Max turned to me, as if looking for confirmation.
I aimed my gaze downward and shrugged. “I tried to chase after him, but he went over a fence and it was too tall for me to climb.”
His hand alit on my shoulder. “We’ll look for him tonight.”
Martha hovered just behind him. “He’s handsome,” she whispered, though he couldn’t hear her no matter how loud she spoke, “you should go in for a hug, Addy.’
While I didn’t go in for a hug, I managed a smile. Max’s reaction was a much better reply than, I’m sure he’ll come back.
“Deal,” I replied. “But let’s get going. I don’t want to keep you up too late.”
Luna stood, grinning at Max. “She’s much nicer to you. I haven’t heard a single word of concern about me needing to meet my first client at 7 AM.”
I rolled my eyes at her. “And I need to start baking for the cafe at 5. Now that we’ve established we’ll all be waking up early, let’s get a move on. We’re burning moonlight.” I opened the door and waited while Max and Luna walked past me outside. Martha floated after them, fortunately keeping her thoughts to herself.
I almost considered leaving the door open in case Spooky came back, but that was just asking for trouble. I locked the door and we walked down the driveway together toward Max’s jeep. Luna relinquished the front passenger seat to me without question, a mischievous glint in her eye. If I had a moment alone with her, I’d tell her to stop worrying about my romantic life and focus on the task at hand. The funny thing was, my sisters were both single too, they just didn’t have any potential suitors currently for me to pick on in turn.
Max started the engine, then blasted the heat. “Where to first?”
I thought about it. “The neighborhood ends two streets past where I lost Spooky. Let’s set a trap there first, maybe we can even catch the glowing mouse he ran off after.” I turned toward him. “Do you have any live traps small enough for a mouse?”
He stared at me. “Are you telling me you actually saw one of these glowing animals?”
I tilted my head. “Yes?”
His eyes widened. “So Sophie actually saw one too? I figured her eyes were just playing tricks on her.”
“But Maura Wimbledon saw glowing birds,” I countered.
“She’s getting up there in years.”
I blinked at him. “Are you telling me you volunteered to help me set traps this late at night when you didn’t even believe what we were trapping was real?”
He gave me a sheepish grin, then shrugged.
I laughed. “Well I’ve seen the animals too, twice now. So do you believe me?”
He glanced toward the back seat at Luna, then back to me. “Well I’m still not convinced that this isn’t an elaborate prank, but I don’t think you would make something like this up otherwise . . . ”
“Well we’ll just have to prove it to you,” I said.
“Hopefully,” Luna added. “Now if you two are done flirting, can we get going?”
I gave her a quick glare, my gaze hesitating as Martha appeared in the back seat. I quickly turned around, then instructed Max on where to go. There were a few acres of woods between my neighborhood and the next. It seemed the ideal place to start setting traps, and to search for Spooky.
It only took us a few minutes to reach the first location.
Max shut off the engine, and we all hesitated for a moment, knowing the cold would seem even more severe after the warmth of the Jeep. I hadn’t expected such a drastic drop in temperature for at least a few weeks.
Luna was the first brave soul to open her door, letting the chill air in. Martha popped out after her.
I looked to Max. “Let’s make this quick.”
He nodded. “I’ll grab the traps. You and your sister figure out where you want to place them.”
I flashed him a quick smile then hurried out of the Jeep before I could think twice about it. My legs erupted with goosebumps beneath my jeans, crawling up my skin under the warmth of my coat.
Luna was already waiting on my side of the Jeep, staring out into the darkness. Tall pines loomed in the distance like silent sentinels, their upper needles reflecting the light of the moon.
I glanced at my sister, then started walking, focusing more with my intuition than with my eyes or ears. The night felt alive, though I didn’t sense any powerful magic nearby.
With Luna silently keeping pace at my side, we reached the tree line.
A shiver went up my spine. The living quality of the night had increased from the feeling of fluttering moth wings to a swarm of locusts. “There’s something here. Can you feel it?”
She nodded. “Magic, but it doesn’t feel dark. Just powerful.”
Martha floated up beside us, her arms wrapped tightly around her transparent form. “It feels strange out here.”
The three of us turned at the sound of footsteps behind us. Max carried three traps, a larger one in each hand, and a smaller one under his arm. They were the type with pressure plates inside one end, and trap doors on the other. Once an animal walked far enough inside, they would trigger the pressure plate and be trapped, alive and unharmed. None of the traps seemed small enough to catch a mouse, maybe a large rat would be heavy enough to trigger the smallest of the three traps.
Max’s face looked a bit ghostly in the moonlight framed by his stocking cap. “Where do you want them?”
I noticed a bag of marshmallows in one of the larger traps. “Are we planning a cookout after this?”
He grinned. “You’d be surprised how many animals will go into a trap after marshmallows. Especially raccoons or opossums.”
With a soft laugh, I turned back to the trees. Other than the occasional small animal darting through the underbrush, there was no movement, but the sensation of magic lingered.
“Let’s walk a little farther in,” I decided.
Luna gave me a wary glance, probably wanting to ask if I was crazy to go in search of whatever magical being awaited us, but it seemed too good of an opportunity to pass up. If whatever was here was the thing making these animals glow with magic, we needed to find out. I wished I could tell Martha to scout on ahead, but there was no way to speak to her with Max around.
When it became clear that Luna wasn’t about to go first either, I led the way, stepping cautiously in case I happened upon a snake. The night seemed to grow darker the further we went, although it was just the effect of the branches overhead blocking out the moonlight. I considered using the flashlight feature on my phone, but that might scare away any animals we hoped to trap.
When we were far enough that I could no longer see the distant neighborhood behind us through the trees, I stopped. “Here should be good.”
Max set to work, walking around the area and setting the three traps in different places. After pinning back the doors, he would toss a few marshmallows into the other end near the pressure plate. Martha followed him around, silently observing.
When he was done, he returned to us, unknowingly bringing Martha with him. “We’ll need to move before any animals come sniffing this way. I’d recommend just leaving the traps until morning.”
I pursed my lips. I was freezing my butt off, but I didn’t like the idea of going home without making any real progress. Plus I could still sense magic out here, I just couldn’t think of a good excuse to give Max for us to walk deeper into the woods.
Before I could say anything, he stepped closer to me, his gaze cast outward. He lowered his voice, “I think I saw something move out there.”
Hearing his words, Luna scurried toward us and clutched my arm as we all peered into the darkness.
I caught a hint of movement, the sway of a black coat as someone took off running. Without thinking, I pulled away from Luna and took off after them.
“Addy!” I heard Max call, followed by his footsteps pounding behind mine.
I couldn’t look back. I caught a glimpse of a figure dressed in black, weaving through the trees ahe
ad. I could sense this person’s magic. Maybe they were another witch, or maybe something else. Either way, they had been watching us, and I intended to find out why.
A glowing light caught my attention to my left and I almost ran right into a tree. The animal was the size and shape of a cat, and it was chasing after the same person I was.
“Spooky!” I gasped, changing direction to go after the cat instead of the person.
He didn’t seem to hear me. He shot off after our quarry like a miniature comet.
At least now I had something easy to follow, because Spooky was glowing as bright as the moon.
Chapter Eleven
My lungs started to burn as Spooky’s light grew distant. Whoever we were chasing must’ve been a marathon runner, because they had outpaced me by a mile. I slowed under the weight of my protesting body and utter defeat.
Max caught up, panting heavily and peering through the trees. “We lost your sister back there, she said she couldn’t run anymore.” He removed his stocking cap and wiped sweat from his brow. “Am I mistaken, or was a glowing animal chasing that person?”
My burning throat felt tight. “It was Spooky.”
Max’s eyes widened. “There is something exceedingly strange going on here. Why was that person watching us? And why was your cat glowing?”
I shook my head, still staring off into the darkness. “I wish I knew.” While I didn’t have the answer to any of his questions, I had a sneaking suspicion the person we’d chased had something to do with the glowing animals, and they might have something to do with the dark magic. Why else would they have been watching us? And why would they run?
I started to turn away to search for Luna and Martha, but caught sight of a distant light. I watched for a moment, realizing it was coming toward us.
“Spooky!” I rasped.
Though my legs felt like Jell-O, I rushed toward my familiar, meeting him halfway. I knelt down and he leapt into my arms, giving me an up close look at his glowing fur. Well, not just his fur. The glow emanated from his entire body, like a white aura.
Max caught back up to me, his eyes all for Spooky. “That is not normal.”
I hugged the cat against my chest. “Tell me about it. Let’s get him back to the Jeep.”
We both turned to find Luna plodding after us with Martha floating beside her. Luna gasped as I turned with Spooky in my arms, then rushed forward. “Where did you find him!”
“He was chasing the person who was spying on us,” I explained. “I never got a good look at them.”
She looked from Max to me, probably wondering what explanation I had given him. “When I lost sight of you, I went back to the traps. We caught a glowing rat, though I’m not sure we need it now.” She gestured toward Spooky.
“We’ll pick it up on our way back,” I decided, then started walking.
Max hurried after me. “What do you intend to do? We should report this to someone. What if they’re, I don’t know, radioactive?”
I turned, holding Spooky close. I had been forced to tell Logan my secret, but I wanted to avoid admitting everything to Max if I could. Something told me he wouldn’t quite believe me. “I think we should keep this a secret if we can. We don’t need any media involved. Twilight Hollow would be swarmed with people looking for glowing animals. They would trash the woods and annoy the locals.”
“But what if these animals are dangerous?” he pressed.
“This is my home, Max. If I can protect it from becoming a madhouse, I will. Just give me a chance to figure this out.”
He huffed, fogging the air with his breath. “At least let me look over both animals to make sure they don’t pose a danger to you.”
I knew the cat gently panting in my arms was no threat, but he could look at the rat if he wanted to. “Deal. Now let’s get out of the cold before someone loses a toe.”
I stumbled a few times on the way back to the traps. I must have really pushed my body to its limits with the way I’d run. How had that other person moved so quickly?
We reached the traps, and sure enough there was a glowing rat inside the smallest one. The thing huddled in the back corner of the cage. These animals definitely weren’t dangerous. I didn’t think they were even aware of what had happened to them.
Max cautiously approached the cage, then knelt down. “This is so weird,” he muttered, then looked over his shoulder at me. “Are you sure about this?”
I answered with a sharp nod.
With a heavy sigh, he picked up the trap, staring at the glowing critter within.
Luna sidled up to him. “Why don’t you let me take that one? I don’t see any reason to leave the two large traps out here.”
He carefully handed her the trap, then went to gather the other two.
Martha floated back and forth impatiently, muttering about the odd feeling in the woods.
I still felt it too, that hint of magic, but more distant now. The person we’d chased had taken their magic with them.
With everybody ready to go, I hoisted Spooky more securely in my arms and started walking, wondering if I should tell Logan about any of this. Maybe he was better off not knowing.
Max walked at my side, spooked by my cat, but not by me. If he had any idea what he was dealing with, would he run the other way?
I’d rather not find out.
Chapter Twelve
“Well, they both seem perfectly healthy,” Max concluded, stepping away from the dining room chair where we had set the rat in its trap. “The rat’s behavior doesn’t suggest that it has any diseases, but we can’t be sure, so make sure it doesn’t bite you.”
He rubbed his tired eyes, then glanced at Spooky waiting patiently on the table. The cat had eaten dinner, and Luna had stepped outside to call our mom and Callie.
I watched Max with my arms crossed. “Thanks for this, seriously. Thanks for trusting me about keeping things quiet.”
He offered me the ghost of a smile. “I still think we should report this . . . though to whom, I’m not sure. But you’re the one who brought me in, not the other way around. It’s your choice.”
Spooky trotted across the table and nudged Max’s hand.
Max hesitated for a moment, then stroked a hand down the cat’s back. While his palm was on Spooky’s fur it was enveloped in the glow, but as soon as he removed it, his hand appeared normal.
He stared at the cat, then shook his head. “Nope, can’t get used to it.”
I laughed. “At least you’re not the one who has to figure out how to hide a glowing cat. Hopefully it’s something that will fade over time.”
“Yeah, I don’t envy you that.” He yawned. “Are you sure you and Luna are okay here with the animals?”
I nodded. “Are you sure you’re okay to drive home? You seem like you’re about to fall asleep on your feet.”
“I’ll be fine.” He hesitated like he wanted to say more, then thought better of it. “Call me if you need anything, or if either animal starts acting strangely.”
With one last look at the animals, he turned and led the way toward the front door. I saw him out, saying a final goodbye before shutting the door behind him and leaning my back against it.
I let out a long sigh as Martha appeared before me.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, if a ghost’s eyes could sparkle. “Finally. Your sister is still on the phone and I’m dying to know who that person was in the woods.”
I leaned more heavily against the door. “Well I can’t really help you there, I have no idea. But they were someone with strong magic. That’s what you were sensing in the woods. My sister and I could feel it too.”
Her eyes widened. “Another witch?”
I shrugged. “Maybe.”
I heard the back door open and shut, then Luna came through the kitchen into the living room. “Mom and Callie will come over in the morning to figure out the animals while you and I go to work.”
Martha looked back-and-forth between us. “But what abo
ut me? What about my murder?”
I rubbed my burning eyes. “Logan is going to try to procure the contract you saw. The rest of us have our own jobs to do.”
I walked into the kitchen where Spooky was still sitting on the table, watching the glowing rat. I took a small saucer for water from the cabinet, then found a slightly wilted carrot in my bottom fridge drawer.
“These will have to do, little guy,” I said as I approached the cage with the filled water saucer balanced in one palm.
I set both items on the table, then knelt to figure out the trap. I was pretty sure I could just push the door inward while I gave the rat food and water, then it would spring back into place. The rat huddled at the other end of the cage, watching me with beady little eyes.
“Okay, fella,” I soothed. “You just stay over there.”
I pressed the door in, then slid the water filled saucer toward the rat. When that had gone over smoothly, I reached back for the carrot.
Spooky hissed. I tried to jerk back my hand, but the rat was already scurrying up my arm.
I shrieked and stumbled backward, holding my arm rigidly out from my body. I wanted the creature off of me but didn’t want to fling it hard enough to kill it. I spun around as Luna rushed into the room.
She slid to a halt in front of me. “What are you doing!”
The rat clung to my sweater near my elbow, probably just as terrified as I was, while Spooky leaned near the edge of the table, flailing one paw toward the rodent.
I shuffled closer to Luna, extending my arm for her to grab the rat. She started to reach for it, then paused. We both gasped. The glow faded from the rat, seeming to soak through my sweater into my skin. I got a little rush of a memory of a picnic on a beach—a memory that was not my own—then the sensation dissipated.
Luna grabbed the now ordinary rat by the scruff of its neck, then carried it back to the trap, placing it safely inside and letting the door shut.
She turned wide eyes back to me. “What in the name of the goddess was that?”
Catnip Cantrips (Twilight Hollow Witchy Cozy Mysteries Book 2) Page 6
