Chapter Sixteen

Halloween dawned bright and clear. The wind stilled, as though it seemed to feel the tension surrounding the town. The brothers ate breakfast in silence. As they washed the dishes and put them away, Renee’s grandmother appeared in their kitchen. She smiled at both of them and gave them a thumbs up. When she disappeared, they grabbed their jackets and left.

They looked at each other as they stood in front of their house. “This is the calm before the storm,” Parker said. “The Huntsman and his hounds will make it through the barriers and wards. When they do, I’m afraid I won’t be strong enough to stop him. The Huntsman doesn’t give up on his prey without a fight.” He unlocked his truck’s driver side door. “And he threatened to return us to the fairy realm.”

“Don’t I know it, and I have no desire to go back there.” Lucas couldn’t help but glance at the woods at the edge of his fields. He handed a large bundle of flowers to his brother. “I wish Blair was here. She’d be a big help.”

“I know, but there’s nothing we can do about it,” Parker said, taking the bundle from Lucas. “It’ll be a clear night for the ritual. I can feel my power getting stronger as the day goes on.”

Lucas glanced at him. “You worried about tonight?”

“More than I should be.” He loaded the bundle into the bed of his truck. “I feel like the air around me is weighing me down, and tonight it might be worse. When The Huntsman shows, the spirits will run. I don’t want him to trap any more of them in servitude to him. I’d like to free the ones he’s already enslaved.”

“Good luck with that plan.” Lucas pushed his hat back and stared at the sky. “Mrs. Hall and the elders have done everything they could to protect the town. We’re as ready as we’ll ever be. You still sure this Wayne guy might be the answer?”

“Yep. I think The Huntsman has come specifically for him since he didn’t get him or his parents before. Renee said his father had nightmares about being hunted. It’s possible The Huntsman collected his spirit when he passed away.” Parker kicked at a loose rock on the driveway, sending it skittering toward the grass. “I hope we can keep Wayne safe.”

“We can, and we will. I’m sure of it.” Lucas smiled and nodded. “I’m glad Renee’s grandmother gave us her approval.”

Parker grinned. “I already had her approval. I think it was more for you than me. She still thinks you’re pushy, though.” He turned serious. “We’d better get ready for tonight. We’ve only got fourteen hours to prepare, and we’ll need every minute. Lucas,” he said. “Would the Green Prince intercede for us again if we called on him?”

“I don’t know, little bro, but I doubt it. We needed Mom to browbeat him into helping us before. He tries to keep a low profile around our ‘liege,’ remember?”

“I remember. Good thing we have the elders to help. See you at the festival.”

Lucas walked to his shop and opened the back door. Parker took another look at the clear sky and climbed in his truck. Time to get to Miss Dee’s and collect Renee and Wayne. He wanted them where he could keep an eye on them. There was so much riding on the ritual this year, more than any other since he’d taken over helping the spirits.

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The sky might be clear, but The Huntsman and his hounds had muddied everything about today and tonight. The ritual was about a rebirth for the soul. The spirits who sought him out should feel safe while he opened the gateway to the afterlife. He shouldn’t have to worry about some spectral fairy king with a bad attitude. He turned the key and the truck rumbled to life. Time to go to the Halloween festival and pretend everything would work out fine.

****

“Wayne, why do you have to be such a pain?” Renee asked. “Just get ready. You’re going to the festival, whether you like it or not. Didn’t the nightmare help you decide this is what you need to do? Now get a move on.”

He stared at her. “You’ve never spoken to me like this in all the time we’ve been together. What’s changed you?”

“I think it’s because we don’t have to tiptoe around each other any longer. We’ve made the right decision to break up. I never wanted to hurt you.” She squeezed his hand. “You have to admit, it feels pretty good to know we no longer have to pretend or force feelings that aren’t there.”

He grinned. “It does. It hurt at first, but then I realized you were right. We had been going through the motions of a relationship. I hope you’ll be happy here with Parker.” He held his hand out. “Friends?”

“Friends.” She kissed his cheek. “And I know I’ll be happy with Parker. Now, let’s get this mess settled. He’ll tell us what he wants us to do and when. I still need to spread Gran’s ashes, but now I know where.”

Wayne kept ahold of her hand as they sat on the couch. “You’ve said some odd things since I came here. What did Miss Dee mean about your power? What exactly can you do? Are you like one of those flashy superheroes in the movies? I’d like to try to understand.”

“No, I’m not flashy, nothing like that.” Renee took a deep breath. “I have the ability to see and talk to ghosts. There’s plenty of them in this town. Parker can do it, too. He helps spirits cross over to the other side. He says he’s a spirit conduit.”

He squeezed her hand. “I knew you were a special lady, and I’m sure you’ll fit in here just fine. The people of Garland Falls are lucky to have you.”

“You’re taking this awfully well.” She stared at him. “You’re not surprised or freaked out?”

“Oh, I’m totally freaked out. It’s not something you hear every day.” He walked to the window and stared out. “But if your new guy can accept it, I guess I can, too. From what you said, he does the same thing you do.” He smiled at her. “As an executive, I’ve learned how to get unexpected news and not lose my composure.”

“And you’re a great executive. I’m sure you’ll find an equally great lady who’s just perfect for you.” She headed for the stairs. “Let’s get ready for the festival. Parker will be here any time now to pick us up.”

“You believe he’s Lily’s son?” Gran asked as soon as she appeared in the room.

Renee pulled a sweater over her head and flipped her hair out. “I do. It’s the only explanation that fits with all he told me.”

Gran floated in front of her. “It sure sounds like it to me.” She paused. “Wayne took your breakup well.”

“He didn’t at first, but he soon realized I was right.” She tugged a brush through her hair and turned to her grandmother. “When you cross over, I’ll miss you, Gran. You’ve been so supportive of me. I know you need to go, but sometimes, I don’t want you to.”

“I know. I’ll miss you, too, dear, but I’ll look out for you from the other side.” Gran smiled. “Now that you’ve embraced your gift, you might be able to hear me every so often.”

“I hope so.” Renee took a deep breath to stop the tears threatening to spill and changed the subject. “I think I heard Parker’s truck pull up. I’d better get down there.”

She knocked on Wayne’s door and there was no answer. He must have already gone downstairs. She hurried down the steps and found Parker in the drawing room. She looked around. “Where’s Wayne?”

“He isn’t with you?”

She shook her head. “I went to get ready and I thought he did, too.” They hurried to the kitchen. “Miss Dee, have you seen Wayne?”

“I believe he stepped outside for a few minutes.”

Renee and Parker looked at each other. “I didn’t see him when I drove up,” he said.

“Oh no. You don’t think he would’ve gone into the north woods alone, do you?” Parker’s silence confirmed her fears. “We’ve got to find him.”

“If that’s where he went, something or someone drew him there.” He held her coat for her. “Don’t worry. The Huntsman won’t show until tonight. He’s usually weak in the daylight. Wayne should be safe for now, but I’d rather not take a chance. The Huntsman’s power has grown, so I’m not sure if he’s contained to only wander the night hours any longer.”

They hurried out and into the woods. He held his hand up, and she stopped. Leaves crunched off to their right, the sound echoing in the silent woods. They headed in that direction, stopping to listen for any other noise.

Parker glanced at her and gave a small nod of his head. “Call him. Maybe he can lead us to where he is.”

“Wayne,” she called out. “You need to come back now. Parker’s here, and we have to leave. Mrs. Hall wants to meet you.”

They stood still and a quiet groan drifted to them on the breeze. He led them off to the left. They found Wayne sitting on a fallen log as he rubbed his head. Parker pulled him to his feet while Renee stared at his eyes.

“Wayne, what happened?” she asked.

“I’m not sure. While I waited for you to come down, I heard this voice. It wanted me to come to the woods. When I got here, something didn’t feel right. I started back to the B and B, but I got turned around.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I started to run, and I tripped over a rock or a log. Before I knew it, a huge, black shape loomed over me. It looked like a man, but it had horns or antlers or something bizarre on the top of his head. I thought I heard a woman’s voice, too. She told the horned guy to leave me alone.”

“That’s not good. The Huntsman is closer than he should be and shouldn’t have been able to manifest, even his voice, in the daylight. I knew he’d gotten stronger, but I didn’t realize how much. I thought we’d have until the time for the ritual before he showed.” Parker glanced at Renee, then Wayne. “Come on. Let’s get you back to the B and B.”

“Sounds like a great idea,” Wayne said.

Parker pulled his arm over his shoulders. Renee took his other arm, and they helped him back to Miss Dee’s. “You need to get cleaned up so we can get you to the festival.”

Wayne groaned. “I don’t think I’m up for a party.”

“You don’t have a choice,” Renee said. “Being at the festival with us is the safest place for you right now. The black shape you saw is The Huntsman, and he has come back specifically for you.”

They made it out of the woods and crossed the lawn. “Of course he has,” Wayne grumbled.

“Don’t worry,” Parker said. “We won’t let him get you.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Wayne went up to his room to clean up while Renee and Parker waited for him in the drawing room. “Parker,” Renee said slowly. “Do you think it was Lily who saved Wayne?”

“I’m sure of it.” He glanced up at the ceiling. “I think she suspects he’s her son. If true, we have a powerful ally against The Huntsman tonight.”

She stepped close to him and sighed when his arm went around her shoulders. “I hope so. I think we’re going to need all the help we can get.”