Page 25 of The Redd Key (Bone Coven #1)

A s the days grew shorter, Sarah, Bridget, and I did not get any closer to the answers we sought. Anabel seemed to have taken a vow of silence when we asked her directly about the vial of blood.

“Why would Black Sam keep blood, anyway? Was he a part of the Blood Coven, Gram?” Sarah probed her grandmother to speak.

“I will not become a part of this. You three are delving too far into things that should remain buried and forgotten.” The Wicker Basket was busier than usual as it was the day before Halloween, and the two of them spoke in hushed voices.

“So, you know more than you’re willing to tell us.” It wasn’t a question, rather I spoke directly to her. Her icy blue eyes met mine, and I saw her true power swirl behind those irises.

“I will not tell you more than you already know. It is not my place. Understand…” Anabel paused at the word and made eye contact with each of us. Bridget shifted uncomfortably under her stare as she continued, “I am trying to protect you.” Anabel’s mouth became a harsh line, and she moved past us to help a customer, dismissing us.

The tiny shop became too stuffy for me. I guess this time of year brought out everyone’s witchy side. Many of the unfamiliar patrons were stocking up on crystals, smoke cleansing sticks, and tarot card decks. Fair weathered customers help keep the business open; Sarah had explained to me earlier in the day. “Just like people who only go to church on Christmas and Easter—a metaphysical shop around Halloween-time is the same way,” she had said as more customers came through the shop’s door. Who knows? Maybe their curiosity could unlock their true power, especially if they were of the Bone Witch lineage like so many of the island’s residents.

“Can we please take a break from all of this?” Sarah looked at Bridget and me as we stepped outside the whimsical shop. “I am so stressed and scared all the time now. Can’t we just have a little fun? I mean, we have unlocked our Aecor.” She whispered that last bit. Her deep brown eyes were wide as her curls danced around her cheeks. “We dealt with the attacker, and there hasn’t been a sign of any danger for weeks, so why not be the witches we always dreamt of being?” Her midnight eyes fiercely glinted, and I glanced at Bridget, who took a deep breath before tying her hair back.

“Fine,” Bridget decided, completely surprising me. “Chris and I had another stupid fight last night, and I literally couldn’t even tell you what it was about. But honestly, I’m feeling a little tired of his crap, so I want to blow off some steam. The Ball is tomorrow night. I’m down for some scandal.” Her voice was so dry and matter-of-fact that I nearly snorted in laughter.

“Wait, what Ball?” I blurted, having registered that last bit.

“There’s always a massive Halloween party at the old Town Hall on the east side of the island.” Sarah’s smile widened.

“In the Founder’s Village where I live. You really need to come my way more often,” Bridget continued.

“Ooh, let’s get ready for it together. We can find something, some sort of spell or incantation to do, purely for fun. I’ll bring my Book of Shadows over,” Sarah said, staring at Bridget.

“That means you too.” Bridget directed her words at me. “Come to my place with your spellbooks, and wear something…witchy,” she added after a moment of thought. “Like you said, Sarah, we already dealt with the shadow-jerk. Plus, it’s been quiet. We might as well have some fun with our magic.” That same fierceness that made Sarah’s eyes glow like embers now shone like emerald flames in Bridget’s. A sudden giddiness filled my chest. Their excitement was contagious.

“Alright, then.” I smiled widely. I definitely could use a night of exhilaration without any stalking, attempted murder…or vomiting on Aggy. I’d have to be careful about mixing my alcohol again.

“I already promised RJ, I would take him trick or treating, but I can come by around seven?”

“Perfect!” Sarah was nearly vibrating now as she clasped her hands together. “Ah!” she squeaked. “This is like when they had the sleepovers in The Craft.”

“Oh, my goodness, Sarah, stop,” Bridget rolled her eyes, as if bored. “This is real life. It’s so much cooler than that.” The three of us lost ourselves in laughter as we jokingly dared to take glamor spells too far, and soon after parted ways.

The following afternoon, a raw, stark coldness ailed the island and the marine layer’s mist made my lips taste like salt. Halloween is my favorite holiday, so although I was looking forward to spending the afternoon with RJ, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed by the lack of decorations on his bare house as I walked up Mapleshade Lane.

“Trick or treat.” I swung the door open and yelled as I let myself in. Footsteps thundered from above me and then down the steps.

“Raina,” RJ shouted as he ran to embrace me in a tight hug. “Follow me.” He grabbed my hand and led me promptly back up the stairs to his room. The small room was situated with a bed, small desk, and a tiny closet. I glimpsed at the skylight above the center of the room, which revealed wintry grey clouds that slowly churned. The sight of them made my insides frost over. Strewn across RJ’s bed were sheets of canvas, painting after painting, littered with charcoal drawings and crumpled-up papers. After the last painting he showed me, I was afraid to study the details of these new pieces. He bent into his closet, and from its depths, he muttered, “Here.” He handed me a red scarf. “Take this, too.” A plastic scabbard came flying at me, making me jump aside. After a few more minutes, he emerged, and I finally understood what his costume was.

“A pirate?” I asked, kind of surprised he would choose something so typical . He usually dressed up as some obscure creature from Greek mythology or wore elaborate designs of constellation. A pirate was very big-box-store of him.

“I’m not just any pirate, Raina.” He fastened the red scarf around his waist and tucked in the pretend sword. “I am the richest pirate known to history, the one who fought for the hand of whom he loved, the one who died for her.” His voice boomed as he feigned moxie. “Black Sam Bellamy,” he bellowed with a fake British accent. My stomach flip-flopped at the name. “We have been learning about him and his crew at school.” RJ smiled to himself as he secured his final accessories.

Ignoring my racing thoughts about Black Sam and Blood Magic, I forced a pleasant smile onto my face. “You look amazing,” I told my little brother. As precarious as he could be at times, he was still just a little boy. Unfortunately, that was something Eamon often forgot, and he seemed to be working more and more on the mainland lately, leaving RJ at home. That was where my stepfather was headed right now.

“Thanks so much for taking him out tonight, Rai.” My stepfather’s face looked tired as he squeezed my shoulder. “It’s exhausting having to play catch-up with work, but things should settle down soon. Honestly, the commute is killing me. Well, I should be back by eight at the latest.” As much as I felt for Eamon, I almost groaned at his ETA. I didn’t want to be late meeting up with the girls.

“What time will Jeff be home?” I asked, fully aware that Eamon might not know.

“He said between six and seven tonight.” I raised my brows in shock. “I know…he actually answered my text,” Eamon acknowledged. “It’s Halloween, so he might be feeling festive.” That was good to hear; I was actually hoping to run into my older brother. I still hadn’t gotten a chance to speak with him since the attack, even though I had been at the harbor almost daily since then. Jeff was very skilled at eluding me.

Streetlights glowed like orange orbs in the dimming twilight. Children dashed between houses and raced across the road, oblivious to any oncoming traffic. Their shrill screams of excitement and giggles filled the night air. The festive sound reverberated as RJ absorbed the sight before him.

“Where would you like to start?” I asked him. RJ looked around before deciding.

“Let’s go this way.” He turned toward the road that led northeast, eventually cutting up toward Peak Drive.

Every house on the meandering street was impressively decorated for Halloween night, with displays like something from a movie. The dark blue Craftsman house was grilling hotdogs and hamburgers from their driveway while the next-door neighbors provided bags of chips, and the A-Frame-house handed out juice boxes. This community affair wasn’t like any trick-or-treating I had ever seen before. It was a block party, and at the next crossroad was the Fire Station…the main event . As we approached, there was quite a bit of commotion with the wide lawn of the brick building packed with people in costume.

“What is this?” I asked a painted skeleton next to me.

“It’s the haunted maze,” she said. “The fire department does it every year.” The skeleton turned to my brother. “If you’re brave enough to make it through, you will get a candy apple.” She smiled widely. “They’re my absolute favorite.” The skeleton stepped forward as the line moved.

“You want to give it a shot?” RJ asked me. Right now, I was the wuss, not him. Apprehensively, I considered the painted “stone” walls of the maze, designed to resemble the battlements of a castle. Shrieks echoed from beyond the walls as fog machines added to the constructed horrors. Actors with disarmed chainsaws and shovels emerged, slithering through the gathering crowd. Music from Phantom of the Opera blared from hidden loudspeakers.

One of the masked actors stepped in front of me and froze, towering over me. Tilting his head slowly to the side, his unblinking eyes bore into mine, which sent a shiver through me.

“Do we have to go in?” I groaned at the ghoul, hoping he would give me permission to bail on my brother. I could have sworn the person let out a deep chuckle. RJ tugged at my hand as the line continued to move forward. I despise things like haunted mazes, especially those with people in masks jump-scaring you. There was something unsettling about someone concealing their identity; it could allow them to become whoever they hid inside—no matter how dark, twisted, or sick…

Adrenaline coursed through me as we faced the threshold of the maze. A squat old man, notably not in costume, sat on a stool at the door. He wore a hat with the Fire Station’s emblem and held out a donation bucket. Jittery, I dropped a dollar into the bucket, and the man chortled, making RJ smile. “Good luck in there,” the old man said tauntingly.

Shadows layered themselves on top of one another, and I couldn’t see a thing as we stepped inside the haunted, makeshift castle. Sounds seemed to dampen as the darkness pressed in on us, except for the violent throbbing in my ears. Breathe in, breathe out. I reminded myself to stay calm as panic rose in my throat.

“Ow, you’re squeezing my hand too tight,” RJ hissed at me. “We’re not even inside the maze yet, just the entryway.” He pressed his lips together and scrunched up his nose, suppressing his giggling.

“Welcome!” A booming, sinister voice called out from an opening in the black wall, startling me. “Right this way…” The phantom of a man stepped aside and continued, “to your demise.” He laughed menacingly as he waved us through to the dimly lit pathway. RJ led me through room after room of gruesome, horrific scenes, seemingly telling a story of demonic possession and an exorcism. Through wincing eyes, I saw monsters, goblins, and terrors acting out elaborate, nightmarish tableaux. Embarrassingly, each jump scare got to me, and I screamed out loud exactly seven times before we finally exited the castle. From there, we stepped onto the lawn, which now housed the creepiest cemetery I had ever seen.

A thick fog rolled over the browned grass, as tombstones of all shapes and sizes emerged from the shrouded ground. Strobe lights flashed, creating a disorienting effect, while the music thumped with deep bass at a quickening pace, like a panicked heartbeat. I felt my own heartbeat sync with the song.

It was just me and RJ in the graveyard, completely alone. Until I saw him. Standing at the far end of the makeshift cemetery, was the shadowed figure of a man, and I feared him to be the same one that chased Bridget, Sarah, and me that night after the diner, and later attacked us on the dock. The hairs on the back of my neck stood, and my eyes darted around, searching for a way out of this place. A scream built up in my throat. RJ kept tugging me forward, unaware of the man’s presence.

“Come on, ” he urged, pulling hard on my arm. I was frozen with fear and felt my Aecor churn in my chest. Instinctively, I called for its aid, awakening its strength. My feet moved alongside RJ’s, yet my steps were heavy as if I was bound to the soil beneath me. Eyes widening in horror, I watched the figure float toward us, unable to look away. The shadow then rushed forward, and my terror finally unleashed itself from my lips as the scream ripped through me, startling RJ.

“Raina,” the shadow called out, the sound only further confused me as my head spun. On the verge of fainting from fear, I didn’t understand why my name had been spoken with a tone of concern. “Raina, it’s just me. It’s Griffin, you’re safe.” I heard his words, but they didn’t make sense to me as the shadow man became much too close now. His strong hands grasped me, and I gasped.

“She’s totally freaked out.” RJ’s voice was small, shaking. “She hates these kinds of things. I made her come with me.” The poor kid’s words dripped with guilt. My brother’s voice sparked a moment of clarity. I was amidst a panic attack. Breathe in, breathe out. I tried to calm myself as the man’s words finally registered in my mind.

“Griffin?” I blinked rapidly as I made out his features. His astonishingly blue eyes searched mine for recognition. Gathering myself, I realized he had removed his mask, as one of the actors for the haunted maze. We no longer stood in the cemetery, and I was sitting on the curb by the steps of the firehouse. “I actually fainted?” I wondered aloud, and I felt so embarrassed . I knew this was all pretend. But the shadowed figure... That was just Griffin , I reminded myself.

“You’re ok…you’re safe,” Griffin insisted. I looked up at him, letting his words sink in. It had only been Griffin in the cemetery. The lights, sounds, fog, and my own cowardice played tricks on me.

“I’m sorry—” I began to apologize. Griffin shook his head.

“Don’t, you’re alright.” His deep voice was warm, and his hands still held onto me firmly. He must have noticed at once because he slid them free from my arms and a sort of half smile grew on his face. “Bud,” he said to my brother, “why don’t you head inside and grab apples for the two of you. I’m going to make sure your sister is okay.” RJ nodded, hugged me tight, and ran off into the station.

“I’m fine, really,” I said, standing slowly. “I feel like such a–” Griffin stopped me again with a tender look.

“Don’t,” he said sweetly, and I was locked into his gaze. He gently held my wrist and the small of my back, ensuring I was steady. His hand slid up between my shoulders, just below my neck as I turned to face him, adjusting his hold to keep me safe. He was dressed in all black, with a button-down shirt, pants, and heavy boots. His mask was discarded on the curb. “It might not be the best time to say this, but I’m glad you came by tonight.” He cast his eyes down and then back up with a half smirk spreading across his face. His hair was disheveled from the mask, but the look suited him. His sharp jaw was dusted with the hint of a beard. “I mean, I was hoping to see you.” He shifted, and we were now a breath apart.

“To be honest, I’m glad to see you too,” I nearly laughed, happy that it was Griffin standing in front of me instead of the attacker back from the dead. But then, I realized what I said and how Griffin could possibly take it.

Within the quiet moment that followed, more than words passed between us. His hold on me relaxed as his hand fell to my waist. I stared up at him, unblinking and expectantly as he held me. His eyes dropped to my lips, and my mouth parted in silent permission. Without hesitation, Griffin tilted his head just enough for our lips to meet.

His kiss was as gentle as the cold breeze against my skin, and I felt all the fear-birthed tension in me melt away. Griffin kissing me was not what I expected when I agreed to take my brother out on Halloween, but I’ll take it. I leaned into him, deepening the kiss as heat flared between us. The night enveloped us as everything fell away, and all I could focus on was him . Griffin’s fingers laced into my hair, and his grip on my waist tightened with need, unraveling something deep inside of me. My body instinctively craved for more of his touch, making my sexual drought more apparent than ever. Bracing myself with my hands against his chest, his tongue swiped against my bottom lip and our mouths parted to take in mor of each other. Goosebumps rippled across my skin. Beneath my palms, I felt the hardened muscles of his chest, and my mind quickly rerouted to inappropriate places as desire coiled low in my stomach.

“No!” someone shrieked from over Griffin’s shoulder. Loud laughter followed the yell as a group of teenagers came running and stumbling out of the cemetery. The commotion was enough to make me push away from Griffin, breaking our embrace.

Breathlessly, I looked up at him, unsure what to make of this. His teeth grazed his bottom lip as he bent down to pick up his mask. Griffin slid it over his head, and his green irises seemed to burn even brighter through the mask’s eye slits. Pressing his forehead against mine, he leaned into me with a rumble in his chest. “See you later,” he said in a gravelly voice, and a nervous laugh escaped from my chest. He turned to stalk back toward the group of teens, and I followed his path until he disappeared.

Crossing the parking lot of the Firehouse, I entered the small banquet hall where they set up the Halloween treats. RJ was drinking cider at a table in the center, with two wrapped candy apples in front of him. White powder was all over his face and I eyed him curiously. “I ate your donut, too.” he said sheepishly. He wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve.