Spellbinding Blend

by Kennedy Layne

  “They’re making too much racket,” I muttered, taking another sip of my wine. We all sucked in air when my mother brought up Leo’s somewhat disheveled appearance. “They have to run out of insults and breath soon, right?”

  I’d spoken too soon.

  Leo began to point out that Mom hadn’t truly left behind this way of life the day she’d departed for New York City. Her twisted departure had only hurt others with her selfish, defiant behavior. She technically didn’t have the right to come back to town as if she owned the place and try to destroy what little of a relationship she’d left between Nan and me. It wasn’t a surprise when his litany of sharp-ended points riled my mother to the juncture of taking that argument down another road.

  Don’t get me wrong.

  Leo was right on every count.

  Mom had chosen to abandon Nan and our lineage, all the while keeping my past under wraps for her own selfish reasons. I hadn’t known about the Marigolds’ history and the good work we could do in this world. Using my abilities to make the holistic blends with a sprinkle of magic helped the residents of Paramour Bay, and that alone made me feel as if I was fully contributing to my new community.

  Nan had left me the tea shop, which concealed the true reason she’d opened up such a business in a small town. It afforded her the leisure of using small amounts of white magic without any real threat of being caught by the townsfolk. As for the quaint cottage on the edge of town, she’d made it appear eerie enough on the outside so that no one really wanted to make social calls. Entering such a private domain opened a witch up to the vulnerability of being discovered in her lair.

  As for the interior, well, the modern décor was all Nan. I loved what she’d done with the place.

  I wouldn’t technically have called Nan materialistic, but she certainly did like the finer things in her domestic life. The cottage was a one-story abode with a loft that was accessed by an ornately carved spiral staircase that appeared to be cut from a single massive black oak. The bedroom was located above the kitchen and could be observed from the front entrance.

  Nan had added splashes of bright colors everywhere, yet the living room furniture was a hive of natural colors that matched the neutral cream paint on the walls. There was even a large river stone fireplace with a black oak mantle, but it was the intricately carved hardwood coffee table that was the heart of this home. The elaborate yet obscure carvings had been hand-carved by skilled craftsmen, and there were secret drawers hidden in every nook and cranny of the live oak. It was where she’d kept the family grimoire, and rightly so—the protection wards cast on the coffee table were like none other I’d ever seen.

  Not that I’d seen a lot in the six months I’d been here since I’d found out I was a witch.

  Heidi and I both startled when Ted abruptly stepped forward toward the battling duo, which wasn’t much of a stretch considering he was six feet and six inches tall. His black suit was spotless without even the slightest piece of lint to be found on the pristine fabric. He stuck his two index fingers into his mouth and blew, creating a piercing whistle that had my mother and Leo clutching their ears, along with Heidi and me.

  Did I fail to mention that Ted was a dead ringer for Lurch from The Addams Family?

  Literally.

  He had previously been part of a wax museum’s collection.

  Odd, I know, but Paramour Bay had a wax museum that could be observed right as one drove into town. Nan had gotten the bright idea that bringing wax figures to life could make her life easier. I’m pretty sure she’d taken such drastic measures because she was lonely and wanted a little more companionship than her surly familiar.

  “There is no need to fight,” Ted declared, a frown on his rather chiseled features. “Stop this childish nonsense. Right now.”

  He tended to talk in short sentences, but that might have to do with the fact that he didn’t have a brain or any other vital organs. At least, I don’t think he did in the sense that we had them.

  Tell that giant grey crayon to mind his own business. There is a higher calling before us, a need to fight and rectify this situation. Regina, I forbid you to date Beetle.

  “What is Leo saying?” Ted asked, his frown still in place as he turned to me for an explanation.

  Seeing as Ted was supernatural but not a witch or warlock, he couldn’t hear what Leo was saying. I didn’t need to answer, though, because my mother told Leo exactly where he could go after he’d attempted to tell her how to live her life.

  “What is wrong with someone needing love?”

  Ted’s question—more importantly, the way he’d phrased it—had everyone immediately falling silent, even Leo. He’d been on the arm of the couch while my mother had taken the overstuffed chair, giving both of them the ability to lean forward in their attempt to make their points.

  “Who said anything about love?” my mother asked in disbelief, a bit of shock glistening in those green eyes of hers. “Ted, it was only dinner.”

  “A dinner that might eventually lead to love.”

  Am I hearing this right? I don’t have time for this wax giant to get philosophical, Raven. I’m not done making my point.

  “I’m not a fan of Ms. Regina, either.”

  Heidi choked on her wine at Ted’s somewhat flippant interpretation.

  “I beg your pardon?” my mother snapped back, clearly outraged over Ted’s opinion of her. I wasn’t sure why, considering he’d only been in existence for ten or eleven years, well after she’d left town. I’m certain Ted had heard quite the earful from Nan regarding her only daughter and the choices she’d made with her life. “I will have you know that—”

  He has a valid point, Regina. Let it go.

  It was a good thing I hadn’t taken a sip of wine or else it would have been all over my skirt. Ted had assumed Leo had said something insulting toward my mother, and he hadn’t given me a chance to interpret.

  “Does that mean Miss Regina shouldn’t find love?”

  I quickly caught Heidi up to speed with a whisper, not wanting to interrupt Ted’s deeply held opinion on the matter of love. He might not have a lot of common sense, but I did have to give him credit. There were times when I truly believed he had more of an understanding on humanity than the rest of us put together.

  “We are built for companionship.”

  What are we? Chopped liver? Raven, I’m failing to see the point here.

  “We all need love.”

  I had to give Ted his due. He often didn’t speak in this manner, but it was clearly an important subject he’d apparently given a great deal of thought to. Leo had pulled back slightly off the arm of the couch, as if he were surprised that Ted could be so sentimental. It wasn’t really surprising, given the fact that Ted was in love with a mannequin at the boutique store in town. The owner, Mindy, chalked it up to Ted being a little bit eccentric.

  “It’s nice to hold someone’s hand,” Ted continued with what I was afraid would become a permanent frown. His dark eyes swept over Leo. “Or paw, in your case.”

  Ted didn’t seem to understand why Leo and my mother wouldn’t agree with him. He paused with each sentence, so it wasn’t as if they weren’t being given ample time to do so. His thought process took things down into their simplest of forms, and he had the ability to strike at the heart of the matter with just a few succinct words.

  I actually agreed with him, and I didn’t want to leave him hanging.

  “Ted, you’re right. Everyone should experience love in their lives. Having someone to laugh with at all our silly jokes, cry with us when we’re sad, and grow old with us so we have a hand to hold when it comes time for the last farewell,” I replied softly, resting a hand on his stiff arm. Nan hadn’t thought this part through, had she? Bringing to life an inanimate object, only to have him be alone. Sure, he had us…as Leo had so eloquently stated a little bit ago. Having Liam in my life had me seeing things differently, and maybe it was time to consider giving Ted a companion after we sol
ved this current murder mystery. “Mom, we won’t say another word if Beetle is someone who you’d truly like to get reacquainted with from your youth.”

  Who is this we you speak of? You and Heidi? Have you got Skippy in your pocket? I could see him taking your side in this. It’s surely not me you’re talking about, because that is not where I was headed with my previous conversation.

  “I’d like to put a caveat on that statement, though,” I warned, wanting to be clear about the line between personal and profession, while also ensuring our witchcraft abilities were kept safe. After all, Beetle was my employee. “Mother, you’ve warned me numerous times about my relationship with Liam and the fact that I even hired Beetle in the first place was a matter of concern, and also about my choice to live here in Paramour Bay from the start. You have to promise me that you’ll take your own warnings to heart.”

  Wise choice, though I’m not sure there was enough threatening tone laced in your voice. Maybe you should try it again with some possible punishments thrown in.

  “I’d say that’s a compromise on all sides, wouldn’t you?” Heidi pointed out happily.

  Leo was regarding Ted with wariness, almost as if my familiar was weighing the advice given by a so-called wax golem. Heidi began to refill our glasses as if I’d somehow reversed roles with my mother, but she actually appeared to be giving my opinion a bit of thought on the matter.

  “I’ll admit that I was flirting with Beetle at first to rile up you and Leo,” Mom replied, looking down at her nails as if she’d suddenly found them somewhat interesting. She cleared her throat before continuing, telling me that whatever she was about to say wasn’t going to be easy for her to admit. “But there’s something rather…charming about a man my own age. He doesn’t care what other people think of me, and I find that quite refreshing. A couple more dinners couldn’t hurt to get caught up on old times, but you know that I would never—ever—jeopardize what you’ve built here. I might not agree with all of your choices, but I’ve come to accept that you’re a grown woman who makes her own decisions.”

  “Here, here,” Heidi exclaimed, raising a glass in Ted’s direction seeing as he was the one who’d gotten us this far. “To seeing the silver lining of possibilities.”

  Ted still had a grimace on his rather squared face, evidently not quite sure we’d truly understood what he had been attempting to convey. I would completely disagree, especially seeing as Leo’s left eye was practically glued to the utterly simplistic yet oddly insightful giant. I guess I’d never stopped to think about Leo and his personal life. Was there a female cat or another familiar that had crossed his path recently? Was there more to that magical fairy lipstick mark on his fur than I initially thought?

  What? None of your business, missy. I’m done talking about this sappy stuff. First, you go and hook up with the sheriff, of all people. Then you spill the one secret we in the supernatural world hold sacred to Heidi. That alone could get us turned into toads by the coven. Was that enough? Noooo. Now you expect me to accept that your mother is dating my best high-end catnip supplier all due to a foolishly sentimental speech given by an oversized waxed crayon. And lest we forget, we now have a new cousin in our neck of the woods who just happens to be a warlock who calls your great-aunt Mother.

  “Does Leo need a hug?” Heidi whispered teasingly, twisting around to set her wine glass on the counter before she stood and made her way over to Leo. “Come here, you little furball.”

  You tell Heidi that it’s not going to work this time. I’m not going to be cuddled into shutting up about this train wreck. This is a dire situation, and one we need to rectify posthaste, if not sooner. A simple warning will not do under these circumstances. There must be consequences.

  Leo continued to squirm in protest, and he even tried to turn his head the other way when Heidi finally scooped him up in her arms. She knew exactly how to get him to cave with a gentle nuzzle to his neck. I could practically hear him break out into a purr from my seat on the stool.

  We might be able to deal with your mother’s catting around tomorrow.

  “Could we please get on with casting this spell, helping your fetching sheriff solve his case, and allowing me to have an early breakfast with a dear old friend?” my mother inquired with a roll of her eyes at how easily Leo had acquiesced to Heidi’s cuddling advances. “I need my beauty sleep.”

  Heidi quickly prevented Leo from hurling another insult my mother’s way by scratching underneath his chin. She settled back on the couch with a relenting Leo in her arms, so I snatched up her wine and walked it over to her.

  “I’ll leave you to your business, Miss Raven.” Ted usually didn’t stay around for the spellcasting, and it appeared he was back to his terse sentence structure. “Goodnight, ladies.”

  “Thank you for gathering the ingredients, Ted,” I called out as he walked stiffly to the front door. Seriously, he never asked for anything. One of these days I was going to figure out a way to animate that mannequin to life for him. He was absolutely right when he said that people shouldn’t grow old alone. Then again, would Ted ever grow old? It was something I needed to genuinely consider. “Goodnight.”

  I took my usual seat on the oversized burgundy pillow I kept in between the coffee table and hearth. The heat on my back was very comforting as I began to separate the components needed for the spell in their various pestles. I could already sense the energy of the earth surging and building beneath me.

  “Well, I figure Liam and Jack have already identified the individuals within the carnival who are trafficking drugs,” I reasoned, taking the time to light the candles that Mom had set out before getting into an argument with Leo. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t be conducting some sort of drug sting tonight. Right?”

  “I’d say that’s right,” Heidi agreed with a nod, casting a glance in my mother’s direction. “Mrs. M?”

  “Agreed.” Regina leaned forward and moved one of the pestles closer to me, forming a more perfectly symmetric semicircle. “We’re specifically looking for who killed Mr. Paul so that we can be sure he or she is arrested with these same individuals involved in the sting. There is something to be said for justice in human terms, so let’s not waste any more time. Raven?”

  If there’s not enough evidence to arrest them, we can always give Rowena a call. I don’t care for her, but she definitely has the ability to turn almost anyone into a toad.

  Leo had thrown that suggestion out almost indifferently, completely immersed in Heidi’s affection. We weren’t turning anyone into toads—truthfully, I wasn’t even sure that could happen regardless of the old wives’ tales. I was simply gathering information for Liam, so that this town could once again breathe a little easier knowing that the killer had been caught and thrown behind bars.

  I purposefully took a deep breath and made myself settle on the pillow. I was well-acquainted with this spell, and I had no worries that we would have the answers we sought in a matter of minutes. Leo had been lying in Heidi’s arms, but his head popped up and his bulging left eye instantly focused on me in the most accusing manner.

  No worries? You just had to jinx us, didn’t you?

  Chapter Eleven

  Leo’s warning had come a little too late. The thing that gets me is that I did know better than to tempt fate, but I’d gone ahead and done it anyway. It wasn’t that the spell had gone awry. Quite the contrary—I’d cast the divination perfectly.

  Questionable.

  No, my technique wasn’t questionable. It was the results that had me baffled.

  “Are you sure the man who murdered Kevin Paul wasn’t George Mertes?” Heidi asked for the fifth time in the span of the past two minutes. She’d finished her wine and was twirling the empty glass by the stem. “I mean, you did say that the glare of the sun was in Mr. Paul’s eyes when he was arguing with the killer. Seeing as you were witnessing everything he saw in his final moments, is it possible you couldn’t get a good enough look at the murderer?”

  W
as the man’s face warped? Like one of those Picasso paintings? Maybe you didn’t add enough Kava Kava leaf. Ted is always shorting us on the Fijian plants.

  “I added the exact same amount as the last time I’d cast this spell,” I countered in frustration, staring at the empty pestles in front of me. I tossed my hands up in defeat. “And the glare of the sun wasn’t enough to prevent me from seeing who Kevin Paul argued with right before he turned around and was hit on the head. For some reason, I could only see half the killer’s face. Oh, I do recall that the killer had a massive combover. What was left was a bit greasy. I didn’t recognize him, but it’s not like we’ve met every single carnival worker that George Mertes has on staff.”

  “True,” Heidi replied, casting a glance toward the kitchen. This setback did deserve a bit more wine. I stood and stretched my legs before making my way to the island where a half bottle of wine was waiting to be finished. “Jack or Liam must have photographs of those they feel are part of the drug trafficking ring. Maybe we can come up with an excuse as to why you need to see them. You can always claim you suddenly recalled a man walking away from the kissing booth.”

  Leo was now sitting on the couch beside Heidi as we tried to figure out who the murderer could have been. It wasn’t Elroy Simpson, because I’d seen the man’s mugshot from a previous crime. He couldn’t have changed all that much.

  “What if the man doesn’t work for the carnival at all?” I speculated, trying to think through the case the way Liam would if he’d been given this information. “What if the murderer was the supplier or maybe even a buyer of whatever drugs George and Olive are trafficking through the carnival? Could Kevin Paul have been in on the operation and tried to cut George out of the deal? Maybe this stranger I saw was working for the other side.”