Coven's Calling: Night Hunters, #2

By Helena Shaw

Book Two in the Complete Night Hunters Series

Dawn Garrett has left behind the horrors she faced in Goosemont for a life on the road with Jase Byrnes. With his guidance, she’s started her training as a hunter of the things that hide in the shadows.

But that training is interrupted when another hunter needs help on a case. Together, Dawn and Jase head south to Louisiana to discover just what is behind a series of gruesome attacks in the suburb of Bon Marais. It’s the perfect chance for Dawn to show off her new skills, but with real danger lurking everywhere, Jase isn’t ready to let her out of his sight.

She’s sick of being held back, but when someone from her past arrives in Bon Marais, Dawn will face her toughest fight yet. She has to make a choice whether to become the hunter, or to follow her heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Helena Shaw
• Release date: Aug 21, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386704843

Book preview

Also by Helena Shaw

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Also available in the Night Hunters Series:

Book One: Harvest Moon

Book Three: English Blood

Book Four: Devil’s Playground

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Novellas by Helena Shaw

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Maxed Out

Salem’s Secrets

The Demon’s Song

Prologue

Alone in darkness, save for the eerie green glow from her Electromagnetic Field Detector, Dawn Garrett waited in silence. Motionless, she stood and kept her eyes on the tiny screen in her hands. It emitted a faint light, but her gaze never wavered as she waited for the compass needle to move even slightly.

She had expected her first real job as a hunter to be exciting, thrilling, and maybe even scary. Her escape from a werewolf’s clutches had given Dawn her first glimpse into the world very few people knew about. In joining that world with Jase Byrnes, her mentor, her teacher, and her lover, she’d thought her life would be more of that same excitement.

In the large manor in Louisiana, she was beginning to realize that most of the work was boring.

They’d heard from Seth, a man who Jase described as an information hub for hunters, that a couple was attempting to renovate an old plantation into a bed and breakfast. During the construction, strange things had begun to happen to the couple and the workers they’d hired.

It had started off simple, or so she and Jase had been told: doors opening on their own, books falling off shelves, tools going missing, but then it got worse. Some of the workers had gotten shoved, others had their hair pulled, but when a female engineer came to look at the structure of the home to see if that was the underlying problem, their poltergeist turned deadly.

Seth had told Jase over the phone that the woman barely made it out alive, and the owners of the soon-to-be bed and breakfast had reiterated that statement. Their ghost had it out for women, and that was precisely why Dawn was being used as bait.

When they’d arrived at the plantation, Dawn had thought it would be like that horrible night in Goosemont. In her mind’s eye, she pictured Jase going toe-to-toe with a violent specter, but what they actually spent most of their time doing was research.

If we look into the history of the area, Jase had explained to her, we might find out the identity of the spirit we’re dealing with. If we can identify that, it’ll be easier to exorcise it and we’ll be out of here.

Local libraries and residents weren’t as much help as Jase had hoped. Most of what they found were urban legends, as well as the occasional bad horror movie plot changed slightly to suit the town. They’d heard so many stories that it was hard to keep them straight, and even harder to know which ones held the slightest a speck of truth.

What they did know was that women were the spirit’s main target, so while Jase explored the rest of the plantation, Dawn waited in an upstairs bedroom that had seen a high amount of activity—at least, according to the workers who had completed about half of the scheduled renovations.

While she kept her eyes on the EMF, Dawn did her best to fight off the boredom. She couldn’t even sit down because Jase had run a ring of salt around her feet. It will keep you safe, he’d promised her, but all it actually did was keep her uncomfortable.

It had only been two weeks since they’d left Goosemont and she’d started her training with Jase. When they had time, he helped her work on her shooting, though he told her she was a natural. He’d also taught her some close quarters combat techniques, and while she struggled to really lay into him when he asked it of her, Jase told her she showed a lot of potential.

While they drove south—which had taken a week with all the stops they made for training, for food, and to make love—Jase did what he could to teach her about the secret parts of the world. Ghosts, ghouls, demons, and more were the subjects, and Jase was her teacher. It was beyond belief, but she had already seen enough to know that it was all real.

As bored as she was in that old bedroom, salt circling her feet, she wouldn’t have changed it for the world. The two weeks she’d spent with Jase at her side were the happiest she could remember. He made her feel safe, he respected her and taught her, and maybe even loved her. No ghost or goblin would scare her away from that.

Just as a small smile began to tug at the corners of her lips, the walkie-talkie clipped to her belt crackled to life.

Dawn? Jase’s voice came over the speaker.

Hey, she replied once she’d unclipped the walkie-talkie from her hip.

Anything yet? he asked her through the static.

Not a thing, she said with a sigh. I’m so bored up here. Maybe you should come keep me company, she suggested with a touch of seduction in her voice.

Once we’re done here, he replied. Then I’ll keep you company all you want.

Fine, Dawn relented. But maybe you can bring me a chair. My feet are killing me.

I’ll see what I can do, he told her. Just stay in the circle. I think I might have found something.

Yes, boss, she said before she moved to clip the walkie-talkie back to her belt.

Just as she began to fiddle with the too-tight clip, a chill crept over Dawn’s skin. Though it was early December, it wasn’t nearly cold enough to even need more than a light sweater, and a sudden fear gripped her.

That fear was only magnified as the EMF detector hummed to life. Its electric alarm brought her eyes to its glowing screen, and she saw the needle dancing higher and higher.

Jase, she said into the walkie-talkie, her breath visible as she spoke. Jase?

There was no answer, no static. The speaker had gone dead in her hand, and Dawn was suddenly aware of just how alone she was.

The salt, she reminded herself. The salt will keep you safe. Don’t panic.

The mantra kept her nerves at bay for only so long. The room grew colder and colder, and another shape joined in the icy wisps of Dawn’s breath.

Horrible and beautiful all at once, a figure bloomed before her eyes. Dressed all in white with a ghastly veil of lace, the ghost they were hunting appeared before her. Dawn tried to scream for Jase, and her instincts told her to run, but all she could do was stand deathly still in the middle of her protective ring of salt.

For a moment, the apparition before her only floated in hollow silence. Then, without warning, the figure lunged for Dawn, shrieking as it flew toward her. She could do nothing but shield her face with her arms, dropping her walkie-talkie and EMF detector all at once, but there was no impact, no struggle, and no pain.

The salt had worked; the ghost could not penetrate its mystical barrier. But it had served to enrage the spirit even more. With a horrifying scream, the ghost shattered all the glass in the room, old vases and picture frames alike.

As well as the panes in the large bedroom window.

At first, Dawn thought the ghost would fly out the window and disappear into the night. Instead, it only shrieked again as the wind picked up and began to scatter the ring of salt at Dawn’s feet.

Shit, she muttered as she watched the salt blow away like dust. Before she could do anything else, the ghost was upon her, its claw-like fingers flexing for her face.

Everything happened fast, but it was in slow-motion at the same time. The ghost knocked Dawn backwards onto the bed and its black, boney hands wrapped around her neck. As the wind grew more violent, it pushed the lace veil off the spirit’s face, and the features Dawn saw there would be forever etched in her memory.

Skin like burnt leather stretched tightly over the ghost’s jagged cheekbones. Gleaming white teeth cut through her green lips, and rotting flesh and milky white eyes burned as the ghost choked the life out of Dawn.

No matter how hard she struggled, Dawn could not force the ghost to release her. She tried to scream, but the icy claws around her neck only tightened until her vision began to tunnel.

Just as she felt her consciousness slipping away, the bedroom door flew open. The ghost released her to do away with Jase, but he was faster. Like a cowboy straight out of the Wild West, he fired the shotgun he carried from his hip. Rock salt burst from the muzzle and scattered the ghost like smoke.

Jase, Dawn choked as she struggled to breathe again. She thought he would come to her side and comfort her, but instead he grabbed her hand as he pulled her from the room.

Where are we going? she managed to ask as he towed her down the hallway toward the stairs. Her free hand was at her throat, trying to undo the damage the ghost had inflicted there.

I told you, I found something downstairs, he said as he guided her down the steps. I tried to call you to come meet me, but when nothing went through, I knew something was wrong.

Just in time, Dawn said, trying to make a joke, but she feared it came out accusatory.

Thankfully, Jase let it slide as they turned another corner.

The basement? she asked with a deep gulp.

I need your help with this, was the only explanation he offered. You can do it. You’re braver than this. Come on.

It was easy to be brave when you hadn’t just been choked by a ghost, but Dawn knew he was right. She’d faced worse, and they both knew it. He needed her help, and she wasn’t going to let him down.

Guided only by the steady beam of his flashlight, they descended into the basement. It was the one place that the owners hadn’t started renovating yet, and the dirt floor was soft under Dawn’s feet. Even through the combat boots Jase had picked up for her to match his own, she could feel the ground sag under each step.

Mercifully, Jase found the old string cord of a single bulb and bathed the room in its dim yellow light. Dawn saw nothing of interest, but Jase seemed certain he’d found something important down there.

Here, he said as he moved his hand over an old mason stone wall. It’s not on any of the blueprints.

They’d spent two days scouring documents in the town archives, and Jase had studied the old plans they’d found like he was an architect. He knew the house better than someone who might have lived there for twenty years, and his studying had paid off.

So, what do we do? Dawn asked as she looked at the wall.

We break it, Jase said as he grabbed a sledgehammer off a slanted wood shelf. Well, I break it. You stand guard, he told her as he handed her the shotgun.

Are you sure? she asked. She had proven herself with a rifle and a pistol, but she’d yet to take on the shotgun.

The rock salt will do all the aiming for you, he told her. Just be careful of the recoil.

With a monstrous bang, Jase brought the hammer down against the wall. The sound reverberated through her teeth, but she stood her ground and watched for the ghost to reappear. The first shot of rock salt would only keep her at bay for so long, and Dawn knew she would be back for them at any moment.

Another bang echoed through the basement, and she had to force herself to maintain her resolve. It was when the third bang rang in her ears that her breath started to unfurl in cool wisps in front of her face.

Jase, she whispered to her partner.

Just keep your guard up, he said as he brought the hammer down again. Crumbled stone was starting to pile of at his feet, and Dawn knew he was close, but the spirit had found them.

Under the jaundiced glow of the single light bulb, the ghost began to take shape again. The lacy veil covered her demonic features, and Dawn thanked her luck for that small miracle. She didn’t know if she could stand to see that horrible face again.

The wraith-like creature moved to attack, but Dawn raised the gun and fired. The sound of the gunshot made her ears ring, but it had done the trick. The ghost was gone, and just in time. Jase had found what they were looking for.

Oh my God, she said with a sharp breath. Hidden behind the stone wall were the remains of a shriveled skeleton, wrapped in the delicate silk and lace of her wedding gown. It was the same lace veil that covered the spirit’s face, and Dawn knew just what they would find if she were to lift it.

There was no time for sympathy. Jase’s EMF detector buzzed to life, and the cold returned. Dawn moved to fire at the ghostly figure forming not ten feet from where they stood, but the gun only clicked in her hands.

Shit, Jase grumbled as he turned and took the gun. It’s empty. Here. He tossed her a lighter. Salt the remains and burn them. Now!

Dawn grabbed the small jar of salt he had insisted she keep in the tiny pouch that hung from her belt. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to sprinkle over the bones while Jase fought to reload the gun.

Just as he got the rounds in the chamber, the ghost dove for him. With a sickening crack, it knocked him flying, and he landed against the crooked shelves where he’d discovered the sledgehammer in the first place.

Panic made Dawn’s fingers shake as she fumbled with Jase’s lighter. Her thumb cocked against the little metal wheel, but the spark wouldn’t catch. Closer and closer the ghost prowled toward her while she fought against her own nerves, but the lighter refused to light.

Feet turned into inches as the ghost approached, its horrible hands outstretched to find her throat again, but by some miracle, the flame finally came to life in her fingers. With only moments to spare, Dawn let the lighter fall onto the hidden bride’s silk dress.

The flame caught easily then, spreading up the withered remains. As it burned, so did the ghost, its terrifying visage melting away until only embers remained, soon floating away into dust.

Jase began to pull himself up from the ground, and Dawn dashed to his side.

Are you okay? she asked as she helped him to his feet.

My head’s a little sore, he told her has he rubbed the back of his skull. But I’ve had worse. You handled yourself like a champ.

But I was so scared, Dawn admitted, wrapping her arms around him.

You’re supposed to be, he told her. If you weren’t scared, I’d be pretty worried that I was working with some kind of psychopath.

Well, not yet, at least, she said as she forced herself to smile.

Good enough. Now, was that so boring?

Hell no, she laughed before she kissed him. Although, I wouldn’t mind a little boredom after that.

Come on, Jase said as he gave her another kiss. Let’s head upstairs. It’ll be morning soon. Not bad for your first ghost hunt.

Dawn felt her pride bloom at that, and deep down, she knew it wouldn’t be her last.

Chapter One

Jase was right about it being near morning. After he took some photos to document what they’d found, he led Dawn back upstairs to be greeted by the first signs sunrise illuminating the grand entrance of the old plantation.

The owners of the house had agreed to stay away until the sun rose, and it appeared they had just barely kept that promise. They’d spent the night at a neighbor’s home, and Dawn spotted their Lexus coming up the lane as she and Jase moved to the front door.

Guess they had faith in us, Dawn said with a feigned smile.

Or the opposite, Jase said. How you feeling?

Exhausted, she yawned. How about you?

A little banged up, he replied as he cracked his neck. But I’m used to the no-sleep thing. Comes with the territory.

So, what do we tell them? she asked in a hushed voice as the owners of the plantation pulled their car to a stop.

The truth, Jase answered. They expected a ghost, and nothing really weird happened here. I mean, we can leave out the fact that it attacked us, but we’ll tell them what we found.

As they stepped out of their sedan, the owners of the plantation appeared just as tired as Dawn and Jase felt. Mr. and Mrs. Beliveau were an older couple, sweet, if not a little pushy, and they appeared quite well-off. Dawn had spotted the woman’s Louis Vuitton bag a mile away, but with its easily recognizable monogram pattern, that wasn’t hard.

Oh my goodness, are you two okay? Mrs. Beliveau asked when she caught sight of the people she had hired to investigate her haunted house. Seth, the mysterious voice on the other end of Jase’s cellphone, had answered the couple’s plea for help and sent Jase and his new partner to them.

It was easy enough to pose as ghost investigators. In truth, it wasn’t far off from being an accurate description. They just left out the part of their background information that included werewolves and other monsters.

Just a little tired, Jase told Mrs. Beliveau, though the woman was barely listening. She was too busy checking Jase over for bumps, bruises, and of course, taking the opportunity to put her hands all over him.

Dear, Mr. Beliveau said with a light cough. Kathy!

Oh, sorry, she said as she snapped her hands back.

Maybe we should continue this inside, Mr. Beliveau suggested. That is, if it’s safe.

That it is, Jase said. Let’s head in and I’ll tell you what I... we... he corrected, found.

Dawn, Jase, and Mr. Beliveau each took a seat around the Beliveaus’ ornate dining room table while Mrs. Beliveau went to the kitchen to get everyone tea.

Now, don’t you start without me! she called into the dining room. I want to hear everything, even the scary bits.

The scary bits were exactly what Jase had told Dawn they’d be leaving out, but she had figured he’d be the one to tell their story. Not that she didn’t want to, but she had yet to learn what people could stand to believe and what would only scare them.

Okay, now what happened? Mrs. Beliveau asked as she began to pour everyone a cup of sweetened black tea.

Yes, is our house safe? Mr. Beliveau asked.

It should be perfectly safe now, Jase replied, nodding as he sipped the hot drink he’d been given. Dawn had quickly learned that Jase never turned down anything with caffeine, and she was starting to see why.

Did you find anything? Mrs. Beliveau asked as she took a spot at the table. Or did you bless the house? You must tell us.

He would, if you would let him speak, Dawn thought, but she kept a pleasant smile plastered on her face. There was no need to be rude just because she was exhausted.

Jase took another deep sip of tea. Dawn did the same and struggled not to spit it right back into her cup. It was