“How am I supposed to look at it, then?”
“From my intel, this gift is something you’ve come into within the last two years. When that happens, it can be jarring not only to the system, but to the psyche as well. It takes time to come to terms with what that means. Time to adjust to the new reality you’ve been dropped into. Don’t punish yourself because of it.”
“You sound like you know something about it.”
“I do.” He gives me this crooked smile that is very charming. “I’m what’s called a living reaper. I drowned when I was boy, and when I was resuscitated, my gift woke up. It’s quite strange to start seeing the ghosts of the dead when you’re only a child. So, yes, Saidie, I know something about it.”
“When did it stop being strange?”
“Never. You just learn to live with it and hope you can use it to do some good.”
“Have you managed it?”
He nods. “Yes. They come to me, and I help them move on, and in some cases, I’ve been able to get justice for them.”
“Justice?”
“That’s where part of my reputation comes from. I’ve dealt with a few situations where the only way to get justice was to land on the far side of the law.”
“You do bad things for a good reason?”
“Sometimes. Other times, I do them for my own personal gain. Or just because I want to.” His smile is as evil as Alesha’s was earlier. “Never be afraid to admit who you are, Saidie. Hiding from yourself is far worse than hiding who you are from the world. That is how you truly go dark. The only way to combat the growing darkness inside you is to surround yourself with people who will constantly remind you of your humanity.”
“You really believe that?”
“I do.” He gives me what I presume is his most charming smile. “Now, before I allow your blood to be used by a witch for any reason, I need to know more. You’re my daughter’s age, and there’s nothing I can do to help her right now, but I can help you.”
“That’s…nice of you.”
“I have my moments, chèrie.” He turns his attention back to Alesha, and the frown reappears. “I will not allow her blood to be used unless there is no other way.”
“I’ve consulted every witch I know, and the only way to break that spell is with our own blood bound spell, a more powerful one. One that will require me to help Saidie focus her gifts through a blood tie. So, yes, Mr. Crane, I need her blood, or this won’t work, and we won’t be able to breach the island.”
“Why can’t we breach it, though? I can have a helicopter drop us down. I’ve been giving this a lot of thought. The hunters have been trying to go in the same way you are right now.”
“That’s because it’s Madame’s island.”
“You say that like it should mean something to me.”
“You didn’t know who you had in your own back yard, Mr. Crane?” Alesha tilts her head curiously. “Considering you’ve proclaimed to do your own homework, I’m surprised.”
“I know who she was, but I never had a reason to call upon her services or deal with her in any other capacity.”
“I think it would be best for Aleric to be here. He actually grew up there, so he knows it better than any of us.”
“That’s an excellent idea.”
I shoot him off a quick text to meet us here and study Alesha and Ezekiel. They’re bristling at each other like two dogs circling a bone. It reminds me a little of the way Aleric and I fought. It also gives me hope that Alesha’s still got a chance with Ezekiel.
“Mr. Crane…”
“Please, call me Zeke. My father is the only one who responds to Mr. Crane.”
“Zeke.” I like it a lot better than Ezekiel. Makes him less stuffy.
“My mother hates it, and that may be why I like it so much.”
A shadow falls over us, and I know without looking it’s Aleric. I feel him in my bones.
“Wha’ is all dis?” He gestures to mess Alesha has spread out over the floor of the gazebo.
“Alesha’s spell to get us past the crawlers.”
He visibly shudders.
“You know the creatures well?” Zeke asks.
Aleric scoops me up and takes my seat, settling me in his lap. His body is tense, but so’s mine. Talking about that place does it every single time.
“Oui, Monsieur Crane. It was Madame’s favorite form of punishment for her children.”
“And you were her son?”
“Not by choice, dou. She took me from my family when I was but a boy.”
“I’m sorry.”
Aleric shrugs. “It brou’ me Saidie. I cain’t be sorry for dat, sir.”
“I suppose not.” Zeke clears his throat. “These two are telling me I can’t just drop in with a helicopter.”
Aleric laughs, the sound harsh in the quiet peacefulness of the garden. “You wou’ be dead before your feet touch de ground, sir.”
“Explain.”
“Madame was no’ just a Necromancer, she was a witch as well. A very skilled witch. She used dat to her advantage. Dere are wards along ever’ inch of dat island. She planned for it all. Invasion from land, invasion from de water, invasion from above. Each ward would have to be deactivated in de proper order, startin’ wit’ de crawlers. Dey be her first line of defense. Den comes de dead crawlin’ all over de island. And dose, as many as dey are, dey doan even come close to de t’ings she created. The curses she put into place, like de one associated wit’ an assault from above. Your insides wou’ turn to mush, and you’d die a painful deat’.”
“That sounds decidedly unpleasant.”
“Pray you never find out, Monsieur.”
“Can you remember all the wards?”
“I was no’ privy to Madam’s spellcrafting. We were tol’ of dem, but dat’s all I can tell you.”
“Did you ever see any of them activate, besides the crawlers?”
“Oui.” A full body shudder rolls through him that doesn’t escape either Zeke or Alesha. “Dey are terrifyin’ to behold.”
“Can you sit down and write out the ones you remember? Any little thing will help us.”
“I’ll have Saidie write dem out. I cain’t read or write so well.”
Zeke blinks. “I just assumed…you speak such good English…”
“Dere was a slave boy who taught me how to speak English. I only spoke Romani when Madame took me. De boy…he t’ought dat by helping me learn English, Madame, she wou’ be grateful. I t’ought she was, but when my English improved to de point she understood me, she had de boy killed in front of me and his family. His kindness was repaid in blood. Dat be who Madame was, who you will be dealin’ wit’ on dat island. Dead she migh’ be, but all her creations? Dey be dere, waitin’ for anyone to come and t’reaten our home.”
My heart shatters for him. How could someone do such a horrible thing and make Aleric watch it at such a young age? I’m so glad she’s dead. If I could kill her again, I would just for this.
“I’ll teach you to read and write.”