by Jenna Kernan
He glanced at the woman and then stared hard. Her life force was split.
Nagi spun in a cyclone of fury, pinning the remaining ghost to the wall. “How long has she been like this?”
“A few hours only, lord,” gasped his guide.
“She’s a Dream Walker, you idiot. And she’s left her body. She’s trying to get help.”
Had she already contacted the wolf? Nagi faced the woman and concentrated, calling her back to this time and place. He needed both halves of her here when he administered the spirit wound. For this one, he would create a grand illusion. She would not know the wolf was safe. From the prison of her mind she would know only what he wanted her to know. And she would believe it was true.
If the wolf wanted her to live, he would have to bring her to the Healer.
Jessie’s scent came to Nick, strong and clear as a blood trail. Her fear increased the strength of the signal she left behind. Her trail led him to I-90 going toward Billings.
Nick nodded and pressed his foot farther down on the gas pedal, checking to see if the Healys could keep up.
It was several moments before he realized that a raven was flying high up above them, but mirroring their direction.
Bess?
He hoped so. He’d been sending distress signals to any Inanoka in the area. There could be more than one raven hereabouts but he hoped it was Bess. Could she have been to the Spirit World and back so quickly?
She had told him the journey was unpredictable, sometimes taking moments in earth time and sometimes weeks.
He sped on but traveled so fast that when Jessie’s trail veered sharply to the left, he almost missed the turnoff to the J Bar M.
Nick pulled over to the shoulder and waited for Jessie’s parents to do the same. “We’re close.”
The two looked expectantly at him.
“If you have some method of contacting Jessie, you best do it,” said Nick.
Her mother glared at him.
The fire in her eyes reminded him of Jessie, and his heart gave a pang of regret. He softened his voice.
“Tell her we’re coming. Find out how many guards she has seen.”
“I don’t take orders from you.”
Nick turned to George. “Can you contact her?”
He shook his head in regret. “My gift is evocation. I’m a Peacemaker.”
Nick was unfamiliar with the term.
Mr. Healy turned to his wife and laid a hand on her shoulder. “Mother, please.” Mr. Healy closed his eyes. A moment later they snapped open and Nick leaned closer.
“She’s in some kind of sleep, but not sleep. I can see from her eyes, but she can’t.” She turned to her husband, clinging to him. “I don’t understand. What have they done to her?”
“Where is she, mother?” asked George.
“In some kind of ranch house. The shades are drawn. She’s alone, I think.”
George glanced at Nick.
“Could be ghosts there. I can’t see them,” said Nick. “Can you?”
George shook his head. Both of Jessie’s parents peered down the long road, but could see nothing of the ranch that might be at the other end.
George glanced up at the sign. “I know this place. It’s a dude ranch. Really swank. Thousand bucks a night for some of the cabins.”
“I’m going through the woods. It’s faster,” said Nick.
George nodded. “We’ll try the road. If I run into trouble, I’ll make some suggestions. Don’t know if they work on ghosts, though.” He turned to Mrs. Healy. “Back in the car, Mother.”
She glared at Nick. “I want my daughter back.”
“Yes, ma’am. I want that, too.”
Mrs. Healy stayed where she was, arms crossed tightly before her. “This is all your fault.”
George wrapped an arm about her shoulders. “Later, Mother. Let him go now.”
Nick studied the two Niyanoka. How old were they? Two hundred years—three? He gauged his strength and thought George no match for what lay ahead. Perhaps it was a mistake letting them come, for they distracted him from his goal. He did not want Jessie’s parents killed in this battle.
“Maybe you best wait here,” said Nick.
Jessie’s father stopped short.
Nick returned his steady stare. It was unfortunate, because his talents could be useful in a fight. Yes, perhaps he might let him come along, but to do so was to leave her mother unprotected. Best bring her, as well.
Nick recalled her father’s mentioning the gift of evocation and shook his head to rid himself of the thoughts that were not his own. Nick’s thoughts, no longer blocked, came rushing in like a wave, filling the void.
“All right, you’ve made your point. Will that work on possessed men?”
“I sure the hell hope so.”
Not the hearty affirmative Nick was looking for.
The raven landed on the roof of the Mustang.
Mrs. Healy waved her hands at it. “Shoo, shoo.”
Nick opened his mouth, but before he could get a word in, the raven faced the woman and spoke in a high, gravelly voice.
“Why don’t you shoo. At least I came prepared to fight.”
Mrs. Healy staggered back and only her husband’s quick reflexes kept her from falling into the gully beside the road.
Bess faced Nick. “I saw Michaela’s father. He tells me she has delivered her twins, both healthy. There are two more Seers in the world.”
Nick grinned. “Sebastian is a papa!”
“Indeed,” said the raven. “He also tells me Michaela’s strength and skills are growing. He says she is more powerful than he ever was.”
Mrs. Healy recovered her tongue. “She didn’t marry a—a Skinwalker.”
Bess rotated her head 180 degrees to face the woman. “Yes.”
“But that’s impossible. They can’t have bore children.”
Nick leaned on the hood. “Is that what your book of law tells you?”
“Don’t you mock our laws, wolf,” said Mrs. Healy.
“Seems like you need a codicil or amendment to me,” replied Nick.
Bess flapped. “Who are they and why are they here?”
“These,” said Nick, motioning to the couple, “are Jessie’s parents.”
“Oh.” Bess’s voice, strange as it was, still radiated disappointment.
“Bess, can you fly over that ranch and give me a report? I’ll be right behind you.”
“We’re coming, too.” Jessie’s father turned to his wife. “Marta, we need help. They’re offering.”
Her lips pressed tight but she nodded.
He turned to Nick. “We’ll be right behind you.”
“How close do you have to be to use your gift?” Nick asked George.
“Just within sight. But I’m not allowed to have them hurt themselves. It’s against our way.”
“Fine.” Now Nick turned to Bess. “Go. I’ll follow.”
Bess lifted off, rising into the air. In a moment, she circled.
“She’s over the ranch. You two stay together. I can’t speak to you as a wolf, but I understand you.”
That said, he drew upon his energy to shift, stretching out into the sleek form of his wolf self. Behind him, Mrs. Healy cried out in terror, but he had no time to waste. He set off for the line of pine at a run.
Nagi hovered before the Dream Walker, waiting for the moment that her body and soul aligned. In that instant he touched her forehead, administering the blow that would split her soul from this husk of a body forever.
Nagi floated back from his victim, undulating with satisfaction. The wolf might find her body, but even a tracker could not follow this trail.
Her astral body hovered above her physical one, gleaming brilliant silver. Here was a soul destined never to drop into his circle.
Still, he could speak to her now.
“Do you love him?” he asked.
The Dream Walker, trapped in his illusion, said yes.
“Then fo
llow him. Hurry, or he will leave you behind.”
Chapter 23
Jessie had managed to contact her mother with a distress call but could not tell her where she was. Nick had told her he could track anyone anywhere in the world. If he remembered her visit to his dream he could find her.
The contact had been so brief, only a moment, really, when she had found him dreaming and called for help. He was startled awake so quickly that she did not know if he understood. She had not found him asleep since then.
Dreams were fragile things and a jarring from slumber could shatter them as surely as fine china thrown to a concrete floor.
Please, Nick, come for me.
He could not see her astral body, but she could see him. A visit now might tell her if he understood. She found him running across a parking lot in the near darkness. Pools of blue fluorescent light illuminated the rows of cars. She glanced down and saw the numbers carefully painted at each spot.
Nick dashed past her, toward a black SUV, drawing up short to check the key he held in his hand.
The streetlight beyond where he now stood buzzed and then winked out. The next light followed and then the third. All now glowed a weak orange, casting no light.
Nick turned toward the streetlights, looking about with quick darting glances. Seeing nothing, he continued toward the passenger side. A wind blew past him and he halted again, turning toward the disturbance. And then she saw it.
A gray mass of swirling debris rushed toward him. A Thunderbird? It rose twelve feet in height and changed shape as it approached. Now it more resembled some great smoky ape. Putrid yellow eyes blinked open and she knew with chilling certainty who this was.
Nagi, Guardian of the Circle of Ghosts, had found Nick.
She tried to warn him, but he could not hear her. The thing extended undulating arms, reaching with talons sharp and glossy black.
Nick braced to face this Spirit, but how did a shifter fight a shadow?
Nagi pointed a menacing talon and Nick’s body convulsed. Jessie watched in horror as Nick fell to his knees, his chest and stomach split by some unseen force. He pitched forward, falling to the ground behind the car, the circle of blood flowing out before him.
She must find him, reach him before he bled to death. She was about to withdraw when she felt her body, safe but still bound. She could do nothing to save him.
Nagi slid forward, bringing his vaporous arm down. Nick choked, grasping his throat as his feet kicked madly against the rear bumper.
Nick slumped to the ground once more. Jessie’s heart broke in two as she realized Nagi had killed him. She watched Nick’s soul rise in a wisp of white. Above him the stars glittered more brightly as the Milky Way became a highway to lead Nick along the Way of Souls.
No! But he could not hear her.
She had only just found her soul mate and already he had been taken from her.
Nagi watched her. Could he see her?
“Do you love him?”
She wanted to attack Nagi but knew he was immortal and beyond her rage. Yes, she answered.
“Then follow him. Hurry, or he will leave you behind.”
Jessie watched Nick’s soul retreat. She had always followed the laws of the Dream Walker and so had never before even considered leaving this earthly plane, though at times she thought she glimpsed this portal to the Spirit World. But she did not hesitate. If that was where Nick had gone, then she would go.
She rose into the air, ready to follow him even in death.
Nick darted through the trees and under the brush, using the cover to get as close to the buildings as possible. Jessie’s scent was strong and fresh. She was here. He knew it.
He made a half circle of the property before halting.
The spread was impossibly large, with twelve cabins of various sizes scattered in the woods and one central mammoth log-construction lodge. Any of the buildings might have Jessie trapped inside.
Bess landed beside him.
“Nothing unusual from the air. Folks on a trail ride in the woods back there. I didn’t see any guards.”
Nick nodded. He had found Jessie’s scent and set off again, keeping low and close to cover as he breathed in her familiar essence. He paused and pointed toward the large cabin.
“There?” asked Bess, landing on the ground at his left.
He nodded. She flapped her wings and flew around the log home. She perched on the deck and peered inside and then hopped over the roof and disappeared round back. Nick stole closer, making it under the porch before Bess returned.
“Curtains are all drawn. I can’t see a thing. You have a plan?”
Nick transformed. “Kick in the damn door?”
“Without knowing how many there are?”
“Your suggestion?”
“Let me knock.”
“No. If they are possessed, they will know what you are. We go together.”
From somewhere beyond his vision came a startled female voice.
“Look! A buffalo!”
“Do you think it’s tame?” asked another woman.
Bess hopped to the edge of their cover, with Nick close behind her. There, downwind, on the lawn stood a massive male buffalo. Nick recognized him instantly by his scent.
“Friend of yours?” asked Bess.
Nick assessed the sheer mass of the young bull, feeling better already. “Definitely.”
Bess chortled. “Odds just got better.”
The buffalo maintained his position, drawing a crowd. The distraction made it easy for Nick to transform back to a man and slip onto the porch.
The door was locked, so he lifted one of the rockers, constructed from sturdy logs, and threw it through the picture window. An instant later he dove through the void.
He came to his feet in a living room and was overwhelmed by the rank odor of death.
The room was still and unnaturally quiet. He followed Jessie’s scent past the stone fireplace and the efficiency kitchen to the second bedroom at the back of the cabin. Light crept around the drawn navy blue blinds, giving the room in an eerie, melancholy mood.
It took only a moment to find her, lying on her side, unnaturally still, with her unfocused eyes staring out at nothing.
“Jessie!”
He reached her in an instant. Her skin was cool, as if she had just been dipped in ice water. The scent of death clung to her skin. He pressed his ear to her chest and listened. If not for his ability to hear faint sounds, he would have thought her dead, but her heart still did beat in a delayed cadence that could not keep her alive for long.
Jessie was dying.
Bess sailed into the room, landing on the floor beside him, and then surged upward to her full human height.
“What is wrong with her?” she asked, creeping closer.
“I don’t know. She smells of death.”
“Her aura is wrong. It is not that of a living soul, but she still has one, so she has not crossed.” Bess leaned close. “I see Nagi’s mark on her skin.”
Nick growled. “He has done this to her.”
Bess nodded. “A spirit wound.”
Jessie’s parents appeared in the doorway. Mrs. Healy gave a cry and pushed past Nick and Bess and attempted to lift her limp daughter from the bed.
“You’ve killed her.”
“She’s still alive,” said Nick.
“Not for long,” said Bess.
Mrs. Healy looked horrified.
“Can you reach her?” Nick asked Mrs. Healy.
“I’ve tried. She is behind some veil. She can’t hear me and I can’t understand what she is saying.”
Bess straightened. “A veil? Does it shimmer like starlight?”
Mrs. Healy’s grip on her daughter slackened as her mouth dropped open. “How did you know?”
Bess turned to Nick. “She has begun her journey on the Way of Souls.”
Nick stood paralyzed. It was what Nagi had planned all along, to use Jessie in this way. Either Nick let Jessi
e die or he revealed the location of the Seer.
“He has sent her to the one place I cannot follow.”
Mrs. Healy pressed her ear to Jessie’s chest, then straightened in panic. “Do something!”
Nick scooped Jessie off the bed and turned to Bess. “If I don’t bring her to Sebastian, she dies, and if I bring her, the Seer and her babies die.”
Bess pressed a hand to Nick’s shoulder. “Let me go to the Dream Walker. I can call her back.”
“No time.”
Bess stared up at Nick. “It’s the only way to protect the Seer. Please, Nick.”
Nick’s heart was breaking. Jessie’s cold, still body lay limp in his arms. He stared at Bess, silently begging her to help him. “All right.”
“Keep her close. She has not crossed yet.”
Nick sank to the bed, holding Jessie in his lap as he looked at Bess. “If you are too late, tell her I will not be far behind her.”
Bess’s dark eyes widened as she nodded. “Have courage, brother. I will be faster than the wind.”
With that, Bess transformed into her raven self and shot out the door, crying her hoarse call of farewell. George followed her to the cabin door and watched her disappear into the clouds above them.
Bess found the Way of Souls with a speed born of experience and urgency. She followed the shimmering silver path of starlight, gliding over the river of souls to find Jessie. Nick’s soul mate stood before Hihankara, the old crone who guarded the Spirit Road.
Bess had never seen this happen. Hihankara either let a soul pass or cast them from the Way of Souls. She never hesitated or wavered. She knew exactly who should cross and who should not. By the tattoos that appeared only after death.
Bess hovered in the air. “Hihankara, what happens here?”
It was the first time Bess had ever spoken to Hihankara. The guardian tolerated a raven flying over her road but did not like it. She thought it disrespectful to disturb the departed with the business of the living.
“This one does not have any tattoos at all,” growled the old Spirit. “She cannot pass.”
“You can’t stop me. I will follow him,” said Jessie.
“And I’ve told you, he did not cross.”
“Who?” asked Bess.
