Bayou Summons Read online

  “You are to go and seek the woman out. Tell her any sob story you must, just bring her to me in the dream realm. Understood?” He waited for her to accept his instructions. She was an insolent one. Maybe he ought to warn her.

  “And if you say one word to her about me or my plans, I swear I’ll make this hiatus that you’re in now look like heaven.” His eyes burned red as he leaned forward to hiss his last word at her.

  Averting his closeness, she cringed and bobbed her head. “Yes, my lord.”

  “Good. Now go before I grow weary of you!”

  Elena knew she had died, had known it for years. She only wondered why she was here. What had she done to deserve eternal servitude of a being so evil? Thinking of the things she had done in his stead, her belly rolled. If her body had still required food, she was sure she would’ve thrown up. She had had enough! Shirking her henchman duties, she hatched a plan of her own. She’d rather go to hell than do this for all eternity. Alsandair be damned! If that was where he ended up sending her, she’d make sure he would join her there shortly.

  Chapter 7

  The night before had seemed like a dream when she woke to birds singing and the usual humidity from the day already creeping in. But, then she had curled onto her side and ended up in muscular arms that smelled of musk and myrrh. She had stammered to find the words, but he had calmed her with just one look, letting her know it was okay not to speak.

  He had gotten up and requested breakfast in bed for the two of them. Among pancakes, fruit and coffee they had talked as if they had known each other for years. Summer sighed as she remembered the way his hair had kept falling onto his forehead and how he would brush it back as if he were annoyed at it being there. His bare body looked even more magnificent in the daylight.

  She stopped herself from wondering what he was doing. That would only get her into trouble. Best to just let sleeping dogs lie. No use poking them with sticks, looking for what was sure to be a bad ending. She would just wait and see if he came to her. She had decided to do a little more exploring on the main street. There was still plenty she hadn’t checked out yesterday.

  Barreling down the steps, she barely stopped herself from plowing into Lurleene.

  “Well, hello, there, Sugar.” Lurleene looked as exquisite as ever in a flowing red sundress with gold bangles on her wrists. Summer shyly remembered her attire. One of her favorite pair of sweatpants and a tank top, complete with backless sneakers. She felt like a cod standing next to such a feminine presence. It was a miracle she had ever gotten laid, much less with a mighty piece of flesh like Cayden Beauvais. The thought had her cheeks reddening.

  “Hi, Lurleene, how are you?” She asked.

  “Fine, Sweet, doing just dandy and you?” Escorting Summer by the shoulders down the rest of the stairs, she continued the inquisition. “How have you found our town to suit you? Do you have anymore new research?”

  “Actually, yes, I’ve been talking to Cayden about it.” Lying wasn’t one of her strong points and she struggled to keep from blushing again. It wasn’t really a lie, though, she intended on interviewing Cayden, soon.

  With a curious expression on her face, she patted Summer’s shoulder. “Oh, we’ll you’ll definitely get what you’re looking for there.” The few patrons milling about in the foyer must have overheard their conversation because each one gave a slight giggle at Lurleene’s last statement.

  “Oh really, What is that?” Summer asked, intrigued.

  “Well, he knows everything there is to know about the magic and mystery of Harvest. You picked a good source.” Releasing her hold, Lurleene stepped back. “You have a good time today.”

  “Thank you, I plan on it,” Summer replied as she walked out the door and into the sticky atmosphere which hovered outside.

  She strolled along the cobblestone sidewalk, feeling no rush for the first time in years. Taking in the antique buildings and signs, she snapped a few pictures here and there. Some were of the community who seemed to flock here and others were of random flowers and crawling vines that stuck to the bricks of the shops.

  Bracing the camera to her eye and bringing it into focus, a sharp pain stabbed at her from behind her eyes. Letting go of her camera, it swung on her neck. She placed a shaking hand to her eyes, trying to rub out whatever pain had found her. This couldn’t be from a vision. She hadn’t had any last night. With Cayden by her side, the death had quieted; giving her much needed serenity, if only for a night.

  So where in the hell was this pain coming from? On the tail of the thought as it entered her mind, was a searing blast in her skull. Unable to keep her knees from buckling, she hit the jagged cobblestones, feeling them jab into her skin. With both hands on her head, Summer shook, she was suddenly in a different place. She knew exactly what was happening. But, how could it? She was awake, lucid, not sleeping. Visions never came to her in the light of day. They were always shrouded by the comfort of dreams, taking place deep within her.

  She saw the same darkness she had seen with Chloe the night before. But, in place of Chloe was a teenager who looked anything but frightened. She stood with determination, her hair falling in tangles as she clenched her fists to her sides. “You have to hide.” With frantic pace, she let the words spill out. “He’s coming for you. He’s sent me here to trap you. But I won’t do it anymore!”

  Summer could see her struggle with every sentence, as if she would be whisked away at any moment. “Who’s coming for me? What does he want?” The only way to deal with a vision was to flow with it, come out of it with information.

  The girl’s eyes grew wide. “Alsandair,” she whispered. “He means to capture you, bleed you of your powers. He won’t stop there, either. He will torture you in ways you never thought possible.”

  “But why me?” Summer asked in the same hushed tone, not wanting to frighten the skittish spirit who had barged into her mind.

  “I don’t know exactly why, but you must believe me. You are in danger.”

  “What’s your name?”

  “My name is Elena. I know I’m dead and I’m not here for your help. I’m here to help you.” Growing impatient, she held her chin up in a defiant manner, waiting for Summer to question her.

  This was new. Usually the spirits that visited her didn’t know what had happened, were disoriented and scared. From the way this spirit had entered though she should’ve had a clue that it wasn’t going to be a normal vision.

  Elena opened her mouth to say something, but stopped, her arms twisting into her sides. Screaming, she turned to look at Summer one last time. “Send him to me when you’re finished.”

  “What? What’s happening?” Summer began to run towards her as Elena fell to the floor, screaming. With a pop, she was gone, splitting into fragments that were blown away by an invisible wind. What the hell was going on?

  The pain in her head had stopped and Summer could feel the cobblestones turning her knees and shins bloody. Feeling woozy, she opened her eyes and met Cayden’s. Everything was blurry and she realized that her glasses must have fallen off when she hit the ground.

  “Are you alright?” He looked worried, his brow in a tight furrow as he tried to pull her to her feet. “What the hell happened to you? One minute you were standing here, the next you were crumpled on the ground.” He handed her glasses to her as he waited for an answer.

  “Just a little dizzy, is all,” Summer managed. “Could it be the heat?” She immediately protested his attempt to stand her upright. “No, please, I’ll vomit. Just let me sit for a second.”

  Leaning in, his breath caressed her ear as he said, “Summer, something is going on with you and if you don’t tell me, I’m going to find out my way.” Making it sound like a threat he eased up, looking into her eyes. He didn’t want to see that fear there, the knowledge that something she had something kept hidden might and might be found out. But, he had to. He could tell that she needed far more than a romp in the hay. She needed rescuing.

  “Please
, Cayden, I’m just hot and I haven’t eaten.” Pleading with her eyes, she blinked the moisture that was gathering in the rims away. She couldn’t cry in front of this man.

  “You’re lying to me.” He bent over to help her up, and after making sure she had her balance, let her go. “I’m going to find out why.”

  Turning, he strode down the cobblestone sidewalk, fury quickening his steps. Hurt, Summer stood watching him go, praying he would never find out the one thing about her she had always kept wrapped up in a seal-tight package in her soul; her visions. The visit from Elena had disturbed her to the core. Her mind still rattled with everything Elena had said.

  She was not a spirit seeking guidance, but a spirit bearing warnings of horrible things to come. Was everything Elena had said true? Or was she truly going insane? These daylight attacks couldn’t continue. If they did, what would she do? She wouldn’t be able to drive, for fear of causing an accident. She’d look like a freak, passing out in public. The purpose for her trip had suddenly turned from research to answers. She was going to find them. There was no way she was going to live like this.

  Chapter 8

  Wearing nothing but his robe for ceremonies, Cayden stood in front of his altar. There was usually no reason for the ornamental garb for regular spells and divinations, but this one was special. With this divination, he would uncover the secret to the woman he’d come to crave. She was hiding something, he was sure of it. It couldn’t be good, either, if it was causing her to pass out. He only hoped it wasn’t illness. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her such a short time after finding her. He wanted to love her more, watch her face go into that willowy expression as he petted her nipples.

  He longed to see her belly swollen with his seed, carrying the combination of their two souls inside her. The thought gave him pause. He actually wanted that. For the first time in his life, he wanted to never part with a woman.

  It was scary, thinking about being charged with a family’s protection and guidance for the rest of his life. It only did more to fuel his desire for it. If it was scary, it had to be tackled, looked at in the face. He was more than willing to stare down any evil for Summer.

  His altar was an antique table that once belonged to his great grandmother, she had passed it down with explicit instructions that it be given to him, and only a witch of her stature would’ve known she would bear a great grandson named Cayden. A pentacle had been branded in the center and painted an emerald green. To the left sat a treen-ware bowl, scratched and scarred. The crushed remnants of bay and fig were scattered in the bottom of it. The herbs having special uses, bay for protection and purity, fig for divination, had a heady scent that swirled up and into his nostrils. In his hand, Cayden held an ice cube. The cold slipping into his fingers, he watched as tiny drops slid down his palm to pool at his wrist. Placing it in the bowl on top of the herbs, he recited a spell.

  “I melt your cold heart with spirit fire, the truth I’ll see and not the mire.” Raising his hands, he continued to chant. “As this ice melts, the truth will appear, pushing away all that she fears.”

  The air hummed and oozed with a wheezing energy as a wind blew through the room. Sparks ricocheted off the bowl, illuminating Cayden’s handsome features in fire. He closed his eyes and hung his head back, ready for the images to swarm in. He had done this spell many times, but never had he done it to peek into the life of someone he loved. He prepared himself, steeling his emotions, trying to stay disconnected while floating in an uncertain place.

  He was in the dark. In front of him sat a woman sobbing, while another tried to console her. The instant he took in the length of the strong back, the elegant hand resting on the woman’s shoulder, he knew who he was looking at. Summer. Cayden circled around, getting a better view of the scene unfolding. Crouched down, Summer’s eyes held every emotion the young woman seemed to be feeling. Outwardly, she soothed and spoke, though Cayden couldn’t hear what she was saying.

  But, he could see the fear wash away from the woman, her eyes glittering, a slight smile creeping over the twisted anguish that had been there just seconds before. The darkness crept over her, leaving only her face visible as she said something else. When, the darkness had consumed the woman, Summer sat staring where the woman had been. He wanted so much to touch her. To tell her he was here for her. She looked so utterly alone and lost.

  Taking a step forward, the surroundings shifted around Cayden, blurring and coming together in an impossible maze of colors and light. When the flashing subsided, Cayden found himself looking at another woman only this one wasn’t scared at all. The recognizable stance of determination and strength was one Cayden knew well. She was speaking fast, rushed. Cayden turned to see who it was she was talking to and found himself staring at Summer once again. She looked confused. He could tell thoughts were running through that exquisite mind, bumping and banging into each other as she wrinkled her forehead in frustration.

  What was she doing in these places? What he was witnessing wasn’t ordinary conversation and it hadn’t taken place in any world he knew, either. Something strange was going on. Aggravated to know the truth, he was resigned to having to sit back and watch as the story told itself.

  With a resounding pop, Cayden could finally hear something besides silence. The fierce woman writhed and bucked and struggled to stay on her two feet. Before she splintered into a million different pieces, he heard her say something about bringing someone to her. Summer was, again, left to stand staring in her place. She was sagging, exhausted, but a fire raged in her eyes that told him there was something different about this encounter that didn’t fit in with the first.

  A force knocked him down, pulling and stretching as colors once again came together and exploded apart. As it abated, he realized he was laying on the cobblestone of the sidewalk on the main stretch. Bringing his head up, he stared over his toes and at himself, standing next to Summer, shaking and yelling at her, trying to get her to come out of whatever trance she had been.

  Watching himself, he could the see the start of tears in his eyes, the panic emanating from his voice. He really did love her. He remembered what he had been feeling when he had stepped out on his balcony and saw her collapsing into herself, her fragile, soft knees cracking against the sharp sidewalk. He had felt fear that had iced his chest and nearly stopped his heart.

  Being a warlock born into a family of magic, Cayden never had that kind of fear. Come to think of it, there wasn’t much he did fear. If he couldn’t handle it, he probably knew another witch or a healer who did. But seeing Summer disintegrate like that had given him a glimpse of how normal people lived. How did they even get up in the morning, knowing that their whole day would be filled with fear, or worse, the fears coming true?

  He studied how his hands looked on Summer’s shoulders. They swallowed her up. Her tiny shoulder was completely motionless as he continued shaking her. Cayden watched as she came out of it and he snapped at her and walked away. What he wasn’t expecting to see was the look on Summer’s face as she stared at his retreating back. Damn! He had hurt her with his words. He had known that without seeing her face. He hadn’t meant to. But what he hadn’t known was how very much. Tears were flowing freely, her eyes flashing with pain, regret and….fear? Was that fear he saw? Man, had he been an ass. Cayden vowed to himself to make it up to her. To take that beautiful face in his hands and kiss every place he had caused a tear to land.

  As he imagined doing just that, a scream rent through the air. Summer’s pain-filled face dissolved as the sky caved in on him. He was flying somehow, suspended in the air. He realized it two seconds before he landed with a jarring impact. Shaking his head, he sat up. Where in the hell was he? A medieval castle’s great hall overshadowed him, making him feel small and insignificant. The ceiling was decorated with flowing cloth and a coat of arms regally danced in its folds. The stone that made up the walls and floor was grey with flecks of black. A long table stood horizontally, masking half of a throne.
Cayden walked closer. The throne was lavishly embellished with skulls. The arm rests looked as if they had been either shin or forearm bones in a previous life.

  He reached out to touch it, compelled by its morbid beauty when one of the skulls came to life and rapidly gnashed its teeth, aiming for Cayden’s fingers.

  “Son of a bitch!” He yelled.

  The skull shrank back in, melting back into its previous position. Why had his divination for Summer taken him to a place where thrones made of skulls could come alive and attack? This was beginning to look bad. That earlier feeling of dread over her safety sank back into his gut, settling itself. However this place was tied to her, or her to it, it couldn’t be good.

  His thoughts must have summoned the very evil he was certain had tied itself to Summer, because before him stood a man, taller than Cayden with white hair and bleeding eyes. The red that peered through where his pupils should be ignited as Cayden took a step back.

  “May I ask what a warlock is doing in my domain?” The question ended with a hiss as the man scooted closer, retracing Cayden’s step back.

  Fighting for calm, Cayden clenched his fists, working his jaw. Wanting to play this out, Cayden followed along, “May I ask how it is that you know I’m a warlock?”

  The demon flung back his head, laughing, causing white locks of hair to bounce around his equally pale face. “I am Alsandair and I know everything, or at least, I soon shall.” A crooked smile revealed pointed teeth. Two rows of incisors peeked at Cayden through yellow-tinted lips. “How is it that you’re here, I wonder?” Using his bony index finger, he tapped a light rhythm on his chin as he feigned thought.

  “Could it be that you are a special warlock?” Alsandair made a slow circle around Cayden, taking in his fill. He sniffed lightly at his clothes as he made his way back to the front of Cayden.

  “No, you’re not special at all, are you?” A wicked grin spread fully across his bony face, this time giving Cayden more than just a passing glance of those horrible teeth.