As I turned the pages, I began to feel a prickly sensation on the back of my neck. Someone was watching me again, and in my heart, I sensed that it was Martha. She wanted me to do something.
Acting on instinct, I went downstairs and opened the basement door.
Immediately, Benjamin was at my side. “What do you think you’re doing?” He demanded.
“Relax.” I padded down the stairs. “I want to look at the book.”
“First of all, it’s called a grimoire, and second of all, for what reason? To whip up some kind of spell? It’s not a recipe book for chocolate chip cookies. The magic in there is old and powerful. If you get it wrong, there are consequences.”
“I’m not going to do a spell. I’m just going to look. I think Martha’s trying to tell me something.” I headed over the coffee table and placed my palms on the grimoire.
The air around the room began to shimmer as room’s glamour faded just as it had the last time I touched the book, and the cluttered shelves of Aunt Martha’s magical workspace appeared out of thin air. “That is so cool.” I opened the book and aimlessly flipped through pages.
Benjamin glared at me from across the coffee table. “You’re not ready for any of the magic in that book yet. If you really want to learn witchcraft, let’s start with something simple like moving objects or scrying. Frankly, the only reason I took you to this book when you arrived was so your touch would activate our bond and I’d be able to talk to you.”
“And we’ve had such nice conversation, haven’t we?” I said, only half listening. I ran my finger across a page in the grimoire titled “local creatures”.
Strange names accompanied each horrifying picture—There were entires for house spirits, demons, nymphs, ogres, banshees, elves and vampires—just to name a few. Strange names accompanied each horrifying picture, such as “Redcaps” which, according to the grimoire, were monsters who were impossible to outrun. Apparently, they hid in old buildings and murdered people for the heck of it. The only way to escape a Redcap was to distract it by reciting poetry.
“This stuff is wild,” I said. “Do all of these creatures live on Wolf Mountain?”
Benjamin hopped onto the couch beside me and read over my shoulder. “Pretty much, unless they’ve been banished by a Wilder witch.”
I tapped my finger on a picture of a black dog with dagger-sharp teeth. “Here’s a ‘malevolent black hound’ who attacks travelers from behind, mauling them to death.” I eyed Benjamin. “Is he a cousin of yours?”
“No,” he said flatly.
I kept flipping pages. “It looks like there are a lot of things that could have murdered Martha.”
“Now you see why Martha’s friends are reluctant to throw around accusations. The list of suspects is a lot longer than you can imagine.”
I shook my head. “I still think it’s Liam.” I stopped on a picture of a stocky creature covered in fur with hands like a man and the face of a wolf. “Here we go—werewolves, also known as chupacabras or skin-walkers.” I shivered. I couldn’t understand how that overgrown frat boy I’d met at the bakery could turn into this. I ran my fingers over the drawing on the page. “Is that what Liam looks like when he changes?”
“His fur is black rather than brown like in the picture, but other than that, yes.”
“Creepy.” I scanned the passage, looking for any crumb of useful information. “It says here that werewolves are people who have been bitten by another werewolf. It also says that people transform into their werewolf form during astrological events or at times of physical or emotional trauma. A werewolves greatest assets are their strength, sense of smell, and accelerated healing—no surprise there. Weaknesses are silver, mercury, and an herb called wolf’s bane.” I turned to Benjamin. “Do you think we have some wolf’s bane around? We’re going to need that. It says that if you carry a bundle of wolf’s bane with you, a werewolf can’t harm you—you think that’s true?” I glanced at Benjamin.
“I’m inclined to believe so. The Wilder grimoire is well-researched.”
“Here’s something about werewolf blood. It’s used for its healing qualities and for magic. Drinking it will give you supernatural abilities, and if you’re already a magical being, drinking it will increase whatever existing powers you have.”
I set the book back down on the coffee table and went over to the magical shelves that lined the walls. Some of the jars on the shelves were caked with dust. Others were labeled with things like “home blessing”, “courage”, “banish”, and “hex”.
Benjamin followed me over, silently watching my every move.
I noticed a jar of thick red liquid that didn’t have a lid on it. I picked it up. “Was that the potion she was working on before she died?”
Benjamin nodded. “She was looking for an ingredient in the forest when she was killed.”
I examined the liquid, tilting the jar to the side. The red potion oozed like molasses. “Do you know what it’s for?”
“She wouldn’t tell me.”
I moved on to the section of jars filled with dried herbs. These were all labeled and arranged in alphabetical order. I Found the jar of wolf’s bane easily. It was nearly empty, but there was about a handful left. Either Aunt Martha didn’t bother keeping her wolf’s bane supply full, or she’d been using a lot of it.
“Are we paying Liam a visit today?” Benjamin asked.
“Yes, we are.” I unscrewed the lid and shook the rest of the wolf’s bane out into a small cloth bag I’d found on the table.
“What do you plan on asking him? Did you kill Martha?”
“I can’t ask him outright, obviously. Haven’t you watched any detective movies. I’ll have to catch him in a lie.”
As a said the words, the grimoire lit up and the pages started fluttering. I swore I saw the faint line of Martha’s silhouette bending over the book and pointing to something.
But the image was gone in an instant. I turned to Benjamin. “Did you—”
“Yes, I saw her.” His tone was gentler now. He trotted over to the open grimoire and groaned. “Martha has a lot more faith in you than I do,” he said. “But it looks like we’re on the right track.”
I went over to the book to see what he was talking about. It was open to a recipe for truth serum. “Truth serum—how handy. Aunt Martha, you are a genius.”
A gust of wind whipped through the basement which was strange because it was a windowless room. But across the room, a candle lit up with a dancing orange flame.
“Her spirit is getting stronger,” Benjamin remarked. “I think having you around energizes her.”
“I’m glad someone appreciates me,” I said, crossing over to where the candle flickered on a table. Right next to the candle stood a small bottles of liquid with a rubber dropper. I picked it up with a smile. “Well, what do you know?” I waved the bottle in front of Benjamin. “Truth serum—all ready to go.”
Chapter 14
It took another thirty minutes for Benjamin and I to prep for our werewolf interrogation. That consisted of me shoving a cloth full of wolfsbane in my pocket and forcing Benjamin to wear a collar with a bundle of wolf’s bane tied to it. He grumbled about it quite a bit, but eventually gave in.
“You know, that whole ‘familiar re-assignment’ thing? It goes both ways,” Benjamin said, giving his body a good shake. “If I die, you’ll be assigned a new familiar.”
I shoved the grimoire into a backpack I’d found in Aunt Martha’s closet, and I swung it over my shoulder. “Are we still fighting about this?” I said. “Just wear the stupid collar.”
He let out a quiet growl—no words, just a growl.
I looked around to see if there’s anything else I wanted to bring along to the interrogation. I rummaged in my purse and pulled out a small plastic cylinder on a key chain.
“Is that… pepper spray?” Benjamin cocked his head.
“Yes, I take it with me when I go jogging.”
“You want to use peppe
r spray on a werewolf?”
“If it comes to that.”
“I have nothing to say about that.” Benjamin leapt out of the cabin the moment I swung open the door.
When I stepped foot outside, something strange happened. My feet flew out from under me and I landed flat on my backpack with a thud.
I rolled over, shrugging out my backpack.
Benjamin circled back. “What happened?”
“I don’t know.” Puzzled, I stood up, and brushed myself off. I hoisted my backpack strap over my shoulder, and again, felt a tug. I took off the backpack, grabbed hold of the straps with both hands, and pulled with all my might.
It was as if my backpack was stuck behind some invisible wall, stopping it from crossing the threshold of the cabin to the outside.
I dropped the backpack and stepped back inside the doorway. “Is something wrong with the enchantments on the cabin?” I wondered aloud.
“No, it’s the grimoire. I forgot to warn you,” Benjamin said.
I unzipped the backpack and lifted the heavy leather-bound book out. “What about it?”
“It can’t leave the cabin. It has it’s on enchantment placed on that keeps it in the house.”
I tested it out, slowly drawing the book toward me. It knocked against something right at the threshold. “I can feel it,” I remarked. It was like the book was bumping into something solid even though there was nothing there. With a shrug, I took the book inside and set it on the kitchen table.
When I came back out, I shot Benjamin an accusatory look. “Did you actually forget, or did you just want to see me eat it on the door step?”
“Honestly, Natalie, what kind of monster do you think I am?” Without waiting for an answer, he made his way down the walkway to the gravel road.
“You didn’t answer my question,” I called after him.
I followed Benjamin across the street to a little red shed where a golf card was parked. I’d found a set of tiny gold cart keys while going through Martha’s room, and Benjamin told me where I could find the cart. Though the cart wouldn’t get me all the way into town, Benjamin assured me it could make it down to Liam’s house. He even knew the way.
Unfortunately, with all of the grimoire commotion, I forgot to make sure Blake wasn’t around.
“Natalie!” Blake slammed the door of his truck and gave me a wave. “Where are you headed?”
I closed my eyes and groaned. I didn’t want to tell Blake were I was going because he’d try to talk me out of it. “Benjamin and I are going to take the golf cart for a spin,” I said brightly.
Blake looked at Benjamin who had big, beefy body into the back seat of the golf cart. “If you’re not going far, you can take my car. I was planning getting things down at home today.”
“The golf cart will be fine.” I hitched my backpack higher up on my shoulder. My long pony tail bounced, tickling the back of my neck.
Blake’s jaw tensed. “Are you going to Angie about Liam? I really think you should wait.”
I sighed. “I’m actually going to talk to Liam.”
He blinked. “Alone?”
“I have Benjamin and a pocket full of wolf’s bane,” I said.
“Don’t forget about the pepper spray key chain,” Benjamin called.
I ignored him. “We’ll be fine. I just have a few questions for him.”
Blake kicked at the gravel with his sneaker. “He’s not going to tell you the truth.”
“That won’t be a problem,” I said.
Blake eyebrows dipped over the bridge of his nose. “I know Liam. Trust me, he’s not going to give you anything useful.”
“And I’m telling you’ve I’ve got that covered.” I patted my backpack. “I found something in Martha’s things that will help.”
He chewed his lip. “Let me guess—memory dust?”
“No.”
“Her paralyzing powder? Because you’ll need a lot of that to work on a werewolf.”
I frowned. “No, not that.”
He snapped his fingers. “Her love potion!”
“No!” I looked at him incredulously. “What would I even do with that?”
Blake shrugged. “Make him fall in love with you and spill all his secrets, obviously.”
I gave him a funny look. “That one is kind of a stretch.”
“Hey, I’m a writer. I’m a creative guy.” Suddenly, his navy eyes widened. “Oh, I know! Truth serum!”
I smiled in spite of myself. His childlike enthusiasm charmed me. “Don’t look so proud of yourself. That took you, like, five guesses.”
“That’s not a bad plan,” Blake admitted. “But do you know how you’re going to get him to take it?”
“I figured I’d play it by ear.”
“That’s where your plan falls apart.” Blake said, crossing his arms. “He knows who you are. If you show up on his doorstep unannounced, asking questions about Martha, he’s going to figure out that it’s not a social call. He’ll be on his guard the whole time—that is if he answers the door at all.”
I straightened up and stuck my chin out. “Well, I’m going to try anyway,” I said. “See you later.”
“Hey—stop.” Blake’s fingers brushed my arm. “I’m not trying to get in the way of you finding out who killed Martha,” he said slowly, lifting his eyes up to mine. “I know you’re not going to let this thing with Liam go, so let me help you.”
“How?”
Blake swallowed. “Liam trusts me. I’ll give him the serum. He won’t suspect a thing.”
I studied his face. “Why would you do that to your friend?”
“Martha was my friend, too.” he said, eyes locked on mine. “And so are you. Besides, it’s just truth serum. We’re not giving him a roofie. The way I see it, this world could use a little more truth.”
“Even if it means lying to a friend?” I asked.
“It’s a bit of a gray area if you ask me,” Blake said. “Just get in the truck. I’ve got a bottle of something Liam won’t say no to.”
Chapter 15
Liam’s home was a double-wide mobile home surrounded by long slender birch trees. The bright white of the birch tree bark contrasted gorgeously with vibrant gold of the turning leaves. Rays of sun peeking through the trees send shadows from the leaves dancing along the ground.
Someone had built a wooden platform in front of the trailer and two rickety wooden rocking chairs stood on either side of the door.
“This is as far as I go,” Benjamin said, bounding up the porch steps and finding a place to sit near the edge. “Werewolves can be territorial. I’ll come if I sense trouble.”
“Suit yourself.” I opened the flimsy screen door in front of the metal trailer door.
Blake touched my shoulder. “First, turn around,” he said.
Curious, I looked over my shoulder the way we’d come, and I gasped. From this vantage point, the tops of the trees were spaced widely enough that you could see for miles. The sloping peaks of the Blue Ridge mountains went on as far as the eye could see. Reds and yellows were sprinkled into the greenish blue hue of the hills. Liam’s trailer might not have been the fanciest home on the mountain, but it definitely had the best view. “Beautiful,” I breathed. “Almost makes me wish I was staying.”
Blake smiled. “This place isn’t all murder and mayhem.” He tapped his knuckle against the metal door. “Liam. It’s me. Open up.”
I noticed Benjamin’s ears perk up. I wondered if he was hearing something Blake and I couldn’t.
“Come on, man. I’m sorry about yesterday. Can we talk?”
“Go away,” came a muffled voice from inside.
“I brought bourbon,” Blake said. “The good stuff.”
There was a long pause. Then finally, “Well, come in if you must,” the man called out, clearer now. I recognized Liam’s smooth British accent that I’d heard at the bakery yesterday morning.
Blake and I exchanged glances before Blake pulled the latch on the door. “I b
rought a couple friends,” Blake said, poking his head in. “Martha’s niece, Natalie. Benjamin’s out on the porch.”
“So now I’m allow to talk to her, am I?” Liam called back.
“I’m sorry about that,” Blake said again, holding the door open for me. “Everyone’s on edge over Martha.”
The front door opened up into to living room with a small kitchen on the far end of the space. To my left, a doorway led into a bedroom. I could see the edge of an unmade bed from where I stood in the entrance.
Besides a flimsy card table in the kitchen, the rest of the space was furnished with a couch, a coffee table and two worn arm chairs that didn’t match. There were no pictures on the wall, no decorations whatsoever. Everything seemed to have a purpose. It was about as utilitarian as you could get.
Liam lumbered out of the bedroom with a big yawn. He wore navy sweatpants and nothing else. He scratched his chest as he looked around the room. “Nice to see you again, Natalie.”
The afternoon sun washed over him, adding a soft shine to his smooth tan skin. I did my best to keep the drool in my mouth. “Nice to see you,” I murmured with an awkward wave.
Blake seemed less impressed. “Really? I tell you Natalie’s here and you can’t even put on a shirt?” Blake went over to the counter with the bottle of bourbon in his fist.
“Sorry, did I miss something here, or are you all in my home?” Liam said, his mouth tugging up in a crooked smile.
“Just put on a shirt.” Blake said, helping himself to three rocks glasses in the cabinet over Liam’s sink.
Lloyd shrugged and lazily wandered back into his bedroom. He emerged wearing a gray cotton t-shirt. “How’s this, Mate? Good enough for company?” he asked Blake, a glint of humor in his eyes.
“Shut up.” Blake rolled his eyes, but the tension body seemed to have dissipated.
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