Sleepy Hollow

Every Tree Has Roots

Specks of dust fly in the air as Abbie pulls down another book. Ichabod takes it from her, his manners not being forgotten. "Thank you Ms. Mills. I'm sure this tome will hold some answers for us."

Abbie goes back to the stacks of books, a dozen or more already plucking from the shelves. She skims a few more when she pulls a rather large bound book from its resting place.

Heaving the book up on the desk, Abbie opens it noticing Ichabod is staring at her. She licks her fingers as she turns the next page, the old thin pages somewhat stuck together. After fingering through a few pages she turns her gaze up to scholarly Englishman looking over her shoulder. "Can I help you with something?"

His long slender finger points to a passage on the page, his arm reaching over her. "Excuse me Lieutenant but I think you may have stumbled upon something."

Ichabod heaves the book over the top of Abbie's head, resting it in his lap as he sits. His blue eyes devour page after page until he slams it shut. Abbie waits patiently for him to tell her exactly what it is that has him so intruded. "Spill Crane … the suspense is killing me."

"It would seem Ms. Mills that this particular demon eradicates one's entire family. If one carries what the book calls the true light then your descents carry it as well. It's this light that the demon fears most. It lurks in the shadows, creeps into your very soul." Ichabod places the book back on the table, his large hand resting on the cover.

"That would explain the lack of forced entry and why the bodies look like they've been sucked dry. That girl we found was a mummy … a dead husk." Abbie can tell this new demon had Ichabod more worked up the all the others combined.

Abbie goes back to the stacks hoping to find something, anything on a shadow demon when Ichabod calls to her. "Lieutenant, the victims … are they related in any way?"

Bounding from the stepladder, Abbie pulls out her cell and makes a few calls. She smiles as Ichabod gives her that wide eyed childlike look. He gave her that look when she used her cell phone or brought anything new and modern into his life.

"Thanks … I owe you one." Closing her phone she plops down on the throne like leather seats against the wall. Ichabod gazes up, his fingers still pinching the bridge of his nose. "Am I correct?"

"Hit the nail on the head with that one Crane. They are all related. The first victim is the second cousin of the second and the half-brother of the third. What made you think of this?" Abbie leans towards him as he smiles back at her.

"The demon must kill all the light bears of a family to free itself from its bondage. The shadow world cannot gain access to this realm as long as the light thrives. Once darkness ascends then chaos is born and the apocalypse begins." Lacing his fingers together, he rests his forehead against his hand.

"I guess I need to run up the family tree and see what branches are left." They gather their things, Ichabod tossing on his jacket and they are out the door.

Turning on her computer Abbie zips through the county archives to find the family records of the recently deceased. She comes across something curious; none of the four victims have the same last name. "Crane … what do you make of this? Our victim's all have different last names but they are all related. And Smith is such a common name that I think it will be difficult to track down the family."

Ichabod leans over Abbie's shoulder, his face mere inches from hers when he pops up, his blue eyes set wide. "There, the last victim. Her name was Greta Van Tassel; we must find her family immediately."

Abbie grabs the sleeve of his jacket, causing Ichabod to look back at her. "Whoa now, I'm going to need to know why you look like you just saw a ghost."

"Van Tassel was my wife's maiden name." A look of horror and concern mix in his once calm blue eyes, his facial expressions now a mask of curiosity.

"Katrina … this links back to your dead wife that just happens to be a witch." The tone in Abbie's voice comes off a little harsh but the shocked look on her face eased the bite some.

"It's a complete and utter surprise to me as well Ms. Mills. You now see my urgency, why we must act forthwith." They walk at a steady pace as they head to the car, Ichabod a few strides ahead of Abbie.

They drive to the residence of one Greta Van Tassel, a quaint little house on the outskirts of town. Abbie knocks on the door as Ichabod paces on the porch. "Maybe one is home."

She knocks again, only to have Ichabod go off around the house. She follows him, her legs doing double time to just keep up with him.

When they reach the back of the house a girl is kneeling in her garden, planting mums. Her long wavy bright red hair causes Ichabod to stop short, his breath catching in his lungs. The girl hums a tune, something that sounds like a lullaby. Her long black dress is complimented by the black knee high boots she's wearing.

Abbie looks at Ichabod then back to the girl and she sees what he sees … Katrina. Ichabod walks over to the girl, his hands shaking. "Excuse me my lady but could we have a word with you about Ms. Greta Van Tassel?"

The girl rises from the dirt, brushing off her knees as she turns to face them. Her alabaster face and rosebud lips cause Ichabod turn to stone before Abbie. Abbie takes his arm shaking him a bit. "Crane?"

"I'm fine Lieutenant … she's the mirror image of my Katrina." His hand brushes across his face as he gazes back at the red haired beauty with sky blue eyes. "May I ask your name my lady?"

With a sweet small voice the girl answers them as she places her hands on her hips. "Isabella Van Tassel." Her blue eyes look at the strange clothed man causing her to furrow her eyebrows.

"Are you there anymore of your family here in Sleepy Hollow Isabella?" Abbie mimics Isabella's stance as she watches Ichabod drink the girl in.

"No, unfortunately my cousins were all I had left and now they're all dead. From what I'm told they were murdered. Do you think my life is in danger?" Isabella wraps her arms around herself as a cold chill rushes up her spine.

"You may very well be my lady. Pray tell, can you tell me of your parentage." Abbie gives Ichabod a baffled look, her brown eyes narrowing.

"My parents died when I was twenty and I'm an only child. They moved to Sleepy Hollow to be closer to my grandparents." She can tell the tall thin man was more than just interested; he was looking for answers to something outside of the investigation.

She holds up one finger as she rushes into the house, coming back out with her family bible. She opens it, Abbie helping her hold it. "This is the family line as far back as when my third great grandparents moved to this country. My family line starts with my third great grandmother Katrina Crane but after her husband died in the Revolutionary war she gave birth to my second great grandfather and changed his name to Van Tassel to protect him from what my great grandmother called the Crane Curse."

Ichabod falls to his knees, his world swirling around him. Abbie rushes to his side, her eyes full of worry for her British companion.

"It would seem I had a son, my dear Katrina bore me a son." He rises to his feet and engulfs the girl in a warm embrace.

Abbie smiles back at the girl while giving Ichabod a 'stop that' look. "I'll explain everything Ms. Van Tassel."