20. Dancing Under the Pale Moonlight

Chapter 20

Dancing Under the Pale Moonlight

“ W hat is it?” Hugo shouted.

Alice ran to the stairs to investigate the commotion.

“You have to slow down,” Hugo said into his phone as he ran down the stairs into the living room. He was still in his black T-shirt and boxer briefs from the day’s slumber.

“What is it?” Alice asked as she followed behind.

He covered the phone with his hand. “I don’t know. Carol called me in a panic.” He placed the phone on speaker. “Carol, Alice is here. What’s happening?”

Her voice came through the speaker, “They’re outside the house. They’re trying to get in.”

“Who’s trying to get in?” Alice asked.

“These four men. They’re outside trying to break down the door and smash the windows,” Carol said with a hint of panic in her voice.

“They followed us home from the store,” Oliver yelled into the phone.

“What do we do?” Carol asked.

“I’m going to shoot them,” Oliver said .

“Don’t shoot them,” Hugo said.

“Whatever you do, don’t open your door,” Alice yelled. “As long as it’s closed, you’ll be safe.”

“What if they get through the windows?” Carol asked.

“They can’t get through,” Alice reassured her.

Hugo put the phone on mute. “The windows will hold, right?”

Doubt coursed through Alice’s mind as she recast the spell in her mind. She took a sharp breath and held it.

Did I forget a step or mispronounce a word? Were the defenses weakening? No . . . No, I pronounced each word correctly. It will hold. It should hold.

She exhaled. “They should hold . . . I think.”

“We have to help them.”

Alice checked the clock. “I can go.”

“I’m coming with you.”

“The sun’s still up for another fifteen minutes.”

“Damn it,” Hugo said with an expression of anger. “You go. I’ll join you as soon as I can.”

“Stay here.”

“But I want to help.”

“I think they cracked the window!” Carol shouted.

Max barked at the would-be intruders.

Hugo unmuted the phone. “Carol, listen to me. Take Max and Oliver and go to the basement. Wait there. Alice is on the way.”

“Please hurry,” Carol said.

The call ended.

“I didn’t hang up,” Hugo said. He tried calling her back, but it went to voicemail.

Alice and Hugo exchanged glances of anxiety and fear, their eyebrows arched and mouths gaped open.

Alice snapped her fingers, and her coat and hat flew into the living room. She slipped her arms through the sleeves of the coat as if someone was helping her put it on. The hat came to a rest on her head. She buttoned up and pulled her hat snug .

“I’ve got them,” Alice said.

“Do you want me to follow you?”

“Don’t. Stay here in case I send them this way. You’ll need to let them in.”

Hugo shook his head. “Fifteen minutes to sunset?”

“Fifteen minutes,” Alice confirmed. “I’ll have to drive.”

“Be careful.”

“I’m always careful. Besides, I’ll have backup.” She winked to Hugo and then whistled. “Gwennie, let’s go.”

The floating broomstick followed Alice to the door. Alice grabbed the broomstick handle. She paused and they nodded at each other.

“I’ll be back,” she said.

The sunlight poured into the darkened hallway as she opened the door. She trotted to her awaiting SUV. Alice placed Gwennie in the backseat before climbing in. The engine roared to life. Alice and Gwennie took off on their mission.

Alice tapped the steering wheel with every passing moment. She controlled her breathing, inhaling and exhaling with every twist and turn of the vehicle. Flashes appeared in her mind. Flashes of death and destruction. She had traveled this path so many times. It should have only taken her minutes, but time passed like thick molasses. The visions and the endless possibilities weighed heavily on her mind.

Would her defenses hold? Were the Raskins okay?

Her heart pounded. Her mind raced. She held her breath.

The tires of Alice’s black SUV screeched as she brought the SUV to a stop in front of the Raskin’s home. Alice drew in a sharp breath as the four ghouls, armed with rocks and other heavy landscaping stones, smashed their improvised instruments into the windows of the single floor folk Victorian home.

Even after the ghouls’ bombardment of the windows, the defenses Alice had conjured held firm.

After unsuccessful attempts to break through, they moved onto the next window. Two ascended the stairs to the covered porch spanning the full length of the front. The ghouls alternated turns striking the front doorknob with their stones. Through all of their efforts, all of their might, it all proved fruitless. The door held.

She rolled down the back window.

Guinevere popped halfway out of the window.

“Wait here,” Alice commanded. “Wait for my signal.”

The broomstick retreated inside. Alice opened the door and leapt out, charging into battle as she ran up the walkway, stopping halfway between the street and porch steps.

Alice Primrose snapped her fingers and conjured a purple, arcane flame of energy in each hand. She raised her head, peering out from under the brim of her curved witch’s hat. The hem of her black and purple tailcoat flowed in the breeze of the late autumn evening. Her shoulders pulled back and the balls of arcane energy were at her hips.

Like a gunfighter ready for a shootout, Alice was prepped for the quick draw of battle. She inhaled a deep breath, determined to defend her friends . . . No. Not friends. Her family’s home.

“Four against one,” Alice said. “Not good odds for you. I’m feeling merciful, so I’ll offer you a choice. Leave or perish.”

The ghouls held onto their stone implements. They trudged down the steps, raising them above their heads, ready to strike. They picked up speed, racing toward her.

“You want to dance? Let’s dance,” Alice said.

She flung her arm forward, sending the arcane flame hurtling toward the lead ghoul like a bowling ball careening toward a rack of pins. It struck him on the chest and exploded in a dazzling display of arcane sparks. He dropped his stone implement and fell backward onto the cement walkway. The ghoul writhed in pain and evaporated into a cloud of dust.

They continued their march, now closing in halfway to Alice. She threw the other flame, striking one more on the side. He fell to his knees, writhed in pain, and turned to dust as well. This didn’t stop the other two. They continued their relentless march, rushing faster. They were within striking distance.

Alice took a step back. She snapped her fingers to produce more arcane flames. They closed in too fast. She couldn’t concentrate enough to produce the purple flames. The ghouls leaned into their blow, bringing their stones down to strike at Alice.

With a quick jump to her right, she tucked and rolled on the ground to avoid the stones crashing down on her. The ghouls smashed the stones into the sidewalk where Alice once stood. She rolled on the ground and sprung to her feet, ready for the next round.

The ghouls turned to continue their pursuit of Alice. They stepped onto the grass, but stopped. They were frozen, unable to move forward. Alice blinked a few times, unsure of what was transpiring. Her heart and mind raced, but she never let them distract her from the two ghouls standing before her.

They dropped their stones and pivoted, sprinting in the opposite direction. The ghouls disappeared into the darkness as they rounded the corner of a home.

Alice exhaled as she kept an eye out for other would be intruders. Night had fallen and shadows lurked around every corner. The street was quiet and dark. Porch lights weren’t yet illuminated to fight back against the darkness. A car or two drove past; their drivers curious enough to glance Alice’s way before continuing.

The hair stood up on Alice’s arms. Something was off. They wouldn’t run away. She continued her search. Her eyes were ever vigilant against the moving shadows. She held her breath, listening for anything.

There was nothing, only silence and the rapid beats of her pounding heart. A shiver ran down her spine.

Guinevere popped out of the back window, ready for her signal to join in the fight. Alice held up her hand and motioned the broomstick to go back. It retreated once more into the vehicle.

Alice snapped her head at the sound of grass rustling behind her. She couldn’t see anything in the shadows between the houses. She produced another purple flame. This time, her mind was full concentrating on her conjuring abilities. She held her hand aloft, the purple flame now a lantern to guide her way.

The purple light fought back against the darkness. She moved forward, each step deliberate and with purpose. Alice entered the space between the two houses. The Raskins had a simple picket fence with ample viewing into their backyard. Alice dispersed the flame and placed her back against the side of the house. She peered around the corner to avoid being seen by whatever made the rustling noise.

The backyard was covered in darkness and the pale light of a waning crescent moon. She breathed deeply, trying to soothe her racing heart. Her fingers twitched with anxiety. Her shoulders tensed. She stood still as she listened intently for any movement or sound lurking within the shadows.

There was nothing.

You’re imagining things.

Alice exhaled deeply and relaxed her shoulders. She crept to the front of the house. She continued to scan the area with her eyes. Ever alert. Ever vigilant. Satisfied the area was clear, she jogged up the porch steps to the front door.

“Carol. Oliver. It’s Alice. Can you hear me?” Alice shouted.

There was no response.

Alice’s breathing labored. She tried to open the door, but it was still locked. Half-smiling, she pulled out a key from her pocket.

“You can’t win,” a voice growled.

Alice dropped the key back into her pocket. She spun around and ignited an arcane flame in her hand.

“We are too many. We are everywhere,” the voice continued to taunt her.

She recognized the voice. His voice. Sebastian was here, hiding in the shadows. Alice frantically shifted her head, checking for any signs of him .

“Did you really think you could stop us?” His voice came from the end of the porch.

Alice moved to investigate, raising the purple ball of energy to her shoulder.

“Blood will flow through the town streets. We will destroy everything you care for,” he taunted.

His voice sounded like it came from back at the door. Alice doused the purple flame, allowing the darkness to cover the porch. Her breathing increased, nearly drowning out her thoughts. She had to concentrate, be smart in her actions. She tiptoed along the side of the house, trying not to make a sound. The creaky old wood of the porch betrayed her position. She stopped and crouched down, ready to spring into action.

“I see you, little witch. We’ve always seen you. Watching you. Hunting you. Stalking you. You never knew it,” his voice echoed.

It sounded as if it was right in front of her, yet there was nothing there. Only the darkness.

“You still have a choice. You can join us. Join us and we’ll spare your precious town. Your precious friends. You’ll have everything you ever wanted. Everything you ever needed. All we want is for you to turn over the spell, and devote your life to us.”

He tempted her with his rich and velvety words, like an intoxicating elixir plucking at the heart strings of her deepest desires. His words teased and manipulated her into surrendering. She gulped, trying to clear her head of his false promises. Alice knew it would never be as they promised. They would control her, dominate her. She would never be allowed to live the life she wanted. She would be made into a servant of the Savinos, bending to their whims. It would never be enough. They would extract all they could from her, and when they finished, they would dispose of her.

“Join us,” he tempted once more.

Alice closed her eyes, trying to focus on where the voice was coming.

He continued, “ It’s the only way.”

Alice snapped her eyes open. His voice was coming from above her. He was on the roof. Alice leapt forward over the railing. She tucked into a somersault and rolled along the ground. She sprang to her feet, conjuring a new arcane flame. He lurked on the roof above the porch, illuminated by the pale moonlight. She threw the flame at her tempter.

He dodged out of the way. She threw another, barely missing him as he rolled to safety. He retreated up the roof, sliding over the point. He popped his head above the point of the roof. Alice couldn’t hit him from this angle, not without destroying part of the roof. He snarled toward Alice.

“Consider this my official rejection notice!” Alice yelled.

“You’ll never get another chance,” he growled back.

“I don’t need it.”

“Then so be it. This night, the streets of Newbury Grove will run red with blood.”

“You’re not a very good bluff,” Alice said. “I took out two of your ghouls. I’ve driven you into cowering behind the roof. I appear to have the king cornered. I believe in chess I’m supposed to yell out ‘check’ or is it ‘checkmate?’”

He laughed. “What makes you think you have me cornered?”

“I don’t have you cornered,” Alice said. “But my white knight does.” She whistled.

Guinevere sped from the open window of Alice’s SUV like an arrow toward Sebastian. He slid down the back of the back of the roof as the grayish-white broomstick shot above his head. Guinevere circled around and followed him.

Alice took off in a sprint around the side of the house. She braced her hand on the picket fence and leapt over. The backyard was empty. Patio furniture was knocked over where Sebastian had possibly landed. A small shed occupied the corner of the backyard. There was nothing else in the backyard.

“Do you see him?” Alice asked the broomstick.

Guinevere circled in the sky, unable to find its query. Alice ran over to the shed, a new arcane flame in hand. She ran around it, unable to find any signs of Sebastian. She gave the shed door a firm yank, but it refused to budge as it was locked. The backyard stretched out before her, devoid of any signs of another person.

A black SUV, parked in front of the houses which lined the street behind the Raskins’ house, roared to life. With a squeal of its wheels, it sped off down the road.

Guinevere chased after it.

Alice whistled to stop the broomstick. “Let him go. Get back to the car. I’ll check on the Raskins.”

The broomstick gave a final look at the SUV speeding away and then retreated to Alice’s vehicle.

Alice ran to the front of the house. She pulled the key from her pocket and unlocked the door.

“Carol, Oliver!” Alice shouted. “It’s Alice.”

She entered and shut the door behind her.

The house was dark. She entered the living room, which branched off into the kitchen and bedrooms. The living room was decorated with well-kept furniture, personal pictures, and a TV. Beige curtains, framing the front window, were more decorative than functional. Inch thick blinds were drawn shut to seal off the outside world from looking into the house.

“Carol, Oliver!” Alice shouted again.

A sound came from the kitchen. The basement door squeaked open, and she heard footsteps ascending creaky wood stairs.

“Stay back!” Oliver yelled. “I’m armed. We have a dog too.”

Max went running up the stairs and into the living room, greeting Alice with the wag of her tail. She whined, wanting to jump up on her. Alice bent down to scratch her behind the ears.

“Are you two okay?” Alice asked. “They’re gone.”

“Put that thing down before you hurt yourself,” Carol said.

“It’s better to be safe,” Oliver said.

Carol and Oliver Raskin entered the living room. He carried a wooden baseball bat .

“I had this in case they made it inside. They don’t like wood, right?”

“Yeah, but—” Alice said as she stood.

“See, I told you.” Oliver lowered the wooden bat.

“You’d have to stab them with it, though,” Alice finished. She gave Carol a hug and then Oliver. “Are you two okay?”

“A little on edge,” Carol said. “But we’re fine.”

“They’re gone. I don’t think they’ll be coming back,” Alice said.

“Where’s Hugo?” Carol asked.

“He’s at home,” Alice answered. “He stayed behind in case you needed to make a hasty retreat.”

“No one is going to run us out of our home. Not even some vampires,” Oliver said.

Alice paused. A passing thought pressed on her mind.

This was too easy.

“Something doesn’t seem right,” she said. “It was only one of them. They’re always together. Why would one attack here? Unless?—”

As the horror of the situation played out in her mind, Alice’s stomach sank and twisted. Yet again, the Savinos were a step ahead on the chessboard.

“What is it?” Carol asked.

“I need to go. Keep the door shut. Don’t leave until dawn.” Alice left, slamming the door behind her.