by Jane Hinchey
“Doesn't work like that, dipshit,” Remy said from the doorway. I almost released my hold on the two of them as I sagged in relief. The cavalry had arrived. Remy hurried across the floor to my side. “Mick is seconds behind me. Lower them to the floor,” she whispered in my ear. Right. Don't reveal my magic to the human. I did as instructed, lowering Colin and Kaylee to the floor.
“Professor Jones.” Remy held out a hand to my father and helped him to his feet. “Help me restrain them.”
“On it.”
Remy positioned herself behind Kaylee and seized her arms, pulling them tight behind her back. My dad repeated the movement with Colin, but I kept my magic in place, just in case, only to any human onlookers, they wouldn't know it involved magic.
The next thing I knew, the shearing shed was full of people. My God, had the whole town turned up? Gran, Jenna and Blake, plus Andi, Nigel and even Omar. Mick cuffed Colin and made good use of our discarded cable ties on Kaylee.
“How did you find us?” I asked Remy, my legs wobbly now I'd let go of my hold on my magic.
“Bandit and Archie.” She grinned. “I'm guessing Archie jumped in the back of the Ute when he saw you being taken, and Bandit saw the Ute leave with Archie in the back. He kicked up a ruckus, barking and howling and running down the road, so we followed. When I realized he was leading us down the road that led to the old homestead, I phoned Mick.”
“The Ute? Nigel's Ute?” I frowned.
Nigel shuffled forward. “It's the old communal Ute from when the sheep station was in business.”
“Did you know about this?” I demanded.
Nigel held his hands up. “I didn't, I swear. I mean, I knew Kaylee was fooling around with Tamir.”
“What?” Colin spluttered. “I told you to stay away from him,” he ground out, eyes latched on Kaylee, who shrugged, “Like you stayed away from sweet, sweet Annabel?”
“What's going on?” Andi cried, her face wet with tears. “I don't understand. Colin? Kaylee? What's happening?”
Remy put an arm around Andi's shoulders in comfort. “It's really a bit out there and hard to believe, but Kaylee has been practicing black magic,” she told her.
“What? Black magic? But why? I didn't even know that was a thing... beyond TV shows and movies, that is.” Andi wiped her nose on the hem of her T-shirt.
“She believes that she can summon a goddess who will make her immortal. Only black magic requires blood sacrifices.”
“Are you telling me...” Andi swallowed and looked at Remy, her face fearful. “Are you telling me Kaylee killed that lovely young man, Tamir?”
Mick nodded. “She did. And Beth. And she was about to kill Mr. and Mrs. Jones. And probably Harper too just to keep her quiet.”
Andi sniffed, then looked to Colin. “And you knew? You helped her? And who is Annabel? Another girl you killed?”
Kaylee laughed, a note of hysteria tinging her voice. “Whose idea do you think this all was?” She jerked her head. “The old homestead? That was his idea. Burn it down, be done with it. Start afresh. Only you wouldn't leave Arrowstrand.” Kaylee turned her nose up in the air. “So he was stuck here. With you. Until he met her. Annabel. Young. Pretty.”
“What is she saying?” Andi whispered, her eyes beseeching her husband to deny what his daughter was telling her.
Colin ducked his head, mute and Kaylee scoffed, “See, Mom. He's weak. Just like you are. I mean, my god, how clueless can you be that he's been having an affair practically under your nose and you just merrily go about living your life, raising baby joeys, oblivious to what is going on around you. Dad hates it here. Always has. When Pop finally kicked the bucket, Dad saw it as his opportunity to sell up and move, but you loved it here and wouldn't let him.”
“To be truthful”—Colin raised his head and pinned his daughter with a hard stare—“the fire was an accident. A happy one. She was practicing magic and accidentally set the kitchen on fire.”
Andi looked from one to the other with wide, dazed eyes. “I don't even know you,” she whispered. “My own husband and daughter are strangers to me. What is wrong with you people?” Her voice rose in anguish and Mick jerked on Colin’s handcuffs.
“Okay. That's enough. Let's go.” He pushed Colin and Kaylee ahead of him and out the door.
Mom and Dad both wrapped me in a bear hug, and I hugged them back. “I'm so glad you're okay.” I sniffed, my relief overwhelming.
“Come here, family.” Gran sniffed, joining in our group hug and before I knew it Jenna and Remy were in on it too.
“Now what?” Jenna asked.
“Well,” Gran drawled, “I do think it's time we got Blake sorted out, don't you? It’s not midnight yet, we’ve got time.”
“Let’s do it.” I nodded, but Gran was shaking her head at me.
“You didn’t read the spell properly,” she chided. “Besides saying the incantation at midnight, Blake also needs to be submerged in water.”
I rolled my eyes in disbelief. So close, yet so far.
“To the swimming hole!” Remy declared.
Chapter Eighteen
I basked in the company of my parents on the drive back to the caravan park. Sandwiched between them on the back seat, I held each of their hands, beyond grateful I had them back, whole and unharmed.
Mom yawned. “I’m really looking forward to a shower.”
“Me too. And a decent night’s sleep,” Dad added.
“Did she keep you tied to those chairs the entire time?” I asked, my anger bubbling to the surface, only to subside when dad shook his head, “No, we were chained in one of the sheep pens most of the time.”
“We’re here.” Remy pulled up right outside the trailer and we climbed out. “I’ll meet y’all at the swimming hole,” she said before driving off.
“I’ll just grab my gear and get changed in Jenna’s cabin,” I said to Mom and Dad, knowing they were looking forward to getting cleaned up and some much-needed rest.
“You can stay with us if you like, darling,” Mom offered. “The kitchen table folds down and converts into another bed.”
“That’s okay, Mom,” I said. “You deserve privacy after everything you’ve been through. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I gathered my bags, hugged them goodbye, then hurried to Jenna’s cabin, catching her as she was leaving.
“Can I stay with you?” I asked. She’d just closed the door but promptly opened it again, holding it wide.
“Of course you can. As long as you don’t mind a bunk bed.”
“I don’t mind at all.”
After changing into my swimsuit, I grabbed a towel and slid my feet into flip-flops I headed toward the swimming hole with Jenna, lips curling in anticipation. I was fully recovered from the drugs and since I hadn’t had the chance to experience the swimming hole yet I was looking forward to it. Not to mention my conscience would feel clear once we got Blake back to his usual self. I felt awful my magic had harmed him, as unintentional as it was.
The blood moon hung big and bright in the sky, illuminating the way. We’d missed the actual eclipse, and all was back to normal. Well, relatively normal. I shivered a little in the night air and wrapped my towel around my shoulders for warmth. Rounding the corner of the house, I paused for a moment, watching in awe as water thundered down the rock face, the waterfall splashing into the pool below where Blake frolicked as if he didn't have a care in the world.
My eyes narrowed when I noticed Archie. He was actually in the swimming hole, swimming. I hurried forward, thinking he was in trouble, that he'd fallen in accidentally, only to skid to a halt when he climbed out, shook himself off, then promptly turned around and launched himself back into the water, executing a perfect feline belly flop. Bandit barked, then followed him in.
“Well, now I've seen it all,” Remy drawled, coming up behind me. “A swimming cat.”
I was shaking my head in surprise. “I had no idea.”
A few feet from the swimming h
ole was a picnic table, and I tossed my towel on it before heading to where Gran was sitting on a ledge submerged in the water. Leaving my flip-flops at the water’s edge, I eased myself in, gasping at the coldness.
“You get used to it,” Gran told me, scooting over so I could sit next to her.
“Pft, you're doing it wrong,” Remy scoffed, then launched herself into the air, clutched her knees to her chest, wrapped both arms around them, then crashed into the water, sending a giant wave all over us.
“Cannonball!” Blake shouted, swimming across the water hole to climb out and mimic Remy's efforts. Within seconds I was absolutely soaked. I may as well have dived in from the get-go.
Wiping the water from my face, I turned to Gran. “What's the plan for Blake?”
“It's a cleansing spell, and since we need to submerge him in water, I figured this is the perfect place.”
Jenna joined us, sucking in a startled breath when she eased herself into the water. “Hooley dooley,” she squeaked, “I wasn't expecting it to be quite so...”
“Refreshing?” I laughed. “It's okay. You get used to it.”
“We should do this,” Gran said, watching Blake as he dove to the bottom of the pool and then torpedoed himself up and out of the water.
“Can we help?” Remy had overheard and was already making her way to where we were sitting, half submerged.
Gran nodded. “Yes. It's a simple enough spell. I won’t need you for the spell itself though. Since it was Harper's magic that messed him up, I need her to call her magic back.”
“Tell me what I need to do,” I said. Despite having briefly read the spell Izzy had sent, I couldn’t recall the details.
“We're going to enclose Blake in a circle,” Gran explained. “And I'll cast the spell. I want you to focus on drawing your magic back to you.”
I nodded. “I can do that.”
“I'll do the incantation,” Gran said, then nodded at Remy. “When I let go of Harper’s hands, Jenna and Remy, I need you to push Blake under the water.”
Archie shook himself, water flying from his fur, before coming to sit on the rock ledge behind us, lending his support to my magic.
Gran slid off the rock she'd been sitting on and swam to the middle. I followed. Holding hands and treading water would not be as easy as I thought, and I looked at Gran with concern. She was an old woman; did she have the strength for this? Seemed Jenna had the same thought for she followed and took up a position behind Gran, giving me a slight nod. I relaxed a little knowing Jenna was there to lend support should Gran need it. Remy took up a position just to my left.
“Ready?” Gran asked.
I nodded. “Hey, Blake, come on over here for a sec,” I called.
He ducked under and swam toward me, popping up just in front of my face with a grin.
“We're going to play a game,” I told him. “Kinda like ring around the rosy. Did you ever play that when you were a kid?”
“The one where you held hands and went around in a circle?” He cocked his head quizzically.
“Yeah, that one. Gran and I are going to make a circle, with you in the middle. But you have to stay there, okay?”
His face split into a big smile. “Sure! This sounds like fun.” He obediently stayed put while Gran and I reached an arm either side of him, clasping our hands together and kicking our legs to stay above water.
Gran started the incantation and Blake snapped his head around to look at her, concern pulling his brows together. “What's happening?” he asked.
I shook my head at him, focusing on pulling any of my residual magic from him. I couldn't feel it, so I wasn't sure if I was doing it right or not, but Gran released my hands and said, “Now!”
Remy and Jenna placed their hands on Blake's shoulders and shoved him underwater, his protesting gasp cut off.
“Let him go.” Gran was already swimming back to the ledge, and I followed to make sure she was okay. I heard Blake surface behind me.
“What the hell?” he demanded. “What did you do that for?”
The four of us looked at each other. Had it worked? His voice had lost the childish lilt but that could be because he was angry we'd dunked him.
“What happened?” He swam to the edge of the swimming hole and hauled himself out, stood dripping in the moonlight, face shadowed so I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Or feeling.
“Do you remember helping me to astral-walk?” I asked, climbing out of the water. Goosebumps popped up on my skin and I shivered. I hurried to the picnic table and snatched up my towel.
“I do.” He gave one nod, but other than that, hadn’t moved. He must be freezing but didn’t give any indication he felt the cold.
“Well, something that neither of us considered a possibility… happened,” I admitted. “You sort of got pulled into my mom’s psyche, developed some of her… traits.” I paused. “Do you remember?”
He shook his head as if dazed. “Yeah. Bits of it. Kind of like remembering a dream. I’m not sure what’s real and what’s not.”
“We had to do a cleansing spell on you.” I nodded toward the swimming hole. “Which is why we’re out here swimming in the middle of the night.”
“And your parents? Did I imagine that? Are they okay?”
“Yes. We got them back. They’re sleeping now. Kaylee and her dad were behind their kidnapping and the murders. They’ve been arrested. Everyone is safe.”
“Good.” He spun on his heel and walked away.
“Are you okay?” I called after him.
He paused, his back ramrod straight. “I'm fine,” he growled and stalked towards his cabin.
“Will he be all right?” I asked Gran.
“He just needs a little time to re-adjust. His brain got a little scrambled,” she assured me, climbing out of the swimming hole. “A good night’s rest will see him right as rain. Speaking of, it’s late, and this girl needs her beauty sleep.”
I couldn’t agree more. The adrenaline rush that had been keeping me going had well and truly worn off and exhaustion took its place. Sleep had never felt so appealing.
We were woken the following morning by someone banging on the door. Jenna scrambled out of bed, hair askew, and cautiously opened the door to find Mick standing on the other side. I sat up, wiping sleep from my eyes.
“Mick. Hi,” Jenna squeaked in surprise.
“Sorry if I woke you.” His eyes traveled over her, taking in the pink-and-white-checkered shorts and threadbare T-shirt she slept in.
“What time is it?” she muttered, abandoning the door to cross to the small kitchenette and put the coffee pot on. “Can’t function without caffeine,” she said by way of explanation.
“It’s just gone nine,” Mick said, still in the doorway.
“Come in, come in,” I told him, throwing the covers off and sliding out of bed. “I guess you need statements and stuff?”
The door closed, and I heard his booted feet on the floor as he headed for the kitchen table. “Yes. And to check in on how you all are. Do you need medical attention?”
I shot him a look. “No. You asked last night, remember? I’m fine. Whatever she dosed me with wasn’t that strong. It wore off fast.” I didn’t mention I’d used my magical ability to rid my body of the tranquilizer faster than a mere human could.
“Your parents seem fine too. It’s remarkable.”
“The Joneses are made of strong stuff,” Jenna said. “Coffee?”
“Please.”
I excused myself to use the bathroom. After taking care of my bladder and quickly washing my face and brushing my hair, I was semi-respectable. Jenna had coffee waiting, and I gave her a quick hug of appreciation. “Thanks, hon.”
“Anytime.”
We seated ourselves opposite Mick at the table and waited. He didn’t disappoint. He confirmed that the containers Kaylee had placed on her makeshift altar contained the ashes of Tamir’s and Beth’s hearts. That Kaylee’s DNA matched the other occult scenes he’
d come across over the past year and that the horse tranquilizer she’d used to drug us matched the one stolen from a vet who was visiting the Arrowstrand Station a few years back.
Colin had assisted his daughter in both murders, and of course his second life in Darana was blown clean out of the water. Kaylee and Colin were being held in cells at the Arrowstrand station while detectives from Adelaide were on their way.
“They’ve requested that you don’t leave until they’ve questioned you, and that you will be required to testify when the case goes to court,” Mick told me.
“Hanging around for a few more days isn’t a hardship,” I told him. “Now I know my parents are safe, I can relax and play tourist for a while.”
“Would the courts be open to a video link for her testimony?” Jenna asked.
Mick shrugged. “It’s a possibility for sure. Considering all the main witnesses live in America I don’t think it’s an unreasonable request.”
There was a light tap at the door, then it swung open to reveal Mom and Dad. “Good morning.” Mom smiled. “Sergeant Gould came to visit us first, so we waited a few minutes to make sure you were up before coming over.”
Jumping to my feet, I hugged them both. “You’re both okay?” I asked, looking them over. They had no physical injuries that I could see and looked well rested this morning.
“We’re fine, honey,” Dad said, patting my shoulder. “But we could sure use a coffee. Seems someone used up the last of our coffee stash.”
I knew he was teasing, but I felt a wave of guilt. “Sorry. And yes, come in, sit, I’ll get you coffees.”
Once we were all settled, I turned my attention back to the events of recent days. “Something that’s been bugging me,” I said, cupping my coffee cup between my palms. “Was Nigel involved?”
Mick shook his head. “He knew about Colin’s affair. He also knew that Kaylee was responsible for the fire at the original Arrowstrand station. It’s yet to be determined if charges will be laid.”
We were interrupted by another knock at the door. This time it was Remy. Bandit bounced in, happy to have located Archie who was still curled up on the foot of my bed.
