Midnight Moon (The Unbidden Magic Series)

by Marilee Brothers

After a few more steps, I stopped. Beck meandered ahead. The hair on the back of my neck prickled, reacting to some sort of primitive early warning system. The air around me thickened. Even the stars seemed to dim as the darkness became more oppressive. I glanced down at the moonstone. It’s light flickered and went out. Breathing hard, I dug the flashlight out of my pocket, switched it on and played its beam over the rugged ground lying between the path and the tower. Huge boulders, looking as if they’d been tossed by a giant’s hand, littered the slope leading to the tower, alongside deep caverns ringed with Ponderosa pine. Perfect place for a Trimark to hide.

  And what about wild things? Critters. Beck told me bears and cougars were native to the area. Don’t think because I grew up in an orchard I was accustomed to wild things. Coyotes, Blaster the bull and the feral cat living under Uncle Sid’s barn were the only wildlife I’d experienced.

  I shivered and willed myself to move forward. My feet refused to move. Geez, were these the same feet that had been flying down the path so fast Beck could barely keep up? Maybe I should try turning around.

  “Allie?” Beck’s voice was muffled, like we were both under water. “You coming?”

  I opened my mouth to speak, but all that came out was a strangled, “Gahhg.” What was happening to me? I’d just turned slowly to face the opposite direction when bony fingers (claws?) latched onto my arm and jerked.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  AFTER MY INITIAL gasp of surprise, I shrieked so shrilly, so loudly, I’m surprised my head didn’t explode. Panicky, I tried to jerk free, kicking and clawing at whatever held me in its steely grip. “Let me go!”

  Beck was there in an instant. He grabbed hold of my free arm and murmured, “It’s okay, Allie.”

  “Settle down, girl. You’re hurting my ears.” A female voice. The grip on my arm loosened.

  A small woman with fierce black eyes in a face the color of an old leather purse stood in the beam of Beck’s flashlight. Her white hair hung in two braids into which she’d woven colorful beads. She wore a soft doeskin shirt tucked into neatly pressed jeans.

  I clutched my racing heart and attempted to speak. “Uh . . . geez . . . you scared the crap outta me when you grabbed me like that.”

  She took hold of my arm and tugged me off the path. “You must come with me. I’ve been waiting a long time.”

  “For me?” I squeaked.

  Beck said, “Can I come too?”

  The woman released my arm and stepped over to Beck. She took his flashlight and played the beam over his body, his face. The light reflected off the glow of his eyes behind his glasses.

  “Take off your glasses,” the woman said. Something in her voice was commanding, as if she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

  Beck did as he was told. The woman studied his gleaming golden gaze for a long moment and then smiled, revealing several gaps where teeth should have been.

  “Ah,” she said. “This one’s a hunter. The wolf lives within him.”

  I murmured, “Close enough.”

  “The wolf kills only when he needs to feed, not for pleasure as do two-legged animals.” She patted his arm. “You. Wolf Boy. Come with us.”

  “Hold it,” I said, Trimarks uppermost on my mind. “I need to look at your palm. We don’t know who you are or what you want. Why should we follow you anywhere?”

  The woman gave a little snort of disgust but held out her hands, palms up. “You think I’m one of the evil ones?”

  “You know about them? The evil ones?”

  She clucked her tongue in disapproval. “Of course I do. We all do. Long before you did.”

  Using my flashlight, I scanned every inch of her deeply etched palms. No triangle, partial or otherwise. Quite the opposite. On the mound beneath her pointer finger, the Jupiter mound, I spotted something that surprised me.

  “You’re a Star Seeker.” I released her hand and offered mine, palm out, fingers pointing up. That was how Star Seekers greeted each other. Once we identified the star on the other person’s palm, we clasped hands and said, “Stella Potenza,” which means star power in Italian.

  Instead of completing the ritual, the woman scowled at me. “Star Seeker? I think you’re confused. My name is Grace Peterson and I know what you’re going to say next. ’Doesn’t sound like an Indian name.”

  “Actually, I . . .”

  Her dark eyes snapped with impatience. “Never mind,” she said. “I married a white man. Ralph Peterson. I answer to Grace, but my true Kiowa name means Woman who talks to the stars.” That said, she began to pick her way across the uneven ground toward the tower. She glanced over her shoulder and barked, “Follow me.”

  I was still cautious. “Where are you taking us?”

  “You ask too many questions, girl.”

  As Beck and I trailed a few steps behind her, I whispered, “She’s got a star on her palm but acts like she’s never heard of the Star Seekers. Maybe we shouldn’t trust her.”

  “I think she’s okay. Let’s see what happens.”

  I jabbed him with my elbow. “You’re only saying that because she called you Wolf Boy.”

  “Grrrr.”

  Using our flashlights, we followed Grace Peterson as she stepped over fallen logs and weaved through the boulders, following some sort of trail known only to her. After a few more twists and turns, she led us through a grove of trees and into a clearing. An older gentleman, seated on a fallen log, stood as we entered. My gaze was drawn to the back of the clearing. A thick slab of rock jutted from the steep bank that led to the base of the tower. The rock, under a towering pine, extended into the clearing at waist level. A white candle flickered on its flat surface next to a bundle of smoldering sage. Several framed pictures were placed next to the sage.

  “Come closer, girl,” Grace barked. “I need to see the pendant.”

  I was getting slightly ticked off by her manner. “My name’s Allie, not girl.” I pointed at Beck. “And he’s Beck Bradford.” Then, nodding toward the man on the log, “Who’s he?”

  Grace cackled. “Okay, let’s all pretend we’re at a tea party instead of preparing for the dark ones who come to desecrate the rock. That man is my husband, Ralph. I married him hoping I could break the curse.”

  My head was swimming. Grace Peterson, crabby Indian lady, possible Star Seeker—cursed? I did the only thing I could think of under the circumstances. I said, “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Peterson.”

  Ralph Peterson stood and bobbed his snowy white head. “Likewise.”

  “Why do you need to see the moonstone?” I asked Grace.

  “Moonstone?” she repeated. “That’s what you call it? The moonstone?”

  I moved next to her, the pendant clutched in my right hand. “Because that’s what it is.”

  “Give me your flashlight.”

  Geez, more orders. I handed over the flashlight. She switched it on and studied the moonstone. The beam reflected upward into her face, and I saw hope fade from her eyes.

  She handed me the flashlight and shook her head sadly. “Wrong girl,” she muttered. “Where’s the other one?”

  “Sammie?”

  “I don’t know her name. I just know she’s supposed to be here to summon the seven sisters.”

  “Sammie isn’t coming. It’s a long story. Who are the seven sisters?”

  “Once again, too many questions. I need to rest. Come to my house when the sun is high in the sky. Then, I’ll tell you all you need to know.”

  Ralph stood and gave Beck directions to their house. Apparently he thought I wasn’t capable of finding the end of my nose.

  “Go now,” Grace said, turning her back to us.

  “Nice to meet you too,” I grumbled.

  I was silent until we got to the path. “What the heck was that about? I’m the wrong girl wearing the wrong pendant? Seven sisters?”

  Beck stopped suddenly. “Wait a sec. Remember when Nicole did the astral travel thing? She saw seven little girls sitting on top of the t
ower.”

  I smacked myself in the forehead. “You’re right. I’d totally forgotten. Seven little girls. The seven sisters. Has to be connected. But what does that have to do with me? With the moonstone?”

  “Guess we’ll find out tomorrow.”

  “No other bright ideas, Wolf Boy?”

  “Nope. Let’s keep walking. You need to find the place you’re supposed to be at midnight tomorrow.”

  The moonstone had gone dark. I no longer felt the magnetic pull down the path. There had to be a reason it led me to Grace Peterson. But why?

  As we continued down the path, gloom settled over me like a wet wool blanket. I swept my arm across the boulder-strewn, tree-intensive ground that stood between the path and the tower. “Find the place I’m supposed to be at midnight,” I repeated. My voice was dull with frustration. “Look around, Beck. It all looks the same. Unless we spot a flashing neon light that says, ‘Here it is,’ it’s hopeless. And, there’s supposed to be two girls, not one. There’s no way I can do this.”

  I felt sobs rising in my chest and turned away from Beck, pressing my lips together to hold them back.

  Beck placed his hands on my shoulders and gave me a little shake. “Stop it, Allie. You’re psyching yourself out. Here’s what we need to do: analyze the problem and come up with possible solutions.”

  I turned to face him. “You make it sound easy. This isn’t a science experiment. My life is on the line. My family’s lives. Yours and Nicole’s, too.”

  “Well, you’re making it too hard. Now, tell me what we’re looking for.”

  Beck’s calmness in the face of my hysteria had the desired effect. He tugged at my arm, and we started walking slowly down the path.

  I gulped back my tears, took a shaky breath and said, “It’s pretty vague. I have to find the place where moonbeams dance upon the stone and the stars align.”

  “Okay, so we know the stars will align at exactly midnight tomorrow night, but moonbeams dancing on the stone? That’s a little trickier.” He stopped and played his flashlight beam over a field of giant rocks. “Hmm, lots of stones around here. Like you said, probably impossible to find the right one.” He pondered for a moment. “Hold on. Maybe the prophecy is referring to the moonstone, not a regular rock.”

  My spirits lifted, just a little. “I suppose that’s possible.”

  “It has to be,” Beck’s voice rose in excitement. “Don’t you see? Your location wouldn’t matter as long as you’re here at the Devils Tower, the moon’s shining and you’re wearing the moonstone.”

  “But I’m supposed to return it to a particular place. How do I know where? And what if it’s a cloudy night? What then?”

  “Okay, okay,” Beck muttered. “Let me think.”

  Finally, he said, “First off, it’s not going to be cloudy. I checked the weather report, so cross that off your list. As to where you’re supposed to put it, maybe Grace Peterson will have answers for us tomorrow. There has to be a reason she was waiting for you. The moonstone led you there . . . right?”

  “I guess so. Its light went out and I couldn’t move my feet.”

  “See? It’s all falling into place. Trust yourself, Allie. You’re a tough chick and you can handle it.”

  I smiled in the dark and punched him in the arm. “Aw shucks, Wolf Boy. You’re just joshin’ me.”

  A shrill, high-pitched whistle pierced the air.

  “That’s Nicole,” Beck said. He grabbed my hand, and we took off running.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  NICOLE WAS STANDING under a dim light next to the Visitors Center.

  Beck said, “What is it, Nicole? What’s wrong?”

  For once, Nicole didn’t look pissed off, truly amazing since her sleep had obviously been interrupted. Instead, she was dancing up and down like a hyperactive kid with a secret. She ignored Beck and spoke to me. “It’s your dad. Wait ’til you see what he’s doing. Follow me.”

  She took off at a trot, skirting the gate and tearing down the road leading to the car.

  “Hey wait,” I called, breaking into a run in an effort to keep up. “Is it bad? Maybe you should tell me so I won’t be shocked.” Geez, what could Mike be doing to cause that kind of reaction from a girl who generally found life pretty boring?

  “Impossible to describe. You gotta see it,” Nicole yelled, not slowing a bit.

  I picked up speed, but Beck passed me and reached the car a stride ahead of Nicole. When I caught up, the Bradford twins were both staring into the field next to the car. A sudden gust of hot wind swept over us. I staggered back a couple of steps to keep my balance.

  “What?” I panted. “Is my dad out there? Is he doing something weird? Maybe he just had to, you know, pee or something.”

  Beck looked at me and grinned. He pointed out into the field. “Look.”

  I squinted through the gloom, barely able to make out my dad’s silhouette. “He’s standing out in the field. Is that what I’m supposed to see? Remember, I don’t have demon night vision, so clue me in. Please.”

  Just then, I was hit with another wind gust. A high-pitched chittering sound split the air and a furry object slammed into me with a whump! Shrieking, I leaped into the air, slapping at the bundle of fur clinging to my body. It responded with a screech of its own, scrabbled off my chest and hit the ground running.

  “Wha . . . wha . . . ?” I stammered.

  Beck and Nicole burst into hysterical laughter. Beck gasped, “Incoming. Flying prairie dog alert.”

  “Oh my God! Did you see her face?” Nicole said, slapping her knee in unbridled glee.

  Truthfully, I saw nothing humorous about the situation. In fact, I was getting a little ticked off. “Hey, you two! Would someone please tell me what’s going on?”

  Beck swiped at the tears of laughter trickling down his cheeks. “It’s your dad. He’s practicing his special magic.”

  “Special magic?” I said. “Like what Brian Cassidy taught him?”

  “Yeah,” Beck said. “Trouble is, he’s practicing it in the middle of a prairie dog colony. That’s what smacked into you. A prairie dog.”

  His comment set them off again. I glared at both of them until they got their hilarity under control. “So, what exactly is this special magic?”

  “Air manipulation,” Nicole said between giggles. “The gust of wind that almost knocked you over? Your dad did it. Guess there’s some magic stuff Beck and I know about that you don’t.”

  “Whoa,” I said, as I recalled the dust devil swirling through the motel parking lot last night. Had Mike created it?

  “Could come in real handy at midnight,” Beck said. “According to Mike, if he can master it, he’ll be able to do all kinds of things, like suck the air out of people’s lungs, create whirlwinds, hot blasts of air. Actually, he could even use prairie dogs as flying missiles.”

  He was getting ready to crack up again, but I wagged my finger at him and glared. Beck stifled his laughter.

  I turned on my flashlight and aimed it at Mike. He stood between two mounds of dirt I assumed were prairie dog homes. Standing in place with his arms thrust skyward, he turned slowly to face north, south, east and west. He was repeating something over and over, but I was too far away to make out the words.

  “Can you hear what he’s saying?” I asked. “Is it some sort of spell?”

  Nicole stopped laughing long enough to concentrate on Mike’s words. “Yes, it’s a spell. He’s speaking to the winds that blow from each direction, asking for their help. Oh, look! Here comes a dust devil.”

  I ducked behind the car, just in case the swirling dust held more than dirt and weeds. Getting slammed by a panicky prairie dog was not an experience I wanted to repeat. The dust devil passed by harmlessly, petering out several yards down the road.

  Mike trotted over to join us. Beck stepped out to meet him and lifted his hand, “High five, man. That was awesome!”

  Mike grinned as the two slapped hands. “Yeah, it felt pretty awesome
, too.”

  He walked over to me and put his hands on my shoulders. “Allie, this whole time I’ve been thinking, what can I contribute? Look at Beck and Nicole. They’ve got unbelievable powers. And look at you. You can move things with your mind. You can tell what people are thinking. Not only that, you’re the bravest kid I ever met.”

  He paused for a moment, his eyes bright with tears. “And then there’s me. Your dad who’s never really been a dad. All I could do was be with you for moral support and try not to get in your way. But now, thanks to Brian Cassidy, I can actually do something to help. Do you know how happy that makes me?”

  Not trusting my voice, I gulped and nodded.

  He smiled and patted my cheek.

  “Next time,” I said, “don’t practice in the middle of a prairie dog colony.”

  This time, I laughed along with Beck and Nicole.

  CURLED UP IN THE backseat next to Nicole, I fell asleep in the rose-tinged glow of dawn. Mike and Beck sat in front, talking softly about everything under the sun, except the topic on all of our minds. At some point, I was aware we were moving. When I heard the car doors open and close and the sound of tent pegs being driven into the earth, I realized we’d reached the Belle Fourche campground. Exhaustion won out, and I drifted off again.

  It seemed like only a few minutes had passed when I heard, “Pssst, Allie, wake up.”

  I opened my eyes, trying to focus on the face hovering in the air over mine. I was so dehydrated my tongue clung to the roof of my mouth. A bottle of water appeared next to the face.

  “Drink some water,” Beck said. “You’ll feel better.”

  Feeling like I’d been dragged through a keyhole backward, I sat up and guzzled water. Nicole woke with a groan, sat up and peered out the window. “What time is it? Hot dogs for breakfast? Gross.”

  Beck ignored her and told me, “Mike bought a book at the interpretive center. Now I know what Grace Peterson was talking about. The seven sisters.”

  “Tell me.”

  He backed out of the van and held the door open for me.

  Nicole grabbed her backpack and scrambled out after me. “I need a shower.”