Page 121 of Into the Mist

Karen stared at her. “You didn’t see the shining door-like thing that opened or the baby goat?”

“Nope. What I did over the body of the goat was tell it how sorry I was that it had died, and then I urged its spirit to go free—to enter the Goddess’s realm, which Pagans often refer to as the Summerlands. Karen, Iimagineda glowing entrance and the spirit of the goat trotting happily through it.”

“Mercury, that is exactly what I saw. I–I’m not making it up!”

“I believe you. I’m shocked, but I believe you.”

“And what about the sparks you threw with Ford?”

“Today is Ostara, the Spring Equinox. It’s a Sabbat—a sacred Pagan holiday—like Easter is for you. I usually have friends over for Ritual. To simplify it greatly, that means that we call on the elements, as well as the goddesses and gods; honor nature; and then, as part of my Practice, we write blessings on pieces of prayer paper, light the papers, and toss them into the air, where they flame and thenextinguish in a second or two. Ford and I performed a mini version of my Ostara Ritual and Iimaginedthat I was tossing prayer paper into the air after lighting it.”

Karen looked stunned. “I saw it… just like the glowing door and the spirit of the goat. What does it mean?”

“Well, I think we should talk with Stella about it, but I have a feeling it means that your blood might actually have been changed too. It seems you’re able to see the—”

“Get in there! Now!”

“Ron, there’s no reason to be rough with her. You know I abhor violence and do not condone torture.”

From the far side of the roof, voices lifted with the wind. Mercury pressed her finger against her lips as Karen’s mouth dropped open. Then, she gestured for the older woman to follow her as she crawled across the roof and slowly, silently, got to her knees so that she could look down on the courtyard that was so carefully concealed from everyone. Beside her, Karen did the same.

Amber had certainly been telling the truth about one thing: the large, square courtyard was covered with garden beds, but they weren’t any kind of a mess. They wereburstingwith vegetables. In the center of the courtyard, surrounded by dozens of tomato plants, were two familiar male shapes—Ron and Wes. Wes carried a lantern exactly like the one Amber had led them to the Suburban with the night before. He placed it on the earth in a round space between the tomato beds. Even in its wan light, Mercury could clearly see the beefsteak tomatoes that swelled on the vine, ripe and ready to pick.

Then Ron stepped aside and Mercury realized that Amber and Mayor Eva Cruz stood near the third woman. She had been knocked to her knees before them. Her hands and ankles were duct-taped—as was her mouth. The full moon glinted off the silver in her long hair as she glared up at the people who held her captive.

“It’s Moira!” Karen whispered.

CHAPTER

36

MERCURY FELT ODDLYdetached as she watched the scene unfolding below them. She didn’t notice the roughness of the roof against her knees. She didn’t feel the cold bite of the wind. Her whole being was focused on Moira.

Mayor Cruz moved so that she stood in front of Moira. Mercury couldn’t see the mayor’s face, but she had a clear view of Moira. The woman didn’t cringe. She wasn’t crying and didn’t even look frightened. She simply stared defiantly at Eva Cruz.

“I hate that you’ve forced me to do this.” The mayor spoke softly, but the courtyard amplified her voice, lifting it to the rooftop. “Had you simply cooperated, everything would have been fine. I would’ve brought your goats into town. I’ve even set up a pen for them in Cowden Park. You could’ve chosen from any of the houses near the park and lived there happily, comfortably. But no. You couldn’t be a team player.”

Even through the duct tape covering Moira’s mouth, Mercury could see that woman sneered at the mayor.

Cruz shook her head. “I couldn’t let you go out there, back to your dingy ranch in the middle of nowhere. You’d get snatched by marauders in an instant.” The mayor crouched before Moira so she could look into her eyes. “You green bloods are too valuable for that. We’re in an apocalypse, you know. Food is going to get tough to come by pretty soon.”

Moira’s brow furrowed as she stared at Cruz.

The mayor laughed humorlessly. “You don’t even know, do you? Your blood—it causes plants to grow.”

Ron coughed, a wet sound that made Mercury cringe. Beside her, Karen gripped her hand as tightly as a lifeline.

Amber rounded on Ron. “Did I not tell you to see a doctor about that cough and that godawful bloody nose?”

“I did. Said there wasn’t a reason for either and they’d probably just go away,” Ron muttered.

“Ugh. It can’t be soon enough,” said Amber. “Madam Mayor, would you let Ron and Wes and me take care of the rest of this?”

Eva Cruz stood and brushed dirt off her hands. “Yes, I believe I will. I’ll be out in the Suburban. Please be quick. I have a decent bottle of wine waiting for me to wash away that festival swill.” She looked down her pert, perfect nose at Moira. “I really wish you’d been a team player.” As she strode to the exit, the mayor told Wes, “Put her over there by the potatoes afterward. We’ve discovered from the last two that even their meat makes things grow.”

As soon as the mayor was gone, Amber went to Ron, who stood closest to Moira. He coughed again, sniffed, and spat.

“Ron, that’s disgusting. Get out of my way. I’ll do it.” Amber grabbed something out of Ron’s hand and moved behind Moira. Moonlight glinted off the blade of a hunting knife. As Mercury clutched Karen’s hand, Amber fisted Moira’s hair. In one swift motion she pulled back her head and slit Moira’s throat.