Spells Trouble, Kristin Cast [books to read in a lifetime .TXT] 📗

mother goddess, the mighty, magnificent Abigail—she must aid you in your guardianship.”

Mercy shifted from foot to foot. “She did. She died. Not long ago.”

“The other gates—do they also lead to Underworlds like Osiris’s realm, or do they open to mortal realms as does this one to yours?” He fired the question at them, his powerful voice in direct contrast to his wavering image.

“No,” Hunter answered. “They also lead to Underworld realms like yours.”

His eyes widened and he shook his head quickly, causing the barrier in front of him to shiver, like a stone dropped into a glowing pool of water. “No, that is not good.”

“Why? What’s wrong?” Mercy fisted her hands to stop them from shaking.

“It will be the same in the other Underworld realms as it is in mine. If the gates sicken there will be creatures—vile, evil things—that wish to escape their punishment. If they enter your world they will devastate your realm and spread death and chaos with them.”

“Ohmygod.” Hunter turned to Mercy. “The Fenrir! I looked it up after it killed Mom. He tried to devour the sun and swallowed Odin. One of Odin’s sons killed him, sending him to the Norse Underworld for punishment.”

Mercy’s lips felt numb. “He was trying to escape. That’s why he killed Abigail.”

“Gatekeepers! Did he take on her form?”

“No, our mother killed him, and with her death she sealed the gate again. What do you mean, take on her form?” asked Mercy.

“That is the only way a creature can have a physical presence in the mortal realm after crossing through the barrier that divides worlds.” He gestured at the bizarre veil that glowed and swirled in front of him. “We must possess the body of a being of that realm,” said Khenti.

“Bloody hell! You mean wear them like a skin suit?”

He nodded. “Yes, exactly. The mortal’s skin becomes a living disguise, even though the body will eventually deteriorate and they will have to choose another. That is why I remain close to our gate. Creatures must kill immediately upon entry to the other realm or they cannot remain.”

Mercy grabbed Hunter’s hand. “What if we cast a spell to block off the other trees and somehow keep everyone away until we figure this out?”

Hunter turned to Khenti. “Would that work? Would that give us some time?”

“Only if you can keep all living beings from the gates.”

“You mean the creatures can take over a body that’s not human?” Mercy’s stomach felt sick. Again.

Khenti crossed his arms over his chest and nodded. “As you saw when first we met, many of us who exist in other realms are not fully human. It would not be difficult for an escapee to kill and then wear the body of a bird or mouse—snake or dog—or perhaps even an insect.”

“Oh, shit. That’s so, so bad,” said Hunter.

Mercy thought she might puke. “Mr. Thompson—he was killed near the Greek tree.”

“But Mr. Parrott wasn’t,” said Hunter. Mercy thought she looked super pale.

“He wouldn’t have to be—not if whatever came out of that tree took someone else’s body and is a murderer walking around in a good guy skin suit.” Mercy met the Egyptian warrior’s flickering gaze. “We think something from the Greek Underworld is loose in our town, killing our people. Can you help us?”

His shoulders slumped and he shook his head slowly. “I cannot, though I wish I could. Were I to cross the barrier between our worlds I would have to take on the form of someone in your realm. I, too, would have to kill to remain.”

“We need to get to the Greek tree—and I mean really go to it this time.” Hunter spoke quickly, breathlessly. “We have to figure out if something came through that gate.”

“And if so, what,” added Mercy. “And then we need to find out whose skin suit it’s hiding in.”

“Go! I give you my oath to stand guard at Osiris’s gate. Nothing shall enter your world through here.” Even through the shimmering divide his strength and commitment heartened Mercy.

“Thank you,” Hunter said.

“I wish I could aid you more.”

“Actually, you’ve helped us a lot,” said Mercy.

Khenti smiled at her. He’s the most beautiful guy I’ve ever seen in my whole life. The thought came to Mercy unbidden and she instantly pushed it aside as she felt her cheeks blaze with heat. What in the bloody hell is wrong with me? Get it together, Mag! This isn’t a time-travel rom-com!

“That pleases me greatly.” Khenti lifted his hand, passing it before his face again, which instantly shifted back to a ferocious dragon. He lifted his spear and shield. “I shall remain by the gate. Call if you have need of me again, Witches.”

The air in front of him rippled, like heat rising from a boiling pot, and Khenti Amenti, Son of Upuant, Guardian of Osiris’s Realm, disappeared along with the bubble that had contained him.

“That was the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen,” said Hunter.

“I wish Abigail could’ve been here. She would’ve loved every second of it,” Mercy said. “Well, except the whole creatures escaping and spreading death and destruction and chaos part.”

Hunter was already picking up the basket. “Do we leave or take the stang?”

“Leave it. It might still work, right? And let’s add our mistletoe crowns to the other one.” Mercy went to the stang and draped her circle of mistletoe over it. “How long did they say it would take for the insecticide to kill the worms?”

“A week to ten days,” said Hunter, mirroring her sister’s actions.

“We might get lucky. Even though Khenti didn’t see a change yet, it could still happen.” Mercy said the words, but they sounded hollow even to her own ears.

Hunter nodded grimly. “Yeah, I hope so. But right now we need to get to the Greek tree.”

As they hurried back to the car Mercy kept hearing the Egyptian warrior’s words playing around and around in her memory. The mortal’s skin becomes a living disguise … The mortal’s skin becomes a living disguise … The mortal’s skin becomes a living