Chapter 5
The rain came down washing away my sorrows. I let out a deep breath who knew crying could be so therapeutic.

Getting off my knees, I wiped my face and started to head for home. The Library had already closed. I would have to get my picnic basket and books in the morning. Besides, I was soaked from head to toe. I am sure Mrs. Jacobson wouldn’t approve of me dragging mud into the Library. At least the rain seemed to be finally letting up.

Before I left the commons, I ran the whole scenario through my head once more. Abigail had run away, but I was not going to let her go. I did not care in the least that she preferred girls. I mean I did too. Even if we could not do the couple thing, she was still my friend or at least I hoped so. My other problems were still there. However it’s not like I was going to solve them by wallowing in the mud.

My thoughts kept coming back to the idea that I was a victim of some sort of enchantment. Abigail must be seeing and feeling something I didn’t. We were close all day, her body pressed to mine as we walked out of the woods. Now I haven’t held many girls, but from the little, I knew they were a lot softer than boys. When Abigail kissed me for the first time, she must have felt something different the second time. She did, I also felt something changed in me. I stopped in the sudden realization of what I actually saw in my reflection. No wonder Abigail was angry with me.

She had met the Fae woman in the woods. She had lived in this town all her life. I had a feeling Abigail would understand if I could just speak to her. We could work it out. A visit with her Aunt might be enlightening as well. Still, there were too many questions and not enough answers.

A hand closing on my arm broke my reverie. I looked up to see the woman who I had dubbed ‘goat girl ‘standing there. “I’m sorry, but you’re going to have come with us.”

She might have spoken it, but for some reason, I could tell she wasn’t too happy about it. I acted instinctively. Grabbing her arm, I pivoted my legs, and I threw her over my right hip sending her clear across Main Street to impact head first into some parked cars.

Someone else was near me. I spun around and blocked a punch then lashed out with my right foot catching a tall grey haired man between the legs. As he collapsed, I threw a forearm strike to the bridge of his nose. Instead of going down, he burst into a swarm of flies. It shocked me enough that I missed a duplicate of the man sneaking up behind me.

The duplicate grabbed me around the chest. I quickly stomped the top of his right foot and jumped up smashing his chin with my head. As he stumbled back, I did a roundhouse kick to the side of his temple. The duplicate hit the ground bursting into a cloud of flies. With the last attacker down, I realized that I had been fighting with skills I did not know I possessed. It was as if someone downloaded them right into my skull without giving me the chance to pick the red or the blue pill.

I looked around. Standing by a black SUV was another one of those copy. And then there were two of them, then three and then four. Across the street ‘goat girl’ started to rise. If the duplicates dog piled me, I was finished. I needed to get away. If I could only make it to the forest, I started to move back across the commons leaving them far behind.

Unfortunately, I found my retreat cut off by a brick of a man wielding what appeared to be a medieval pike. Setting a bloody red cap squarely on top of his head he grinned. I almost passed out right there when I realized what I was facing. The Redcap twirled his pike trying to catch me with the flat of the blade. If I retreated, he would cut me down, so I charged.

Diving underneath his weapon, I slammed both fists into the creature’s solar plexus. He stumbled back. Hitting him was really like hitting a brick wall. A veteran of countless fights the Redcap instantly shortened the hold on the shaft of his weapon and brought it around. I tried to jump back, but he caught me spinning me hard into the mud. I’m pretty sure I broke a couple of ribs. It sure felt like it.

The safety of the forest still within reach I painfully threw myself backward. My opponent moved again to block my escape. I stepped forward twisted my body and slammed my foot right into Mr. Gruesome’s face. Before he could react, I followed up with more attacks. Unfortunately, even two well-placed knife hand strikes to the throat didn’t seem to even faze the beast. Jumping out of the way I could clearly see the others drawing close.

Mr. Gruesome jabbed his pike forward, and I jumped up. To our astonishment I found myself standing on top of his weapon. I giggled. Yes, I giggled. I believe that frightened me more than the Redcap.

Without another thought, I ran down the shaft and used his skull as a launching pad to throw myself into the woods. In a flash, the Redcap spun around and clipped me turning my controlled flight into a spectacular bloody cartwheel. Crashing into the woods the world turned black.

++++++

A morose group of Fae sat in Walter Marvin’s living room as if waiting for an execution. From their appearance, it seemed to be theirs. A few days had already passed since they tried to abduct the girl at the Library. Now she was missing. If she was dead, all of their lives were forfeit. When the creature began to stir one more the four of them jumped.

Eá²ghan slowly opened his eyes took one look around and said. “Problems?”

In a rush, they began to explain the situation. The only one who did not join in was Sile who sat there with a half-smile on her lips. With their explanations finished, they all sat back waiting for a verdict. The sorcerer known as Eá²ghan was not known to be very forgiving.

“So let me get this straight you tried to abduct the Arbitrator without my consent. After your failure, you are not even sure if she’s alive.” The Draugr sat still for what seemed to be an eternity. “It would have made our plans easier if successful however be aware she must also be a willing participant. “

“She is not dead,” Sile said as if fact.

“I believe you are correct my dear. For no other reason than her death would not have gone unnoticed in the Courts. I would have returned sooner if that were the case. If however, I find that she has indeed died…” Eághan left the rest unsaid there were worse punishments than death. “Lass, I need this body to be more under my control. My presence is needed here it seems.”

“You will need the Anáil.” Sile stood up and kicked the remains of the glass coffee table to the side. She then reached down and tossed the floor rug to the wall.

While waiting for the sorceress to get ready Eághan motioned to Manfred. “I need you to contact the Dunkelheit. ”

“I’ll contact them Eá²ghan, but you know what they are going to say. They will join the Host as long as you take care of the Gatekeeper.”

“That’s a given Manfred make your plans and leave tomorrow night.” Eághan turned to Sile. She seemed ready to start the incantation. “You know the dangers Sile. Someone of power but not…”

She waved her hand in irritation. The nails on her right hand grew. Without any hesitation, she slashed her left wrist and began to draw a bloody red circle on the floor with her nails. Letters and words followed. The other Fae stood back in shock.

The Draugr laughed. They had underestimated Sile. With the letters finished, she began to whisper to the circle. With each word spoken a bloody red mist began to form, and that form took shape. As Sile completed the incantation, a large black crow stood in the circle. It took one look around squawked then took off smashing through a closed window.

++++++

Two patrol cars sat on the side of the road flanking a large green pickup truck. The occupant of the truck stood quietly. After reading him his rights, Deputy Sherriff Cindy Rose placed the handcuffed man into the back of her patrol car. Satisfied that the perpetrator would not escape Cindy went to the front of the truck to find Deputy Sherriff Dan Summers taking down the vehicle information.

“Well seems your instincts were right again.” Cindy gave a quick look into the back of the truck. Four young bucks and several other animals lay under a blue tarp.

Dan might not have the gift like his cousins, but often enough his instincts gave him an edge.

“Hunting out of season and on the Kincade’s land this one will be lucky if he gets away with just a heavy fine.”

Cindy jumped when large black crow landed heavily on the hood of the truck. Dan also took notice of the large crow. Something felt wrong but didn’t know what it could be.

“You seem pretty tight with them. The Kincade’s that is...” Cindy said a little nervously. For some reason, the crow bothered her more than she realized. She felt relieved when the two of them started walking back to her patrol car.

“Oh well, Greg Kincade and I graduated from the same University. He has family in Ravencrest. My wife is also good friends with his wife, Stephanie.”

“Small world and you ended up here.”

“Quite the coincidence isn’t it.” He said dryly.

Strange stories and rumors tended to attach themselves to Dan Summers. True or not, he was a fellow officer and a good friend. Moreover, Cindy liked Dan’s wife. “How’s, is your wife doing by the way? I haven’t spoken to her in like a week. She is what in her third trimester now?”

Dan turned not too surprised to find the crow following them. He answered without taking his eyes off the bird. “Yea… Oh, I almost forget she told me to remind you about the baby shower. Diana is going to be running the show so if nothing else it should be interesting.”

Cindy laughed as she sat in her patrol car. “It’s already in the book. We’ll let me get this reprobate into lockup.” Before she drove away, Cindy leaned out the window. “Be careful OK Dan. That bird is freaking me out.”

Moments later Deputy Summers was alone with the crow. Walking back to patrol car he could tell it continued to follow him. While keeping an eye on the bird, the Deputy finished his paperwork. The strange crow only flew away when the Tow truck and Animal Control arrived. The wrecker would take the truck to the Police impound lot while Animal Control took the corpses away to be put on ice until the trial. After the hearing, some lucky dogs were going to eat well.

Back on the road getting ready for his shift to end, the Deputy took a call from the base. The dispatcher wanted to let him know of a new Missing person report. The missing person was none other than Morgan Rynders. Dan felt a chill this did not bode well.

Spotting a black SUV sitting on the side of the road Dan put thoughts of Morgan Rynders on hold. He slowed the patrol car down when a tall thin impeccably dressed man flagged him down.