Haunted Legacy: The Windhaven Witches Series

by Carissa Andrews

  Dominic somehow manages to stay in control, maneuvering us through the chaos with a strange sense of proficiency. We burst through the trees, practically driving on two wheels as we hit the ditch, then make it out onto the road.

  The moment we get beyond the border of my property, the wind dies and the trees return to normal.

  Exhaling a jagged breath, I lean my head back and close my eyes.

  “That was close,” Dominic says. “Remind me to never piss off your family again, would ya?”

  My eyes flitter open and I snicker.

  The SUV takes a quick left ahead of us and Dominic speeds up.

  “Where are they going? Wade needs the doctor—” I cry, my voice squeaking out.

  Dominic shakes his head. “I trust them. I go where they go.”

  “Oh, now you trust people? That’s just great, Dominic. Wish you would have trusted me before you fucked everything up,” I say, unable to hold back the utter despair surging through me.

  Dominic winces, but he stays the course, taking a sharp turn after the others.

  Seething, I drop my gaze to Wade. His blood is everywhere; on me, the car. Even Dominic is covered in it. My heart constricts and I run a trembling hand along his face.

  Wade’s head rolls to the side and he groans. Relief washes over me as he lifts a hand weakly to the side of his head.

  “Oh my god, thank you,” I say, dropping down to him and peppering his face with kisses. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

  “What haaa—” he mumbles, struggling to open his eyes.

  “You’re hurt,” I say, fighting back tears of joy.

  “Tell me something I don’t know,” he chuckles, grimacing as he tries to sit up.

  “Don’t move. You need to keep still,” I say, holding him close so he can’t get up.

  He relaxes into my arms. Slowly, some of the color returns to his cheeks, but his lips are still incredibly pale.

  “You scared the hell out of me, Wade.”

  “What happened?”

  “You were trying to reenact my concussion in the woods,” I say, erupting in a relieved half-laugh, half-sob.

  “That explains the pounding in my head,” he says, reaching his hand back and staring at the fresh blood on his fingers. His eyes roll slightly at the sight of it, and he drops his hand to his chest. “Excellent. Battered and bloody. Two for two.”

  The car rolls to a stop beside the SUV. Glancing up, I see that we’re beside a modest-size home. It’s built in a similar fashion to my own, but not nearly as large.

  “We’re at Cat and Colton’s?” I ask, confused.

  “We need to regroup. This was the closest,” Dominic says, putting the car in park and shutting off the engine. He opens his door and gets out. Then, the backdoor swings open and he leans in. “Come on, Sleeping Beauty.”

  Wade makes a face and gives him the finger.

  Dominic just laughs it off. “Think you can manage to get yourself out? Or do you need more assistance?” He extends a hand, not even waiting for an answer.

  “I got it,” Wade says, struggling to sit up.

  With a little nudge, I help to push him upright. When he’s in a seated position, Dominic helps him out of the vehicle. Twisting to my own door, I try to get it open, but it won’t budge. I even try putting my shoulder into it, but it’s no use. Instead, I scoot across the seat, following Wade.

  Once outside of the vehicle, I quickly understand why. Dominic’s Civic is a mess. The entire passenger side looks like it was crumpled by the Hulk.

  Dominic sets Wade down on the front steps of the wraparound porch, then walks over to me. He picks a glass chunk from my hair and tosses it into the trees.

  “Does this make us even now?” he says, smirking.

  I quirk an eyebrow, confused.

  “I know you were pretty pissed about your paint job,” he says, scrunching his nose and scratching at the back of his head.

  “Yeah, I was. But for the record,” I begin, pointing at his vehicle, “you’re the one who let the genie out of the bottle. This wouldn’t have happened if you had just waited.”

  “Yeah, well, I guess there’s that,” he chuckles, scratching his head.

  I glance back at Wade. Diana, Blake, and the twins have gotten out of the vehicle. Colton has managed to take a seat next to Wade, who looks utterly incensed. Colton reaches around to the back of Wade’s head, but he bats Colt’s hands away.

  Walking up to them, I sputter, “What are you doing?”

  “He needs help,” Colt says, turning to face me.

  There’s a new sense of confidence rolling off of him, and it makes me pull up short. The Colton from a couple of months ago could barely look me in the eye, let alone speak with such determination.

  Wade winces, leaning back on the steps slightly as he props himself up on his elbows. His eyes flutter a bit, rolling to the back of his head.

  “Oh, would you stop being such a baby? Let him help you,” Diana says, dropping into a squat in front of them.

  Shooting Colton a sideways glance, Wade doesn’t say anything to him but nods his approval.

  “What’s going on?” I ask, stepping forward.

  Diana holds up a hand. “Just watch.”

  Colton leans in, raising his hands and placing them on either side of Wade’s head. Then Colt closes his eyes, his chin dropping down in concentration. Wade closes his eyes as well. I’m not sure if it’s in concentration or exhaustion. Probably both.

  Colton blows out a slow exhale. As he does, the space between his hands glows a bluish-green color. The color expands outward from his palms until the light practically obscures Wade’s entire head from view. Raising my right arm, I shield my eyes as I try to keep watching.

  After a few moments, the color pulls back, as if sucked into the center of Colt’s palms.

  “Remember to ground yourself,” Diana urges, setting a hand on Colton’s knee. “Cat, can you grab him some water?”

  Cat nods, racing up the steps and inside.

  Colton’s eyes remain closed as he breathes slow and steady, almost as if he’s in some form of meditation.

  Wade, on the other hand, sits up straighter. His eyes are bright, and his normal color is slowly returning.

  “What in the hell did you do to me? That was…”—Wade raises his hand to the back of his head—“amazing.”

  Diana twists around, looking directly at me as she raises an eyebrow, “Quick on the uptake, this one.”

  “He healed you,” Cat says, walking out the front door with a tall glass of water in her hand. She holds it out for Colton as she runs her free hand over the top of his cropped hair.

  “Thanks,” he mutters, taking the glass with his eyes still closed.

  “That’s a thing?” I ask, confused. “I didn’t know that was a thing.”

  Blake chuckles, leaning against the SUV.

  Diana stands up, walking over to me. “Turns out, a biomancer’s earth connection is best used to heal. Colt’s been working on the ability, but practice on this scale has been a little light. Not that any of us are complaining.”

  “Definitely not,” Cat says, her eyes wide as she shakes her head.

  Wade pulls his hand back, staring at it. It’s still covered in slightly dried blood, but there’s no fresh blood at all. Slowly, he turns to Colton, his mouth slightly agape.

  “I…” Wade’s eyebrows tug inward. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Pretty sure a thank you wouldn’t go amiss,” Dominic chuckles.

  Wade’s gaze flits to Dominic, but he returns it to Colton. “Thank you.”

  Colton shrugs. “It was nothing.”

  “Eh, you’re doing it again,” Diana says, shooting him a severe look. “Knock that shit off.”

  Colton’s eyes widen and he nods.

  “What’s he doing?” I ask.

  “Acting like a little mouse. He’s one of the most powerful biomancers in the world, thanks to his god energy. There’s no re
ason to hide—”

  “His what now?” Wade says, slowly pushing himself to a stand.

  Cat walks down the steps, then leans against the railing. “We’re Gemini Twins, remember?”

  “What does that have to do with god energy?” I ask, reaching for Wade’s hand and pulling him close. I wrap my arms around him, keeping my gaze fixed on Cat.

  “Gemini Twins are created when one child is conceived by a human—and the other by a god,” Diana says. Before I can open my mouth to say anything else, she raises a hand to stop me. “Yes, before you ask, dual conception happens pretty much at the same time.”

  “That’s some imagery I won’t be able to get out of my head,” Wade mutters.

  “Go Mrs. Gilbert,” Dominic says, clearly impressed. “Rawr.”

  Colt’s hand flies to the back of his neck. “Can we not talk about our conception?” he says, standing up.

  A woman sharing a remarkable resemblance to Cat walks out the front door, wiping her hands on an apron as she does so. “Did I hear someone say my name?”

  “Mrs. G.,” Dominic says, beaming. He practically races up the stairs with his arms open wide.

  “Dominic,” Mrs. Gilbert says, matching his stance and embracing him on the porch. Her smile is wide and her dark eyes sparkle with mischievousness. “It’s been a while. So good to see you, dear. How’s your grandma?”

  Dominic pulls back a bit, his lips pressed tight. He shrugs slightly, then says, “She’s been better. You know how it is.”

  Mrs. Gilbert nods knowingly, patting him on the shoulder as she steps out to the top of the stairs. She reaches out for Colton, kissing the top of his head as he stands a couple of steps below her.

  Diana grins, walking up the steps next, with Blake following closely behind. One after the other, they give her a hug until all that’s left is Wade and me.

  “Autumn,” Mrs. Gilbert says with a hint of reverence in her tone. “It’s so good to see you, dear.”

  I smile back and wave awkwardly. Even though I feel like I should know her, and I guess I may have as a kid, I just don’t remember.

  “This is Wade, Autumn’s boyfriend,” Cat says, sweeping a hand out toward him.

  Mrs. Gilbert’s eyes take him in, assessing his situation. “You all right, sweetie?”

  Wade lowers his chin, chuckling under his breath. “Yeah, I am now, thanks to Colton.”

  Mrs. Gilbert grins broadly, patting his shoulder.

  “I don’t mean to cut this reunion and introduction short,” Diana says, choosing her words delicately. “But we have a situation that needs to be dealt with.”

  “What can I do to help?” Mrs. Gilbert asks, her face suddenly serious.

  “I’m afraid it’s going to be a matter for the twins,” Diana says.

  As if this makes total sense, the twins’ mom simply nods.

  Diana turns to me, her face the epitome of resolve. “You consulted your grimoire on how to help your dad. Care to get everyone else caught up to speed?”

  Chapter 26

  In His Likeness

  For the most part, Diana is stoic as I tell the group everything I know about my dad’s death. But I can tell none of it surprises her.

  I explain why he died, how he became a Lemure, and why we need a biomancer like Colton to find his body and a fire starter like Cat to finish everything off. As I mention the Moirai, Diana and Wade exchange a significant glance, but neither of them says a word.

  Throughout the entire conversation, each of them stares at me with rapt attention. Even Mrs. Gilbert doesn’t move a muscle. However, her dark eyes cloud with tears as she waits, listening until everything I know is now in their hands.

  “Well, what are we waiting for?” Dominic says, standing up and brushing off the front of his jeans. “Let’s get to work.”

  “Hold up there, cupcake,” Diana says, patting Dominic on the chest. “We need to get clear on our roles and take things one step at a time.” She shoots him a knowing glance.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he mutters, shrinking back and sitting down.

  “Good god, call me ma’am again and we’re gonna have some problems,” Diana says, shuddering. “It’s also getting dark. We need to decide if we’re going to press on tonight or—”

  “This can’t wait any longer,” I interject. After everything I’ve experienced and now know, the last thing I want for my father is to allow his torment to continue.

  Diana turns to me, her expression thoughtful. “All right. Does the spell require anything specific? Or is Colton free to locate the remains as he sees fit?”

  I drop my shoulders, tipping my chin to the sky. “Shit. In the rush to get out, I didn’t even think. We need something of my dad’s. The grimoire mentioned something that’s tied to him or shares his likeness.“

  “I think I can help with that,” Mrs. Gilbert says, twisting around and heading inside before any of us has time to respond.

  “Mom keeps everything,” Cat says, smiling as she rolls her eyes.

  Colton nods in agreement. “She really does.”

  After a couple of minutes, Mrs. Gilbert walks out, extending a framed photograph to me. “Will this do?”

  It’s a small, four-by-six-inch photo surrounded by a rustic-looking wooden frame. The picture is old, at least fourteen or fifteen years by the looks of it. My mom, dad, and I are huddled together on the left-hand side of the shot and the Gilberts are huddled on the right. Everyone looks so…happy.

  I run my index finger over my face, staring at it. Even though I know there’s still time I’m missing from my childhood, it’s strange to see photos of me when I don’t remember being there. I don’t remember my time with the twins—or having ever met Mrs. Gilbert before now.

  Sighing to myself, I stare at my parents’ faces. They both look oblivious to the pain lying ahead as they huddle together, holding onto me and each other.

  I look up to everyone’s expectant gaze.

  Clearing my throat, I say, “I—uh, I think it will do. One way to find out, I guess.” I hold the photo out to Colton, letting him take it from me.

  Diana tips her head. “Agreed.” Turning to Colton, she adds, “Are you up to giving this a try?”

  Colton walks down the remaining steps from the porch and walks to Diana. “Wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”

  Diana beams, patting him on the shoulder like a proud parent. Mrs. Gilbert clasps her hands in front of her chest, smiling softly.

  It must be so weird for her, having the twins whisked away and staying with Diana.

  “So, there’s no incantation or anything? I’m just…free to locate him?” Colton asks, staring at the photo.

  I nod. “There was no incantation. It said it was in the hands of the biomancer.”

  “Good,” he says, walking out into the middle of the driveway. “That will make this a little easier.”

  “Don’t forget to lay the foundation of protection, like we’ve talked about,” Diana says, eyeing Colton.

  He nods, turning to his sister. “Cat, can you grab me the salt? That should be all we need.”

  “On it,” she says, bounding up the steps and heading into the recesses of the house.

  I bite my lower lip and reach for Wade’s hand. “Thank you, guys. All of you. I…” my gaze falls to the grass at my feet and I shake my head. “I wouldn’t have been able to do this without all of you.”

  Wade leans into me, nudging me with his shoulder. “That makes two of us.”

  “That’s what friends are for,” Dominic says, standing up and shooting him a smirk.

  Colton nods, smiling in our direction.

  There’s a strange duality of emotions fighting for dominance inside me. On one hand, there’s a profound sense of sadness and heartache clutching at my chest. On the other hand, I’m also filled with gratitude. After last semester, I would never have thought I’d be standing here, feeling as close to each of these people as I do right now.

  Cat bursts out of the door, an
d in her hands is a large jar of sea salt. “Will this be enough, Colt?”

  He nods and walks over to a clear patch of dirt on the driveway. Kneeling down, he sets the photo a couple of inches in front of him. Cat follows him, opening the jar of salt. She walks around him in a clockwise motion, pouring the salt in a circle of protection.

  Each of us follows them, standing just outside the circle and watching them set to work. When the contents of the jar are gone and the circle is complete, a small shockwave of white light shoots upward toward the sky like a cylinder of protection.

  “Remember, focus on Lyle’s physical being. Not who he was as a person,” Diana says. “That should help you differentiate the two. You don’t want to provoke his Lemure any more than necessary.”

  Colton’s eyes widen, and he takes a deep breath. “You can say that again.”

  Nodding to herself, Diana takes a step back, with Blake by her side. Her perceptive gaze takes in everything as she sweeps it over the entire scene. It’s almost as if she’s playing a large game of chess and we’re all the game pieces.

  In some ways, there’s a sense of security in it. I know that with her psychic powers and Colton’s biomancy, together we’ll find my dad.

  A hushed reverence descends through the group of us as Colton lowers his head in concentration. With his hands outstretched to the photo, he begins speaking in a low chant.

  Collectively, we hold our breath as he does his thing. At first, it doesn’t look like anything is happening, but then white, whispy energy erupts from the palms of his hands. It wraps around the picture frame, sweeping across it the way incense smoke rolls around the objects near it.

  “What are you getting?” Cat asks, narrowing her gaze.

  Colton shakes his head. “I’m not—it’s like it’s not connecting to it. The energy is too scattered. There are too many people in this photo.”

  A sickening feeling settles in the pit of my stomach. I totally jinxed it with my thoughts.

  “Well, what about sending Autumn in?” Dominic says.

  With the exception of Diana, everyone turns to face him with the same question written across their faces. Why?