“It’s not cold, buttercup. But I’m more than happy to lend you my body for heat.”
She reached behind her head and rubbed the back of her neck. “That’s an energy flare. I knew it! But it’s far away.” Gem turned in a circle. “Maybe that direction? Did anyone check the middle?”
“Hop on the Wyatt express.” Wyatt got behind the wheel, and Gem sat next to him. There was a bench on the back that Claude took.
“Don’t you want a ride?” Wyatt offered.
“I’d rather walk.”
“Suit yourself.” With glazed eyes, Wyatt saluted Christian and hit the gas pedal. As soon as he did, Claude flew off the back seat and did a face-plant in the grass.
Christian helped him up. “Let me impart some wisdom on you that’ll save you a lot of grief: never entrust your life to a wanker.” He clapped Claude’s back. “There’s a good lad.”
The crickets were chirping, but they had nothing on Wyatt singing the lyrics to the eighties song, which no longer played on the broken radio. There was no wind or nearby traffic, no airplanes overhead or people. It was one reason Christian kept his little concrete shack in the woods. He had always appreciated a quiet retreat—one far removed from the noisy pollution of city life.
Wyatt put distance between them, his lights shining on trees, headstones, and a skittish raccoon. As Christian shadow walked behind them, he got a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Wyatt’s cart turned right and headed toward a mausoleum.
“No, not that way. That way,” Gem argued. “Will you let me drive? You’re going to get us killed!”
“We’re in the right place, buttercup.”
When Christian passed the mausoleum, he recognized the structure and realized exactly where they were. This was the cemetery where Raven’s mother was buried. All graveyards looked alike to him, and on his previous visit, he’d hidden himself on top of Raven’s vehicle, ignoring the route. It had also been in the day, and shadows made everything look different.
He searched for familiar markers, trying to retrace his steps. Wyatt’s headlights briefly blinded him before he steered away erratically. After walking in circles, Christian stopped and turned, looking around. It all looked the same. He could read the names on the headstones until he found Raven’s mother, but not without going up to each and every one. Had she come here to talk to her mother? He imagined her passed out on top of the grave. It hadn’t even occurred to him that she might come here, but he sometimes forgot how young Raven was. It often took many decades for a young immortal to let go of their old life and all the people tied to it.
Gem launched out of the cart while it was still moving and landed on her rear. She angrily dusted off her leggings before Claude helped her up. “I lost it, Christian. I can’t feel the flare anymore. Maybe it was someone by the road.”
Claude pulled in a deep breath. “I smell freshly turned soil.” He hurried forward, Christian and Gem jogging behind him.
Raven’s father thought he’d buried her years ago, so Raven had a grave next to her mother. As soon as Christian noticed the fresh sod, he fell to his knees and used his hands to dig. When Claude saw the name on the headstone, he joined in.
“Someone’s definitely down there.” Wyatt parked the cart and stumbled out of the seat. “And judging by that guy’s face, the residents aren’t too thrilled about it.”
Christian didn’t bother asking Wyatt about whatever apparition he was referring to. He just kept digging.
“This is impossible.” Claude sat back, his hands caked in dirt. “It’ll take all night.”
A blue light showered the ground, and they looked over their shoulder. Gem wielded an energy ball between her fingertips. “Let me help. Please, Christian. If she’s running out of air, we don’t have time.”
“Lass, put that away. Do you want to blow a hole through her mother’s coffin?”
“I can do it! A lady’s been teaching me how to control my energy. Stand back and let me show you.”
The two men slowly got up and backed away. Claude looked as white as any ghost that was probably watching.
“It might blow up her headstone. Is that okay?” Gem asked, her voice as innocent as a child’s.
“Aye, that can be replaced. But if your aim isn’t true, you might kill her for sure. If you can’t control it, don’t risk it.”
Gem’s eyebrows drew together as she focused on the light