Page 99 of Autumn L.A.W

“And what?”

“I don’t know. You’ve just been so kind to me. I’m not used to that.”

“You’re not used to people being kind to you?”

She halted and hung her head. “I guess I’m not used to being kind to others, so they don’t feel like being kind to me. That’s what got me into this mess.”

“Oh?”

“I was very unkind to the woman whose body I am in now. It never occurred to me that I was flirting with danger, but I should not have treated her badly, no matter who she was or what she did or didn’t do.”

He patted her shoulder and gave her a sad smile. “Maybe you can apologize to her later.”

“I certainly hope so, and not just because I ‘got caught,’ so to speak. I have been reflecting on my behavior, and I feel ashamed.”

“It sounds as if you’re learning from the experience,” Duke said. “Sometimes that’s the best way something good can come from something bad.”

“True. Other good things have come from all of this.”

“Yeah? Like what?”

“Like our adventures, I just wish we’d had more time in those remote and fascinating places. Well, all except Cuba.”

He chuckled. “After we get through this, nothing is stopping us from going back to those places.” He took her hand, and they resumed their fast walk. “Now, let’s go find your body.”

Victoria laughed. “That sounds so strange. Like I’m the headless horseman or something.”

“The mindless witch?” he teased.

She laughed. It felt good to laugh at her bizarre circumstances instead of railing against this new reality. “Northwest,” Victoria said. “That narrows it down.”

Duke tilted his head. “We follow what we can. The sun, the elements, depending on what they reveal.”

She exhaled. “Right. Because that’s always reliable.”

They started walking. At the edge of the trees, he stopped her. “Close your eyes,” he said.

She did.

“Listen,” he added.

“I don’t have my magic.”

“You don’t need it.”

She stilled. Something tugged at her. Not physically, just a sense of direction.

“We’re not supposed to go back to the mansion,” she said.

“I got the same feeling,” Duke replied.

She opened her eyes and looked toward the deep woods. “Of course we’re going in there.”

“We don’t have to, but one thing an occult librarian learns is to follow where ‘intuition’ leads.”

Victoria shrugged and faced the dark woods. “Okay, I’m game, but I should tell you, I’m not as comfortable with the unknown as you are. I’m a helicopter pilot. My life could depend on knowing exactly where I am and where I’m going.”

“I understand.” Duke squeezed her hand. “If we feel like we’re being led astray, we can turn around at any time.”