Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

I parked my truck on the side of the dirt road that led to the Arrowhead trailer park. The big reveal with Chief Garcia and Officer Leo was set to take place in the building the pack usually reserved for their internal meetings, as well as game nights.

I opened the door, causing West to jump.

“Quite the alpha response,” I remarked.

“You’re late,” he snarled. “I thought I was going to have to do this without you.”

“Sorry. I had a crazy day.”

“Why do I get the feeling most of your days qualify as crazy?”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Hey, we’re friends now, remember?” My gaze drifted to the room’s setup. “Looks good in here.” There was a long metal table covered in bowls of snacks and bottles of beer. There were only a handful of werewolves in attendance so as not to overwhelm the guests.

“The beer was my idea,” Anna said proudly.

“We figured alcohol was a necessity,” West added .

“Can’t hurt.”

West stalked the length of the rug, eyeing the bowls. “Do you think we have enough snacks? Elena likes pretzel sticks.”

“Relax,” I said. “The chief is going to lose her appetite the second she learns the reason for this meeting.”

West halted and looked at me. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

I shrugged. “Sort of?”

“What if she wants to drug test us?” Bert asked.

West raised his eyebrows. “Would that be a problem for you?”

Bert’s gaze darted to Anna. “No.”

“She isn’t going to drug test anyone,” I said. “At most, she’ll think we’re nuts or trying to prank her.”

West shook the nervous tension from his hands. “This is ridiculous. I haven’t felt this riled up since the first time I kissed Sage.”

The other werewolves exchanged glances at the mention of the fae’s name. I wasn’t sure how to interpret their reaction and now wasn’t the time to pry.

Paulie turned away from the window. “They’re here.”

Bert scooped a handful of potato chips from a bowl and shoved them into his mouth. “What?” he said, in response to Anna’s look of judgment, crumbs flying from his mouth. “I eat when I’m stressed.”

The door swung open and Chief Elena Garcia entered the room, quickly followed by Officer Leo. The chief’s eyelids drooped, and her hair was crying out for a cut. Even with the addition of Leo, the safety of Fairhaven clearly kept her occupied.

Same, chief. Same.

She surveyed the room. “Is it game night?”

“No, chief. No games tonight,” West said. “This is business. ”

“Business, huh?” She seemed mildly amused. “What’s this about?”

“It’s a meeting especially for you,” West said. “We have an important matter we’d like to discuss with you.”

The chief frowned. “Is this about the parking meters? Because I told you it would cost too much to upgrade them. Maybe when the town has more money in the budget.”

“The police are only in charge of monitoring the meters, not installing them,” Leo added.

“This isn’t about the parking meters,” West assured her. “This is a safety issue.”

The chief cut a curious look at Leo. “Did you know about this?”

He shook his head.

“Come in. Sit,” West said. “Can I offer you refreshments?” He motioned to the table against the wall that was laden with snacks and drinks.

Leo spotted the beer bottles. “Is that a Hazy IPA?” He seemed to remember he was accompanied by his boss. “Or water. Water’s good.”

“You’re off duty,” the chief said. “Have a beer if you want one.”

“I highly encourage alcohol for this conversation,” West said.

Chief Garcia did a double take. “Now you have my full attention.”

Leo popped the lids off two beer bottles and handed one to the chief. “Ooh, are those soft pretzels?”

“Got them from Gallo’s,” Paulie said. “Best bakery in the county.”

Leo doused a pretzel in yellow mustard. “I feel like this is a surprise birthday party, only it isn’t my birthday.”

“More of a funeral,” Anna murmured.

West elbowed her in the side .

Bert thrust a soft pretzel at the chief. “Have one before they go stale.”

She stared at him as she reluctantly accepted the pretzel. “Is there going to be a PowerPoint presentation?”

“No slides,” West said.

“But only because the pictures wouldn’t do the topic justice,” Anna added.

“You’d better get on with it,” the chief said. “I can feel my heart rate increasing with every new sentence.”

West blew out a nervous breath. “We know you’ve probably been wondering about the creatures spotted in town the other day. The flying dogs.”

The chief scratched the scruff of her neck. “They were real? I thought they were part of a collective fever dream.” She noticed our stares. “What? My grandad was big on acid trips in the sixties. I’ve heard a lot of stories.”

“They were as real as the hair on West’s head,” Anna said.

“That’s impossible.” She paused. “Isn’t it?”

Leo swilled his beer. “You said they were rabid bats.”

“I lied,” I said.

“I told you I trusted you,” Leo shot back. “And that’s how you repay me?”

I pushed aside my fears and dove in the deep end. “Jessie Talbot was right. They were basically giant flying dogs. They’re called the Erinyes, otherwise known as the Hounds of Hades.”

Leo laughed; the chief’s face remained stoic.

“They’re otherworldly creatures who can take the form of dogs,” I continued.

“Like werewolves?” he asked.

West held up a finger. “We’ll get to those in a minute.”

Leo glanced at the chief. “Is there a hidden camera in here? ”

The chief said nothing. Her brown eyes were sharp and focused, and her lips were pressed together. I waited for her to ask a question, but only Leo stepped up to the plate.

“If they were real, why couldn’t I see them?” Leo asked.

“Because you don’t have the Sight,” I explained, “but many residents of Fairhaven do, especially those whose families have been here for generations. Somewhere in their human bloodlines, a supernatural slipped in— most likely one of the fae—and passed down their ability to recognize nonhumans and otherworldly creatures.”

Chief Garcia eyed me closely. “And you have the Sight?”

Here we go . “I don’t need it. I’m not entirely human.”

“Does that mean you have fae blood?” she asked.

“Not to my knowledge.” I couldn’t quite bring myself to reveal my identity. I’d been doing a commendable job of sharing my true self with the friends I’d made in Fairhaven, yet my tongue grew dry at the prospect of telling the police. To be fair, my resistance to authority ran deep thanks to Pops.

To my great relief, West intervened. “I don’t have fae blood either. I’m a werewolf.”

The chief strangled a laugh. “You were serious earlier? An actual werewolf? Like you turn furry once a month and howl at the moon?”

“I can shift anytime I choose, and I only howl as a means of communication with my pack.”

“Your pack,” the chief repeated slowly. The realization hit her as other members of the pack stepped forward.

Anna waved from her position at the snack table. “We’re the pack.”

“Whoa,” Leo said. “Everybody in the whole trailer park?”

“Every single one,” West confirmed.

Chief Garcia looked ready to faint. “Even the kids? ”

“Well, we don’t spring fully formed from a wolf’s head,” Anna said.

West glared at her. “Yes, even the kids.”

“Somebody get the chief a glass of water, please,” I said. “And a chair.”

A chair materialized behind her in time to catch her as she fell backward. Bert placed a full glass of water in her hand.

The chief pressed the glass against her forehead. “I’m going to need a minute,” she murmured.

“How about we clear the room for our guests?” West suggested. “Everybody out except Lorelei.”

The werewolves filed out of the building. Bert snagged two beer bottles as he passed the table.

Leo pulled out a chair and sat. “My legs are wobbly. Is that normal?”

“There’s no normal in this situation,” I said.

“How do you feel?” West asked the chief.

She covered her face with her hands. “Like an idiot.”

West pulled over another chair to sit beside her. “I’m sorry, Elena. I know it’s a lot to digest, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

She peered at him between her fingers. “Why now? Because of the flying hounds? Are they a threat?”

“They didn’t come to play fetch,” West said.

“But they didn’t hurt anyone, did they?” she asked. “I would know, right?”

“They didn’t hurt anyone,” I said, “but we think they’ll be back. That’s why West and I decided it was time to loop you in.”

“What do they want?”

“That’s not important right now,” I said. I didn’t want to overwhelm them with details. It would be hard enough for them to absorb what we’d said so far .

The chief glanced at West. “There’ve been other creatures over the years, haven’t there? These Erinyes aren’t the first.”

West nodded. “More than I can count.”

“Oh, God.” The chief grew quiet. I suspected she was reviewing other events in her mind, finally making sense of events that had puzzled her in the past. Leo swapped the glass of water in her hand for the beer bottle. With a blank stare, the chief brought the bottle to her lips and drank.

“I’m sorry,” West said. “I know how difficult this must be.”

The chief’s face paled. “Officer Lindley,” she whispered. “Was she killed by a monster?”

West’s jaw tensed. “Yes.”

“I thought all those attacks were wild animals.”

“Some of them were, only not the type of animals you thought,” he replied.

Leo swiveled to face me. “Are you a werewolf, too? Is that why you two are working together?”

“I’m not a werewolf.”

“Vampire?” He sounded almost hopeful.

“Definitely not,” West answered for me.

“Vampires are real, though, right? I mean, if werewolves are, they have to be.”

“Vampires are real,” I confirmed.

Chief Garcia peered up at me. “I always knew there was something different about you. Now I finally get to know what it is.”

I exchanged glances with West, who nodded encouragement. “I’m a goddess,” I told them.

An amused smile lit up Leo’s face. “Somebody thinks highly of herself.”

“She’s an actual goddess, Leo,” West said.

The chief’s large brown eyes fixed on me. “Anyone I’ve heard of?”

“Doubtful, but you’ve probably heard of my parents. ”

Leo slapped his hands together. “Ooh, is your dad Zeus?”

“Zeus is my uncle.”

The chief’s mouth fell open. “Holy crap. You’re dead serious.”

I touched my nose. “You’re getting warmer, pun intended.”

“Hades?” Leo asked. “Your dad is the god of the underworld?”

“Yes, and my mother is Persephone.”

“Is that why I couldn’t find information about you?” the chief asked. “Lorelei Clay doesn’t really exist?”

“Oh, she exists,” I said. “I am Lorelei, but I’m also Melinoe. I was reborn into this body to human parents. The reason you couldn’t find more information is complicated.” If I mentioned the Slavic Fates and the invisible rose mark that kept me hidden for thirty-five years, I might push the chief over the edge. She seemed to be barely hanging on as it was.

Leo seemed to be taking the news more in stride. “Hey, Lorelei. That mouthy kid we met in the forest recently, when I was out for a run. He wasn’t a kid, was he?”

“No, he was a hobgoblin.”

“I knew it!” He paused. “Well, I didn’t know he was a hobgoblin because I have no clue what that is, but I knew he wasn’t a normal kid. I just wasn’t sure what to make of him. His shoes were so weird, like a time-traveling Pilgrim child.”

“Without the Sight, some creatures appear human,” I explained. “Your eye skips right over the things that would reveal them for what they truly are, like pointed ears or fangs. Your brain fails to perceive it. Other creatures are invisible in their entirety. It just depends.”

“So I might’ve seen a hundred supernatural creatures since I moved here and assumed they were all human?” the chief asked .

“You probably have,” I said. “This trailer park alone has dozens of them.”

Leo seemed more excited than anything else. Chief Garcia, on the other hand…

“Do you have a bucket handy?” she asked. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

In a flash, West raced to the table and dumped potato chips from a bowl, returning with the receptacle. The chief held the bowl on her lap with a white-knuckle grip.

“What else exists?” Leo asked. “Witches?”

“Yes,” I said. “Almost anything you can think of probably exists in one form or another.”

“The Loch Ness monster?” He sucked in an exhilarated breath. “Bigfoot?”

“I suspect Bigfoot sightings are werewolves midshift,” West said. “Nobody sticks around long enough to see the end result.”

“There are Yetis, though,” I added. “But they tend to stick to colder regions in the north. I’m not sure we have any in Pennsylvania.”

Leo slapped his cheeks. “I’m dying inside. Seriously. You have no idea what’s happening to my organs right now.”

“Me, too,” the chief said, “but I think my experience might be a little different from yours.” She drew a shaky breath. “Boy, do I wish I still smoked.”

West clapped her shoulder. “It’s going to be okay. I promise.”

We lapsed into a momentary silence as the police digested everything they’d learned. I took the opportunity to grab two beers and passed one to West.

“These creatures…” the chief began. “How do they get here? Did the flying hellhounds cross through New York City’s airspace undetected because they’re invisible to most people? ”

West and I exchanged looks. I’d let him field this one.

“Fairhaven is special,” West said. “There’s a reason otherworldly creatures are drawn here.”

“The idyllic downtown atmosphere?” Leo proposed.

West broke into a grin. “While we appreciate that, I’m talking about a more powerful force. A crossroads.”

Chief Garcia set the bowl on the floor beside her. “I know Fairhaven was historically a crossroads town. What does that have to do with it?”

“Not that kind of crossroads,” West said. “This one is a gateway where multiple realms converge. The magical energy generated by the Falls feeds them.”

“You’re telling me I have been the chief of police of a town that attracts monsters because of some magical energy current, and I didn’t have a clue?”

“Wild Acres covers a lot of land,” West said diplomatically. “It’s hard to know everything that goes on…”

“It’s my job to know.” She shot to her feet and ripped off her badge. “I don’t deserve to be the chief.”

West jumped in front of her to block her path to the door. “Elena, listen to me. There’s no way you could’ve known. None. That world is unknown to you.”

She searched his face. “Then why tell me now, after all these years?”

“Because the tide is turning,” I said.

“In other words, trouble is coming,” she replied.

West’s voice softened. “Yes.”

“Big T trouble or little T trouble?”

Leo snorted. “I don’t think they’d stage this intervention for little T trouble.”

She rubbed her temples. “If there’s a doorway that draws in these monsters, how have we managed to avoid being invaded by them?”

“One of us usually takes care of any problems that arise,” West said. “When Lorelei moved to town, she made us all step up our game.”

“But the problems are coming faster and more furiously,” I added. “There are situations arising in other realms that have the potential to impact us.”

“Like what?” the chief asked.

I cut a quick glance at West. “I don’t want to drown you in details.”

The chief looked grim. “Take me to the crossroads. I want to see.”

Leo punched the air. “Ooh, yes!”

West frowned. “Now?”

“Now is as good a time as any.” She reaffixed her badge. “If I’m going to serve as the chief of police to this town, I need to know exactly what I’m dealing with.”

“We can take you there,” I said.

West typed a quick text message. “I’m relieving the guards of their duties until we’re finished.”

The chief perked up. “Guards?”

“We post guards at the crossroads to alert us to any imminent threats,” West explained. “We have a text chain for emergencies, which Lorelei is on.”

“There’s also a list of approved visitors,” I jumped in, “and we don’t report locals who come and go out of respect for their privacy.”

“An entire operation right under my nose.” She shook her head. “I’m equal parts mortified and impressed.”

“You have enough on your plate with human world issues,” West said. “We didn’t want to burden you.”

“It isn’t a burden, West. It’s my job.”

I understood her sentiment all too well.

West used an industrial flashlight to illuminate our path as we walked through the dark forest to the crossroads.

“Dude, can I see your wolf form?” Leo asked .

“Another time.”

Chief Garcia was noticeably quiet. Finally, she said, “Those bodies in Bone Lake…”

“Supernatural causes,” I said.

“And Vincenzo Magnarella. He wasn’t human, was he?”

“Vampire,” I said. “A very nasty one.”

“How did he die?”

“He was eaten by a creature known as a kulshedra,” I said.

“I was surprised the kulshedra didn’t reject the taste and spit him out,” West added.

“This really does feel like Christmas and my birthday rolled into one,” Leo said.

The chief offered a weak smile. “I’m glad one of us is enjoying this.”

“Here we are,” I said, as we arrived at the two large oak trees that stood sentry at the crossroads. “You can identify the trees by this mark.” I motioned for West to shine the light on the bark.

The chief peered at the outline of a tree carved into the trunk. “What is it?”

“The image of Yggdrasil,” I said. “You might know it as a sacred tree in Norse mythology.”

She traced the carving with her finger. “Except it’s a real place, not a myth.”

“It’s real,” I confirmed.

“Earlier this week, we were visited by a group of Egyptian creatures from their underworld, the Duat,” West said. “They would’ve eaten the guards if Lorelei hadn’t intervened.”

Chief Garcia’s head jerked toward West. “And will the creatures be back?”

“I hope not, but no promises,” I said. “I tried to direct Apep’s attention elsewhere.”

“Apep? ”

“The Egyptian god of the underworld. Looks like a giant serpent-devil.”

Her eyes glazed over. “Got it.”

“Isn’t there any way to close the crossroads?” Leo asked.

“We’ve explored that option already,” I said. “The answer is no. There’s simply too much magical energy fueling it, thanks in part to the Falls.”

“It’s also supporting multiple realms,” West interjected. “Maybe if it were a portal to only one realm, we could manage it, but ours is unusual.”

“Lucky us,” the chief said under her breath.

“We post guards twenty-four-seven, and the text chain is active at all hours,” I told her.

She nodded. “I want to be added to the chain.”

“And me,” Leo said.

I peeked at West to gauge his reaction.

“I’ll add you both under one condition,” he said. “The messages are informational only. You are to take no action, no matter what you read.”

“What if it’s a giant sea monster?” Leo asked.

“Then it’s unlikely to come through the crossroads,” I said. “No water.”

“I can’t read about a threat to the residents of Fairhaven and sit on my hands,” the chief said.

“Odds are the threat won’t even be visible to you,” West said in a gentler tone than he typically used. “There’d be nothing for you to do.”

“I promise if there’s a way you can help, we’ll ask you,” I added.

“Teamwork makes the dream work,” Leo said, raising his hand for a high-five.

Aite had made the same remark not long before she died. I brushed the memory aside. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on regrets .

“Thank you for finally trusting me enough to share this information,” Chief Garcia said.

“It isn’t that I didn’t trust you before,” West replied. “I’ve always trusted you. Like I said, I didn’t want to burden you with something impossible for you to deal with.”

“And like I said, I’m the chief of police, West. If there are flying monkeys to bring down, I’ll figure out a way to get it done.” Her brow creased. “Are there flying monkeys?”

“Now those I haven’t seen,” West replied. “Lorelei?”

“I’m sure there’s some creature that resembles a flying monkey, but not like in The Wizard of Oz .”

“Bummer,” Leo said. “Those are the coolest part of the movie.” He turned to face the crossroads and spread his arms wide. “Should I feel anything?”

“You might,” I said, “but not necessarily. Sometimes people feel something isn’t quite right, but they can’t put their finger on it.”

“Like the hobgoblin?”

“Exactly. If you’re roaming through the woods and you feel an odd sensation, you’ll fill in the blanks based on your known experiences. Bear, coyote, but not a multirealm crossroads.”

Leo shook his head in awe. “So if I go in there, where will I end up?”

“Hard to say. More than likely, somewhere you’d very quickly want to leave.”

He twisted to view the chief. “How do we not get more missing person cases in Fairhaven?”

“We’ve had plenty over the years.” Her expression grew solemn. “Like the hikers that went missing around Bone Lake. Is the monster still in the lake?”

“No. The lake is safe,” West said.

“But there is a water spirit that lives there now,” I added. “His name is Goran. He’s friendly. Fond of water lilies. ”

“We can’t predict when trouble will come through those trees,” West said. “I can only promise you that, when it does, we have your back.” He nodded to me. “Lorelei has accepted the role of liminal deity of the crossroads, which makes her its official guardian.”

“I’d like to see you put that on a business card,” Leo joked.

“Is this why you don’t want to work as an investigator?” Chief Garcia asked. “Because you already have a job?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t get paid for this one.”

The chief’s brow furrowed. “What if you did?”

“I don’t see how.”

“I don’t see yet either, but if you’re risking your life to protect this town, you should be on the payroll, the same as us.” She gestured to Leo. “You, too, West. The pack should be compensated for the work they do. I can’t promise you a retirement fund and health insurance, but if I handle this right, I should be able to send some money your way.”

I waved her off. “I wouldn’t be comfortable accepting payment.”

“You’re not Spider-Man,” Leo said. “And you have a big, old house crying out for restoration.”

“And new ductwork,” I admitted.

“Let me see what I can do,” Chief Garcia said. “Please.”

I shifted from one foot to the other. “If you’re sure.”

“I wouldn’t feel good about myself if I didn’t try.” She zigzagged a finger at the crossroads. “Is this why you moved here?”

“No. It was a coincidence.” Although there may have been higher powers at work; it was impossible to know for certain.

“More like serendipity,” the chief said. “Whatever the reason, I’m glad you’re here.”

Leo bumped my shoulder with his. “What are your powers? Anything cool like webs that shoot from your wrists?”

“I think we’ve probably overloaded your brains enough for one day. Why don’t we leave that conversation for another time?”

“What other creatures live here?” the chief asked.

“You name it; there’s probably one in Fairhaven. Incubi. Mages. Ghosts.”

Neither of us mentioned demons.

Leo danced in front of him. “Who’s a vampire? Anyone I’ve met?”

West shrugged. “Probably.”

He tapped his cheek. “Let’s see. Who’s the sexiest person in town?”

“You’re on the wrong track,” I advised.

He clasped his hands in prayer form. “Can you just tell me?”

“I’m not doxing anyone, and neither is West. If they want to tell you themselves, that’s up to them.”

“Now I’m going to see everybody I meet as a potential vampire,” Leo said, not sounding the least bit sad about it.

“What’s an incubi?” the chief asked.

“Incubus is the singular,” I replied. “It’s someone who feeds off sexual energy to live.”

Leo jerked toward me. “Say what now?”

The chief lowered her head. “I don’t need the details.”

“I do,” Leo said.

“Let’s table this discussion for now,” I suggested.

Leo gazed at the crossroads. “I feel like this is my lucky day.”

“You may not feel that way once the dangers become more apparent,” West said.

“You think I’ll get the Sight now that I know the truth?” His eyes widened. “Can someone with magic give me the Sight? I’d be much better at my job if I could see all the scary things.”

Chief Garcia nodded thoughtfully. “That’s not a bad idea. Can we make that happen?”

“I’ll speak to a friend,” I said. “See if she has any ideas.”

“First, you need to decide if that’s what you really want,” West said. “It would change your world.”

Chief Garcia gazed at the crossroads in wonder. “I think you’ve already accomplished that tonight.”