I folded my arms. “Now we’re talking. A witch after my own heart. So tell me, Calla, if you expect me to learn about plants, don’t you think you should’ve brought a few?”
Her lip formed a satisfied curl as she aimed her wand at the countertop and uttered a Latin phrase I didn’t recognize. A selection of potted plants appeared in two rows.
“Well, that’s me told off,” I said. I peered at the variety. “I hope we’re starting basic because I have no plans to poison anyone…today.”
“You’re too hard on yourself,” Calla said. “You’ve come late to your magic. No one expects you to be Hyacinth.”
“Ha! Hyacinth expects me to be Hyacinth,” I said. “And you can imagine how disappointed she’s been.”
“She remains ever hopeful that her line will remain strong. That’s all. When you come from the most powerful line of witches and wizards in existence, you can easily succumb to the pressure.”
“I succumb to the pressure of macaroni and cheese even after three days in my fridge, so I can imagine what it’s like when the stakes are higher.”
“Your aunt has her flaws, but she wields her power well overall,” Calla said. “If she didn’t, she would have been put in her place long ago.”
Well, that was interesting. “Put in her place by whom? Aunt Hyacinth is the unofficial power center of this town.” A fact that Sheriff Nash openly resented.
“The coven. The Council of Elders. The mayor.” She ticked off the names on her hand.
“There’s a mayor?”
Calla smirked. “How long have you lived here? You should pay closer attention.”
“Since Aunt Hyacinth is a member of the Council of Elders, I think she’d manage to subdue them.”
“You’d be surprised,” Calla said. “They can be a tough bunch when they desire it.”
“Yeah, I’ve met them.” More than once. Marley liked when I referred to them as the cave dwellers, because that’s where they held their secret meetings—in a cave by the ocean.
Calla crooked her finger, beckoning me closer. “Tell me if you can identify any of these.”
I hovered over the rows of plants. I wasn’t sure why I even gave the pretense of scrutinizing them. I couldn’t distinguish a cactus from a eucalyptus. “Echinacea.” A complete guess.
“Which one?” Her fingernails clicked expectantly on the hard surface.
I snapped to attention. “Seriously?”
“One of them is definitely Echinacea,” she said.
“The…green one,” I said.
She blew a raspberry. “You weren’t kidding. You don’t know a burdock from your buttock.”
“Hey!” I objected.
Calla opened her cloak and began to hike up her tunic top.
“Whoa,” I said, waving my hands. “Herbology doesn’t involve one of those naked rituals, does it? Because I haven’t exercised in weeks.”
“Weeks?” Calla challenged.
“Months. Years. What’s the difference?”
Calla produced a hip flask and smoothed her top back down. “I didn’t get the sense that you were a prude,” she said. “Not with all those boyfriends of yours.”
“All those boyfriends?” I sputtered. “You make it sound like I’ve dated half the town.”
“Even so, you have to think of it from the point of view of the other women in Starry Hollow. Two of the most eligible males in town have fallen prey to your questionable charms in a very short time. They would’ve pegged you for a witch even without your aunt’s declaration.”
I glared at her. “What’s so questionable about my charms?”
The crone ignored the question. Instead she unscrewed the lid and took a swig. “That hit the spot.” She smacked her lips and set the flask on the countertop.
“Is that some kind of potion for your old lady ailments?” I asked.
Callan regarded me curiously. “And which old lady ailments would those be?”
“I don’t know. Rheumatism. That seems to be a biggie.”
Calla threw back her head and cackled. “Sure. It’s for rheumatism. Let’s go with that.”
I snatched the flask and sniffed it. “This smells like alcohol.”
“What a coincidence,” the crone said slyly.
“How do you expect to teach me about magical herbs if you’re drunk?” I asked.
“I’m not drunk,” Calla scoffed. “I take an occasional nip to keep me going and keep you interesting.”
I gaped at her. “You are far more delightful one-on-one.”
She smirked. “So I’m told.” She took another drink before replacing the lid. “Let’s begin. I need to report back to your aunt and she’s going to want to hear that we were productive.”
“I thought once she had a suitor, she’d relax a little,” I grumbled.
Calla snorted. “She has years of ice to thaw. That won’t happen overnight.” She touched the third pot from the left in the first row. “This is Echinacea, by the way.”
“In case I develop a cold?”
“In case you want to strengthen a spell,” she replied. “It’s often used as an add-on.”
I studied the pinkish flower. “Give me an example.”
“Where’s your grimoire?” Calla asked. She surveyed the kitchen. “I don’t suppose you keep one out here.”
“No, I’ll be right back.” I hustled to the living room and plucked the old grimoire from the coffee table. PP3 tilted his head as if to say ‘what now?’ I gave him a quick scratch behind the ear before returning to the kitchen, where I dropped the well-worn book onto the countertop.
Calla’s eyes rounded. “This is your grimoire?”
“No,” I said. “Marley got it as a gift from Aunt Hyacinth, along with a wand. Family heirlooms, apparently.”
Calla stroked the soft cover. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen one as old as this.” She glanced at me. “And yet she gave it to your daughter and not to you?”
I shrugged. “Fair enough. Marley is going to be a much better witch than I’ll ever be.”
“With your parents, I find that hard to believe.” She flipped open the book and scanned the pages. “This is beautiful. I’ll come back to teach you for the sheer pleasure of looking at it.”
“You’re getting distracted,” I said.
She smiled. “Happens a lot at my age. You’ll see.”
“Do you happen to know anything about one of my ancestors called Ivy? This was her grimoire.” From the state of the grimoire, though, I suspected that even Ivy was not the original owner.
Calla inhaled sharply. “Great Goddess of the Moon. I haven’t heard her name in many years.”
“You knew her?”
“Of her,” Calla corrected me. “She was before my time.”
“What do you know about her?” I asked.
“She was very powerful, even more so than your aunt,” Calla said. “She ruled this area with an iron fist.”
“She was the High Priestess?” I asked.
“For a time, until she was made to step down,” Calla said.
“A Rose with a sordid past? Tell me more.”
Calla stared at the grimoire, as though looking for answers there. “I wish I could remember. My memory isn’t what it used to be, duckling.”
“Maybe there’s a spell in here for that.” I inclined my head toward the grimoire.
“You’re quirky,” Calla said. “The coven could use a little more character. Everyone else is so perfect.” She made a face. “Makes for very boring parties.”
I regarded her. “You realize you just insulted me, right?”
She seemed unconcerned. “Who wants to be perfect?” She pointed to a spell. “Here’s a good example for you to try. This one involves edelweiss. It makes you invisible for a brief period of time. Adding Echinacea strengthens the spell in the event that anyone tries to counteract it.”
Invisibility sounded like fun. “Did you happen to bring any edelweiss?”
Cal
la wagged a finger at me. “You’re going to be a good time, Yarrow.”
“It’s Ember.” Yarrow was apparently my birth name, the one the family-at-large had insisted I be given.
“Right. Ember.” She pushed a small pot toward me. It contained a small sprig of white flowers. “Your edelweiss is ready and waiting. An excellent first lesson, I think.”
“You don’t think it’s too advanced?” I queried.
“Only one way to find out.”
“You’re much more lenient than Hazel and Marigold,” I said. “They act like I’m on the verge of a magical breakdown if I tilt my wand too many degrees to the right.”
Calla cackled softly. “They’re both uptight. Comes with the age. They’ll mellow out in a few more years.”
“In that case, can I delay my lessons with them for a few more years?”
The crone pushed the grimoire over to me. “Can you read this?”
“I’ve been working on it,” I said. “It’s a mishmash of languages so it’s slow. The pictures help.” I had no doubt Marley would have it all figured out before I made it through the index.
She flicked her wand over the page and said, “Illumináre.” The words melted into English.
My jaw unhinged. “Are you kidding? What do I need runecraft for with a spell like that?”
“Shortcuts are not for everyday use,” Calla said. “There is power in knowledge. I may not remember everything I’ve learned in my long life, but I know that much is true.”
I read the short spell. “You want me to perform this one by myself?”
“I’m curious to see how you do.”
I sighed. “Fine, but I make no promises.”
“That’s what I told my first two husbands.” Her scratchy laugh was infectious and I heard myself laughing too.
I retrieved a mortar and pestle from the cupboard. My heart grew heavy as I carried them to the counter. The mortar and pestle had been a gift from the sheriff. He’d seen them in a shop and bought them for me on a whim.
“Problem?” Calla inquired.
“No problem,” I said. “Just good old-fashioned guilt rising to the surface.” I crushed a few of the edelweiss petals along with my guilty feelings and added a dash of Echinacea. Then I performed the chant, using the original Latin. I was guaranteed to send myself to another realm if I tried to read the spell out loud in English.
A tingling sensation spread throughout my body. I examined my arms and legs. Still intact.
“Well done, Ember,” the crone said.
“Am I invisible?” Other than the tingling sensation, I felt the same.
“You are.”
I danced around the kitchen like I was auditioning for a show on the Vegas strip.
“You’re dancing, aren’t you?”
I froze. “No,” I said slowly.
She laughed. “Liar. It’s fine. Everybody does their first time. Invisibility can be freeing.”
“How long does it take to wear off?” I asked.
“The Echinacea will extend it somewhat, but I’d say only a few minutes, based on the amount you made.”
“I should carry this around in a packet,” I said. “It could come in handy at Aunt Hyacinth’s dinner parties.”
Calla pilfered a small drawstring bag from her pocket. “Use this. I always carry a few packets of herbs with me, in case of emergency.”
“Which ones?”
She opened her cloak and I glimpsed several packets pinned to the inside of the fabric. She looked like the oldest drug dealer in Starry Hollow. “The green bag is a protection spell. The yellow bag is for psychic powers. Mind-reading to be specific.”
“What do you need protection from?” I asked. “Is it like a spray can of mace?”
Her eyes twinkled. “Not quite that kind of protection.”
The realization hit me. “Oh! Ew!” Forget about STDs. I didn’t want to think about the crone in a sexual situation of any kind.
Calla cackled. “You won’t be saying ‘ew’ in a few years.”
“More than a few, thank you very much,” I countered. By the time Calla finished reviewing two more plants with me, the invisibility spell wore off. I dumped the remainder of the spell in the packet she gave me and secured the drawstring. “Thanks, Calla. This was more entertaining than I expected.”
She tucked her flask back where it belonged. “Same. I’ll give your aunt the glowing report.”
“She’ll think I bribed you.”
“With what? A crone like me has everything she’ll ever need.” She patted the part of her cloak where her flask was hidden.
“Next time consider sharing,” I said.
She grimaced. “Calla doesn’t swap saliva with anyone unless he pays for dinner first.”
“Fine, then next time bring two flasks.”
The crone nodded her white head. “Done.”
Chapter Eight
Dana Ellsworth’s office reminded me of a whimsical city loft with an open-plan layout, exposed pipes, and pops of bold color. No surprise that she worked for a marketing company. The receptionist was positioned in the eye of the storm. She wore glasses in the shape of a cat’s eye and a leopard print dress.
“I’m going to go out on a limb and say wereleopard,” I whispered to Deputy Bolan.
He glanced at the receptionist and chuckled. “I don’t know. Maybe a dwarf.”
“Not with that body,” I said. Even in a seated position, I could tell the receptionist had the kind of body that made Florian look twice.
“Can’t say I notice.” The leprechaun shot me a quizzical look. “On that note, why do you notice?”
I shrugged. “Doesn’t mean I want to marry her. A woman’s body is beautiful in all shapes and sizes, but that’s an enviable one right there.”
His brow lifted. “Ah, I get it. You’re coveting.”
“I guess, but I don’t begrudge her what she’s got.”
The deputy softened. “You don’t need to worry, Rose. You look good.”
I half smiled. “I thought you didn’t notice women’s bodies.”
He groaned. “I was forced to notice yours thanks to your budding romance with the sheriff.”
“He talked about my body?” That didn’t sound like the discreet sheriff.
“Not in a bad way,” the deputy replied. “He would just make offhand comments, like ‘doesn’t Rose look pretty in that dress’ or ‘doesn’t Rose have the best legs you’ve ever seen’?”
Unshed tears burned my eyes. “Okay, Deputy. That’s enough,” I said quietly. Images of the sheriff from the interrogation flashed in my mind. He’d looked like he wanted to be in bed with the covers pulled over his head.
“Sorry,” the deputy mumbled.
We approached the receptionist’s desk and I let the leprechaun take the lead. His head was barely visible above the tall desk. “I’m Deputy Bolan and this is my colleague, Ember Rose. We’d like to see Dana Ellsworth, please.”
The receptionist smiled demurely and I was pretty sure I heard the distinct sound of purring. “I’ll see if Miss Ellsworth is available.” She picked up the phone.
“We can see she’s available,” I said, pointing to the loft above. “She’s right there on her computer.”
The receptionist tilted up her chin to confirm my statement. “So she is.” She pressed a button. “Hello, Miss Ellsworth. I’m sending two visitors up to see you now. Deputy Bolan and his purrr-ty girlfriend.”
I fought my gag reflex at the way she pronounced ‘pretty.’ She was suddenly the living embodiment of every kitten poster in the doctor’s office I’d ever seen.
The leprechaun began to object to the description of us, but the receptionist was still focused on the call. “I’ll be sure to let them know.” She hung up the phone and offered the hint of a smile. “Miss Ellsworth said to go ahead up. Shall I escort you to the stairway?”
“We can show ourselves, thanks,” the deputy said. “It’s right behind you.”
The receptionist showed a gleaming set of white teeth. If she said ‘pur-fect’ I was going to hurl. “Have a good day,” she said, and I unclenched.
Deputy Bolan and I trudged up the metal staircase and met Dana at her desk. The vampire appeared to be in the middle of a project, with designs scattered across her desk and piled up on the floor beside her stool. Petite with cornsilk hair and wide brown eyes, she was blessed with the smooth, ageless skin of her kind.
“Is this about that skinny-dipping incident,” Dana began, “because I swear I thought it was totally cool with the owner?”
The deputy and I exchanged glances. “Um, no,” the leprechaun replied. “You’ll have to tell us that story another time. Do you have a private space where we can talk?”
Dana’s expression shifted to one of concern. “Is it my dog? Did something happen to Kiki? Those squirrels torment the hell out of her.”
Deputy Bolan made a calming gesture. “You must have a conference room here somewhere.”
Dana pointed behind us. “The fishbowl is that way.” She vacated the stool and we followed her past a row of other workstations. Her heels clicked loudly on the wooden floor. She stopped in front of a room where three of the walls were made entirely of glass, hence the fishbowl.
“We can talk in here,” she said, and crossed the threshold.
The table and chairs were in keeping with the style of the interior. Metal flashed from every angle. I sat on an end chair and it was every bit as uncomfortable as it looked. Dana perched on the edge of the sideboard.
“We understand you know Tatiana…” The deputy didn’t get to finish his sentence. At the mere mention of Tatiana, Dana’s eyes blazed with anger.
“What did that train wreck of a fairy do now?” she snapped. Her eyes rounded. “Wait. You’re the local deputy. Does that mean she’s in town?” She clenched her fists. “Terrific. I’m already stressed about a client meeting and now I have to deal with the fact that my former best friend is here to wreak havoc.”
“So you haven’t seen her?” Deputy Bolan asked.
Dana slid down from the sideboard. “I haven’t seen that winged backstabber since she hightailed it out of here with her loser boyfriend years ago.” Her gaze flitted from the deputy to me. “So she’s really in town?”
Magic & Mythos Page 6
