by T J Green
“I have some salves for burns, and a spell for spirit fire. Let’s hope that helps,” Briar said, choosing a pot.
“Tell us everything,” Gil urged.
Alex started, telling them about the spirit walking, and then El told them about their investigations which had led to the house. She turned to Alex and Avery. “So you saw something during your spirit walk? Was it the same thing?”
“I don’t know.” Alex shrugged. “But we were above you and it rushed at us. It was a dark mass. It looked like the demon in the room, but it could have been someone with dark energy disguising themselves.”
Avery leaned back against the window frame, its cold steel digging into her shoulder. “If the demon was controlled by necromancy, then it could be that whatever—or whoever—was spirit walking sent the demon.”
Gil had been watching Briar expertly tend to Reuben’s wounds, but now he looked at Avery. “You’re saying somebody controlled that thing. The demon.”
“Why would a demon need a spell book, Gil?” she asked. “They don’t. Witches need spell books. Witches control demons. Or at least, some do. It was very popular in medieval times. And someone clearly is willing to do anything to get those grimoires.”
It was a horrible thing to acknowledge, but they had to. She watched Gil and Reuben. They were both so different. Reuben the handsome surfer who had supposedly turned his back on magic, and Gil, his older, quieter brother. Gil’s hair was darker and shorter, and he was slightly thicker set, but now that they sat next to each other, Avery could see the family resemblance around their eyes, and the set of their mouth.
“So instead of healing and nurturing magic, we’re now dealing with dark magic?” Gil looked at Avery accusingly. “You’ve caused this, by finding that box and those papers.”
Avery felt like she’d been punched. “Sod off, Gil! I didn’t cause this! And I didn’t find those papers, or even look for them. They were left to me. If you want to blame anyone, blame Anne!” She was angry now, and she could feel her magic ready to sizzle again. “In fact, blame your relative. She’s the one who dragged Anne into all this.”
The tension in the room was palpable as Gil stood. “We only have Anne’s word for that. It could be a lie, or a double cross. Something to draw us into looking, all for someone else’s purposes. Anne went to a lot of trouble to point us in the right direction. When she was dead. Very convenient.”
Avery stepped towards Gil. “You had no idea about your history. Stop trying to blame someone else. It’s probably your mad uncle Addison who tried to kill us tonight.”
“Stop it. Both of you.” Alex stepped between them and then looked at Gil. “You have to accept this, Gil, like it or not. I suggest you start looking for your own grimoire. You too, Briar. The gods only know what’s in there.” He turned to Avery, a ghost of a smile in his eyes. “I’ll help you find yours.” He then announced to all of them, “And we need to stick together. I don’t know about you, but I have no idea how to summon a demon, control one, or destroy one. That thing we encountered tonight is only banished. It will be back. And we need to be ready for it.”
13
Avery woke late and stretched in her bed luxuriously. And then she winced. She felt as heavy as lead and she had a dull headache. Last night’s activities had depleted her energy levels, and she needed to replenish them.
The sunlight filtered through her blinds and in the warm light she wondered if last night had been a nightmare. So many things had happened. The spirit walk had been magical—well, most of it. And Alex. What had happened there? The feel of his kiss still lingered on her lips, and she hoped it would happen again. And then, of course, the demon had changed everything.
She looked around at the room for reassurance; at her pictures, the shelves with her favourite objects displayed, her soft bed linen, and her old drawers and wardrobe. Here she felt safe. As she moved her feet down the bed she pushed against something heavy and heard a meow. She looked down and found Circe and Medea blinking at her. Time for breakfast.
After she’d showered, she headed down to the shop. It was only Friday, one week since she had been given the box and the letter from Anne, but it felt like a lifetime had passed.
The shop was open, and a few customers were already browsing. The mellow sounds of John Coltrane played in the background. Sally looked up as she entered. She was straightening cards and tidying shelves, but she took one look at her and said, “Let’s talk.”
Avery caught Dan’s eyes from where he stood at the counter, and he grinned. Dan was tall, dark, and skinny, and he was far more tolerant of her erratic behaviour over the last few days than Sally.
Avery headed to the coffee pot in the back room and poured herself a large mug. She looked at Sally. “Would you like one?”
Sally leaned against the doorframe, arms folded across her chest. “Don’t try to distract me, Avery. What’s going on with you?” Her lips were pursed into a thin line, and she looked genuinely worried.
“Nothing’s going on, I’ve just had a few busy days and late nights.” Avery sipped her coffee and felt the warm rush of caffeine thaw her sluggish brain.
“I have never known you not come into work before—or forget to call me! And you look like shit today.”
Wow, Sally wasn’t pulling any punches. “Thanks, Sally. You’re so sweet to notice!”
Sally sighed. “I’m saying this because I’m your friend and I’m worried about you! Your behaviour is weird.”
She needed to reassure her—quickly. “The stuff I had from Anne has thrown up some questions about my family, that’s all. I’ve just been doing some investigating. And that’s meant some late nights.” Sally knew her family was a touchy subject. Hopefully she wouldn’t ask anything further.
“You know a woman was killed last night? I hope you haven’t been wandering the streets on your own. It’s not safe.”
Avery almost spilled her coffee in shock. “Who was killed? Where?”
“A car was found crashed on the road over the moors. There was blood everywhere, apparently. The police aren’t saying much at the moment, but there’s no other cars involved, and it’s really suspicious.”
Avery felt dizzy and she groped for a stool. “On the moors? What—miles away?”
“No! Just outside the town.” She lowered her voice. “I saw Joe this morning as I was opening up. He said he’s never seen anything like it. It was like she’d been attacked by an animal.”
Joe was one of the local policemen. He’d been to school with Sally and knew her well. And besides, in a small town, news travelled fast.
Avery’s brain didn’t seem to want to process anything. “But I thought you said it was a car accident? That can cause a lot of blood.”
“Joe wouldn’t say, but I think there was something else.”
“So they think a crazy person did this? That there’s some sort of killer in the area?”
Sally clammed up. “I don’t know. But it’s weird. You should be careful.”
“Well, so should you, then,” she retaliated. Avery desperately needed to speak to the others. Was this a human attack, or had the demon attacked some poor woman? As horrible as the thought that there was a murderer on the loose, it was far preferable to a demon. “Look,” she said in an effort to appease Sally, “I haven’t done anything to endanger myself. Don’t worry. And I’m sure this accident is just that. Okay?”
“You’re heading out the door again, aren’t you?”
“Just for a while. I won’t be long.”
Before Avery left, she went back up to her flat and covered it in every ward and protection spell she could think of, and then she protected the shop, too. She would take every precaution she could.
***
Avery’s feet seemed to know where she was going before she did. They led her straight to the pub. Part of her wondered if it was wise to see Alex again so soon. She was confused about the kiss. Was it something that could happen again, or was it a spur of the
moment flirt that meant nothing? Well, to him. It meant more than it should to her. As much as she might try to deny it, she was attracted to him. Maybe she should try to put up some barriers. Self-protection was a good thing.
The streets were starting to get busy, shoppers meandering along the streets, and enjoying the bunting that had appeared over the last few days. Shopfronts were adding to their window displays for the summer Solstice. As White Haven was a town that embraced its witchy history, witch-hanging included, it also embraced the natural rhythms of the seasons, and the Solstice was one of them. Tomorrow night there’d be fires and parties on the beach, and the pubs would be offering specials. Unfortunately, at this moment, The Wayward Son was closed.
As much as she was itching to wake Alex, she figured she should let him sleep. She instead headed for El’s shop to see how Reuben was. The door swung silently in, and she found the same woman from the other day behind the counter. Instead of letting her through, she said, “She’s still at home. And I know nothing.” She held her hand up to ward off further questions and Avery turned round and headed to the quay, convinced she knew more than she was letting on.
The entrance to El’s flat had a big lobby with bare brick walls and a call system at the bottom. She pressed the buzzer and without needing to speak, El said, “Come on up, Avery.”
Presuming the Dread Guardian of the Shop—as Avery had started to call her—had phoned ahead, Avery headed through the doors that El had released and into the lift. Within seconds she was in El’s flat.
Sunlight and a light breeze streamed in through the big windows, and she saw the harbour sparkling in the sunshine, the boats bobbing on the sea. She had a moment of pleasure as she looked at the beautiful place she lived, before her eye was drawn to the box in the centre of the floor. It was open.
El sat on the floor in front of it, objects strewn in front of her. She looked up at Avery. “It’s similar to Alex’s. A goblet, an Athame, a ritual bowl, a small chopping knife, and some jewellery—a beautiful old pendant.” She held it up the light and Avery took it from her, turning it. The chain was long and silver, and the pendant was a blood red stone. She must have looked puzzled because El said, “Carnelian. To protect and confer endurance and courage. If I’m honest, it’s what I need right now.”
Avery dropped down onto the rug next to her. “Have you heard what happened on the moor last night? After we left?”
“No. What?”
“A woman had a car accident. Except it’s probably just meant to look like an accident.”
El was already pale, but if it was possible, she turned paler and her hand flew to her mouth. “No!”
“Yes. I’m wondering if it was the demon.”
El closed her eyes briefly. “What have we got into, Avery? This isn’t what I love about magic. Demons, blood, unbridled power. I want to protect people, make them happy, tap into nature, live at one with our surroundings.”
Avery snorted. “We haven’t got unbridled power, and I doubt we will. Besides, we choose what we do with our magic.”
“But we can’t control a demon. And I’m not sure I want to.”
“Good. Neither do I. But we’re going to have to, because it will come for us again.” Avery looked around the room and could hardly believe what she was saying on such a bright, beautiful day.
“Do we know who the woman was?”
Avery shook her head. “No. Not yet.”
“Do the others know?”
Avery shrugged. “I don’t know, haven’t spoken to them yet.” She looked around the room. “Where’s Reuben?”
“Gil took him home; he wanted to keep an eye on him.” El’s pretty face fell into a sullen frown. “I don’t think he trusted me.”
“He’s his younger brother—he’s just worried.”
“The thing is, Reuben didn’t even argue. I think he’s mad at me. He barely looked at me as he left.”
Avery wasn’t sure before, but she was sure now. El and Reuben definitely had something between them. El looked like she might cry. Avery patted her shoulder. “He had a horrible shock. He knows you, and he knows what you are. Hell, he’s a witch, too! He’ll come round. He might even accept his gifts.” Avery nodded towards the box. “What about the grimoire? The box is virtually identical to Alex’s. Different markings, but that’s all. The grimoire must be in the lid.”
El seemed pleased to focus on something else. “They’re runes again. One to protect against spirits and demons, but the ones around the lid are different. I’m not opening it here, though. Not alone. I was thinking of bringing it to our Solstice celebration tomorrow. I want to open it while we’re all together.”
“Okay,” Avery nodded. “Seems sensible.” Although under the potency of a waning gibbous moon, and in the open, they might attract more than they were ready for. However, she kept her thoughts to herself. “We’re celebrating in my small garden. It’s already warded and protected, and I’ll add to that today.”
They both jumped as the intercom rang loudly. El headed over and pushed the button. “Hi, Elspeth here.”
“This is Detective Inspector Newton. We’d like to ask you a few questions, please.”
El looked at Avery in shock, and mouthed Shit! She turned quickly to the intercom. “Certainly, can I ask what about?”
“We’ll explain when we see you.” He sounded stern, and Avery felt her stomach flip. “Are you going to let us in?”
“Of course, come on up.” She pressed the release button and turned to Avery, stricken. “Bollocks, and triple bollocks!” And then her gaze fell on the box, which even in the bright sunlight looked distinctly magical.
“We’ll cover it with a spell,” Avery said quickly. “Help me drag it to the corner.”
El ran over and between them they wrestled it under a table as Avery quickly murmured a spell that made the box invisible.
“What can they want, Avery?”
“Maybe they saw your car on a camera. Stay calm. You were going for a drive in the moonlight and saw nothing. That’s allowed, you know.”
They were interrupted by a knock at the door, and after a final look around the room, El went to open the door, while Avery stood in the kitchen making tea and trying to calm her nerves.
El opened the door and without waiting for an invitation, a tall man with dark hair swept into the room, followed by a younger man with reddish hair. They both looked around, stopping briefly when they saw Avery, and then finally looked at El. She now looked very composed and shaking their hands said, “Hi, I’m Elspeth. Please come in.” She gestured further into the room.
The dark haired man spoke first. “Detective Inspector Newton, and this is Officer Moore.”
Moore nodded and followed the DI into the room. They seemed to fill the space of El’s small flat. Avery thought Newton looked as if he was in his mid-thirties, and he was handsome, the clean lines of his face exuding both confidence and suspicion. He wore a single-breasted grey suit and a crisp white shirt, and it looked good on him. Moore’s suit, in comparison, looked a little rumpled.
Avery came out from behind the open plan kitchen counter and shook their hands as well, trying very hard to make a good impression. “Hi, I’m Avery, El’s friend.”
Newton nodded, looking her up and down. “I know your face. You run the occult store.”
“The bookstore,” she corrected him, a stone in her stomach. All storeowners had regular interactions with the police as part of community policing and safety, however she had never met Newton before. “Can I get you some tea? I’m making some anyway.”
“No thanks.” His face was grim, and he turned to El. “There was a death last night on the road across the moors. We’ve been combing the footage of the cameras leading out of town along that road, and your car was seen leaving at 11:07 PM and coming back into town around 1:15 AM. Where had you been?”
“Just out for a drive. I like to sit on the cliff top and look over the sea. I also found out recently that my old
family home used to be the old Hawk House, up on the moor. I wanted to see it.”
“At night?” he asked, watching El closely, every now and again flicking a glance at Avery, while Moore scribbled away.
Avery risked a glance under the far table, and satisfied that the box couldn’t be seen, busied herself with tea.
“I was with Reuben. It seemed romantic, you know, gazing at the stars.” She smiled and winked, but Newton ignored her.
“Who’s Reuben?”
“Reuben Jackson. He’s a local. Works at Greenlane Nursery.”
“One of the Jacksons from Greenlane Manor?” he asked, his eyes narrowing.
El nodded, “Yes.”
He glanced at Moore, who again scribbled furiously, and then asked, “Did you see anything on the moors?”
“Nothing, except a few passing cars. Why?”
“You didn’t hear anything?”
El folded her arms across her chest. “No. Why are you asking me questions if there was a car accident? I mean, I’m sorry that someone is dead, but I didn’t see anything. I would have stopped, obviously. And I certainly didn’t hit anyone, you can check my car.”
Newton hesitated a moment and glanced again at Moore, who gave the faintest of nods. He looked at El and then beyond her to where Avery stood, now sipping tea and desperately trying to calm her rapidly beating heart. “We’re not worried about another car. We’re worried about something far darker.”
He watched them and the silence in the room seemed to solidify, anchoring Avery to the spot. “What do you mean, ‘darker?’” El asked.
He changed tack. “You two, and a few others in White Haven, have a certain reputation.”
“We do?” Elspeth said, looking confused.
He smiled, unpleasantly. “Yes. And while some people may think it’s interesting, even exciting, I think it’s dangerous.”
“Detective Inspector, you’re going to have a be a bit clearer with that. I really don’t know what you mean,” El said, remaining very composed. Maybe there was a flicker of glamour there, too. Avery silently applauded her.
