She Smells the Dead (16 page)

He was right. The crow didn’t really lead us anywhere, but it seemed to enjoy our company as we followed it around town. Each time we lagged behind it would fly back to us, call out, and then lead on again.

“It was definitely playing with us,” I agreed, “but it never did help you find those burgers.”

Cal laughed. “That’s alright I’m feeling hungry for something else right now.”

He pulled me to him and kissed me deeply. We could have stayed like that forever. I didn’t feel cold at all.

When I finally made it home, after saying goodbye to Calvin at the cabin, I had to drag myself up the stairs to my bedroom. I was exhausted. I stretched out on my bed and drifted off to sleep.

I was suddenly standing on a barren plain.
Another dream
? The sky was light overhead but it was quickly darkening as a cloud of thousands of moths raced towards me. Flying ahead of the storm front was a lone crow. After circling me the crow landed on a nearby rock. “Caw caw,” the crow called. Apparently I couldn’t speak crow. I then looked at what the crow had dropped at its feet.

A chrysalis, with something squirming inside, wiggled on the rock. The crow waited to see that my attention was fixed on the cocoon then took wing, flying away from the dark mass still moving towards me. I dragged my eyes from the sky and back to the chrysalis just in time to see a moth burst forth. The moth hovered above the silk wrappings and flexed its wings tentatively. As I watched the moth, I was lost in the dancing patterns swirling like smoke upon its wings.

It looked as though something just beneath the surface of the wings was pressing outward as the patterns continued to swirl. Then, with a gasp, I saw a face press up just before it was pulled back down into the mist within the moth’s wings.
Was that a soul
?

Looking to the sky I saw it blackening with moths carrying the spirits of the dead. The fluttering of their wings had become deafening. Then I fell into dark oblivion as the moths descended around me.

Chapter 52

I woke up, drenched in sweat, fighting with my covers. I struggled to disentangle myself from the sheets and blankets and pull myself fully into the waking world. This dream had been a foretelling. I could feel it in the tingling of my skin and the heaviness in my heart. The dream crow had tried to warn me and the message was clear.
The spirits of the dead were coming
.

I was willing to bet that Simon knew something like this would happen. When he had me create a garden by digging the soil with my bare hands I had dreamt of my spirit animal the Sacred Scarab, or dung beetle, which burrows into the ground. Yesterday he had Calvin and me follow and observe crows which he indicated had a special relationship with wolves in the wild. Crows have a history of warning other animals, especially wolves, of coming danger. Now I had been sent a warning by the crow in my dream, which had flown ahead of the moth horde carrying the lost souls of the dead.

I had been warned before, that the veil between worlds would thin during Samhain, the night of Halloween, and that the spirits of the dead would be drawn to me.
Like moths to a flame
. The message was indeed clear. We needed to prepare for something almost too terrifying to comprehend. I would be facing an onslaught of spirits haunting me in numbers that could risk my sanity or worse.

I was going to need all the help I could get. Calvin had promised that he and his spirit wolf would stand at my side to face the spirits of the dead. Calvin would be my sword and his wolf would be my shield. From what I had witnessed in my dream I now believed that we truly needed to be ready to face a vast army of lost souls. I hoped that Emma could be convinced to help us prepare medical supplies, something I wished with all my heart we would not need, and I would do my best to enlist Simon’s help. Simon may be a roguish playboy and a bit wild, but he had proven himself to be handy in an emergency. But what I would be asking for was potentially dangerous. Could I ask that much from my friends?

Cal and I were also going to have to devote ourselves to our training. I still had a great deal to learn. The recent incident at the homecoming dance had proven that. I was going to have to become adept at focusing my mind and controlling spirit. Calvin’s spirit wolf would need firm guidance and I would have to learn how to send messages quickly and with clear intention. Did we have enough time to gain the necessary knowledge and skills? I dearly hoped so.

Chapter 53

Calvin pulled his truck into my driveway and I took a deep breath. I was going to have to tell him about my prophetic dream. Taking one more look at myself in the mirror I decided that I had tried my best. I needed to feel confident today. I had too many favors to ask and couldn’t risk wimping out. I had laced up my power boots. Some people own a power tie, but I have a pair of power boots. My power boots were bright red and added an extra two inches to my five foot frame. Wearing these boots, my strappy black top, and black fingerless gloves I felt invincible. I added a red beret, slung a messenger back over my shoulder and was ready for action.
Or at least for high school
.

I took the stairs two at a time and burst out the front door slamming face first into Calvin’s chest.

“Didn’t realize you were that glad to see me,” Cal joked. He slid his good arm around my waist and leaned in for a kiss. “Mmm, I know I’m glad to see you,” Calvin added with his toothy grin.

The moment was wonderful but didn’t last long enough. I had something important to say and delaying wouldn’t make this any easier.

“I had one of my dreams last night,” I said.

Calvin looked concerned and I pushed on.

“A crow came to warn me about the lost souls that are coming on Samhain,” I said, and shuddered. “Cal, there’s just so many of them. They were being carried by a huge swarm of moths and there had to be thousands of them.” I had planned to remain calm while retelling my dream but the panic of being enveloped by the spirits of the dead left me breathless. “We need to get ready,” I said with fear etching my words. “We need to train more with Simon.” I was shaking.

“Yuki, it’ll be o.k.” Calvin said. “Simon will help us and I’ll be at your side. I will always be by your side.” Calvin’s hand was on my shoulder and he was searching my face. “We can do this,” he said quietly.

Just like that, the fear fell away. I believed him. It wouldn’t be easy, but we could do this.
Together
.

“O.k.,” I said smiling. “Let’s do this.”

I leaned forward and kissed Calvin once more before we walked to his truck. Once inside the truck I heard my phone beep alerting me of a text message. It was from Emma. “Emma says she has an important announcement to make at lunch today,” I said to Cal, “and attendance is mandatory.” I laughed at the message.

“Any idea what her big news might be?” Calvin asked.

I thought back over the last few days and all of the major things that had been revealed between us. “Nope, I have no idea,” I said, “but knowing Emma it will be huge.”

Hopefully it would be good news. I could really use some positive news right now.

Pulling into the school parking lot Cal turned to me and put his arm around my shoulders. “Will you be alright today?” he asked. “That was a really disturbing dream you had thrown at you last night.”

I realized while sitting there in his arms that I would be just fine. We had a lot to think about, and plan for, but making myself insane with worry wasn’t going to help.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” I said as his lips came forward to meet mine.

Better than fine
.

Chapter 54

I helped carry Calvin’s books to his locker, to where we made a slight detour before heading to lunch. His injured arm was still bothering him, but it was healing rapidly. I wasn’t sure if his speedy recovery was due to Emma’s medicine, a wolf thing, or a Calvin thing. Cal had always been tough and he seemed determined to be at full strength by Samhain. I was lucky to have him by my side.
I will always be by your side
.

Cal and I walked into the cafeteria hand in hand and neither of us was surprised to see Gordy and Emma waiting at our table. I knew that Gordy didn’t have the same lunch as us, but there was no way he would miss Emma’s big announcement. She
had
said it was mandatory after all.

Emma looked radiant. Her pale skin and long blond hair nearly glowed and she wore a sly satisfied grin. “Ready for the good news?” Emma asked her gaze falling on each of us in turn.

Gordy squeezed her hand and looked at her with pure adoration. That poor guy had fallen
hard
. Calvin nodded as we took our seats.

“I’m dying of suspense,” I said putting my power boots up on the chair next to me. “What’s the good news?”

Emma pulled an envelope out of her bag. “Well, according to this acceptance letter,” Emma said waving it in my face, “I am now a future student of Tufts University.”

Son of a dung beetle
.

“Ohmygosh,” I blurted, “that’s awesome!”
Very, very awesome
. “How did you get in so fast?” I asked.

I think the guys were just as curious, but I was beating them to the punch.

“I submitted my application for early admissions the day after homecoming,” Emma said.

Homecoming
. Emma had helped to save Calvin’s arm, and possibly his life, when he was injured in wolf form. Her role in the events of that night had helped her decide to pursue veterinary medicine as a career
.

“It helped that I had a fabulous list of references,” Emma added.

I’m sure that that list included Calvin’s parents. Thinking back to all of the animal rights projects that Emma had been actively involved with over the years, I realized there were probably hundreds of names on that list.

“Hey girl,” I said, “I think you’re actually overqualified. They should be paying you to go there.”

“Truer words have never been said,” Calvin added.

I knew how much Calvin appreciated Emma’s help in healing his arm and was a major supporter of her interest in becoming a veterinarian.

“Well I can’t complain,” Emma smiled. “I
am
getting a free ride after all.”

Gordy and Calvin cheered.

A free ride
. I had forgotten about Cal’s dad’s offer to come up with Emma’s tuition if she agreed to assist the werewolves when they had need of someone with veterinary training.

“It doesn’t get any better than that,” I said happily.

This meant that we would always have ties to each other. No matter what happens next. Emma, Calvin, and I would always be together.

So long as I survive Samhain
.

###

Read on for an exciting excerpt from the next

Spirit Guide Series novel,

Spirit Storm

By E.J. Stevens

October 30
^th
Salem, Massachusetts

“A Pox Upon All Thieves,” read the sign hanging at eye level on the wall behind the glass case. I stifled a shudder and tried to distract myself from the task at hand. I was about to attempt grand theft amulet from an occult shop known to be run by witches.
Son of a dung beetle. How did I get myself into this mess?

The words were painted in an old-fashioned font and the sign was covered in a false patina of age. My mind latched onto an old memory of my grandmother teaching me the tricks of tole painting. I remember her patiently demonstrating the technique of speckling, layering, and then using tea for the finishing touch.

“See it’s nothing,” my mind screamed desperately. “It’s not even old.” Old or not, the sign still filled me with dread.

I was grasping for anything which might distract me, but thoughts of my grandmother only deepened my sense of guilt. I may be rebellious, but I wasn’t the kind of girl to steal from anyone. Except now. I felt like I was on a slippery slope to Hell.
Good thing I wore my boots.

October 20
^th
Maine

I shivered as Calvin ran his hand down my cheek and not from the cool autumn breeze swirling leaves around the school parking lot. I pressed myself against him, a little voice in the back of my head only slightly concerned I might impale him on one of the many safety pins covering my shirt. He tilted my head back and leaned in to kiss me.
I am so in love with you Calvin Miller.

As our lips touched I felt a vibrating against my hip that didn’t have anything to do with love or raging hormones.

“Sorry,” Cal mumbled against my lips as he reached for his phone. The sleeve of his frayed sweater caught on one of my safety pins and his phone went flying onto the pavement.

“I guess I’m the one that’s sorry,” I said trying to extract his sweater from my shirt.

“I meant to ask earlier,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “Is there a reason why you’re wearing about ten pounds of safety pins today?”

I laughed, still attempting to unhook the threads of his sweater. I was tempted to grab clippers from my backpack, but was trying to lessen the damage. Not that I minded being attached to Cal.
Not at all.

“Emma and I were doing more research and some people believe iron and steel help to repel spirits,” I answered.

“I thought that was just for fairies,” he said.

“Well, it depends on the source,” I said. “Some of the books and Internet sites claim that iron and steel also hurts the dead. Other sources even claim fairies actually are spirits. Hence, my crazy awesome safety pin shirt.”

“So it’s kind of like chain mail for spirits,” he said.

“Exactly,” I said, finally pulling the last strand of yarn from the offending pin. “There, you’re free wolf boy.”

Calvin reached down for his phone, but froze part way. His phone was open and the picture which had been sent to him was on the screen. My brain was having trouble processing what I was looking at. There was fur, and limbs, and…oh God, there was the glassy eye of a dead wolf. I looked up at Cal’s face and could tell the wolf must have been one of the members of his pack. Something bad had happened.
Something very, very bad.