Grave Stones Read online

  “But,” Galbraith said. His gaze pinged between Cillian, Lassi, and Conway.

  “Do as he says, man,” Conway added. “He’s right.”

  “But,” Galbraith repeated stupidly.

  “Let’s go,” Brown commanded.

  As they tromped up the hill, Lassi asked, “What did you do?”

  Cillian shrugged. “Magic has its advantages. I made a strong suggestion.”

  “Huh. So…you didn’t trick me into…” She waggled her finger between them.

  He scoffed. “You’d know. Your magic is stronger than you realize. You’ll see soon enough. I’m going to need you to try something.”

  More scratching sounds raked against the inside of the barn. A loud, hollow panting came next. Then, piercing squeaks, like someone was pulling hinges from the door.

  Lassi rubbed her arms. “Cillian. What the fuck are we going to do? I’m newbie-magic. This, all this, is untested land.” She waved her arms up and down her body. “All I’ve managed to do is shock myself silly.”

  A loud, ear-splitting shriek—like someone took the howling wind and amplified it—filled the air.

  Lassi pressed her palms against her ears. It didn’t help. The shriek seemed plugged into her blood stream, as if her arteries were conduits.

  “Oh, God, Cillian. Make it stop!” she cried, squeezing her eyes tightly. She crouched and rocked side to side, desperate to get away from the scream.

  “Lassi.” Cillian’s words snaked through the screams as his hands wrapped around her wrists. “Look at me.”

  She allowed one eye to open. The screeching in her head increased.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “Can’t you hear that sound?” Tears pricked at her eyes. She kept up the rocking, side to side.

  “What sound?”

  “The shrieks. The screams. The horrible bawling.” She put more muscle into her hands and rolled her palms around and around her ears.

  “Lasairfhíona, look at me.”

  She managed to get both eyes open. “Help me, Cillian, help me. This is awful.”

  “I think she knows you’re here. You’re to be her next victim. I think the reason you can hear her and I can’t, means she’s trying to communicate with you and tell you her intentions.”

  “Her communication style is fucked.” Lassi let out a wail. “I’m not ready to die.” Her lungs shuddered as she struggled for breath. “I’m so not ready. Why did I come to this fecking village?” She shoved Cillian’s hands away, shot to her feet, and began to run away from him.

  Cillian easily caught her. He enveloped her in his embrace. “Nothing’s going to happen to you. I’ve got you. But...” He released her, turned her to face him, and tipped up her chin. His palms landed alongside her face, holding her steady. He regarded her with his freaky Leviathan eyes. “I want to try something. Can you trust me?”

  “What is it?” she whispered. She grasped his wrists, holding on for life.

  “We need to use you as bait. You’re going to marshal your magic as incredible strength.”

  Shivers lanced her spine. “What? Fuck that.” She tried to pull away, forgetting Cillian possessed superhuman strength.

  His hands flew to her shoulders, pinning her in place against the side of the barn.

  She writhed against his unyielding grip. When that didn’t work, she kicked him in the chin with her boot.

  He didn’t even flinch—just kept the freaky stare pointed at her.

  Her eyes stretched wide. A stream of babble pushed its way out her lips. “Come on, Cillian. Stop fucking around. Me, as bait? You want to toss me to the demon like chum? I get this is a crisis. It’s a real heroic opportunity here, I get that. It might even get a write-up in the local newspaper how you dangled me in front of the killer. We tried and failed and wasn’t she brave and all that. Let’s lift a pint to her short life, the nurse who came and screwed things up.”

  The shrieks amplified until she was immersed in them. Through gritted teeth she managed to say, “Oh, God, this is awful!”

  “It’s the only way, love. But, I think your magic is strong enough we can get her back in her place of rest.”

  “You think? You think? I’m to trust you, the guy who’s kept enough secrets to fill the Taj Mahal, because you think my magic is strong enough?” Another piercing scream crippled her. It would have sent her to her knees had Cillian’s grip not been so fierce on her shoulders. “All right, all right, all right. If it makes this noise stop, one way or the other, I’m in, although I’m clueless what I can do with it.”

  “Good girl.” He brought his lips to hers and gave her a quick kiss. “Let’s go.” He grabbed her hand, pivoted, and headed toward the barn.

  She stumbled alongside him, next to the path that led to the barn. “So, what’s the plan? Do we have a plan? Have we managed that much?” The shrieking in her head began to abate. Relief poured through her body.

  He stopped abruptly. “Watch where you’re going, love. Once you step inside the stones, you’re hers for the taking.”

  She looked down. One of her feet was poised to step across the stones. She quickly withdrew it. “But the noise inside my head was lessening.”

  Cillian snapped his fingers as if a lightbulb had gone off. “Exactly. She’s devious. Of course you’d seek relief. Then, once you crossed over the stones, the noise would stop and you’d be a fly inside her web, unable to get out. Why didn’t I think of this? She seduced Rosalie into her web.” His jaw became rigid.

  That same sense of jealous frustration washed through Lassi. “I see. We’re doing this all for Rosalie’s memory. I get it. Use the nurse to draw the demon out so you can feel better about yourself and seek revenge. Nice try, Cillian. We’re done here. I’m going back to Dublin right now. Feck Barbados and my stupid plans.”

  Cillian did one of those clutch and kiss maneuvers he did to shut her up. He ground his lips to hers in a punishing, searing lip-lock. When he pulled away, he said, “We’re doing this for you. I love you, Lassi Finn. I’ll do anything to protect your precious life.”

  Her whole being seemed to fill with airy, angel-winged hope. Her chest expanded like a big, bright red balloon. “You love me?”

  A huge, stupid grin spread across her face.

  “Yes, Lassi. I do. That’s what I’ve been fighting with since you arrived. The minute I laid eyes on you, I knew my heart was in trouble.”

  She started to say something like, “I love you, too,” even though she hadn’t thought about it too much, when the shrieks exploded in her head. Her hands flew to her ears, bearing down. “Good Christ, I can’t stand this. Tell me. Tell me what to do.”

  “We need to get to the doors of the barn. You’ll draw her out and lead her toward the grave.” He seized her hand again and hustled toward the structure.

  “Uh, how, exactly?” She jogged to keep up with his stride.

  “I’m still thinking. We’re making this up on the fly.”

  “That’s such a comfort,” she said, adding an eye roll.

  “Stop here.”

  She stopped.

  They stood a foot or so outside the stones encircling the barn.

  A long, loud scratching noise came from inside.

  “Shite. Fuck. Bloody hell.”

  Cillian placed one hand against the red painted wood, leaned across the stones, and reached for the barn door handle. “Lord, I’m afraid I can’t reach it.”

  “Here. I’ll steady you.” She wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. Right. Like I’m strong enough to hold him. Stirrings of electricity coiled through her limbs. Whoa. What’s this? Is this my magic? Is this what he asked me to manifest?

  “Good girl. That’s what I was talking about. You’ve got incredible strength inside.” He stretched forward once more, straining to grasp the door handle. His fingers coiled around it.

  The magic in her limbs sputtered and disappeared. She nearly dropped him.

  He caught himself, falli
ng forward, still clutching the door handle.

  Lassi rallied, reaching deep within to source her power. When stirrings of electricity shot through her limbs, she increased her grip on his body, yanking him away from the stone path.

  The door flew open, crashing against the barn.

  Lassi let out a scream. Her hands flew to her face, pressing against her mouth.

  There, as real as real could get, stood the Dearg-Due.

  Chapter 22

  As she stared at the Dearg-Due, Lassi’s skin crawled like a billion mites covered her skin. The wind whistled around the barn in a low moan, but it was barely noticeable over the screeching inside her head.

  Remnants of her legendary beauty, from her star-like eyes to her silvery, gossamer hair, were dulled by her pale, bluish-gray skin. Anguish, coupled with a look that could only be described as violent madness, shone on her face.

  “I thought she was the most beautiful woman on the planet,” she whispered, her hands still smashed to her ears. “Time hasn’t done her any favors.”

  “No,” Cillian said. “It hasn’t.”

  The Dearg-Due lunged at Lassi.

  Lassi screamed and leaped backward. Without thought, she turned and ran.

  “You know where to go, Lassi!” Cillian bellowed. “Don’t let her grab you, touch you, or catch you.”

  “Like that’s easy.” A nasty, hot wind assaulted her nose. It smelled like wet fur mixed with decaying animal. She glanced to her right.

  The Dearg-Due raced beside her, her lips parted, exhaling fetid breath in her direction.

  “Cillian!” Lassi screamed. “Do something!”

  “I’ll meet you at the grave,” he called.

  “What if I don’t get there?” she cried.

  “Not an option,” Cillian said, sounding far, far away. “Make sure the red-blood sucker stays inside the stones.”

  “What stones? They’re everywhere,” she screamed, but her words were whisked away by the assaulting wind.

  Lassi cut right, off the main road, heading for the beach in the most direct manner she could think of—down the rocky hill. Her flashlight beam bobbed wildly, making her hasty race treacherous. She snagged her toe on a rock, and she catapulted toward a hard-slamming collision. Scrambling to keep from falling flat, she got her legs underneath her. Dim sparkles appeared before her eyes in a snake-like trail.

  The stones! Follow the stones.

  A large shape, outlined with luminous green, zig-zagged to her left. This must be fear hallucinations. I sure hope that’s Cillian.

  As they drew nearer to the grave, the Dearg-Due hesitated, slowing her sprint.

  Ah ha! She knows that’s her prison! I’ve got you, bitch.

  The Dearg-Due gazed around wildly, as if realizing she’d been tricked back to her prison. She turned to face Lassi. Pure evil flashed from her eyes. Every hair on Lassi’s body stood at attention.

  The vampire’s mouth opened wide, revealing sharp, pointed fangs. Unable to escape the confines of the path, she lifted her arms in front of her, and raked her bony hands at Lassi in a crazy, erratic slashes.

  The screaming in Lassi’s head increased. She fought for control, trying to source her magic to assist her. Powerless to find relief from the terrible noise, she scanned the ground for some sort of weapon, training her flashlight in every direction.

  The vampire stopped her crazy arm waving, and stared at the hole in the ground meant to contain her. Her silvery hair rippled in the wind. Her eyes glowed red. Then, she pivoted and stared at Lassi. Once again, she struck like a cobra, slashing the air in front of Lassi’s face with her long, claw-like fingernails.

  Lassi leaped to the side. “Hold on here.” She gasped for breath. “Let’s think things through. You don’t need to kill people. You know that, right?”

  The Dearg-Due hesitated and cocked her head.

  “We can figure things out and put them to rights. I sure know what it’s like to have your heart broken.” Out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of the same luminous shape she’d seen, moving toward her.

  The Dearg-Due shook her head.

  “I don’t think she can understand you,” Cillian whispered from behind the tree. “Know any Gaelic?”

  “Shite. I sucked monkey balls in that class.” Lassi searched her brain for hints of language class.

  The vampire let out a low, hissing growl. She swayed side to side like a restless beast.

  The hair on Lassi’s head prickled. “I get it,” she said, in a shaky voice. “Betrayal sucks.”

  A monstrous snarl ripped the air. The Dearg-Due’s clawed hand lashed the air in front of Lassi’s face.

  “Whoa,” Lassi said, arching backward. “Feck me for not paying attention in class.” She strung together a mash up of Old English and Gaelic and hoped she said, “I’m sorry you were betrayed by your father.”

  The vampire blinked and again cocked her head, as if trying to understand.

  “Close enough,” Cillian whispered. “You said you were sorry she was fucked in the ass by that donkey.”

  She glanced toward Cillian’s luminous outline. “Bloody hell. How’s this?” She formed another mishmash of words, hoping for, “Why did you kill Dylan, Ailis, and Liam?”

  The vampire’s eyebrows stitched together. She shook her head. Her mouth opened and closed, open and closed. Finally, she held up one finger.

  “Are you trying to tell me something? You need me to slow down? You want my full attention? I swear to God, I’m listening harder than I’ve ever listened in my life.”

  The vampire shook her head again. Her silvery hair whipped around her head, buffeted by the wind. In a rasping voice, she managed to say, “One dead.” Then, she switched to Gaelic.

  “What did she say?” Lassi hissed over her shoulder.

  “Man with child. Man who spoke of Ailis in his sleep,” Cillian murmured. “Ask her if she’s certain.”

  “You’re the Gaelic expert. Why don’t you ask her?” Lassi snapped.

  “I doubt if she’d answer. I’m her captor, after all. And if she knew I was here, she’d be livid.”

  Lassi halted. “Um, how can she not know you’re here? I can hear you fine.”

  “It’s a Leviathan thing. Think of it as a cloak of invisibility. Only, I don’t think I can cloak Gaelic.”

  Lassi’s fingers curled into fists. “Great. Another wonderful notion from Cillian Ward. ‘I think your magic is strong enough. I don’t think I can speak to you in Gaelic right now.’ Fuckity fuck fuck fuck.”

  A low rumbling growl came from the vampire.

  “Hurry! I’m surprised she hasn’t tried harder to lure you in and take you apart by now. She must like you.”

  “I’m a nurse. What’s not to like?” Lassi sighed and searched her brain again. “Are you certain you killed only one?”

  The Dearg-Due shook her head.

  Lassi recalled the Gaelic word for dead. She held up her forefinger. “Only one marbh?”

  Again, she nodded, speaking in rapid Gaelic.

  “Translation, please,” Lassi hissed.

  “She said, ‘the man who frowned and spoke of Ailis in his sleep’. She could smell the blood of the others, but they were not her acts.”

  “How is that possible?” Lassi tried for another sentence. She hoped she managed an approximation of, “How did you know he was dreaming of Ailis?”

  The wind picked up force, assuming an almost hurricane velocity. Waves crashed on the shore and surged around her ankles, dragging the sand under her feet as it sped away.

  “This surf. It’s coming up kind of high, don’t you think?” She’d never seen the waves reach this far.

  “It’s probably her. Keep going, love.”

  The Dearg-Due began to pace.

  Another wave joined with the last one, surrounding her legs with water.

  Lassi shrieked, struggling for purchase on the watery sand. “The grave site! It’s disappearing!”

  A string of G
aelic, fast and furious, flew from the vampire’s lips. Spittle sprayed from her mouth as she spoke.

  Lassi began to back away. She caught the “always Ailis,” and the word for dead repeated over and over. “Cillian. What did she say?”

  “She’s saying it’s always Ailis. Her husband had an affair with a woman named Ailis. I think you flipped on her hot button.”

  “No, shite.” She held up her hands in a placating manner. “That was a long time ago. It’s over. You’ve had your revenge. Now, let’s be calm, shall we?” The pitch and volume of the shrieking in her head reached deafening heights. She fell to her knees in the surf, trying to ward off the noise with her palms. “Cillian,” she cried. “It’s unbearable.”

  “Get up, Lassi. It’s time to act, not get answers. Try to maneuver around her and shove hard, aiming for the grave, without being torn apart. You can do it. Draw from your incredible strength. I’ll shift and dive into the sea and gather rocks.” He rose and began running toward the water’s edge like some glowing high-tech outline of a man.

  The incredible strength I didn’t know I possessed? That one? Lassi staggered to her feet. She swayed like she had one Guinness too many, trying to maneuver behind the vampire.

  The Dearg-Due assumed a crouch. She began rolling her hands, one over the other, like she was spinning yarn or conjuring. As her hands moved, she muttered some sort of throaty incantation.

  A compelling force, too strong to resist, began to tug at Lassi. Icy fingers wrapped around her shoulders, waist and legs and pulled. “Cillian! Help! She’s doing some strange magic.”

  A few yards away, his luminous shape appeared to whirl to face her. His hands cupped around his mouth to yell over the howling winds. “You’ve got to resist! We have to work together.”

  “Easy for you to say,” Lassi muttered. She dug her feet into the ground.

  The vampire’s hands kept spinning their magic, drawing Lassi toward her.

  Lassi threw herself on the ground. The impact forced the air from her lungs.

  Another wave washed over her head.

  Sputtering, she tried to roll away. Maybe I can swim away from her spell. The magical force yanked her to her feet. “Cillian! Cillian! I can’t fight this.”