The Darkest Gateway Read online

  “No. We have to clothe ourselves with woven material or, I guess, animal skins made to our shapes. You’ve seen me wear different things. I changed only a few minutes ago.”

  “What you wear to sleep is different from your day wear…”

  “You mean you didn’t notice before?”

  “I noticed tonight.”

  “Yes, you did. Points for you.”

  A hint of smile formed at the corners of his mouth as he fidgeted with the napkin in his lap.

  “I don’t know what’s going to happen when this is all over,” I said, robbing him of that burgeoning smile, “but my plan is to save you too when the Booke is destroyed. I think I’d like to pick this up where we left off. If I survive, that is.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  The waitress appeared with the wine and two glasses. She opened the bottle, let me try a sip, and then poured more for each of us. After she’d disappeared, I noticed that Erasmus was still staring at me.

  “I mean, when the Booke is gone, and you’re free, we could…continue this.” I gestured between us.

  “What makes you think any of that will happen?”

  I picked up the glass by its stem and gazed at the jeweled light through the wine. “If it doesn’t, then we should enjoy this time together now. While we can.”

  When he lifted his glass, I reached over the table to clink mine to his. He gave me one of those “Are you insane?” looks, which made me laugh. “People do that. They clink glasses to toast each other. To celebrate.”

  Cautiously, he clinked his glass to mine. “This seems foolish.”

  “Just drink your wine, Erasmus.”

  * * *

  He wasn’t much of a conversationalist. I mostly asked him questions, but he wasn’t very good at elaborating. Comparing him to Shabiri, who was all narcissism all the time, I’d say that demons were as unique as humans. I figured that maybe he wasn’t elaborating because he only had the barest minimum of experiences. While Shabiri got to live her life as a demon 24/7, Erasmus was a prisoner of the Booke, only allowed out and about for a couple of weeks every hundred years or so. That would put a crimp in anyone’s knowledge base.

  As we drove home, I was a little buzzed from the wine and happy about the companion beside me. “Do you ever wish you were as free-wheeling as someone like Shabiri?”

  He rolled his eyes. “I have no ambitions to be anything like her.”

  “I don’t mean be like her. I wouldn’t like that at all. But…freer. To come and go.”

  He mulled it over and sighed just as we pulled into the parking area in front of the shop. He spoke carefully, slowly. “I have never cared before. Now I do. As long as it involves you.”

  “Wow.”

  “Did I say something wrong?”

  “No. No, you said exactly the right thing.”

  We left the car and when I reached for the door, it unlocked and swung open with a mere wave of Erasmus’ hand. I moved first to go in when a strange prickling started at the back of my neck. And then a powerful hunger stabbed at me so deep that I stumbled, grabbing the door frame. It wasn’t as bad as before but still very noticeable.

  I twitched my hand and the chthonic crossbow came to me. Erasmus sniffed the air, on alert. I was ready to make for the woods when a car pulled up. I quickly hid the crossbow behind my back, and a good thing, too.

  “I’m sorry for coming over so late, Kylie.”

  Reverend Howard of the First Congregational Church of Moody Bog got out of his car and stepped into the porch light, highlighting his white, wavy hair in a halo. His smile was as laidback as Doc’s. “I hoped you were a night owl— Oh. I seem to be interrupting a…date?” He got a strange look on his face, but that was because I had told him recently I was dating Sheriff Ed. Oops.

  His expression switched gears—must be the parson part of him—and he put out his hand to shake anyway. “I remember you from Kylie’s dinner party,” he said politely. “Howard Cleveland. And you’re Erasmus Dark, Kylie’s friend from California.”

  Erasmus stood stiff as a board, hands behind his back, and stared at the offered hand. “I remember you,” he said curtly down his nose.

  Reverend Howard glanced down at his own hand and let it fall to his side. “Well…I just came by to… How do I put this? I’ve been worried about you, Kylie.”

  “Oh?” Surreptitiously, I maneuvered the crossbow behind my back to Erasmus’ hand where I’m sure he promptly vanished it. “Where are my manners? Won’t you come in out of the cold?”

  “Thanks.” We got out of his way. While I turned on some lights, Reverend Howard walked over the threshold and said, “You know, I just can’t get over how nice and homey this shop is. Of course, you live here, too.”

  “Yes.” I shed my coat and hung it up. “It’s too bad there isn’t room upstairs for more of a living quarters. Can’t escape work this way, but I think it will do. Would you like some coffee? Tea? Erasmus can—”

  “No, he can’t,” muttered Erasmus.

  “No, thank you,” said the pastor. He sat down and clasped his hands together. “I’ve been hearing some strange rumors.”

  “Really? About what?” Sitting opposite the reverend, I leaned in, straightening my skirt. Erasmus occupied himself by making slow circuits of the room, always in the shadows.

  “Frankly, odd things. Your neighbors have been reporting strange sounds and lights over here.”

  “They’ve been reporting it to you?”

  “Well, people are scared, what with what happened to the Warrens and some of our other townsfolk. It’s putting them on edge. And, well, when something can’t be explained, they tend to come to their pastors.”

  “I can assure you that we’re fine over here. No, uh, strange stuff.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “They’ve been saying some pretty wild things, I have to tell you. Seeing zombies and flying beasts. I just don’t know what’s gotten into the water around here.”

  “Wow. That is weird. What do you suppose is behind it?”

  “It’s near Halloween. Some folks start to get a little religious fervor this time of year. They wonder about letting their children go Trick-or-Treating, as if it’s some sort of devil-worshipping. I do my best to tell them it has nothing to do with that, but people will be people. I know there’s also teens who get up to mischief, scaring people on purpose. The sheriff’s got to have his hands full this time of year.”

  “That must be weird for you. Counseling people that it’s their imagination.”

  “It is a little. I mean grown people having these fancies.” He glanced over his shoulder toward Erasmus. “People saying they’ve seen demons. It’s crazy, isn’t it?”

  “The very definition of insanity,” said Erasmus smoothly.

  “I suppose a lot of it has to do with the Wiccans. Folks think that…well. You can imagine.”

  “That we’re having nightly rituals?” I fake-laughed as my gaze slid toward the faded chalk pentagram in front of my fireplace. It was covered with a rug now, since Doc had said that the spell had pretty much expired. But I knew that Reverend Howard had seen it when we first chalked it and had remarked none too politely about it, too.

  “You know how people talk. I just wanted to make sure that you’re okay.”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Nothing weird going on here, right Erasmus?”

  He fiddled with his fingers for a bit before he was able to form an “OK” sign with his hand. It was not reassuring.

  Reverend Howard stared at him. “All right.” He got up and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “You will let me know if there’s a problem of any kind, won’t you? Villages are funny places. It’s tough to win some folks over. But I think you will. Eventually.” He smiled and shook his head. “I felt pretty foolish coming over here, I have to say. But you’ve both been nice about it.” When he looked at Erasmus, the demon tried to smile and it was just as bad as his “OK” sign.

  “I’ve interrupted thing
s enough. I’ll go now.”

  “Oh, do you have to?”

  Erasmus growled behind me but I ignored him.

  “You’re being too nice.” He reached the door and opened it. “Have a good evening, you two.”

  I leaned on the doorjamb and watched him get into his car. When he started it up, I closed and locked the door.

  I couldn’t sense the wendigo’s presence anymore. Dammit!

  “It’s gone, isn’t it?” said Erasmus into my ear. I could feel his warmth at my back.

  “Yes. Unfortunate timing of Reverend Howard.”

  “I don’t like clergymen.”

  “Is it the holy water?”

  “Some of it. And some is their need to interfere.”

  I peeked out the curtains to watch him drive away. “I bet they interfered plenty with Constance Howland.”

  “If she had not committed suicide, they would surely have hanged her.”

  I let the curtain fall and turned to face him. “Humans must seem strange to you.”

  He stood stiffly, hands behind his back. “They don’t know what they want. In each age, they view themselves as sophisticated and enlightened. But in the end, superstition takes precedence and their violent natures always overwhelm their intellect.”

  “That’s a pretty bald statement.”

  “It’s true. I’ve seen it play out for thousands of years.”

  “Sadly, I believe you.”

  We stood looking at each other…until he moved first, slowly closing the distance between us. “We’ve dined,” he said in a sultry tone. “We’ve talked. What else does one do on a date?”

  “I think you know perfectly well.”

  “Do I?” His smile was feral for only a moment before it softened. He touched a tendril of my hair and twirled it gently around his fingers. “I must confess. I have been intrigued with that very large, very solid table in your kitchen.”

  I laughed. “You are a naughty demon, aren’t you?”

  He didn’t waste any more time on talking, getting in close, and sliding his arms around me. When he kissed me, it was gentle at first. I could tell he was holding back. But the promise of that kitchen farm table was playing big in my imagination too, and so I returned his kisses just as his heated up.

  We kissed and moved together, groping our way through the scant light to the kitchen. He could see perfectly well in the dark, but I fished around the wall for the light switch. He was worth looking at.

  The light flicked on and he smiled. He pulled me in to cover my mouth again, running his hands up my back…and down to grab a handful of my backside. I wriggled, rubbing against him, gratified at the growl that rumbled up his throat. He kept holding me tight as I tried to release my arms to push his jacket off and get in a few good gropes myself. He ignored how his jacket was hanging low on his shoulders—it was as far as I could get it—and his hands found my bosom and began unbuttoning the front of the dress—before he stopped.

  Someone was knocking urgently on the damned front door.

  “Beelze’s tail!” he swore. “These villagers!”

  “I have to see what it is.”

  Erasmus let me go and slapped his hands on the table. He hung his head between his shoulders.

  I straightened my clothes, fixed my hair, and opened the door.

  “Ed?”

  Sheriff Bradbury scowled, looking more morose than angry.

  “Ed, what’s happened?”

  “A couple down the block. We were called about a domestic disturbance. Turned out…they were…”

  He suddenly paled and it looked as if he might faint. I grabbed his arm, pulled him over to a chair, and pushed him in it. He dragged his Smokey Bear hat off his head and clutched it in his hands. “Jeezum, Kylie.” His voice was uneven. “There was blood everywhere. They…they ate each other. I mean literally ate each other…like cannibals.”

  Chapter Four

  “The wendigo,” I breathed.

  “You know what it is?”

  “Yeah. I almost went berserk myself. But I thought it was just me, the Chosen Host thing. I almost tried to eat Doc.”

  “Jesus.”

  “But he gave me a potion that’s working really well.” I looked up at Erasmus hovering in the doorway. “I wonder if Doc could somehow cast a spell over the whole town. Go find out.”

  His eyes were blazing. “Now?”

  If he thought I’d still be up for some kitchen table sex, he was out of his mind. “Yes, Erasmus. Now!”

  “Beelze’s tail,” he grumbled and promptly vanished.

  “What does that even mean?” said Ed.

  “Forget him. Do you want some water?”

  “Stronger.”

  “Coming up.”

  I ran back to the kitchen and got down some bourbon from the cupboard. I sloshed some into a glass and ran back out.

  Ed knocked it back. He stared at the empty glass. It looked small in his large hand. “I’m not supposed to drink while on duty, but screw that.” He twitched his gaze toward me. “You almost…attacked Doc?”

  I swallowed. The memory was still very fresh. “Yeah.”

  “What is this thing again? A wendigo? I think I’ve heard of that.”

  “It’s an Algonquin thing. In a famine, you turn into one if you eat human flesh. I’ve seen it. I was face to skull with it. And then I was taken over with this overwhelming need for human meat. Before I could kill it, it got away.”

  “I’m sorry you didn’t. Kill it, I mean.”

  “I could feel its emotions. It was so sad. And so ashamed. I almost felt sorry for it. But I could also tell it wanted to eat me.” I rubbed my temple. “These things are getting stronger. It’s because of Halloween.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Erasmus says that there’s power in the world that most people can’t connect to. But talented witches and, I guess, people like me can. This power gets strongest at the solstices. But Halloween sort of haywires or hijacks it. It’s a dangerous time for people like me because creatures get stronger and mages get weaker. At least that’s what I got out of it.”

  “So Halloween’s bad?”

  “Very bad. The closer we get the worse the Booke will be. So I really have to get it destroyed before Halloween.”

  “How are you going to do that?”

  I turned to Ed and took his hands. “I’ve decided to travel to the Netherworld. There’s a being there who’s strong enough to destroy it.”

  “Do I want to know?”

  “Uh…probably not. And…he’ll want my soul in exchange.”

  “Kylie!” His hand tightened on mine.

  “But that’s why I haven’t left yet. I’m trying to get the coven to figure out a way for me to do that and not leave my soul behind.”

  He let me go and fell back against the chair with a sigh. “Well…are they any closer to achieving that?”

  “I just started Doc thinking about it. Erasmus and I…well.” I gave a nervous laugh. “We went on a date.”

  Ed made a sound between a snort and a laugh. “With all this going on?” He threw up his hands. “Hell, why not? And how was that?”

  “It was nice,” I said defensively, not meeting his eyes.

  “Wow,” he said softly. “You are really into that guy. Did our time together mean nothing at all?”

  I rested my hand on his shoulder. “Of course it did. I treasured our brief time together. And if it had been right, I would have pursued it. But there was always something about Erasmus…”

  “I didn’t have a chance, did I.”

  “If he hadn’t come into my life, you would have. I’m sorry, Ed.”

  He slouched in the chair. “That’s all right. I kind of see what you mean. Shabiri is kind of a bitch but… She has her moments.”

  I couldn’t help but stare at him. I finally blurted out, “Seriously?”

  “Yeah, seriously. I’m surprised you’d even say that to me.”

  “Yeah, sorry. Demons,
huh? What are you gonna do?”

  There was a pensive look on his face, sort of wistful. “There’s a…sadness about her. It’s hidden there beneath her sarcasm. I can tell a defense mechanism when I see one. We’ve had…talks.”

  “Talks. About what?”

  “About being a demon. About what it means to her.”

  I would have liked to hear that conversation, but I suspected it was pretty personal. For Ed’s ears only. He looked uncomfortable mentioning it, so I didn’t pursue it.

  Ed stared thoughtfully at the cold fireplace. “Halloween is less than a week away.”

  Change of subject. Okay. “I know. And Baphomet is still out there. Plus, Reverend Howard came over telling me people have started reporting strange goings-on, like flying beasties and zombies.”

  “Uh oh.”

  “I don’t know how to prevent people from seeing that. I’m surprised more people aren’t calling your station to complain.”

  “I did get a call or two about a possible UFO and a flying creature—which I’m sure was your favorite Goat Guy. And then there was the damage he inflicted.” He frowned. “We were able to call it a gas line explosion. People are dead.”

  “I know. I gotta stop it, Ed. This Booke has got to be stopped for good.”

  “Look. When the coven meets again, will you invite me? I want to have a say in this. If you go to this Netherworld, then I want to go with you.”

  “That’s sweet of you. But I get the impression humans aren’t welcomed there.”

  “You’re going.”

  “That’s different.”

  “Why is it different? Because I’m not some demon?”

  “You know why it’s different. I’m…I don’t know. Sort of…in between worlds. The Booke is drawing me in.” I couldn’t help but turn my head to gaze at it.

  “Dammit, Kylie. I sure hate that this has happened to you.”

  “You and me both.”

  He slipped his arm around my shoulders and I leaned in against him. Of course it was at that moment that Erasmus returned with Doc.

  “Am I interrupting something?” said Erasmus nastily.

  “No,” I said nastily right back. Then I ignored him and looked at Doc. “Doc, Ed just told me—”

  “Yes, Mr. Dark explained. I think that we can spread the spell to encompass the village. It might have some adverse reactions—”