you doin’?” Delight asked as she put a napkin and a set of silverware on the table across from Barnett.
Barnett looked up at Delight. “I didn’t say he could sit with me.”
“Looks like he’s got some business to discuss.” She winked at Abel.
“I need to talk to you Barnett. I won’t stay long.” He sat in the booth. “Just long enough for a cup of coffee.”
Delight left and went behind the counter to pour coffee.
“I think we’ve said all that’s needed.” Barnett took another bite.
“What are you doing to find the necromancer?” He got right to the point.
Barnett’s eyes darted around the diner that was mostly empty. “You keep that quiet. We don’t need the whole town in a panic.”
“There’s going to be a panic when word starts getting around about the ritual killings.”
Barnett’s forehead wrinkled with concern. “How do you know about that? We’ve not released that information. Jeremiah, Silas, and Elias are the only ones who know.”
“I was with Elias when Silas showed up with the first body.” Abel blew a breath out of his nose. “No one else knows?”
Dark Moon Falls: Abel Page 6