in the deck I used, that indicated a dark, hollow energy, which often came from psychic vampires—or physical ones, or energy leeches. Essentially, those who fed on others for energy or strength.
The fourth card was advice, and in this position the Moon appeared, which told me her body was hidden, and that it wouldn’t be easy to find. Then, a thought tugged at the back of my mind. Maybe it also meant something literal—maybe it would be easier to find her body by moonlight, or during the night? A click inside registered that I was right.
The last card was the outcome card, and it was the four of swords. That told me we could find her remains, because it indicated peace and rest after a long battle, recuperation after illness. And for a ghost, it generally indicated that we could put her to rest.
But I kept going back to the seven of cups. Just looking at the card gave me the creeps. I was trying to meditate on it when Llew returned with our drinks. He brought me back a sausage cheese muffin, along with a couple maple bars.
“Have you learned anything?” he asked.
I nodded. “I know her body is still on the farm, but there’s something that scares me. That thing that Evie and I heard in the corn yesterday? That Kipa sensed? I think it’s some sort of energy vampire. I think it feeds on people and I’m wondering if it’s what killed her?”
He frowned. “But why would it lie dormant all these years? And if it didn’t, why weren’t there other deaths?”
“Who says there weren’t? We still don’t know why there was so much turnover on this farm. And remember, people can die from something that appears to be natural causes, but still be the victim of an energy leech. However, figuring out just what kind of energy leech is going to be difficult. There are so many types.”
“Could it be a regular vampire?” Llew asked. “Does it have to be an energy vamp?”
“Well, it could be, except if it is, that couldn’t be what we heard in the corn maze because regular vampires can’t be out under the daylight.” I shook my head, taking a long sip of my mocha. “I’ll pull out my Beltan’s Bestiary tonight and start thumbing through it.”
“What do you want to do about Aida’s remains? Do you think that we can come out here and poke around, look for them?” Llew finished arranging his goods on the table and peered anxiously up at the sky. “I think we’re due for a soaking rain today.”
“I think so, too. And I’m not sure. If Rain gives us permission, we can. But—” I stopped as loud voices rang through the fairway. I recognized one of them as Marigold’s. “Uh oh. I’ll go see what’s up. You stay with the booth.”
I took one more sip of mocha to fortify me and headed out. The shouts were coming from the left of the vendors, down the path toward the pumpkin patch. I hustled my ass over there, hoping that it was just something minor. But when I arrived at the edge of the patch, I realized that the day was just going to get worse the longer it went.
Marigold was there, shouting at Evie and Dray. He was behind the counter, cringing as she laid into him. Evie had backed away from her mother.
“You are the stupidest kids in the world. I told you, there are no ghosts in the patch, and I come down to see how things are doing and I overhear the two of you talking about spirits haunting our farm? What if our customers heard you? You want to drive away them away? You want to make sure we don’t sell enough to pay the mortgage?” Her voice was rising, and she was so livid that I was afraid she might have a stroke.
“Mom—stop!” Evie stepped between Marigold and Dray. “The farm is haunted and you know it! You can’t pretend that it’s not, not with everything that’s happened the past year. You’ve turned into a total bitch and I’m surprised Rain’s still with you. You treat her and us like dirt!”
Oh boy. I worried my lip. I was an outsider, but Marigold was going ballistic and somebody had to step in. I had just gathered my courage to intervene when Marigold suddenly backhanded Evie, knocking her to the ground with a strength that shocked me. Marigold was strong, but not that