Crossroads Magic

by TJ Green

  Ultimately, Avery needed a finding spell, something that would help her locate the talisman buried at the crossroads. She glanced at her watch. It was nearly midnight. She'd better get on with it.

  ***

  Avery was just starting to get worried about Alex when he finally stirred from his trance.

  He stretched and rolled his shoulders, blinking to clear his vision, before finally turning to face her. "How long was I gone?"

  "Nearly three hours."

  "Wow. No wonder I feel stiff."

  Avery poured him a glass of water and took it to him. "Did you have any luck?"

  "I certainly did." He winced. "Unfortunately, it's more complicated than it looks."

  All of Avery's enthusiasm started to fall. "Why?"

  "There's more tethered to that crossroads than we thought. But it's okay," he reassured her. "Forewarned is forearmed."

  She sat next to him on the rug, holding her hands in front of the fire. "I need to be convinced. Go on."

  "I started to watch the whole circus, at first. It took me a while to zero in on Caitlin. It was pretty interesting, eavesdropping on their conversations. There seems to be some dissension in the ranks." He looked at her, one eyebrow raised like Spock.

  "Not such happy campers, then? Who causes the problems?"

  "Rafe and Mairi. It seems they are getting a little bit too bossy and have been for a while, and they're undermining Corbin. I get the impression most people really like him, especially as he's making the circus so successful, so when they undermine him, it doesn't go down too well."

  "They don't think Rafe and Mairi help with the success?"

  "They know they do, but because their attitude sucks, they overlook it. And of the few I overheard, no one likes Caitlin. They think she's odd and wish she'd leave."

  "Do they notice that she's looking younger?"

  He shook his head. "Not that I could tell. Maybe they don't see enough of her."

  "If we manage to stop Caitlin---no wait," she corrected herself. "When we stop Caitlin, what will Rafe and Mairi do?"

  "That's a good question. Fight? Argue? Run? Who knows! But I do know how she's harnessed the Green Man and the Raven King. She has totems of both of them. A bundle of leaves and wood all bound together, which must represent the Green Man, and a bundle of feathers, claws, and skull of a raven."

  "Do you think the same totems are buried at the crossroads?"

  "I'm not sure. She never spoke about them. I just saw them in her gypsy caravan. She's got them on a small shelf, laid out a little bit like an altar. And I saw a bit more of the Empusa that lurks within her. She is one scary-looking creature."

  Avery was shocked. "How did you see it?"

  "In the mirror. Caitlin seemed to call it somehow. As she looked at herself, her features changed. I can understand why it's called a demonic vampire. Its face is barely human; high cheekbones, dark eyes that were all pupils, and big, sharp teeth. I could just see it beneath Caitlin's skin, and for a second, it became clear." He shuddered. "Its shape-shifting ability must be good, because no one would be seduced by that. I can't believe there is something in existence that is both demon and vampire. Just our bloody luck."

  Avery frowned. "There are layers to this. It may take more than just finding the other half of the ring to break her link. Do you think Rafe and Mairi are bound to it, too?"

  "Not that I could tell."

  Avery stared into the flames, pondering the complexity of the situation. "You'd think Mairi would be appalled at her wanting to become an Empusa. I don't get that at all. What does she get out of it?"

  "I don't know and I don't care," Alex said. "As long as we stop Caitlin, it doesn't matter."

  Avery wasn't convinced. She hated unknowns, and wanted to reduce the variables as much as possible. "Did you see Corbin? Was he safe?"

  "I did, and he was. It seems the animosity between Corbin and the other three is simmering, and Corbin is keeping his distance anyway. So far they don't seem to know about our meeting." Alex broke off, looking at his watch. "He never phoned me. I guess it's too late now. Maybe he'll call tomorrow."

  "He might think it's safer then, especially if the others sleep in late."

  Alex changed the subject. "How have you got on?"

  "Good. I have a selection of spells to use, including a finding spell, especially for something underground. It might not be as good as something Estelle would have done, but it should work. And I think I have something that might bring Hecate to my side."

  "That sounds dangerous."

  "This whole thing is dangerous."

  He rose to his feet, pulling her with him. "Come and show me, and then seeing as I'm feeling very alert and energetic, I've thought of other ways to pass the night."

  "Alex Bonneville!" Avery exclaimed, pretending to be shocked. "What are you suggesting?"

  "Sex. And lot's of it. So let's get this other stuff out of the way quickly."

  ***

  Alex came down to the shop with Avery the next morning, both of them bounding downstairs, full of energy.

  Dan was unpacking some new stock on the shop floor, and he eyed them suspiciously. "What's going on? You look surprisingly alert. And you, Avery, are never alert at this hour."

  "We've got some pretty hard core spells going on to keep us awake," Avery explained. "As well as energising teas, and incense. I feel wired!"

  "And we had hours of sex," Alex told him.

  Avery slapped his arm. "Alex!"

  "We have sex, Avery. Everyone knows it."

  Dan groaned. "Yes, I know it, but I don't need to be reminded of what I'm not having." He rose to his feet, picking the empty box up with him, and headed to the front door. "I'll open up. Why have you pulled a Barry Whiter?"

  "A what?" Alex asked.

  "An all-nighter."

  "Ah, of course. Avery can't sleep or she'll end up back at the crossroads, which strangely is where she now wants to be. So, obviously, I kept her company."

  "Like the gentleman you are," Dan acknowledged. "Plotting Caitlin's downfall, I hope."

  "Of course, along with other things."

  "Enough, thank you!" Avery said, glaring at him.

  Alex blew her a kiss and continued. "Anyway Dan, you and Sally have to keep an eye on her today, and make sure she renews that spell to keep her awake. Tonight's the night."

  Immediately, Dan stopped joking. "Are you ready? Really ready? I don't want my favourite boss to die."

  "We're ready," she reassured him. "Or as ready as we possibly can be."

  "So when is it all happening?"

  "After tonight's performance, we hope," Alex told him. "I'm waiting to hear from Corbin."

  "Anything I can do?" Dan asked.

  "Just your usual," Avery said. "And if you think of any useful bit of lore or myth that might help, just say so. And keep the coffee coming."

  He saluted her. "Yes, boss."

  This was going to be a long day.

  ***

  While Dan and Sally were at lunch later that day, Avery relaxed on the stool behind the counter, reading one of the books Dan had brought in on myths and folklore. Her solitude was disturbed when the bell rang over the door and a man walked in.

  But not just any man. It was the American, and Avery felt a tight tangle of worry start in the pit of her stomach.

  He stood just inside the entrance and looked around the shop, and for a second he didn't see her, allowing her the time to study him properly. He was tall, lean, and somewhere in his forties, Avery guessed. His hair was dark and shot through with grey, and it was swept back at the temples, revealing a clean-shaven square jaw, and he wore scuffed jeans and a motorbike jacket.

  As if he felt her gaze on him, he turned and saw her behind the counter. For a moment he paused, and she had the feeling he was assessing her too, and then he walked over.

  "I think it's time we had a chat," he announced.

  There was something dangerous about this man. Avery couldn'
t detect magic, but she was pretty sure he was familiar with it.

  "You're probably right. You can start by telling me why you've been watching my shop."

  "Because I think you're searching for the same thing that I am."

  An Empusa? She doubted that.

  "I'm sorry," she said, "you're going to have to enlighten me."

  His lips tightened into a thin line. "Playing it like this, are we?"

  Avery stood up, shoving the book beneath the counter. She kept her voice low, because she knew there were customers browsing the shelves, but this man was infuriating. "Don't you dare come into my shop and accuse me of playing games, you arrogant prick. What do you want?"

  "I want the Ring of Callanish."

  "I don't even know what that is!" Even as she said it, she had a horrible feeling she knew exactly what it was.

  His eyes were as hard as his voice, and leaned over the counter so that they were almost nose-to-nose. "I think you do, and I think it holds your fate. Want to talk now?"

  "You're talking gibberish. Who are you?"

  "You know that I'm not talking gibberish, Avery. Can't we be civil?"

  Avery was itching to hex him. Her magic was weakened, but she could still do that. However, this was not the time, and she was intrigued. "Civility starts with greetings and introductions. We seem to have skipped that part."

  He drew back, but Avery didn't move. "I'm a collector, and I work with other collectors, and we want the ring that's at that circus."

  "Name?"

  "Harlan Beckett."

  "And you know my name how?"

  "I asked around. You're very well known. Now, the circus. I know you're investigating there. We can't get to it, but I think you can."

  "I beg your pardon? You're still talking in riddles, and I need more than that."

  "I am a collector, admittedly of unusual things, and sometimes it's a dangerous job. The woman up there who wields the Ring of Callanish is more dangerous than most. She's summoning things that soon she won't be able to control. But you know that. Do you want to talk now?"

  Avery studied him. He seemed serious, and there was an urgency to his tone, a desperation he was trying to hide. Maybe they could help each other. It was worth talking to him, at least.

  "Why are you coming to me?" she asked him, softening her voice.

  He glanced around at her shop, and then looked out of the window before looking at her again. "White Haven has gained quite a reputation lately, more than it's ever had before. The events at Old Haven Church, The Walk of the Spirits, the latest deaths at West Haven and the caves... We make it our business to follow up on things like that. They led us to you, and some of your friends. I may even be able to help you."

  Avery saw a customer heading her way with a couple of books to buy, and she made a decision. She needed to talk to him, it would be stupid not to, but she didn't want him in the back of her shop.

  "There's a cafe down the street, Sea Spray Cafe. I'll meet you there in 15 minutes."

  19

  When Avery arrived at the cafe, she saw Harlan seated at a table next to the window, and once she'd ordered her coffee, she sat across from him. He'd taken his jacket off, revealing a long-sleeved cotton t-shirt, the sleeves of which he'd pushed up his forearms. They showed a tattooed script that ran up the inside of each arm, but Avery didn't recognise the language. His arms were corded with muscle, and beneath his shirt Avery could see the swell of muscle across his chest and shoulders. This man knew how to fight; she could see it behind his eyes. But at the moment, their predominant emotion was relief.

  "I wasn't sure you'd come," he told her.

  "I wasn't sure either, but in the end, you had me sufficiently intrigued. So Harlan, tell me more."

  "Caitlin Murray has harnessed the power of the Ring of Callanish. She's using its power to summon crossroads magic, and she's left a trail of deaths across the country."

  She nodded. "We know that. I didn't, however, know the ring had a name."

  His eyes narrowed. "It's the ring I'm interested in the most. We will pay you a good price for it if you'll help us get it."

  "Who's us?"

  "My colleagues. There are a few of us, and we all search for items that have a rich mythical and magical provenance, and sometimes we sell them on."

  "Sometimes?" Avery allowed herself a small smile. "I know a black market organisation when I hear one."

  "There's nothing black market about it. It's not illegal," and then he paused as he met her eyes, and added, "most of the time. But, I will admit, it's not a regular market."

  Avery waited while the waitress placed her coffee in front of her, and then asked, "What's so special about this ring?"

  "It conducts magic particularly well. It's been around for centuries, rumoured to have been forged by a sorcerer to enhance his spells. The years have added potency to its myth and power. It's particularly interesting because it breaks into two parts, and she has chosen to use it most effectively. It had been thought to be lost, and then all of sudden---" He spread his hands wide. "It reappears in the hands of Caitlin and the Crossroads Circus."

  "Isn't Callanish a famous ring of stones in Scotland?"

  "It is."

  "Is that what it's named after?"

  His eyes were amused as he looked at her. "We think so."

  Avery sipped her coffee and asked, "How do you know she has that particular ring? She keeps to herself, and barely leaves the grounds."

  "A buyer alerted us to the unusual events that have followed the circus. He suggested the ring was the source---it seems he's been looking for it for a long time. I was assigned to find out if that was true, and if so, who uses it." He sighed. "I've studied that circus for weeks. You're right. She keeps to herself, only venturing out at their arrival in each new place, as if she's searching for something. I spotted the ring upon her finger, but have been unable to get any closer. And I admit, I was curious. What is she using such a powerful ring for? And then I found out that White Haven was on their event list, quite a recent change to their schedule. I imagined the circus wanted to take advantage of this place's reputation, too. I followed them here, and watched her do her usual visit to the town on her arrival, but this time her visit was short." He fixed his pale grey eyes on her and drummed his fingers on the table. "She found you, and I wondered what was so special about you."

  "Nothing at all," Avery said smoothly.

  He shook his head. "I thought we were being honest? You are a witch. I know how to recognise those who wield magic. It's my job to know it. And you're not the only one here, either. I've brought some products from Charming Balms, and jewellery from The Silver Bough. I've studied them carefully. I've been in your shop when you weren't there, and I've had a drink in The Wayward Son. I know magic when I see it. But, it's you who she wants."

  That was unnerving. She considered denying everything, but it wouldn't achieve much. "You're right. She wants me because I control elemental Air. It seems she needs me, my power."

  "To do what?"

  "To complete her ritual."

  He looked as if he was going to ask more, but instead he said, "So you believe me?"

  Avery sat back in her chair and looked out of the window as she considered what he'd said. The ring would explain the potency of the crossroads magic, and when that mixed with the remnants of their magic that still drifted across the town from the events of the previous summer, it would create even more power.

  She looked at Harlan to find him watching her. "I believe you. It makes sense. However, we've come up with a plan to stop her, and you won't like it."

  "Why?"

  "We're going to destroy it."

  "Impossible," he said softly. "It's not just any ring, remember?"

  "I'm not just anyone, either. I have a weapon that will destroy any metal."

  Harlan's eyebrows shot up. "How did you get that? Oh wait, your friend from The Silver Bough?"

  "You have been busy."

  "I
'm thorough. It's my job." He crossed his arms in front of his chest and leaned back too. "But it won't work. The ring is too strong. Sorcerer-made, remember?"

  Avery's confidence faltered. "Is that a fact, or a theory?"

  "A theory, but a good one. The legends suggest that the sorcerer used crossroads magic himself, that the ring was specifically designed for it, so it is particularly suited to this situation."

  "If you think we can't destroy it, how were you planning on stopping her?"

  "Well, that's where it gets tricky."

  Avery let out a barely there laugh. "You don't know, do you?"

  Harlan straightened his shoulders and an edge entered his voice. "Actually, yes I do. If the two halves of the ring are joined back together, it should break the bond with the crossroads, stripping her of her power. However, the particular details of this ring are lost in time, so this is also a theory."

  "Didn't you say you did this for a living?"

  "Yes. And I'm very good at it. However, Caitlin has thought this through well and is particularly well protected."

  "I agree with you there. However, I'm not sure I agree with your ring theory. First you'd have to get it off her finger, second, putting them together could just make one gigantic spell." She frowned at him. "Does this mean you know where the other half of the ring is and can get it?"

  He had the grace to look sheepish. "Actually, no. It's in Scotland. I think we both know that. It's where she's from, but we cannot find the crossroads. I have colleagues up there now searching for it, but they've had no luck."

  "Are they looking outside Inverness?"

  "Yes, along the shores of Loch Ness, and according to the locals there is one there, somewhere, but it's proving impossible to find."

  "She must have managed to hide the crossroads, using the magic it generates. Using Hecate."

  "Boundary magic," he said.

  "I've been there," she confessed, "but it's sort of stuck in a stasis, or at least that's what it felt like."

  Harlan leaned across the table. "How have you been there?"

  "She took me there, and it wasn't by choice. I escaped by the skin of my teeth."