Page 107 of Haunted Hearts

No, not really, but I keep my mouth shut as the others nod.

“Well, he has the same setup surrounding the house. They’re hidden in brush, half dug into the ground and covered with leaves, or hanging in low branches in the trees. They were all glowing. I swear they’re so full of spirits, I’m sure I could hear their screams.” Brock shakes his head slowly, his face twisting in disgust. “I have a feeling that you won’t know you’re in a trap until it’s too late.”

Without looking up from the map, Theo asks, “You’ve spoken to the other reapers and have warned them about approaching this area, right?”

“I’ve let my friends know and they’ve spread the word. It’s reached the Ward but…” Brock shrugs. “If we sense a wayward spirit, it’s almost like we’re compelled to usher them into this realm. A younger reaper can still get caught up in the call and go looking for spirits. So, if a spirit is near these woods and one of the newbies happens to catch wind of it…”

Jonah shakes his head. “I’m so confused. The Veil is open, how is it that they are still wandering around in the Realm of the Living? Why not cross over?”

He looks over at me from across the room, his blond brows smashed together as confusion twists his face. Before I get the chance to answer, Brock steps in.

“Spirits naturally feel the call to crossover and the Veil opens just enough for them to slip through once their bodies expire.” He looks around at us. “But there are situations where spirits either don’t feel the call as strongly as others, or those who resist it out of fear. The Veil won’t stay open forever. Spirits get trapped. That’s why we’re there, to find those spirits and welcome the others.”

I nod in agreement as the others consider this.

“And the spirits trapped in Fulton’s grasp… The ones that didn’t cross over for whatever reason, can they be saved?” Viktor asks. “If we take the souls from him before he can use them as power—”

Theo and Brock both shake their heads. It’s funny watching them together. Now that they’re working with each other, rather than against one another, they seem so in tandem.

“I think it’s safe to say that he’s using the spirits he captures as fast as he can to make sure the wards around that house stay up.” Theo sighs as straightens.

Brock nods. “Fulton didn’t have a protection shield to keep up at the hotel which is why Remy, and the other spirits there, could be saved. He hadn’t used them yet.”

Kwil hums thoughtfully from behind me. He’s been my shadow ever since I arrived yesterday. I love his company. After being alone for so long, I don’t want any of them to go too far. His arms, which are currently wrapped around my waist, tighten ever so slightly.

“Willow, when you…died,” His chest expands before he lets out a shaky sigh. “You managed to destroy the stones that he had around the tree all at once and it set those souls free. Could you do that again when we go topside?”

I did? If I managed to do that, I’m sure I could do it again. I just don’t know how I did it in the first place. Saving Remy, Brock’s friend, and the souls with him was one thing, but who knows how many stones Fulton has laying around his property just waiting for a spirit, or one of us, to stumble over them? I’m sure the warlock would know if I went around destroying his traps one by one. I don’t want to know what type of backup plan he has in store when he realizes what I was doing.

My shoulders lift then fall. “I honestly don’t know.”

“Using that type of power in the Realm of the Living would be tricky anyhow,” Brock hedges slowly. “I think we all learned the hard way that the Realm of the Dead can lash out when it’s upset. Let’s not do anything else that would tempt it to do so again. We should be cautious using your Death Magic in the Realm of the Living until absolutely necessary.”

“And this isn’t?” Viktor asks.

Brock shakes his head. “We don’t have any idea what destroying those stones will do, or if it will be effective. Until we’re sure, no, Willow shouldn’t use her powers.”

Jonah throws his hands up. “Then it doesn’t matter if the stones are there or not. She’ll have to use her powers to break down the wards and given that he’s a strong warlock with power from the Realm of the Living, the Third Realm,andaccess to Death Magic, Willow will have to really give it her all to stop him.”

Jonah’s right. Fulton is a warlock with power from different realms. If what Fredrick told us is true, once he has all three, he’ll be one of the strongest warlocks in the Realm of the Living. I step out of Kwil’s arms with a huff and pace over to the window.

“Brock, you mentioned that your scythe has Death Magic in it,” Theo frowns as he glances over to my reaper. “We could come up with a plan to distract the warlock while youandWillow go after him. Coming at him from two different sides while he’s preoccupied may be enough to stop him without causing too much stress to the realms.”

Brock’s face twists with regret.

“Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of magic in my scythe. It’s just enough so we can travel through the realms and to protect ourselves, and the spirits we reap, from any wayward pests like demons.”

Jonah and Kwil both let out noises of frustration. If Viktor’s jaw tick is any indication, he’s just as annoyed as they are. Theo, however, doesn’t look nearly as put out. Neither does Brock. Both seem lost in their own thoughts.

“It sounds like this mission needs to be one of stealth, rather than violence,” Theo hedges, after a few moments of heavy silence. “Since Willow will need to be cautious with her power, it will be up to uswithoutDeath Magic to help her reach him and make an effective capture.”

I bristle at the word capture. The Realm of the Dead may want the warlock but so do I and for a very different reason. I swallow down my response. Whatever we come up with, I’ll make sure I find a way to get Fulton to myself.

Unaware of the swift rage that sweeps through me, Theodon continues, “Viktor, how was your vision back in the Realm of the Living?”

There’s a short pause as Viktor’s body tenses up. “Without Willow’s help it was worse than before.”

Oh?Thatbad? My stomach drops.

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