Page 83 of Hallow Hill at Halloween: Part One

Regardless of my determination to stay awake, the next thing I heard was the overhead door closing. The three of us, Keir, Romeo, and I were home safely.

Keir took me straight to bed, not even giving me a chance to treat my dogs as was our custom when I returned from being away from home. I heard them whine.

“Please give the pups a treat,” I said, sounding weaker than I intended.

“Done.”

He helped me out of my beautiful party clothes and into my nightshirt.

“Wait!” I said. “I think I dropped my brooch. In the pantry.”

“I’ll call and let them know to look for it.”

“Okay,” I said as I slumped over onto the pillow.

Keir called Esmerelda at ten the next morning. “I can’t wake her.”

Esme didn’t bother to question him on the phone but came right away instead.

“Nothing about the events of last night should cause this,” she said. “The bite is healed as if it never happened.”

“When Lochlan stopped by at their usual walk-the-dogs time, I told him she was sleeping in. She said she was tired because of bad dreams. Did you notice the darkness under her eyes?”

“No.” Esme shook her head.

“Well, I did. What can you do about dreams that are debilitating?”

“I can’t look for a solution without knowing the problem. And the problem is the source of these dreams.”

“Curse?”

“Could be.”

“There’re certainly enough people who dislike her rulings.”

“Yes. But there are some hefty protections in place. It comes with the job, you know.”

Keir looked up. “So, if it was a curse, it would have to be cast by someone extraordinary.” He paused for a minute, thinking it over. “Coramancers?”

Esme nodded. “Since we share the same thought at the same time, I conclude we’re on the right track. It fits their modus operandi. So, this is trouble. Samhain Court is in two days.”

Keir took in a long, deep sigh. “Let’s talk to Lochlan.” Esme took out her phone. “There’s proof of Rita’s influence on you.” He glanced at the phone so she’d understand his meaning.

“Rita’s influence has been felt by everyone in Hallow Hill. Lochlan? Yes. It’s Esme. We have a situation that requires your presence right away.”

One minute later, Lochlan was ringing the bell.

Keir looked up and said to the house, “Open the door for Lochlan.”

Within seconds Lochlan was standing at the bedroom door. “What’s the matter then?”

Keir and Esme turned their heads in unison listening to his steps. As soon as he’d reached the bedroom door, Esme said, “She can’t be waked.”

Lochlan shrugged. “Notthisagain!”

“No. It’s notthat,” Esme said. “We think it’s a curse.”

“A curse?” Lochlan repeated.

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