Page 4 of Hallow Hill at Halloween: Part Two

CHAPTER THREE Helpless

Lochlan had rung the doorbell three times and was pounding on the door for good measure. That “Lion Sleeps Tonight” diddy was beginning rattle Keir’s control.

“Good gods, Lochlan,” Keir said in objection to the excess use of “Lion Sleeps Tonight”. “Why the ruckus? Is it the dogs?”

“No. The pups are welcome guests,” he said.

Keir had been forced to ask Lochlan to host the dogs because they wouldn’t leave Rita’s bedside, not even to eat. They also had not stopped whining since it was clear Rita couldn’t be roused. Though Keir had found he’d become unexpectedly fond of Rita’s ‘fur babies’, evenhehad a breaking point when it came to listening to perpetual whining mixed with an occasional group howl.

While Keir was speaking to Lochlan, Ivy whizzed past in her fairy form on the way to the bedroom.

“This is no time for chitchat,” Lochlan said. “Ivy might have something.”

Keir and Lochlan hurried to Rita’s bedside just in time to see Ivy flitting about sprinkling some fine dust over Rita’s face.

“What is that?” Keir demanded.

Ivy changed to her still diminutive, but larger form and said, “A mixture of ashwaganda, guarana, and peppermint. It’s a spell called Wake the Dead.” When she realized that information might be unsettling, her eyes opened even wider than usual as her small hand covered her mouth. “Oh, no. I… I…”

“It’s alright, love,” Lochlan said. “Keir knows you think the worlds of Rita.”

“The only thing I care about is that it works,” Keir said.

All three looked at Rita closely. Even in her sleep she wore a frown and exhibited rapid eye movement that hadn’t stopped since Keir first discovered she wouldn’t wake.

Ivy’s shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry, Keir. I’ll look for something else.” She left Keir and Lochlan standing motionless, both distraught and deeply troubled by not knowing what to do next.

“Someone has to tell Evie,” Lochlan said quietly.

Trapped in his own inner turmoil, somehow Keir had forgotten about his daughter-in-law. He drew in a long, ragged breath. “How’s the best way to reach her?” he asked. “Wait! I think I know.”

Keir was aware his wife wore a necklace with a medallion that was a fae version of fallen-and-can’t-get-up. Rita had told him that, if she squeezed, Evie would come right away. She’d mentioned that, if she used it without good reason, she might have to face the wrath of Evangeline. She’d also had a gleam in her eye that said someday she’d do exactly that. Just because.

“If Rita squeezes the medallion Evie gave her, the queen will come post-haste.”

“Like summoning a genie?” Lochlan asked.

“I wouldn’t know. Perhaps.”

“Well, since Rita’s in no condition for squeezing anything,perhapsI should follow more traditional, albeit time consuming, methods of communication?”

Keir looked at Lochlan. “She never said she had to be the one to do the squeezing.”

“Seems like something that wouldn’t need stipulating.”

“I know. Still. Faearefond of the counterintuitive.” Keir sat next to Rita and reached for the medallion. Rita thoughtit was a little too big for a lady’s necklace, but it practically disappeared in Keir’s big hand.

Lochlan shrugged. “Right. You have me there.” Keir seemed hesitant to proceed with the experiment and Lochlan’s patience was on a short fuse. After all, he was facing the possibility of cancelling a court for the first time in the history of fae court. In short, it didn’t take long for Lochlan’s exasperation to get the best of him. “Well?”

Keir waved him off with his free hand. “I haven’t done it yet.”

“I can see that. So, get on with it, man. The queen is going to be miffed enough as it is.”

Keir couldn’t argue with that. There was no point in wasting time.

He tightened his first, applying pressure to the medallion. Not enough to curl or bend the fae-forged metal, but enough to convey deliberate intent. The instant he squeezed the air in the room warmed and, for reasons inexplicable, Keir thought time had stopped.

In the space of a single heartbeat Evie appeared at the foot of the bed.

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