Cameron has built a good life for himself despite his rough start. He can’t trust enough for romance, but he’s okay with that. He’s got good money coming in as a graphic designer and just inherited a duplex in Plymouth from his estranged grandfather, so he doesn’t have to worry about keeping a roof over his head. He likes his tenants, he has friends, and he’s content with that.<br><br>When two guys claiming to be paranormal investigators show up on his doorstep tell him the tenants contacted them about “phenomena” in the house, he knows they’re con men right away. For one thing, they claim he was the tenant. He sends them packing. It doesn’t matter that one of the con artists is the hottest guy Cameron has seen in years -- if anything, that just makes Cameron more suspicious.<br><br>Then things go wrong in the house, things he can’t shrug off or ignore. The past Cameron has worked so hard to leave behind is coming for him, and it’s angry.

Rites of Spring

A man dressed in a suit of dark clothing, typical of the times, walked up to the scene. He looked healthier than any of the people groaning on the ground, but his face was gaunt and his heavy woolen clothes couldn’t hide the fact that his arms had gone from “slim” to “spindly.” He had a gleam in his light gray eyes, though, and an iron knife in his hand. His lip curled a little behind his gray beard and he walked up to the tree.


The Pilgrim put his hand on the tree and closed his eyes for a moment. Cameron couldn’t quite tell what it was that he was doing, but it seemed to satisfy him whatever it was. After a few seconds he pulled back and climbed the tree. Then, he took his knife and carved the glyph.


Two things happened then. The dark cloud was pulled into the oak and down, screaming so loud that the tents collapsed. The tree itself shook and glowed for a minute, giving off a deep green color that Cameron wanted to reach out and touch.


Chapter 57