Paige and Levi leaned heavily on one another. They limped toward a gathering of trailer homes and small wooden buildings. Three street lights glared like beacons in the night, lighting the various rooftops. It had been a long trek, but they had made it at last.
“That one’s his,” Levi stated, as he pointed to one of the trailers on the edge of the gathering. Light shone from the windows, allowing them hope that Levi’s grandfather was home and awake.
They trudged up to the trailer. The structure was well-worn, and plastered with all types of symbols and yard trinkets. Paige thought the place might have been a flea market, or perhaps a junkyard for the discarded and useless things of the world. Thankfully, it possessed the signs of life that only homes had. Towels, socks and undershirts hung from a clothesline near the door. An old beat-up pickup truck sat in the gravel driveway, though by the looks of it, it hadn’t been run in some time.
The pair staggered up to the cinder block step and stared at the weather-beaten screen door. Paige couldn’t bring herself to knock, she was too tired and afraid. Bad enough a thing of nightmares attacked once in an evening, but twice? That was a bit much for her to handle.
Whatever reason Levi had for hesitating didn’t hold him for long, as he reached out and knocked twice. Muffled shuffling came from inside almost immediately.
“Who’s there?” a scruffy, old voice asked from behind the door.
“It’s me, your grandson,” Levi replied, tiredly.
The door swung open, and the doorway filled with a large, older man. He was dressed in rough blue jeans and a plaid longsleeve shirt. His grayed, almost white hair cropped close. Bushy eyebrows shadowed dark, questioning eyes. “Levi?”
“Yes, grandfather. I’ve come home.”
“You’re injured,” the old man stated, with a concerned frown. He reached out to help Levi as his gaze drifted to Paige. “Who is this?”
“A friend,” Levi answered. He gestured for Paige to go first.
“My name is William,” his grandfather said, offering assistance to her as well.
“Paige,” she replied. “And thank you.” She took his hand, and stepped into the trailer. Calloused from years of work, his hand was scratchy against her skin, but she didn’t mind.
“Please, sit.” William waved at a worn-out brown couch in the living area.
She staggered over and fell into the soft cushions. Levi plopped down beside her. They sat, practically paralysed with fatigue.
William shut the door and made his way to the kitchen. “Coffee?”
“Yes,” Levi said with effort.
Paige must have blacked out for a moment after that, because the sudden tingle of Levi’s touch woke her with a start.
“Easy,” Levi soothed. “We’re safe. Take a sip. It’ll warm you up.” He offered her one of two cups of coffee.
She took the drink, but found more comfort in his touch. She wasn’t sure if he understood how good it felt to be in contact with him. The warm sensation wasn’t something she could easily explain or properly express. She just hoped that her touch did the same for him.
“How long will you be staying?” William asked, breaking Paige’s train of thought.
“That depends,” Levi answered. His tone bordered on irritation. “What haven’t you told me about the family?”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t be coy. Nova’s dead.” Levi released Paige’s hand, much to her regret.
The old man puffed up. “I know that!”
“Along with the rest of our family,” Levi continued, ignoring his grandfather’s heated reply. “What the hell is going on?”
William glared at his grandson, but the anger proved hollow. He slumped back in his chair, averting his eyes. “I tried to warn you and your sister.”
Levi gritted his teeth. “Warn us about that thing?!”
William looked up. “You’ve seen it?”
“Haven’t you?”
“No. I never saw it, but I knew it was there, lingering on the edge of my dreams.”
“Why didn’t you tell us...tell them?” Levi asked, spilling a bit of coffee in his agitation.
“You think they would have believed me?” The old man’s eyes filled with sorrow. “Would you have?”
Levi made to retort, but clamped his mouth shut instead.
Paige could almost hear the gears turning in his head.
Levi shook his head. “No. Most likely not.”
“I told your father,” William continued. “And he thought I was crazy. I pleaded with him to stay, but he wouldn’t, just like you and Nova.”
Levi rubbed his temples in thought.
Paige wished she could get up and pace, but was too wiped out to do so. Instead, her gaze wandered as Levi and William sat in silence.
The mobile home had a familiar layout, similar to the ones she’d seen in the past. The living area and kitchen were essentially one big room. Two hallways on either side of the common area led, she assumed, to bedrooms. Most of the decor dated no less than thirty years ago, but appeared well-kept. Trinkets, like the ones outside, hung from the walls in profusion.
Poor man. To live in such fear.
“Why is it after us?” Levi asked, breaking the silence.
William scratched his chin and sighed. “Your great-grandfather...” His voice trailed off.
When it looked as if his grandfather wasn’t going to continue, Levi asked, “What about him?”
“While still a young man, he got himself cursed,” William replied, still lost in the past. “He tried to run from it, shield our family, but it always found him. He blamed himself for Mother’s death, even though it was the spirit that killed her. But now I think, maybe it was his fault. He should never have saved that white woman.”
Paige looked from William to Levi in confusion. “What was that?”
Levi answered her question with one of his own. “You’re talking about the wealthy family from up north. The woman that was almost murdered?”
William nodded. “She cursed our family. She couldn’t have my father, so she cursed him and his line.”
“But he saved her life...” Levi shook his head. “This is insane.”
“What did you mean by ‘couldn’t have him’?” Paige asked. This sounded like a fairy tale gone bad.
“They lusted after each other, from what Mother said. I didn’t understand it back then, I was just a child, but once I got older it became clear. The woman had enthralled my father, but he broke away from her with dire consequences to us all.”
“Wow, that’s harsh,” Paige blurted, brows raised. “Condemning a person’s entire bloodline just for getting jilted.”
William shrugged. “My people weren’t looked on too kindly back then. Especially one that was sleeping with a white woman.”
Levi gave Paige a sideways glance. “So, this woman, she was a witch or something?”
“I’m not sure, but she paid the price for the dark magic used against us.”
Paige shifted in her seat. This conversation hovered a little too close to home. She felt uncomfortable enough about the story concerning this ‘white woman’ and Levi’s great-grandfather. If William found out Paige also used magic? That wouldn’t end well, especially given the relationship she and Levi had begun.
“Did Great-grandfather kill her?” Levi asked, disdain evident on his hardened features.
“No,” William snapped. “That same unholy creature haunting us, devoured her.”
“Karma,” Paige whispered, more to herself than anyone else. Aloud, she asked, “How did you survive so long?”
The old man frowned. “I stayed on the reservation most of my life. And I have this...” He pulled out a necklace from underneath his shirt. The medallion was circular, decorated like a dreamcatcher. Though instead of netting in the middle, solid wood filled the circle with a symbol carved on its surface. A small diamond sat, embedded in the center of the symbol.
Paige caught her breath as she recognized both the symbol and the diamond. The swirling arms of the symbol of protection were a perfect match to the one in Belladonna’s diary. And the diamond sparkled with energy just like Levi’s earring. “My god, I know how it found us at your apartment.”
“What do you mean?” Levi asked, still mesmerized by the talisman his grandfather had revealed.
Guilt fell on her like a ton of bricks. She scrabbled at her pocket, desperate to find the earring she’d taken from Levi earlier that day. The tips of her fingers finally brushed against the tiny polished stone. She pulled it out, presenting it to Levi and William.
“My earring?” Levi looked from his grandfather’s necklace to the earring. “It’s a ward against that monster?”
Paige nodded, tears blurring her vision. “It has to be.”
“The stones hold powerful magic,” William agreed.
“How?” Levi asked.
“Your grandmother visited a shaman in Arizona after your father died,” William answered. “She had several made in hopes of saving the family. Her plan worked, for awhile at least.”
“I promised your sister I’d keep you safe, and instead I almost got you killed,” Paige confessed through her tears. “And I did get her killed.”
“How could you have known?” Levi scooted closer to her and put his arm around her shoulders. “It’s not your fault.”
William frowned. “How did you get Nova killed? I thought she was already dead.”
“It’s hard to explain, Grandfather,” Levi replied.
“Harder than what I’ve just told you?”
“I heard her scream. That devil spirit devoured her,” Paige said, her voice breaking at the end.
Levi squeezed her tight. He didn’t say anything more.
There was nothing he could say that would make her feel any less guilty. She’d made a horrible mistake, thinking she could work strong-enough magic to repel such a powerful spirit.
She pressed the earring into Levi’s hand. “You need to put this back on.”
He nodded, and put the diamond in his ear. “What about you? Your necklace?”
“We’ll figure something out.” She’d forgotten that she was defenseless now. They could go back to the wreckage and try to find it, but she didn’t have high hopes.
“It’s after you too?” William asked, confused.
“Yes,” she answered, wiping her eyes. “I’m not really sure why, but its minions have been chasing me ever since I got here.”
William’s bushy brows came down in thought. He seemed to wrestle with some decision before eventually saying, “You can stay here, as long as you need.”
“That is more than kind,” Paige replied. “Thank you.”
She had no idea where she’d go otherwise. The idea of leaving the reservation at this point was more than terrifying. Not to mention they still had unfinished business to attend.
“Yes, thank you,” Levi said. “Where should we sleep?”
William gestured to the hall next to the kitchen. “You’ll have to clear some space, but there’s a bed you can use.”
Paige wasn’t sure how she was going to get up off the sofa. Her body refused to cooperate. Every movement caused pain. “I may just end up here for the night, if that’s okay?”
“It’s fine,” William said, as he got to his feet.
“One more question, Grandfather,” Levi said. “We came here in the hopes of finding someone. A woman named Rhea Wilder. Have you heard of her?”
William nodded, slowly. “Yes. She gives out food and medicine, closer to town.”
Paige sighed in relief. She had faith in Nova’s information, but the world was currently upside down and sideways. William’s affirmation did her nerves good.
“Will she be here tomorrow?” Levi continued.
His grandfather shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Good enough,” Paige said, interrupting Levi’s next question. “It’s been a long day. Sleep would be good.”
Levi took the hint, and let his grandfather go to bed. “I’ll get some blankets.” He struggled to his feet with a groan. “That’s the last time I let you drive.”
Paige chuckled in pain. “I’m really okay with that.”
He smiled as he made his way to the back room, and then shuffled back in with the blankets.
The deep sofa provided plenty of room for the both of them, as Levi snuggled in behind. He wrapped his bruised arm around her, pulling the blankets up tight. She went out like a light, barely even noticing the tingle from his touch.
Paige stretched the soreness out of her muscles, or tried to. Last night’s sleep had done a world of good, but she’d been through a car wreck that should have killed her. That kind of incident didn’t go without leaving a few marks and a ton of bruises. You’re alive, stop whining.
She moseyed into the kitchen. The heavenly smell of french toast filled her nose. The blessed light of day filtering through the trailer windows, shining on Levi as he cooked at the stove. The muffled sounds of clanging hinted at work done outside. The horrors of last night felt distant, almost as if they hadn’t happened. Almost.
“Morning,” Levi greeted her with his deep voice.
“Morning,” she replied, running a hand down his back. “So, what’s the plan?”
“Food, for now.” Levi smiled as he turned away from the stove. He wore what looked like his grandfather’s clothes. Though the plaid button-up didn’t really seem to be his style, he made it look good. He’d rolled the sleeves up to his elbows and left the front open, showing off those gorgeous abs. The jeans were too big, which made them hang low on his hips, exposing even more of his flat stomach.
An urge to rip his clothes off and do lecherous things to him shot through her like lightning through a metal rod. She averted her eyes, pushing the thoughts away with no small amount of difficulty. There were more important things to be focusing on at the moment—like her dragonbreath. “You wouldn’t happen to have a spare toothbrush, would you?”
“No, unfortunately. But there’s some toothpaste in the bathroom, and some clothes for you in the chair.” He pointed his spatula at William’s armchair.
She gave him a thumbs up, grabbed the clothes, and went into the bathroom. Thankfully, it was clean. Not that the house looked dirty or anything. Just cluttered. Also, based on her experience, single men didn’t have the best track record for scrubbing tiles and toilets.
She dropped the outfit, which consisted of a white undershirt and a pair of grey sweats, on the counter. She stripped out of the bloody clothes. Bruises and scrapes covered her body, and she quickly pulled on the clean shirt and sweats, not wanting to relive last night any more than she had to. She ended up brushing her teeth with her finger—Beggars can’t be choosers—and then finished up with some water splashed on her face and a few pokes to the rat’s nest sitting atop her head.
Levi had two plates set up at the table when she came back. “Better?”
“Much, thanks.” She took a seat across from him. Her stomach growled, but she found she couldn’t eat. The events of last night tainted her appetite. “I owe you an apology.”
His dark brows rose, questioningly. “Hmm?”
“I thought what we did the other day had worked. The spell. In the tub. I thought it had worked. I mean, I even felt something magical happen, maybe that’s not the right term, but I felt something.”
He placed his hand gently over her’s. “It’s not your fault.”
She shook her head and felt the sudden sting of tears. “I don’t know what I did wrong. I don’t know what I’m doing. Nova shouldn’t have come to me for help.”
“It’s not your fault,” Levi repeated, squeezing her hand. “You’re the best thing I’ve got. So don’t go bailin’ on me now.”
She laughed through her tears. “Boy, are you in big trouble.”
“I knew that already.” He patted her hand. “And you’re not the only one that felt something. I feel it everytime we touch. Right now even. If that’s not magic, I don’t know what is.”
She intertwined her fingers with his. The electrical heat that usually came with his touch became soothing warmth. “I’m glad she found me. I’m glad she brought me to you.”
He pulled her hand up to his lips and kissed it. “Me too.”
Those words meant more to her than anything. It was nice to know he really cared—to hear him say it. Her home in Salem kept getting farther away every time he said or did something like that. She took her hand back and began to eat. “Still, I bet you’re regretting the past few days,” she said, around a mouthful of bacon.
A devilish grin made its way across his face. “Not all of it.”
Paige could feel the blush on her cheeks. She pointed her fork at him. “You’re a naughty man, Mr. Walker.”
He shrugged playfully as he took a bite of french toast.
The door came open suddenly, and William walked in, with a cool breeze just behind him.
“Breakfast is on the stove,” Levi said, pointing a knife over his shoulder at the kitchen.
The old man grunted as he shuffled past the table. “Truck’s workin’.”
“Thanks,” Levi replied, somewhat stiffly.
William sat in his armchair after fixing a plate and ate in silence.
Paige couldn’t tell if the two were mad at each other, or if that’s just how they communicated. Whatever the case, few words passed between them, which made for an awkward breakfast. “Thank you for the clothes and letting us stay the night.”
William nodded and smiled, but said nothing.
“Where does this Rhea woman usually set up?” Levi asked, as he finished off his plate.
“Different places,” William answered. “Usually close to town though, but sometimes she goes to people’s homes, if they’re sick.”
“That will have to do,” Paige chimed in. She handed her plate to Levi as he got up and went into the kitchen. “Do you think it’s too early for us to start looking now?”
William shrugged. “Hard to say.”
“No better time than the present,” Levi said, and then looked at his grandfather. “Keys?”
The old man jabbed a gnarled thumb at the door. “In the truck.”
Levi buttoned up his shirt and waved Paige toward the door. “Let’s do this.”
She glanced at William, who seemed content to stay right where he was. “Are you coming?”
He shook his head. “Nope.”
“Okay,” she drawled, and followed Levi outside. She hopped into the passenger side of the old Ford, and closed the door. “So what’s the deal with you and gramps?”
Levi frowned as he lowered the visor and grabbed the keys. “What do you mean?”
She gave him a “big-eyed” stare. “Really? You guys are that close, huh?”
He shook his head and sighed. “We got into it when Nova and I decided to move to Norman.”
“That must have been years ago...”
“Yep.” He started the truck, and headed out the drive. “Turns out he was right though. We should’ve stayed.”
“There was no way you could have known the Antichrist was haunting your family. You couldn’t just stay here like a prisoner for no reason.”
He chuckled. “I said as much to him the day we left. He told us to never take off our earrings, which at the time, I thought was nuts. But for the life of me, I rarely took the thing off and only for a short time if I did.”
Paige tapped her lip with a finger. “Nova must have taken hers out for too long, or was separated from it.”
“That makes sense,” he agreed. “I don’t think I ever saw her without it though, but I guess we’ll never know.”
The words were so final, they made Paige feel sick. The silence that followed only made it worse. They both held themselves responsible for Nova’s death and undeath... or whatever one called the devouring of a soul. What a horrible thing to have in common.
“How far is it to town?” she asked, desperate for another topic.
“Not far. Just a few miles up the road.”
A thought suddenly came to her. “Does ‘town’ happen to be on the reservation?”
Levi shook his head. “No.”
“Then we need to go somewhere else first.”
“Where?”
“Your car.”
“Why?”’
“Because that thing is still out there,” she answered. “And I’m defenseless against it without my necklace,”
“Sorry. I keep thinking it’s only after me.”
“I think it’s safe to say The Headless Man wants to munch down on my soul, too.”
“Yeah, that was a dumb assumption.” He turned down the road they had walked last night. “I guess anyone Nova and I care about is fair game for that thing.”
She almost blushed again. “You’re so romantic when you talk like that.”
He laughed and took her hand. “Romance is my middle name.”
The heat from his touch rippled up her arm and into her chest. She quickly released his hand as her nipples came to life. “Wow, that was intense.”
Levi put his hand back on the wheel, while shifting in his seat. “Agreed.”
She glanced down at his lap to see the telltale sign of arousal. Only one night had passed since they’d been together, but it felt like it’d been a damn week. That little touch might as well have added another month to the count. Great, frustration on top of fear.
“There it is,” Levi said with a touch of sorrow in his voice. “Man, I loved that car.”
A pang of guilt hit Paige, but she didn’t say anything. The blame lay at the feet of The Headless Man, not hers. That fact didn’t make her feel any less shitty about it, unfortunately.
They pulled off the side of the road near the wreckage. The place looked so different in the daylight. The major element of terror was gone, of course. She just hadn’t realized how oppressive the night could be. The open fields and swaying trees set against a pale blue sky made the place look like a scene from The Sound of Music instead of Friday the 13th. Only the twisted metal of Levi’s car gave any sign that anything out of the ordinary had happened last night.
They got out of the truck. The scent of gasoline and charred rubber mingled with the fall breeze. Levi approached his crumpled baby with caution. Wisps of heated air and smoke trailed into the sky, though it appeared the danger of bursting into flames had passed.
He whistled. “There’s no coming back from that. How the hell did we survive?”
“Powerful spirits watch over this place.”
“Really?” He seemed only half interested as he continued to examine his car.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure.” She smiled, thinking of the chieftain and the way he and his warriors had made The Headless Man scream. Wow, that was a little dark.
She gently shook her head, refocusing on the mission at hand.
After Levi walked around the smoking pile of metal a few times he asked, “Did you have the necklace on when we crashed?”
“No. I tore it off, trying to get the Headless Man off of you.”
“I think that falls into my ‘romantic gestures’ category.”
She laughed. “We have the same way of showing affection it seems.”
“I’ll count that as a positive,” he replied.
So will I, she thought with a smile.
He stepped up to the wreckage. “Well, I guess I’ll climb in.”
“Be careful, please.” She bit her lower lip, anxiously.
He slowly crawled in where the windshield used to be.
Paige began scanning the browned grass, so as not to feel completely useless.
Maybe I should have brought a metal detector, she thought after a few circles around the car. She stopped suddenly, another thought coming to her. Something she’d read in the diary about a witch’s focus... how they were attached in some way, and that the item could never truly be lost.
She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths to clear her mind. The silver chain and moonstone quickly filled her thoughts. The day her grandmother had given it to her came back, as if it’d happened just yesterday. It was a few days after her brother had been taken; she’d come into Paige’s room, quiet as a mouse.
“Can I sit with you for a minute, dear?” Her grandmother, Elizabeth asked.
Paige shrugged, burying her face further into her pillow.
She felt the bed tilt as her grandmother sat. A comforting hand gently rubbed her back. “Brought you something. It’s very special to me, and I want you to have it.”
Paige flipped over, frowning at her grandmother. “I don’t want gifts. I want my brother back.”
Her grandmother smiled. “I want that too, dear. I have hope that he will come back to us.” She hesitated, and then reached into one of her oversized pockets. “This was given to me by my grandmother. It’s important that you have it now.” She pulled out the moonstone necklace and offered it to Paige.
She took it, captivated by its beauty. The marbled stone sparkled as she ran her thumb over its smooth surface. “Nice.”
“I think so too.” Her grandmother patted her knee and stood. She walked to the door, but before opening it she asked. “Have you seen your brother...in your dreams, or perhaps thought you saw him, here at the house?”
“No,” she replied, giving her grandmother a concerned glance. “Why?”
“Just wondering, dear. Don’t worry yourself about it. Enjoy the necklace.” With that she was gone.
It wasn’t until years later that Paige realized what her grandmother had been asking. She’d wanted to know if Aaron’s spirit had visited her. She’d wanted to know if he was dead. To this day Paige hadn’t seen his ghost, but she always kept an eye out, hoping deep down she never would.
The necklace had sparkled for her on many occasions after that first time, but never so brightly. It was that phenomenon she focused her will upon; the shining blue and silver stone.
Nothing happened. Not a single tingle or sound of alarm. Nothing.
Shit.
“Found it!” Levi yelled from the metal pretzel.
Paige snapped her eyes open. “You better not be joking.”
He crawled out of the vehicle, giving her a nice view of his backside. Once free of the wreckage, he held the necklace aloft in triumph. “No joking.”
She ran up, and crushed him with a bearhug. “You are so getting laid.”
“Right now?” he asked eagerly, grabbing her butt.
“No!” She shoved him off, laughing. “Just gimme the thing.”
He gently placed the necklace in her outstretched hand. “As you wish.”
The cool touch of metal refueled her confidence. “Where was it?”
“I’m not sure exactly. I couldn’t recognize anything in there. But, I would have missed it entirely if the sun hadn’t glinted off of the stone. Nearly blinded me.”
“How convenient,” she replied, not sure if her efforts had contributed to the item’s recovery or not. Either way, it didn’t matter now. She put the necklace on and looked up at Levi. “Let’s go find a witch.”