“Whatever you do, don’t let that thing touch you,” Tad warned. “I may not be able to feel energy quite the way you do, but there’s nothing but malicious intent coming from that light.”
The aura of menace was growing exponentially, like an argument that was cresting to a head. This wasn’t just something that didn’t want us here. The corpse candle actually felt like it wanted to harm us—it wanted to attack and it was taking its time about planning that attack.
The difference between a rabid dog and a hunter, I thought. A rabid dog would attack because that’s what it did—it didn’t give thought to the attack. It just did. But this—this was stalking us, watching us and planning its attack. We were prey, and the will-o’-the-wisp was on the hunt.
“I’m not sure if that’s what body-slammed me or not,” I said. “This feels darker and deliberate.” I kept my eyes on the approaching light. “You know, I think we should get out of here—at least out of this room.” I began to back away toward the door.
“All right, slowly—don’t run, but slowly back out. Keep your eyes forward,” Tad said. He motioned for us to move first. I slipped out the door, followed by Caitlin. Hank and Tad quickly followed, shutting the door behind them.
I moved away from the door. “I don’t trust that thing not to follow us. Keep your eyes open.”
“What can it do to us?” Tad asked.
“I think…more than just knock us around. My stomach’s still in knots from just being around it,” I said.
Caitlin cleared her throat. “While there are reports that corpse candles appear to warn someone of their impending death, there are also reports that they feed on energy, and lure people to their death—usually in swamps or on the moors, but why not in a forest? They’re vampiric in nature. They don’t drink blood, but they siphon off energy.”
“Whatever the case, that thing just scared me more than just about anything I’ve encountered,” Hank said. “I wonder if there are more of them here.”
“That would certainly come under the classification of the land being cursed. Aren’t will-o’-the-wisps like land elementals?” I asked.
Caitlin shook her head. “They’re also thought to be part of the Faerie world—Dark Fae. My mother’s nanny was a Faerie. She used to tell her stories of all the creatures in the Faerie realm, including will-o’-the-wisps. She called them Faerie Fire, and warned my mother against playing out in the woods, especially the Mystic Wood, because of them—along with other dangerous and beautiful creatures.”
“Dangerous beauty, that’s certainly a good term for them,” I said. “I used to sneak off into the Mystic Wood when I was young. My parents’ house—now mine—buttresses right up against it. I never encountered anything quite like that, but that doesn’t mean it’s not out there.” I watched the door warily. “I wish I had thought to ask Crichton how big of a patch of land is considered cursed.”
“You could call him,” Tad said. “Why don’t you go outside and do that—reception in here isn’t the best because of all the concrete. Take Caitlin with you. Nobody goes alone.”
Caitlin grinned. “In case you’re wondering, I have a black belt in karate, and I’m also a judo expert. Both Hank and I have extensive martial arts backgrounds.”
“That sounds good to me.” I decided that yes, I would be finding that gym and at least taking a beginner’s class. I didn’t like the idea of not being able to defend myself physically and though I never expected to advance much, I was in shape enough that I should be able to master the basics. I also didn’t like putting others on the spot in order to protect me.
We headed back toward the door at the end of the hall. I had the uncomfortable sensation we were being watched, and all the way to the front door, I kept glancing over my shoulder.
Once outside, we found that it had begun to snow—heavily. The heavy flakes drifted down to blanket the already frozen world. I didn’t care, though. Anything was better than being inside that place.
“I hate it in there,” I said, stamping my feet as I pulled out my phone.
“I don’t like it much either. I’ve been involved in investigating a number of hauntings, but damn, woman, you were right. This place gives me the creeps. It feels like a ghost ship, oddly enough.” She huddled, her hands under her arms. “I don’t know how it feels colder out here than it did in there, but it does.”
“We’re exposed to the wind out here. Even with broken windows, at least inside we were out of the elements.” I opened my recents list and hit Crichton’s name. The phone rang three times before he answered.
“Charles Crichton. May I help you?”
“This is January—remember me?”
“Of course. What can I do for you?”
“I was wondering if you could tell me something. Just how big of a patch of land did the Lummi people think was cursed? I know the area that the institution sits on, but to what extent does the curse extend outward? An acre? Half an acre? Do you happen to know?”
He paused, then said, “Let me call you back in a few minutes. I think I have the information but I have to find it.”
“Thanks. If you could call me as soon as possible, I’d so very much appreciate it.” I hung up and then marched over to the van. “Come on, we don’t have to wait out in the cold.”
Caitlin glanced back at the building, then followed me. “All right.”
We reached the van and I stopped. “I forgot. I don’t have the key.”
“I have a spare,” Caitlin said, pulling out a key ring. She opened the side door and we clambered in. She fit the key in the ignition and turned on the heater and we huddled around the vents until Charles returned my call, about ten minutes later.
“January? I have your information,” he said. “In my records, I have a note that the curse seems to extend about two acres, with the asylum being center. So a mile outward from every direction. It seems to be circular—a perfect circle, actually—the last people to investigate the area ascertained. Given the asylum is dead center, I’m thinking that Leeland deliberately planned for the building to be at ground zero.”
“Why would he do that?” I frowned. “Unless he was planning on making use of all the chaos.”
“Precisely. Remember, Leeland and his band were chaos magicians. They weren’t just witches. They thrived on chaos and shadow magic, and anything that they could do to increase those powers, well…they did.”
I let out a long sigh. “So what you’re saying is that they pulled a Ghostbusters move—they built the institution directly over the center of the curse to harness and expand the energy driving it?”
“Since Leeland died in prison, I can’t tell you for certain, but that certainly seems likely, given the evidence. How’s your investigation going?” he asked, sounding like he wanted to talk.
“We found a corpse candle that seems very keen on hunting down quarry.”
“Oh, lovely!” Crichton paused, then quickly added, “I didn’t mean to come across that way. I know it’s not so lovely if you’re the one facing it, but I’ve always wanted to see one.”