A Raven in the Hand

CHAPTER 4

Kayla looked over to the bed beside hers, Dave had fallen asleep the moment he laid his head on the pillow. She had stayed up and took a shower, now she was sitting on her bed with her cell phone in hand, waiting for that call.

The phone began to vibrate, she ran to the bathroom and closed the door quietly. She answered the call, glad that it had finally came.

"Yes?" She paused as she listened intently, "Huston? And the other? Oh really? And the third? Nice…nice work."

She ended the call and looked back out into the hotel room, David was still sleeping as she crept to her suitcase. She looked at her clothes, there wasn't a stitch of any other color except black. The color would repel negative energy, and it really came in handy a few times in her life. She pulled out a pair of flair pants and a t-shirt. Her three inch boots were her favourite as she grabbed them and her leather jacket and entered the bathroom again, not before Reaper flew from the head board of the bed and into the bathroom with her.

After she had dressed herself and Reaper safely on her shoulder, she knelt on the floor and began to trace a square on the floor. After she had finished the square, a map of Huston appeared before her. Kayla pulled out a clear crystal on a foot long thin chain, made of pure silver. She held on to the end of the chain, where it was attached to a small pentacle, it made a great handle. The crystal end was hanging only an inch from the map.

The crystal was first, just hanging still until Kayla closed her eyes and began to search for them. Then, it began to move, slowly at first, then it began to swing around, going fast and faster until it leaped from her hand and landing on the map. She leaned over and looked to where the crystal was pointing. It showed a place on the outskirts of the city, that is where she would find the next clue.

Kayla turned to her feather friend, "Ready for a little trip?" She whispered.

The animal nodded.

She leaned pack and closed her eyes, this spell was little on the power side. It took concentration and the gift to perform, and knowing how to correctly pronounce the words really helped. The words left her lips in silence, yet as they were sound, a light began to glow from them. The magic was taking its effect as it flashed in the room, taking them away from their hotel room, and relocating to the desired place.

She could hear Reaper crowing as she opened her eyes, the place was definitely darker, but the smell of earth and death made her jump in surprise. They were standing in the middle of an old Victorian style graveyard.

"I don't like this…" She thought out loud as she looked around in the dark, the only light in the middle of the night was by the full moon.

"We're in the middle of no where…" She commented as she looked around, "This is where the real Mark Callaway is?"

The raven crowed softly, she smiled at him, "You're right, you can cover more ground than me."

The raven flew up into the night sky but low enough to read the names on the stones, Kayla flowed on foot. Even though the spell seemed to weaken her a bit, she could still keep up to her flying friend.

The graveyard seemed huge, she could sense some of the un-resting spirits that still lingered around their graves. As she walked, she spotted a young woman, dressed in early 18th century dress, a look of utter sadness in her eyes.

Another gift, to see the dead, the lost spirits that roamed on earth, sometimes looking for lost loved ones, other looking for just and revenge. A soul that stayed on earth was either unable to move on or was lost and couldn't move on because they didn't know how. Kayla had begun dealing with spirits by casting them out of haunted places. She had done subways, churches, hotels, even a farmer's pasture in England where a rogue soldier on horseback was haunting. It was part of her gift, the Holy Priestess Shiola had told her.

She heard Reaper crow loudly, he had found what they were looking for. She ran to where Reaper was sitting upon a large carved statue of an angel sat upon a tombstone where the Surname was carved in large letters.

CALLAWAY

"Good job." She said as Reaper took his place on her shoulder, she leaned closer to the writing on the stone.

Weather and age had taken its toll on the grey stone, at least it had not rubbed the names away. She could read them out clearly, the dates of their births and deaths. She read the first name, Luke Callaway and Margaret Callaway, from the dates they had to be the parents. The two other names had her shaken. The first was Mark Anthony, it stated that he was just nine years old when he died, the other, another son, Glen Jacobs, he was six, the other name on the list.

Kayla stood up in total surprise, if Mark Callaway and Glen Jacobs are real brothers who died thirty-six years ago, who were the beings that took their names? Further more, her source had not found any information on a Sara Callaway, and she wasn't in this cemetery if she did exist…or did she?

There was more questioned that arose from her findings, such as how did this family die? The dates of their deaths were the same date, they had dies together. She had read that there was a fire in their funeral home, where the family slept as well as worked. She had to find out more about this, just follow the bread crumbs. Everyone leaves a trail that can be followed, it just depends on the signs to look for.

"I think we really found something here, Reaper." She announced as she took a closer look at the names, "What to do you think, Reaper? Doppelgangers? Imps?"

"I highly disbelieve that you would compare me to a doppelganger…" The deep booming voice made the young witch jump up in fright.

She should have felt his presence, she did before. But know he was able to hide from her, that has never happened before. She turned slowly, almost against her will. She was not ready to confront him, she hoped he was alone. At least she would like to think she had a slim chance for escape instead of none at all.

He was a very impressive seven ten, and she thought her brother was tall! He was dressed all in black as she was. Loose leather pants with his emblem on the left pant leg, a wrestling smock, a long leather trench coat and a old west style cowboy had. His dark crimson hair was wavy and stopped well below his neck line. There were tattoos decorating his neck, and padded gloves on his hands. His deep green eyes stared down into her eyes into her thoughts as his well chiselled face, decorated with a go-tee, showed no hint of thought. His presence demanded attention.

This is what she had hoped NOT happen, she was face to face with the Deadman himself.

To be continued…