Witchslapped in Westerham

by Dionne Lister

  And there it was: W & W Tea Supplies. They hadn’t bothered with a proper sign. Their name was painted in black paint directly onto the metal building wall at the front. A large roller door was open, and I meandered past, pretending I was going to a different factory unit. A man drove a forklift down one of the aisles, and three other workers were packing boxes and loading them into a delivery van. It was quite the operation. Was I looking at the perpetrator right now?

  Once I cleared the door, I kept walking. When I figured I was out of sight, I turned and lifted my camera. I wasn’t sure exactly what I should ask for, but I may as well be direct. With the lens pointed at the front of the building but from a side view, I asked, “Show me who spelled the tea to make people violent.” I held my breath.

  The light changed, indicating early morning and a grey day. A man appeared in front of the warehouse, his back to me, hands on hips. He had curly reddish-blonde hair with a round thinning patch at the crown. He was not-so-stylishly dressed in a baby-poo-coloured jumper and brown slacks. I clicked off a couple of shots, but if I wanted to see him from the front, I’d have to walk past the front of the factory unit again and then turn and shoot. Best to be quick and if anyone called out, just run.

  My pulse quickened, and I could feel it pounding at my throat. If the witch was here, he might very well sense what I was doing. I didn’t think my talent made much of a vibration, but since I was holding other spells in place, maybe the hum was louder than normal. I wished we could hear our own spell noise. It was silly that we couldn’t. I’d have to figure out how to change that. Why did I always get great ideas at the most inconvenient times? I supposed it was because that’s when I needed the answers.

  I walked as fast as I could without seeing where I was going in real time. The last thing I needed was to faceplant on the concrete and smash my camera. There would be nothing subtle about that. Finally next to him, I walked another few steps and made sure I stood between him and the warehouse so that when I took the shot, I faced away from the open roller door.

  I turned and snapped off a few shots as I went, getting him from a kind of front side angle, and then the front. He looked to be maybe thirty or so. His fair skin was peppered with freckles, and his blonde eyebrows were wild and thick. I shivered. His gaze was focussed out of the driveway, towards the street, and straight through me.

  “Hey, what are you doing?” a male voice called out from my right—from inside the warehouse, if my assumption was correct.

  I turned towards the street and speed-walked while chucking my camera in my bag. Once it was safely zipped in, I slung my arms into both shoulder straps, settled my bag on my back, and ran. I didn’t know if he was behind me, but in my paranoia, it felt as if a large presence was right there, looming, ready to strike.

  My skin prickled, and I picked up the pace till I was sprinting back the way I’d come, my bag bouncing against my back. I held the straps at my shoulders, trying to stop everything in the knapsack being jostled too much.

  Throat burning with the effort, and my legs turning to jelly, I reached the end of the street and turned left, heading for the railway station, which was still a long way away. I risked a look behind. Thank God there was no one there, except a woman getting out of her car.

  I slowed, panting. Well, I hadn’t looked suspicious; had I? No, not at all. I rolled my eyes at how what I just did would have rung alarm bells with the witch responsible. Had he seen my face? Was there any way he could tell who I was? Probably not, but I didn’t know all the ins and outs of witching. Anything was possible.

  I recalled the vacant building with a big For Lease sign out front a little further along. As soon as I made it there, I walked down the driveway and into a sheltered doorway and dropped both the return-to-sender and no-notice spells. No way would I just hang around. The guy might be on the prowl, about to come around the corner. After glancing around to make sure no one could see me, I made my doorway and travelled home.

  I couldn’t wait to let James know how I’d gone. This could be the end of all the drama.

  However, I forgot to say, “touch wood.” I’d never been one for superstition, but maybe I needed to start.

  Chapter 10

  I let myself out of the reception room, and even though I was exhausted after holding two spells and running for my life, I ran upstairs to check on Angelica. She was where I’d left her, still asleep. Rather than waste time staring at her and worrying, I went to my room and put my bag on the bed. I took out my notepad and pen and wrote James a note. Got photos of the guy who did it. Almost got caught, but I’m home now. I held it up and said the words that would send it to James’s pocket. The paper disappeared from between my fingers.

  A few minutes later, a return note appeared in my pocket. I took it out and read. That’s great news, but I don’t like that you almost got caught. Please be careful. I’ll come and have a look within the next hour, as soon as I can get away. J.

  I checked my phone in case Witchface had left any messages. Nothing from her, thank God, but Olivia had sent a message, which was fine since she knew not to say anything incriminating. Hey, Lil. Just wanted to make sure you didn’t need anything from the shops. Let me know.

  I responded. All good, thanks. Maybe some Lavazza coffee beans. I’m all out. Just chilling here having a rest. It’s been stressful lately. Thanks, Liv. That should appeal to Agent Laaam and make her think I’d been here the whole time. Not sure if she’d buy it, but whatever.

  While I waited for James, I tried not to go mad. This inevitably led to me going downstairs and turning on the TV. I sat and watched some home renovation show, my jaw clenched and my foot bobbing up and down the whole time. Witchface had my every nerve pulled tight, which irritated me because that had been part of her goal. I hated fearing her. I expected her to message a threat or carry one out at any moment. I didn’t like surprises. Not. One. Bit. Unless it was Will coming over to tell me he had been faking things the whole time with Dana, and he was totally into me. Yep, I’d be waiting an eternity for that one.

  On TV, they’d ripped out an old, green 1970s kitchen, except what they were replacing it with wasn’t much better. I made an “ew” face at the TV. The stone benchtops were nice, but the bright red and bright purple glossy cabinet doors and disco-ball reflective-silver tiled backsplash went too far. Way too far. If that’s what a designing degree made you do, I was glad I didn’t have one.

  I looked at my phone. Twenty minutes had passed since I’d received James’s note. Argh! Hurry up, bro. I left my phone on the couch, jumped up and got a glass of water. My exertions this morning had made me thirsty. At least I’d burnt off that muffin. While I was downing the cool water, I realised Angelica must need something to drink. She’d been out of it since yesterday. How could I possibly get her to drink while asleep? I should really try and wake her up.

  I grabbed another glass of water and went to her room whilst keeping an ear out for James, although he had a key to her reception room. I knocked, just in case, but there wasn’t any answer, so I let myself in. As I approached her bed, I said, “Angelica, it’s me, Lily. I’ve brought water. You really need to drink something.”

  She murmured something unintelligible but didn’t open her eyes. Her bun had partly come loose of all the pins, tendrils of her hair sticking up and partly covering her face. Why hadn’t I thought to take it out? It must be really uncomfortable. Before I gave her water, I did my best to untangle the mess. Her hair was soft and thankfully not knotted. Finally, it was free. “I’m sorry, Angelica. Dana did this to you. I don’t know how or what she did, but she’s made you very sick. I’m here to help you. Can you wake up and have a drink?”

  Her lips moved slightly, and another garbled noise came out. Was she trying to speak to me, or was it just nightmare ramblings?

  “I’m going to sit you up enough so that I can give you some water. Please try and swallow.”

  Her eyelids twitched. It probably wasn’t a sign of anything, but
it was better than nothing. Maybe she could hear me and understood?

  A voice filtered in from downstairs. “Lily, where are you?” James was here. Thank God.

  Before I answered him, I grabbed Angelica’s phone off the bedside table, made sure it was off, and shoved it in her jumper drawer, then closed it and the wardrobe door. That should muffle things if Dana had bugged it too. “I’m up here, in Angelica’s room,” I called back.

  He was soon at the door as I struggled to get another pillow under Angelica’s head to prop her up.

  “What are you doing?” He stood in the doorway, eyebrows raised.

  “She’s been asleep since yesterday. She hasn’t had anything to drink or eat since then. I’m trying to give her some water.”

  He strode over and stared at her. “When you said she was sick, I didn’t realise you meant this sick.” He ran his hand through his hair, stopping at his crown, his hand staying there. He let his hand drop, then turned to me. “And she’s been like this since yesterday?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Yes. I told you already. Why don’t you listen the first time? Or actually take me seriously, rather. Dana has her magic in there. I have no idea what she did, but it’s her fault Angelica is lying here practically dying.”

  “You can’t prove it’s Dana, though. It could be anything. Stress, overwork, lack of sleep, a virus. Anything.”

  I stared at my brother, the one man I loved and trusted in this world, and I had doubts about his intelligence. Why did men find it so hard to believe a beautiful woman was capable of doing something horrible? He already knew she was tampering with everyone’s mind. And hell, she’d endangered Millicent and her baby. “I have proof. But it’s bugged, so don’t say anything while you look at it.” I magicked my phone from downstairs and showed him Dana’s message. When he finished looking, I sent the phone back downstairs.

  “That’s not definitive, Lily.”

  “Well, why did she message me out of the blue? I don’t even have her in my contacts. She’s gone to all the trouble to get my number, then taunt me about Angelica being sick.”

  “It’s not exactly a taunt.”

  “Are you sure she didn’t get control of your mind too?” I folded my arms and stared him down. “Have you forgotten what she did to Millicent?”

  He narrowed his eyes. “No, of course not.” Typical standard reaction for him to get cranky when I was right, and he didn’t want to admit it.

  “Can you please delve into her mind and see what’s going on? Maybe don’t touch anything if you think Dana will realise, but at least check it out.”

  He looked at me, then at Angelica. Worry lines creased his forehead. Her skin was becoming sallow, and her breathing was so faint, I could hardly tell she was alive. “She might just be sick. Why don’t we call a doctor?”

  “You can’t be serious. What’s gotten into you, James?” Argh! I wanted to scream. Couldn’t he see this whole situation was too convenient?

  Angelica groaned. James and I both snapped our heads around to look at her. “Angelica? Do you need James’s help?”

  She groaned again. I stared at him and raised an eyebrow.

  “Okay, okay.”

  Finally.

  He placed his hands on either side of her head and concentrated. After a couple of minutes, warmth radiated from James. He pressed his lips together, and sweat shone on his forehead. I engaged my third eye and looked at him. Golden light pulsed in a halo around his body and was brightest on his hands. I could also see a faint pulse of red where he touched Angelica’s head.

  I reached my hands out towards James. My palms tingled and itched, then grew hot. It was as if I was getting too close to a fire. A strand of the golden energy arced across to me, the jolt stinging and shooting up my arm. I jumped back and loudly said, “No!” All my intent was on dropping my link with the power. Then the heat, the itching, all of it was gone. I was breathing hard. Had something just happened or had I imagined the whole thing?

  James hadn’t noticed—all his attention was rightfully on Angelica, who was moving her head from side to side slowly. Not quite thrashing, more a slow-motion version. Was he healing her or getting out the “bad” magic? And would Dana realise? Maybe she’d assume I did something. At least Millicent was out of the way and safe if that happened.

  Angelica’s skin was pinker than before. That had to be good, right?

  James grunted, and his hands shook. Was he running out of energy? He gritted his teeth. Angelica’s breathing increased, and she groaned again. What the hell was happening?

  My brother’s breath came in pants. He fell to his knees, dragging Angelica’s head down with him, although he held his arms up as much as he could.

  My scalp prickled, and I shivered. “Are you okay, James?” I put my hand on his shoulder. Could he even answer me with everything he was apparently doing? He could be in a trance for all I knew, lost in the power. Was that possible? His shoulders sagged.

  I had to help, but how? Fear clawed the inside of my chest, trying to burst free. Was it possible to lend him power? He looked as if he needed it. It was as if he were straining to hold on, to give more.

  I changed my focus and viewed him through my third eye. I linked myself to the river of power and concentrated on the heat pouring off him. Then I redirected the power I drew and sent it through the hand that was on his shoulder. His golden aura flared so brightly, I had to turn my head away.

  The normal warmth that came with handling magic was there, only a bit hotter. And there was something new; I could actually hear the faint rushing of water. Was that the river of magic, or was I hallucinating?

  James must have realised he had access to more power because he pulled at it, at me, through our link. I quickly sucked power from the river to meet his demands.

  He rose from his knees until he once again stood over Angelica. Her skin was normal, a faint rose hue colouring her cheeks. She opened her eyes, awareness in them, but she quickly turned her head away from us, most likely to avoid the glare, which hadn’t died down.

  Did we have the normal Angelica back?

  James released the power. A swarm of dizziness buzzed through my head. I swayed, then fell to the floor. I released my hold on the golden magic and shut my eyes. The steady drumbeat of a headache throbbed behind my eyeballs. Nausea played in my stomach. It was a hangover without the fun part first. Lucky me.

  A moment of stillness settled over the room, and it was as if it were just me and my headache, the only sound my careful breaths tiptoeing around the pain that I sensed was ready to explode, given the right circumstances.

  James’s voice came from near my head. “Lily. Are you all right? What did you do?” His tone was urgent, worried, and in awe.

  I whispered, “I’ll be okay. Just have a headache. Want to vomit.”

  A small tingle radiated over my scalp. “Here’s a bucket, dear, just in case.” Even though I couldn’t have felt crappier, I smiled. That sure sounded like the “old” Angelica.

  I reached out on the opposite side of myself towards James and touched the bucket. “Thanks.” I had a thousand questions to ask, but I wasn’t game to move or talk much. The vomit threatening to visit the outside world needed all my effort to hold back. Gah, I hated this feeling.

  I curled into a ball. All I craved was sleep. At least then I could escape this nightmare nausea.

  “I think she needs to sleep, James. Can you put her in bed, please?”

  “Yes, then we need to talk.”

  “Agreed. While you do that, I’ll check the wards, and I may even add some. The recollection I have from the last week or so is hazy, but I remember how I acted, and I have my suspicions on who’s to blame. You freeing me from her hold could trigger an attack. We have much to discuss. I’ll see you in the sitting room.”

  As James carried me to my room, he said, “I’m not exactly sure what you did back there, Lily, but don’t tell anyone. If you had a price on your head before, triple that, then quad
ruple that, and then you might come close to what you’re worth to those people now.”

  Great. More reason to worry. As if I wasn’t stressed enough.

  James lowered me onto my bed, and I lifted my legs and got under the covers. “Thanks,” I mumbled. “Will Angelica be okay?”

  “I’m pretty sure she’s back to normal, thanks to you.”

  “And you.”

  “Just get some sleep. I’m sure you have lots of questions, and I’ll answer them when you wake up. Millicent is safe at her parents’, and after what just happened, I think I’ll stay tonight so I’ll be here when you wake up.” He stroked my head, then left, shutting my door after himself.

  I managed to hold off vomiting long enough to drift off to sleep.

  The last thought I had before going under was that Angelica had mentioned an attack. There was only one person she could be talking about.

  Dana.

  When the nightmares came, I had no strength to wake.

  Chapter 11

  When I woke, it was still dark. A quick look at my phone, which someone had kindly put on my bedside table, showed it was 4:50 a.m. I rubbed the discomfort at my side, under my arm. Argh. I’d gone to bed fully clothed, and that meant bra. Sleeping while cocooned in underwire was not a pleasant experience.

  I considered trying to go back to sleep—it was way too early to get up—but I was wide awake. That’s what happened when you went to bed in the afternoon. Thankfully, the nausea and headache had disappeared, but the gloomy shadows of my nightmares remained.