Page 24 of Beneath Hoof and Hollow
My words were true. It must be tonight. Emeline will give me a new body. And then hell and The Horseman will rain down on Sleepy Hollow.
Chapter Ten
Emeline
“Bones of a serpent. Fat of a hanged man. Seed of life.” I read through the ingredients, ensuring everything is accounted for. I’ve been working on preparing the circle and gathering items for hours.
A splat sounds as Fierdon drops a pile of yellow-grey goo in front of me. “Oh my.” I eye the substance. “What is that?”
“I heard you mumbling about the fat of a hanged man. Thought I’d make myself useful and procure some.”
“Oh, thank you.” I shove thepreviouspile of fat out of the way. I’m impressed he found some. I’d brought chicken fat, hoping the spell didn’t have to be too precise.
“Is that animal fat?” He perches his hands on his hips. “You were going to wing it?”
“Well I didn’t have access to a hanged man so I was doing the best I could. Hold on”—I eye Fierdon suspiciously—“where did you get this fat? I’m not aware of any recent male hangings.”
“Yes well, I had to make do. Found a Lamb’s Golden Light member skulking on the edge of the woods just after sundown. After a quick hanging, he provided me with an ample donation of hanged-man fat.”
“How generous of him,” I answer dryly. My easy acceptance of yet another death doesn’t escape my notice. Still, that flicker of religious fear sends images of hell flashing through my mind. I push it away. What’s happening here, to these innocent women, is already hell.
“Have you winged anything else?”
“No, no. Don’tget your knickers in a twist. Everything else is accounted for.”
Snake bones were tricky to find. Lucky for me, I remembered Joshua, an avid trophy hunter, mounted all manner of animals to his wall. He was part of Fier’s first round of victims. Which meant he didn’t protest when I snuck into his house and took the skeleton with me. Fierdon secured the fat. As for the seed of life, it took me a bit to decide what kind of seed. The one thing we have a plethora of here in Sleepy Hollow? Pumpkins and gourds. I chose from several varietals, trusting that at least one of themwould be good enough for the spell.
“Alright, we’re ready to begin.”
“Clothes off,” Fierdon commands.
“Why? That isn’t mentioned.” I peer back down at the page.
“It was a part of the spell to bring me here. It’s important to be consistent.”
Oh why does he sound so amused? “Are you messing with me?”
“I’ve lived a long time, Emeline. It would be wise to listen to me.Take your clothes off.”
I huff, but strip down. “I think you just want to see me naked.”
“It’s all for the spell.” This time I definitely hear him chuckle.
Being naked again, in front of the invisible stare of Fierdon, has all manner of feelings swirling within me. Even though such dark events surround me, I’ve been unable to forget the things Fierdon and I did. A fluttering between my legs that’s only ever happened when I think about Fierdon makes me squeeze my thighs together.
I can tell he’s watching me, even without seeing his eyes. He drops into a crouch, leaning into the space where I’m kneeling. “Will you be able to focus on the spell, nightingale? Or do I need to fuck the distracted nature from your heated body beforehand?”
That fluttering sensation intensifies. “Y-you are the only thing distracting me. Get back to the center of the circle,” I stutter out, well aware of how right he is. I’m eager to help reveal his body. I desire to see the muscles I dug my fingers into. To be able to stare into eyes I know must be as dark as a storm while my body freefalls into that blinding, hot ecstasy that Fierdon is able to produce within me.
We’re facing another time crunch. Every night so far, there have been hangings. Fierdon must be changed and ready to intervene before any more innocent girls can be murdered.
“Let us begin.”
Fierdon stands in the center of the circle, his fingers flexing by his sides. Is he nervous?
I have to fight back a gag when I smear the human fat along the snake bones. It’s still warm. The seeds come next. I dot them from skull to tail tip, and finally cover the entire thing in flowering herbs. What a disgusting-looking concoction.
The spell is simple enough.
