by TJ Green
Alex just watched her for a second. “That’s quite a leap! Anything could have happened to him!”
“I know, but it’s unusual. And as Newton said, if he’d died, they’d have found his body by now.”
“Human sacrifice is pretty old school—and extreme!”
“So is she. She cursed El. She could have died! She would have, without Caspian’s help! So could you if I hadn’t been there! This woman is a killer. She will do anything to open that gateway to wherever it is!”
Alex had finished his meal and he pushed his plate away. “I guess it makes sense. Horrible, gruesome sense.”
The more she thought about her theory, the more sense it made to Avery. “Think about what we found under Reuben’s mausoleum—evidence of demon traps and blood sacrifice. There are spells involving blood magic in our grimoires, and you had to use it just to get to your grimoire. This is in our past, too!”
“There was no evidence of human sacrifice,” he pointed out. “Just blood magic, which is very different.”
“True, but it indicates a different mindset—a different way of approaching magic.”
Alex exhaled heavily. “So, you want to check her out tonight?”
“Yes. We have to. And if she is Stan’s girlfriend, than I am willing to bet that either he or Becky is the next planned sacrifice.”
“If that’s her plan—we don’t know that, remember?”
“As much as I hate my theory, I’d put money on it. And Dan said something today that made me think about what our witch could be summoning. Have you heard of the Wild Hunt?”
“Yes, vaguely.”
Avery gave him a brief summary. “What if that’s what she’s trying to do?”
Alex took a long drink of his beer before looking at her. “I think your imagination has gone nuts.”
“I know how it sounds, but it feels right.”
“Why would she want to summon the Wild Hunt?”
“I don’t know.”
“For just some random weirdness?”
“No. There’ll be a reason. We just have to find what it is.”
***
After some Googling and looking through a phone directory, Avery found Stan’s address. He lived in a large Victorian semi-detached house in a small suburb of similarly-aged houses, and they drove slowly down the street, identifying his, before parking several doors down.
It was an average suburban road, lined with trees and with cars parked along the kerb. Like most houses of that age, there were no garages, and everyone had to park on the road. The houses all had three floors, with small front gardens and large back gardens. Tonight the road was busy, and they were lucky to squeeze into a small space. Fortunately, they were in Alex’s Alfa Romeo.
They cast Avery’s favourite shadow spell and settled in to watch the house and the road. It was after nine and cold. Stray leaves whirled past on the biting wind that set the bare branches skittering together. Some of the houses were well lit, and they could see TVs on in the front rooms of some houses where the curtains hadn’t yet been closed. Stan’s house was in darkness, other than a light over the front door and in one of the third-floor dormer windows.
“Maybe they’re in a back room?” Avery suggested.
“Or, maybe Becky is in and Stan’s out with his girlfriend? Or Stan and his girlfriend are snogging on the sofa and Becky’s left them to it. I bet that’s Becky’s room.” Alex pointed to the third floor room.
“They might all be in watching Strictly.”
Alex grimaced. “Ugh. Sounds hideous.”
She sniggered. “I bet you’re a great dancer.”
“Well, of course! But I wouldn’t sit and watch Strictly, thanks very much.”
Avery laughed again, and then wriggled further down in the seat to get comfortable. For the next half an hour, nothing much happened. A few people walked down the street, a few more lights went on, some went off, and then, close to ten, Stan appeared at his front door with a woman. It was difficult to see her at first. The light from the hall was behind Stan, and she was in his shadow.
“She looks tall,” Avery observed.
“There are a lot of tall women in the world.”
Stan leaned forward and kissed the woman on her cheek and then she turned and walked down the path to the road and turned right, away from them, walking to an old, black VW Golf. As she walked beneath a street light they could see her long, auburn hair and slim figure. She was wearing a stylish woollen coat and leather boots. For a second she hesitated, and then turned to look down the road. Instinctively, Avery and Alex hunched lower in their seats, even though a spell cloaked them completely.
The light showed the arrogant expression of the woman who’d appeared in Alex’s flat. She narrowed her eyes as she looked around, and then turned back to her car and got in.
“Well, that looks like her.” Alex looked annoyed. “Why did she have to be Stan’s girlfriend? That sucks.”
The car’s headlights flashed on as the engine started, and she pulled out, driving towards them. They had a glimpse of her as she passed, a malicious, satisfied expression on her face as she accelerated away.
As soon as she passed, Alex started his car and he pulled out, with the intention of following her. “Crap, there’s nowhere to turn around.” He sped down the road looking for a gap to turn in, but reached the intersection. He turned right. “I’m hoping we can pick her up this way.”
Avery fell silent for a moment. Something was troubling her, and she couldn’t quite place it.
Meanwhile, Alex kept driving, turning once and then again, hoping to find her on another side road, but after a few minutes of cruising up and down, he slammed the wheel in frustration. “Bollocks. She’s gone.”
Crap! “Oh, no. I know why I recognise her.”
“Er, she was in my flat!” He looked confused.
“No. I mean she looks like someone. The look on her face as she drove away. She looked like Helena. That’s her expression when she’s malicious and sneaky.”
“You have to be kidding.”
“I’m not.”
“What are you suggesting? That Helena has possessed her?”
“She looked so pleased with herself this morning. What if she has?”
“You really know how to ruin a perfectly good night out,” Alex groaned.
22
Avery woke on Sunday morning wrapped in Alex’s arms, and with the weight of a cat on her stomach and one between her feet.
She smiled in satisfaction as Alex stirred next to her, and she stroked his bicep, her fingers tracing his tattoos. He is so delicious. Medea and Circe stirred too, meowing softly, and then Medea padded softy up to her chest and began to lick her face and then Alex’s.
He groaned. “Avery, don’t lick my face.”
She giggled. “Idiot. It’s the cat.”
He nuzzled her neck. “Ah. I didn’t think your tongue was that rough.”
She giggled again. “You’re a silly bugger.”
The house was quiet, and the outside world seemed a million miles away. She stretched luxuriously and the cats meowed, demanding food, so she wriggled out of the bed to feed them. She’d set up their bowls, bedding, and litter tray in the corner of their large bedroom, so the cats would have a safe space. Not that they seemed to care; they both wandered all over the house and congregated where people were, mainly in the snug.
Alex roused, too, and they pulled on jeans and t-shirts and padded down to the kitchen where they found El and Briar sitting at the large wooden table, sipping coffee. Outside the sky was a leaden grey, and the sea beyond the garden matched it.
“Morning guys,” El said, her eyes sleepy. She was wrapped in a large bathrobe that dwarfed her, and Avery presumed it was Reuben’s. “There’s a fresh pot of coffee over there.”
“Awesome, I’ll get it,” Alex said as he fished two mugs out of the cupboard.
Avery sat next to the others. “You look loads better, El!”
&
nbsp; She smiled. “Feeling loads better, too. I finally feel like my magic is surfacing again. I think your potions are helping, Briar.”
Briar nodded, looking bright-eyed and alert, which made Avery feel even more knackered. “It’s one of my favourites, and very effective.”
“How was your night?” Avery asked her with a grin. “Have fun with Hunter?”
“Fine, thank you,” Briar said primly. “We had a lovely meal.”
El grimaced. “She’s giving nothing away! Spoilsport.”
Alex joined them, plonking a coffee in front of Avery. “Good for you, Briar. I think Newton’s jealous.”
“I don’t care what Newton thinks! And I didn’t do it to make him jealous.” She looked at Avery. “You were right. It was just a meal, and why not? He wants to help us find our witch.”
“We have found her—sort of,” Avery said, and she updated them on what they’d found.
“Stan’s girlfriend?” El looked perplexed. “And blood sacrifices? What does she want up there?”
Alex sighed. “Avery has had another crazy idea. Tell them about the Wild Hunt, and the fact that you think she’s been possessed by Helena.”
“Dan gave me the idea,” Avery said, as she told them about his storytelling, and then the strange witch’s expression that reminded her of Helena.
El raised an elegant eyebrow. “Did you guys do some serious drugs last night?”
“No!” Avery said, affronted.
“It’s quite a leap,” Briar added. “You actually think Helena has possessed someone again?”
“She liked it last time. What if she’s found a way to do it again?” Avery felt panic starting to bubble up inside her as she talked it through. “Crap. She really could have! What am I going to do?”
“We are going to calm down and think about this logically. After breakfast.” Alex rose from the table and headed to the fridge. “I can’t think on an empty stomach. Where’s Reuben?”
“Surfing, of course.” El looked outside and shivered. “Looks freezing, but you can’t keep him away when it’s calm like this. But he went really early, so he might be back soon.”
“I’ll do enough breakfast for him, then,” Alex said, starting to gather bacon, eggs, tomatoes, and bread.
El sipped her coffee. “Yeah, let’s park this discussion until Reuben is back and I’ve had a least a gallon more coffee.”
Avery felt slightly put out that everyone thought she was mad, but she sighed in agreement. “All right. So what did you and Reuben get up to last night?”
“We had a thrilling Saturday night looking at our family histories. We had this theory that maybe the reason the witch is here is because she knew the town well at one point.”
“Interesting,” Avery said thoughtfully. “You think she’s one of our ancestors? Did you find anything?”
El shook her head. “No. Not yet. It’s just a theory. I prefer it to yours, if I’m honest.”
Avery grinned. “So do I. I want to head to Old Haven first though this morning, and then I’ll help with research this afternoon.”
“I have to work,” Briar said. “But remember to call Hunter. He wants to help.”
***
Full of English breakfast, Avery headed to Old Haven where she’d agreed to meet Hunter. The Old Haven car park had half a dozen cars parked on there, including Gabe’s big shiny SUV, and within seconds of her arriving, Hunter pulled up in his old Volvo.
Hunter winced as he got out of the car, but nodded at the SUV. “Nice ride.”
Piper exited from the other door, and gave a half-smile of greeting towards Avery.
“Yeah, I have no idea how he can afford that,” Avery said, inwardly marvelling at Gabe’s enviable resources and negotiation skills. “Are you sure you shouldn’t be resting? You look like you’re in pain.”
“No. I’d just get bored. Besides, Briar’s healing skills are great.”
“But you look terrible,” she said, looking at his split lip, black eye, scratches, and his arm in a sling. “Did you get a proper plaster on that arm?”
“No. It would mean I couldn’t shift. Briar’s not happy.”
“She’s the only one he’ll listen to,” Piper said, annoyed. “But not even she could persuade him to do that.”
Hunter grinned. “I like it when she shouts at me.”
“You’re gross,” Piper said, leading the way across the car park and along the path to the church.
Gabe was standing at the end of the path, dressed in black fatigues with dark shades on. He nodded in recognition as they approached. “Hey, guys. You come to see the freak show?”
“Just like everyone else,” Avery told him. She was glad she sort of knew him, because he looked really intimidating. She looked past him where she could see a few people milling around the graves. “Are they here for the cemetery or the grove?”
Gabe grinned. “They say the cemetery, but they just keep prowling around, taking lots of photos.”
Hunter narrowed his eyes. “You don’t throw them out?”
“Makes it too interesting not to let them in at all. We let them wander around, but the new spell the witch has put on the place means no one wants to venture beyond the trees. Dread creeps into your bones when you get too close. But there’s another couple of my guys closer to the grove, just in case. You’ll see when you get there.”
Avery frowned. “A protection spell, is that right?”
“Of a sort,” he said enigmatically.
Intriguing. “Okay. I have to see.” Avery headed down the path, followed by Hunter and Piper. Her breath caught as she saw the grove in the overcast autumn light, and her blood chilled.
A line of witches-signs hung from the trees on the edge of the grove, twisting in the biting wind that blew in off the sea, and marking a very distinct boundary. She could see dark red marks daubed on some of them, and close up her suspicions were proven correct. It was dried blood.
Hunter and Piper lifted their heads and inhaled deeply, and both recoiled.
And then Avery felt it. A wash of dread and creeping terror that made her want to turn and run. She stepped back and shuddered. What was that?
One of the Nephilim strolled over. “Avery. You’ve brought friends.”
“I have. Hunter and Piper. I’m afraid I don’t know your name.” She held her hand out and he engulfed it in his large one.
“Othniel. Niel for short.” He turned and greeted the other two.
Niel, like the other Nephilim, was tall, broad-shouldered and olive-skinned, but unlike the others, he had white-blond hair and bright blue eyes. He’d kept his hair long, but had tied it back, and he had long sideburns and stubble.
Avery asked, “Have you been in the grove beyond the witch-signs?”
“Once or twice when I thought I heard someone in there. I wouldn’t advise it.”
“Why not?” Piper asked.
“Because, small wolf, it affects you here.” He pointed to his head and his stomach.
“I can take that,” she said, lifting her chin.
“I doubt that.” His blue eyes bored into hers.
Piper pouted in annoyance. “How do you know what I am?”
He smiled with a predatory grin. “I have many special skills.”
“Did you find anyone in there?” Hunter asked. “The noise?”
“Just the rustle of dry tree branches and the scent of Carrion Crow. It was her, I’m sure. She comes with the wind and adds to her spell.”
Avery took a deep breath, hating what she was about to suggest. “I need to enter. I’d like to try and work out what she’s done.”
“Be my guest, but I’ll come with you.”
“Is she there now?” Hunter asked, lifting his head and sniffing again.
The Nephilim shook his head, turned, and ducked beneath the rattling bare branches, into the trees.
Avery followed him, yet every instinct she had urged her to run. Dread settled into her stomach as heavy as a stone and sh
e started to shake. This is a spell, only a spell, she whispered to herself as she followed Niel further into the grove, Hunter behind her.
A small voice shouted, “I can’t!”
They looked around to see Piper frozen in fear.
“It’s okay,” Hunter said, reassuring her. “Go back and wait, we won’t be long.”
She turned and fled, and they watched her until she was clear of the trees.
Avery fought down the desperate urge to follow her. “Are you okay?” she asked Hunter.
“No, but let’s keep going.”
With every step that brought them closer to the yew, the feeling of terror rose, and Avery cast a protection spell in a bubble around them. Immediately the sensation eased, and she started to breathe more easily.
Hunter sighed with relief. “If that was you, thank you.”
She nodded and kept going, the bare branches clicking above them impatiently. Niel stood waiting in front of the yew, its huge trunk cracked like an open mouth, screaming in pain. Its gnarled branches loomed over them, one of the only trees still to have its dark green, needle-like leaves.
“This place has changed in the days since we were last here,” Avery observed. “The magic is deeper and darker. The trees, the ground, the air—it’s all saturated with growing power.” She cast her awareness out, seeking the magic beyond the spell, and all of a sudden felt their own magic they had released from the binding spell. She was drawing on it; it was subtle but unmistakable. She looked at Niel. “You can feel her spell?”
He nodded, his eyes wary. “It chills my blood, too. She chills my blood. She is not like you.”
Hunter had been looking suspiciously around the small clearing surrounding the yew, but he now looked at Niel. “You look human, but you obviously aren’t. You’re a bit like the witch—there is something ancient about you.”
Niel was silent, so Avery answered for him. “You’re right there, but I’m not sure Niel wants to share.” She turned to him. “You called her the Carrion Crow earlier, so did Gabe. Why do you call her that?”
“She reeks of death, feeds on death, and rejoices in it.” He pointed across the grove to a bundle of feathers on the ground. “Every day for the last few days she kills a small creature, mostly birds, but it could be other woodland creatures. And always there.”
