The Book of Lost Souls

by Michelle Muto

  Her first thought was the mysterious man in the woods. If he had just wanted the book, then why stay and help her? She hardly thought someone like that would have a guilty conscience. And why even swap it out with another book? Then, her heart sank and Ivy thought she might just be sick. There was one other person who was with her today who knew she carried The Rise of the Dark Curse. And, not only had he replaced it with another book, he’d left her a token gift.

  As if that would ever make up for it.

  Nick had played her. He actually managed to not only break down every last bit of her defenses, he’d taken the book, just like he said he would. It’s why he didn’t think there was any need to wait and tell everyone that Mr. Evans had the The Book of Lost Souls. In fact, she bet Nick wasn’t going to tell anyone other than his father. She’d also bet money the two of them were over at Mr. Evans right now.

  It’s why he hadn’t called her yet. And, even if he were home, Nick never had intentions of calling her.

  She didn’t know if she should be angry, or hurt. As much as she wanted to be angry, hurt won out. The pain she felt where her heart had been, the burning of tears threatening to spill from her eyes was beyond what she could keep in. Images flashed through her mind again—the leaves turning into rose petals, the glass fireflies, how she felt in his arms.

  Now, she couldn’t even breathe.

  This was more than just the pain she’d experienced when her father left. This was how betrayed her mother had felt.

  She’d like to say she’d never seen this coming, but hadn’t she? She wanted to tell herself that at least her mother would never know she had the book, never know how involved her daughter had been in all this. Nick and his father had what they wanted.

  Let it be.

  Could she? Already, part of her was afraid of what they might do with both books.

  Maybe Vlad and The Blood Countess would hunt them down. Maybe when they did they’d...

  But, Vlad and the Countess belonged to Mr. Evans. Nick and his father would certainly get rid of them. Wouldn’t they?

  Shaking and unable to control her emotions any longer, Ivy hung her head and let the tears flow.

  “Ivy?”

  She couldn’t look up at Spike and yet she didn’t care to make him go away, either.

  Devlin padded across the floor, head down. He lay at her feet and rested his head on her hiking boots. No crazy antics this time. This time, Devlin’s instincts must have told him that whatever was wrong wasn’t something he could fix with his puppyish charm and mayhem. This time, the ever-devoted Devlin knew all he could do was wait it out—to be there for her. She wondered what a Beezlepup’s life expectancy was.

  “Ivy?” Spike repeated, his voice soft and uncertain. He gently sat on the bed beside her. “Did you have a bad day?”

  His naivety almost made her laugh. Almost.

  The next morning, Ivy got herself ready for school, doing her best to put on a perfectly normal face in front of her mother. All she could really think about was how to avoid seeing Nick Marcelli ever again. And how to tell her friends how foolish she’d been in losing The Rise of the Dark Curse.

  When Shayde caught up with her at school, she couldn’t even manage to tell her best friend, which made Ivy feel even worse, more isolated.

  “You don’t look so good,” Shayde said. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. I don’t want to talk about it,” was all Ivy could manage to say as the two walked to their first period classes. She had never withheld anything from Shayde before.

  For a moment, Ivy swore Shayde might burst into tears. “I just want you to know how really sorry I am,” Shayde said. “You know I’d never do anything I thought would hurt you, Ivy. Never. Please always believe that.”

  The sentiment choked Ivy up, and so she simply nodded as the two parted ways. Shayde turned left to go to her World History class, Ivy turned right to go to Calculus. Of course Shayde wouldn’t ever do anything to hurt her. Over the years, they’d disagreed on many things, but through it all, Ivy knew that next to Devlin, Shayde was the most dependable and loyal of any of her friends.

  Between the next couple of classes, Ivy avoided her locker entirely. Twice Nick texted her, asking where she was and why she hadn’t texted him back or returned his call from late last night. She’d wanted to ask why he hadn’t called when he got home like he’d promised. The call hadn’t come in on her cell until after ten.

  She wanted to ask why he felt the need to trick her the way he had.

  Before darting into her last class of the day, Nick texted her again.

  She stared at the message, which wanted to know why she was avoiding him. Then, she turned her phone off.

  “You’re going to have to talk to me sometime,” Nick said, causing her to jump. He shouldn’t be here. He had class downstairs, at the other end of the school.

  All the pain from last night returned. And so did the anger. “What’s the point? You got what you wanted!”

  She turned to walk away. Nick tugged at her book bag and she spun around to face him, furious. He was still smiling. The jerk was still smiling.

  “Did I really get what I wanted?” he asked.

  She folded her arms defensively. “The book, Nick. Stop pretending you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

  “Cute, huh? I was hoping you’d like it.”

  Ivy stepped forward. She wanted to pound him, but now that she was standing so close, she couldn’t do it. “Like it? You—”

  “Hey guys!” Shayde rushed up and snatched Ivy by the arm. Ivy hadn’t been aware that Shayde was among the small crowd staring at her and Nick. “Don’t mind if I borrow Ivy for a minute, do you Nick?”

  Nick shook his head and before Ivy could say more, Shayde was briskly leading her away.

  “Wait!” Nick said, catching up. “Geez, Ivy. I’ll pick poetry or something next time. It was a joke, I didn’t mean you were only capable of simple spells. We’ve got to get rid of that damned book. It’s really getting to you.”

  Despite Shayde’s grip, Ivy turned to face him. “Funny, Nick. Since you’ve already got it.”

  Shayde went white. Nick stared at Ivy in disbelief for a minute, then to Shayde and back to Ivy. “I don’t have the book. You mean, you thought I took it?”

  “No!” Shayde said. “She doesn’t mean that at all. I’ll tell her. Gotta go,” Shayde said, dragging Ivy away. Nick stared after them looking more than a bit angry.

  “Witch’s Curse,” Ivy said as she finally followed Shayde into the classroom. “For taking the book, I hope he gets everything coming to him.”

  There was an uneasy moment of silence before Shayde spoke again. Probably because it had been a long time since Ivy had invoked the Witch’s Curse on anyone. She thought it was much nicer than any of the hexes she’d cast lately. The Witch’s Curse was barely a curse at all. It hardly even qualified as a jinx. It simply was a wish that those who’d meant good received good things in return, and bad things to those who meant harm.

  “Then, that’d mean you two get back together,” Shayde said quietly. “See, Nick didn’t take the book. I did.”

  Ivy turned to face her. “You? Why? The book doesn’t do you any good. You can’t cast spells. You’re not making any sense.”

  Shayde seemed miserable. “It makes all the sense in the world! I did it to keep the book from hurting you. It did all the good in the world. Until now. Nick doesn’t know anything about this.”

  “Uh oh,” Ivy said, realizing what she’d just accused Nick of doing. “He really has to hate me by now.”

  “I’ll fix it. I’ll explain,” Shayde said.

  Ivy sighed. “Not this time. I need to apologize in person.” She didn’t think any apology in the world would fix things between them now. Lately, she’d been more trouble to him than she was worth. If she were in Nick’s shoes, she’d find a new girlfriend.

  “The book. Where—”

  “The book is safe,” Shayde as
sured her. “I was going to tell you, I really was. Tonight. Raven and I were going to tell you. Then, we figured we’d dress up in costume and go back out to the cemetery after dark and get rid of it. No one would know it’s us. We wouldn’t be the only ones in the cemetery on Halloween. Don’t be mad. We did it for your own good.”

  Part of her wanted to be mad, but she couldn’t. The book really had been one of the worst things that had ever happened to her. An apology might not ever get Nick to talk to her again, but she still needed to get rid of The Rise of the Dark Curse. She’d apologize and ask if he wanted to help them.

  Ivy managed a smile. “It’s a good plan. Count me in.”

  Shayde smiled back. “I’m glad you aren’t mad. You’re my best friend, Ivy. I’d do anything for you.”

  The bell rang, and Ivy whispered, “I’ll need to find Nick first. You and Raven wait for me at the house, okay? Spike will be there with Devlin.”

  “Ahem!” Mrs. Willis said from the front of the class.

  Shayde nodded to Ivy. “I’ll be there.”

  The mood of most of the students was unusually upbeat, even for the end of a Friday. People laughed and raced across the parking lot, catching up with friends. Some were even dressed up for Halloween. An eclectic bunch rushed by—a mime, a cowgirl, and a grim reaper.

  In her hurry to find Nick before he got to his car, Ivy shouldered past Frankensteins, ghouls, rock stars, and a few real zombies who hadn’t bothered to try and camouflage themselves; their skin was pitted and grey. For them, dress-up was every other day in the year. There was a break in the crowd and Ivy took the opportunity to run, turning the corner and slamming straight into Mr. Evans, knocking a textbook from his hand. She hurriedly bent to retrieve the book.

  “Sorry!” she said, hoping she hadn’t made him angry enough to hex her right there on the spot. He’d been using The Book of Lost Souls so there was no telling what his frame of mind was in. She should’ve seen how weird he’d been acting all along. How bad had the book affected him by now?

  She stood and handed him the textbook. At first, she thought Mr. Evans was going to hex her. At least she figured he’d give her detention for daring to even speak to him in the hall. His eyes were mere slits that matched the thin line of his mouth.

  “Careful, Ms. MacTavish,” he said, a hint of a sneer appearing now. He held something in a closed fist. “You never know what you’ll lose.” He handed her the object he’d been holding. It was a dog toy—a squirrel much like the one she kept in her book bag or jacket pocket for Devlin.

  “Thanks,” she said as he walked away. After he was gone, she let out a sigh of relief. She’d gotten off lucky. And his attitude meant that Vlad and the Countess hadn’t told him anything. Yet. She pocketed Devlin’s toy, frowning now. She hadn’t realized she’d dropped it.

  Ivy walked into the crisp autumn afternoon, wishing she could join her classmates in carefree celebration. The sky was a pale, cloudless blue. Students were piling into cars, heading to Saludo’s for pizza before going to the movies or driving down to Burlington. It appeared to be a perfect Halloween day, except for the small fact that there were two murderers on the loose and a crazed teacher who’d brought them back from the dead. She had to tell her mother about Mr. Evans. Vlad and the Countess were still out there, waiting. Ivy decided she’d call her once she apologized to Nick. Then, maybe all this would be over.

  Unable to find Nick or his car in the lot, Ivy called and left two messages on his cell phone before driving home. Raven, Bane, Gareth, and Spike were outside on the front porch talking loudly and pacing when she parked her car in the driveway next to Bane’s SUV. Spike ran down the steps toward her. The others were right behind him. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Spike’s eyes were wide, frightened. Bane didn’t look much better. In fact, his eyes were golden, as though he were close to shifting. Other than when the change was voluntary, werewolves sometimes shifted out of anger or fear.

  “Spike, what’s wr—”

  “I couldn’t stop them,” Spike cried. “I’m so sorry, I just couldn’t.”

  “Who?” Ivy asked, already afraid of the answer.

  “Them! Vlad and the Blood Countess! You have to meet them at the old textile plant with The Rise of the Dark Curse.” Spike closed his eyes as though trying to block out some awful memory. “If you don’t, they’ll kill them. They’ve got Shayde and Devlin.”

  CHAPTER 31

  Ivy’s knees buckled and Bane rushed forward to steady her. She shook her head, unable to let loose the scream trapped in her throat. They couldn’t have taken them. Not her best friend, not Shayde. Not Devlin, her little Beezlepup. Her vision swam and it felt like her heart had plunged into her stomach.

  “Tell us again, tell us exactly what they said, Spike,” Bane urged.

  Ivy forced herself to breathe.

  “They said they’ll be at the textile mill at sundown. That Ivy is to meet them there if she wants to see Shayde or Devlin again.” Spike took a deep breath. “She can’t tell anyone what she knows about Mr. Evans, either. And, if they see anyone from the Council, they’ll kill Shayde and Devlin.”

  Raven put her arms around Ivy. “We’ll get them back, Ivy. We’re going with you. They said they didn’t want to see anyone from the Council. They didn’t say anything about us.”

  Ivy tried to smile. If she went alone, she didn’t stand a chance of saving herself much less Shayde or Devlin. With her friends there, maybe there was a remote chance. Maybe.

  Stay positive.

  Shayde was tougher than nails and had handled the whole situation back in the woods much better than Ivy. But Devlin, her little Devlin... He had to be terrified. If they hadn’t already...

  Surely they wouldn’t kill either of them without getting hold of the book first.

  “Were they okay when—” Ivy couldn’t manage to say it.

  “Yeah. The best I could tell,” Spike said, sheepishly. “Except Devlin had the hiccups.”

  Ivy looked at him. “Hiccups?”

  “Um, well, I had another bug withdrawal and all the mealworms were gone. So, I ate the rest of the leftover ice cream from the other night. And I sorta gave Devlin a small bowl. There were flames shooting from the crate they stuffed him into.”

  “I’m amazed the house is still standing,” Bane said. He’d started to pace. “We’ve got to do something. If they hurt one hair on Shayde’s head, I’ll rip them apart.”

  Clearly, Bane hadn’t dealt with Vlad or the Countess yet. He had no idea what they were up against.

  “No chance Devlin caught them on fire?” Raven asked rhetorically. She knew just like everyone else that if Devlin had barbecued his captors, then they wouldn’t be coming up with a rescue plan.

  “Which direction did they go?” Ivy asked. She had to stop panicking and think this through. Shayde and Devlin’s lives depended on it.

  “They ran off toward the park. I think they went into the woods,” Spike said.

  “Bane, you can find them, right?” Raven asked hopefully. “Before they get to the mill? Maybe we can ambush them.”

  Bane shook his head. “They already have too much of a head start.”

  “I’ve got to get them back. I’ve just got to. Let’s do this. Right now.” Ivy felt anger diminish some of the shakiness in her voice.

  “I’m in,” Raven said.

  “You know I am,” Bane added.

  “I’m in,” Spike said breathlessly.

  “Me too!” Gareth announced.

  “We can’t all go,” Ivy said. “Someone has to stay here, in case...in case we don’t come back.”

  Raven nodded and turned to her brother. “I think that’s going to have to be you.”

  “Are you nuts?” Gareth asked. “I’m a vampire! We’re freaking fast and we’re strong!”

  “Ivy has to go,” Raven said. “And Shayde is Bane’s sister. That leaves you or me.”

  “No, it leaves you, me, or Spike. I say Spike stays,” Gareth replied. />
  Raven took her brother by the shoulders. At first, Ivy thought she might shake him. Instead, Raven’s gestures said what Ivy knew she never would—that she loved her brother very much and she wanted to know he’d be safe.

  “He’s a lizard, Gareth.” Raven sighed and rolled her eyes a little. “Even though he looks human. And, sometimes acts human. Who are Mom and Dad going to believe? You, or Spike? Besides, if someone sees Spike and changes him back, we’re screwed. If we’re not back by sundown, get help.”

  Gareth didn’t look too happy, but he agreed. “Be careful.”

  Raven gave her brother an affectionate punch on the arm. “I’ll be fine. They’re just conjured wannabes. I’m the real thing.”

  Ivy hoped Raven was right. They’d need her speed and Bane’s stealth and strength. And Spike had a way of being a bit hard to catch himself. All of this was good because Ivy wasn’t sure what use her spells would be against Vlad and the Countess.

  “Raven,” Ivy said softly. “Do you happen to know where Shayde hid the book?”

  “You’re thinking of using it to get them back, aren’t you?” Raven asked, although it was more of a statement. “It’s in the truck. Spare tire storage.”

  Ivy looked at her, then all of them. Truth be told, she was as afraid of the book as they were. She’d just gotten used to the idea it was gone, and Ivy had never felt more normal. Looking back, her time around it had been like a sickness, a dark fever she’d rather soon forget. And now, she was going to have to use it, at least one more time.

  “Yeah,” she said before turning and heading for Bane’s truck. “Unless anyone has a better idea.”

  Bane wasted no time getting onto the highway. “It’ll take forty minutes to get down to the mill. We’ve got that much time to come up with some sort of a game plan. Start thinking.”

  “Will it really take that long to get there?” Spike wanted to know.

  “Yeah. The mill has been shut down for over ten years. The road going in has deteriorated. We’ll have to do some off-roading,” Bane explained.