Spirits Box Set by Jordan L. Hawk

Author:Jordan L. Hawk [Hawk, Jordan L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Widdershins Press LLC

Chapter Nine

Henry ran.

Terror lent him speed. He didn’t dare look over his shoulder, too afraid of what he might see. Branches whipped across his face, nearly tearing his spectacles free. His shoe caught on a root, and he almost pitched forward, barely catching himself on the tree it belonged to.

Leaves crunched beneath his feet. His breath scraped in his throat, too loud for him to hear whether anything gave pursuit. Any moment, he expected to feel a skeletal hand grab the back of his coat, or a blast of cold against his neck. His lungs burned and his sides ached, but he didn’t dare stop.

The trees fell abruptly away—thank heavens, he’d made it back to the construction site.

Except there was no large expanse of raw earth and half-built walls. Just trees, outlining a clearing in an eerily perfect circle.

Damn it. He’d gotten turned around and ended up where he began. If only he hadn’t left the compass with Jo, but he’d hardly imagined he’d need it. Barely breaking stride, he raced back into the trees. He’d make certain he went in a straight line this time. Eventually it would take him back to the work site, or the railroad tracks. Anywhere these accursed trees didn’t hem him in.

He ducked, dodged beneath branches, jumped a small gully, and—

Found himself back in the clearing again.

“No,” he said aloud. It wasn’t possible. He knew he’d gone, if not in a straight line, at least not in a circle.

The ghost wanted him here and didn’t intend to let him leave.

“Henry!”

A shriek escaped Henry, and he spun, hands up to fight off whatever horror had come upon him.

Vincent caught his wrists. “Henry, stop, it’s me!”

Relief weakened Henry’s legs. “Dear lord, don’t do that again!” he gasped. “You nearly gave me apoplexy.”

Vincent pulled him close. “Thank God you’re all right.”

“I…yes. I’m fine.” But he must have sounded as shaky as he felt, because Vincent tightened his arms convulsively.

“I’ve got you, sweetheart.” Vincent whispered against his sweaty hair. “Tell me what happened.”

When Henry finished, Vincent caught his chin and tipped his head back. “I’m glad you’re all right,” he said, and kissed Henry tenderly.

Henry knew he must reek of sweat after his frantic run, but if Vincent didn’t care, neither did he. Just the taste of Vincent’s mouth, cinnamon cachous and faded coffee, calmed his racing heart.

“Thank you,” he managed, when the kiss ended. “Not to sound ungrateful, but what are you doing here?”

“Lizzie convinced Norris’s parents to lend her one of his possessions.” Vincent sighed and ran his hands lightly up and down Henry’s arms. “He’s dead. He died here in the woods, disoriented, attacked by the ghost. And I…I panicked.”

Not good news. Even so, Henry said, “Vincent Night, panic?”

Vincent’s dark eyes remained sober. “Yes. I was terrified the same fate might have befallen you and Jo. When Jo said you’d gone into the woods and not returned…” He took a deep breath, and the faintest hint of his usual smile touched his lips. “At first

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