by TJ Green
“You should have come surfing. That would have washed those cobwebs away!” He nodded at Hunter, who also looked alert. “It worked for Hunter.”
Hunter smiled back. “It certainly helped, although I was feeling fine anyway. My wolf half is stronger than I am, and I’m used to hunting all night.”
“When did you learn to surf?” Alex asked, puzzled.
“Years ago, but I’m terrible at it.” He laughed. “It doesn’t stop me trying though, and Reuben is a good teacher.”
“Oh, well, bully for you!” Avery said, uncharacteristically annoyed. She reached for her wine and took a healthy slug, knowing it was probably the wrong thing to drink to feel better, but deciding her liver could get stuffed.
Briar looked at her sympathetically. “I know how you feel. I didn’t sleep well either, and the shop was so busy. And those bloody women who throw themselves at Eli annoyed the crap out of me all day. I eventually sent them off with a spell so we could both get some peace.”
“You actually put a spell on Eli’s harem?” El’s eyes lit up with glee. “That is not like you!”
“What about all this ‘harm none’ thing we bang on about?” Alex asked, teasing her.
Briar bridled. “I did not harm anyone! I merely made them feel very uncomfortable for a while.”
Avery felt her spirits start to rise at Briar’s mischief. “How uncomfortable?”
“I may have glamoured the mirror to make them all look a little uglier. I also gave one spots, another a rash, and a third one had a sudden attack of wind.” She was trying to look sheepish, but she couldn’t disguise her amusement. “It was all very temporary. I’m sure they are feeling better now.”
Avery’s mouth fell open in shock, and sniggers sounded around the table.
“That is bloody brilliant,” Reuben said admiringly. “I bet Eli was a bit miffed, though.”
“No, actually. He couldn’t thank me quick enough. If I’m honest, he looks tired too, and I didn’t expect that of a Nephilim.” She giggled. “I have a feeling I could be doing it a little more often. We both got peace and quiet, and my other regulars seemed to love it, too. It made me realise how patient I’ve been with these obsessed women.”
Alex laughed. “You can’t give them a weekly rash. It would be too suspicious, and they’d blame Eli!”
“Oh, please,” Briar teased. “I can be inventive.”
“Well,” El said, pushing her empty plate away, “I’ve also been inventive today.” She smiled at their surprised faces. “I found a spell that will work tomorrow night.”
“So clever!” Reuben praised her.
She patted his hand. “I know. But I’ll need all of those scripts tonight so I can plant them under the bonfire.”
“But that bonfire is huge,” Briar said. “How will you manage it?”
“I was looking at it this afternoon,” El told her. “There’s a crawlspace through to the middle. That’s the best way to light it. I can crawl through tonight and push the scripts up and into the wood at the bottom.”
Alex ran his finger across his bottom lip. “Just the scripts?”
“No. I have a very large bundle of herbs, a few crushed gemstones, certain special feathers, and a few other things. They’ll be wrapped around the scripts. And,” she added, taking a deep breath, “I have made a very large herb bundle that needs to be burned and carried around the centre of town.” She looked at Avery and Briar. “I’ll need some more supplies, so I’ll get them from you in the morning, if that’s okay. I’m going to make another couple of bundles.”
Briar nodded with understanding. “You’re making giant smudge sticks!”
“Yes. With all the torches that will be burning alongside the procession tomorrow, no one will notice. I’ll make smaller bundles too to drop into the fires as you pass them.”
Avery’s tiredness began to disappear as she became caught up in El’s plans. “We could do the same to our fires at home—or even here at the pub!”
“Exactly,” El said, looking pleased. “And all of the other elements will be present, too—Fire, Water, Air, Earth.”
Hunter leaned forward, excited. “I can carry one—I won’t need magic, will I?”
“No. Just make sure you waft your bundle everywhere.” El looked at Reuben. “You can do that, too. I’ll wait by the bonfire. As soon as the Goddess and the Green Man draw close, the fire will be lit, or so I gathered from Stan. A couple of people at the front of the procession will light it—the fire jugglers, I think. As soon as it catches, I’ll start the spell. I’ll be on the dunes overlooking it, like last time,” she said, reminding them of when they were trying to fight off the mermaids the year before.
Briar picked up a chip off Avery’s plate and absently took a bite. “We should bless the smudge bundles, too. Why don’t you two,” she said to El and Avery, “come to my shop in the morning with all the supplies and the bundles you’ve already made, El, and we’ll do it in my back room? It won’t take long.”
El and Avery nodded in agreement, and Avery said, “I think I should be with Alex tomorrow evening. I’ll wait by the beach to see the procession arrive, along with my smudge bundle, and then when the fire starts, I’ll join Alex.”
Briar smiled. “And I’ll support El, while Hunter and Reuben continue to walk around the town.”
Reuben scratched his chin, perplexed. “You know, we probably haven’t got all of the copies of the play.”
“But we have the key copy—the one that binds them,” El said confidently. “Once that’s gone, I think the rest will be impotent. And besides, it’s the best we can do under the circumstances. We’re pretty sure there are no more bewitched costumes or jewellery, so we’ve covered all our bases!”
Avery felt the mood around the table lift as they discussed their plans, and she started to feel better than she had in days.
And then El suddenly frowned. “Actually, Alex, won’t you need the key script to deal with Kit?”
“No. I have something else in mind.” He smiled, looking pleased with himself.
“Care to share?”
He shook his head. “Not right now.”
They all looked at him, intrigued, and Avery said, “But we were concerned he’d grounded himself or the spell in some way. Will that be an issue?”
“Not with what I have planned!” He winked. “Trust me.”
“Okay,” El said, clearly resisting the urge to ask more. “Do you need the Empusa’s sword?”
“Nope. Besides, I’m not the one who is good at sword fighting. I confess that it’s tomorrow afternoon that is worrying me more,” Alex admitted, his dark eyes haunted. “There’s so much bloodshed and anger in my dreams. I can’t shake it off. Anything could happen!”
“We should tell Newton,” Avery said, realising they hadn’t kept him up to date with recent events. “He might be able to get a few policemen at the event—you know, community policing. It might be handy!”
“That’s actually a good idea,” El agreed.
“Good, I’ll call him tonight. The more notice he has, the better.”
***
At ten the next morning, Avery, El, and Briar were gathered in the back of Briar’s shop, assembling more smudge sticks. By the time they’d finished, they had a dozen small ones, and half a dozen large ones.
El looked at their efforts and gave a satisfied smile. “Excellent. The mix of herbs in here will work really well.”
“They’re for more than just cleansing though, aren’t they?” Avery asked, as she considered the different plants they’d used. “There are some that are useful for protection, too.”
El nodded. “Sage, rosemary, cedar, angelica, and juniper will cleanse and protect. Lemon balm will aid in clarity, and I thought frankincense and sandalwood would enhance the power and intent of our spell, too. And of course a few other herbs are in there as well.”
Briar finished securing the last large bundle of herbs to a slender wooden branch she’d taken from
her allotment. She tied it with a long piece of string and wove a spell into it as she tied the knot. “They look like besom brooms—well, sort of.”
“Very apt,” El said, laughing. “But they’ll look good being carried down the high street with the procession. No one will take any notice.”
“I think many people watching will be dressed up too, don’t you think?” Briar asked. “And lots will wear masks.”
El gathered the bundles together in the centre of the floor and lit the candles that were placed around them. “
Reuben’s thinking of wearing one. You know what he’s like—he loves to throw himself into these things! Anyway, let’s spell these with some calming and positive intentions, as well as cleansing. By the time we’ve finished, the town will be renewed.”
Avery prepared herself as the three witches formed a triangle around the bundles. “What I’m wondering is, how will we know if it’s worked? I mean, will we have to follow the cast for days to find out? And what if the power of the Goddess and the Green Man throw all our plans out? It’s possible.”
“We can feel the undercurrent of tension in the town now,” Briar said, frowning at both of them, “so surely we’ll feel it lift!”
“I’ll ask Dan to stick with Harry. If his behaviour improves, then we know it’s okay,” Avery said decisively. “And I think once Kit has gone, we’ll know for sure.”
They began the spell to empower the bundles, and Avery pushed her worries to the back of her mind, trying to subdue her fear that nothing would be simple that day.
26
White Haven Castle looked resplendent in the sunshine on Saturday afternoon, and drew many admiring glances from the crowds that wandered up from the car park as they headed to the field next door where the stage had been set up.
They were lucky with the weather, Avery reflected. Clouds were scudding overhead, but it was warm and dry enough for the outdoor performance. The audience was walking in carrying blankets and camping chairs, and the atmosphere was generally relaxed, but even so, Avery could feel an undercurrent of tension and heightened emotions. The council had also consented to people bringing in picnic baskets, but no alcohol. A marquee had been set up to provide drinks, and Avery was impressed with the organisation. It wasn’t all Stan’s doing. He had told them that quite a few councillors had been involved, and she spotted him by the bar, consulting with the events manager. He hadn’t yet donned his Druid’s clothes, but she knew he’d be wearing them later.
The stage was at the rear of the field, the ancient trees of Ravens’ Wood curving around it, full-leaved and gnarly, while beneath, shielded from sunlight, it was dark and mysterious. A row of ravens was already watching from atop the castle wall, which marked the boundary to the left. It was as if they knew something was going to happen.
Avery hadn’t got a ticket, but she had glamoured her way in, and she now worked her way through the crowd to the stage with its simple backdrop. She saw Briar and Hunter to the right of the stage and waved. They had both wanted to see the performance, and it was a good way of monitoring the crowd. They were all wearing protective amulets, so they would be shielded from the effects of the spell. On the edge of the field, watching the crowd arrive with suspicion and a scowl was Newton, standing with Moore and a couple of policemen. Avery threaded her way towards them, and seeing her, Newton strode to meet her so they could talk privately.
He looked at her sceptically. “Are you sure we need to be at this teddy bear’s picnic?”
“Yes! It’s like I said on the phone. We’re not sure what will happen, but we’re pretty sure there’ll be trouble with the cast. Isn’t it better to be safe than sorry?”
He rolled his eyes. “I suppose so. I’ll be glad when this Beltane bollocks is over.”
“It’s not bollocks, but I know what you mean.” Avery pulled a protective amulet from her pocket and handed it to him. “Wear this—just in case.”
He nodded and without argument, slipped it into his pocket. “Thanks. Where will you be?”
“In the woods just behind the tree line. I suggest you keep close to the stage as the play ends—if anything happens, it will be then. Otherwise, it will just be a nice afternoon at the theatre.”
She grinned at his grumpy expression, and leaving him to it, headed around the stage, passing the rudimentary dressing area behind it, screened off with fencing, until she reached the dappled forest where Alex, Reuben, and El were waiting.
Alex was seated on the forest floor, leaning against a large oak tree, and he looked up as she arrived. “How is it out there?”
Avery sat on the cool earth next to him. “Fine, so far. Just a bit of an undercurrent of tension—what we’ve been used to. Have you spoken to the cast?”
He shook his head. “No. They look busy, but we’ve kept an eye on them.”
“They look busy and tetchy!” Reuben said, adjusting his position. He was also leaning against a tree trunk, and he stretched out, yawning. “How long is this play?”
“Just a couple of hours,” Avery answered. “I hope Dan is backstage. He said he’d be here.”
“I’m sure he will be,” Alex said. “Does he know where we are?”
“Yep.”
El laughed. “This is weird. We are actually waiting for disaster to happen. Did you see Briar and Hunter?”
Avery nodded. “Yes, they should be able to get here quickly afterwards.”
“Good,” Reuben said, settling himself on the ground and closing his eyes. “Wake me up when you need me.”
***
As soon as the play was underway, Avery and Alex positioned themselves to the side of the stage, hidden at the edge of the trees. They had a good view of the performance, and watched intently as they came to the part where Brangain, Iseult’s maid, offered Tristan and Iseult the potion bottle.
“How are we going to do this?” Alex asked, watching Brangain make her speech.
“I could make the glass shatter, but that would be a bit dramatic. How about if we make the potion spill out?” They had discussed this earlier, but still hadn’t come to a decision about how best to tackle this moment, hoping that inspiration would strike at some point.
“By jerking the bottle?” Alex asked, still watching Brangain closely.
Avery nodded, half an eye on the watching crowd. They were silent, eyes fixed firmly on the stage, and once again, Avery felt the magic of the performance steel over her—a potent heaviness that spoke of obsession. “I think they are so caught up in this performance, they won’t really notice a fumble.”
Alex touched her arm, drawing her attention. “She’s handing it over now.”
Avery watched as Brangain poured the potion into a glass. Although the bottle looked different, once again the liquid inside looked golden, glinting in the sunlight. Avery sent a push of air towards it as Iseult lifted it to her lips, and then she fumbled momentarily, the liquid splashing on her chin. Iseult looked startled, but she continued to act, brushing the liquid away with one hand as she handed the potion to Tristan. Avery glanced at the crowd, and then back to Tristan, relieved to see that no one sniggered. She took a deep breath and focussed again on jolting the bottle. A screech of a raven above her disturbed her concentration and she jerked in shock, Tristan doing the same, and this time the liquid splashed down his shirt.
Avery and Alex both held their breath, but Josh, although shocked, recovered quickly, and again the audience was unmoving. “At least the enchantment has some advantages,” Avery whispered to Alex. “Although, I could do without those!” She looked up above her and glared at the raven. It fixed her with a beady eye, and then flew into the depths of the forest.
Alex exhaled heavily. “Maybe the Green Man is not on our side. We’re interfering with passion and love to die for.”
“A bewitched love to die for!” Avery huffed, annoyed. “If he thinks he’s got an easy ride coming tonight, he’s very much mistaken.”
Within minutes the scene had ended and Alex
looked at Avery, a half smile on his lips. “Well done! Strike one for us.”
***
By the middle of the third act, Avery could feel the tension rolling off the audience, seeping around them where they sheltered beneath the trees.
The heat had increased as the afternoon progressed, and it lay across them like a blanket. Avery swatted at the flies that buzzed around them, until El eventually sent them off with a jet of flame, blown from a ball of fire that she conjured on her palm. They were just debating whether they should head backstage when the audience started to clap and cheer, and Avery felt a shudder reverberate through the air and the earth below. A sound like a distant bell echoed around them, and they all jumped to their feet, hands raised.
“You all felt that, right?” Reuben asked.
Avery nodded, staring towards the stage. “The end of the play must have triggered another level of the spell.”
They ran to the edge of the wood, just in time to watch the cast take their bows. The audience was on its feet, still clapping, and if anyone had felt the wave of magic, it seemed they were taking no notice of it. Mixed emotions were emanating from the audience—jealousy, pleasure, suspicion, and passion, all mingling together and feeding into one another.
As they had planned, the witches linked hands and uttered the spell they had agreed on. Avery felt Briar’s magic reaching theirs as they pushed positivity through the crowds, easing tension, and as the cast left the stage after their final bows, it was clear their magic was working as everyone started to collect their belongings, chattering excitedly to each other.
They continued their spell for a few more minutes, and eventually satisfied the crowd was at least calmer, they stopped, still feeling its effects filtering across the field.
Alex looked pleased. “That seemed to work. Now, let’s head to the dressing rooms.”
But the words were barely out of his mouth when they heard muffled shouts and screams from behind the stage.
