The team arrived in Grayson, Kentucky within a couple days. The first night, there had been a full moon, forcing Priya to lock herself in her cage for the night. Everyone hardly slept that night.
Before they first headed out, Hope had outfitted Christophe with a camera around the neck. Christophe flew out to Grayson on his own. He would arrive before the team, flying all day and much of the nights.
The team had only just arrived in town before they were informed of a local murder by one of the residents. A local woman named Amelia August, known for being a Wiccan, had been found dead in her home, strangled and stabbed to death. Her phone line had been cut so the police couldn't be called. No one was certain if it had been a robbery. Then again, due to her being a Wiccan, much of the public was indifferent to the news of her death. There was a local group in the town wanting to run her out of town. Public attitudes disgusted Luke. When he first heard of a dead Wiccan woman, he was worried that Heather had been found dead. To his relief, the woman was much older, appearing to be in her early seventies.
Several posters with Heather's picture were hung across town on bulletin boards and street lights, warning anyone who saw her to call the police if they saw the Wiccan, a fugitive on the run from justice. A bounty of three thousand dollars was offered for information leading to her capture. There were other posters for Morgana Blackhawk offering an even larger bounty of ten thousand.
The team already had several suspects, two of whom were part of the Anti-Wiccan group, its leader being a local minister, Peter Auroraboralis, who promoted Wiccanism as Satanism, similar beliefs to Dan Kelly back in Parkford. Dan had at one point tried to 'save' Heather, claiming that she would go to Hell if she didn't repent. The discussion always ended whenever Heather informed him that freedom of religion was part of the constitution. Then there was a man named Adam Oakley, who was probably the only person they met so far who seemed upset by Amelia's death.
During the investigation, Christophe led the team to the wilderness where they found a pentagram etched into the ground inside a small opening beneath the roots of a great tree. Luke knew from spending time with Felix that the pentagram was commonly used in certain Wiccan rituals.
"Heather was here," Luke said. "I can feel it if Christophe led us here. Look, there's traces of her footprints here. She tried to sweep them away. She's not taking any chances if someone is pursuing her."
While (Name) found several clues, what interested Luke was a cellphone found in a pile of fallen pinecones nearby.
"The battery is dead," he said. "Hope can recharge the battery and find out if this was the phone Heather used to call me."
As it turned out, the phone indeed had been used by Heather to call Luke as Hope found the number to Luke's phone on it, the records indicated that it had been made the time and day Luke received her call. The owner of the phone was none other than Martin Fuller, the drug dealer who went by the name of "Tin Man", whom they met in Chicago, and later again in Aquamarine City park in Kansas where good witch Belinda Blackhawk used to work before she agreed to help the team rescue the children. Events that would later lead to her death at the hands of Heather, manipulated into doing the deed by Morgana, Belinda's own sister.
Martin was very happy to have his phone back, stolen from him several days ago. He had set it down somewhere for a few moments, and when he returned to the spot, his phone was missing. He never saw the theft or any trace of the thief. When questioned about a phone call he had made to Amelia the day before she died, he claimed to know nothing about the murder.
Later the team would meet a woman named Christie Agatha, a friend of Amelia's. Both were later revealed to be members of a witch coven in Kentucky.
But the biggest surprise for Luke during the investigation was the discovery of a small velvet box containing two rings. One had Amelia's name etched into it, the other had Adam Oakley's name. Gwen had been so touched by this gesture of love between a witch and a human that she wanted to come with Luke and (Name) to speak to Adam. It was obvious that she still missed her ex-boyfriend Pierce Cromwell, even if he was a vampire who had tried to bite her at the late Dr. Aculus' ball.
When they spoke to Adam regarding the rings, he revealed to the team that Amelia was his wife.
"Those rings were a gift to her for our forty-fifth anniversary which was to be today," he said dabbing at his eyes. "We may have been two completely different people but our love for each other was real. Proof that our kind could get along with her own."
"How lovely," said Gwen.
"We knew each other for about a year before I popped the question. We had to elope because no minister would perform our ceremony. We had what the Wiccans call a 'Handfasting'."
"Handfasting?" asked Luke.
"That's what they call a Wiccan marriage. I had no regrets, even if I lost my friends and my family disowned me. We were in love and she gave me the best years of my life. Honestly, I don't know why so many people ostracized her because of her way of life. Like me, she liked to get takeout from KFC every once in a while." He sighed. "Our only regret was that we were unable to have children. You see, Amelia was barren. Thinking back now, it may have been a blessing in disguise. What kind of lives would our children have, born into a world where they would be hated and feared because their mother was Wiccan?"
"I suppose people made life hard for you?" asked Luke. More than ever he was starting to picture what kind of life awaited Heather in the future even if she made early parole. A lifetime of ostracization because of her Wiccan way of life.
"Oh you don't know the half of it!" said Adam. "That local Anti-Wiccan group wanted to run me out of town as well simply because I was 'sympathizing with the enemy' as they put it. She wasn't the enemy, she was a very nice lady. Just misunderstood. But you know how it is with people. What they don't understand, they fear or hate. What they fear or hate, they shun, segregate, and in some cases, destroy."
"Do you think that's what happened to your wife?" asked Gwen.
"Perhaps," said Adam shrugging his shoulders. "A lot of people hated her simply because of who she was. But I highly doubt that it would drive someone to kill her."
In the end, that was exactly why Amelia died. The killer turned out to be a member of the Anti-Wiccan group. After the police threatened to shut the group down, saying Amelia had every right to be in town, he decided to take the law into his own hands and deal with the Wiccan permanently. Even when the team handed him over to the police, he was still refusing to accept that he had committed a crime. He continued to insist that he had done a 'public service', an act of necessary evil to protect the community. The whole affair disgusted and infuriated Luke.
"He's no different from Ruth Wu or much of my family," said Gwen, her mouth a tight line across her lower face.
"Killing someone because of their religion or way of life," said Luke, "isn't that a hate crime? I hope Heather never crossed paths with him."
"Regardless,' said Jacob, "now that you've solved the murder, we can get back to why we came here: to find Heather Night and Morgana Blackhawk. I want you to speak to Amelia's husband Adam to find out if his wife had met with either of them. Seeing as how she was a Wiccan, Heather might have tried to seek her out."
"Chief!" A frantic Hope dashed up to them. "The camera I put on Christophe is gone! Without it, we'll never know what he caught on film!"
"When he led us to Heather's hideout, he still had it," said Luke. "It might have fallen off in the forest."
"I want to come look for it!" said Hope.
"Well (Name)," said Jacob, which do you want to do first? Go with Hope to find the camera or to speak with Adam Oakley?"
#
Felix volunteered to accompany (Name) and Luke to speak to Adam about any suspicious characters his wife had seen. Adam was pleased to see the team again.
"I wanted to thank you for finding my wife's killer," he said. "Even if she was a Wiccan, she didn't deserve to be murdered in her own home. She deserved to have justice. Every life has value. A lot of people are calling her killer a hero. Not me of course!"
"Mr. Oakley," said Felix, "we're here to ask you something. Back when your wife was alive, did she meet with any unsavory characters recently? Such as either of those two women who are currently on the run?"
"You mean Heather Night and Morgana Blackhawk? She never told me anything about witches. She and her friend Christie had other witch friends here in the state, but none of it was of any interest to me. But I do know that she often kept track of any meetings she had with witches in her diary. You may find what you seek there. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to finish preparing for my wife's funeral. It would mean a lot to me if you and your team could come."
Luke and (Name) had to help Felix up the few steps leading into Amelia's house due to him being in a wheelchair. In the living room, they found her journal which Felix could analyze back at the RV.
In the meantime, (Name) went with Hope to look for the camera Christophe had carried around his neck. They found it in the wilderness near Heather's hideout in a bird's nest. Thankfully, the camera wasn't damaged, much to Hope's relief.
While waiting for Hope to sift through the film, Luke and (Name) paid a visit to Felix to see if he had found anything in Amelia's diary.
"Friends, I hit the jackpot!" Felix was as excited as a young child about to sit on a department store Santa's lap. "Reading the diary of a Wiccan was about the most interesting writing since Belinda's diary!"
"What did you find out?" asked Luke.
"Amelia actually did cross paths with Heather during her time in town. Heather was happy to finally meet a fellow Wiccan." His smile faded and his words were filled with melancholy. "But the feeling wasn't mutual. Amelia knew who Heather was and wanted nothing to do with her. Apparently, even if Heather had been manipulated into killing Belinda, witches everywhere saw it as a crime against their own kind, and she has been blacklisted from every coven in the country. Any witch who shows Heather the slightest sign of sympathy will be ousted from their coven and blacklisted as well. Heather was very upset when Amelia refused to have anything to do with her."
"Poor Heather," Luke sighed. "To think Morgana ruined any chance of her being accepted into any coven. Hated and shunned by her own kind."
"Where there is some good news," said Felix. "You see, Amelia wrote that her friend Christie had actually met Morgana Blackhawk. This happened nearly a week before she was killed."
"Then we'll need to speak to Christie Agatha to learn more," said Luke.
But first, they visited Hope to find out if she had been able to find anything of interest in the film captured by Christophe. Gwen was also in the RV. The muscles around her mouth are tense and tight as if her teeth are clenched behind. Her arms are folded so tight across her chest, they looked as if they had been tied together.
"Hi Luke," said Hope. "Don't mind Gwen, she's real upset about something Christophe managed to record before the camera ran out of film."
"What is it?" asked Luke.
"See for yourself. But you're in for a real shock."
The film revealed Peter Auraraboralis in the park. Suddenly a young woman in black undergarments and no footwear came into view. It was none other than Heather herself. Luke bent his face closer to the screen as if wanting to look upon her own.
"Daddy!" Heather cried.
Luke jumped back from the screen so quickly, anyone would have thought he had gotten electroshock.
Peter only frowned. "How dare you show your face here! You have no right calling me that!"
"But daddy," Heather pleaded with her hands clasped, "demons are after me!"
"Well that's your own goddamn fault!" he growled. "Wiccanism is Satanism! You stopped being my daughter when I found out you were a Wiccan, just like your mother!"
"Daddy, I've got nowhere to go! Please!" Her eyes start to glisten as if a dam of tears if about to burst.
"Shut up! I'm the leader of an Anti-Wiccan group here in Grayson and I don't want anyone to know I brought up a Wiccan who grew up to become a killer who runs from the law like a coward! Now get out of my sight before I call the police!"
The dam broke. "Daddy, how could you?" She ran off into the distance, sobbing.
The screen went black. Luke's was still reeling from the horror at the revelation that Peter Auroraboralis, the leader of an Anti-Wiccan group was Heather's father. The father who had abandoned his Wiccan family after ousting them, indirectly causing his wife's suicide and leaving his daughter all alone.
"Luke, are you all right?" asked Hope.
After the surprise wore off, the shock drained out of Luke like bath water. In its place, a fire began to rage and burn within him. He gritted his teeth. "How...how could he? His own daughter?" He tightly clenched his fist. "It looks like we're in for a long talk with Peter. He owes us an explanation! Let's seen him try to weasel out of this one!"
"I want to come with you to confront him so I can give him a piece of my mind!" said Gwen, her mouth twisted into a grimace.
#
Luke pounded on the front door of Mr. Auroraboralis' house. His anger increased the impact of his fist. Had he struck more powerful, he could have broken some bones in his hand.
Peter was frowning when he answered the door. "What do you want now? You've proven I had nothing to do with that Wiccan's murder. And even if one of my followers did the deed, the man's a local hero!"
"Put a sock in it!" Luke hissed. "Let's cut to the chase! We know you were in contact with Wiccan fugitive Heather Night. And we know you're her father!"
The color drained out of Peter's face as if he had seen a ghost. "Keep your voice down! If people found out, it would ruin my image! I would lose everything! I came here to get away from Parkford and for a fresh start. I worked hard over the past couple of years to build up my reputation in town and I can't let it come crashing down!"
"What have you got against Wiccans anyway?" Luke snarled. More than anything he wanted to thrust his fist into Peter's nose and break it. But doing so would only get him into trouble with the police and back on probation with Jacob on the team.
"My parents were Wiccans," said Peter, his face a mask of anger. "All throughout my childhood I was ostracized for being the son of a Wiccan couple. I wanted nothing to do with Wiccanism. When I graduated from school, I left my hometown and cut off all ties with my family. How ironic that I ended up marrying a Wiccan and fathered one! Once I found out the truth about my family, I did what I could to save face."
"You should be ashamed of yourself Mr. Auroraboralis!" said Gwen through clenched teeth and pointing an accusing finger in his face. "Your own daughter came to you for help and you turned your back on her! What kind of father are you?"
Peter only sneered. "The kind who will do anything to protect his reputation. I can't have people knowing I'm related to a killer."
"Your daughter was manipulated into committing murder," said Luke. "And she's been broken up about it ever since. Her mother already committed suicide not long after you ousted your family as Wiccans. Heather nearly hung herself in prison! She could die out here!"
"I don't care if she does die!" growled Peter as he shook his head. "She should do everybody a favor and drop dead like Amelia did. I'm only sorry my friend didn't kill her first! The last I saw of her after that, she was talking to some drug dealer. I always knew she was no good. Now get off my property! I don't want my new wife to come home and finding Wiccan sympathizers on our front porch!" Without another word he slammed the door in their face.
"Why that rotten, heartless snake!" Luke shouted. "Who does he think he is?"
"And I thought my family was messed up!" said Gwen rolling her eyes in her sockets.
"Tell me about it," said Luke. "I once had a difficult father figure during my time in foster care."
"He did mention that Heather was seen speaking to a drug dealer," said Gwen. "That has to be Martin Fuller."
"I don't know about you (Name) but all this is making me hungry. Let's go get a burger."
#
Luke had just stepped out of the restaurant with Gwen and (Name) when his cellphone alerted him to the notification about someone sending him a picture. To his surprise, the picture revealed Heather herself standing beside a blonde young woman about her age dressed for a pool party. Both girls are smiling. The blonde woman is holding up the camera for the selfie. Behind them is a sign saying, "Camp Amethyst Lake".
While Gwen returns to the RV, Luke and (Name) find Martin at the park where he has just sold another bag of drugs to another customer.
"Hey there (Name)," he said. "Thanks for clearing me of suspicion in that Wiccan's murder. To show my thanks, let me give you a free sample of the newest party drug."
"We're not interested in drugs Martin," said Luke, his arms crossed over his chest. "But we do have business with you." He took out his cellphone and showed the picture Heather had just sent him to Martin. "Do you recognize this girl with the platinum hair tinted purple. We were told someone had seen her talking to you."
"Yeah I remember her," said Martin. "The poor girl was very upset about something and asked me for something that could help her relax. She didn't have any money on her so she offered to trade her necklace. That was yesterday."
"Martin, you should know better than to offer someone of her emotional and mental state drugs. They only offer temporary relief."
"At the time I was selling drugs to another young woman. The very same blonde in that picture you showed me. She was going to a Spring Break party. She took a liking to this other girl and invited her along to the party. You should have seen how happy she was when she accepted."
"And where is this party?" asked Luke.
"I have no idea man," Martin shrugged. "She never told me anything."
"Martin, this girl happens to be a fugitive on the run. You not turning her over to the police can be considered a crime together with dealing drugs. So let's make a deal, you let us confiscate that necklace and we'll keep quiet to the police about your dealings."
Martin began to sweat. "When you put it that way, feel free to take that necklace. There was something about the symbol on it that made me nervous. Now where did I put my stash? I know it's around here somewhere."
(Name) found a small metal box inside a small hole in a nearby tree. Inside amongst all the money Martin earned from selling drugs is a necklace with twin moons facing away from each other.
"That's the same necklace Heather was wearing on Walpurgis night!" said Luke. "We should take this to Felix and see if there is anything special about it. Meanwhile, I'm going to give my phone to Hope and see if she can find out where Camp Amethyst Lake is."
#
After dropping off his cellphone with Hope to find out the location of Camp Amethyst Lake, and Heather's necklace with Felix, Luke paid a visit to Christie to speak about her meeting with Morgana.
"How the mighty have fallen," Christie said. "Years ago, I taught at a school of witchcraft. Morgana was one of my brightest pupils. How ironic that she used her talents for dark purposes. And look what happened to her."
"So she was here?" asked Luke. "You saw her?"
"Yes. She asked me to share some of my witch powers with her. She even suggested Amelia and I ally with her together with the demons to exact revenge against a world that fears and despises us. We refused of course. We do not associate with her type. And that applies to Heather Night as well. Unfortunately, Morgana refused to tell me where she was going in case Jacob Arrow and his band of misfits were in pursuit. All I can do now is offer you this money to help your cause. Think of it as my thanks for solving Amelia's murder."
#
Felix was grinning when Luke arrived in the RV to get the results of his analysis. Christophe the owl was also present. Ever since Luke learned that he had been searching for his mistress and joined them, he was more comfortable with the owl's presence. Still, the way the owl looked at him made him uneasy. "You're in for quite a surprise Luke," said Felix, parting his lips in a sly smile.
"No more surprises for me," said Luke. "Once is enough for a day."
"Well put this necklace on. Don't worry, it's not cursed, rather it's enchanted!"
Luke slips the necklace around his neck. Nothin happened. "Don't I look a little silly wearing this trinket (Name)?" He asked.
"Whoo whoo whoo whoo!" Christophe hooted as if laughing. "A little silly?"
"What the?" Luke practically jumped a mile in his shoes. "Christophe! You can talk?"
"Not exactly!" said Felix. "The necklace is enchanted to allow one to understand Christophe, translating his hoots into English words."
Luke took off the necklace. His heart was pounding in his chest. Two surprises in one day was too much for him. First the revelation of the Anti-Wiccan leader being Heather's father. Now this.
#
At sundown, the team gathered in the cemetery with Adam to lay Amelia to rest. Together with Christie, they were the only people in attendance. No one else in town would miss Amelia, obviously.
Adam read the eulogy to give his beloved wife her last respects. As the coffin was lowered into the ground, Jacob put his one arm on Adam's shoulder. "I know how it feels to lose someone you love," he said.
Adam thanked the team for coming. "There's something about you people that I can't quite put my finger on," he said.
"We're Supernatural Hunters," said Jacob. "We solve supernatural crime and are dedicated to maintaining peace between humans and supernatural creatures. I formed this band after my wife Lily was killed twenty five years ago by a vampire attack."
"I knew there was something about you people that seemed a bit odd to me," said Adam. "But you shouldn't hang around town for too long. As you've probably seen, people here don't take too kindly to anything out of place. Look what happened to my wife."
"What will you do now?" asked Gwen.
"I'm an old man," said Adam. "As much as there is nothing left for me in this town, I still have the memories Amelia and I shared together. I can only hope that when my time comes, I will be buried alongside her. I have no regrets about loving a Wiccan, I will gladly carry the stigma with me for the rest of my days."
"Mr. Oakley," said Luke, "I need to tell you something. It's about Heather Night, the fugitive Wiccan. She's a friend of mine."
Adam arched his eyebrows. "Is that so? You remind me of myself when I was younger. Taking a chance on a Wiccan. I'm sure the bond between you is strong. If that's true, she's going to need your friendship more than ever. Whether or not you ignite the same spark between me and Amelia, well, that's up to fate and destiny. For now (Name), I want you to have this brooch. It's my way of thanking you for everything you and the others have done for me. Good luck finding your Wiccan friend Luke."
#
As Adam leaves the cemetery, Jacob asked for a report.
"The bad news is there is no lead on where Morgana could have gone," said Luke. She had been here in town nearly a week ago, but we have learned nothing more."
"Well I do have good news for you Luke," said Hope. "I know where Camp Amethyst Lake is! It's down in Tennessee!"
"Then that's where we need to go to find Heather!" said Luke. "This is our only lead in this witch hunt!"
"Then get your stuff together everybody!" Jacob gave the order. "Next stop, Tennessee!"