Page 103 of The Curse of Redwood

“Who will?”

But then I felt…something.A drop in temperature. The hair on my nape stood up and goosebumps spread down my arms. It was also hard to breathe, like the oxygen had been pulled from the room. The air beside my face stirred, as if something—or someone—passed by. I didn’t see a thing, and yet I was still scared shitless.

William yelled and faded from sight. I felt a whoosh of air as he ran by me, leaving me alone with whatever it was that scared him. I tried to call after him, but my lips wouldn’t move. I was frozen in fear.

My face prickled as the area around me grew colder. I jumped when something touched my chest. And then it felt like nails lightly grazed across my skin. The smell of decay filled my nostrils, and I heard a low growling.

I choked on a silent cry and pressed closer to the wall at my back.

“Enough!” a deep voice boomed from the staircase. “Leave him at once!”

Instantly, the cold drifted away, as did the scratching of nails on my chest. I gasped, drawing in a lung full of air, then I looked up at the staircase to see Zeke staring down at me, his long hair falling across his naked shoulder. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of me, pulling me into his embrace.

“I’ve got you,” he said, before pecking kisses to my temple and cheek. “I’m so sorry I didn’t come with you.”

“What was that?” I asked in a gruff voice.

“William’s mother,” Zeke answered, picking me up. Which was good because I doubt my legs would’ve been able to carry me far. I was shaking like a leaf.

“Why is he afraid of her?” I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face in his hair.

“Because she killed him.” Zeke walked up the stairs, and the action created a soothing rocking as I kept my eyes closed. “Did you see anything?”

I shook my head. “I just felt cold. And heavy. It was hard to breathe.”

“You didn’t see her?” he asked, then pulled my head up so he could look me in the eye. “Tell me the truth. This is important.”

“I didn’t see anything,” I answered, confused. “Why doyoulook scared?”

Zeke brought my face back to his neck, as if protecting me from something. Seconds later, we were in his room. He kicked the door closed behind him and carried me to the bed.

“Sleep,” he whispered into my hair.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“Nor will I.”

“Why?” I peeked up at him. Without the lamp, the room was cast into darkness, but the moon coming in through the window had lightened it enough to see his pale features. “You know I’ll only keep asking until you do. I felt nails on my chest and I smelled rot. Is William’s mom one of those ghosts who became twisted after death?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you ask if I saw anything?”

He heaved a sigh, an action of habit rather than necessity. “Because if you didn’t see her, there’s still hope.”

A chill went down my spine. “Wait… you said Lady Death used to be human… and that she killed her children.” Nausea bubbled in my stomach as something became clear. “William and Rose. She’s their mom.”

Zeke nodded.

“I just met Lady Death.” The chills worsened at the revelation. And god, I had the urge to pull the cover over my head and hide like a five year old. “Seeing her means I’m gonna die, right?”

“She didn’t become visible to you, so not exactly.” He shook his head. “Yet, it still worries me.”

“What does?”

“That she came to you at all,” he responded. “You not only sensed her presence, but you felt her touch. It’s as if she wasn’t sure about you. It tells me your fate isn’t yet decided.”

I buried my face in the crook of his neck and shifted closer. His fingers played with my hair, and he kissed my forehead. Neither of us said it aloud, but I sensed he was thinking the same as me: there was a chance I could die on Halloween during the ritual. That’s why Lady Death had visited me.