Witching Time

by Yasmine Galenorn

  She laughed, easing my worries. “Hey, we were both in rough patches in our lives. Things happen and people drift. I’d love to get together and catch up. As for me, I’m fine. And thank the gods, Jacob is better. He’s back home now. We figured out how to detach the entity from him. As to your question, I sent him to Shadow Oaks Safe Haven. They’re in Federal Way. And I definitely recommend them, if you need someone to care for a loved one. They went out of their way to be careful, and they have very strict standards on patient care.”

  “I need the information for a friend, but yes, it’s a similar situation to the one you went through with Jacob. Shadow Oaks Safe Haven? Thank you. Meanwhile, why don’t you text me some times that you’re free during the next couple of weeks and we’ll meet for lunch and catch up.”

  “I’d like that,” Ronita said. “I’ll let you go now—I can sense your worry. But I’ll text you a few dates and we’ll play catch-up.”

  Relieved, I ended the call and then pulled up a browser and, using the VOX software, searched on Shadow Oaks Safe Haven. Sure enough, they were still in business and had a five-star rating on Yan-to, an internet rating service for businesses. I turned back to Rain.

  “I may have found the help you need. It’s a sanatorium of sorts. They helped an acquaintance of mine years ago—her husband was possessed. They’ve got a high rating for services.” I texted her the website and she brought it up.

  “Do they work with humans?” she asked.

  “It looks like it,” I said, scanning the site. “While they specialize in caring for Cryptos who are unable to care for themselves due to magical issues, they also take on cases where someone’s been hit by a hex or a curse…or someone who’s been possessed. And they have qualified experts on hand who can often help remove the affliction. Ronita had to commit her husband. They managed to exorcise the spirit and he’s home and happy now.”

  Rain burst into tears. “I can’t believe it’s come to this.” She caught her breath, then sighed. “I suppose this is the best answer. I certainly can’t take care of her. But, Raven, how can this have happened? How come we didn’t notice that she was possessed before this?”

  “You did, actually. But it sounds like you just thought Marigold was changing. What reason would you have to think she was possessed? It wasn’t like she was spinning her head and spewing vomit like in The Exorcist. She was just…gruffer and a little more snide and…”

  “Yeah, and distant. I thought maybe she was falling out of love with me, to be honest.” Rain was weeping in earnest now. “I was afraid to say anything because I didn’t want to hear her say that she wanted a divorce.”

  “Oh, Rain,” I said, pulling her in for a hug. “I’m so sorry. Why don’t you call them? Until we can figure out what’s going on, she needs care that you can’t give her.”

  “Will you help me make the call?” Rain asked.

  I nodded. “Come sit at our booth. Llew’s almost sold out his goods and it will be easier with both of us there for support.”

  We headed back over to the booth.

  Llew was all for the idea. “If they need to know the technicalities, put me on the phone and I can help somewhat. I don’t know what’s possessing her, but I know the lingo to use.”

  Rain called Shadow Oaks and between her and Llew, they explained what was going on. After a few minutes, she hung up. “They’re sending an ambulance. I’d like to clear the fairgrounds. I don’t want anybody to see them come in. Can you help me?”

  “Yes, we can. Do you have a loudspeaker?”

  “Over there,” Rain said, pointing to a jerry-built PA system.

  I picked up the microphone and cleared my throat. “Will everyone please exit the fairgrounds. There’s a minor emergency—everyone is safe, don’t worry, but we need to close the fair down right now.”

  Rain cleared her throat. “Tell them if they show their ticket from today, they can return for free tomorrow night.”

  “I wouldn’t make promises you don’t know if you can keep,” I said to her. “You don’t know what’s going to be happening tomorrow night.”

  Rain sighed. “All right. I’ll trust your judgment.”

  I asked Llew to run on up to the house and wait with Marigold. “Ask Kipa to come back here while you’re at it, please.”

  He took off. Meanwhile, Evie and Dray approached us, both looking wan and worried.

  “Kipa wouldn’t let us stay with Mom,” Evie said. “What’s happening?”

  “We need to clear the fairgrounds. Don’t worry, please. Just ask everyone to leave.” I motioned to some of the stragglers. “Ask them to check back later in the week to see if you’re able to reopen.”

  Dray jumped to it, dragging Evie with him. They cleared out everybody, including the vendors, and fifteen minutes later, the fair was closed. The kids returned, looking confused. We motioned for them to join us near Llewellyn’s booth.

  “We’re sending your mom to a magical sanatorium. They’ll keep her safe from herself, and keep others safe from her, while looking for a way to exorcise the spirit. Meanwhile, we’re going to scour your property. Somewhere, there are the remains of a fourteen-year-old girl who died here. We need to find them to lay her to rest.”

  Evie’s eyes grew wide. “Is it that girl? The one who disappeared? Is she the one hurting Mom?”

  “Yes, it’s her. But she’s not the one who’s hurting Marigold. Whatever is hurting your mother is related to whatever was in the corn.”

  “If they take Mom away, won’t it take that creature away?” Dray asked.

  I worried my lip. “I don’t think it works that way. And I have the feeling that there are more of them out there. Whatever they are. I’ve set my father to look for possible answers. Tonight, after they take Marigold away, Kipa and I will start hunting for the girl’s remains. But you kids—and Rain—need to stay somewhere else. You’re all still far too vulnerable to whatever forces have taken root here.”

  “We don’t have the money to go to a hotel,” Rain said. “I don’t even have the money for the sanatorium, so I’m not sure what I’m going to do.”

  Kipa interrupted. “Don’t worry about that. We’ll make sure everything’s squared with them. Consider it a friendly contribution.”

  I leaned against his shoulder. “This is why I love you,” I murmured.

  “I couldn’t accept—” Rain started to say.

  “You can and you will. There’s no way you or the kids can take care of Marigold if you don’t have the funds. And I happen to have plenty of money. It won’t faze me in the least. Let me help, because it’s the right thing to do.” Kipa patted her on the shoulder with his free arm.

  At that moment, the ambulance pulled in. There was something about the vehicle that felt odd, and then I realized that it was as if it were in an anti-magic bubble. The energy around it felt entirely muted. Three people emerged, two burly men and a petite woman wearing a white coat.

  “I’m Dr. Canverse.” She smiled. “I’m one of the magic-born, before you ask.” She pulled out her identification. “All our staff and personnel always carry their badges. You can scan them with a bar scanner app on your phone if you want to verify them.”

  She asked some questions about what had happened and we told her everything.

  After a moment, Dr. Canverse turned to Rain. “All right, will someone take me to…” She consulted her notes. “Marigold? Also, who has the authority to sign the commitment papers?”

  “That would be me,” Rain said. “I’m her wife.”

  “Thank you.” The doctor followed Kipa and Rain, the techs right after her rolling their stretcher along.

  I watched them go, then turned back to the kids. “Listen, how many animals do you have?”

  “Two cows, a lot of chickens—probably forty or fifty. Two cats. A dog.”

  “Get your cats and your dog ready. You won’t want to leave them here. I don’t know what to do about your cows and chickens.”

  “We can ask
Greg if they’ll take them for a while,” Dray said. “He’s one of our neighbors and he’s always been really helpful. It’s not going to be an issue to ask him to watch them for a few days. We keep watch over his goats when he goes on vacation. I should also ask him to take the petting zoo animals.”

  “Don’t tell him about Marigold. Just say there’s been a family emergency and you need a hand. It occurs to me that telling your neighbors that your mother’s possessed isn’t the best way to ensure continued good relations.”

  Dray nodded, stepping to the side and pulling out his phone.

  “What do we do now? What if Mom never gets free of that thing?” Evie asked.

  “We have to keep up hope,” I said. “Focusing on worst-case scenarios won’t get us anywhere. While Dray talks to your neighbor, I’d like you to do me a favor—” I stopped as Kipa’s men emerged from the path leading to the corn patch. They were carrying huge sacks filled with corn.

  “We cut down the corn stalks as well. The field just needs to be tilled over, but we have all the corn here.” One of them I recognized as Jera dropped his sack on the ground. “Where should we put the crops?”

  I glanced at Evie. “You’d be able to answer that one.”

  She pointed toward one of the outbuildings. “In there, please. And thank you.” She turned back to me as the men shouldered their bags and headed toward the large shed. “What about all the pumpkins? We sold a lot yesterday and this morning, but if we can’t open, they’ll rot in the fields.”

  I thought, trying to come up with some plan to help save their farm. “Gather them and sell them at the Redmond farmers market. I know you have to pay a booth fee, but—”

  “Wait, I have an idea. There’s a general store down the road. I’ll ask the owner if he wants them. Last year he bought from a neighbor, but I didn’t see any pumpkins in front of the store when I passed by there the day before yesterday.” Evie moved off and pulled out her phone.

  I stared bleakly at the farm around me. Everything had been so perfect the night before last when we first arrived. Rather, it had seemed perfect. Beneath the façade, every situation had its darker aspects, but we almost never saw the shadows, just the bright shiny surface. But all too often, the roots were a tangled mess.

  As I sat there, Kipa returned, along with Llewellyn.

  I took a deep breath. “How’d it go?”

  “Rough. Poor Rain. She’s still signing forms—she’ll be back in a few minutes. I left one of my men to escort her back. Marigold managed to wake up while they were securing her and she said some pretty nasty things—or rather, whatever has hold of her did. She’ll be on the way to the sanatorium soon—see, the men are fitting her into the ambulance now.”

  He nodded toward the ambulance and I saw that he was right—the men had rolled the stretcher over from the house and were putting it in the back of the vehicle.

  “Here’s hoping we can figure out what it is that has hold of her. Rain will drive down there in a few hours, once everything is settled with the kids.” Kipa looked around. “Did my men finish the corn?”

  I nodded. “You might ask them to harvest the pumpkins for Dray. The kids decided they should sell them to the general store down the road.”

  “I can do them one better,” he said.

  “Oh?” I couldn’t imagine what Kipa was thinking. It wasn’t like pumpkins made a good weapon or anything like that.

  Right then, Evie returned. “Mr. Nills will take the pumpkins, but we have to haul them down there, and he’s really undercutting us.” She frowned, a glum look in her eyes.

  “I’ll tell you what,” Kipa said. “I’ll buy all of them off of you for top dollar. My men and their families love pumpkins and they don’t often get them where they live.”

  I turned to him. “Really? I didn’t know they even ate pumpkin.”

  “The SuVahta mostly eat meat and bread and cheese…but last year I made the mistake of introducing them to pumpkin pie and you should have seen it disappear.” Kipa laughed and let out a sharp whistle. Within minutes, his men had gathered around us. “Go pick the pumpkins—all of them—and you can take them home to your families. Same with the corn you picked this morning.” He turned to Dray, who was standing nearby. “Tally up how much I owe you and let me know. My men will do the heavy work of carting them off.”

  Dray gave Kipa a foggy-eyed look. “Thank you,” he said. “I can’t believe you’re doing this for us. Do you mind if I just ask for a blanket cost, rather than weighing everything?”

  “Hey, my men are getting something out of it they like, and that just means they’ll work harder for me. And no, I don’t mind. Just tell me what you think you would fetch for them on the market.” Kipa watched as Dray took off with the pack of burly shifters.

  “That’s incredibly sweet of you,” I whispered.

  Evie overheard me. “Yes, it is. Thank you. Rain will be so relieved.”

  “Don’t make a fuss,” Kipa said, shaking off the compliments. “I just wish I could help your mother more.”

  “You’re doing more than we’d ever expect.” Evie nodded toward the house. “Here comes Rain.”

  Rain shuffled toward us from the house, her brow furrowed and looking like she needed about three days of sleep. Her cheeks were puffy, and her eyes were red and wet from crying. I grabbed another chair from the booth next to us.

  “I don’t know what to do,” she said, sitting down. “I feel so lost. What the hell do I do next? They just took my wife away to lock her up.”

  Her pain shrouded her like a haze.

  “We’d like to start searching the property,” I said as gently as I could. “The sooner we can find Aida’s remains, the sooner we can start to figure this all out.” I wanted her to feel some sort of hope. I didn’t know that finding Aida’s body would do any good, but it couldn’t hurt.

  “Please, do whatever you can. I can’t pay you—”

  “Hush,” Kipa said. “Stop talking about money. Your corn and pumpkins are sold, so that will help.”

  Llew nodded. “We’ll work everything out. Wait and see. By Samhain, this will all be a bad memory and you can hold a Halloween fair.”

  Rain sniffled, wiping her nose on her sleeve. She didn’t look convinced, but the waterworks had stopped. “I just don’t understand how I couldn’t have noticed. I’m pagan, for cripes’ sake. I usually know when a spirit’s around, yet I couldn’t even recognize when my own wife was possessed. Some psychic I am.”

  “Listen to me.” I leaned forward, taking her hands. “It’s easy to miss. Even I miss the signs sometimes. You were busy with the fair, and you were worried about how everything would come together. You had no idea of what to expect—” My phone rang. I pulled it out. The caller ID screen read: wager chance. “Hold on, I need to take this.”

  I moved to the side. “Hello? Wager? Have you got anything for me?”

  “I have, and it’s complicated. Can I come over tonight and talk to you?” He sounded more than casually concerned.

  “I have plans tonight that I can’t shake and may not be home until late. What about tomorrow morning?” I wanted to get the search for Aida under way and I had the feeling it was going to take all evening. I didn’t want to drive over to Seattle after that.

  “Fine, but the sooner you come, the better. I’ll meet you at my office at ten?” Wager sounded serious.

  “What’s going on?”

  He paused, then said, “Are you out at the farm right now?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then wait till tomorrow morning. I don’t even want to talk about this over the phone. You can’t ever be sure who’s eavesdropping. Meet me at ten. It will keep until then. But Raven, be careful. Be very careful.”

  As I hung up, a flash overhead signaled that the storm had returned. I grimaced, then turned back to Kipa and Rain. “We should begin our search. Rain, I want you to take the kids, the dog, and the cats and…” I paused. Where were they going to find a hotel willing to
take in the menagerie of animals? “Wait another moment.” I called the only person I could think of.

  Vixen answered immediately. They were at the club tonight. Ante-Fae and Exosan like me, Vixen was gender-fluid and owned the Burlesque A Go-Go. They shifted sexes as they felt like it, and we had known each other for a long time.

  “What’s shaking, doll?”

  “Vixen, I need some help. I have friends who need a place to stay for the night. I know you have a large house and…”

  “And you were wondering if they could stay with me? How many?”

  “You mean you’re willing?”

  Vixen laughed, low and sultry. “Chickadee, you wouldn’t ask if you weren’t desperate. I know that. Yes, I’m willing to help. Now, how many should I expect? I’m at the club but I can run on home easily enough. Apollo and I’ll get the rooms ready.”

  “One adult and her two adopted children. Her partner’s down at Shadow Oaks—we’ve had…problems. Human, pagan. Also, a couple cats and a dog.”

  “Send them my way. I’ll make up the beds and fire up the stove. And doll, you owe me a dance for this.” Vixen laughed, then hung up before I could answer.

  I turned back to Kipa and Rain. “My friend Vixen would be happy to take you in for a night or two until we figure out what’s going on. Their name is Vixen, pronouns are they/their. They’re one of the Ante-Fae and a good friend of mine.”

  Rain mustered a faint smile. “Thank you so much. I don’t know what to say, Raven.”

  “Just pack a few things and I’ll give you the address. Your dog and cats are welcome, too.”

  I pushed her toward the house. Kipa jogged over toward the shed to find Dray and Evie, who had gone over to estimate the cost of the pumpkins and corn. Within minutes, they were back at the house, the dog at their heels.