Freaky Rites (A Mystic Caravan Mystery Book 6)

by Amanda M. Lee

  Sweetheart? Since when did he call me that? “Um … .”

  “We’re very excited that you’ve decided to stop by the circus once we open,” Kade added. “It will be a fun event for everyone.”

  “Yes,” I drawled, nodding. “Perhaps you can bring your husband … or boyfriend.”

  Liz slowly dragged her eyes from Kade’s face and focused on me. “It will just be me. I’m looking forward to the visit. I’ll make sure to look you up.” She met my gaze as she said the words, but it was obvious she was talking to Kade.

  “We’re really looking forward to it,” I forced out, pasting a faux smile on my face. “Speaking of that, we have a lot of work to do. Set-up days are brutal. We should get going.”

  Liz didn’t bother to hide her disappointment as Kade helped me into the truck. “Yes. I understand about work. We’re all dedicated to certain tasks.”

  Luke climbed into the back seat, positioning himself behind me, and started cackling like a loon as Kade attempted to ditch Liz during his walk to the driver’s side of the vehicle. “I think she wants your man.”

  I’d figured that out myself. “I think she’s going to be disappointed.”

  “Definitely.”

  Kade finally managed to extricate himself from the overzealous grower, and when he slammed shut the truck door his eyes were wild. “You could’ve done something to scare her off.”

  I leaned forward so I could look around Kade and found Liz standing a good ten feet away, her eyes focused on him. “I think she’s in love.”

  “That’s not funny.” Kade scowled. “She’s an octopus or something. I swear there were times she had eight arms.”

  I arched an eyebrow, amused. “Does that mean she grabbed you in eight places?”

  Kade’s expression didn’t shift. “I can’t believe you find this funny. Just for the record, if some random vegetable dude grabbed you eight times I wouldn’t take it well.”

  “Good to know.”

  Luke leaned forward from the back seat as Kade shoved his key in the ignition. “What kind of vegetable do you think this imaginary guy has in your boyfriend’s head?”

  That was a good question. “I have no idea.”

  “I can hear you guys giggling,” Kade growled. “I’m not happy with you, so stop making that noise.”

  “Yes, sir!” Luke barked, offering a mock salute.

  “I don’t find that funny either.”

  Apparently Kade wasn’t finding much of anything funny this afternoon. “Would you like me to use my two arms to make you forget about her eight arms later?”

  Kade’s lips curved even though I could tell he was trying hard not to smile. “I might be open for that.”

  Somehow I knew that.

  WE SPENT THE REST OF the day working. It wasn’t glamorous or exciting, but you don’t join the circus unless you have an excellent work ethic. There’s too much to do and limited time within which to do it. Those who can’t meet the demands of the schedule wash out quickly. That wasn’t me, and I was often happy doing the work associated with set-up.

  I separated from Kade and Luke so I could organize my tent. Thanks to the fog delay, we were a bit behind our normal schedule.

  Melissa showed up to help shortly after I started unpacking. She didn’t say much, but she seemed happy to have something to focus on. I considered pushing her on what Caroline had said, but ultimately I opted to let it go. Melissa would come to me when she felt it was necessary. She wasn’t quite there yet. I could wait.

  After finishing with the tent, I took a tour of the circus layout, which was largely the same but often varied by tiny degrees given the space we were working with. We’d made up some ground during the long afternoon, but we had another long day ahead of us. Once I made my circuit, I headed back to the communal cooking area to help with dinner preparations. I found Nixie, Naida and Raven shucking corn.

  “How are you guys doing?” I asked as I sat at the end of the table. “Are you behind or caught up?”

  “We’re caught up,” Naida replied. She was a water nymph, a pixie from another plane, and she was much older than she looked. Fairies aged differently on the other side and she was considered young for her people, but would’ve been dead long ago if bound by the human aging process. “It wasn’t hard for us. We pushed through to make sure that we got everything done.”

  “Is that because you want to go skinny-dipping in the Pacific later tonight?”

  Naida shrugged, her smile sly. “Maybe. I hear the coastal fog is a thing to behold when you’re swimming.”

  “Just be careful while you’re out there,” I warned. “I think there are killer whales and sharks in this area.”

  “I’m not afraid of whales and sharks. I can handle myself.”

  I had no doubt of that. Other than Max, Naida was probably the most powerful being in our troupe. “It was simply a friendly reminder.”

  “I’ll be careful.” Naida pursed her lips as she continued husking. “I heard about the woman in the woods. What did you think of her?”

  “How did you hear about that?” I was understandably curious. “Has Luke been flapping his gums? I’m not sure that’s wise. I don’t want people going out there and bothering her simply because they want to get a look at her.”

  “We didn’t hear it from Luke,” Raven replied. “We heard it from Melissa.”

  “Oh.” I wasn’t sure what to make of that. “What did she say?”

  Raven shrugged. “She said the woman claimed that she had a fractured soul. I think she was looking for us to say that wasn’t true.”

  “It’s not true,” I argued. “Her soul is intact.”

  “Only because of what you did.” Raven was pragmatic. “You saved her and she will heal, but she’s hardly whole right now. She needs time for that.”

  The words grated. “So, we’ll give her time.”

  “Oh, don’t take that tone with me.” Raven wasn’t the type to step lightly when tackling a difficult situation. “I’m merely saying that Melissa isn’t whole, which means that crazy woman in the woods is either psychic or has some other sort of sight.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning that we have someone potentially powerful in our backyard.” Raven was matter of fact. “We must keep an eye on her in case she has more up her sleeve than just random observations.”

  Huh. That hadn’t even occurred to me. That showed how far I was off my game. “I think she’s just a little bit crazy from being isolated. If she was fully crazy I think I would’ve noticed.”

  “Let’s hope that’s true.” Raven clearly wasn’t convinced. “As for Melissa, she’s getting stronger, but it won’t happen overnight. I think the best we can do for her is to treat her as we used to.”

  “You just want an excuse to be mean to her,” Naida muttered.

  “I’m mean to everyone,” Raven countered. “She shouldn’t take it personally.”

  I wasn’t in the mood to start a fight. “Whatever. Let’s get dinner going. I think we’ll be stuck eating earlier this week thanks to the fog. My understanding after talking to that vegetable woman is that the fog is a regular occurrence around here. It’s coastal fog.”

  Raven’s face was impassive. “Are you a meteorologist now?”

  My lips curved down. “Are you trying to pick a fight with me?”

  “I would be fine with that if you’re in the mood.”

  Ugh. She knows exactly what button to push. She always has. It’s a special gift. “Well, if that’s the case … .” I didn’t get a chance to finish because an unearthly sound – a howl that was more than a normal canine noise – erupted from the trees to the far right of the grounds. I jerked my head in that direction, my eyes going wide. “What the … ?”

  “Shifter?” Nixie asked immediately, her shoulders straightening as she stared into the trees.

  “That doesn’t sound like a normal wolf shifter to me,” Naida countered, shaking her head.

  Another howl, t
his one closer, filled the air. The register was higher than a normal wolf shifter would boast, somehow more mournful. It sent chills down my spine and gooseflesh breaking out on my arms.

  “That’s not a wolf shifter,” Raven said finally, her eyes narrowed. “That’s something else.”

  I was almost afraid to ask the obvious question. “Do you know what?”

  Raven bobbed her head. “A wendigo.”

  Oh, well, great. That was so not what I wanted to hear.

  “WHAT’S A WENDIGO?”

  We managed to keep the conversation light and pleasant through dinner, but the second the dishes were cleared and the bonfire roaring Kade needed answers.

  Raven offered him a flirty smile that felt as if sandpaper was being ripped through my stomach. “I forget that you’re not familiar with everything that’s out there. You accepted what we were and what we could do without a lot of fuss, so I just assumed you’d done your homework.”

  “Why would he possibly research wendigos before coming across one?” I challenged.

  “Calm down, tiger.” Kade patted my knee. “Raven is just being Raven. There’s no reason to get worked up.”

  “She’s treating you like you’re stupid,” I grumbled.

  “She’s just being herself.” Kade moved his hand to the back of my neck and softly began rubbing, the motion soothing even as I fought the urge to give Raven’s silver hair a good tug. “I think I’ve heard you guys use that term before. I’m not sure what it is.”

  “A wendigo is basically a cannibal,” Nellie supplied. “It’s a monster that used to be human. It craves human flesh. Historically, people believe that murder and greed create wendigos.”

  “What does it look like?”

  “It never looks exactly the same,” I replied. “A wendigo is a reflection of the human it used to be. So whatever twisted that person helps decide what the creature turns out looking like.”

  “We fought one in Wisconsin.” Nellie rubbed his hands together, clearly enjoying the memory. “It had antlers. No joke. When we killed it I wanted to hang the antlers on my wall, but no one would let me.”

  “That’s because it also smelled like a city dump,” Luke said. “It was gross. That whole takedown was gross.”

  I made a face at the memory. “That was really gross. The smell kept making everyone gag.”

  “That sounds lovely,” Kade drawled. “If wendigos don’t all look the same, how can you be sure the howling you heard in the woods was a wendigo?”

  “Because it certainly wasn’t a shifter,” Raven answered. “Wendigo cries are … different. I can feel them inside. There’s a certain anguish associated with them. I don’t know how to explain it.”

  “I can feel them, too,” I admitted. “I’m pretty sure that was a wendigo.”

  “Do they run in packs?” Kade asked. I could practically see his mind working. He was trying to figure out how we were going to fight the latest threat.

  “Not generally, but it has been known to happen,” Nellie replied. “Most likely we’re only dealing with one of them.”

  “So … how do you kill it?”

  “I generally find an ax to the neck is the quickest route.” Nellie’s eyes gleamed at the prospect. “But most of the normal stuff works. They die like humans.”

  “Then why are you guys so afraid of it?” Kade’s eyes landed on me. “You seem uncomfortable with the idea of a wendigo running around.”

  “It’s not that I’m afraid of it,” I clarified, “but to be fair, I’m never okay with the idea of being eaten. Wendigos are supposed to be insatiable. They’re like sharks. They spend most of their lives either eating or hunting for food. They’re relentless.”

  “And they eat people?”

  I nodded. “They do. They can’t be saved. Once you’re a wendigo there’s no going back.”

  “There’s no salvation for a wendigo,” Naida added. “They fracture their souls when they make the choice that transforms them. There’s no putting a shattered soul like that back together.”

  Something occurred to me and I scanned the faces around the fire. The fog was already rolling in and it wouldn’t be long before we were enveloped. “Where is Melissa?”

  “She went back to her trailer,” Nixie answered. “Don’t worry. I saw her go inside.”

  That was a relief. Talk of fractured souls would likely put her on edge, the last thing I wanted. “Caroline, the woman in the woods, recognized that Melissa’s soul was cracked. That’s not the same thing that happens to a wendigo, but I thought it was suspicious that she could so clearly see that.”

  “What do you think that means?” Kade’s handsome face was creased with concern. “Do you think she’s a wendigo?”

  “No. She was a normal woman.”

  “She was flakier than a croissant,” Luke argued. “She wasn’t normal.”

  “She was human, though,” I argued. “If she wasn’t human I would’ve sensed it.”

  “She was definitely human,” Luke conceded. “She was also crazy.”

  “Maybe that’s because she’s been hanging around a wendigo,” Nixie suggested. “Maybe she’s friends with it or something.”

  “I’ve never heard of a human and wendigo being friends,” Raven argued. “I think it’s impossible. Why be friends with her when she would make a nice meal?”

  “She’s old, though,” Luke pointed out. “Maybe the wendigo doesn’t think she will taste good. Old meat is chewy. Maybe the wendigo doesn’t like chewy meat.”

  “Or maybe something else is going on.” I slowly got to my feet, my eyes scanning the pooling fog. “I think we need to strengthen the dreamcatcher.”

  The change in subject surprised everyone.

  “Why?” Kade asked as he moved closer. “Do you sense something?”

  “No, but we clearly don’t know everything that’s going on, and I think we should play this the smart way.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning we prepare for the worst.”

  “Which is?”

  “Multiple wendigos that might attack,” Luke answered for me. “We heard only one, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t more out there. The dreamcatcher needs to be tested so we can be sure.

  “Caroline mentioned shadow hunters,” he continued. “She was obviously talking about the wendigo. She said it in plural form, as though there was more than one out there hunting.”

  “So we’ll strengthen the dreamcatcher,” Kade said decisively. “We’ll break into groups and do it right now.”

  “I think that’s the best plan we have,” I agreed. “We’ll conduct more research about the area tomorrow. I think we’re missing something.”

  “Let’s get to it.” Raven was resigned as she stood. “I have plans with a certain clown tonight. I don’t want to make him wait.”

  “Yes, that would be a travesty,” Luke intoned. “There’s nothing worse than an annoyed clown watching a clock.”

  Raven’s glare was harsh. “Don’t make me smack you around, dog boy.”

  “I love it when you get riled up.” Luke beamed. “It makes a bad day good and a good day great.”

  “Keep it up. You won’t like how I punish you if you push things too far.”

  “Now I’m definitely excited.”

  8

  Eight

  Everyone separated into teams again, Kade making it obvious that he had every intention to be my partner when Luke made noises about claiming me for his own. I knew Luke was simply messing with Kade’s head, so I merely shot him a warning look to quiet him. At that point he joined forces with Nixie, and everyone broke up to tackle the dreamcatcher from four different angles.

  “You seem more worried about this than I would’ve expected,” Kade said, linking his fingers with mine as the fog rolled through the fairgrounds. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

  “No.” That was true, and yet I couldn’t stop myself from slowing in front of the main circus aisle and staring at
the big tent. “I don’t know what else you want me to say.”

  “I want you to tell me what you’re worried about.”

  The fog was so thick that it was hard to see through. It was almost as if clouds were rolling through the area because the fog shifted so quickly. It was wreaking havoc on my inner danger alarm because it constantly looked as if someone was moving through the shadows of the circus tents.

  “Poet.” Kade was directly behind me, his mouth close to my ear. “Do you see something down there? Are we about to get attacked by a wendigo?”

  I realized quickly that Kade was preparing for a battle that wouldn’t come. Well, at least it wouldn’t come right now. It would most likely become a reality in the coming days. For now, though, we were relatively safe.

  “I’m sorry.” I put my hand on his forearm to soothe him. “If a wendigo crossed into our territory we’d know it. The dreamcatcher would alert.”

  Kade didn’t relax his stance. “You just said we need to strengthen the dreamcatcher. I’m guessing you have a reason for that.”

  I definitely had a reason. “The wendigo isn’t here,” I promised. “It might be close, but it hasn’t crossed the dreamcatcher. I promise.” I slid my fingers around his wrist and squeezed. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

  Kade relaxed, though only marginally. “Then what were you looking at? I thought for sure you saw – or at least sensed – something down there.”

  “It wasn’t that. It’s the fog. It always looks as if something is moving because the fog is moving and playing with my inner senses, making me jumpy. It’s a bit embarrassing when I say it like that, but there you go. I’m literally jumping at shadows.”

  “Oh.” Kade let loose a low chuckle. “It’s making me jumpy, too. I know exactly what you’re talking about.”

  We resumed walking to our sector, our hands automatically joining. The silence that fell over us was amiable enough, but I could tell Kade had something on his mind. Instead of pressing him, I let him find the appropriate question on his own.

  “Have you ever fought a wendigo?”

  I automatically nodded. “I’ve fought six or seven of them. As far as paranormal creatures go, they’re fairly common and easy to kill.”