Beneath An Ivy Moon (Legacy Of Magick Series, Book 4) (18 page)

Nathan paused in his note taking. “Did you know that in Salem Village a few of the executed women in 1692 were midwives themselves?”

“No,” I answered. “No, I had no idea.”

Nathan went back to his notes. “The local M.E. concluded that the remains found here on campus within the foundation of the house, were over one hundred years old. They belonged to a female, aged mid twenties to early thirties,” Nathan said.

I nodded. Things were starting to fall together, but I still wondered. “How do you suppose she— Prudence, I mean, ended up dying in the cellar of the cabin?”

Nathan stopped typing and met my eyes. “Remember what I said the night of the tornado? According to the soil analysis at the dig— the high amount of carbon that was present— we can speculate that the cabin burned down.”

“And they
left
her there?” I shuddered. “By the gods, you don’t think the locals descended on Prudence with pitchforks and torches, do you?”

“I hope not,” he said, and gave my fingers a reassuring squeeze. “Fires were common. Maybe it was simply a chimney fire that got out of control, and Prudence was trapped in the cellar and overcome by smoke.”

“What a horrible way to die,” I said. “So Prudence died in the fire and her cabin was gone. Did the Crowlys simply take her land afterwards?”

Nathan pulled out a surveyors map dated 1859 and spread it across the table for me. “Look here,” he said. He pointed to the area marked as Crowly Hall. “Here’s Crowly Hall.” He ran his finger clear across the map to an area marked as
The Orchard
.

“Wait.” I pounced on the book and flipped back to the journal pages. “Mary Girard wrote that she helped Prudence gather apples from a
little orchard
behind the cabin!”

Nathan took out a second surveyors map and spread it over the first. “This map is more modern, but I have a hunch. This could be very illuminating.” He smiled at me over that.

Nathan held the maps up to the light, aligning Crowly Hall on the papers. I pulled my camera free of its bag and ducked under to stand in the middle of his arms to better see the maps.

“Don’t be shy,” Nathan said.

“Don’t worry, I’m not.” I ignored him. As the light from the ceiling lights showed through the papers, I could clearly see most of the current buildings on campus. I found the modern history museum, and discovered that
The Orchard
area marked in 1859, was adjacent to the current history building, and smack in the center of what was planned to be the expanded museum— the current site of the archeological dig.

“Nathan,” I said, trying to stay calm, “when they first started to clear the land for the construction, they bulldozed a stand of really old
apple
trees.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Positive,” I said. “Cypress and I stood there taking in the torn down trees, and were sad because that meant no more apples.” I shook my head. “Can you hold the maps up a little higher? I want to document this.”

“Go ahead,” Nathan said, his lips very close to my ear.

I focused my lens, shifted my stance, and took several pictures. I stopped, and without thinking about it leaned back against Nathan as we continued to study the maps together. “We need to call Bran. He’s going to want to see these,” I said as I continued to stare up at the images.

“Agreed.” Nathan’s voice was husky as he lowered the maps, and I found myself surrounded by his arms.

The huskiness of his voice should have been my first clue that the energy surrounding us had changed. Realization dawned a few seconds too late, and I felt my solar plexus tighten in reaction. I turned slowly around to face him, and neither one of us moved. For a few moments we stared silently at each other. I swallowed past a lump in my throat. “Well,” I managed, wondering if he was about to kiss me.

Nathan let go of one side of the maps, opening his arms. “I should call the lead archeologist, and Dr. Meyer as well.” He stepped back, slowly. I stepped away too, and he carefully set the large maps back on the table.

I did my best to act casual, as if I hadn’t been chest to chest with him and staring into his eyes a few seconds ago. “Hold the reference book open for me, will ya?” I said, doing my best to sound nonchalant. “I want to take some photos.”

“I can make photocopies of the book pages for you,” Nathan said.

“I’ll want photos anyway,” I argued. “It’ll only take me a few moments. I’m not going for portraits.”

“I was going to ask you to take more photos of the maps, anyway,” Nathan said, turning a page over for me. “We shouldn’t put the old surveyors map through a photo copier.”

“Good point,” I said, pushing my sweater’s sleeves up to my elbows.

“And I’ll want my own copies,” Nathan said.

“Me too,” I agreed. “Once we call in Bran, Dr. Meyer and the lead archeologist, they are probably going to want to take all today’s research,” I said, gesturing to the work on the table.

“Most likely,” Nathan agreed.

“I figured,” I said. Then I got to work taking photos as quickly as possible.

A short time later, I dug in my purse, got some change, and walked over to the copy machine with him. Nathan pulled some quarters out of his own pockets, and I fed the change slot. He started the machine to print out the section of the reference book with the reproduced journal pages.

“So, it’s not quite the kind, maternal image of the school’s founder that we’ve all been told about,” I said over the copy machine.

“They did a hell of a PR campaign to soften Victoria Crowly’s image over the years,” Nathan said, making three neat stacks of pages.

Once he was done we went back to our table. I put my camera back in the bag, tucked away all of my own personal research, and set my phone on the table in front of me. “Why don’t you contact Dr. Meyer and your head archeologist?” I suggested as he finished up straightening his own research. “And I’ll call Bran.”

Nathan set his hand gently over mine where it rested on the table. “Even though this will not be a popular theory, with the suits at the college, it is an
important
discovery none the less.”

“Oh, jeez.” I frowned. “Paranormal issues aside, I hadn’t thought about that.”

“Well, let them bitch all they want,” Nathan said. “This is a solid lead on identifying the human remains, dating the cabin
and
uncovering some of the forgotten history of William’s Ford.”

I flipped my hand over and threaded my fingers through his. “Will this discovery help you with your Master’s degree?”

“It sure the hell won’t hurt,” Nathan chuckled.

“I don’t think we should mention any of the paranormal incidents to the archeologist,” I said. “Dr. Meyer, we should tell him in private. He’s a ghost enthusiast and a historian. He would
love
that.”

Nathan smiled over the idea. “Yeah, considering he wrote a book about the campus hauntings.”

“Maybe we should let my brother Bran tell him?” I said. “He’d probably listen to Bran, take him more seriously.”

“You know he’ll want to interview both you and Cypress about your experiences,” Nathan pointed out.

I hunched my shoulders. “Aw man, I hadn’t thought about that.”

Nathan chuckled and released my hand. “I’m glad we were able to work together on this, Ivy.”

“So am I,” I said, and then I had a moment while he began to make his calls to realize that I actually
was
glad.

***

I’d never seen academics lose their shit over something before. It was sort of cute. I stood back and let Nathan explain what we’d found to the group. Bran was quiet but excited over what Nathan and I had uncovered. The Archeologist, Dr. Wallis, was thrilled with Nathan’s initiative and the information we’d put together, and Dr. Meyer? Well I thought for a while he might actually pass out from excitement.

A few hours later, the surveyor’s maps and the reference book were safely under Bran’s care. Dr. Wallis had left, and Bran invited Dr. Meyer into his office for a private conversation. Bran gave me a significant look as he ushered the older man in, and I knew he was about to share all of the paranormal information and documentation that Cypress and I had gathered with the historian.

I slipped my camera and messenger bag straps over my shoulder. “Let’s take a walk,” I said impulsively to Nathan, “I need to get outside for a while.

“Get some fresh air,” Nathan said, “sounds good.”

As soon as we stepped outside of the library I inhaled, deeply. The crisp October air was slightly spicy and smelled of leaves and chrysanthemums. “Better.” I faced the sun and stretched my arms over my head. “Much better.”

“It’s a nice day,” Nathan commented as he stood beside me.

“It’s a great day,” I said, plucking my sunglasses from my bag, and stuck them on my nose. “We kicked ass in there.”

“We did.” He lifted his face to the sunshine as well. “You want to get lunch, or something?” Nathan asked, casually.

I pressed a hand to my heart, as if overcome. “Why Mr. Pogue, did you just ask me out?”

“I guess I did.”

“I’m a little overcome by the sheer suave-ness of your invitation,” I said, tipping my sunglasses down to peer at him from over the tops. “You’ll have to give me a minute.”

Nathan snorted out a laugh. “Smart ass.”

“Ah, you’re finally catching on!”

I pushed my glasses back up my nose, delighted to discover that there was a lopsided grin on his face. “You have a nice smile.”

Ah... thanks.” Nathan seemed a little thrown by my compliment.

I shook my hair back and looped my arm through his. “You’re so serious all of the time Nathan. You should lighten up, learn to smile a little more.” I sighed, happy to be outside on such a pretty fall day. “Let’s walk.”

“Where are we walking to?” Nathan asked as he strolled along with me.

“I don’t know yet. I think there’s somewhere we need to be.” I patted his arm. “Trust me, and let’s see where we end up.”

“Intuitive versus analytical walking?” Nathan said.

“Did you crack a joke?”

He grinned down at me. “Only lightening things up.”

“Let’s follow the vibes,” I said, ambling along. I was starting to feel pulled in a specific direction, so I followed my gut. I knew as soon as I saw the building— where we needed to go.

We stopped in front of Crowly Hall. The building was still closed and unavailable to live in, but the repairs were underway. Scaffolds ranged along the front of the old building, and a new massive column had been put in place, replacing the one that had been taken out by the tree. I could see that repair work had begun on the brick exterior. Large stacks of bricks were neatly placed and waiting at one corner of the building.

Nathan shielded his eyes with his hand. “They started to rebuild the porch.”

I stood staring up at the old building and noticed movement in one of the windows on the ground floor. “Look at the far left window on the ground floor,” I said urgently. My heart began to beat faster as I saw someone walk back and forth in front of the window.

“I thought the building was closed for repairs.”

“It
is
closed,” I said, “supposedly locked up tight.”

“Who the hell is in there?” Nathan asked.

“I’m sure as hell going to find out!” I took off at a run. I moved around the building, skidding to a halt at the back door. “Let’s see if my keys still work.” Before I could pull the keys free— there was a solid click. The door swung open, and I stepped back in surprise.

“Did
you
do that?” Nathan asked, stopping beside me.

“No, I didn’t,” I said. “It’s like somebody or some thing
wants
us to come inside.” As soon as the words left my mouth the door swung open even further. The sound of a woman crying drifted out to us.

Nathan shot an arm out as if to block me. “Don’t!” he hissed. “I don’t like this. I feel like we’re being lured into the building.”

“Like Jessica was
lured
out of her dorm room to sleepwalk down the hall and towards the stairs?” I said what I was thinking. As we stood there the crying grew louder, more desperate. “What’s the play?” I asked him, quietly.

“We can’t go in there unprepared and energetically unprotected.”

Mom used to always say: go forward with awareness.
I recalled. “I have a few things on me that might help,” I said, pulling the large silver pentagram pendant out from underneath my t-shirt. “I have magickal protection— my mother gave me this amulet.” I let it rest on my shirt. “It’s powerful, and has worked well in the past.”

“I have an amulet too,” Nathan said, and pulled a triquetra circle amulet out from under his own shirt. “My father gave me this.” The Celtic triple knot interlaced with a circle had a soft silver sheen, and was tied onto a practical leather cord.

“I’ve been carrying some protective crystals,” I said, and unzipped my soft sided camera bag. I pulled the camera free and looped it around my neck. The trio of protective stones I’d put in weeks ago were still there. “Take the tiger’s eye, I’ll take the other two.” I handed it to him and put the hematite and snowflake obsidian in my front pocket.

“Let me see if there are any herbs we can use.” Nathan pulled a pocket knife out of his jeans, stepped back and began to scan the immediate surrounding landscape at the back of the hall. “Wait for me,” he cautioned.

“I will,” I said, folding the camera bag flat and putting it in the roomy messenger bag. I switched to wearing the long strap to cross-body, and tucked the bag behind me, leaving my hands free. I checked my camera, and prepared myself.
Maybe it was only a student skulking around inside the dorm, or maybe it was something less corporeal.
Either way, Nathan was right. It was better to be prepared.

Nathan handed me a long trailing piece of green ivy, cut from the landscaped beds at the back of the Hall. “Ivy is a protective plant, it shields from negative influences.”

I blinked at him for a moment. “I would have never pegged you for a magickal herbalist, Pogue.”

He lifted his brow. “Herbalism is a classic part of any Witch’s repertoire. Besides, this seemed pretty appropriate.” He held out his left hand. “Here, tie it around my wrist.”