Baffling Blend

by Kennedy Layne

  “Seriously, Heidi, I can’t take this anymore. I got around three hours of sleep last night before being awakened by a nightmare of Cora Barnes being attacked by a bird right outside the teashop. She broke her arm in the dream version. It was horrible. And this morning? It came true. Well, the attacking bird…not the broken arm. I managed to change that part.”

  Heid finally gave Leo an audible kiss on the head before making her way to the coffee station. She frowned when she saw that it hadn’t been refilled. She then set her purse down on the stool that I hadn’t bothered to put back underneath the high-top table.

  “Okay. Now you have me worried,” Heidi said cautiously, shrugging out of her dress coat and pushing up the sleeves of her pink sweater dress. “Did you drink this entire pot?”

  Tell her the truth—yes. Why yes, she did, dear soulmate.

  I shot Leo a glare, wishing he would just own up to the fact that we had a catastrophe on our hands. Didn’t I always own up to my accident-prone disasters?

  True, but I still think you’re overreacting. My tail eventually regained feeling, and Ted didn’t melt into a blob of grey goop. I could go on and on with your list of misfortunes, but the bottom line is that I’m sure your dreams will stop coming true. We just need to give it time for the effects of the potion to wear off.

  “Mom and Beetle took the weekend to check out that bed and breakfast up in Maine,” I reminded Holly, resting my elbows on the counter so that I could rub my burning eyes. I’m sure they were bloodshot, and I was grateful that Liam wasn’t in town to see me like this. “I’d love to fix this before they get back.”

  I’m starting to notice a trend here, Raven. We always say that we’re going to solve a case or correct a spell gone awry without your mother’s help, but she inevitably finds a way to insert herself into our lives. Don’t worry. This time will be different.

  “How will this time be different, Leo?” I asked in exasperation, including Heidi in on the conversation. She’d collected the carafe and stopped just shy of the hanging ivory-colored fairy strings that shielded the back room from prying eyes. “I dreamt that Cora broke her arm. What if my next dream is something worse?”

  “Raven does have a point,” Heidi said, holding up a finger as she slid in between the fairies so that they sung their melodic clicking tune. I leaned down and rested my forehead against my arms. It literally seemed like only one point two seconds had passed when Heidi spoke again, jarring me back into a seated position. “The dreamcatcher came from the supernatural artifacts that you found at the antique store, right? I know we’ve been trying to catalog the items, but were we ever able to find out anything about where that item came from?”

  Heidi walked back over to the high-top table, setting down the clean carafe and moving aside the sample cups that hadn’t been used. Leo and I exchanged glances, but it was then I figured out where we’d gone wrong today.

  Chalk it up to lack of sleep. That excuse always works for me.

  “Heidi, you’re a genius,” I exclaimed, getting a semi-second wind as I reached into the drawer for my laptop. “All I’ve been doing is researching the family grimoire for an incantation to remedy an accident of sorts. Maybe the answer lies more in the origins of the dreamcatcher, though.”

  “I do my best.” Heidi feigned fluffing the back of her blonde curls in pride with a bright smile. “Jack and I are going to spend the day together tomorrow, so why don’t we wrap up things here and take our research back to the cottage? I’m sure we can find something to fix the issue before you fall flat on your face from exhaustion.”

  Detective Jack Swanson had been courting Heidi for some time, and she was falling more and more in love with each passing day. Honestly, the two of them weren’t much different than Liam and me. It had been nice to have our personal lives be on the same wavelength for once.

  “Did I mention that you’re the best friend any witch could ever have?” I meant every word of my sentiment, because my decision to tell my secret to her and Liam had definitely broken a coven rule. It shouldn’t really matter, considering that I’m not part of the coven, but I did recognize the ramifications of exposing the supernatural. “I’m staying away from the wine, though. One sip might actually put me in a coma.”

  You know, that’s not a bad idea until this all brushes over. Just something to consider, Raven. Comas aren’t so bad when you think about it.

  We gathered our coats and purses, quickly catching each other up on the other happenings that had nothing to do with my premonitions. Heidi was in her busiest months with it being tax season, but she’d purposefully been working longer weekday hours in order to have part of the weekends off. Considering she currently owned the only local accounting firm, which she’d acquired from Beetle, she was able to make her own hours.

  “…Ted dropped off the grimoire. The only good thing out of this dilemma is that he has finally starting to talk to me again.” I had brought my larger tote to carry my laptop and charger from home, so I was able to safely tuck the family grimoire into the zippered pocket. “I’ve assured him that I can buy the mannequin from Mindy to store at the cottage until September rolls around.”

  I’m pretty sure Ted is talking to you again to make sure he doesn’t end up a pool of melted wax in one of your dreams. I’m riding home with Heidi. Her new car has heated seats and my butt prefers the warmth.

  “Leo is hitching a ride to the cottage with you,” I told her, grabbing my keys out of the pocket of my dress coat. We both stepped outside, and the cold bite in the air foretold of that impending snow. “Use your key to get inside. I’m going to drop by the antique shop to see if Kathleen can tell me what estate she found the dreamcatcher at, and then maybe we can do some research on the surname to see if the family had any ties to witchcraft or sorcery.”

  “Good idea.” Heidi motioned across the street. “I’ll also grab us two bowls of Trixie’s chili, then. We’ll need sustenance to make it through the evening. Leo, come with me. I’ll hit the remote start on the engine so that you can take advantage of the seat warmers.”

  Leo was rambling on and on about how Heidi was his soulmate, although all she heard was his long and loud meows. She’d even leaned down to pick up his rather heavy form to carry him to the passenger side of her vehicle. He was spoiled rotten, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

  It didn’t take me long to cross the intersection and make my way to the antique shop. The sign was flipped closed, but Kathleen usually didn’t leave until after six o’clock. I tapped my knuckles on the glass door, wishing I’d worn my gloves today. Yesterday’s high temperature had been in the fifties, though I should have known that the weather could change on the flip of a dime once the sun went down.

  I hoisted my tote bag a little higher onto my shoulder before lifting my hands to my lips in order to blow warm air into my palms. The occasional flurries that had been gracefully floating down from the overcast sky began to multiply. It wouldn’t be long before the snow began to stick.

  “Raven, what can I do for you?” Kathleen asked after having flipped the deadbolt and opened the door. It appeared that I’d just caught her as she was leaving, because she was all bundled up with her winter gear. “Did you hear that we’re getting four to five inches of snow? The meteorologist said something about the stormfront stalling for a bit before moving on.”

  I hastily stepped inside once Kathleen shifted back so that we were enveloped by the warmth of the antique shop. Leo was probably luxuriating in the heated seats of Heidi’s car, but I was now debating on whether or not it would have been more beneficial to keep him with me. At least then he would have been able to search the shop for any supernatural item that might have snuck its way onto the shelves.

  It had been by happenstance that we’d discovered the genuine witchcraft artifacts that Kathleen had acquired from various estate sales, but she simply hadn’t known the significance of her find. Had the timeworn relics landed in the hands of a novice witch or even someo
ne who had no real idea of the powers that laid within, who knows what the ramifications would have been from such a sale?

  “I’m glad I caught you,” I said, unable to stop the chatter of my teeth. “The temperature outside is certainly falling fast.”

  “I was hoping to stop by the grocery store before heading home, but I think it can wait a couple days. Was there something you needed?”

  “Do you remember the dreamcatcher I bought last year? The one with the brown and beige feathers?” I asked, purposefully not mentioning the thin braided rope in the center that was shaped like a pentagram. The less attention I brought to the supernatural, the better. “I was hoping that you could tell me what estate you bought it from, along with any of the other items you acquired.”

  Kathleen parted her lips to answer, but then thought better of it. At first, I thought that maybe she was purposefully keeping the details of the sale from me, but it soon became clear that she couldn’t recall the particulars when she rattled off the names of three possible estate sales.

  “Raven, I honestly don’t know. I do recollect which weekend it was, because I got a flat tire driving home. Unfortunately, the exact estate doesn’t stick out to me.”

  “Do you remember any of the surnames?” I asked, hoping for at least one. We’d either be able to rule it out or make some headway in our search. “I know it isn’t likely, but I was hoping someone from the family might remember where they had purchased such a unique item. I had a décor idea for one of my walls, but all the other dreamcatchers online don’t come near the quality.”

  “Isn’t that the truth?” Kathleen shook her head in disapproval. “It’s such a shame. No one values the quality of woodwork on handcrafted items anymore. It’ll be the downfall of our society. I’m convinced.”

  I wasn’t so sure about that, although I did agree with her sentiment in general. Having lived in New York City for most of my life, the masses never really took the time to appreciate the small stuff. There were the exceptions, of course, which is what made the Big Apple so special. Having resided in Paramour Bay for over a year now though, I wasn’t sure I could go back to all the hustle, bustle, and noise.

  “Let’s see,” Kathleen pondered, even tapping a gloved finger on her chin. “Webster, Cole, and…hmmm. I can’t recall the third estate.”

  “That’s okay,” I reassured her, grateful that we had at least two surnames to check out. They didn’t sound familiar, but Leo had more of an insight on the covens and the families who may have been excommunicated. Clearly, someone hadn’t wanted these unique supernatural items. “It’s a start. Thank you so much.”

  “No problem, dear.” Kathleen followed me outside, where she turned around and made sure that the shop was locked up tight. “You have a nice night, and don’t be such a stranger.”

  It was true that I didn’t shop at the antique store often, but Leo always surveyed the shop at least once a week to scour for any newly arrived supernatural items that we didn’t want falling into the wrong hands. The bitter cold wasn’t the only thing that had helped avert my exhaustion. Having something to research in an attempt to stop any more premonitions had definitely added a skip to my step.

  I wouldn’t be skippity do dah-ing, if I were you.

  It was a good thing that I was used to Leo talking to me anywhere at any time. I didn’t even falter in my step as I made my way to my car, though the tone of Leo’s voice had set me slightly on edge. Something had to have happened for him to have left the warmth of Heidi’s leather seats, and I wasn’t ready to hear anything that would burst my bubble of satisfaction from having gained information that might help prevent any more premonitions.

  Technically, the Wicked Witch of Windsor is quite nightmare-inducing. I hate to break this to you, Raven, but I just saw Rowena herself go flying past on her broom. Not literally, but you know what I mean. I don’t think I have to point out that her arrival in town doesn’t bode well for us. You don’t happen to know where that chickadee roosts, do you? We could probably use the help.

  Chapter Four

  “You’ve paid more attention to the front door than you have your laptop for the past hour,” Heidi pointed out from her seat at the dining room table. The weathered design of the wood matched the hutch cabinet, which was where she’d gotten the dreamcatcher from in her bid to see if there were any residual signs of the purple potion. “Does the gate still squeak when anyone other than your friends come through it?”

  The gate Heidi was referring to was part of the weathered wrought iron fence that surrounded the front yard. Nan had placed some type of protection ward on it before her death. The screech it omitted when someone opened it had been like nails on a chalkboard, but Rye Dolgiram had modified the warding spell to warn me about the presence of people who I didn’t know or trust…such as Aunt Rowena.

  Rowena Lattice Marigold just so happened to be Nan’s sister, making her my great aunt. She’d never been banished from the Windsor coven, and she was currently part of the disenfranchised faction that wanted to destroy the governing council’s power over its fellow supernatural members. Ironically, she was currently one of the council members. Mom and I had done what we could to stay out of the coven war with limited success thus far.

  For the most part, we’d kept our distance, but once in a while the palm of my hand would warm in warning that all was not as calm as we’d hoped it to be. As for Rye Dolgiram, let’s just say that Aunt Rowena had taken him under her wing from when he was young. She considered him a son of sorts.

  You mean from under those long red nails of hers, not wings. Just thinking of the dark magic that woman might have cast during the pitch-black hours of midwinter nights sets my tufts of fur on edge.

  “Yes, the gate still lets me know when someone is on the property, but I wouldn’t put it past Aunt Rowena to get around the ward.” I thought back to when Rye had tweaked the protection ward by adding a familiarity rune. His powers had to be strong in order to modify another witch’s magic without destroying its original power. “Rye could have told her about the security runes instilled in the wrought iron.”

  Speaking of our resident warlock, maybe the Wicked Witch of Windsor is in town solely for him. Her presence might not have anything to do with your predicament.

  “Our predicament, Leo,” I corrected, giving him a sideways look that made it impossible to mistake my ire. “I don’t want to hear one word the next time I make a tiny little mistake in one of our lessons.”

  I can’t promise that, though I will concede that the Wicked Witch of Windsor’s presence might be a cause for concern. I’ll withhold comment only until you reach out to confirm her true intentions. I find it best to be prepared in situations like these. Hey, have you checked the mail? My monthly subscription to Catnip Meowbox is due any day now. I don’t want my premium mix sitting out there in this wet weather.

  “Raven, I don’t see any trace of the purple potion left on this dreamcatcher,” Heidi finally declared, sitting back in the chair in defeat. She grabbed her glass of wine in solace. “Are you sure that this is the reason you’ve been having premonitions?”

  “The dreamcatcher is the only thing it could be, and I refuse to go to sleep until I fix it.” I really loathed the nightmare of Cora breaking her arm. Thankfully, I’d been able to ward off a trip to the hospital for her, but what if I couldn’t change the outcome next time? What if it was worse than a broken bone? “Leo has a point about Rye, though. Maybe I should just call him and ask why Aunt Rowena has shown up unceremoniously in town.”

  “And you think he’ll tell you the truth?” Heidi asked skeptically, standing up from the table so that she could walk over to her favorite overstuffed chair near the fireplace. “You were pretty short with him the last time the two of you spoke.”

  Instead of thinking about Rye going all in on the coven war and helping Aunt Rowena in her quest to overthrow the other members of the council, I focused on Nan’s decorating skills. Whereas the exterior of the cot
tage resembled what I could only describe as the stereotypical haunted house motif with overgrown vines intertwined as they climbed up and around the river rock, the interior was something out of a home décor magazine. It was a one-story with modern stainless steel appliances, an open layout, and an eye-catching hand-carved coffee table that was the focal point of the entire home. It also had a bedroom loft that spanned the length over the kitchen, pantry, and bathroom areas that was accessible by a spiral staircase.

  I’m sure your comfy Sleep Number bed is beckoning you, Raven, but can we focus on the problem at hand?

  I hadn’t realized that I’d been staring longingly at the spiral staircase. Now that it had been brought to my attention, my eyes were burning with the need for sleep and my limbs were heavy in agreement. Maybe I could get away with a little nap. Heidi could wake me up in twenty minutes, right?

  Bad idea, Raven. This whole Wicked Witch of Windsor thing is freaking me out, and I’m on my last bag of edibles. Speaking of which, you still haven’t checked the mail.

  “Rye and I made a pact that we wouldn’t discuss the coven war or its implications in each other’s presence,” I told Heidi after shutting down my laptop. My previous second wind had dissipated upon hearing about Aunt Rowena’s visit. “Leo’s right. It’s better to call Rye and just make sure that Aunt Rowena is only in town to spend time with him.”

  I leaned forward and picked up my cell phone that I’d set on the coffee table. Leo was stretched out on the hand-carved wooden surface in a feigned stance of calm, but his twitching tail spoke volumes. Aunt Rowena’s presence in Paramour Bay could signal the dreamcatcher had more powers than we’d originally believed was possible. Before I was able to find his name in my list of contacts, a shrill echo entered the house and continued to vibrate until we were all on our feet, or paws as the case may be.