Chapter 71 [Wabash, NY]
Mills watched the landmarks carefully. Since leaving the interstate for the state highway, she felt increasingly uneasy. She'd wanted to get directions back in Eagle Plain to be honest. "Are you sure we're going the right way, Crane?"
Ichabod glanced out the window. The local farmers had cleared the countryside. "Hmm? I was just looking around. I cannot believe how clear these fields are now."
"It looks normal, Crane." Mills spied some streets coming up. "Which way?"
"Take the route to the right, Leftenant. That will bring us to the old common and cemetery." He pointed up ahead.
"It looks so different now, Ichabod. They really did clear out the trees," Katrina chimed in.
Mills turned right and bore down the road. She really didn't care for the persistent fog. But their point surprised her. "You mean these were all woods?"
"Quite so. As Captain Dubois recalled, the settlers cleared the forest around their farms. It was a challenge to farm this land in those days. This route itself, however, has not changed. Be wary. There is a sharp bend ahead in the road," he advised.
"You…?" Doubt arched his partner's eyebrow. She'd learned to trust in his memory. Still, sometimes it unnerved her. As they rounded the detail in question, she shook her head. "Over two hundred years and you still remember that."
"I've had a few harrowing rides. Did you reach Miss Jennifer?" He gulped on his lukewarm coffee.
"She's meeting us at the cemetery if we can find it." Mills noticed a fork in the road. "Which way now?"
"The left fork, Abbie." Katrina pointed out.
"Oh-KAY! Left fork it is." Mills ignored the car's GPS' protests over her change in course. "We passed the village common on the right you know."
"Indeed we have. Perhaps if the fog will lift later, we can see it. It's up the hill and to the left." He pointed to the stone wall in that direction. "That's the cemetery's outer wall now."
"If you say so, Crane." Mills watched the stone wall for an opening. When she found it, she turned left and followed the road. "Guess we look for the old stones?" For a small village, the cemetery held its share of graves. "Damn! I didn't think it'd be this big!"
"The village is 250 years old. It has had its share of residents and those unfortunates who died in the early wars. If not for the Duboises and their allies, that number would be higher," Katrina presumed.
"Guess he must've been something. So he got along with the Indians okay?" Mills glanced back at them through the rear-view mirror.
"He had a considerable system of alliances for the time with the Natives, Leftenant. His agreements with the Mohawks and Iroquois were instrumental in Washington's efforts." Crane noticed Jennifer waiting for them by the roadside. "I believe that is our guide."
"Yeah I'd say so." Mills stopped the car. "Everyone out." She considered Jennifer. "Everything okay at the farm?"
"So far, so good. Preparations are underway for dinner. My cousin, Miranda, will be joining us. Follow me." Jennifer headed between two rows of weather-worn stones. "There's Private Thomas Barnes on your left. Roger Patterson's to your right. I believe you knew them both, Captain."
"Indeed!" He stopped and bowed his head to both graves. "And this is the "Settler's Grove" I read about?"
"Settlers' Grove?" Mills raised an eyebrow.
"It is the oldest part of this necropolis." Katrina looked about. Something felt off to her. "Be wary. There's something at work."
"You mean like Dubois' demon?" Mills glanced around herself.
"I cannot say. I do not think his other would stalk us." Katrina glanced at Ichabod.
"Not with me here he wouldn't." Jennifer picked up her pace. She led them to a pair of graves. "Okay. My brother, Ricardo and his wife, are two stones over that way. Nyoki Tuishiama lies one plot that way. My sister, Penelope and her husband, are just to our right." She stepped aside to let them see. "And I believe this is what you're looking for."
The visitors studied the marker. On it was carved:
"HERE LIES
David Jean Dubois
(died July 5, 1792 at 86 years old)
Angela Blackwell Dubois
(died December 30, 1792 at 86 years old)
May the Lord look after their souls"
"Papa died dealing with another of the coven, Anne Lichtenfeld. Captain Crane, I believe, you saw her in Rowenshire?" Jennifer clarified. "Mama declined that summer and fall. She died in a bad flu epidemic just before New Year's."
He frowned. "Both the Captain and the Demon served this nation well, Mistress Jennifer. As I said before, they were both valuable allies. What a shame they had to deal with so much in the process. I remember your niece in particular. Terrible, terrible tragedy."
Jennifer shook her head. "That's an understatement right there." She shrugged. "I guess we all helped each other. They took me in and raised me. I was the new baby after Grace disappeared. Her mother, Deirdre, retreated to her order's hidden place and never returned. I…."
An' ye miss 'er. Don't ye?
"What the Hell? Did you just hear that? It was in my head!" Mills drew her pistol.
"Indeed you did." Katrina chanted her breath. Her eyes glowed. Waves of energy flowed through the area from herself.
Grace stepped into view from behind an oak tree. "All you had to do, Auntie, was ask." Sarcasm glinted from her eyes. "Especially when you bring such honored guests!" She wore dark crimson robes cinched at the waist by a golden rope. Her own eyes tinged with yellow. The pupils took on an emerald hue. Her rouge hair seemed to flow every which way. "Captain Ichabod Crane, we never talked at either Saratoga or at the house. An' Abraham hated you so." She spat on the ground. "And you brought the Betrayer! Katrina von Tassel, at last we meet."
"My sisters and I knew well of you, Grace Dubois!" Katrina narrowed her eyes. "You should not revel in what you are! Even if she was not of our order, your mother's pain tore at our hearts as well! At least your grandfather was not totally consumed by that demon's malice."
"Have a care, Katrina." He stepped between them. "Mistress Grace." He offered a bow.
"Crane, she's like Serilda! Don't mess with her!" Mills drew her pistol. Then she felt the weapon tear itself from her hands and land several feet away.
"Serilda of Abingdon was beneath Mistress Anne an' me. Don't compare us." Impatience ground an edge to Grace's voice. "Jus' give bonny wishes to the family." She turned toward him. "Ah could teach ye."
"And provoke the Other? Wasn't your death enough to deal with, Mistress? I would rather decline that tawdry melodrama." He shook his head.
Surprise raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps even the Betrayer has her own purpose! Very well spoken, Captain. Ah'll deal with him in mah own time. Even now, the family works their dark magic. The mortals seek to better their community. Wonder how long they'll endure Failure's lash? Over and over…."
"We know you were the one at the laboratory, Grace. Stop it! Can't you let Mama and Papa just be happy? We're all coming together! You don't…." Jennifer took a step forward.
"We? What we, Alien?" Grace cackled. Menace dripped from her tone. She threw a dark fiery burst.
Jennifer couldn't dodge it. The dark fire chilled and burned. She shuddered and fell to the ground. "S…stop…Papa…knows."
"My real family knows!" Cruelty twisted Grace's face. "We're lookin' fer the girl an' boy! The Rider wants the Spider fer sport! Ah'll deal w' the other alien if he protects his bonny lass!" She glared at Crane. "Captain, don't intervene. Abraham wants blood. Twice thou hast deprived him!"
"I made my own choice!" Katrina challenged.
"I did not kill you, Mistress!" he retorted.
"True. But you plotted as much! STAY AWAY!" Grace glared at them. She twitched her ear to the air. "Not yet. The Destroyer knows Ah'm here." She disappeared in a dark flash.
He rubbed his forehead. "She's truly returned." Worry carved deep grooves in his face.
"She's another witch, Crane. We'll deal with her." Mills grabbed her pistol. She holstered it.
"No, Leftenant, she is not." He walked over to Jennifer. "Can we offer you a ride back to the house?"
"I…I'd appreciate it." Jennifer stood slowly. She still shivered. "Papa's going to have a fit. That's a challenge…"
"I brought some herbs. I'll help you at the farm. Come along," Katrina glanced at him. Especially if the Headless Horseman was close at hand, she wanted no part of being out in the open.
Mills saw the shadows move behind the tree. "Now what?" She drew her gun.
He put his hand on top of the weapon. "Let's move. That we shan't not worry about. That's Dubois' other."
"That?" Mills turned to Katrina who confirmed it with a nod.
"I believe we are needed at the farm. I will guide us there. And remember our discussion back in Sleepy Hollow." He assisted Jennifer back to the car.
The gauntlet had been thrown and picked up…it seemed….
