Nail in Her Coffin (Devil's Witch Book 1)

“What am I doing here?” I ask Nick seeing him walk over to me.

I thought I went home last night after being revived by Colin. I should have called Will by now. So what am I doing out here in the middle of the woods? It reminds me of the episode I had where I woke up after being bit by a werewolf. Feeling paranoid, I rub my neck remembering the police chief having to bite me to save me back then.

When I don’t feel any risen skin I relax a little, eagerly taking his offered outstretched hand.

I feel like I’ve just woken up from a much needed nap. As a matter of fact, I feel quite refreshed and not as drained as I did waking up in that awful salon. My magic kind of feels funny, but that’s probably because I was only revived a day ago. I’m lucky I retained any of it after dying twice now.

When I rub my eyes, I slowly take a harder look at my surroundings. Oh, thank goodness. We’re just in my backyard. Funny, I thought I had woken up in the middle of the woods. Geez, I need to get it together!

“Sleepwalking?” Nick asks, looking just as puzzled as I am.

With a whimper, I look down at my black dress. The same one that magically appeared on me by will of the devil. I must have came out here trying to exorcise a demon, the devil probably is using me like a puppet. Waiting for me to fall asleep to do his dirty work against my will...

“What are you doing here?” I ask Nick, maybe he felt some kind of pull if I was in trouble.

Besides, he technically is still my familiar, something I rather forget.

“I called in that you disappeared. You’ve been missing for over a day,” Stella hollers while throwing open the back door and rushing over to me.

She gives me a bear hug and then backs away from me narrowing her eyes at Nick. Oh yeah, I forgot she still hasn’t adjusted to finding out the cops are vamps.

A day? I’ve been gone for a day and then just woke up in our yard? Maybe I just fell asleep out here and slept all day. She probably would have seen me though.

“Didn’t you check out here first, before calling?” I ask her and looking embarrassed, which is a rarity for her, she shakes her head.

“No! I was working overtime. Will called me and told me you weren’t answering his texts or calls since yesterday. So I got worried when you weren’t answering me either! I was tired from work last night and didn’t bother to check if you were up for work this morning. You usually don’t work Saturdays anyway.”

“Looks like a normal case of sleepwalking to me. Next time you call the station Ms. Gild, make sure you first do a thorough search yourself,” Nick says icily, he continues scolding Stella using his ‘police voice’ on her.

How could I have slept on the ground out here for a day without waking up? The sound of the annoying neighborhood children, if not the obnoxious car noises, surely would have woken me up at some point.

We both watch Nick walk around the house and proceed to stroll down the street to continue on his rounds.

“Stella, I need to tell you something about Colin,” I say after a long minute.

“I need to tell you something too, that policeman was lying just now,” Stella says bitterly -- the history of witches’ hatred of his kind fueling her words and stubborn beliefs.

“Please try not to judge him like that, you know he’s only doing his job. The only reason you don’t trust vampires is because of what we were taught to believe growing up, which we both know was half full of garbage. Besides, you’re the one who called him,” I tell her gently.

“I didn’t call him, I called the police station,” Stella points out. “I just can’t help it, Val. He always shows up so quickly whenever you’re in trouble. It just seems too convenient. Anyway, what was it you wanted to tell me?”

“Colin...” I begin to say as we head back inside.

By the time I finish telling her the crazy events leading up to my strange sleep spell today, we’re sitting together under a wool blanket on the couch drinking hot chocolate. I can tell it’s hard for her to process, especially the parts about Colin being possessed.

She seems to understand though or at least, outwardly looks like she believes me.

I turn on the tv after we talk for a bit more, hoping it will help us both sleep easier tonight. I know she will want to see Colin now just as much as I want to see Will.

She tosses a worn, old-looking wallet onto my lap. “What’s this?”

“While you were dead, ugh it’s so weird to say that. Anyway, while you were dead that week I swear someone else was in the house with me. At first, I thought it was you. I thought I was going crazy, then I find this basket at the bottom of the steps. Your cloak was in it, someone found it. It must have been a witch, I have no other explanation.”

“Where did it come from?”

“It was on the floor of your bedroom, open it up.”

I set down my hot chocolate and pick up the wallet. There’s a small rectangular card inside it, much like a business card, but with the state police seal in the center of it.

“Nicholas Dupont: Wixton, Alabama Chief of Police,” I read out loud.

Getting a bad feeling, I fold the wallet closed. Tomorrow, I will stop by the police station and drop this off. Just to see for myself if my friend’s instincts could really be on to something, but first I will make sure to stop by Will’s apartment to let him know I’m okay.

Can I stop by tomorrow? I need to talk to you about something, I rather not do it over text, I text Will.

Where have you been? I was calling you all day yesterday! Why didn’t you answer my texts??? Are you okay? I won’t be able to meet with you tomorrow. My cousin is getting married in Atlanta, I have to drive and I’m already on the road, Will replies.

I tap my phone nervously, thinking of what to say.

He’s going to be in Georgia at a time like this? I guess I can’t blame him, I was the one who decided not to inform of everything when I had the chance. I’m scared though, it’s not normal for people to sleepwalk and then just fall asleep for like a whole day!

Okay, can we talk now? I text will back.

No, now isn’t a good time. I’m about to go into a dead zone. I’ll call you when I get in Atlanta. Just text me the details quickly, Will responds rapidly, but I turn my phone off already having made my decision.

Why did he leave if he knew I was missing?

I know I should have texted him back goodnight or something, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little angry he wasn’t eager to turn around and come back here to help me figure this all out.

Well, I already have enough to worry about and it’s better to call him when he’s out of the dead zone. By that time though, he’ll probably be in Atlanta, Georgia. So I might as well wait until tomorrow.