by L. A. Boruff
To my relief, his shoulders relax, and his familiar easy smile twists his lips. "Yeah, it is. I've been looking for you. Scrying. But I kept coming up blank. Then, the crystal lands on this town, so I hurried over. But once here, with a smaller map, it didn’t work anymore. I've been trying over and over. I tried just a few minutes ago at the coffee shop down the road when I finally got a hit on this shop. And who should walk out but myself?"
"Your magic must've been blocked by the wards, but mine recognized it, putting your image in my subconscious." That’s the only thing that made any sense. The two of us practiced enough magic around one another to be able to recognize one another's magic. If I'd looked for it, then I'd have realized, but my preoccupation with more hazardous things kept me from doing that.
"Come on, mate, come have lunch with me. I need to talk to you, anyway." Benedict turns to leave the alley.
"Hang on," I mutter. Imagining another of our classmates, I pull on my weakening reserve of magic to create the glamour. Normally, I don't do spells this powerful if I'm not power-sharing with another witch. When I’m done, I’m panting a bit. It’s easier to make the glamour with Hank’s help. I doubt this one would last nearly as long.
When Benedict turns around again, he's confronted with Tim, a guy in our class who we both hate. A big, muscular man with a shaved head and a tattoo on his neck of a woman with her tongue sticking out. Being him feels a hell of a lot less natural than being Benedict, but my nostalgia means he’s the next person I remember clearly enough to make a glamour of who doesn’t live in this town.
Benedict bursts out laughing. "Of all the people...”
I shrug. “He’s as good as anyone else.”
“Why are you hiding, anyway?" He grins as he looks me over.
I shake my head. "Too many ears. We'll go somewhere I know."
Walking swiftly without speaking, I go a couple of blocks over to a diner that's mostly frequented by humans. We have places we ward to try to discourage them from coming in, therefore they've created their own diners, bars, and stores that they go to more, and mostly witches stay away.
As we walk through the diner, I send a tendril of magic out to each of the people there. Luckily, the diner is fairly slow this time of day, it's after breakfast but not quite lunch. Something I plan on taking advantage of. I want to be out of here before the rush begins.
"All human," I mutter as we sit in the far booth, away from the other patrons. We can speak softly without being overheard as long as we keep an eye out for the server.
Benedict has the sense to keep his mouth shut until we have our drinks and make our order.
"Out with it," he says. "Why the disguise?"
I stiffen. "First, why are you here looking for me?"
Benny sighs. "You know who I work for?"
I shake my head. "Sorry, I haven't kept up with anything going on back home since I left. That world isn't mine anymore."
For which I’m grateful.
England isn’t that different than here. Many witches live relatively normal lives and stay out of politics. But others can’t, or don’t want to, escape it. There’s power and privilege for those who work for the covens, but there’s also danger. Especially for those who get mixed up with the bastards I had joined up with. The witches who believe that only the pure should exist. The same people who had no idea that only half of me is a witch. I dread thinking what would have happened to me if they'd discovered it. Or perhaps I'd have been safe because of who Father is. The only legacy of his that's useful to me.
"The Queen sent me. She heard whispers of a shift of power over here. She wants me to report with what's going on. I don't know anyone in this coven." He grins at me. "Except you."
I stiffen. The Queen of the English coven is one tough witch. And as far as I’m concerned, not someone who gives a shit about the American covens, unless there’s a real problem. The idea that she’s investigating makes ice run through my veins.
Hell, this isn’t just about keeping the town safe or Callie safe, this is about a complete shift in everything. The realization leaves my head spinning.
“James?” Benedict’s grin falls away.
"I can't tell you much." I'm not sure how much I want to tell him. We were friends once, but that was a very long time ago. He works for the Queen of the biggest coven in the world. As the human monarch of England conquered the world, so did the witch monarch. Oftentimes over the years, they worked together, with each advising the other. It was a terrifying combination, from what I've heard.
Giving that coven more power isn't the best idea. The current Queen is a fair ruler, but that doesn't mean the next one will be. Or the one after that.
Hell. Somehow, I've managed to run from the frying pan straight into the fire.
My heart races as the present and past collide. I’ve been here before. I’ve made this choice before. But I’m different now. A new man.
Aren’t I?
My mother is little more than a memory. A sense of a woman who loved me, and that’s all. But my father, back then he burned in my mind. His purest words screamed over and over again, wearing down my resolve day after day, night after night, until I would’ve done anything to be free from his ideology. Even pretend I believed it.
Even join the purists.
At first, I thought it was just a way to shut my father up. But then things changed, and I actually felt like I’d joined a family. A group of people who cared about me and wanted me to succeed in life. My world had been happier for the briefest time as I gloried in being a part of something bigger than myself.
But the truth always has a way of coming out.
They’d pulled me deeper into the organization, and I’d seen the dirty underbelly of what they preached. I’d seen proof that they were killing witches that weren’t “pure.”
And I’d run.
I’d come here hoping for a different life, only to meet a King that revealed himself to be of the same mindset. In that moment, I’d had a choice. Follow what my father wanted for me. Abandon my true status as a half-witch and accept that I would become the monsters I feared or choose a different path.
The choice had been easy. I put my nose down and did my best to save lives and be a good fireman. I met Will and Hank, and my life became better. Happier. And I swore to myself that I’d never again succumb to the darkness of the coven... but fate has pulled me right back into it.
But this time, I choose Callie. I choose my friends. I choose the right thing.
“Here you go.” My head jerks up as a waitress sets out food down in front of us.
“Thank you,” I say, trying to clear my old memories away.
I reach for my food, avoiding Benedict’s gaze.
He clears his throat as he reaches for his soda. "So, tell me about this new Queen, going after the throne.”
I nearly choke on my first bite of burger. "What are you talking about?"
"The town is buzzing with the news. The true coven Queen has returned and is building an army to take down the tyrant King." He raises his eyebrows. "Is it true?"
How has he heard all that? Are people really convinced Callie is building an army? Ten of us stuck in a house hardly makes an army.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Come on, James. You're hiding for a reason. Out with it."
I have to tell him something or he's never going to leave this be.
I shrug and move my fries around on my plate. "I pissed off the King. I don't know about an army, but I know I don't want to be found."
Benedict nods and digs into his chicken.
Does he believe me? I watch him, but I can’t tell what he’s thinking. So, I pretend to take a lot of interest in my food, and we both eat in silence for a while.
"You can always come back with me," he offers. "The Queen would take you into her service eagerly."
"I'm not what she thinks I am," I warn. "I'm pretty good with controlling fire, but I can't even shift."
Benedict chuckles. "You're more valuable than you realize. You always were."
I shake my head. If there’s one thing a half-breed witch is, it’s not valuable. Especially with the whole, “salamander” background of mine, that even I don’t understand. Mostly because Father never thought to fill me in before I left home.
Benedict points a fry at me. "Now, can we stop playing around? Clearly, you know something."
I sigh and decide to tell him enough to pacify him. "She's not building an army. She's trying to figure out if she can challenge him before the Solstice. If he performs the ceremony with his newborn, he will be solidified as the heir and the magic will choose the King and his son as the true King and Heir. She will never have another chance to claim her throne."
Benedict's eyes widen. "So, it's true," he breathes. "Someone is alive that could disrupt the corrupt King and remove him."
"Yeah, but Benny, she's only got a slim chance. And there's really no army. There's not much to be excited about. It seems likely that the Solstice will pass, and the King will remain in power."
"The Queen wants to know who she is." Benny sets his fork down. "I need a name."
I think of Callie, beautiful, strong, amazing Callie. I trust Benny. But not enough to risk her life.
"I can't give you that." I take out my wallet and throw a twenty on the table. "Sorry, Benny. It was good to see you."
I would've loved to have stayed and caught up with him, but he's dangerous. I can't be sure who he's working for. It's been too long since I've spent any time with him. For all I know, he's a spy from the King. That's why I downplayed Callie's attempts to take the throne. She'd do everything in her power to get the power before the solstice, but to Benny, I made it sound like a lost cause. If he reported to the King, maybe it would make him back off a little.
Fat chance.
I make sure I'm not being followed, taking a circuitous path back to the cabin. I got no information on my trek, besides the possible rumor that they think Callie has an army.
Maybe an army is exactly what we need.
Chapter Four
Callie
I'm learning how to cook for a lot of people. We've had nearly a dozen people staying in my house for the last several weeks while I learn how to use the considerable power I unlocked. And sure, they come and go at all times of the day, but that doesn't mean they don't all need feeding. And, as I'm one of the only ones who doesn't have the skill or knowledge to go on patrol, the cooking is falling to me more than anyone else.
Difficult is an understatement. The good news is that I'm taking to my magic like a fish to water. Theresa says my mom was the same way. That makes me feel good about myself, for sure. I’m a natural.
The harder news is all these people are driving each other crazy. We're still undiscovered in my cottage beside the fire station, and though it has plenty of rooms, we're bursting at the seams. It's hard not to get short-tempered with everyone, but they're all here to help me, or worse, because of me. I have no right to be mean to them.
I stir yet another pot of spaghetti—one of the simpler meals everyone can eat. Nobody is allergic to any of the ingredients and it's relatively cheap to make an enormous pot. After six pots of it in three weeks, though, I'm ready for the fresh groceries Sugar is bringing us.
She frequently shops for the fire department, so if anyone sees her at the local grocer with a buggy full of food, it won't look odd. And she's going to take the food into the firehouse, then we'll sneak over tonight after dark to get it. Having Sugar on the outside is a boon none of us expected. Her ice dragon status is still a secret to anyone but the inner circle, and she wants us to keep it that way, which suits us just fine.
It's almost night. I can't wait to experiment with the fresh vegetables and other ingredients we asked her to get. Not because I particularly love to cook, but because I'm tired of spaghetti, chili, and pizza.
As usual, we eat in shifts around the kitchen table. The table came with the cottage, which is nice, but it only has four chairs. I shovel spaghetti in as fast as I can with James, Hank, and Will so that the others can come eat. It's finally dark out. As soon as we're all finished, Hank and Will are going for the groceries.
"Here ya go." I hand Hank my plate. He just finished rinsing his own off. I cooked, so I don't have to do any dishes. That's part of the reason I've been okay with cooking more. I dislike cooking, but I hate doing dishes.
The back door opens, and we all whirl in surprise to see who is coming in. Everyone that's supposed to be here is already here. "Hey, guys." Sugar hands James a couple of grocery bags. "The rest is in the spare fridge next door like we talked about."
"What are you doing here?" Will asks. He takes a bag from James and they work on putting stuff away.
Sugar sits at the table and sighs. "I wanted to tell you guys as soon as possible. Things in town are bad. I ran into the only other witch that knows what I am besides you guys. She runs Cackles and Cakes over on Moore Street."
"How does she know what you are? Cackles and cakes?" I ask. I have no idea how to tell if someone is a shifter or some other type of magical creature. I haven't gotten that far in my training.
Sugar grins. "Cakes for the humans, potions for the witches.”
Everyone chuckles as realization spreads on my face. “Clever.”
“She knew my mom years ago,” Sugar continues. “One day she stopped me in the grocery store, saying I look so much like a woman she used to know. And dress like her." She laughs and indicates her bright green dress.
Sugar has a hell of a fashion sense, for sure.
"But that's not why I'm here, to talk about my fabulous wardrobe." She smooths her dark hair back in its ponytail. "My friend, Maisey, told me there's a lot going on in town that is being hidden from the humans."
"Like what?" James opens the cabinet under the sink and puts the grocery bags in a larger grocery bag under there. We’ll reuse them. I usually go for reusable bags but forgot to tell the guys to grab mine from my car, and I haven't wanted to go back into the garage since they rescued me from it.
Sugar’s face loses all good humor. "Witches disappearing. Being dragged out of their homes and businesses in the street, in broad daylight. They manage to keep humans from finding out, but people are leaving town out of fear. She herself has lived here her entire life, but she's going to go stay with her distant family out west somewhere."
I already know the answer, but I ask anyway. "Who is doing this?"
"The King's thugs. The same ones that I'm pretty sure grabbed you and Will. And killed Stephanie." Sugar shakes her head. "I didn't see them while I was in town, but she told me what they looked like, and I know who they are."
Will describes the guys that had grabbed us several weeks before and deposited us in the cell at the castle.
"Yep." Sugar confirms it. "That's them."
"Who all has been taken?" Hank asks.
"Um, she specifically mentioned the Deans, Myribel, and Jeremiah."
"Oh, no." Hank hangs his head. "Philip Dean taught me how to enchant my first watch. It zings your wrist when you oversleep." He chuckles. "Why would they take him?"
Sugar shrugs, looking tired. "Why would they take anybody? More than likely there were whispers of their allegiance to Callie, her mom, or one of you guys. There's no other explanation that I can think of."
“Thanks for watching our backs,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady.
Sugar nods. “You boys want to help with the groceries?”
All three men head out the door in an instant. And because I have no doubt they don’t need all of them to get the groceries, I’m sure they’re getting as stir crazy as I am.
“How are things at the firehouse without them?”
Sugar smiles. “Those boys have covered for the firefighters with families too many times to count. No one is complaining a bit about this chance to help them right back.”
“That’s a relief,” I say.
> One thing that seems to be going right around here.
Sugar stands from the table, and her smile falls away. “How are you doing?”
Instantly, my heart starts racing. I almost say the familiar words I’ve been spouting to everyone else in the house, then decide to hell with it. “I’m struggling. Learning my magic is amazing, but I feel this clock ticking over my head. Everyone needs me to go up against my uncle, but I’m still just barely figuring out how to use my magic.” I pause and take a shaky breath. “And, as much as she drove me crazy, I miss my cat.”
To my surprise, Sugar rounds the table, her expression concerned. “You haven’t felt your cat since your powers came in?”
I shake my head, surprised to find tears in my eyes. That damned cat made my life so hard, but now when I reach for her... she’s just gone. It feels like opening the gates on my magic washed my cat right out of me, and the thought makes me sick.
“Is she just... gone now?” I ask, brushing a stray tear away.
“I don’t know,” Sugar says. “But I know if my dragon was gone, I’d be a mess.”
“For my entire life, I've hated shifting into my cat. I hated being a freak, being seen as a troublemaker, all of it. But...” It’s hard to speak. “I never hated her.”
Sugar reaches out and squeezes my arm. “Well, don’t give up on her yet. Magic is a funny thing. It can work in strange ways.”
I hope that’s true. Because it feels like someone I loved died.
“Thanks,” I tell her, brushing another tear away and forcing a smile. “Thanks for everything.”
She nods, pulls me into a quick hug, then heads for the door.
I give a small wave and watch as she disappears into the night. It’s strange to think the whole town is depending on me, and I’m hiding in here.
It’s also strange that a part of me can still taste the summer on the wind.
Unable to help myself, I move to the open door and stare out, closing my eyes. My cat might be gone. I can feel that deep in my soul, but the way she changed me isn’t. I can smell rain somewhere in the distance, and the night still calls to me.
