Page 89 of The Curse Defiers

David fell asleep within minutes, but I lay awake for at least a half hour, staring at the dusty ceiling fan. Finally, I carefully slid out of bed and grabbed my cell phone. After all the time I’d spent thinking in bed, I’d realized that Tom still expected me home tonight. I needed to let him know I was going to be delayed for at least another day. And I needed to find out if the Raven Mockers had left Manteo when I did. And I still hadn’t called Collin to let him know about the change in plans.

I went out the back door and sat on the step, staring up at the starry sky. It felt so peaceful out there, alone in the dark. But the feeling was an illusion and I couldn’t forget that.

I found Tom’s number on my phone and pressed send. He answered right away. “Ellie, tell me that you’re back in town.”

I cringed. “I’m still in Chapel Hill and we’re going to Charlotte tomorrow.” I paused. “I take it things are still bad.”

“Worse. There were two deaths last night. I have no idea how to prevent them. It’s not like we can tell people who are sick that they need to put salt across their thresholds.”

“I know.” I sighed. “But the victims have all been sick, right? No one healthy?”

“Yeah, all sick.” He hesitated. “Why?”

“They’re here in Chapel Hill too. They killed a woman who had allergies, but they also went after a man who was completely healthy.”

“What the fuck am I dealing with, Ellie?”

I didn’t say anything.

“Ellie.”

“Tom, you’re going to think I’m crazy.”

“Ellie, I’m long past thinking any of this shit is crazy. What am I dealing with?”

Having an ally in the Manteo Police Department would be beneficial, and he had already made the leap to the supernatural. “Okay, I’ll tell you what I know. It’s up to you whether you choose to believe me or not.”

“Okay.”

“They’re Raven Mockers.”

“Cherokee,” he whispered.

“Yeah. They weren’t recorded in Croatan history, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. I’ve encountered several Cherokee spirits here in Chapel Hill.”

“Croatan?” I heard him exhale. “What are the symbols on your doors?”

“Protection, just like I told you. Against demons and spirits. And Croatan gods.”

He was silent for several seconds. I expected him to start accusing me of lies and deceit, but instead he asked, “Okay, how do I get rid of them?”

“You believe me?”

“Callmecrazy, but I do. There’s no logical, scientific explanation for all the shit that’s been happening here over the past couple of months. So what do I do? Put the marks on people’s doors?”

“I don’t know if it works if just anyone does it. Claire uses salt when I can’t mark her doors, and it keeps them out.”

“But that still doesn’t answer my original question, does it?”

“How we can save people from the Raven Mockers?” I leaned my head back to look at the starry sky and whispered, “I wish I knew.”

“There is a way,” Tsagasi said from next to me and I jumped, caught off guard by his sudden appearance. “It won’t kill them, but it will keep them at bay.”

I covered the mouthpiece with my hand. “What is it?”

“They must gather seven smooth stones. Have the person lay with their head facing north and their feet facing south, then put a stone at the top of their head, one on either side of their head, and one at each of their hands and feet. It will hold off the Raven Mockers until morning.” His eyes narrowed. “But you are correct. Salt will keep them out in the first place.”

I relayed Tsagasi’s message to Tom. “Last night there were four of them, but they were lying in wait for me, so I’m not sure if they usually attack in groups or not,” I said. “They’re invisible to people without magical abilities, but they slash their victims with claws. They attacked David’s ex-girlfriend and he couldn’t see the wounds. After they tortured her, one of them reached into her chest, tore out her heart, and ate it. I could see the wound, but David couldn’t see anything.”

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