Page 69 of The Cursed Sebastian Storm

Sebastian scrambled, bracing an arm on the roof below him so he wouldn’t fall on his head. He managed to free himself and crawl out after Eli. He didn’t see Hazel or Eleanor.

What had flipped the van?

James crawled out closely behind Sebastian. As soon as he was standing, he immediately began checking Sebastian and Eli for injuries. Something rustled in the air above them, and Sebastian looked up. Two shades hovered, peering down at them.

“They flipped us?” James sounded as shocked as Sebastian felt.

“Grab his other arm.” Eleanor’s voice cut through Sebastian’s confusion. She and Hazel were on the other side of the van, helping free Parker.

Eli rushed toward the two women just as the shades struck. One went for Sebastian and James, while the other bore down on the other side of the van.

Strong hands gripped Sebastian’s throat, knocking him off his feet. He couldn’t draw enough breath to form the words to summon fire.

The beast was heavy and undeniably solid. Sebastian had a second to think: this must be one of those damn complex shades before it burst into flames. The pressure on his neck disappeared, only to be replaced by burning. He choked on the air as he drew breath, fire in his face. Then, there was nothing but smoke and shadow.

James’s face filled his vision. “Sebastian.” James cupped his cheeks, anguish in his eyes. “Shit, did I hurt you?”

“I’m okay.” Sebastian pushed himself up. It had been close, but the flames had only been near him for a split second before they’d gone out, and he hadn’t been burned.

Fire flared on the other side of the flipped van.

Eleanor appeared beside them, grabbing their arms and dragging them to standing. “Come on.” She pulled them toward the house.

Hazel and Eli were helping Parker move unsteadily. Eleanor didn’t wait for any of them. She rushed forward, picked up a flowerpot next to the front door, and threw it aside, grabbing a key underneath.

As Sebastian and James rushed to help Hazel and Eli with Parker, movement caught the corner of Sebastian’s vision. “Hurry.”

Eleanor held the front door open. Eli pulled Parker over the threshold, and everyone stumbled inside.

James looked around the darkened hallway. “Where’s Nora?”

Eleanor heaved a ragged breath. “She and her family drove off a few minutes before you got here. They’re leaving town for now.”

“I hope they got out—” Hazel’s words were cut off by a loud hiss.

Shades converged on the doorway. The wards on Nora’s house stopped them from entering, but Sebastian’s skin crawled at the sight of them so close.

Eleanor slammed the door in their faces. “We need to get Parker something to eat.”

“No,” a deep, eerie voice echoed around them. “We must speak.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Ice raced through Sebastian’s veins. He looked from James to the others.

Hazel’s eyes were wide. “Who the fuck said that?”

“I did.” The door behind them burst open, and a bone-chilling wind filled the entryway.

Sebastian whirled around to find the shades gone. It was so dark outside he couldn’t see beyond the front steps. It was like the world ended in a pit of blackness. At first, that was all he saw. Nothing. Then, a form materialized out of the dark.

It was no wonder he hadn’t noticed it at first. The thing seemed to be made of darkness itself. A broad-shouldered figure that had to be close to seven feet tall stood on the threshold. It had no discernible features, no face or details on its body. It was like a silhouette turned solid.

The eerie voice filled the space even though Sebastian saw no mouth move. “Eleanor Ashley and Parker Hayes, Moonlight Falls has been taken. It belongs to those from Beyond. Light will never reach this soil again. You and your people should leave before it is too late.”

There was a stunned silence. As far as Sebastian knew, shades had no understanding of or ability to communicate using human language. Apparently, he was dead wrong.

Eleanor stepped forward. “You know our names?” She sounded stunned as she gestured to herself and the barely conscious Parker.

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