Witching Time (The Wild Hunt #14) - Yasmine Galenorn Page 0,58
He excused himself and jogged back up the stairs.
I turned to the spirit, who was watching me. “I’m so sorry. We’ll make sure your body is properly put to rest, and until then, we’ll make sure you’re not alone. Is there anything you need for me to do? Anything you need to tell anybody?”
Aida moved closer, staring at her body. There was a look of sorrow and yet, relief, in her eyes. She looked back at me and said something, but I could barely catch her voice.
“Again, please?”
This time, she moved so she was right next to my ear. The hairs on my neck stood up. I could barely hear her, but I listened closely and managed to catch what she was saying.
Free my father, please. He’s stuck here, and he doesn’t want to be what he’s become.
“He’s an autumn wight, isn’t he? Your mother sacrificed him to Reyas, didn’t she?”
Aida nodded. I tried to warn him and she found out.
I worried my lip. “Did she kill you? Or lock you down here so you starved?”
Aida paused for a moment. She poisoned me and then hid me here so he wouldn’t find out what she did to me. Father didn’t follow Reyas.
“What can I do to free you?” I didn’t say it, but I was relieved that she hadn’t been locked down here until she died. It was better to go quickly than starve to death.
You’ve already done what I needed. I needed the truth to be revealed. I need someone to help my father. I couldn’t help him, so I needed to find help. And so many came through here and never heard me. My father scared them off, and they’d leave. He’s dangerous, so be cautious. He doesn’t mean to be, but that’s his nature now. Once he’s dead, he’ll remember who he was, and he’ll be able to leave.
She leaned over her body. I wish I could have grown up. Maybe I’ll have the chance next time around. Thank you, again.
I wished I could do more, but freeing her from being stuck here was probably the best gift I could give her. “I wish you could have grown up, too. You deserved to live your life. We’ll do whatever we can to help your father and we won’t leave your body here. But you go on now. Go on to your future. Be free.”
With a smile as innocent as new snow, she raised her fingers to her lips and blew me a kiss, then slowly faded away.
I stood there, watching the mist dissipate. Then, slowly, I leaned down and kissed Aida’s forehead, her skull cool against my lips. “Rest, young one. Rest.”
Kipa and I waited for Herne to get there, along with Akron, a raven shifter who mostly cleaned up after crimes committed against Cryptos—especially ones we didn’t want the police involved in. Herne brought Ember along. One of Kipa’s guards had gone back to the entrance of the farm to lead them to the temple.
I could hear them talking to Kipa as I sat by Aida’s corpse. Even though she had now moved on, I had promised we wouldn’t leave her alone again, and I wanted to carry through on that promise.
A few minutes later, Kipa led the three of them down. Herne and Ember I knew, but I hadn’t met Akron before. I knew who he was—and we had crossed paths on cases before, but we hadn’t been formally introduced. Ember joined me while Kipa gave Herne and Akron the rundown on what had happened, and what we suspected.
“She’s been here forty-some years,” I said, shaking my head. “Aida’s spirit told me that her mother poisoned her, so she wasn’t hidden away like a prisoner, but still…”
“The statute of limitations doesn’t apply to murder,” Herne said, standing near Kipa.
Akron approached and motioned for us to move out of the way.
“Treat her gently, please,” I said.
He nodded. “I respect the dead as much as you do, bone witch. Have no worries. I’ll treat Aida right, and Herne will let you know what happens with the body.”
“Will we be able to lock up her mother?” I asked, wanting justice.
“I doubt if we can find the evidence to convict her,” Herne said. “But there are ways around that. If we can find her, then we can figure out a way to deal with the woman. Meanwhile, Akron will search her and this bunker for evidence and then we’ll see that the girl is laid to rest.”