Page 19 of Frosted Torment

“Don’t touch anything,” Lex cautioned.

I inhaled, absorbing the catastrophic scene. The truck was so mangled I couldn’t tell front from back. As I drew nearer, I noticed a foot protruding from the weedy ditch beside one of the massive tires, which had rolled closer to the road’s edge. A woman lay motionless face down in the dirt, dressed all in black with heavy boots, showing no signs of life.

My body shook as I wondered if she was the thing that had attacked me, or an innocent bystander. I prayed it was the former. I inched closer when Lex’s iron grip clasped my wrist.

“Stop!” Lex’s voice echoed across the fields surrounding us.

His eyes pleaded with me, and his chest heaved. He wouldn’t let me go until I agreed. His raised voice echoed across the empty fields surrounding us.

His eyes pleaded for me to obey. I nodded, and he released my arm, poised to grab it again if I moved any closer to the woman. His strength astonished me.

I pivoted to see Ivy and Jossy, their eyes resembling flickering lights and expressions taut. My head swiveled back to Lex,remembering what I’d noticed in his eyes on New Year’s Eve. I’d thought it was a trick of the light then, but now Lex’s eyes churned like fog rolling over a stormy sea. I looked back at Jossy and Ivy, theirs now subdued.

My voice trembled. “What’s going on with your eyes?”

“Noa, breathe. We’ll explain everything.” Jossy stepped toward me, his tone gentle. “But something very wrong has happened here, and we need to figure it out.”

I glared at him and folded my arms. “Answer the damn question!”

“Not until I know you’re thinking straight,” he said.

Ivy shook her head, her curtain of purple hair swaying gently. “I don’t think she’s ready yet.”

“Back the fuck off!” I shrieked and raised both hands for them to stop.

The tension mounted as we stood circled together, everyone on edge. My body shook with adrenaline and fear, and my feet flexed in my shoes. I struggled to keep my trembling hands steady at my sides.

“Stop avoiding this and do not lie to me, Jossy.” I kept my eyes glued to him. “I want no part of dark magic, demons, or these Baneful beings. But someone here better start explaining now.”

Lex’s eyes flickered at me, one brow raised. “But you talk to ghosts and do tarot readings?”

“What I do is not dark magic, jerk. Besides,” I lectured, “Uno and Dos took off when all this started.”

Lex stood upright, his voice a mere whisper. “I’m not trying to make it worse for you, Noa. Or even more difficult.”

He turned away from me with his hands up in defeat and walked toward the church parking lot.

“And another thing,” I called after him. “What I do is a spiritual connection with the other side. I was born with this gift!”

He spun back toward me, irritation lacing his voice. “As were we. What exactly do you think all this is?” He flung his arm out, gesturing around us.

My eyes narrowed, holding his gaze. “Not sure, but it can’t be anything good. I saw you using those freaky powers.”

“The same ones that saved your life, Noa.” His voice rang with conviction. “I will do everything I can to protect you. Always.”

His words surprised me, and I stood unable to respond. Ivy moved toward me as I glanced back at the woman next to the tire. Jossy touched her arm and shook his head, but Ivy wrapped herself around me anyway. A sense of calm engulfed my body.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

She leaned her head on my shoulder, her silky hair brushing my cheek. “Helping. I don’t blame you for the fear and panic, Noa. But we need to talk about it calmly.”

“That demon is dangerous,” Jossy advised, his tone grave. “And she’s the one who scratched you.”

I touched Ivy’s head as a rush of calm flowed through me and released a relaxing breath. “I’m good. You can let go.”

Ivy bounced in delight as I stepped away. “The ability to soothe and ease situations is one of my powers,” she divulged.

“Uh huh,” I said, my jaw tense. “Are you the Baneful?”

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