“I would hope not,” Ayry said before she turned away and went down the hall.
“Ayry, I know this is a hard time for you, but I have to ask you to leave.” He followed her.
“I will, I just came to get his suit for the funeral.” She walked in trying not to let the faint scent of her father slow her pace. Ducking into the closet she opened the zipper on the garment bag and dropped the book in and came out of the closet with the suit.
“I can’t let you take anything from the house,” he said as he blocked the doorway.
“It’s just his suit. Do you really think this is evidence?” she said, pursing her lips.
He considered what she had said. “I guess that’s fine. We’ve already gone through the closets and bedrooms. We’re waiting for Phaedra to come so she can help us decipher what those books are.”
“Phaedra?” The name tasted like sour milk on her lips.
“Yeah, she’s the resident expert on this.”
Ayry fired back, “And the prime suspect as far as I’m concerned. I don’t want her in my father’s house.”
“Ayry,” The sheriff scolded. “Phaedra is a model citizen.”
“And she hated my mother and father.” She glowered.
“She didn’t –”
“Look, I can tell you what a lot of this is. I don’t think bringing the coven in is the best idea, given the history and all.”
“I understand, but I need help from someone that knows what it is.”
“I promise, she won’t,” Ayry insisted and stormed toward the living room. She bent over and picked up one of the books and pushed it toward the sheriff. “What do you see?”
He glanced into the open book. “Well…nothing.”
“Exactly. These books can only be read by a magus or a necromancer. I certainly hope that Phaedra isn’t the necromancer,” she said and rested her hand on her hip defiantly.
The sheriff released a breath. “No, she’s not a necromancer.”
“Then she can’t help, and I don’t want her in my father’s house.” She snatched the book back.
“I’m not dropping the investigation,” he said, confused by her attitude.
“I’m not asking you to. I want to know what happened.” She took a step toward him and put her hand on his bare forearm. She held onto it for a moment to access his memory of that night, and she smelled sulfur and soot that hung like sick deformed clouds in the air. Black handprints smeared the walls.
“Do you have any idea what happened?” she asked, trying to not be shaken by seeing his vision of her father.
“Not much to go on. That’s why I was hoping to get someone to be able to read these and help interpret. No fingerprints, no DNA, just a magic calling card that all disappeared within minutes of us getting here.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “We may never figure it out, but I owe it to your father to try.”
“I appreciate that.” She picked up the suit from the chair where she left it. “I want to get on with the business of burying my father. Please let me know when I can come back and start packing things up. I don’t want to be here longer than I have to and don’t want to leave it all to Ana.”
“Give me one more day.” he demanded.
“That’s fine.” She put the suit in the car, locked it and silently put a protection on it.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going for a ride, or are the horses evidence too?” Ayry couldn’t hide her irritation.
“Be careful.” His brow wrinkled with concern.
“I will. Thanks.” She went to the front porch and took in the scenery before going to the barn.
The big door was open and she could see straight through to the large paddock as whistling came from one of the stalls.
“Calvin?” Ayry took cautious steps toward the stall.
A man peeked out from the stall door, his haphazard dirty blond hair brushing against his blue eyes. “Ayry!”
Ayry stepped backward overwhelmed at the sweaty, shirtless man coming toward her. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed. “I’ve missed you!”
Ayry fidgeted to get away from him. “What the . . .” she said and stepped back and began to recognize him. “Blake?”
“Yeah. Don’t tell me you don’t remember me,” he said with an awkward smile.
“Of course I remember you. I just remember you like this.” She held her hand at her shoulder height. “And look at you now. All grown up.”
“Yeah, I was skinny as a twig and covered in acne when you left,” he said laughing.
“I wasn’t going to say that, but yeah. Time has been kind to you,” she said smiling.
“Thanks. Working in the stable has a lot to do with it. And being a wolf,” he said as he scratched the back of his head.
“Where’s your dad?”
“He’s putzing around somewhere. I try to keep him from doing the heavy lifting anymore.” His expression darkened. “I’m really glad to see you, but I wish it were under better circumstances.”
“I do too.” Ayry peeked over his shoulder toward Powder’s stall. “But, I’m here, so I thought I’d come out and see how everything is.”
Blake turned and led Ayry down the center of the barn. “We lost Cricket last year.”
“Wow. She had already gone lame before I left.”
“Yeah, we kept her happy until we couldn’t keep her comfortable anymore.” He lowered his head. “But the others are all good.”
“Powder?” she asked.
“Ornery as ever. Still a challenge for anyone else to ride, so we exercise her regularly in the paddock.” He faced her. “Are you thinking of taking her out?”
A genuine smile lit Ayry’s face for the first time in days. “Yes. I think a ride is exactly what I need right now.”
Blake clapped his hands together. “Hot damn! That ol’ mare needs the adventure. I’ll saddle her up.”
Ayry went to Powder’s stall, and she felt a sense of relief at seeing her old friend. Powder came and nuzzled into Ayry and snickered quietly as though saying a secret hello.
“I’ve heard you’ve been a bit ornery.” Ayry laughed, knowing it was true.
Powder nudged her again and Ayry scratched between her ears. “I missed you.”
Blake appeared from the tack room with a saddle, blanket, and bridle.
Ayry led Powder out of the stall and Blake put the blanket and saddle on her back. Powder knickered apprehensively side stepping. “Easy girl. I’m not going to ride you.” Blake’s soft tone calmed the horse enough for him to cinch the saddle on.
Ayry dragged her fingers across the leather of the old western saddle. “It’s still beautiful.”
Blake winked at Ayry. “We gotta keep it in good condition. . .” He paused before continuing, “Hoping you’d come back.”
She didn’t want to tell him she wasn’t staying. She tried not to feel uncomfortable in the moment and was at a loss for words. She smiled. “Thank you.”
“It’s all for the love.” He stiffened. “You know for the horses, for the family.”
“We consider you and your Dad family. You were always the little brother I wish I had.” She harkened back to memories of her and Blake playing pranks on Anabelle. “I’m sure Anabelle is glad we’re grown up.”
“Yeah, no more frogs in the bed or salt in her lemonade.” Blake chuckled. “We were awful.”
“We were, but it was fun.” She slid the bridle over Powder’s ears. “Okay, all set. Thank you.”
“You got it.” He patted Powder on the neck. “Behave.”
“She will.” Ayry leaned forward and whispered in Powder’s ear, “Let’s ride.”
Powder walked with elegance through the barn. Blake opened the paddock gate to let them through. Once outside the gate, Ayry let out a holler and Powder took off at full speed.
Ayry guided the horse toward the trail where they disappeared into the trees.
Chapter 5
Abel sat at the s
mall table in his hotel room. He wasn’t sure what his next move should be. He wanted to see Maynard, to talk to him and get to know his son.
His son.
His son, who by all accounts may be a magus. Abel dragged his fingers through his hair and stood up from the table. “Fuck!”
The urgency to protect his young peaked in him on a molecular level. If anyone finds out that Maynard is a magus, he will be running for his life…forever.
He paced the room, restless and growing angrier. Electricity danced on his fingers and he knew it was time to go for a run.
Abel made a stop at the bed and breakfast. He couldn’t help but want to check on Maynard. Ayry’s car wasn’t there, but he could sense Maynard in the house.
He crept up the back porch and tapped on the door.
Anabelle came to the door and stepped out.
“Where’s Ayry?” He asked with urgency.
“She went out for a bit.” Anabelle answered with apprehension.
“Maynard? Is he okay?”
“He’s asleep.”
Abel looked around. “Where the hell is Silas?”
“I haven’t seen him.” Her brow wrinkled with concern. “Should I have seen him?”
“I asked him to keep watch on the house. If anyone finds out about Maynard. . .” He couldn’t continue.
Anabelle tried to sound confident. “I’m sure everything is going to be okay.” But she failed.
“It’s not.” Abel pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed Silas. “Hey man, I thought you were going to keep an eye on the B&B.”
“I’m not there, but I’ve got it covered,” he answered.
Abel looked around. “Covered? How? There’s no one here.”
“I talked to Phaedra –”
“Yeah, so did I,” he snapped.
“I just asked her to put a protection up until I could get there. I have some things I’m wrapping up here with what we found in the woods.” He danced around the murder.
“Shit,” he hissed. “Okay, get over here as soon as you can.”
“I will. I’ve also got Barnett keeping an eye on Ayry.” Silas attempted to put Abel at ease. “It’s going to be okay.”
“Thank you.” Abel tried to release the tension from his shoulders. “Get over here as soon as you can.”
“Okay.” Silas hung up.
Abel glared through the door. “I’m staying until Silas gets here.”
He jumped back and wrapped his arms around his midsection. “Son-of-a-bitch!”
“What’s wrong?” Anabelle said, alarmed.
“Well played, Phaedra.” He smiled and looked up at Anabelle who was confused. “Can you please invite me in?”
“Oh, yeah, um, sure. Please come in?” She was unsure why she had to invite him inside.
Abel cautiously walked through the door. “Phaedra put a protection on the house. Anyone that doesn’t live here has to be invited in.”
“Oh, okay that makes sense.” Anabelle went to cabinet and pulled out a glass. “Lemonade? Iced Tea?”
“Just some water,” he said looking around. “Where’s Maynard?”
“He’s taking a nap.” She gave him the water.
“Ah.” He stared at the glass running his fingers along the condensation. After a long silence he asked quietly, “When is his Birthday?”
“February 29th,” Anabelle answered and smiled.
“Of course it is.” Abel smiled. “Amon must’ve adored him.”
“Dad never met him.” Anabelle’s expression darkened. “She hadn’t told any of us that she was pregnant when she left. We didn’t hear from her until seven months later and all we got was a birth announcement in the mail.”
Abel was grasping to understand. “She just left? Without a word and then never contacted anyone?”
“That’s exactly what she did. It took me another year to track her down after that. She’s living under an assumed name.”
“That’s smart, especially given the circumstances.”
“I found her and went to her apartment. It took a lot of convincing and promising that I wouldn’t tell Dad where she was before she’d let me in.” Anabelle poured a cup of coffee for herself. “She would let me come and see her after that, but never with Dad. She would let me bring pictures of Maynard back to show Dad.”
“She never reconciled with him.” Abel said as nearly a whisper.
“No, she didn’t. She’ll be processing that along with everything else.” Anabelle pursed her lips. “It’s going to be a tough couple of days for her.”
“But he’s…” Abel looked toward the doorway. “Mine, right?”
“Do you really have to ask?” Anabelle rolled her eyes. “It’s like looking at a mini-you.”
“I feel like he’s mine, like he’s part of me.” He steeled himself and said, “If anything happens to him, I swear –”
“Mommy says swearing is impolite.” Maynard rubbed his eyes standing in the doorway.
“Hey buddy.” Anabelle stood up and went to him. “Did you have a good sleep?”
“Yes. Then I played with the smiling man.” Maynard said opening his arms to be picked up by his aunt.
“The smiling man?” Anabelle asked.
“Yes, he’s my friend.” He glanced at Abel and squirmed down to the floor. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Abel.”
“I’m Maynard.” He held his hand out to shake.
“It’s nice to meet you, Maynard.” Abel was overwhelmed with emotion. This was his son, his flesh and blood standing, living, and breathing in front of him. In this moment he had no idea how he had lived without this little boy in his life, but knew he had to accept that he wouldn’t be with him for long. “That’s quite a handshake you’ve got there.” He shook his hand as though it was hurting.
He nodded his head and said, “Mommy says a firm handshake doesn’t make the man, but it sets the tone.”
“You’ve set a very good tone.” Abel looked at him with wonder and studied every last feature. His eyes staring back at him, Ayry’s smile. “You’re perfect.”
“Nobody’s perfect,” He said climbing into the chair next to Abel.
“You’re pretty close.” Abel smiled.
“Why did you make Mommy sad?” he asked.
Anabelle scrambled to change the subject. “Did you want a sandwich? You must be starving.”
Abel wanted to address the question. He wanted to be the man he wanted his son to be. “I broke a promise to your Mom a long time ago.”
Maynard’s forehead wrinkled. “Oh.” He pulled his lips to the side. “Mommy says a promise is…”
“…The only thing that stays with you forever,” Abel finished.
Maynard smiled.
“Your Grandfather used to say that.” Abel smiled fondly.
“Why did you break a promise?”
“I wouldn’t have if I didn’t have to.” Abel didn’t know how to explain it to the boy. He hardly understood how he’s justified it himself.
“No one has to break a promise.”
“I had made two promises. The one I chose to keep was the one that was best for everyone. I’m sorry it hurt your Mom. I never meant to.”
“Tell her you’re sorry.”
“I’ll give that a shot.” Abel wanted to embrace Maynard.
“I can help.” He said with a smile. “Mommy listens to me.”
“I appreciate that, but this is something I need to face on my own. Although, I’ll be honest, I’m a little afraid.” He thought about the example he wanted to set for his son. As much as it would’ve been nice to have Maynard in his corner, he knew this was something he needed to do on his own.
“Okay.” He turned to Anabelle who put a plate of fresh fruit on the table.
“Did you want a sandwich?”
Maynard shook his head no. “Later.”
A bang out on the porch put everyone in the kitchen on alert. Abel stood from the table, then immediately r
elaxed upon picking up on Silas’ scent. “God Dang it!”
Anabelle rushed to the door. “I’m so sorry.” She opened the door for him. “Please come in.”
Silas came through the door rubbing his forearm and ticked his head toward Abel. “Phaedra?”
“Yeah.” Abel laughed.
Silas opened his mouth to speak and stopped when he saw the boy. His eyes widened and he exchanged a glance with Abel, then Anabelle. “Hey there,” he addressed Maynard.
Maynard’s mouth was full of apples. “Hi.” He swallowed and climbed down out of the chair and went to Silas. “I’m Maynard.”
Silas’ eyes lit with a knowing smile as he bent his large frame downward to shake Maynard’s hand. “Very nice to meet you. I’m Silas.”
“Nice to meet you.” Maynard climbed back into his chair and continued eating.
Silas looked at Abel. “Join me outside?”
Abel felt the need to reassure Maynard that he wasn’t going far. He didn’t want to be away from him and the porch felt too far. “I’ll be right outside.”
“I know,” Maynard answered while still chewing on his snack.
Outside Silas widened his eyes and pointed toward the kitchen. “So, um…”
“Yeah.”
“And you didn’t tell us?” Silas puzzled.
“I just found out.”
“Oh wow.” Silas let the thought sit for a moment. “Yeah. Wow.”
“Yeah. Do you understand the urgency now?”
“Even more.” Silas chuckled lightly. “He looks just like you, man. Hopefully he doesn’t end up being too much like you.”
“Ayry’s a good mom. He’s got a chance.”
“Yeah, it was a free for all at our place growing up.”
“It was fun though,” Abel added. “Where is Jeremiah?”
“Delight’s probably.”
“Have you talked to him about the killing?”
“Yeah, he asked the Pack Hunters to keep an eye out. Let them know it’s not safe.” Silas shook his head. “They brushed it off, but at least there is some visibility in the woods now. If the necromancer is going to take another wolf, he’s going to have a hard time.”
“He’s going to do everything he can. I don’t want to start a panic, but that’s how the necromancer will gain enough power to take out Ayry and Maynard.”
Dark Moon Falls: Abel Page 4
