The Raven and the Witch Hunter Omnibus

BIG BEAR CHAPTER 10

BIG BEAR CHAPTER 10

Vanessa leaned over, feeling nervous as the cool water covered her hand. It wasn't cold enough to be painful, but it was cold enough to encourage her to move quickly. She grasped the dark spring green stone on the bottom of the pool, bringing it out and holding it up to her face to examine it more closely. It was smooth, shaped like a tear drop but with the unexpected feature of a hole at the narrow end, like it was created to be worn. She held it up for Emma Jane to see.

"It's not very exciting. It’s pretty though."

She rolled it around in her hand, feeling the cool stone calm her at the mere sensation in her palm. She wondered exactly what this rock was supposed to do to keep her safe from Emma Jane. She looked at the beautiful woman next to her. Curiosity and need urged Vanessa to try it to see if it worked.

"Should we test it? See if it protects me?"

Vanessa watched Emma Jane, sure that her emotions were written on her face, and was relieved to see the same emotion, albeit tempered with caution, reflected back.

"Yes, but not here. You don't see anything else that could be the right stone?"

Vanessa shook her head. "No, this one feels right to me. I don't see anything else remotely close to being ‘special’ and Big Bear said we'd know it on sight."

Emma Jane nodded. "Okay, in that case, let's go back to the bed and breakfast. If it doesn't work, I don't want to chance accidentally draining you at the top of a mountain. At least if we're somewhere populated, we're closer to getting help if..." Emma Jane trailed off, hope warring with her practical nature that was more used to disappointment than happiness.

Vanessa quashed her own excitement, telling herself there was no need for impatience at this stage. If it worked, it was only a little while longer. And if it didn't, Emma Jane's logic would be much appreciated.

"Okay, let's go back now then. I want to see if it works as soon as possible. Like, yesterday. Do you have any rawhide?"

Vanessa wondered where they could get a piece, so that the stone would be exactly the same as what the spirit told them it needed to be. Maybe it needed a cord to fully activate the magic, in which case they should probably get it first.

"There’s a bunch of shops on Main Street, isn’t there? We can get the rawhide before we try it out," said Emma Jane. "Just in case."

Vanessa agreed. "My thoughts exactly. Follow me. It's a long walk back and its getting dark."