Storm Witch

by Alys West

  “And an elder tree as well. I wonder if Nina meant the berries or the leaves.” Grace peered at the words written on the flyer. “We’ll have to hope it’s leaves because it’s too early for berries. Especially this far north.”

  “Is it always like this?” Zoe leaned forward. “I mean, I kind of thought it was more certain. Maeve always seemed absolutely confident she’d get the result she wanted. I know that was dark magic but…”

  “If what I’ve heard is true then Maeve had been practising for a very, very long time. Far longer than I ever will. Probably she found her own path in that time. I’m always walking in other people’s shoes, following their spells and sometimes they work better for one person than for another.”

  “So we don’t know, even with the changes Nina made, that this breaking spell will work for you?” Zoe asked.

  “I never know for sure when I do a spell for the first time. And I’ve never broken a coercion spell. If The Order was around they’d be handling it, not someone like me.” Grace’s hand covered the writing on the flyer. “I still don’t understand why Nina was doing this herself and not using the full power of The Order.”

  “Because her brother was involved?” Finn said. “Isn’t that the most likely reason she was keeping this away from The Order?”

  “Someone must have been doing this for Andrew. I’ve met him a few times and there is no way that man has an ounce of magic in him.”

  “You don’t like him?” Zoe said.

  “I’ve never liked him and he’s got worse since he’s been with Felicity. Do you know she didn’t even come with him to Nina’s funeral and he spent—”

  Finn’s mobile rang, vibrating against the polished wood table. “It’s Winston.” As he picked it up, he slid out of the seat and headed towards the door.

  “Is he worried about us overhearing?” Grace said.

  “No, I don’t think it’s that. He’s probably worried about Winston losing it when he tells him the spell really needs a new moon.”

  “Oh! Well, if that’s all.” Grace closed the grimoire and handed it back to Zoe. “I have a nephew who used to lose it on a regular basis. I’m not bothered by a male tantrum.”

  “That’s good to know. Because if we don’t break the spell tonight I dread to think how Winston will react.”

  “Badly, I expect. It was awful what happened to him, all that trouble he got into with those silly books but—”

  “You know about that?”

  “Everyone knew about that!” Grace put her teacup down on the saucer. “Our world isn’t very big. In many ways it’s like living in a village except you can’t pop round to borrow a pint of milk.”

  “I’m still getting used to that part.” Zoe glanced out of the window. His mobile to his ear, Finn paced up and down the pavement outside the café.

  “The problem for Winston is that he’s waited a long time to let someone else in and now he’s terrified he’s lost her.”

  “Has he? I mean, I don’t know Jenna, but she seemed pretty lost to me.”

  “It’s how he reacts when she comes out of the spell that’s going to matter,” Grace said. “If he can hold it together then it might come out alright.”

  “You don’t sound very sure.”

  “You know him better than I do. How likely do you think it is?”

  Chapter 41

  Winston slowed to turn into the car park at Stromness ferry terminal. Finding a motorbike space, he pulled into it and took his helmet off. Scanning the harbour front, he looked for Finn.

  He was late. Probably by about ten minutes but it was too much trouble to get his mobile out to check. Finn had known him long enough not to expect punctuality. They were meeting here because it was easier than trying to explain how to find Rachel’s house and the walk up through the town would do him good. He needed to move, to burn off some of the adrenalin fizzing through his veins.

  Once he’d locked his helmet and gloves away, he crossed to the black painted balustrade and scanned the people, mainly tourists by the quantity of Gore-Tex on display. The rain had stopped about an hour ago but it was still overcast, the sun trapped behind a blanket of dense cloud. Finn, wearing his own expensive waterproof, stood by the statue of some bloke in skins carrying a gun, next to the dive shop. He turned his head at Winston’s shout but didn’t move.

  “Interesting guy,” Finn said as he joined him. “I’d heard of him, of course, but I’d no idea he was from Orkney.”

  “Who is he?” Winston asked as they turned away from the harbour. He’d walked past the statue several times but he’d never stopped to read the plaque.

  “John Rae. According to my granddad, one of the great unsung Scottish heroes.” Finn glanced at him. “You’ve never heard of him? Honestly, call yourself a Scot! Pitiful Grant.”

  “Alright. Just tell me who he is and why I should know about him.”

  “Arctic explorer who not only found the last section of the North West Passage but also discovered the fate of the Franklin expedition including the fact they’d been engaging in a bit of recreational cannibalism when they knew they weren’t going home. Ringing any bells?”

  “Not really. Put it down to my non-standard education.”

  “Until you were twelve,” Finn said. He never missed an opportunity to tease him about Glenard. “There was plenty of time after that to catch up on what they failed to teach you at hippy school.”

  “Yeah but then I discovered girls and I didn’t learn much—”

  “Except how to take a bra off with one hand.” There was a beat before Finn said, “Been putting that to much use lately? You’ve not said much about it but I’m guessing it was good. Really good from the way you’ve been reacting.”

  “Jenna’s different, alright? It’s not…” His hands fisted. He couldn’t stop them. “Fuck it, Finn. You may be my best mate but, if you ask me that again, I swear to God I’ll punch you.”

  “That’s what I thought.” Finn stopped, turned to look at him. “You do know you’re in love with her.”

  “Don’t be bloody ridiculous!” He started walking again, picking up the pace. He turned the corner and immediately the road became much steeper.

  “You can deny it all you like. Doesn’t change the fact it’s true.”

  “I’m worried about her, that’s all.”

  “It’s a lot more than worry but I’m not going to waste breath arguing with you. I guess you’ll figure it out in your own time.” Annoyingly the climb didn’t seem to be affecting Finn at all. “So Rachel, what do I need to know about her before I meet her?”

  “If we meet her. She’s damned hard to get hold of.”

  “Do we know why?”

  “We know next to nothing apart from her name, that her father’s in a care home in Wick and there’s no sign of her mother. Oh, and that she and Kenny were an item until he dumped her for her best friend.”

  “How old is she?”

  “Twenty-three.”

  “Shit. That’s a lot to deal with at that age.”

  “That’s a lot to deal with at any age.” He was puffing now and it was hard to get the words out. He kept his gaze on the Community Centre where the road levelled out.

  Finn shot him a glance. “I told you you needed to spend more time in the gym.”

  “Piss off!” He’d like to stop to catch his breath but there was no way he was going to give Finn the satisfaction. “I’ve had a storm witch to catch and a six-year-old murder to solve.”

  “Excuses.”

  Winston shot him a look but deciding this was an argument he wasn’t going to win changed the subject. “How did you get on with finding the things Grace needs?”

  “We’ve got the elder leaves. Then she had me driving around half of Orkney looking for a beach where she can do the ritual and then, when we’re three-quarters of the way down South Ronaldsay, calmly announces the one we saw first will do just fine.”

  Winston laughed. The sound felt oddly jarring, as if he�
��d not used those muscles for a while. “What are Grace and Zoe doing while you’re here?”

  “Grace is teaching Zoe meditation. When I left, they were starting to chant ‘Om’ together.”

  “Good time to bail.” But there was something fuelling Finn’s sarcasm. “You don’t think it’ll work?”

  “I don’t want Zo to feel she’s not a real seer if she only has visions when she’s asleep.” Finn ran his fingers through his hair. “Everyone said Nina was a marvel but Zo’s got the potential to even surpass her.”

  The road curved right into Scapa Crescent. Winston put his hand on Finn’s arm to stop him as Rachel’s house came into view. “That’s hers. Number 18. We have to watch out for the neighbour. She’s a bit of a dragon.”

  “So what’s the plan? Do you want me to go in and try to talk to her or are we doing this together?”

  “Together. There’s no reason why she can’t know who we are. Might make her think twice about going to the Stewarts’ party tomorrow.” Winston pulled his staff from the thong around his neck and tapped it on the ground. “Though I can’t think she’s invited. Felicity didn’t strike me as a woman of the people.”

  Finn nodded at the staff. “Are we expecting trouble?”

  “She’s flooded her house last week. We’re expecting anything.”

  “Alright but—” Finn’s hand dipped inside the neck of his fleece and tugged his staff free “—I think two of us holding big sticks might freak her out so I’ll just keep mine handy.”

  “Suit yourself.” Winston leaned on his staff. Folk didn’t look at you as strangely if you used it as a walking stick. “How are we going to play this?”

  “Good cop, bad cop?”

  “Predictable.”

  “Got a better idea?”

  “No.”

  “Then let’s get on with it.” Finn started walking towards the house.

  “I’m bad cop, right?”

  “Obviously.” Finn’s grin came slowly. “About time you put those years of terrorising undergraduates to good use.”

  ***

  Rachel opened a can of beans, poured them into a bowl and put cling-film over them. She popped them in the new microwave and set the timer. Two slices of bread went into the new toaster. As she opened the cupboard and took a plate out, the doorbell rang. She glanced at the clock. She was due at The Commercial at six. Whoever it was, they’d better make it quick.

  The new front door had a frosted panel at the top. She peered through it, saw a blurry outline of two men; one in black, the other, taller than the first, in blue. She unlocked it and opened it forty-five degrees, her body filling the gap.

  “Rachel?” the shorter one asked. He was hot, if a bit old for her, with chin length black hair and the kind of cheekbones only seen on male models. He held a wooden staff that came up to his shoulder. Druid, if she wasn’t very much mistaken.

  “Yes.” She crossed her arms. “Who wants to know?” She’d done the protection spell last night at midnight when she was fairly sure Mrs Sutherland wouldn’t be peering through her net curtains wondering why Rachel was carrying a candle three times around the outside of the house.

  “I’m Winston. This is Finn.” He gestured at the taller guy. “We’re friends of Jenna Henderson.”

  Her hand tightened on the door handle. “I don’t know Jenna.”

  “But you knew Nina. We know she taught you. That’s what we want to talk to you about. Can we come in?” He spoke with a posh Scottish accent. Probably Edinburgh. Definitely Lowlands.

  “No.” She slid her foot to the left, wedging it against the door. If they tried to force their way in she didn’t stand a chance. The big one must be six two, six three and strong with it. But all she needed was enough time to shout. Mrs Sutherland would be out like a shot and peedie Jack would raise enough noise to bring all the neighbours out.

  “We know what you can do, Rachel and we know you’re having problems controlling it.” The taller one, the one called Finn spoke for the first time. He was English, his voice gentler than the other guy’s. “We want to help.”

  “I don’t need your help. I’m fine.”

  “We know you’re not, Rachel.” Winston took a step closer. “We know about the flood here and what happened at the Cathedral.”

  “We’re not blaming you,” Finn said. “You need help to control your powers. Everyone does at the beginning.”

  “How the hell would you know?”

  His grey eyes were steady. “Because I’m a druid.”

  Rachel’s knuckles whitened as she gripped the doorframe. Two druids on her doorstep. This was not good. This was not good at all. A sliver of fire crept down her spine as sweat bloomed under her arms. “I want you to go. Now.”

  “We can’t, Rachel. We have to get you the help you need.” Winston put his hand on the door and pushed. She braced, holding firm with all the strength she’d got. Then the pressure lifted. Winston yanked his hand back as if it was burnt. As he stared at it, the palm reddened and started to blister. “What the hell—?”

  She shoved the door, aiming to slam it in his face. Winston raised his staff, pressing the tip against the door and pushed back. It blackened, smoke billowing as the smell of burning began to fill the hall.

  Winston didn’t stop. As he pushed harder, he stepped closer. Then the other one had a staff too. Where the hell had that come from? He added it to Winston’s. She dug her heels in and pushed back with all she’d got but they were much, much stronger. The door swung open. She staggered back, arms flailing, barely managing not to fall flat on her arse.

  “Help!” It came out more like a shriek than a shout. “Mrs Sutherland! Arthur!”

  Winston strode towards her and she took a step back. At the door frame, he stopped with the same suddenness as if he’d walked into a wall. Surprise marked his face but was swiftly replaced with pain as the skin across his nose and cheeks reddened and began to blister. Finn levelled his staff and pushed at the air. The tip sizzled slightly before it too rebounded.

  “Protection spell,” Finn said. “Nasty one.”

  It’d worked. She’d actually done a spell that came out as she intended. Well, apart from the blisters. She’d not intended those. But as it was keeping these guys out she wasn’t going to worry.

  “You see, I don’t need your help. I’ve got help. From someone who really knows what she’s doing.”

  “Think about what we said.” Finn took a small notebook from his pocket and scribbled something on it. “I’m leaving you my mobile number. You can ring me anytime. I meant what I said, we want to help.”

  “You’re druids. You can’t help me.”

  “We know a spellworker.” Finn tore the page from his notebook and wedged it under the empty plant pot beside the door. “Someone who’s here in Orkney who can give you all the training you need. She was Nina’s best friend.”

  “Grace?” Nina had talked about her a lot. What was she doing in Orkney? Rachel stepped towards the door.

  A cacophony of barking came from next door. The fence vibrated as Jack threw himself at it. The men’s heads swivelled in unison to look.

  “Dragon on the way,” Winston muttered. Finn stepped back but Winston hesitated. “Don’t go to the Stewarts’ party tomorrow. I can’t explain how I know but bad things will happen if you go.”

  She stared at his retreating back as they walked away. What bad things? She was only going to run the bar. How could bad things come from that?

  Mrs Sutherland called to them, her tone even sharper than normal. Crossing her arms, Rachel stepped through the doorway, out of the protection her spell had created.

  “It’s alright,” she said. “These guys were just leaving.”

  Chapter 42

  There was something wrong with Jenna’s eyes.

  Hal noticed them as soon as she opened the door. They were too dark as if the irises had disappeared completely. Was her arm bothering her again? There’d been a similar effect, although not as ext
reme, when she was taking the painkillers the hospital gave her.

  “You alright?” he asked, following her down the narrow hall. “Is your arm hurting?”

  “No, it’s fine.” She looked over her shoulder at him. “Good job too as I’ve spent most of the day packing boxes.”

  Her words were a small preparation for the state of the living room. Filled cardboard boxes were stacked neatly next to the wall; a half-full one had been pushed behind the sofa; parcel tape and string lay on the empty coffee table.

  “Looks like you’re making progress.” Hal couldn’t believe she was going. She’d been so adamant earlier in the week. He still had no idea what’d changed her mind.

  “Drink?” She leaned on the kitchen counter. “Don’t worry, I’ve not packed the mugs yet. And there’s beer in the fridge.”

  “Go on, I’ll have a beer if you will.” He shouldn’t seeing as he was driving but perhaps if she had one too, it’d get her to open up and tell him what was really going on.

  Jenna popped the tops from two bottles and handed him one. After she’d settled on the sofa next to him, he looked at her again. She couldn’t look more different to the way she had on Thursday evening. Then she’d glowed. Now it was as if all of the life had been drained out of her.

  “Are you absolutely sure about this move?” he said. “I mean, I don’t get what’s changed. You were so sure you were going to turn it down earlier in the week.”

  “God! Why does everyone keep asking me that?” She glared at him as if all of the other questions were his fault too. “It’s time to move on. This is a great opportunity. I’d be an idiot not to take it.”

  “Is this about Winston? Have you and he, I don’t know, had a falling out or something. Because if he’s hurt you—”

  “It’s got nothing to do with Winston. There’s nothing between him and me. Nothing at all.” The flatness in her voice which he’d heard on the phone yesterday was still there.