The Witch’s Grave Read Online Free PDF Page A

Lady, curled up in the living room by the fireplace. She lifted her head and one blue eye, one brown eye, watched me in speculation while her tail thumped the floor.
    Turning, I placed a finger on my lips. “Shh,” I whispered, and patted my leg softly. “You want to go outside?”
    She scrambled to her feet, and together we slipped out the back door onto the patio. I chose the chaise lounge, while Lady ran toward the trees, her nose close to the ground, sniffing for the trail of some elusive squirrel. Leaning my head back, I took another deep breath and let the night calm me.
    The sounds of crickets chirping, and Lady rustling through the underbrush as she searched for her squirrel, filled the night. The air, though heavy with humidity, felt good against my bare arms. Stars, scattered across the sky above me, winked and sparkled like glitter.
    In my mind, I returned to my original question: Were Tink and Abby right? Was I supposed to be there? Did the Universe have some task for me?
    Yes. And it scared the crap out of me. It had only been a couple of months since Tink’s kidnapping, one of the worst experiences in my life. We’d all struggled so hard to find her. It had been a battle of a lifetime, and I didn’t know if I was up to facing another ordeal so soon. What if my psychic gifthad been depleted? What if my “batteries” needed to be re-charged? It might account for why I hadn’t sensed the danger before it struck Stephen down.
    Abby always said to trust myself, to have faith. Right. At times, that’s easier said than done. Facing challenge after challenge can beat you down until all you want is a little peace in your life. Some respite.
    A long sigh escaped while I stared at the night sky. One thing I’d learned over the past couple of years—it didn’t make a difference if I was ready or not. Another fight was on the horizon, and I’d better be prepared.
    Reclining on the chaise, tiredness slithered up my body and my limbs felt too heavy to lift. Damn Abby’s potions—how long were they going to linger in my system?
    A comet shot across the heavens above as sleep once again claimed me.
     
    I walked through fields of wildflowers as before, only this time the world wasn’t sunny and bright. Storm clouds roiled across the sky and, from miles away, the low sound of thunder rumbled. Wind whipped the tall grass, bending it low to the ground. Each step was a struggle against the force of the wind.
    Stephen stood on the crest of a hill, as he had in the other dreams, but he faced away from me. I shouted his name, but the shrieking wind blew the words back in my face. Yelling his name again, I lowered my head and fought to move forward. I had to reach him—somehow I knew my life, his life, depended on it. I lifted one foot, but it felt as if it were encased in mud. Struggling, I tried to hurry through the weeds, but the more I tried, the heavier my steps became. Vines wrapped around my ankles and I fell facedown. Thistles scratched my face. Arms trembling with exertion, I pushed myself to my knees.
    Lifting my head, I called out, “Stephen, help me!”
    Stephen’s body slowly rotated until he faced me.
    Bleak blue eyes stared at me from across the meadow, and I stretched a hand toward him.
    “Stephen…” I ripped away the vines and shoved myself to my feet. If I could only reach him, everything would be okay.
    With my eyes focused on him, I watched him raise his hands in a helpless gesture as a small circle of bright red appeared in the center of his white shirt. The dot grew bigger and bigger, spreading beyond Stephen to color the meadow in a crimson haze.
    Wind roared in my ears, and I shut my eyes to block the sound and the sight of the once beautiful field now stained scarlet. Dizziness swept over me. Shaking my head, I fought against it.
    The world suddenly righted, and the wind stopped. A shove in the middle of my back had my eyes flying open.
    “Hurry.”
    Racks and racks of clothing surrounded