Chapter Twenty-one

“By a witch hunter?” I ask, already knowing the answer. “When? And where?”

“It appears so. And a few days ago in a coven just over the state line in Michigan. Another young woman, just about your age, Callie.” She looks at me, imagining it was me found dead and shakes her head.

“Was she killed the same way?” Evander takes his mother’s shaking hands.

“Yes. Throat ripped out, right down to the trachea. And then the body strung up and burned. We were able to tell from this poor girl that she was murdered first from losing so much blood. She was dead before she was burned.”

“That doesn’t sound like a witch hunter,” Evander says slowly, shifting his gaze to me. “Witch hunters typically get off from watching us burn.”

“Exactly,” Tabatha says, voice strained. “Which leads us to believe whoever we’re dealing with might not be as we thought.”

My stomach flip-flops. All signs are pointing to a vampire being the killer right now, and after hearing Lucas tell me that the best way to kill a human is to go right for the throat…no.  It can’t be. Even if it were a vampire…it’s not him.

Though he’s old enough.

And powerful enough.

And has been asking me a lot of questions about covens and magic.

“What are we going to do?” Evander asks.

“First thing,” Tabatha starts, “is issue a curfew. All the murders have been done at night.”

Shit. Another reason to suspect a vampire. But then where do the creepy visions, the demon in the woods, and that thing lurking around my house fit into this? I’m certain they’re connected to the witches’ deaths…I just don’t know how.

“Were the victims full witches?” I ask, knowing how weird my question is.

“They all came from established lines of magic,” Tabatha tells me. She looks at me again, finally realizing that I’m astral projecting. “Who is watching over your body?”

“My familiars. All three of them. I’m safe.”

“Leaving your physical body while a witch hunter is on the loose is not safe. As nice as it is to see you again, my dear, you should go. I couldn’t handle it if something were to happen to you, to either of you.”

She’s right and being out of my body is dangerous not only because I’m laying defenseless on the floor and at risk for physical assault, but because any number of spirits or demons would love to come in, taking residence in my body. An empty body is extremely convenient.

“I think something is in the woods waiting for one of us to come in or out of the Covenstead door,” I say quickly. “That’s why I astral projected here.”

Tabatha’s eyes widen again. “I’ll have extra protection put on it.”

I open my mouth to tell them about the demon, but I hear meowing loud in my ears and the next thing I know, my familiars have pulled me back. I sit up, a little dizzy, and look around the living room.

“What is it?” I ask as Freya shadows around the circle, extinguishing the candles. “Oh, spirits.” I wave my hand in the air as if I’m waving away bugs. The spirits aren’t actually in front of me but are closing in around the house. They probably can’t break through all the protective charms we have in place on the house, but it’s not something to mess around with.

I put my magical supplies away and go into the kitchen, nervously drumming my fingers on the fridge as I look for something to eat, not wanting to think about everything just yet.

Because I just left his house, smiling pretty much the whole way home. I like being with him. I like him.

“Leave it to me to date a witch hunter,” I mumble and close the fridge. “Though I don’t know for sure.”  Letting out a heavy sigh, I pace around the house. Lucas has been with me the last few nights. All night last night, and the night before we were killing zombies. He left before the sun rose but wouldn’t have had enough time to carry out a murder.

But a few days ago…a few days ago he was gone overnight with no explanation. I sink down onto the couch, rubbing my forehead. I’m running on too little sleep to sort through all this right now.

Though I’d be stupid not to consider it.

Lucas could very well be killing witches. He’s been around long enough to have fought in the War of Light and Dark; even though he told me he wasn’t a part of it, he could be lying. He could be trying to get revenge on witches for nearly eliminating all vampires.

“Then what does the demon have to do with this?” I shake my head. “None of this makes sense yet I know it’s connected somehow.”

My phone rings, and I get up with a huff. But then I see Lucas’s name and smile. Dammit.

“Hey.”

“Callie.” His deep voice rattles all the way through me. “I take it you’re home safe.”

“Yeah, I, uh, am.”

“You don’t sound too sure.”

“Another witch was killed,” I say and can almost feel Lucas tense. “In a coven not too far from here.”

“The witch hunter?”

“We’re assuming so.” I close my eyes and a shudder makes its way through me. Lucas isn’t the witch hunter. He can’t be. If he were…wouldn’t he have killed me by now?

Well, tried to kill me. Because I still don’t think he can. Though I was sound asleep with him last night. He had his chance.

He brought me coffee and donuts instead of murdering me. While I can’t say forgoing murder is the most romantic thing a guy has done for me, I still don’t think Lucas could be the killer.

Even though it makes sense. Kind of. Maybe. Dammit. I don’t know.

“Though the witches weren’t killed the usual way witch hunters kill.”

“What do you mean?”

I swallow hard. Is he asking so he’ll know how to kill them later? No. He wouldn’t. I open my eyes and walk through the kitchen and onto the back porch. All three of my familiars come with. “Three witches have been killed thus far. And all three belonged to a coven. Usually, witch hunters seek out the loners, the witches without a circle of protection. If they do go after a coven, they go after the whole thing. Not kill one witch and move on to another state.”

“Maybe they didn’t want to get caught. It’s harder to follow a body trail when the pieces are scattered.”

He’s speaking from experience, I know. He’s a vampire, a vicious killer…and might be able to help me. Well, assuming he’s not the one behind the murders, that is.

“So, you think more or less randomly choosing witches is a way to not get caught?”

“I doubt the witches are random. There has to be a reason, even if the reason is nothing more than they were the easiest. The murders have happened all within a week’s time, correct?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Then he knows where he’s going. And he’s already chosen his next victim.”

“How can you be sure?” Is it because you already know? And it’s…me?

“That’s what I would do,” he states as casually as if we’re chatting about the weather. “Though I wouldn’t stay in the Midwest. Three bodies in that short time frame is sloppy. Makes it easy to draw a connection.”

I think about his words for a moment. We already think this hunter wants to get caught so he can infiltrate our coven. But if he wanted to get caught, surely he’d make it easy, right?

“Are you in danger?” he asks, and his concern seems genuine again.

“You could say we all are until the hunter is caught and killed. But I don’t think I am specifically. I have a lot more power than most witches. I can defend myself. But I am a little worried about my friends.”

“I’m worried about you.”

“I knew you cared.”

“I do, Callie,” he says seriously. “You are mine now and I am going to protect you.”

Heat creeps up my neck. I almost forgot about the silly ownership titles in our relationship. “I know you will.” There is no point in arguing, in telling him I don’t need protection.

He’s going to do it anyway.

“Would you like to stay here again tonight?” he asks. “Or would you like me to come to you?”

“Come here and we can go on a romantic moonlit walk while looking for murderous creatures in the woods.” And I can be sure you’re not the cold-blooded killer.

“A woman after my own heart. Should I bring spare clothes in anticipation of burying a body again?”

“It’s always best to be prepared,” I laugh and lean on the porch railing. “Your house is beautiful, by the way. I did my fair share of snooping while you slept. I wouldn’t have guessed you were into comics.”

“It’s something that’s entertained me over the years.”

“So, what you’re saying is you’ve been a closet geek for some time now.”

“Oh, the biggest geek. I saw Star Wars seven times the week it released. Eliza still brings up how annoyed she was with me for making her go.”

I laugh, and if it weren’t for the fact that the first Star Wars movie came out way before I was born, this seems like a normal conversation between a normal couple. He’s sharing little bits of personal info, letting me get to see the real him.

“Well, maybe I’ll have to dress up like I’ve been enslaved by a slug-like alien for you tonight.”

“Do not tease me with that, Callie.”

I laugh again. “You really are a nerd! And I like it.”

“I’m glad you do, because—”

Something moves through the woods behind the house. I jerk my head up and almost drop the phone.

“Lucas,” I breathe, cutting him off. “I’m going to have to call you back.”

“Callie, what’s—” That’s all I hear before ending the call. My heart thumps in my chest and my familiars are all on edge.

“Do you feel that?” I ask them, fear causing the hair on the back of my neck to stand up. I swallow hard, trying to hold myself steady. All I want to do is turn and run back into the house. The last time I felt like this, I was fifteen and standing in the middle of the most haunted building in the Midwest.

Then as quickly as it came, the feeling leaves. I stare at the woods, heart racing. The intense feeling of tucking my tail between my legs and running fades and I begin to think clearly again.

“The doorway.” I look down at my familiars. They take off the moment I do, jumping off the porch and racing toward the woods. Binx is the fastest, and shadows ahead of us all.

No birds are chirping. No bugs singing their afternoon songs. The air is thick and still, the way it is during a séance, in that half-second of calm before a spirit reaches through the veil and makes contact.

But this is no spirit.

Because spirits can’t kill part of the forest.

I come to a halt, standing in the center of a circle of dead trees. The smell of sulfur burns my nose, and I spin, heart beating faster and faster as I look around, taking in the sight of decaying trees. I have no idea what happened, or what the hell could even cause this kind of destruction.

All of my familiars want me to leave. Freya thinks I should go back to the house and warn the coven.

“Good idea,” I pant, nervously twirling a string of magic between my fingers. The feeling of being watched intensifies. I whirl around and start back toward the house. And then I’m hit with a memory.

It starts out with white walls and bright, overhead lights, but then the soothing smell of sage whirls around me, and I’m taken back to my first year at the Academy.

“What is the matter?” Tabatha asks, crouching down to my level. “Don’t you want to go in and learn about magic?”

“I do,” I say, voice hardly louder than a whisper. “But I’m scared.”

Tabatha’s brown eyes soften. “There is nothing to fear here, my darling girl. You are safe. You are home.”

“What if they don’t like me?” I look through the cracked door into the classroom.

“Then they don’t like you,” she states simply. She takes my hand in hers and looks me right in the eye. Her smile warms my heart, making me feel more loved in this moment than I have for the past few years. “You have to go to class. You have to go on with your life and start living again. You have so much ahead of you, sweet child. This is only the beginning. So be afraid. But do it anyway.”

I exhale heavily and ball my fists. If something is out there trying to get through the door…to hurt the witches and warlocks inside the Academy…I won’t let it happen.

“What the hell do you want?” I yell to the forest. I find a small bit of anger inside me, quivering behind the fear. I grab onto it and bring it to the surface. Magic sizzles across my fingertips.

The entire forest holds its breath.

I push my shoulders back, waiting. Ready. Wanting the creature to come out and attack.

But nothing does.

“I have no idea what’s going on,” I admit to my familiars and shake my head. Staying rooted in the spot, I look around the forest for another few moments. The birds start chirping. Squirrels chase each other around a tree.

Nature is back to normal.

Whatever was here…it’s gone now. But I know it’ll come back.

*

The bell rings as I push open the bookstore door. It’s a bright and sunny day, and we’re busy today. Betty is at the register, smiling as she talks to a customer about a book. She seems to be doing really well considering what she went through, and I hope she’s not repressing her fears only to have them come out later. If the dark creature in the woods doesn’t kill me—or if my own boyfriend doesn’t turn out to be killing witches behind my back—I’ll make sure to talk to her about it.

Freya trots next to me, sensing Kristy in the back of the store. We head back there, and a few customers gush over my pretty tabby cat with bright green eyes. Freya eats up their attention, feeling a bit smug to be the center of attention for once instead of Binx, who usually comes with me to the store.

“Hey,” Kristy says with a smile when we step into the backroom. “What are you doing here? And why is Freya here?”

“Nice to see you too,” Freya sasses, shadowing past Kristy.

“Of course it’s nice to see you,” Kristy tells her, putting a hand on her hip. “But my question remains.” She shifts her gaze to me.

“I thought Freya could hang out with you for a while. You know…just make sure the mysteriously evil creature lurking around my house doesn’t decide to attack you.”

Kristy almost drops the box of books she’s holding. “What?”

I turn around, making sure the door to the backroom is closed. “Something was at my house last night.”

“Did it attack you? Why didn’t you call me?”

“It didn’t attack me because I wasn’t home. I spent the night with Lucas,” I add, knowing she’s going to ask.

“The night? So you two hooked up?”

“We did. Twice.” I bite my lip, having a hard time keeping the words inside. Kristy is my rock and makes everything better. She’s logic and reasoning and the yin to my yang. “And he asked me to become his, I agreed, and now I think he might be killing witches. Also, I saw my sister and finally met my niece.”

Kristy looks at me, blinking, for a few seconds. “Back up. Why do you think Lucas is killing witches?”

“Another witch was found dead this morning. Killed the same way as the others, but this time they were able to tell she died of exsanguination first and then was burned. That’s not the usual way witch hunters kill.”

“But why do you automatically suspect Lucas?”

“Because he’s really old and strong and has been asking questions about the coven and witchcraft.”

She raises an eyebrow. “And because you like him?”

“Huh?”

“Callie,” she says gently and sets the box down. “You have a habit of self-sabotaging relationships. If you really think Lucas is behind the killings, then we need to do something. Now. But if you’re not certain, accusing him of murdering witches is a death sentence. Both for him and your relationship.”

I look at Freya, who’s feeling just as confused as I am. Kristy isn’t the biggest fan of vampires. I know she’s trying hard not to judge me for my interest in Lucas, but to hear her almost defend him…it’s weird.

“But he’s a vampire. An old vampire who could have fought in the War of Light and Dark.”

“I think you’re right that the witch hunter isn’t typical.” Her shoulders tense. “But I don’t think it’s a vampire. I did a tarot reading last night that I wanted to dismiss…until now. Something big is out there, Callie. And it’s not something from our world.”