Chapter Eleven

SPARKS AND TULLY had retreated upstairs after their visit with Uncle Bart. Midnight loomed. Sparks had already contemplated heading home, as his evening shift at the hospital tomorrow would come quickly enough and reporting for duty without a good night’s rest would mean a non-productive and scatterbrained stint. Instead, he sat at a bar stool on the edge of the kitchen counter, deflated, still alarmed over the wraith incident, and his mind racing from visiting Uncle Bart. He craned his neck to one side, stretching out the tightening muscles.

“You want a beer?” Tully asked.

“Ugh, I should go, but if I’m being honest, that wraith thing scared the shit out of me. I’ll take the beer.”

Tully opened the fridge and pulled out a couple. He handed one to Sparks but also brought an empty plate out. He scrunched his face into a ball of confusion as he placed the dish on the counter. He wiped his fingers on his shorts.

“Dev told me he had taken out a couple of steaks for tomorrow night’s dinner. So, this is weird.” Tully shook his head and dismissed the oddity. He had other things to worry about right now. “You know, I should text him. It’s not like him to be this late.” Tully glanced at the clock on the microwave, then opened a drawer and rummaged through its contents. Finally, he passed Sparks a bottle opener. Craft beers rarely came with a twist-off top. “And stay here tonight. You don’t have to go home. We got lots of room. I wouldn’t want you to wander the streets alone knowing a wraith is out there.”

As if on cue, the clickety tinkle of a key jostled in the front door’s lock and the deadbolt slid open, breaking their conversation.

“And that will be Dev.” Tully turned, opened the fridge, and pulled out a bottle of wine.

“Oh, my Gods, you’re so sweet.” Sparks grinned, impressed with Tully’s attentiveness.

“If it’s this late, and he’s just getting home, he’ll need a drink.” Tully winked at Sparks while pouring his boyfriend a glass.

“Hey, honey, I’m home,” Dev yelled from the foyer. There was some rustling as shoes were removed, and then the pad of socks walking down the short hallway thudded until their owner appeared in the kitchen where they sat. “Oh, hey, Sparks!”

Tully met Dev halfway, grabbed him around the waist, and planted a kiss on his man.

“Here, you might want this.”

“Oh yes, I do. You will not believe the night I had.”

“Same! But you go first. What happened? Why working so late?” Tully pulled away and stood at the end of the kitchen counter where Sparks sat. He grabbed his beer. Sparks spun around and waved a nonchalant hello to Dev.

“Well, which first? You won’t believe who dropped by for a visit.” Dev took a sip of his wine, gently placed the glass on a nearby ledge, slipped off his satchel, and dumped the bag in the corner of the dining room.

“Okay, nope, no idea. Who?”

“Cam.”

“Wait, I thought—”

“Mm-hmm, me too. He’s managed to escape Lady Aine’s control and needed to go see Everton but didn’t know where the wolfman lived so I had to use my God-given tracking ability to find the man. Apparently, they broke up and Cam is finding out why, or what’s going on, or…I don’t know. It’s Cam, therefore it’s complicated. But I hope he sorts his mess out.”

“That doesn’t sound like fun.”

“No, and frankly witch-finding is mentally exhausting. But Cam is at the pack house. I’m sure he’ll be over tomorrow. Now, believe it or not, that wasn’t even the oddest bit to my night, and Sparks, I’m glad you’re here. I think I’m gonna need your brother’s help.”

“Wiatt?”

“He’s a necromancer, yeah?”

“He is.”

“Well, my late-night appointment turned out to be a mother from society at large. In other words, not a member of the Shadow Realm. She brought in her youngest son, who proceeded to climb the walls.”

“Oh, did stuff get broken? Hyperactive kid?”

“No, I mean literally climb the walls. He crouched in the corner up by the ceiling, spider walking his way up and down, eyes glowing red, hissing at all of us. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear the kid has a demon in him. But I don’t know anything about demons or possession, and I hoped your brother might?” Dev turned and gave a pleading look at Sparks.

“I can text him and ask? He plays with dead things, but demons might be altogether a different bucket of magic.”

“I’d appreciate it. Give him my number and ask him if he’ll get in touch with me?”

“Well, wraiths and demons in one night. This is not a good sign.” Tully grimaced as he shared a knowing glance with Sparks.

“What do you mean, wraiths?” Dev’s eyes went wide.

“You might want to drink the wine.” Tully pointed to the drink still being cradled by his boyfriend. Dev lifted the glass and took another hearty sip, but his focus never veered from Tully as his boyfriend explained, “So, Sparks and I went and had dinner down at Emily Murphy Park—down by the Glade? We found a dead body. Desiccated. Dried up like a mummy. Then a growl, which wasn’t particularly welcoming, rumbled across the clearing. We beelined it for the Audi. Called the Magistrates to deal with the corpse when we were attacked by a wraith.

“Turns out, Uncle Bart had spelled the car, so we were safe. But if he hadn’t, we’d both be shrunken dried-up mummies, and you would be very single.”

“Holy shit, are you guys okay?”

“I’m freaked out, to be honest. Never seen a wraith before,” Sparks admitted. Dev sidled over, wrapped his arm around Sparks, and gave him a gentle squeeze.

“Well, you can stay here tonight,” Dev said.

“That’s exactly what I told him.”

“This is freaky—what the hell is going on?” Dev plopped himself down on the stool next to Sparks.

“Uncle Bart has an idea,” Sparks added.

“No surprise there. He has all kinds of ideas.” Dev snickered.

“I told him about Byron,” Tully confessed.

“You didn’t! We agreed to spare the old man from the gory details.”

“Well, he pulled the memory-reading trick. We went to visit him right after the wraith incident, and you know how he is, smelling bad juju.” Tully mimicked a dog sniffing the air, kind of what Uncle Bart had done. The words were a trademark phrase Uncle Bart used often.

“He always smells something, but he’s never pulled the sight on me.”

“Count yourself lucky. He’s used that crap on me my entire life. I didn’t have to come out to him, he smelled ‘bad juju’ picking out the various dates I’d had. Honestly, such a consecutive string of bad dates.” Tully shook his head. He did love Uncle Bart though. Everyone did. “Anyway, this time, he grabbed us both, dove into Sparks’s and my memories, and dug around in there until he found the attack.” As Tully relayed the spooky Uncle Bart story, he tapped the side of his head. “Now here’s the fun part.”

Sparks confirmed, “Happened just as the man said.”

“I’m not sure I’m ready for this.”

“He never liked Byron, but apparently the Guardians of the Night Grove provided an essential service to the Shadow Realm residents in Edmonton by throttling the energy coming into the city from various ley lines. They were denying access to the more dangerous creatures. So, if the Guardians are no more, Uncle Bart says we have to take over.”

Dev stared blankly at Tully, and then at Sparks.

“How exactly is one supposed to harness and slow the energy from a ley line?”

Tully and Sparks both shrugged.

“Apparently with some magic globe or sphere harnessing the energy,” Sparks offered.

“Tully, we’ve seen that globe. I bet you anything the orb in Byron’s study, the one shooting sparks across the miniature map of the world’s ley lines, is your energy harnessing device.”

“Oh, there’s a thought. Uncle Bart also said Byron had borrowed or stole the idea from the Montreal Coven—they had done something similar.”

“So, there’s one answer. We contact Montreal and ask for help.”

“See, I knew there was a reason I keep you around. Isn’t he the best?” Tully winked at Sparks.

“Sure is.”

“Oh Gods, you two. Enough. That makes me think though…”

“About what?” Sparks emptied his bottle of beer. The brew had gone down way too easy and before he had the empty bottle set on the counter, Tully had opened another bottle and placed the chilled beverage in front of him. Giving in proved easier than arguing. He hoisted the bottle in a “cheers” motion and took a swig.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Sparks started but stopped to take another sip of his drink. “Wraith attack and a child possessed by a demon. The ley lines have already been pumping out raw energy for a few months. Byron’s globe has obviously gone out of commission along with the old coven.”

“Yup. That’s exactly what I was thinking. So, we need to get on this fast.”

“And we will, but not tonight. I’ve had enough for one night. Sparks is staying over, right?” Tully glanced at his friend.

“I guess so. You keep feeding me alcohol. Can’t leave behind a half-finished beer and be a rude guest.”

“Okay, well, I for one have had enough Shadow Realm for the night. Let’s go soak in the tub.”

“Oh hey, we haven’t had a soak since last week. Hot water would feel amazing. I’m in!” Dev stood from the chair and walked into the dining room. At the back of the room, adjacent to the kitchen, sat a small dining area for four. An intricately carved armoire brimmed with various kitchen accoutrements, dishes, and ornaments, but on the other wall, a large set of French doors led out to an upper story deck.

Sparks had been out on the deck before but didn’t realize a hot tub existed.

“When did you guys get a hot tub?”

“We didn’t. Uncle Bart had it installed a few weeks ago. Claimed his doctor told him the hot water would soothe his bursitis. As far as I know, he’s never even stuck a toe in his soup pot.”

“I didn’t bring a swimsuit.” Sparks frowned. Plunging his tense muscles and frayed nerves into a tub of roiling and boiling water would have taken the edge off the frightening assault and wacky visit with Uncle Bart, not to mention ease the tension from his crazy hospital shifts.

“Really? You need a bathing suit? Sparks, we’ve all been naked together. It’s no big deal. Besides, the guy from the Spa Spot told me bathing suits retain laundry soap from the wash and would leave residue in the tub, so either you picked a suit that only ever got washed in hot water, or you don’t wear a suit. Frankly, so long as Uncle Bart isn’t in the tub at the same time, I’ll leave the suit off.” Tully stripped off his shirt, walked down the hall, opened a linen closet, and grabbed a bunch of towels.

Sparks couldn’t help but notice the way the kitchen light caught the metallic highlights in Tully’s red chest hair, making the fur gleam like fine copper filaments.

Before Sparks balked any further, Dev and Tully were bare-assed, towel in one hand, drink in the other, and heading down to the hot tub.

“Well, fuck it.” Sparks ripped his clothes off, tossed them on the bar stool, grabbed his beer and a fresh towel that smelled like fabric softener, and headed outside.

As Sparks descended the stairwell, he discovered both his Shadow Realm brothers gaping at a massive hedge behind the tub. In the centre of the wall of leaves, an archway had been meticulously grown, its sides a complex weave of the boxwood’s branches. The knotted curve reminded Sparks of fae construction. Intricate, beautiful, and alive.

“Wow, that’s something!” Sparks pointed toward the archway.

“No shit. It wasn’t there this morning.” Tully gawked at the detail of the arch, walked over, and ran a finger over the beautiful knotwork.

“This is crazy!” Sparks replied, coming in close to Tully and studying the lattice over Tully’s shoulder.

“I came down here this morning to adjust the chemicals. Uncle Bart has asked me to look after this beast. He got the toy; I have to look after it.” Tully turned to look in Dev and Sparks’s direction. “It’s not that I don’t mind. I mean, we live here nearly rent free. I can’t complain. But this?” Tully pointed to the looming hedge and stylish gateway. “I think I would have noticed something so spectacular.”

“I’ve never seen it. But I don’t come down here as often as you do,” Dev said.

“Well, okay. Let’s go take a peek.”

“I’m naked!” Sparks gestured to his exposed bottom half.

“This hedge is so tall, no one is going to see you. Stop being so self-conscious. Besides, you look great.” Tully waggled his eyebrows, turned, and walked through the archway.

“It’s true, you do. I wish I had a nice little treasure trail like you.” Dev pointed to the thin line of hair running from the bottom of Sparks’s pecs to below his belly button.

“You two are incorrigible, but thank you.”

“Listen,” Dev confessed to Sparks, “Tully will be the first to tell you, I am not generally comfortable walking around like this, but you’re my Shadow Brother. If I can’t be comfy with you, I’m a lost cause.” He spoke loud enough for Tully to hear him, as his boyfriend had already gone beyond the hedge and out of sight. Dev turned to Sparks and whispered, “Honestly, I’m so self-conscious right now, but it’s something I’m working on. It’s just a body, right? Tully’s been taking me to the nude beach all summer. He’s hoping I get used to showing it all off so when I work skyclad my self-consciousness isn’t mucking up my magic.”

Sparks chuckled.

“Right.” Sparks threw his arm around his fellow Brother’s shoulders. “Okay, let’s be comfortable together. Now, where did your boyfriend go?”

“I believe he went through the magical doorway to Narnia.” Dev pointed and smiled at Sparks.

Sparks snorted at the horrible fantasy reference.

Dev leaned into him, and Sparks took that as a sign of acceptance.

The night air of late August should have held a titch of cool to it, but Sparks didn’t feel cold at all. In fact, being out exposed to the starlight freed his mind and grounded him.

Until they passed through the archway.

Tully motioned for them to stop.

“Don’t move.”

The boys had passed through the gate to discover a whole new section of the garden. The entire circumference was surrounded by the boxwood hedge, tall enough to block out any nosy neighbours or noise from the surrounding city. Above them, the night sky put on a show of dotted and sparkling stars. The perimeter of the witch wood was heavily planted with flowering shrubs and herbs, many of which Sparks recognized as common ingredients needed for herbal magic remedies.

Knee-sized silver mounds of wormwood were sprinkled throughout the garden. Foxglove spikes in full bloom in varying tones ranging from white to deepest purple jutted up above fern fronds, while wild chamomile covered the soil. But the season for foxgloves had already passed for the year, and one didn’t expect blooming ginger plants to be grown in an Alberta backyard, yet there were several heliconia sporting their hanging, waxy bright-red and yellow bracts and florets. At the end of the grove, a massive Higan cherry swayed in the gentle night breeze.

But beside the wood, an angry swarm of roots writhed and tossed, vines lashing out and snapping in the air. Leaves burst out from the centre, raining down around the mass of squiggling plant parts.

“What the fuck?” Sparks whispered.

“I have no idea—”

Tendrils shot out from the mass, bouncing their way across the Glade, kicking up sod and dirt as they hurtled toward the boys.

Sparks sucked in a single breath.

The entire world stopped. Everything around him moved in slow motion as he attempted to turn away and retreat through the archway.

He never made it.