Haunted Legacy: The Windhaven Witches Series by Carissa Andrews (story reading .txt) 📗

I look into his scared eyes and exhale. “I’m not sure of anything. But I know I have to make this work. For my dad…and for you. It’s our safest bet. I refuse to send you into this unprotected. If astral-projecting might give you a chance, I have to try. Plus, it’s a helluva lot safer than if I were to go in this form,” I say, sweeping my hands down my sides.

“Not the way Dominic tells it. Besides, I’m not worried about me,” Wade says, pressing his lips tightly.

“You should be. This is your one life and I won’t let it end early because you chose to be with me. I won’t let your dad be right,” I say, bending in and brushing my lips to his.

“You seem to forget this is your one life, too. I swear, you have some sort of death wish, woman,” he says, swallowing hard.

I pause, taking a moment to think about his words. “Maybe you’re right. Death does seem to follow me around.” Slowly, I look up into his worried eyes and smirk.

“This isn’t funny,” he mumbles.

“I know,” I whisper, holding my chin up.

He places his hands on either side of my face, drawing me to him. His lips press down, making my skin buzz and my pulse quicken. As he pulls back, he whispers, “You better be damn careful.”

“I will. Now, go. I need to concentrate. Get Cat and be ready to leave as soon as Colton gives you the signal. I promise, I’ll join you as soon as I can,” I say, pressing my forehead to his.

He nods, placing one last kiss on my lips before turning away from me.

"All right, ladies and gentlemen, showtime," Dominic says, rubbing his hands together.

I sweep my eyes over the group one final time. Everyone is here for me—for my family.

I hope I don’t let them down.

Hopefully, it goes the way we want, but if it doesn't, it won't be for lack of trying.

I continue to the Adirondack chairs in the middle of the yard and take a seat, resting back. The view is of the pond, but it’s more obscured than my view. There are a lot more trees and plants growing wild between here and the shore. In the distance, though, I can still make out my house.

Taking a deep breath, I lower my shoulders, trying to get into a more relaxed state.

I've only ever done this while inside the resurrection chamber, and never in search of something that could tear me apart.

God, I hope I can reach the part of my dad that's still human.

I hear footsteps come up behind me, crunching in the grass.

Diana kneels down beside my chair and pats my arm. "This is a brave thing you're doing."

"Thanks," I mutter. "I don't feel all that brave."

She locks her piercing blue eyes with mine, holding them until I squirm in the seat. Then, her eyebrows knit together, and she says, “Bravery often masks itself as uncertainty. At least in the beginning. It isn’t always easy to do the right thing. Especially when it means advancing through the unknown.” Standing back up, she pats my shoulder as she walks away. “Good luck, Autumn. I’ll be watching from this side and keeping a close eye on you.”

I stare out into the pond, not really looking at it, as I listen to the sound of her footsteps make their way back to the group.

Colton’s words, though distant, come to me loud and clear. “He’s at the catacombs.”

Exhaling slowly, I lean my head back and close my eyes.

It’s time.

Chapter 29

Splintering

I inhale slowly, listening to the sounds of my friends chattering behind me as some of them gear up to leave. Their words blend together, then fade out as I focus on the sounds of the pond creatures. Frogs sing at the edge of the water and various birds call out to each other somewhere in the distance. I let their songs settle my nerves and calm my brain until I lift up and out of it all.

My consciousness spreads out, blanketing the space around my body until I completely separate from it. Unlike my other astral attempts back at the house, there’s no distinct direction to follow, no pathway to take that will guide me. Instead, I float upward like a balloon no longer tethered by its string.

At first, it’s disconcerting, but I can’t help but be in awe of the beauty in colors from high in the sky. The view is breathtaking, actually. Not only can I see the pond and my house, but the entire town and the roads leading to and from it like the veins bringing lifeblood to the city.

I’m absolutely dazzled by the synergy of it all. Then, something catches my attention—people walking through the spaces between autumn-painted trees. The movement is curious from this vantage point as they dart in and out of the trees. I watch them for a moment, mesmerized. Something about them is familiar… Before I consciously make the decision to move toward them, I float closer. As I do so, I realize I know all of them. In those seconds, I snap back into the awareness of my mission and why I can fly.

Turning my gaze from my friends, I face Blackwood Manor. The rooftop of my home glimmers in the setting sun and a trail of gold cascades across the pond from the sun behind me.

I need to protect them.

They’ve begun to move before I’ve even done my part. What are they thinking?

All I do is think about being inside the manor, and my consciousness condenses in on itself as if being pushed through a funnel and spat back out. I find myself in the manor, standing in the entryway, and facing the grand staircase.

The house rings of emptiness, but somewhere hidden in the shadows, a combination of malevolence and terror lingers in hibernation. With every fiber of my astral