by Bella Falls
Clever vampire. Whether out of kindness or out of ingenious manipulation, Raif had earned the admiration of others and placed my grandmother, the High Seat on the town council, in his debt.
Too many thoughts and questions crowded my head, and I closed my eyes to concentrate. Nana took the glass of sweet tea away and forced the other one in my hand. Taking obedient sips, I waited for the blurred edges to clear.
“When did you get back?” I asked Mason.
“Earlier today. I would have returned earlier, but there was a delay in procuring the package.” He frowned. “If I’d have known you would be foolish enough to attend, I would have insisted on a guard to make sure you stayed put.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,” I whined.
He gestured his hand at me. “The evidence says quite the opposite. I swear, you don’t go looking for trouble. You hunt it down, tackle it to the ground, and claim it as yours.”
“Welcome to my world, Detective Clairmont,” Nana complained. “Can I fix you somethin’ to eat?”
Mason shook his head. “I need to get back to the warden station. I've got a phoenix feather waiting for me.”
Matt whistled. “Those are beyond rare and hard to come by. Expensive too, if reports are to be believed. You better hope Big Willie has approved that requisition.”
“This time, it's not on the Honeysuckle warden station.” Mason clapped Matt on the back. “Like I told Charli here before, I called in a favor.”
“That had to be some big favor, Detective,” my grandmother said.
“It’s one that was overdue.” Mason furrowed his eyebrows but dismissed his concern when he caught me looking.
“Maybe one you shouldn't have burned on us,” I said.
If we pooled together all the money in our small town, I’m not sure we’d be able to afford even half of a single phoenix feather. Hunted into extinction, anyone who obtained any part of the mythical creature possessed a priceless treasure. I wondered what Mason had done to earn him the ability to procure such an item?
“It was the only way I could think of to try and get those fingerprints off the flask. A last-ditch effort, you might say,” the detective explained.
“Are you sure?” I pressed. “With something as rare as that, you could buy your way onto a more prominent warden force anywhere. Get out of our little town and make a name for yourself.”
“I don't know,” Mason said. “I’m starting to like the small-town vibe.” He regarded me with a vulnerable look for a brief moment before the wall of professionalism descended again. “I should go.”
Nana patted him on the back. “I knew you were good people when I first met you, Detective Clairmont. Now, you get to work so that maybe we can fix things, you hear?”
“Yes, ma'am.” With a tiny salute to her, a handshake to my brother, and a nod to me, Mason left.
My brother took a seat next to me on the couch and tapped the glass of goo. “Drink up.”
“I don't need you hovering over me, Matt. I’m sure TJ is waiting for you.”
“I’ll wait until you finish at least two glasses worth.” He raised his eyebrows, daring me to disobey. “And then, I'll go to the station to see the phoenix feather at work. It may be the last hope to find the faint fingerprints on the flask. Once we have them, we might be able to match them to someone in the system.”
“Or it might melt the flask, destroying it,” Nana warned.
“It might,” admitted Matt. “But it'll be cool to watch.”
I had to admit, I wished I could go with my brother and see the feather at work. But even I knew that leaving this house was impossible at the moment, no matter how many glasses of sludge my grandma brewed for me.
“Go ahead and go,” I told him, not hiding my jealousy. “I’d be right there with you if I could.”
“You sure?” My brother looked at our grandmother for permission.
I squeezed his hand. “I know you have my back, Matty D. Now go.”
Without any more protests, my brother left, leaving me alone with Nana. Loki and Momo tussled in the middle of the floor with growls and hisses. Without any extra strength, I had nothing left but to give in to my grandmother's care.
Her silence scratched my nerves until I couldn’t take it. “I’m sorry, Nana. I know I should have gone home after the barbecue, but I didn’t want to miss out on a chance to question people. We’re running out of time.”
Despair cracked her polished veneer. “You don't think I don't know that? Of course, I do. Every single day, I do my best not to show it, to be strong for you. I know well enough what this curse is doing, and there's nothing I can do about it. No spell, no amount of wishing, and certainly no amount of love seems to be able to save you.”
I threw my arms around her, giving her a fraction of the comfort back that she'd provided for me for years. We both crumbled against each other in heaping sobs.
When we’d both quieted down to gentle weeping, I murmured into her shoulder, “It's not your job to save me.”
She squeezed me harder with a sniffle. “Pixie poop, yes it is.”
“Language, Nana,” I scolded.
“Oh, hush up.” She clung to me until our tears ran out.
I drank enough of the foul concoction until my stomach couldn't take anymore. When my grandmother offered me real food, my stomach turned. Sleep threatened to drag me under, and I fought against it.
Nana escorted me upstairs. “Give in, darlin'. No use fighting the little extra kick of sleeping spell in that batch. You need your rest.”
I made it to the edge of my bed, unwilling to lay down in it. “What if I don't wake up?”
“You will. I promise.” My grandmother covered me with my quilt, and I snuggled under its comforting weight.
Staying by my side, Nana brushed her fingers through my hair and hummed a lullaby until I couldn't fight sleep anymore.
Chapter Twenty-Two
At least while I slept, I didn’t have to swallow more of those disgusting concoctions Nana forced on me. But I couldn't play Sleeping Beauty anymore. I needed to find out as much about Tipper’s will from Jed. Tonight, everybody in town would be at the barn dance, the final Founders’ week event.
Rummaging through the large wooden wardrobe in my room, I couldn’t find a single thing to wear that would be appropriate. Despite the dance taking place in Boyd’s largest barn, we still treated it like the fanciest social outing. I dismissed outfit after outfit.
When I got to the end of the wooden clothes rack, my fingers wrinkled a plastic clothes bag. Pulling it out and unzipping it, I discovered an old dress of Mom’s. Memories pushed everything else out of my mind, and I touched the delicate fabric.
I hadn’t told Nana about the conversation I was pretty sure had really happened with my parents. That would remain between the three of us. I missed Mom and ached for Dad. How could my life have gone so terribly sideways? If the curse had its way, I’d be joining my parents way sooner then I’d ever intended.
A yellow tag wrapped around the hanger caught my eye. Turning it over, I read the cursive handwriting.
Dear Charli, I'm sure that you’ll remember that this dress belonged to your mother. I miss her every day, but seeing the woman you've grown into reminds me a little of her and heals my heart. Her store is ready for you when you are ready for it. Until then, I hope you like this gift.
The note was signed by Mom's best friend, Patty Lou. She'd waved at me the other day through the window when I had shown Mason around town. Maybe it was past the time that I needed to stop ignoring the aching sadness any longer and give myself a chance heal before all my chances ran out.
I undressed and slipped the silk over my head. Sliding my arms through the delicate capped blue sleeves, I pondered how I'd manage the zipper. Before I could fumble for it, a tingle tickled my ribs. The dress conformed to my body in perfect precision, and I heard the metal sound of the zipper rushing up my back.
Standing in front of the mirror, I
marveled at the dress which now fit me like a glove. I may not have been my mother’s biological child, but her dress provided the illusion of a slight resemblance, to my delight. The reflection in the mirror captivated me, but I needed to get my hustle on if I wanted to make it to the dance.
Grabbing an acceptable pair of heels, I opened the bedroom door and peeked outside. Peaches waited for me in the middle of the hall. She stretched, wrapping herself around my ankles. Shushing her, I strained to detect any other movement in the house.
“Nana?” I called out in a weak voice. Clearing my throat, I tried again with a little more force. “Nana.” Only my orange kitty replied with a mew.
Grasping my shoes and finding my courage, I tiptoed down the hallway, following the exact path of footsteps I'd memorized as a teenager to miss all the creaks and incriminating squeaks in the floor. I peeked over the banister and strained to hear the sound of someone still rummaging around. Nothing.
I took careful steps down each stair but forgot to skip the fourth one from the top. The second my foot hit it, a loud groan of wood echoed in the air, and I winced. Frozen in place, I waited. Still no reaction from anybody. Blowing out a sigh of relief, I hurried down the rest of the flight, scurried across the foyer, and made it to the front door.
“Where do you think you're going?” My brother revealed himself from his hiding place behind the grandfather clock.
My nerves jangled at the surprise. “I’m just going out to get some air.”
“Right. In one of mom’s dresses, which looks good on you, by the way.” Matt crossed his arms. “I guess I owe Nana some yard work. She told me you'd try to make a run for it.”
I dropped my shoes. “You know why I have to go. Jed. The will.” Out of all people, Matt should understand.
He refused to budge. “You need to stay home and rest.”
“What good is staying in bed if I'm never going to make it out of it.”
“Don't say that.” My brother frowned.
“It's true, and you know it. So let's finish this.” I pleaded with him. “You can help me.”
“I’d rather eat a pound of unicorn manure than to put you at risk again.” He crossed his arms. “The answer is no.”
“But you can take me to the dance and let me ask my questions. Then I'll go home quietly.” I held my hands up like an incarcerated criminal.
Matt shook his head. “No can do. I'm not under just our grandmother’s orders.”
I scowled at him. “Don't tell me that Mason has you putting me under house arrest?”
A funny look crossed my brother's face. “Okay, I won't tell you that then. Let's call it under wardens’ protection then.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. How many times do I have to point it out? We are. Running. Out. Of. Time.”
He pointed at the stairs, summoning all the authority he could in his voice and did his best imitation of Dad. “March upstairs now, young lady.”
“In your dreams.”
“Listen, little Bird, one way or another, you're staying here. Don't make me have to hog-tie you.” He took steps toward me, and I backed away, holding up my fists like I used to as a kid.
“Try it, and you'll come away with a black eye. Remember that one time?” He would always regret that he’d taught me how to throw a proper punch.
“Lucky shot.”
“You wish.”
A loud knock on the door interrupted our childish exchange. “Matt, are you in there?” called out a male voice that I couldn't quite place.
My brother rushed past me and opened the door. “What's up?”
A tall warden stood on our porch. “Detective Clairmont has found something, and wants you down at the station.”
“But I have to watch my sister,” complained Matt.
“I’m not a child,” I sung out. “I don't need a babysitter.”
Matt looked between the other warden and me. “Can you watch her for me, Zeke?”
The other guy shook his head. “I was sent here to get you and come right back. I think it's all hands on deck.”
Mason must've found something. Curiosity got the better of me, and I wanted in on the action. “I could go with you.”
Zeke wrung his hands. “Um, you look real pretty, Miss Charli. But Detective Clairmont also gave me another directive. Under no circumstances were you to come along. Or go to the dance.”
That sneaky detective. I didn't need anybody else in my life telling me what I could or could not do with the last moments of my life. Time to play possum.
“Fine, everybody else wins. I'll stay home.” I slumped my shoulders in defeat.
Matt cocked his left eyebrow. “Like I should believe you. Maybe I should lock you in your room and spellcast a warden's protection to keep you there.”
“No need to go treating me like a criminal. I've learned my lesson. And I'm not feeling too great.” I faked feeling dizzy. “Going back to bed may be a good idea.”
My brother spoke under his breath to the other warden and held up his finger for him to wait. He came over to me and took both of my hands in his. “No kidding, Birdy. I know you mean well. But put a little trust in me to do the job. I promise you, I won't let you go. I'm not about to lose you, too.” His voice cracked at the end.
My confidence wavered when I answered his pleading gaze. He'd been through as much as I had and lost just as many people. Losing me would be a bitter result of my plans. For once, maybe I needed to be obedient instead of making choices that could hurt others. My shoulders slumped in earnest. “I promise, I'll stay here. You go and figure things out. But if you don't mind, could you please hurry?”
Relief spread on my brother's face. He kissed my forehead. “You got it, Birdy.”
“Don't call me that.”
“I will because I can.” He gave me a quick hug and bolted out the door.
Once they were gone, I had my chance. The only thing that stood between me and the dance was my promise. The weight of the whole situation rested on my shoulders, and exhaustion hit me. Maybe I could let my brother take this one just this once. I closed the door and shut out the chirping cicadas.
Just because I wouldn't be going to the dance didn't mean I couldn't eat. Heading to the kitchen to raid the fridge, I found a plate of barbecue and Brunswick stew with all the side fixings waiting for me.
“Thanks, Nana,” I called out to the silent house.
When half the plate of food sat in my belly, I decided to go upstairs and get out of my mother's dress. I made it halfway up the stairs when another knock startled me.
“Frosted fairy wings, yes, I’m still here. I didn't need you to come back and check on me.” Irritated, I yanked the wooden door open. “Tucker? What are you doing here?”
My ex-fiancé stood on the porch, wearing a tailored suit and looking ever the Prince of Honeysuckle.
He looked me up and down with admiration. “Charli, we have to talk.”
I shook my head. “Go to the dance, Tucker. Don't disappoint Clementine.”
“Since when did you care that much about your cousin?” he asked.
“She might not be my favorite, but I can tell that you mean a lot to her. Also, you're the one that asked her to marry you.”
“I also asked you. Or don't you remember?”
“Of course I remember, T. But we weren't a good fit.” I squirmed where I stood, my skin crawling with unease. “I explained it all in the note I left you.”
“I never read it.”
My heart dropped. “Never? Why?”
“Because I burned it.”
I stared at my ex-fiancé in disbelief. “Why would you do that?”
Pain shadowed his face. “Because you broke my heart,” he yelled loud enough into the night air to scare an owl out of a nearby tree.
I ushered him inside so as not to air our dirty laundry to any other beings nearby. We went into the formal parlor and sat down on the stiff couch.
Southern manners dictated I should of
fer him something to drink, but I couldn’t get over what he’d told me. “So all this time, you never knew my reasons?”
“To be honest, I couldn’t bring myself to care. I'd never experienced rejection like that before. And I'll admit, I didn't know how to handle it.”
Regret pounded in my chest. “I didn’t leave you to teach you a lesson.”
“But it did. I learned how to get over you.”
His cold words stung. “Tuck, I'm so sorry.”
He held up his hand. “That sounded harsher than I meant it. You did me a favor in the long run. I couldn't stay in Honeysuckle, so I went to Charleston and spent some time trying to be an adult. That's where I met Ashton, which has been the best thing to happen to me. It was his idea to start the development company.”
My skin crawled at the mention of his friend, and more questions popped into my head. “How did you meet him?” I did my best to sound interested rather than suspicious.
“We met at a, um, club for men.” Tucker coughed and avoided my gaze. “We got to talkin’, and after a few drinks, I felt like I'd known him all my life.”
“Sounds like a match made in heaven.”
“The more we spent time together, the more Ashton liked the idea of coming back to Honeysuckle and improving a small town like ours.”
How did Tucker not question why another young man would want to leave a city like Charleston and come live in a small, isolated Southern town like ours? Even when the town council considered change, it moved slower than molasses on a cold day. What kind of development would make a good business here in Honeysuckle?
As if reading my thoughts, Tucker explained. “You've been gone for a while, Charli. Things will move forward around here, and my family and I, plus Ashton, want to be at the forefront.”
“What kind of changes?”
His face brightened. “You should see the plans we've come up with. There’s a golf course. And a full-blown country club.”
I smirked. “Just like your mother Clarice has always wanted. A fancier place where she can restrict who can get in. Perfect for a town like ours.”
