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“Hang tough. We’re on our way. Do you have any idea what brought them out or where they’re coming from?” I motioned to Delilah before she and Sharah took off. Camille and Morio were still waiting for Shade.
Iris’s voice was shaking. “No, they started to show about an hour ago and now, the yard is filled with them. Bruce and I had just come out to the trailer when they started appearing. I’ve dealt with them before. I know better than to go outside when they’re out there—they’re not good for pregnant women to be around. Bruce thought they were eye catchers at first, but I know the difference.”
“We’re on our way. And we’re bringing a whole ’nother set of problems. Can you call the Wayfarer and tell Derrick I doubt if I’ll be in tonight? And is Nerissa there?” Nerissa had gone to work, but I wasn’t sure if she had returned to her condo or decided to spend the night at the house, and I hadn’t thought to drop in and ask Yugi before we left the building.
“Nerissa? I haven’t heard from her all day. I thought she might be with you. I’ll call her now.” She hung up on me and I quickly filled the others in on what we were facing.
“Will-o’-the-wisps? They usually don’t come out in the cold—at least not this cold.” Camille looked confused.
Will-o’-the-wisps belonged to the Fae family, pretty but tough little buggers. They were mean and dangerous, and we’d faced them once before. The results hadn’t been all that pretty then either. They were also known as Corpse Candles, a delightful name.
“They’re energy eaters,” Morio said. “Remember when we found Aeval in the crystal, in the cave? They were after us because of our magic. The whole town seems to be overrun with psychic leeches of one sort or another.” He let out a long sigh. “We’d better get a move on. I don’t know what we’re going to do, though. What can stop a will-o’-the-wisp?”
I frowned. “I have no idea. Maybe we should contact Aeval?”
Camille shrugged. “No phones out in Talamh Lonrach Oll. How can we get out there in time?”
I glanced over at Shade. We needed him here, and he wasn’t keen on carrying people through the Ionyc Seas because of his Netherworld energy. Apparently it wasn’t exactly a comfortable mix. But…Smoky…
“When we get home, you and Smoky immediately head out there through the Ionyc Seas. Meanwhile, I need to make a phone call.” I didn’t want to tell her I was calling Ivana Krask, because she’d blow up and argue with me, and we couldn’t afford to waste time in a bitchfest.
“To whom?” Camille looked at me suspiciously.
“Never mind. We’re rapidly running out of options. We’ve got a town overrun with ghosts, and now the will-o’-the-wisps are moving in. We need help. Just fucking trust me.” I pushed her gently toward her car. “Go. And the minute you get there, you and Smoky head out.”
“Menolly, be careful.” But she shut up when she saw the expression on my face. “Fine. Meet you at home.”
And with that, we split off to our cars. I glanced at Chase, safe in the backseat. How to get him to the house without the will-o’-the-wisps interfering would be another matter, but we’d deal with that when we got there.
I hit the steering wheel, angry, but at least I had enough restraint not to rip it off the column. “Why the fuck is this happening to us? Why can’t we ever catch a break?” Not expecting an answer—and not getting one—I flipped open my phone and put in a call to Ivana Krask, the Maiden of Karask. It was the last thing in the world I wanted to do, but I couldn’t see any other way out.
Chapter 13
Ivana Krask. To say she was a freak show was putting it mildly. One of the Elder Fae, she lived by her own rules and complained about the lack of “bright flesh,” her chipper term for babies. Served raw. On a plate. Ivana also kept a little garden out back, a kitchen garden to which she confined the ghosts she so loved to torture. I had a feeling those were just the bare bones of her delightful antics.
She answered the phone on the second ring. What the Maiden of Karask was doing with a phone I didn’t know, but some of the Elder Fae had tried to assimilate into society, if only to continue wreaking havoc on the world.
“Ivana? It’s Menolly.” I wondered if she’d remember me, but I needn’t have worried. She remembered me just fine.
“Well, Dead Girl. What are you thinking of tonight, meat on the hoof?” Her tone was jolly. I must have caught her at a good time.
Rule One: Never ask the Elder Fae for favors. If you admit to asking their help, you’re in their debt forever and they’ll take it by the pound out of your hide.
Rule Two: Show respect. But never show fear if you want something from them. Fear would get you in deep shit.
Rule Three: Never welsh on your debts.
Rule Four: Never, ever turn your back on one of the Elder Fae.
All other rules were subject to the matter at hand. And when in doubt, throw the rules book out the window, and run like hell. Because if you have to ask what to do next, they’re going to chase you down till you wish you were dead.
“Ivana, I thought you might be interested in striking a bargain. If you can produce results.” I waited, knowing the inevitable response.
“Bright flesh? You have bright flesh for the bargaining?” Her hungry voice gave me the shivers, and even though I’d be considered the monster by most people, I knew very well she was by far and away worse than I could ever imagine being.
“No bright meat,” I scolded her. “Never bright meat! But prime beef or plump chickens.”
She sounded disappointed. “You are a harsh one, Dead Girl. But…I think I hunger for oinkers. A suckling babe of an oinker, if the deal be struck. But before I commit to such a deal, tell me what you wish to trade for.”
