Autumn #3

Plot

Blood will flow. Autumn, the mysterious girl from parts unknown, is attempting to become assimilated into the small village, despite her strange powers, and her unwillingness to cover her face in public with the masks the others wear, as a protection against the demons that lurk in the Black Wood nearby. She has an ill-fated meeting in the center of the village with Anise, Vervain, and Ferula. As the three girls berate Autumn for tempting the demons with her odd, yet human face, winged beasts dart overhead, looking for victims. Later, Schizandra is conducting one of her fraudulent psychic readings when Autumn interrupts with her very real powers, causing a further rift between the two. Meanwhile, Autumn's shape-shifting squirrel, Widdershin, is mysteriously absent all morning. What will Autumn, Widdershin, and the handsome recluse, Splinter, find in the Devil's Garden? And what will happen when a murderous creature emerges from the Black Wood in the dark of night?

Aaron Alexovich supplies a pin-up.