Page 1 of Howls & Harvest

Chapter 1

I GRIP THE STEERINGwheel of my Toyota, my knuckles white as I navigate the winding Montana road. The GPS on my phone stubbornly refuses to acknowledge the existence of Evershift Haven, but Suzette’s directions linger in my mind. “Just follow the feeling,” she’d said cryptically over the phone. “You’ll know when you’re close.”

The autumn landscape blurs past my windows in a blur of gold and crimson. I shake my head, still struggling to process Suzette’s sudden change in living circumstances. I’m thrilled she quit being an attorney, since it made her miserable and sucked all the fun from her life, but it’s a drastic change to uproot everything and move to a small mountain town. Plus, she’s been a bit tightlipped about her new life and her boyfriend, Throk.

He’s probably some Norwegian guy into Scandinavian death metal with a name like that. Surely, it isn’t his given name. I have my doubts and reservations, but Suzette sounds happier than she has in years, so I’m going in with an open mind.

A flicker of movement catches my eye, and I slam on the brakes. There, standing at the side of the road, is Suzette. My sister looks exactly as she always has—perfectly pressed pantsuit, hair neatly pulled back, and not a hint of being a groupie for a death metal band.

“Suzette?” I call out, rolling down my window. “What are you doing out here?”

She strides toward my car with a smile. “Waiting for you, of course. Pull over, Candice. We’re almost there.”

I obey, guiding my car onto the gravel shoulder. She opens the passenger door and slides in beside me. “Just give it a second,” she says, her tone maddeningly calm.

“Give what a second? Suzette, what’s going on?”

My words die in my throat as a shimmering flash of light engulfs the car. For a moment, everything goes white, and I squeeze my eyelids shut against the brightness. When I open them again, the world has changed.

Gone is the empty Montana road. Instead, we’re parked at the entrance to a quaint town square that looks like it’s been plucked from a storybook. Cobblestone streets wind between Tudor-style buildings adorned with strings of twinkling lights. The air is filled with the scent of cinnamon and woodsmoke, and I swear I can hear the faint strains of music drifting on the breeze.

“Welcome to Evershift Haven,” Suzette says, grinning at my slack-jawed expression. “Grizelda arranged to bring you straight here. When I accidentally drove through the barrier, it killed Vivi...which reminds me, you’re going to love the new her.” She grins.

I blink rapidly, certain I must be hallucinating. “This... this isn’t possible. How did we get here? Where are we?”

Suzette reaches over and pats my hand. “I know it’s a lot to take in. I reacted the same way when I first arrived, but I promise you, everything you see is real...and magical.”

I turn to face her, searching for any sign this is an elaborate prank, but all I see is sincerity—and excitement. “You’re serious? This place...is actually magical?” I can’t hide my skepticism.

She nods. “More than you can imagine.”

At her direction, I guide my car through the winding streets of Evershift Haven, my knuckles white on the steering wheel. Suzette chatters excitedly beside me, pointing out various shops and landmarks.

“Oh, look.” She gestures to a quaint storefront with a sign that reads “The Whimsical Wardrobe.” “That’s where I got this amazing sweater that changes color based on my mood. Right now, it would probably be flashing like a disco ball.”

I force a laugh, trying to keep my eyes on the road and not on the impossibilities surrounding us. A group of children runs past, one of them floating a few inches off the ground.

“Suzette,” I say, my voice strained. “This isn’t funny anymore. What’s really going on here?”

She turns to me, her expression softening. “I know it’s a lot to accept, Candi, but I’m not playing a joke on you. This is real.”

I pull the car over, unable to concentrate on driving. “Real? You expect me to believe magic is real? That this whole town is...what? Some kind of magical dimension?”

“Well, yes,” Suzette says. “That’s exactly what it is. A pocket dimension, where magic thrives and magical beings can live freely.”

I close my eyelids, counting to ten. When I open them, the fantastical scene remains unchanged. “Okay, let’s say for a moment I believe you. Why are you here? You’re not magical.”

Suzette shifts in her seat, a hint of excitement in her voice. “Actually, I am. Or at least, I have the potential to be. Remember how I always had a knack for knowing exactly what someone needed in court? Turns out, I have latent empathic abilities. I’ve been learning to develop them here.”

I stare at her, trying to reconcile this information with the sister I’ve known all my life. “So, you just abandoned your career, your life, for...this?”

“I didn’t abandon anything, Candi. I found myself.” She reaches out, placing a hand on my arm. “And I think you could too, if you give it a chance.”

I shake my head, pulling away. My sister has somehow found herself in a cult. And they use a lot of hallucinogens. Thatmust be it. “This is crazy. We need to leave. Now. You need deprogramming.”

“Candice, wait—”

I’m already out of the car, pacing on the sidewalk. A gentle breeze carries the scent of cinnamon and...something else I can’t quite identify, along with a faint trace of ozone. Despite my panic, I take deep breaths since the aroma is oddly calming.

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