by Willow Mason
“I can’t wait any longer,” Glynda shouted at the group. “If anyone joins us late, I’m relying on you all to fill them in.” A chorus of agreement sang out, which the supreme received with a nod. “Some of what I have to tell you today might have been said before. Please don’t interrupt to tell me this. I’m going over everything in detail, so the entire coven is on the same page.”
As she paused for everyone to agree again, a familiar yap jolted me around.
Porangi ran at me through the dense ferns and jumped into my outspread arms. “It’s so good to see you,” I said, giving him a kiss and inhaling his pungent doggy scent. “Do you forgive me?”
“That dog owes me two hours with an insurance adjustor and a five-hundred-dollar excess.”
I glared at Beezley, then sniffed. “A court might think you owe me more, considering you unceremoniously threw me out of my own home.” Turning back to Porangi, I whispered in his ear, “You’ve got an appointment with the police department, you’re so popular.”
Beezley had opened his mouth to offer another retort when the sound of a cleared throat drew my attention. An elderly man in crimson robes picked his way along the path, a long stick topped with a glowing orb helping with his balance.
All the spit dried in my mouth as I stared in bewilderment at the spectacle. Another man soon joined the first. Then another.
Three men in ceremonial robes. My stomach sank as I felt around Porangi’s collar, searching for the note I’d tucked inside while locked in a prison cell. It was no longer there.
The high priests of the supernatural council.
I bowed my head as they passed by and prayed Glynda would let me keep it once she saw what I’d accidentally done.
Chapter Seventeen
“Stay where you are,” the supernatural council leader—Wallace Ardmore—intoned as he stepped in front of Glynda. “We’ll need to interview each one of you in attendance. If you run now, everything will just take longer. Please understand we can and will track you down at home.”
The crowd jostled and murmured but no one was bold enough to disobey the order or speak against him. With a flick of his hand, Ardmore gestured to the other two members, who pulled aside the witches from the innermost circle.
“What’s this?” Beezley asked with a bemused frown. “I really don’t understand your friends at all. Is there a bar here at least?”
“No,” I replied through frozen lips, trying to stay calm. “It’s a teetotal party.”
He sighed. “I know I should support the idea given how often I’ve had to arrest drunks after a hard night, but I could really do with a cold beer right about now.”
Porangi yapped and wriggled in my arms. His smile was so wide I didn’t have the heart to blame him. I’d told him to fetch the supernatural council, and even if he’d got them at the wrong time and to the wrong place, he’d done a superb job.
“Why are they pulling folks aside? Is this part of the ceremony?” Beezley turned in a semi-circle as the council dismissed the first interviewees and started on the next in line. “I don’t want them to touch me.”
Neither did I.
The council members took each witch aside and placed their hands on either side of the interviewees head. Although I’d never had it done to me in person, I’d been told the psychic search through the memory banks was akin to making a witch strip naked and parade in front of the panel.
Certainly, the witches already questioned had returned to their seats, pale and shaken.
“I was very hasty in throwing you out of the house,” Beezley continued, oblivious to most of what was happening around him. “Perhaps we should talk about the situation again once the walls and carpets have dried out.”
“That would be great,” I said through numb lips, counting down how many witches remained between me and my impending interrogation. “If we do that, I’ll make sure to enrol Porangi in an obedience school.”
“Oh, no. Not the dog.” Beezley rubbed under his nose. “There’s dog hair everywhere inside the house. He must be moulting, and I can’t stand that. I’ve never allowed a pet in my property before so I’m not sure why I changed my mind. Given his recent behaviour, I’m sure you understand.”
Glynda was pulled roughly from her place in the centre of the circle and jerked to the side. If looks could burn, Wallace’s hands would have floated away on the wind as ash. She closed her eyes, submitting to the interrogation with a stubborn tilt to her chin.
She would kill me.
I clutched Porangi tighter and backed up a step. Wallace lifted his hands from Glynda’s temples and waved her away before turning a piercing gaze on me. “Come forward.”
His beckoning finger made my stomach fill with acid, but I obeyed, unable to deny the order. Wallace frowned at me. “You’re human?”
“I’ve lost my magic,” I corrected. “I’m still every inch a witch.”
Wallace exchanged a glance with Glynda that I could only describe as sympathetic. I bit down on my tongue, hard, knowing anything I said would lead me further into trouble.
Ugh. The feel of him scrabbling around inside my head was diabolical. Every cell in my body rejected the process, even as my body stayed still at his command. Spiders. Roaches. Wasps. They would all have been more welcome in my brain than his penetrating thoughts.
“Garrick.” Wallace removed his hands but froze my legs in place. “Come and search this one, will you? I want to double-check my assessment.”
His council companion finished with his current interrogation, then stepped over and stood in front of me. I wanted to weep as he placed his hands where Wallace’s had just been.
“It’s good that you called us in,” Garrick said as he finished, leaving me in desperate need of the brain equivalent of a wet wipe. “This isn’t a matter for a coven to deal with by themselves.”
As I stepped back to join Beezley, I could feel Glynda’s accusatory gaze digging into me. I kept my eyes averted as the interviews continued, not wanting to face the music any sooner than necessary.
“This really is one of the worst parties I’ve ever attended,” Beezley said with a yawn. “And I’ve been to every end-of-year police party since I joined the force. Are we waiting for more entertainment to turn up or is this it?”
“This is as good as it gets.”
“At least the police functions have booze, nibbles, and music.”
“How about you slap a smile on your face and pretend like you’re enjoying yourself?” I snapped, causing Porangi to stop squirming and give me an astonished glance. “Sorry. I’m just nervous about what might happen next.”
“Nervous or bored?” Beezley yawned again, this time managing to get a hand in front of his mouth in a lacklustre gesture of politeness. “Oh, here we go. Your weird druid friend apparently wants to dance.”
Beezley stepped in front of Wallace with his body shuddering in revulsion while a half-smile stayed glued upon his face. “Great heavens,” Wallace said, stepping back and gesturing for both Garrick and the other council member to come over. “This one thinks it’s a dog!”
“They were very rude,” Beezley said, joining me after a trio of examinations. “I hope this shindig ends soon. It’s leaving me exhausted and I’d rather be home in front of the TV.”
“Do you feel… older today?”
“Than when? What a strange question to ask. Keep in mind I don’t remember you at all, so any cryptic questions we might’ve used as shorthand, I won’t understand.”
“It’s not a cryptic…” Beezley’s face was so distraught, I dropped it. “Don’t worry.”
“Cool.” He shot a glance at his watch. “I’m starting to wish I’d never dropped into the station. If DI Jonson hadn’t ordered me to attend this party, I think I’d be much better off.”
“You and me both.”
“Thank you for complying,” Wallace said, pushing Glynda aside once more. “My team now has all the information we need to make a ruling, but we don’t
have all the interested parties. Please stay here while we fetch them. It won’t take long.”
For a horrified minute, I thought ‘not long’ might be the few hours’ drive to The Briary and back. But the supernatural council’s powers weren’t limited to digging into people’s brains. They joined hands in a circle, closed their eyes while chanting, and a few minutes later Aloysius appeared inside their small group.
“What the—?”
“Move to the side,” Wallace ordered him impatiently. “We have a lot to get through this evening. Your questions will be answered in due course.”
Another chant brought forth my father, then Marlon, and finally Binky. With a snap of his fingers, Wallace had his companions search their minds, then stepped into the centre of the circle again.
“It appears we’ve been summoned here to adjudicate a dispute between your two covens. Now all plaintiffs and defendants have been searched, I’m ready to issue the council’s ruling. As we were voluntarily summoned to this district, our summation will be binding.”
Glynda stood twenty metres away from me but the distance wasn’t enough to stop her eyes searing into my soul. Whatever hell the supernatural council made us pay, I’d be wearing more than my fair share.
“From my understanding, there are three separate complaints made here. Number one, that The Briary held two residents of Fernwood Gully against their will. In this action, there was collusion between members of the Fernwood Gully coven and The Briary coven, therefore each group must evenly share the blame.”
I felt a punch in my gut at the news. Brianna, Delia, and Lucinda had acted so badly they’d ripped away my right to natural justice. With a soft groan, I realised how much trouble we might be in.
“Number two, that The Briary obtained black magic by means of deception and failed to deliver the promised outcome, thereby nullifying the original agreement. Since the dog in question is now definitely human and memory retention was not specified in the contract, we find there was an equal and adequate quid pro quo from either side and the agreement stands.”
A lump rose in my throat, choking me until I coughed. Beezley would not be regaining his memory. Worse still, the council thought nothing wrong had occurred. Aloysius had wiped out my entire friendship with one rotten spell and there was nothing I could do about it.
No wonder Glynda was set against calling in the council to sort things.
“Number three, that Marlon, animus healer, failed to account for the reverse lifespan of the creatures he was transforming back to human. While this is an unfortunate development—”
“Unfortunate!” Brianna staggered to her feet and ran at the council members, fists waving. Glynda stepped forward and caught her arms before she could reach them. “How dare you refer to my friend’s death as unfortunate? It was cold-blooded murder.”
“Flies have short life spans. Are you suggesting nature is a cold-blooded murderer?”
The coven gave a collective gasp. Even I was shocked, and my friend suffered from the same ailment. No witch should ever insult nature. It was a dance between light and darkness, death and rebirth, held sacrosanct by every witch on the planet.
Glynda helped Brianna back to her seat, where Lucinda took a firm grip on her daughter.
“As I was saying,” Wallace continued, “the life span reversal was an unfortunate side-effect but not one the animus healer can be held responsible for. Marlon has also been held against his will and forced to perform magic to keep his familiar safe. On the basis of the conditions under which he cast these spells, neither I nor my colleagues are willing to censure him.”
“This is outrageous,” Glynda said, pointing a finger towards Aloysius and my father while her lips twisted in disgust. “These men have been taking advantage of our community for generations. If you’re not laying the blame at Marlon’s door, fair enough, but it should be laid at theirs.”
“I was held in a prison cell against my will also,” I said, stepping forward in a gesture of solidarity with my supreme. “If you don’t hold this witch and familiar accountable, you’re emboldening them to continue with their abhorrent behaviour.”
Wallace put a hand on my shoulder and offered a tired smile. “This is group justice, not individual justice. We can’t separate out the wrongful actions of one coven and ignore the contribution from the other side. If you want a better outcome in the future, I suggest you work more closely with the members of your coven so they’re not as willing to sell you out.”
“That’s your idea of justice?”
“Yes.” His eyes were steady as he stared into mine. “I thought I’d made myself perfectly clear.”
“You’re not going far enough back.” Glynda stepped forwards and the cords on her neck stood out like they were forged from steel. She grabbed hold of Wallace’s hands and placed them on her head. “You need to travel back to before this young woman was born. You must view the wrongs visited upon her mother.”
“There’s no need,” Wallace said, jerking his hands away. “I’ve seen everything. You sanctioned him at the time by taking away his black magic. Since you already took matters into your own hands, I must leave it there.”
Glynda turned to the coven. “He used a binding spell. There was no free will involved in their relationship. This is an abomination of the natural order and no coven in the country would stand by and let him continue to use such powers!” Glynda broke off, panting from the exertion of her heartfelt speech. “My only regret is I couldn’t stop him sooner.”
“Not your only regret,” Wallace said, tucking his hands into the voluminous sleeves of his ceremonial robe. “Speak the whole truth or speak nothing at all.”
Glynda turned my way with tears in her eyes. “My hatred for this man spilt over in resentment of his abandoned child. I have punished her for the sins of her father. It was foolish of me not to see she wasn’t tainted by his lineage but instead grew to be her own person—powerful, astonishing, and acting in ways that make me want to tear my hair out at the same time.”
“If you wish us to revisit your earlier decision, then you must step down as leader of the coven,” Wallace said in an even tone. “There will be no chance to appeal once we’ve spoken our ruling.”
“No,” I said, tugging Glynda’s arm. “We can find another way to fix Beezley and Brianna.”
“This is nothing to do with them,” Glynda said, stroking the side of my cheek. “I took away your magic once without good reason. I’m not prepared to leave you without it again.” She faced Wallace, openly crying now, and nodded. “Please rule.”
“On the charge of using a binding spell to force affection, I find you guilty.” Wallace grasped my father’s hand and held firm as he tried to jerk away. “Your magic is forfeit. The spells may return to their rightful owner, forthwith.”
Nothing happened, and I glanced at Marlon. “Didn’t you say black magic can’t be taken unless the witch agrees?”
My voice was barely a whisper, but he heard and answered, “All magic users are bound to the rulings of the supernatural council, will or no will. If he doesn’t relinquish the magic, he’ll die.”
“And maybe I’d rather do that!” My father glared at the pair of us. “I can’t believe I’m in this situation because of a familiar’s terrible judgement.” He directed his rage at Aloysius. “You’re the cause of all this trouble. Why on earth couldn’t you leave well enough alone?”
“I live to serve you, Sire.”
“Then stop living!” My father raised his hand and clicked his fingers and… nothing happened.
Wallace held his hands cupped together as he walked towards me. “Here you go. The magic forfeit from you father becomes your rightful inheritance. Enjoy.”
The spells flew into my body and filled up its empty spaces, singing joyously. A crimson glow sparked from my fingertips, joined by pink, then green.
“This is more,” I said in wonder.
“It’s all his magic. Once you break the honours code, you
forfeit. If your supreme had brought this matter to our attention when she should have, you would’ve inherited this as your rightful legacy when you turned eighteen. It is done.”
With a sweep of his robes, Wallace disappeared. The two remaining council members bowed to the coven and were gone, leaving us alone.
Judged and sentenced.
Chapter Eighteen
“I don’t know how to thank you,” I said to Glynda, pulling her into a hug. “This means the world to me.”
“Just don’t give them up again, no matter what.” Her voice was crisp, and her eyes were wet as she pulled away.
My father and Aloysius continued to bicker as Marlon stepped forward, his expression regretful. “I didn’t mean to make the situation worse,” he said in a halting voice. “It would be my honour to restore your companions back to their previous state.”
Glynda took his hands and nodded. “That would be appreciated by every member of our coven.”
Beezley appeared confused but willingly moved when Marlon motioned him forward. Brianna joined them with arms folded tightly across her chest. “I don’t see why I can’t have my legs back and still live out a normal life.”
“Because you don’t deserve it,” Marlon said in a gentle voice. “Now hush, or I’ll leave you as you are.”
The green glow swirled around the pair, completing subsuming them inside its colourful cloud. After a minute, Marlon stepped back, the smoke dissipated, and a mermaid and a French bulldog stared at each other, each disappointed.
“Ha!” Aloysius crowed, hugging himself with glee. “None of you gets what you wanted. Perfect.”
I stared down at my hand again and the swirl of colours. Black magic was too powerful for this situation. Crimson was out. Pink I didn’t even know about and today wasn’t a place for trials.
Green. I glanced over at Marlon, trying to remember his energy and how he’d encompassed his subjects with the glow. “Porangi,” I called out, and the chihuahua scampered over, his tongue poking out and his eyes staring in slightly different directions.
