The Curse Defiers (14 page)

The sun had set, and I cast a glance up at the stars. The darkness always made me nervous now. And as our midnight visitor from the previous night had proven, we weren’t too far from Manteo for the Croatan gods to find us.

Allison sat across from us, her eyes glued on David for the next half hour. Dark clouds began to roll in after a little while, and the rest of David’s friends decided to call it a night.

David stayed back and said good-bye to everyone, promising to come back soon to see them. Once they were gone, David walked me to the front door while Allison started cleaning up the kitchen.

“I’ll wait at your place for an hour, and then I’ll come back and get you. Do you think that’s enough time?”

David took his keys out of his pocket. Worry filled his eyes, and it struck me that his smiles were becoming like a rare ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.

What if Allison was right? Once I had enough information to survive on my own, maybe I should set David loose so he could go back to his job and his friends.

I reached for the keys, but he held them tight. “Why do you have that look on your face?”

“What look?”

“The look that says you’re about to do something you don’t want to do.”

I reached up on my tiptoes and kissed him. Even if setting him free was the right thing to do, I wasn’t sure I could do it. Especially now that I loved him. But wasn’t that reason enough to let him go? Even so, the whole idea was preposterous. David Preston would
never
willingly walk away from me, and it only made me love him even more. “I’m just being sentimental. If you get done sooner, let me know. I’m eager to
show
you how much I love you.”

He wrapped an arm around my lower back and pressed his forehead to mine. “When you talk like that I want to say screw it all and take you home.”

I laughed and broke free. “Find out what we need to know, and then I’ll give you a special reward later.”

“I like the sound of that.”

I snatched the keys out of his hand and hopped into his car, driving off before I changed my mind. While I trusted David, Trina’s warning looped in my head.

When I got back to David’s house, I got out of the car and promptly tripped over something on the driveway. I nearly fell flat on my face but managed to catch myself with my hands. Just as my right hand hit the ground, my palm started to tingle. But it was gone just as quickly as it came, replaced with the pain of a scrape. I hurried to the front door to make sure the marks weren’t smudged, and after I went inside and turned on the lights, I went out the back door to do the same.

Just as I was about to go back inside, something moved at the edge of the yard. Since the property backed up to the woods, I figured the creature was probably a raccoon or an opossum.

No. My hand was tingling again. It was supernatural.

A tiny dark figure streaked across the yard and scampered behind a tree ten feet away.

I resisted the urge to shriek. Whatever it was, it was no more than two feet tall. It was probably an animal, just as I first thought. My hand had been randomly itching for weeks, so there was no reason to believe this was any different.

The creature ran to the far edge of the house and the porch light made it easier to get a good look at it. I couldn’t ignore the fact that it wasn’t covered in hair or fur. It looked like it was covered in skin.

Holy shit, it was a tiny person.

The mark on my hand began to burn.

Shit. It was a demon.

I held out my arm, flexing my wrist so that my palm was aimed at the creature. “Demon, come out and face me.” But I was on the edge of the porch and I lost my balance, falling the two feet to the yard. After landing on my feet, I stumbled around to face it.

“I’m not a demon,” a voice grumbled. “You know nothing.”

I took a breath, holding up my hand. “Then what are you?”

“A guardian of sorts.”

“Like the Guardians who are collecting all those old weapons?”

He scoffed. “They may call themselves guardians, but they are thieves and liars.”

He obviously knew about the Guardians and I considered asking for more information, but finding out about him took priority. “What or whom do you guard?”

“You, you idiot, now lower your hand.”

Rebuked, I lowered my hand without even thinking about it. “Come out and let me see you.”

“No.”

Whatever it was, it thought it was superior to me. I could use its arrogance to my advantage. “You mustn’t be much of a guardian. You tripped me in the front yard, didn’t you?”

“You’ve been too stupid to even notice that I’ve been tripping you for over a week. I needed to do
something
to get your attention.”

“Well, now you’ve got it. Come out and see me.”

A tiny head poked out from under the bush. The face reminded me of a gnome’s—round with big brown eyes. But his mouth was turned down in a pronounced scowl. Dark brown, scraggly hair hung around his face.

“I’m not going to send you away,” I said. “I just want to ask you a few questions.”

He stepped away from the bush and I could see the rest of his body. My first impression had been correct: he was a tiny person. He looked to be the same height as those American Girl dolls a lot of tourist girls brought into the restaurant, but I was sure he’d be offended by the comparison. An animal-skin tunic covered his stocky body, though his slightly hairy feet were bare.

“I’m Ellie,” I offered, hoping it would introduce itself.

“You are Curse Keeper, daughter of the sea and witness to creation.”

So much for my plan working. “And you are?”

“Tsagasi.”

“Tsagasi.” I let the name roll off my tongue.

He shook his head in disgust. “You are careless. Some of the salt on the threshold of the western window isn’t thick enough.”

“How do you know that?”

“Don’t insult me,” he said, sounding annoyed.

“Who sent you?” If he was one of Ahone’s lackeys, I was going to send him away as soon as I was done getting information from him.

He curled his upper lip in disgust and took a step toward me. “No one sent me. I came on my own. You’re the Curse Keeper, are you not?”

“Yeah. So what are you protecting me
from
?”

“The baddies. The ones who want to see you gone forever.”

A chill shot through my body, making me shiver. “Does that mean you’re a good spirit?”

He gave me a smile, but it was more ornery than friendly. “I’m not a demon or a god. Many people consider me to be a fairy, but that’s not true either. I prefer little person.”

“You still didn’t tell me whether you’re good or not.”

His grin grew wider. “I’m not going to harm you.”

“Why do I find that hard to believe after you tripped me?”

“For being the Curse Keeper, you’re remarkably dense.”

I released a sigh. Great. Now I was being insulted by a good spirit. “How long have you been watching me?”

“Two weeks.”

“You say you’re here to protect me. What do you plan to do?”

“I’ll know when another spirit is close and I have some magic of my own I can use.”

“Okay,” I said, still trying to process this in my head. “
Why
do you want to help me?”

“You are the salvation of the world.”

And we were back to the Raven Mocker’s prediction. I was in big trouble, all right.

He crossed his arms, a stubborn frown settling on his face. “Now that you know I’m here, I’m through with hiding.”

“So you’re here because I’m the salvation of the world?” I repeated.

He nodded.

I moved over to the porch and sat down. “Three nights ago I met an old woman on the road home and she told me my future. What was she?”

He shrugged and walked over to stand beside me. “An elderly woman?”

“Very funny. Her eyes glowed red. She was definitely a spirit of some kind.”

“She was a Raven Mocker. But you already know that.”

A chill ran down my back. “Why would she come see me?”

“Kalona has his own plan for you, and it is different from what Okeus wants. But Kalona fears facing Okeus and Ahone until he is stronger. He has entrusted his children to another’s guidance until he is ready to face the wind gods. The Great One.”

So Okeus wasn’t the Great One after all. I bet he’d be pissed to hear that. “How do you know?”

“I know many things.” He looked bored. “The gods are all working against each other in an effort to control you and what you know. The spirit world is in chaos. You think you need to face Kalona to stop the Raven Mockers, but you need to find his proxy. The Great One.”

“Who is the Great One and where do I find him?”

“I do not know the answer to that yet.” The way his nose scrunched, it looked like it pained him to admit it. “But I
do
know Kalona’s proxy has the Raven Mockers at work tonight. They are in the process of taking the heart of the woman who hates you.”

“
Allison?
” I shrieked in shock.

Allison had been sniffling from allergies. Was that serious enough for the Raven Mockers to stalk and kill her?

Oh, shit.

I ran inside and found my phone, discovering I had two missed calls from David.

Grabbing David’s keys, I ran out the front door. After I jumped behind the wheel of the car and started for Allison’s house, I dialed David.

“Ellie,” he answered, his voice breathless. “Something evil is here.”

C
HAPTER
T
WELVE

Terror filled my chest. “A Raven Mocker.”

“Yeah, I think so. How did you know?”

“Something clued me in.” I turned the corner, the tires screeching. If I weren’t more careful, the police would pull me over. For once, I found myself wishing Tom was around. “Can you see them?”

“No, but Allison is lying on the floor screaming, telling something to leave her alone. I don’t know how to help her.” His voice was frantic.

“I’m only a couple of blocks away.” I hung up and drove faster, skidding to a stop in front of her house. Three large black birds circled the roof, releasing loud cries.

The Raven Mockers in their bird form.

I could hear Allison screaming inside the house from the front yard. Terrified, I didn’t stop to knock; I just threw open the front door.

David kneeled in the middle of the living room floor next to Allison, who was lying on the floor, thrashing around in hysterics.

I could see why.

Two old men and two old women were circling the room. Their faces were grotesque, with deep wrinkles and long hooked noses. Their mouths opened in unison to laugh, revealing their pointed fangs. Their shrunken, hunched frames were covered in loose, gray linen fabric. The men wore pants and tunics and the women wore old-fashioned housedresses.

Allison’s body was covered in bloody gashes. Her previously crisply pressed pink shirt was ripped and drenched with blood. The Raven Mockers took turns swiping at her with their long claws. Then they stopped in the same eerie unison and spun around to watch me.

Great. Possessed geriatrics.

David kneeled at her side. He looked up at me, his eyes wide with fear. “I can’t see it. Is it a Raven Mocker?”

“There are
four
Raven Mockers inside and three outside.”

“
Seven of them?
They don’t typically travel in packs.” He shook his head, helplessness filling his eyes. “I haven’t been able to do anything to help her. She just started screaming about ten minutes ago, and she hasn’t stopped.”

“The ones outside are flying around the roof, screaming. Can you hear them?”

“Yes, but legend says all people can see and hear them when they’re in their bird form. Just not when they appear as humans.”

Which is why he couldn’t see Allison’s attackers. I stepped closer as one of the women swiped at her leg, drawing fresh blood.

Allison screamed again.

“Why is she screaming, Ellie?”

“I know you can’t see them, but don’t you see the gashes all over her body?”

“No. I only hear her screaming!” His voice was frantic.

His clothes were covered with splatters of her blood. How could he not see it? “They’re clawing at her!” I shouted, running toward one of them as it reached out to slash her arm. The old woman backed away, smiling.

“Get rid of them!”

“How?” I asked, freaking out. I could see them, but I still felt helpless to stop them.

“They’re supposed to flee if they encounter someone powerful enough to see them.”

“Yeah, well they’re looking at me right now and they don’t seem to be going anywhere.” Panic crawled up my spine and burrowed at the base of my throat, clogging my airway. I had no idea how to handle this. I pinched the ring with my left thumb and middle finger. Even if I decided to use the damn thing, it would be worthless here. According to the letter at the library, I had to be standing next to the gate to use it.

The old men and women had resumed their strange circular dance, but my comment seemed to have renewed their interest in me. They stopped and turned to face me, all four laughing in tandem. I was officially freaked out, particularly since all of them were equipped with vicious claws and razor-sharp teeth. “Welcome, Curse Keeper. We’ve been waiting for you.”

One of the men lunged toward Allison.

I had no desire to throw myself into the path of his claws, but I had to protect her. I dove for her, grabbing a decorative china vase off an end table as I threw myself over her body. I twisted around just in time to smash the vase into his head. His claws narrowly missed sinking into my back as I landed hard on Allison’s bloody legs. Thrown by the sudden pain of her knee jabbing my stomach, I cried out in surprise.

“Ellie!” David cried out in a panic. “What happened?”

“It tried to claw me,” I grunted, scrambling to my knees. I was fair game on the floor.

“That’s impossible. You’re not sick.”

“What happens if they claw you?”

“I don’t know,” he answered. “I’ve never heard of them clawing anyone.”

“Add this to the
not acting in character
list.” My breath came in quick pants as I climbed to my feet, searching for a weapon, any weapon. Then I shuddered at my stupidity. I was surrounded by them. The wall behind me was filled with swords and knives. The question was if they would work.

I searched out the old man whom I’d attacked with the vase. He’d rejoined the group, which was once again pacing in a large circle, blocking any exit out the front door or window. Thick black blood trickled down the creature’s face, but he looked unfazed otherwise.

“How do I kill these things?”

“Other than the seven-day rule, I don’t know.” His voice was calmer and more reassuring. The fact that he had regained control settled my anxiety. “What about the ring? I know we’re not next to the gate, but it might do something.”

I shook my head. “No! I’m not using the ring.” I glanced at the wall behind me. “Can I hurt them with any of Allison’s swords?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know.”

My other alternative was to stand back and do nothing. I quickly scanned the wall of display cases, looking for a weapon. “David, drag Allison over to the corner.”

He looked dubious. “Why?”

“Because there are four Raven Mockers, and right now they can attack us from all sides. If you’re in the corner I can protect you both.”

“Ellie. Then we’ll be trapped!”

The Raven Mockers laughed derisively.

I ignored them and the implication of their amusement. “
Do it!
I’ll get rid of them, but if we don’t protect her, they might kill her before I send them away.”

I picked up a laptop off the end table—the only hard object I could find in close proximity—and narrowed in on a display case containing a large sword.

Grunting, David grabbed Allison under the arms. “No, not that sword. It’s too heavy and will wear you out. Go for the smaller one on the right.”

“No.” A small gruff voice spoke up from the other side of the room. “You must use a warded sword.”

My head jerked up to the still-open front door. Tsagasi stood in front of it, his face contorted in anger.

“Are any of these warded swords?” I shouted back at him.

The Raven Mockers stopped their pacing and turned to face the little man. “Stay out of this,
fairy
,” one of the women hissed.

“You know how much I hate that name,” Tsagasi sneered. “That’s reason enough to help her.”

David leaned forward, still standing next to me, his arms supporting Allison. “Ellie, what the hell is that?”

“It’s Tsagasi. He’s here to help me.”

“Tsagasi?
A little person?
”

“The sword on the end, next to the doorway. At the top,” Tsagasi grunted as he moved into the room and shut the door.

The Raven Mockers’ eyes glowed red. Their heads swiveled to face me, but none of them made a move to attack. “The fairy can’t help, Curse Keeper. We will kill you.”

I found the sword Tsagasi had pointed out—a thin-bladed weapon with a narrow hilt and curved guard to cover the back of my hand. As I rushed toward the case and broke the glass, David dragged Allison across the floor, knocking over a table and lamp in the process. The light bulb in the lamp flickered and went out, plunging the room into a murky, shadowy darkness.

The Raven Mockers continued to watch me as if they were waiting for something. I was shocked they hadn’t intervened and couldn’t help but wonder what they had planned. Nothing good, I was sure.

Taking a deep breath, I lifted the sword off the hooks holding it in place and pulled it out of the case. I spun around to face them, hefting the weapon in my hand. I’d never held a real sword before, let alone used one. This thing was hundreds of years old. I hoped the blade was still sharp. “Only Raven Mockers will die tonight,” I growled, putting my back to David and Allison.

I considered lifting my hand to say my words of protection to send them away, but that would only be a temporary solution and I was tired of all my problems coming back to bite me in the ass. Not to mention the fact that they were so close they could attack and kill us all before the vortex even opened. I’d also have to switch the sword to my left hand. I was right-handed and wasn’t sure I’d be able to use the thing with my nondominant hand. I’d try the sword first.

Light from the moon shone through the windows, casting the room in shadows, but I could still see the Raven Mockers’ slumped frames. They broke into a collective grin, and the woman who had done most of the talking looked happiest of all. “She is ready. Let us begin.”

A male Raven Mocker rushed me while the others stood back and watched. His claws gleamed in the moonlight as he swung for me.

I had to protect myself, but more importantly, I had to save David. A surge of protectiveness rose up inside me as I swung the sword at the creature. It sunk into the demon’s shoulder and dug into bone, spraying demon blood into the air and all over my arm. The Raven Mocker screamed, his eyes glowing bright red as I pulled on the sword, trying to free it. I put my foot on his stomach and jerked backward, narrowly missing a swipe from his claws. My kick sent him halfway across the room with more force than I should have possessed.

“Good,” Tsagasi said. “
Good
. It gives you strength, just as I presumed.”

“We’re warning you, fairy . . .” one of the male Raven Mockers said.

“. . . stay out of this,” one of the women finished.

Allison had stopped whimpering and was now quietly sobbing in the corner, her eyes wild with fright. David had crouched down in front her in a protective stance.

I’d fought off one but hadn’t killed it. There were
four
of them. What if they all rushed me at once? Was I fooling myself by believing I could actually kill them? “I need the ocean,” I whispered. Collin was right. That was the source of my power, and I was hundreds of miles away.

“No,” Tsagasi said, his voice firm. He had moved closer to David and Allison while I was busy grabbing the sword and fighting off the first Raven Mocker, and now he stood behind me. “You get part of your power from the sea, but why do all the gods want you? Why do they search out
you
and not the son of the earth?”

“I’m the witness to creation.”

“Yes. Your greatest power is as the witness to creation, and you haven’t even tapped it yet. Dig deep. It’s there.”

Finding my power was easier said than done when I was being stalked by four demons. But Tsagasi was right. How had I never realized it before?

I thought about the vision I’d had in the ocean with Collin, the one in which I’d relived the creation of the universe and the world. Suddenly, I wasn’t just remembering the
vision
; I was remembering what it felt like to watch the event millions of years ago. Power coursed through my blood and filled my body.

“Yes,” Tsagasi said. “Now.”

When the next demon, one of women, leaped at me, I was ready. Crouching low, I let her get close before lunging toward her, using all my weight to shove the sword through her chest. I embedded the blade between her ribs and up through her back as her scream pierced my ears. I started to pull the weapon out, but her body evaporated into a ball of smoke.

“Did I kill it?” I asked, breathless. Thick black liquid coated the dull metal and dripped onto the floor.

“Yes,” Tsagasi answered.

I nodded. Three more to go. I could do this.

David was talking behind me, but I had no idea what he was saying. I concentrated on the three creatures in front of me. Two had changed from cocky to wary while the older woman beamed. One of the men glanced toward the door.