Page 80 of Ghostly Touches

Willow’s been silent for the past two hours of the ride. She even turned off the radio after a while. Behind us, the others have fallen asleep, each in their own row, stretching out as best they can. Thankfully, even Jonah has slipped off to sleep. His obnoxiousness is beyond unbearable for long periods of time. It doesn’t help that Willow seems to encourage it. Laughing and teasing the guy as if they’re friends. I remove my booted feet from the dash and move to sit the seat up.

“Hold on.”

Her eyes are focused forward, but they're glowing. I follow her gaze, wondering what’s captured her attention. We’re on the highway, and cars are whizzing by not paying us any mind. Around us are rolling hills and corn fields. The stalks are tall, almost ready to be harvested. It kind of reminds me of Everlast, a place us Fae have claimed as our own. The only difference is that our corn stalks are richer in color.

I’m about to pull my eyes away from the corn when I catch movement in the fields. Trying to blink away the blurring around the edges of my vision, I really focus on what I’m seeing. Even at the speed we’re going, I spot it. A monster racing through the stalks, easily keeping up with us. Itjumps over overpasses like they’re nothing and tears across a random property before diving into another cornfield. My mouth drops. The speed is incredible…. How is it keeping up? For a moment, I only stare. What else can I do?

But then I remember who and what I am.

I turn around to alert the others of the trouble, but then Willow has the nerve to shush me.

“Don’t wake them, they’re tired. I got it. One second…”

I scowl, ready to tell her not to shush me, but my words get stuck in my throat as her eyes begin to glow brighter. I turn around to stare at the creature again only to see it vanish.

Where the hell did it go?

“Close your mouth, or you’ll attract flies.”

My mouth snaps shut as I turn to look at the necromancer beside me. She gives me a side look, with a smug smile, before turning her attention back to the road.

“How did you kill it? There’s a body we need to take care of—”

“I didn’t kill it,” she interrupts. Her eyes drift to the rear-view mirror before changing lanes. “I sent it back to where it belonged. Demons don’t belong in this realm.”

“How long has it been following us?” I demand. “And why didn’t you say anything?”

“Hm… That particular one has only been on our tail for about three or four miles. I’ve been handling them as they grow closer.”

“There have been more?”

That probably takes a lot of focus. No wonder she’s been quiet. She’s been taking care of a threat to us. I look back out the window, scanning the area.

“Ten so far. I think that’s the last one.” She doesn’t sound confident.

By the way her eyes keep scanning the area around us, I have a feeling I need to be prepared for anything. I reach down and pull my dagger out of my boot. The sword, nestled between my seat and the center console, won’t do me any good in this situation.

“How haven’t sightings of them caused any accidents? Surely demons aren’tsocommon in this world that they’d be ignored.”

“Most demons are never seen.” She takes an exit, and we head west. “You see them because you’re close to me as I use my power. I can see them because… Well, I'm a necromancer.”

I shake my head.

“Soallnecromancers can see and vanquish demons?”

Turning my body so I can face her, I study the woman whose expression has gone from smug to completely indecipherable.

“It’s different for all of us.”

Her non-answer raises my suspicions.

“How many necromancers do you know thatcando that?”

She scowls as she turns her head to glare at me. “Why? So you can knock them unconscious, too?”

Heat rushes to my cheeks as shame cools my curiosity for the time being. Shifting uncomfortably, I take a minute to swallow down my pride before I open my mouth.

“I am sorry that I struck you.” Even to my own ears, that apology sounds weak. At Willow’s eye roll, internally, I wince. “I mean… I never should have touched you. I know I have an issue with my temper, and I tend to speak, and act, without much thought about consequences, but that’s not okay, and what I did… It will never happen again.”

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