by Zoe Arden
Once inside, the feeling faded. I searched the coffeehouse, looking for Lucy. She wasn't anywhere to be found.
"Crumb bums," I muttered.
Megan was standing behind the counter, looking bored. Brendan stood next to her, pretending to look equally bored. He kept sneaking glances at her. I suspected that he wasn't bored so much as he was enchanted by his co-worker.
Megan said something to him then spun around and went into the back, leaving Brendan alone. I decided this could be a good opportunity to find out what he was up to.
"Hey, Brendan," I said, trying to sound casual.
He blinked once. "Oh, Ava. How are you?"
I shrugged. Same as usual, I guess."
"Can I get you something?"
"A chai latte, please." He got to work adding whatever went into a chai latte while I stood and watched, drumming my fingers against the counter.
"I don't think I've seen you since the party," I said.
Brendan nodded. He didn't seem to feel much like talking. It reminded me a bit of Damon when he was around me.
"That was one crazy night, wasn't it?" I was hoping to get him talking, but so far he appeared to be thinking of nothing but the latte he was making. "I think I remember seeing you outside right before Campbell collapsed.”
"Yeah. I needed some air," he said, continuing with his work. He still wasn't looking at me.
"Right. You seemed kind of upset. I thought maybe that's why you were wandering around with that boxie quill."
That had the desired effect. Brendan's head snapped up. "What did you say?"
"Boxie quill. I saw you holding some that night at the party." I was trying to keep things light but was failing miserably. "I heard it was a powerful, er, tranquility plant," I lied. I was hoping my reputation as a newbie witch might help Brendan open up to me, but it didn't seem to be working.
"I never had any boxie quill," he said.
"Really?" I asked. "I could have sworn I remember seeing it. I'm going through Magical Herbs and Plants: Volume 1 right now, and I was just reading about boxie."
"If you were just reading about it, then you know that it's not a tranquility plant." Brendan's voice rose as he spoke.
"Oh, I must have misunderstood," I said, trying to play dumb. "Sorry. If it's not for tranquility, then what were you using it for?"
"I wasn't," Brendan snapped. "I already told you I didn't have any."
Megan came out from the back just then, followed by Lucy.
"Lucy!" I cried, happy to see her. She looked surprised that I was there.
"What's going on out here?" Megan asked, looking from me to Brendan.
"Nothing," I lied. "I was just asking Brendan about some stuff I've been reading in Magical Herbs and Plants."
Brendan looked at Megan. "She was asking me about boxie quills."
"Boxie quills?" Megan and Lucy said together.
"I thought it was a tranquility plant. I only wondered... um..." But I stuttered under Megan's gaze.
The door chimed and a soft breeze blew in as a customer walked inside. Everyone turned their eyes to them and I sighed, grateful for the distraction.
"Ava!" a deep male voice cried. I turned and saw Damon Tellinger standing there. His blue eyes sparkled at me. He was dressed in dark indigo jeans and a white shirt. He looked good.
"Damon. Hi."
I was shocked that he'd spoken to me. When I'd seen him outside The Alchemic Stone the other day he'd turned tail and ran.
He walked right up to me, wrapping his arms around me. I was so taken aback that I jumped and bumped his chin with my head. He laughed, but my heart was hammering. It was only a hug. But, boy, it was a good hug.
"I've been hoping I would see you." A strange cloud seemed to hover around him. Not evil, just... angry? Sad? I couldn't figure it out. I wasn't sure that I'd noticed it the first time I met him, but then, I'd been too enamored with his eyes to notice much else.
"You were hoping you'd run into me?" I asked, confused.
His cheeks colored lightly. "I know I haven't exactly been... nice to you. I'm sorry about the other day. Outside Polly's shop. I just... wasn't ready to talk to you yet. I haven't been back on the island too long. I guess I need a refresher course in small town hospitality."
"Back on the island?" I asked.
"Yeah. My mom moved me away when I was a kid. A little after Slater's family moved away."
I was dying to know where he'd been. And why? I caught Megan's face out of the corner of my eye. It was red. Her mouth had curled into a snarl.
"Ava was just leaving," Megan shouted, louder than she probably meant to.
"She was?" Lucy asked. She looked at me. "I want to talk to you before you go."
I couldn't tell if she was angry or happy to see me. I hoped she'd accept my apology. It was hard to focus on her, though, when Damon was right in front of me.
"I wanted to thank you for what you did," Damon said. "For saving my life."
"Oh." I blushed. "I wasn't sure if you knew."
"Of course I know. Well, sort of. The last thing I remember is sitting in my apartment eating some cake. The next thing I knew, I woke up in the hospital. Dr. Dunne told me I collapsed in your store. That you saved my life."
His eyes drilled into me.
"Well, I mean, I just did whatever anyone would have done," I said, trying to sound calm and cool.
"I doubt that," he said seriously.
"Your chai latte is ready," Megan said, scowling. She came from around the counter and thrust it into my hand. "Here. You can go now."
I could tell she had to physically restrain herself from pushing me out the door.
"Megan, what's wrong with you?" Lucy asked.
"Nothing," Megan snapped.
Brendan was still behind the counter. His face looked grim. He was as jealous of Damon as Megan was of me. It suddenly occurred to me that Brendan had good reason to get Damon out of the way if he wanted Megan.
"You said the last thing you remember is eating some cake in your apartment?" I asked Damon.
"That's right."
"What kind of cake?"
"Chocolate. It was really delicious, too. You know, that's a funny thing, actually. When I got out of the hospital and went back home, the cake was gone. I guess I must've eaten it all and forgotten. There was a lot of it, though. Almost the whole cake, except for a piece or two."
"Damon!" Megan snapped. "Ava's latte is ready. That means she can go now. You don't have to stand there talking her ear off."
Damon gave Megan a strange look, and she blushed furiously.
The door chimed again. I looked toward the customer, thinking I probably should get going. I wasn't going to learn anything new from Brendan and with Megan here, interfering, I didn't think I'd get much from Damon either. Though he certainly seemed willing to talk to me.
The man standing at the door had a familiar face and lopsided smile I knew well.
"Dad!"
* * *
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
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* * *
I'm not leaving this island without you! …
* * *
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"Hi, honey," my father said as he walked toward me.
I pulled myself away from Damon and ran to my father. The last two weeks had been the only time I could remember ever being away from him. Despite the way I'd left things with him in New York, I'd missed him terribly. Right now, I didn't care about all the things he'd kept from me growing up, I only cared that he was here.
"I can't believe you're actually here," I said.
"Neither can I. I never thought I'd set foot on this island again. I vowed to myself I wouldn't. Yet... here I am." He looked around, shaking his head as if he was confused as to how he'd gotten here.
"Why'd you come then?" I asked.
"I've missed you," he said. "Also, I got your letter. There were tiny teeth marks in it and it looked like
it had gone through the rinse cycle. I was worried you'd either been captured by mermaids or turned into a cat."
I laughed until I realized my dad wasn't.
Note to self: beware of mermaids; also, thank Tootsie for delivering my letter.
"Well, I'm glad you're here. I've missed you, too. I hugged him tightly.
When I looked back at his face, a single tear was running down his cheek. He wiped it away, finally noticing we had an audience. Damon, Megan, Brendan, and Lucy were all watching us with curiosity.
"Dad, these are my friends," I said, though I wasn't sure how accurate that was at the moment. "Lucy Lockwood and her sister Megan." I pointed each person out as I said their name.
"I went to school with your parents," my father told Lucy and Megan. He shook their hands.
"Brendan Ash is behind the counter," I said.
"My father moved to shake Brendan's hand."
"And this is Damon Tellinger."
My father reached for Damon's outstretched hand... and stopped. He backed away from him so quickly he almost tripped over me.
"This man is... your friend?" my father spat.
I looked at Damon uncertainly. After saving his life, I supposed friend was as good a word as any. Whatever grievance Damon had against me before seemed to be gone now.
"Yeah," I said. "Why?"
My father's face was turning purple. "Come on," he said. "Let's go."
I was too surprised by my father's sudden rage to protest when he grabbed hold of my arm. He led me outside into the bright sunshine, and we quickly started down the sidewalk.
"What's wrong?" I asked him.
"What's wrong?" he laughed. "For starters, you're here. You should be in New York, where you belong."
"I belong in Heavenly Haven," I said, getting angry now. I stopped walking. A few people on the streets around us glanced our way. My father looked at each of them with suspicion.
"How did you know I was at Coffee Cove anyway?" Something dawned on me just then. "Wait a second. Have you been following me?"
"Of course I have," he said.
My eyes bugged out of my head. "I'm not a child, Dad."
"But you don't know what's going on here, Ava. There's something I've never told you. About your mother."
"You mean how she didn't die in a plane crash and was actually murdered by a human?" I cocked one eyebrow at him.
His jaw dropped.
"Your aunts told you."
"No." I shook my head. "Sheriff Knoxx did. And it was a really cruddy way to find out, too!" I backed away from him. "What else haven't you told me? And why did you get so angry inside the coffee shop just now?"
His face glowed red. "That man you were talking to... Damon. He's bad news. You don't want anything to do with him."
"What are you talking about?" I asked, confused. "Do you know him?"
My father hesitated. "He's human, Ava. And I know humans. They are not to be trusted."
"You raised me among humans!" I cried, exasperated.
"Yes, because we were in their world. Don't you see? They would never have looked for us among their own kind. It was the only way to keep you safe."
"Safe from what?"
"From the man who killed your mother!"
For a moment, his words hung in the air like thick fog. My heart skipped a beat.
"You mean... he's still out there?" I asked. "Mom's murderer?" I felt the heriotza pendant around my neck begin to burn. Did that mean danger was close?
My father shook his head. "No. I... took care of that long ago."
"Then you're telling me that you don't like Damon just because he's human?" This was a side of my father I'd never seen before.
"You can't trust them," he said softly.
I took several deep breaths.
"I want you to come back to New York with me."
"You're crazy. I'm not leaving. I haven't been here that long."
"Long enough."
"No!" I shouted.
Before he could say another word, I spun on my heels and ran.
"Ava!" he called after me. "I'm not leaving this island without you! One way or another, you're leaving here with me!"
* * *
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
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* * *
Why am I here …
* * *
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I couldn't face the bakery after the fight with my father. Business had plummeted since it had come out that my wand was missing. Eleanor and Trixie kept saying it wasn't my fault, but I knew better.
The house was empty when I arrived. Tootsie and Rocky were with my aunts at the bakery. They almost always were.
A small cake box was sitting on the doorstep. It was tied with a red ribbon. I picked it up and carried it inside with me. I set it on the counter, curious. There was no name or address. I wondered if I should wait for my aunts, but figured that without a name, it could have been anyone's.
I cut the ribbon and opened the box. Inside was a small chocolate cake. A note had been slipped in with it.
From an admirer.
An admirer? My mind immediately went to Damon. But that was ridiculous, wasn't it? But after the way he'd hugged me at Coffee Cove, I didn't see why not. I felt a pang of regret for leaving the coffee shop the way I had. With Damon standing there staring after me. I hadn't even gotten the chance to apologize to Lucy. She'd said she wanted to talk to me.
I sighed. Chocolate might be just what I needed.
I cut the cake into squares and put one on a plate. I took a seat at the kitchen table, relishing in the silence around me. The cake was delicious. It was that much sweeter thinking that Damon had sent it. I wondered if he'd actually made it himself, but that was probably stretching it.
I closed my eyes and inhaled the chocolate scent along with the flavor. The decadence of it made my head begin to swim. I'd never tasted anything so delicious. When I opened my eyes, the room was dark.
"What the..." I muttered, trying to rise from my chair. But my legs were too heavy. I fell to the floor.
The world around me sunk into darkness. A light gray mist covered everything. Darkness crept slowly in along the edges. The last thought I had before I passed out completely was that I hoped Damon hadn't poisoned me. If he had, I would seriously have to reconsider my crush.
Then my mind went black.
I woke up to something wet and sandpapery brushing against my face. Whatever it was, it smelled like tuna. I opened my eyes.
The bright sun spotted my vision with flecks of white light. I blinked, trying focus on the sky. The clouds were like fluffy white cotton balls. They moved swiftly through the air toward a towering pink palm tree. The wet, sandpapery thing brushed against my chin.
"Snowball wants to know if you are okay," a tiny voice asked.
I blinked and looked toward my chest, where I realized a small clump of white had settled itself.
"What?" I asked, thinking I was hallucinating.
"Snowball wants to know if you are okay," the voice repeated. A pink tongue reached out and licked my nose. I giggled and put my hand up to block it.
The white kitten that had planted itself on my chest began to purr. It was no bigger than a softball and so light I barely felt it sitting on me. I reached up and scratched its head. It had beautiful green eyes and long lashes. A girl.
"I'm okay," I told it. "At least, I think so."
I propped myself up on my elbows and looked around. It was early afternoon. I was on a beach. Which really told me nothing considering I was on an island. It was all beach. My head felt fuzzy. My heart was beating a little too fast.
"What happened to me?" I asked.
"Snowball was walking on the sand and found you." She licked my face again and jumped off my chest.
"Snowball?" I asked. "That's your name?"
Snowball nodded and licked her paw.
"Well, Snowball," I said, getting slowly to my f
eet. "Do you happen to know where I am?"
"You are on Heavenly Haven," Snowball said.
"That's good." I'd figured as much but didn't want to hurt Snowball's feelings. The kitten wound its way between my legs as I took an unsteady step.
"Do you happen to know where on Heavenly Haven I am?"
"Mistmoor Beach," Snowball said, dropping onto her side and rolling in the sand.
"I'm in Mistmoor Point?" I cried, surprised. How had I gotten to the other side of the island? The last thing I remembered was eating that chocolate cake in my aunts' kitchen. "Are you sure?"
"Snowball is sure," she said, playfully attacking my feet. "Snowball lives here. But now Snowball will live with you. Snowball is happy."
I reached down and scratched the top of Snowball's head. Her fur was soft as a cloud. I felt an odd connection to this little cat. Like I'd known her all my life.
"You want to come home with me, huh?" I asked.
"Snowball and Ava," she purred.
I blinked. "How do you know my name?"
"Snowball does not know."
I gasped. The strange connection I felt to this little fuzz ball was starting to make sense. "Are you... are you my familiar?"
Aunt Eleanor and Trixie had explained to me that when you found your familiar—or in most cases when they found you—there would be an inexplicable connection. It was like two people linked by a telephone wire.
Snowball sounded like a tiny lawnmower when she purred. "Snowball and Ava. Together," was all she said. I couldn't help but smile. I picked Snowball up and began to walk with her.
"Where do we go?" Snowball asked.
"To find someone who can help me," I told her.
I only hoped that when I showed up, they wouldn't slam the door in my face. If the rumors about me being the "Bakery Reaper" were running rampant in Sweetland, I could only wonder what they were saying about me in Mistmoor.
I paused halfway down the beach, clenching my stomach. My heriotza necklace began to feel hot. A strange tingle ran down my spine. I wondered if it was trying to protect me from whatever had happened. Or was still happening.
