Shadows of the Redwood (25 page)

Coyote’s tail went all limp and he lifted a shoulder in a twisted shrug. “Okay.”

Keelie figured this was an example of having to be dominant. She was the Coyote Whisperer. Maybe it would work on Knot—she could try to be the Freaky Fairy Kitty Whisperer.

Coyote’s words brought her back with a snap. “What I know is … there once was a goblin here, but he didn’t leave this forest. I feel an essence of darkness.”

“Essence of darkness?” Keelie had never heard of that. “Like a goblin?”

“If something with dark magic dies—if an evil creature dies—then its essence might remain, corrupting the place of its death.”

“It’s like a curse, isn’t it?” Keelie said. Her voice lowered. “A goblin curse.” It had to be connected to this forest’s weirdness, but she didn’t have time to sit and think it through.

“Yes.” Coyote wriggled in Sean’s arms. “Now tell him to put me down.”

“Not yet.” Her eyes met Sean’s, and as if they had a psychic connection, he lifted Coyote a few more inches off the ground.

The fairy creature howled, his voice echoing through the forest. “Not fair.”

“Where are Laurie and Scott?” Keelie demanded.

“Put me down and I’ll help you find them.”

“And you’re going to stick close to me, Coyote, because you know a whole lot more than you’re telling.”

The coyote grinned, which was unfortunate, because it showed off his teeth, long and sharp. Sean lowered him to the forest floor. He yipped and leaped as if he’d fooled them. Sean’s hand clamped back down on his neck.

Keelie smiled grimly and did her best impersonation of her grandmother’s stern voice. “Behave.”

Coyote looked up with wet eyes, his lower lip trembling.

“And that won’t work on me.”

A woman’s voice called from far off. “Knot, my love where are you? Oh, darling, don’t leave me. I don’t think my heart can take it.”

Sean looked over at Keelie. “That’s Risa. What is she doing in the forest?”

“She’s searching for Knot.” Keelie was going to kick Risa on the butt.

“And Knot is following Tavyn. What are you going to do, Keelie?” Coyote asked. “Go after Laurie, help Risa?” He laughed again. “And do you know where your grandmother is?”

Her heart sank as she realized that she had no way of knowing how to find her grandmother if she too, was lost in the Redwood Forest.

“Is my grandmother out here? Is she in danger?”

“In this forest? Every second.” Coyote sniffed the air. “I picked up the scent of the girl named Laurie on the western edge of the forest, near the beach.”

If Coyote was telling the truth, at least Keelie wouldn’t have to worry about her anymore. But Scott would still be missing, and maybe Grandmother, too.

“Sean, we’re going to have to split up. Can you get Laurie to Sir Davey’s RV?”

“I won’t leave you here.”

“Knot, where are you, my love?” Risa’s voice came from farther north.

“I can’t leave Risa to wander alone in the woods, either,” Keelie said. “If she catches up with Knot, and he’s after Tavyn, she’s in great danger.”

“It’s true.” Coyote spoke quickly. “Risa’s love potion is like a magical GPS. She’s compelled to seek her beloved, and it will lead her right to him.”

Sean and Keelie locked eyes. “I’ll find Laurie and get her to safety, then come right back for you,” Sean said. “We’ll find them, Keelie.” He started to back away, then stopped and pulled Keelie to him, kissing her hard on the lips. He smiled as he released her.

The coyote’s jaw dropped open in surprise. “My, my. I think our elf is thawing a bit here.”

Despite the cold mist surrounding them, Keelie felt warm inside.

“Swear to me that you’ll watch over her.” Sean gestured with his head toward Keelie.

Coyote snarled. “Don’t tell me my duties, elf boy.”

Sean glared at him and stalked off into the forest.

Keelie sat at the base of the tree, wishing this were a regular forest. She could usually take comfort from talking to the trees, but not in this place. Feeling a surge of fairy magic, she looked around for its source. There were no fae here except for Coyote. And herself, of course.

Coyote came to her side and butted his head against her shoulder. She reached up to scratch his ears.

She felt itchy, and at the same time heard the jangle of Peascod’s hat. Her heart pounded against her rib cage when he hobbled into view from behind a hemlock tree. A harlequin-patterned mask covered his face, but from within the nimbus of his brown eyes, flames seem to flicker behind the pupils. Coyote growled as the jester walked closer to them, his gaze holding Keelie’s.

She was trapped, held spellbound by his probing stare.

“Do you want to know the future?” His voice was scratchy, as if he’d been yelling.

Coyote’s growl echoed through the trees, a spectral rumble that made chills go up and down Keelie’s spine. If she hadn’t known he was on her side, she would have been terrified. He snarled at the jester. “Fool, your lord has no sway in this forest.”

Keelie wondered who Peascod’s “lord” was. Someone even scarier, that was for sure. She did not want to meet him.

Peascod ignored Coyote and held out a glass sphere. A light from within glowed brightly, revealing Sean standing atop a snow-capped mountain, his green cloak billowing around him. “Look inside to see your future, Keliel.”

Producing two more crystal balls, he started juggling all three high into the air. Keelie held her breath, afraid they would go soaring into the night sky never to return, like dreams taking flight in the middle of the night. Mesmerized, she slowly walked toward the glittering spheres. She had to know what her future held.

She wanted to touch them, to look at the wonder and secrets hidden deep in the center. When Peascod stopped juggling, she reached out a hand. But as she stepped forward, Coyote gripped the back of her hoodie with his teeth and tugged her backwards. She reached around, trying to make him let go.

“Look again, Keliel.”

The sound of Peascod’s voice brought her attention back to the promises of the future held within the glass. He slowly moved his hand, and the image of Sean in the green cloak disappeared into that of a dark rider, whose cloak flowed around him like raven’s wings.

Keelie stopped. Cold apprehension slid over her as a premonition prickled up her spine. She would meet the dark rider.

This jolted her back to reality. Keelie quickly reached down and touched the Earth, pulling up a current of magic. Suddenly, Knot appeared and ran directly between Keelie and Peascod. He meowed angrily.

The scary jester narrowed his eyes. He started juggling again, tossing the crystal balls into the air in ever-increasing arcs. She watched as they ascended into the night sky, toward the stars. When Peascod reached out to catch the balls, his hat jangled. It made Keelie feel as if someone’s fingernail was raking down a chalkboard inside her head. The glass balls clacked against one another as he caught them. Keelie was afraid they would shatter.

Peascod bowed gracefully and then righted himself, as if he was performing in front of an admiring audience at the festival. Menace filled his eyes. “Magic is loose in the world, my dear Keliel.”

“I am not your dear Keliel.” She glowered at him.

“We are not so different.”

Keelie didn’t look away from him, even though every instinct in her body told her to do so. Jesters liked to taunt and tease. Maybe this was what Peascod was doing to her. Playing with her, like Knot played with a
feithid daoine
.

Peascod drew nearer to her, and a coldness wrapped all around her. Knot hissed and stepped closer, acting like a feline shield.

Peascod glared, but then he turned his head toward the forest. His eyes dilated, and Keelie thought she saw an eerie silver flicker in his pupils.

“Knot, where are you?” It was Risa again. Keelie never thought the day would arrive when she would be glad to see the elf girl.

“We’ll meet again one day, Keliel Katharine Heartwood, with no guardians to protect you.” Peascod smiled wickedly. His outline wavered, and she watched in horrified wonder as he seemed to melt into the forest floor.

He was gone. Relief washed over Keelie. She knew he’d spoken the truth. She would meet him again—it was a certainty that seemed as real as anything her new life had brought her.

Knot meowed angrily and hissed, tail bushed out. Next to him was Coyote, hunched and snarling. They did not like the jester, and for once Keelie agreed with them.

Keelie heard Risa coming closer. “Oh Knotsie Wotsie. My love, I hear you. Where are you?”

“Risa, over here.” Keelie called. She held the flashlight up to act as a beacon for the lost elf girl.

Knot sniffed at the spot where the jester had vanished, then scratched at the soil and squatted over it. A moment later, Coyote sniffed where Knot had been and lifted his leg.

“No kidding. I kind of understand the urge,” Keelie muttered. She was still shaking a little. Coyote just looked at her, then bolted into the forest.

There was a crackle of sticks and the movement of bushes on the ground. Risa stumbled into the clearing. She was covered in mud and had sticks poking up at odd angles in her hair. Her eyes immediately focused on Knot. She dropped to her knees. “Oh my love, I thought you were in danger.”

“What the hell happened to you?” Keelie felt a rush of adrenaline and fear. “You look like Zombie Apocalypse Barbie.”

Risa ignored her and rubbed Knot’s ears. Knot drooled.

Keelie squatted and stared at Risa. “Tell me what happened.”

“Sir Davey came by to check on your grandmother,” Risa said distractedly. “He said he had something that might help her with the tree magic. When I went to tell her, she wasn’t in her room. Sir Davey told me to stay because he was going to contact the ranger elves to help search for Lady Keliatiel, but I had to find Knot. I knew he was in danger.”

“Search? You mean you didn’t find her?”

“She’s missing, but don’t worry. Lady Keliatiel can take care of herself.” Risa rubbed Knot’s tummy. “I was frantic to find Knot. I couldn’t stay in the house knowing he was in danger.” Risa’s face shone with love as she gazed at the cat.

Keelie gritted her teeth in frustration. “So who exactly is looking for my grandmother?”

Knot turned his head to look at Keelie, and for a moment Keelie thought she saw a flash of tenderness in the cat’s eyes. He immediately wrapped his paws around her jean-clad legs and bit her.

Keelie shook her leg and lifted it, sending the cat flying toward the bushes.

Risa rose. “What did you do?” she shrieked.

“He’s fine. See?”

A purring Knot strode back to Keelie and rubbed up against her ankle. Risa’s face looked haunted. Tears streamed down her face.

“Knot and I have a complicated relationship,” Keelie said. “I’ll explain later, but now I need for you to tell me what happened before Grandmother disappeared. Did you hear any strange noises?”

Risa straightened her shoulders, her face stiff with concentration as she thought back. “The night was windy, and I heard the tapping of the branches at the window and this beautiful music.”

“Harp music?”

“No, a song. It was lovely.”

Keelie’s skin grew clammy with fear. Now she knew who had her grandmother. Bella Matera. But why? Closing her eyes, Keelie opened up her telepathic communication.

Bella Matera.

Nothing.

Where is my grandmother?

Her head exploded with a sound that seemed to come from the trees. Keelie placed her hands over her ears, attempting to stop the spine-shattering noise. She stumbled, her equilibrium became distorted, and the world began to spin.

Risa reached out to steady her. “What’s wrong?”

“The trees,” Keelie gasped. “They’re screaming, and I can’t get them out of my head.”

Risa held onto her. “Focus. Concentrate. Call upon your Earth magic.”

Keelie sent a tendril of power into the Earth and touched cold, oily darkness. She yanked backed her power, nauseous. “I can’t use it. The soil is polluted with dark magic.”

“Here?” Risa stared at the ground, and at the normal-looking silhouettes of the ferns and bushes. “I knew there was something creepy about this place. But wait—you’ve used dark magic before. Why can’t you use it now? Turn it to your purpose.”

Yes. The dark magic within Keelie pulsed like a beating heart, a wild animal that had been caged and was waiting for its moment of sweet freedom. What would happen if she loosed it?

“I can’t.” Keelie said. There were consequences to using dark magic.

“You can. You can control it.” Suddenly Risa fell to her knees. “My head. I think the trees are banging on my skull.”

Keelie’s thoughts seemed to skip, missing pieces, as if the trees were distorting her mind. She’d never experienced trees talking to anyone but tree shepherds, or trying to hurt people, but these were Ancients. Their store of knowledge was over two thousand years old. She had nothing to use against it.

Something heavy, fat, and fuzzy landed on her foot.

“Yeow fae meowgic.”

Risa leaped up, staring at Knot. “He talked.”

Keelie removed her hands from her ears and dropped to her knees. The world spun super-fast, faster than any ride she’d ever been on at a theme park. She must be hitting Super G. She raised her arms, fighting the centrifugal push. The dark fae magic within her, unleashed, glittered gold. Like an uncaged cheetah, it raced through her. A comet of magic flowed through her hands and spiraled into the sky, illuminating the forest around them in an eerie red light.