"I'd like to do a little magic on her actually," I replied, holding up the spray bottle. "I'd like to know if you think she’s strong enough to handle it."
Boyd frowned. "What kind of magic?"
"Sophie has created a spell that allows animals to talk," I said. "The spell only last for a few minutes, though. I'd like to use the potion on Esmeralda and see if I can get her to answer a few questions about Harriet."
Boyd studied me. "You don't think Harriet mistreated her, do you?”
I shook my head. “Definitely not. I have a theory, but the best way to confirm it is by asking Esmeralda. Since we actually have that rare opportunity, I'd like to go ahead." I hesitated. "It would be helpful if you acted as a witness."
Boyd pushed his chair back and stood. "Anything for you, Emma. I trust your judgment."
The druid healer had no idea how much it meant to me to hear him say that. As much as I tried not to let residents like Mrs. White get to me, it was nice to have that reassurance.
Boyd accompanied me into the room where Esmeralda was stretched out on a bed. Harriet was right. Esmeralda was a striking cat with a beautiful black fur coat and piercing green eyes. I could see why she would have grabbed Harriet's attention in Paws and Claws.
"Hey there, Esmeralda," I said. "Aren't you a beauty?" I placed my hand on her side and gave her a scratch behind the ears the way Harriet said she enjoyed. The cat opened her eyes and gave me a lazy look. A soft meow escaped her lips.
"My name is Emma," I said. "I'm a friend of Harriet’s. You know she's been to see you every day? She's very concerned about you."
Esmeralda meowed again.
"Esmeralda, I would like to perform a little spell on you, if you don't object," I said. "I promise I won't hurt you. I have a tonic in this bottle. A potion. All I'm going to do is spray a little on my hands and then rub under your chin with it. I don't need to apply it to your whole body. The potion should allow you to talk to me. The kicker is that it only lasts for a couple of minutes, so we need to talk quickly. I want to ask you some questions about Harriet. Do you understand?"
Esmeralda stared at me with her intelligent green eyes. "Meow," she said.
I nodded. "Good. I'm glad we understand each other."
"Can I do anything to help?" Boyd asked.
“I’ve got this.” I spritzed a little of the purple potion onto my hand. It was like applying a thin moisturizer. I rubbed the mixture under Esmeralda's chin and waited.
"Feel any differently?" I asked.
Esmeralda blinked. "I'm hungry," she said. "They fed me cat food last night. Harriet feeds me proper fish. Fish is my favorite."
I stroked Esmeralda's black coat. "Harriet takes good care of you, doesn't she?"
"Of course she does," Esmeralda said. "Do you think I would stay with someone who didn't take good care of me? I'm not a doormat."
“How did you end up here?” I asked. “Can you tell me what happened?"
Esmeralda yawned. "Harriet has been trying to do magic on me. She's convinced that I am her familiar and that we should be able to talk to each other. I would love that more than anything, but I'm a regular house cat and she's a nymph. It's simply not going to happen."
Just as I suspected. "So she’s been trying different spells on you to see if you develop a psychic connection?"
"Yes. Esmeralda loves the idea of being a witch. She wishes more than anything that she wasn't a nymph. She wants to be like you and your friends and have magic powers and that special connection to an animal."
My heart went out to Harriet. I remembered how excited she was by my relationship with Sedgwick. She desperately wanted that same connection with Esmeralda.
"Did she hurt you with any of these attempts?" I asked.
"Not usually," Esmeralda replied. "The last time was an accident. My tail whipped across the desk and tipped over the potion before she was ready to use it. I doused myself with it. She tried to wash it off in the bath, but it was burning. She rushed me here and that was the last thing I remembered until waking up with this guy’s face looming over me."
"The name is Boyd," the druid said. "And a thank you would be nice for saving your life."
Esmeralda fixed her green eyes on the healer. "Thank you, kind sir." Her curt tone suggested she could give Sedgwick a run for his money in the smartass department.
"Your neighbor, Mrs. White, seemed to suggest that Harriet has been mistreating you," I said. "Why do you think she believes that?"
Esmeralda laughed. It was a strange sound coming from a cat's mouth. "It was a comedy of errors, really. Every time Harriet messed up a spell, it seemed like the werelion was there to witness it. The whole thing would be comical if I hadn't gotten hurt.”
"So to be clear: Harriet has never been cruel to you or mistreated you?"
"Only when she gives me those chicken biscuits instead of tuna," she replied. "She knows I hate chicken. Otherwise, no, Harriet is my best friend. I knew what I was doing that day in Paws and Claws. Even though I was only a young kitten, I knew a good heart when I saw one."
Tears pricked my eyes. I turned to Boyd. "Are you satisfied?"
Boyd nodded solemnly. "I'll support you. Just tell me what we need to do."
I rubbed Esmeralda's back. "The spell is probably going to wear off in a few seconds," I said. "Is there anything else you'd like to say before you lose the ability?"
"Tell Harriet that I'm sorry I caused her any problems. Tell her she's the best friend a cat ever had, but please stop trying to keep me off the desk. It's my favorite place to lie in the whole house."
"I'll be sure to mention it. Thank you for your help, Esmeralda. Harriet and I both appreciate it."
Esmeralda opened her mouth to speak, but only a soft meow came out.
The spell was finished.
My next order of business was to summon the Leafbottom family to my office. I didn’t waste any time revealing my discovery.
“Harriet, why didn’t you tell us the truth?” Leif demanded. Instead of apple knitwear, today he and his wife wore matching sweater vests with a shiny green pear embroidered on them.
“Because I knew how you would react,” Harriet replied. “You and mom are proud nymphs. You’d be embarrassed by me wanting to be a witch.”
“We’re more embarrassed that you were arrested for animal cruelty,” her mother said. “Neighbors have been giving us funny looks ever since it happened. We couldn’t move out of Spellbound to escape the stigma, even if we wanted to.”
“The case will be dismissed,” I assured them. “Esmeralda’s statement made sure of that.”
“Is the judge really going to take the word of a cat?” Leif asked.
“It won’t even make it in front of the judge,” I said. “The discussion was witnessed by Boyd. Trust me. It’ll be fine.”
Harriet beamed. “Tell me again about Esmeralda. Did she really say I was her best friend?”
I nodded. “She’s very grateful for you. She knows you would never intentionally hurt her.”
“She was so silly,” Harriet said. “Swishing her tail like that and knocking over the potion.”
“And you were silly for making a potion in the first place,” Leif snapped. “What does a nymph need spells for anyway? Or a psychic connection to a cat? We are one with Nature. We don’t need the tricks of the magical trade.”
I resisted the urge to be insulted. “Mr. Leafbottom, it’s natural for young people to struggle to figure out their identities. Sometimes that means breaking away from their parents and what they know.”
“I’ve always loved the idea of being a witch,” Harriet said. “I used to sneak out of school at lunchtime and watch the witches at the academy. Sometimes I’d even peer in the windows to see them casting spells.”
“That’s very odd, Harriet Leafbottom,” her father said, clearly ruffled by his daughter’s admission.
“Why is it odd?” she challenged him. “Nymphs don’t do anything cool. We love Mother Nature an
d have a special relationship with trees. Big deal.” She threw out her arms. “Witches can control Mother Nature. They can create wind or rain. They can make animals talk. All we can do is rub their bellies.”
Harriet’s enthusiasm began to rub off on me. Even though witchcraft was still new to me, I’d become a bit jaded about magic recently, thanks to Elsa and Spellbound’s general distrust of sorcery. The nymph reminded me exactly how amazing my new life was. I was a badass sorceress! I could perform incredible feats—if I ever bothered to learn.
“You know, Harriet,” I said. “There are plenty of non-magic-users who learn how to successfully do magic. The library has a huge collection of books that might interest you.”
“I don’t want her wasting her time on that nonsense,” Leif said.
Heather placed a hand on her husband’s arm. “You know, dear, I think Miss Hart has a point. Remember when we were young? You wanted to play in a band. That wasn’t the nymph way, but your mother indulged you. She let you keep that set of drums in the garage for years.”
Leif’s jaw tightened. “That was different. That was music.”
“Was it really so different?” Heather queried. “You were figuring out who you were, same as Harriet is doing now.”
Leif eyed his daughter. “Perhaps we’ve been hasty in our judgment.”
“Just do everyone a favor and keep your magical efforts indoors,” I said. “We don’t need Mrs. White to have a heart attack.”
Leif pursed his lips and murmured, “Or maybe we do.”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that,” I said. “I don’t want another Leafbottom in my office any time soon.”
“Or ever again,” Harriet added.
“Can we go?” Heather asked. “We promised Hugo that we’d canvass our neighborhood this afternoon. Tomorrow’s the big day.”
Ugh. They were Hugo voters? I forced a smile. “Happy voting!”
Chapter 20
Election day was finally here. Thanks to Milton's death and a wave of write-in ballots, it looked to be a nailbiter. Lucy's supporters planned to rally in front of the schools during the voting hours and then converge on the Horned Owl to await the results. Hugo's team was, of course, gathering at the Spellbound Country Club where Hugo was a frequent flyer.
Gareth watched me as I applied lipstick in the bathroom mirror.
"Are you quite sure about that color?"
I could tell by his tone that he disapproved. "What's wrong with this color?"
"The color itself is fine," he said. "Just not on your face."
I jerked my head toward him. “What's wrong with my face? Never mind. Don't answer that."
“The color washes out your complexion," he elaborated. "How does a young woman get to your age and not understand which colors complement her skin tone?"
I snapped the lid back on the lipstick tube. "Forgive me for not having a mother to raise me and a grandmother who wore very little makeup."
Gareth’s gazed drifted to the floor. "Apologies. I wasn't taking that into consideration."
"Okay, then, Mr. Color Wheel. Which lipstick shade do you recommend for me today?"
He studied the contents of my cosmetics bag. "Firstly, this arrangement is ridiculous. You should have them set out where you can see them instead of mixed in a bag together where you have to rummage through like an old lady in a change purse.”
“Why don’t you handle that while I go and vote?” I suggested.
Gareth stared at the cosmetics bag. “I suppose it’s an acceptable compromise, given that my vote wouldn’t count.”
Half an hour later I walked into the Spellbound High School gymnasium and joined the line for the voting booth. It was remarkably similar to the process in the human world, except no one asked for identification, and when I stepped inside the little curtained area I was greeted by a moving image of each candidate. There would be no hanging chad situation in this election. I simply had to touch the image to register my vote. For a write-in vote, I needed to use the quill and ink attached to the makeshift wall and deposit it in the provided lockbox. I waved to Lucy's image before bonking her on the nose with my finger.
"Good luck," I said and watched the images disappear.
I left the voting booth and returned to the brilliant sunshine and the mob of citizens outside. There seemed to be an equal number of Hugo and Lucy supporters, each bearing more signs than there seemed to be available hands.
"Emma, over here," a voice called.
I glanced at the sea of faces until my gaze alighted on Sophie and Begonia. They each held a sign for Lucy.
"Did you vote?" I asked.
They nodded in unison.
"We came early to get it over with," Sophie said. "It seems like everyone in town has come out to vote today."
"It's an important election," I said. "It's important that everyone's voice be heard."
"What a surprise to find you in the eye of the storm," a chilly voice said.
I whipped around to see ex-Mayor Knightsbridge walking behind me. Her wings were clipped behind her.
"I thought you were under house arrest," I said.
She scowled at me. "I am, but I'm permitted to vote. My darling chaperones are right behind me."
I glanced over her shoulder to see two angry-looking trolls. Based on their severe expressions, she wouldn't be bossing them around.
"Well, I don't object to you voting because I'm sure you're voting for Lucy," I said. Although the mayor and Hugo were old friends, their relationship had become fractured in recent times. Lucy, on the other hand, had served the mayor well as her right hand.
"It's none of your concern how I place my vote," the former mayor snapped. "In fact, I may vote against Lucy simply on the basis that she chooses to be friends with the likes of you."
"I didn't do anything to you," I said firmly. "You and your daughter brought this upon yourselves."
"Choose to see it however you like," Knightsbridge said. “Be sure to look over your shoulder now and again because when the chance comes, I will get my revenge."
A shiver ran up my spine as she sauntered past me, her chaperones trailing behind her. They gave me a grudging nod of respect as they passed by.
"Well, that was uncomfortable," Begonia said. "Do you think she means it? About the revenge?"
I shrugged. "I can't worry about that. Without her magic or her position of power, I'm not sure how much damage she can really do."
Sophie managed a smile. "We’re not worried if you’re not worried."
“Not another one,” I moaned.
Hugo stopped in front of me, a large sign in his hand. It read: Vote for Substance Over Beauty. While I agreed with the sentiment, it didn’t really apply in this situation.
“I heard the first committee meeting was an unmitigated disaster,” he said, not bothering to hide his delight.
“It didn’t go as well as I would have liked, but we’ll have more,” I said. “As many as it takes to get things right, because that’s how I roll.”
“Will Kassandra be a fixture at all these meetings?” he asked. “For Gareth’s sake, of course.”
“Why do you care…?” I stopped talking as the realization hit me. “You did something to her, didn’t you?” I snapped my fingers. “She said you gave her a voter biscuit on the way in.”
He snorted. “A voter biscuit? Seems more like a mischief biscuit to me.” He gave an exaggerated shrug. “Then again, I’m not a magic user, am I? What would a centaur know about such things?”
My blood boiled. “What a hypocrite you are. You’re going all over town giving speeches about values and morality, and yet you would use magic to derail an important part of the democratic system.”
“I’ve done nothing of the sort,” he snapped. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s time to cast my vote.”
“Unbelievable,” I seethed as he trotted into the school.
Sophie wrapped an arm around me. “Let's head over to the Horned Owl for the p
arty," she said. “I bet Daniel is already there waiting for you.”
Begonia brightened. "Do you think Demetrius will be there?"
I laughed. "I think you would know better than anyone these days."
Begonia blushed. "We haven't talked much since our date.” She hesitated. “I think I was not the best company that night. I may have ruined it.”
I gave her a quick hug. “You’re always good company, Begonia. He’ll learn that soon enough.”
The Horned Owl was bursting at the seams. In fact, I’d never seen it so crowded. Lucy had managed to get voters out in record numbers and her supporters all seemed to arrive at the tavern at the same time.
"We'll never get a table," Sophie said. I heard a sharp intake of breath. "Oh my, Ty is here."
"Of course he's here," Begonia said. "He works here."
Sophie sighed dreamily. "I know, but I wasn't sure if he’d be working the election party."
I peered across the room to where Ty was talking to two werewolves. "Actually, he isn't working. Sophie, he’s here as a patron. Now’s your chance to really talk to him."
Sophie backed away slightly. "Wands and wings, I can't do that."
I looked at her askance. "What do you mean, you can't do that? Just go over there and make small talk."
"Come with me," she implored.
Begonia placed a hand on her hip. "Sophie, you are a grown young woman and you are more than capable of going over and speaking to a hot young satyr that you happen to have an enormous crush on."
I groaned. "You're not exactly alleviating the pressure, Begonia."
Begonia punctuated her remarks by pushing Sophie forward into the crowd. Sophie had no choice but to make her way over to Ty. We watched from a careful distance as she attempted to initiate conversation.
"This is almost painful to watch," I said.
"What's that? Your attempt at dancing?" Daniel stood beside me, grinning wickedly.
I nudged him in the ribs. "Hey, I will have you know that I’m a fabulous dancer."
"If Lucy wins, I'm sure there will be dancing in the streets," Daniel said.
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