Page 46 of Bewitched By the Headless Horseman
Stevie gathered a small garden shovel and rake from the back of the dusty shed. The tools were pitiful, but they might be able to perform their duty. She hadn’t thought to search the shed before since the owner sent someone every week to take care of the garden and yard.
Stevie drank a glass of milk before finding Kit hovering over her dress in the living room, trailing a finger down the material. “If you like it that much you can cuddle it tonight.” She grinned.
He snapped his hand back. “I was only wondering what it was.”
She laughed softly, plucking the fabric up and dangling it in front of him. “It’s my gown for our meeting with the Crowned Witch. I have to dress fashionably like you for a night, so we’ll be twins. Even though you’ll be Mr. Invisible to her.”
“Mmm, I prefer the clothing you wear.”
“And why is that?” she drawled, placing her bare foot on the coffee table. “Do you like seeing my ankles and calves?” She held up her arm. “Or maybe these pretty appendages.”
He cleared his throat. “You’re very peculiar.” But his voice came out deeper than usual.
Stevie’s heart pounded faster, her teasing manner fading as tension filled the air.
The doorbell rang and Stevie jolted, tearing her gaze from him. “That’s probably Lucia.” Without another glance at Kit, she hurried to the door.
“Good news before we go.” Lucia smiled, wearing a deep purple cloak for the bonfire. “Levi’s remains are being dug up tonight for me to have a look at in the morning.”
“The council is finally getting on the ball? That’s a surprise,” Stevie said. “Let me grab my things. The tools from the shed are pretty pitiful.”
“Gideon actually borrowed a shovel from your mom.” Lucia grinned. “Do you have the bone?”
“Yep, give me a second.” She plucked a black velvet cloak from her closet and met Kit near the kitchen counter. His tall form hovered above her and her breath caught at the sight of him. “Cape off. Check. Gloves still gone. Check. Sword is finesince it might be needed. But can you make sure Inferno doesn’t go so things aren’t obvious?”
“I’ll keep my whistles to myself,” he uttered, pushing away from the counter and closer to her.
She opened her mouth to say something when the door pushed open. “I’m still out here. Waiting on the porch,” Lucia called.
“Come in.” Stevie fished out the bone from her purse. Lucia walked in and handed her a vial of gold dust to lightly coat across the bone. With each brush to the remain, she noticed Kit flexing his fingers, feeling her strokes. The bone flickered, then shone like real gold.
“Now add one drop of blood and tuck it away for now,” Lucia said.
Stevie pricked her finger and pressed a droplet to the bone. It instantly absorbed the red bead before she slipped the remain into her backpack.
“Kudos for thinking about the shovel.” Stevie patted her brother’s shoulder as she slipped into the backseat of his beastly truck with Kit just behind her.
“You know I always think ahead, baby sister.” Gideon smiled, pulling his brown hood over his head. When he took off down the street, he asked Kit annoying questions that Stevie had to answer.How did it feel to have your head cut off? Why didn’t you try harder to snap Clara out of her trance? Why did you ride the horse everywhere instead of walk?
It felt like death. Because it wouldn’t work and could make things worse. Why not?
Gideon eventually pulled into a grassy field where cars were starting to park since along the curb was already filled. As she stepped down from the truck, the fog glided across the grass and tickled Stevie’s ankles like tiny fingers caressing her flesh.
“Don’t forget the pumpkins!” Lucia shouted, standing on the back of the truck to hand one to each of them.
“Whoa! It just vanished,” Gideon said, looking toward where Kit had grabbed his. “That’s genius.”
Cradling her pumpkin, Stevie skirted around the trees and the foliage to get to the bonfire. Smoke billowed toward the sky—the stars half gone, their light muted—from the blazing bonfire. The Crowned Witch needed tohurry.
Lit torches burned around clusters of people who stood near the fire drinking, snacking, and chatting. Stevie’s pulse thrummed in anticipation of tossing her pumpkin into the crackling orange flames. It was a tradition that she’d done ever since she could remember. When she was younger, her mom and dad would host the celebration on a smaller scale in their backyard with just the four of them and Roxy.
As Lucia and Gideon went to grab a few drinks, Stevie’s gaze roamed around the crowd, searching for a pale white form carrying a satchel. All were empty-handed of the item. A few ghosts were scattered about, but in the distance, two white forms caught her attention. Erik and a woman who was pulling him by the wrist. His body pressed into hers against a tree as he kissed her. Good for him to get a little action that wasn’t in a comic book. Maybe his residency would fade, but she would miss seeing his presence at the store.
Stevie turned to Kit and whispered while lifting her pumpkin, “Make a wish. I’ll go first.”I wish for us to find Kit’s head. She then tossed the pumpkin into the fire, watching embers flick up from it.
“Do we tell one another our wish?” he drawled.
Stevie shook her head. “Nope. Just like blowing candles out on a birthday cake, it’s asecret.” But she assumed he would wish for the same thing she had. When no one was paying them any mind, he hurled his pumpkin in like a baseball.
