“We didn’t really see anything,” said Seraphina. “Just that man’s goat headgear. They didn’t have an animal to sacrifice, thank goodness.”
“Not an animal, no,” I said.
“But what was it they were going to do?” asked Jolene. “What do they want with you, Kylie, and do you really think they opened the portal at the museum? They don’t seem very…”
“Smart?” Nick interjected.
“Well, no,” she answered. “They do seem to be a few bristles short of a broom.”
“But motivation can make up for whatever it is they might be lacking in the brain department,” he said.
She cocked her head. “Motivation?”
“It’s like Kylie said. Riches and power and stuff.”
“And they want the crossbow and me to go with it,” I sighed. “They summoned the demon first, and it was just dumb luck it was the same time I opened the Booke. No doubt she helped them open a vortex. Jolene, did you find anything out about Shabiri?”
“The name is from Jewish mythology. She strikes people blind, apparently. At least in the myth. But I get the feeling she has more powers than that, like Mr. Dark.”
“It doesn’t say how to get rid of her, does it?”
I saw her shake her head in the rearview mirror. “I’ve looked up a lot of demonology books, but none are very informative on that. But there are other books out there. I just might have to take a trip to the university.”
“That’s not going to help us tonight. Okay. We know that the Ordo opened the vortex. But I wonder why Erasmus got shy around them suddenly.” I steered around the curves, uncharacteristically slowing down for the benefit of my passengers. “What are they doing? Do they have powers like you, Doc?”
Doc tapped his finger thoughtfully on the center console. “I don’t have any particular powers, Kylie. It’s the gods and goddesses of Nature that endow me with abilities. As well as the spirits.”
Boy, it was weird hearing him say that.
“It’s complicated,” he went on, “but they might have those abilities, too. But their powers are coming from…elsewhere,” he said meaningfully. “And with the presence of the book…well. I think it’s likely it serves as an amplifier of sorts. We must be wary from now on. Kylie’s shop will need protecting full time and I think we should do our Craft for each of our own houses, too. The winds have changed. They want the crossbow for some purpose, Doug and his gang, and they’re stirring up forces no one should be messing with.”
Reality was slamming me pretty hard. Demons, demon worshippers, witchcraft.
“They opened that portal with the help of a demon,” Doc went on. “But it seems mighty plain to me that they wanted to summon an incubus.”
I couldn’t get my head around it. “But why an incubus in particular?”
“Well,” he said, taking his time. “To take care of you, I expect.”
“Kill me?”
“As you said, if they can’t get you to cooperate with that crossbow, chances are, if you’re out of the way, they can get it to work for them.”
We all fell silent. As I thought about it, several emotions ran through my chest. Fear was certainly foremost. That these people would summon this creature to dispatch me seemed terrifying and surreal. But then anger took over. How dare they? They didn’t even know me!
“Could that really be it?” I wondered aloud. “They never even heard of me before.”
“Ay-yuh,” agreed Doc. “But as you said, they were…told.”
“Shabiri. And she knows all about Erasmus.”
“At least he sort of seems to like you,” said Jolene. “You could play on that.”
“That’s not a good idea,” I muttered.
Seraphina waved her hand as she spoke. “Just as long as you don’t become intimate with him. He seems a little smitten with you. That could be very dangerous.”
I gripped the steering wheel and chewed on my lip. I could tell Doc was looking at me. When I flicked my glance at him he wore a worried expression. Hadn’t Shabiri warned me about that, too? Or was she just messing with me?
“I never should have torn into that wall.” My eyes stung. I knew it wasn’t really my fault but it did all come down to me. All I wanted to do was open a shop in this nice little town that had no crime…until I showed up.
We drove on in silence, everyone within their own thoughts. If I could take back the last thirty-six hours…But my mind lighted on my brief night with Erasmus. How he looked above me. How he felt. How he kissed and looked at me as if he couldn’t breathe without me, and my touch was something new in the universe. Maybe it was. Had he lied about being with other human women? I couldn’t tell. And wasn’t that the problem? All I knew was that I ached thinking about him, about that evening that could never happen again.
But then there was Sheriff Ed. He was sweet and kind without the whiff of demons or the occult around him. He was just the sort of man one’s mother would hope you’d find.
But there was just one small problem. I couldn’t get Erasmus Dark out of my mind.
I was so preoccupied I almost missed the turn. I veered off the highway and up the long stretch of road that led to the caves. It was all so different at night. We came at last to the gravel parking lot, and when my headlights swung around and lit up a lone figure, we all screamed until we realized it was Erasmus.
I killed the engine and switched off the headlights. The woods fell into darkness. The moon was still up but it was hidden behind the hills and everything had a ghostly pallor from dim reflected moonlight.
I hurried up to him, thoughts of that night still fresh in my wandering mind. “Did you see anything?”
“No,” he said quietly. “This is a very dangerous prospect. A daytime visitation is one thing. But night is her time.”
“I know. But what can we do? It has to be done.”
The breeze rustled his hair over his face, but he never moved the strands. I wanted to tuck it behind his ear, to touch him in some way. He seemed to sense my feelings because he leaned toward me. “I won’t leave,” he assured.
“Why did you leave before?” I blurted. “In the meadow. It was kind of dicey. They know they can’t use the crossbow themselves and so I had the feeling they would just as soon take me with the crossbow. And they tried.”
His eyes narrowed and I thought I detected a rumbling growl. “They will not take you,” he rasped. “I will see to that.”
“What about Shabiri?”
“I’ll…take care of her.”
Doc cleared his throat. I stepped away. I didn’t know how long we were staring at each other but it must have been long enough for Doc to figure things out. He frowned at Erasmus and had a stern look for me. “We’d best get going.”
I hefted the crossbow over my shoulder and set out. It had not yet armed itself, but I kept snatching glances at it in the reflected light of Nick’s flashlight.
The trail seemed longer at night. Shadows twisted along the trail and trees bent toward us, their branches like long-taloned fingers. A few crickets sang, but the forest was mostly quiet.
Erasmus was beside me. Ahead were Doc and Seraphina and behind were Nick and Jolene. Everyone had paired up, afraid of both incubus and succubus.
I leaned toward Erasmus, inhaling his scent, something between wet granite and pine forest. “Did you know Doc could perform magic?”
“I shouldn’t be surprised.”
“No, really. He stopped the Ordo guys from attacking me. Yelled some magic word and they all stopped dead.”
“Hmm.”
“Is that all you can say? ‘Hmm’? It’s magic! Maybe they can do more to stop this creature. Maybe we can use them in some way. If they’re stronger because of the Booke…”
“That might become useful in some sense, but because the succubus has already had a taste of you, their efforts will be wasted.”
“A taste of me?” My hand went to my throat. “You mean…when she sucked at my breath?”
“Yes. You are…irresistible.”
“So are you,” I whispered.
He looked at me sharply.
“Sorry. I know we aren’t supposed to…you know. And I really like Ed.”
“Then it is wiser to stick with your own kind.”
“My own species. Yeah, I know.” Quieter, I said, “Then why did you do it in the first place if it’s such a bad idea?”
He sighed. “There’s no time for this.”
“Right. Sorry. Hunting succubi.”
I turned away from him. What made this guy so desirable? Couldn’t be the fact that he seemed to be panting for me, could it? Or was that my overactive imagination? I snuck a look back and he was still staring at me in that smoldering way of his. Nope, not my imagination.
“If you two would stop drooling at each other,” said Nick sarcastically, “maybe we can get out of here at a reasonable time tonight.”
Oh crap! Was it that obvious?
Doc and Seraphina were looking at us over their shoulders with scolding expressions.
I guess it was.
I pulled the crossbow forward and held it in both hands. Time to concentrate. It hadn’t loaded yet, but I was still wary.
We walked on. Doc’s flashlight lit the path and shimmered in the pines and oaks around us. The breeze kicked up dead leaves, scattering them and they rolled along the duff-covered forest floor, crackling as they went. Every rustle, every shake of a tree bough made me dart my eyes. But when the breeze flowed again, I touched on the whiff of something dead, that sickly sweet scent.
It took too long for my mind to click in. I should have been ready.
Jolene screamed and there was a tussle behind me.
I turned, crossbow armed and ready. My throat constricted by what I saw.
Jolene was on the ground, struggling while a large shape crouched over her. It was in rags, or so it seemed. But there was a whipping tail above, like a rat, and long-fingered hands clutching Jolene’s shoulders. Her scream had stopped abruptly, as if someone had flicked off the volume. She was staring up into the face of it. Her mouth was still open and I could tell that she was struggling to breathe.
Nick pounded on its back and shoved at it. “Get off of her!”
I had a clear shot. Until Jolene kicked hard and they tumbled. I raised the crossbow, but Erasmus’s strong hand closed over it, pulling it down. “You might hit her. And it will kill her.”
Just then the thing’s head snapped up and looked at me.
It wasn’t like the succubus. The creature’s eyes were hollows in its face and its horns were smaller. But I could see the fangs stretching past its bottom lip, the long tongue swiping over them. It almost smiled, or appeared to. Before it leapt.
Heavy crushing weight, pushing me down into the duff. The crossbow was in my side, wedged by my hand, which was partially buried beneath me. I couldn’t scream. My breath was being sucked away. I felt dry, papery. Thirsty. So thirsty.
I inched my hand around. I knew the butt of my crossbow was close, digging into my side. Which meant that the business end was aiming right at the incubus’s chest. But without air, thinking was becoming tough. If I closed my eyes maybe I could concentrate.
I shut out the sight of that open maw, those hollowed eyes. My chest was constricting and I felt light-headed. I could just give up and it would all be over. But my spirit wouldn’t let me. My hand kept moving, wriggling its way free, until I could feel the smooth metal of the butt’s carvings. Inching along, pulling, twisting. My finger slid until it was solidly lodged on the trigger. I opened my eyes and fired.
The incubus threw back its head and wailed, the sound echoing through the rolling countryside. Surprised birds scattered from the branches above us and took flight, leaving a cascade of falling leaves and feathers. A bright light encompassed the incubus, and it seemed to be bubbling away, like melting film in a hot projector. Parts were disappearing and the weight on top of me was getting lighter and lighter as more and more of him disintegrated. Finally, it burst into a shower of sparks that lit the forest all around us in a brilliant flash. And then it just wasn’t there anymore.
I took a loud breath, and then another. The crossbow and all the quarrels were back in place.
There was a pause before everyone converged. But it was Erasmus who gathered me in his arms and brought me to my feet. I let myself melt in his embrace for a moment. Surely he would have kissed me if the others hadn’t been there. Doc tore me away from him and grabbed my shoulders. “Kylie, are you all right?”
“I’m…I’m fine. How is Jolene?”
Nick was holding her and she seemed fine. More than fine from the mooning look she was giving him.
I turned to Erasmus. “The Booke! I’ve got to write it in the Booke!”
“No. This was not summoned from the book but from another place. It had the stench of Baphomet about it.”
Could a demon blaspheme? I got in close and said quietly, “Are you allowed to say that kind of stuff? I mean, I thought Baphomet was one of the Big Guys, a head honcho.”
His sneer turned to incredulity. “Where do you get this from? Baphomet is not Satan. He’s merely a poor substitute.”
“Minor league, eh?”
“As you say. And so this creature belonged to him and will go back to him. The succubus, on the other hand…”
The crossbow remained unarmed, so we had a few minutes of peace.
“Does that mean that the vortex, portal, whatever, is now closed?”
“No. But it must be closed soon, or something else might emerge.”
I studied his features in the darkness. His eyes tracked over my face. “Erasmus, can you transport me the way you transport yourself?”
“I…I don’t know. I never tried it.”
“Try it now. From here to there.”
Doc stepped closer. “Kylie, I don’t think that’s a good idea!”
Erasmus and I locked glances.
“Do it,” I told him.
He grabbed my arm and the night grew dark as pitch around us, like I had been stuffed into a sack. My body was suddenly cold, freezing, but when I opened my eyes I was across the trail. I breathed again. “Okay, weird.”
“Kylie!” Doc was yelling at me from where I had disappeared. “Kylie, that was very dangerous!”
“What about any of this is safe? Look, this is what I want you to do. Take the Jeep.” I fished the keys from my pocket and handed them to him. “Go to the museum and close up that portal. I have to hunt for this succubus. Erasmus will take me back home when I’m done.”
“Kylie…”
“Doc is right,” said Seraphina. Her face seemed pinched and she suddenly looked older. “Don’t do this alone.”
“I think I have to. And someone needs to close that portal. I can’t.”
Nick was rubbing the back of his neck. “What if we can’t?”
“We will,” said Jolene, raising her face. “I’ll find a way. Or Doc will. Besides, we have powers now!”
“What about the portal in the cave?” asked Nick.
Erasmus strafed him with a glare. “It is from the book. It cannot be closed by unorthodox means. Only the cessation of the book’s powers can close it.”
We all stood around staring at one another for a moment before I gestured shooing motions. “Go! I’ll be fine.”
They still hesitated. Until as one, they hurried back down the trail. I watched them go, hoping they’d be all right, too. I hoped the Ordo were delayed enough that they wouldn’t think to go to the museum.
Resolved, I headed up the trail when Erasmus grabbed my wrist. “What?” I tried to say, but his lips were on mine, stopping anything further. His other hand cradled my head, my hair cascading around his fingers. The kiss, which had begun with purpose, softened. With lips warm and firm, his tongue snaked in and found mine. My breathing had turned light and quick, and my free hand came up and clutched at his jacket. I returned the kiss for a moment more before I
reluctantly pushed him back. “You said this was a mistake.”
“It is,” he whispered to my lips before he leaned in and kissed me again.
I tore my face away. “No. You’re right. And this certainly isn’t the time.” I stepped away from him and he let me go. The hand that had held my wrist fell to his side.
He made a rumbling sound, clearly annoyed.
I lifted the crossbow. Not armed. “We have to get to the caves.”
“And if it’s not there?”
“We wait.”
“Not wise.”
“Then what do you suggest?”
“We don’t wait.” He smiled a predatory grin. “We hunt.”
• • •
We crested the trail and I saw the cave dimly ahead. I hadn’t thought to ask Doc to leave me a flashlight, but I figured at this point it wouldn’t matter. I was feeling just a wee bit fatalistic. I was treading in places and with elements I neither had any business dealing with nor knew how to deal with. But Erasmus was beside me, and my crossbow…well, his crossbow…was in my hand. I felt like this was it, the last stand. It was either her or me. Maybe the Booke would win this time. Maybe it would succeed in letting out the baddie. Heck, there was probably another Chosen Host waiting in the wings somewhere. But whatever. I was going to give it my best tonight.
Erasmus stopped about thirty feet from the mouth of the cave. “What’s wrong?” I whispered.
He shook his head and put a finger to his lips. I looked around, staring hard into the undergrowth, trying to see, hear, or smell whatever had alerted him.
When he moved, I moved. I thought we’d be going into the cave, but he was veering away from it and plunging into the woods. The moon wasn’t much help in lighting the way so I stumbled after him, doing the best I could to keep up.
He flung his arm out and I collided with it. We both sunk to a knee, crouching among the dead fern and tall grasses. There. On the wind. I smelled it. Something dead.
Erasmus turned deliberately to me and I watched his face. He motioned with a hand, two fingers pointing to his eyes and then outward toward the woods. He was to be my eyes. Okay. I could do that.
Booke of the Hidden Page 27
