by TJ Green
“Oh no!” Briar said, her hand flying to her mouth.
“That’s terrible,” Avery agreed, feeling dread creeping through her. “What happened?”
“She was found on the campus this morning, almost frozen—her lips and skin were blue, and there were no obvious wounds.”
Alex frowned. “So, how did she die? Hypothermia?”
“Nope,” Newton said, and then he sighed as if reluctant to voice his next words. “As I said, there were no obvious injuries, but there were the faintest marks on her neck. Two puncture wounds.”
“Puncture wounds!” Avery exclaimed.
He nodded. “The initial autopsy made it clear she lost a lot of blood.”
“How much?” Reuben asked.
“We’re not sure at the moment, but well over half of her body’s capacity. I’ll know more tomorrow.”
They looked speculatively at each other, but it was El who said what they were all thinking. “I can’t believe I’m about to suggest this, but it sounds like a vampire.”
Newton glared at her. “Oh, don’t you start. That word is being whispered everywhere at the police station.”
“What do you think it is then?” Reuben asked, cocking an eyebrow. “Some weirdo who drains people of their blood for some macabre reason?”
“I’d rather it were that than a bloody vampire,” Newton said, annoyed. “I’ve become accustomed to witches and Nephilim, and now I’m supposed to accept fey and vampires?”
“I think once you open up that particular can of worms, Newton, it just keeps on giving,” Alex said with a sad smile. “You can’t un-know this stuff.”
Avery noticed Briar’s eyes drop to the floor, and she realised this was another reason for Newton not to get involved with her. Not because it was Briar’s fault, but because she was part of that otherworld—the paranormal world beneath the everyday. And unfortunately, whether he liked it or not, so was Newton. He just didn’t want to admit it yet. He thought he was on the periphery, but he was wrong. Avery inwardly sighed. Sometimes life was too hard.
“Who’s in charge of the case?” Avery asked him.
“Me, of course. It’s already got the weird label, and we know that means me now.”
Much to Newton’s annoyance, he’d become the go-to investigator for what the police referred to as the strange occult happenings in Cornwall.
He sighed deeply. “I had to see her family today. It was horrible. Her mother couldn’t stop crying, and her father sat there like he’d turned to stone.” He looked at his beer. “I should have brought more of these, but I have to drive home.”
“Have my bed,” Alex offered. “That way you can have a few. I can go to Avery’s.”
Newton shook his head. “I have to get up early anyway and head back to the crime scene.”
“Sorry, Newton,” El said. “It’s a crap way to welcome in Christmas.”
He shrugged. “It’s just the way it is. Tell me about this fey woman. Should I worry?”
“No,” Alex said. “She seems reasonably well-behaved for a powerful immortal. She liked to remind us of that. And besides, if anyone has to do anything, we’ll sort it out, together with the Nephilim. You have your hands full. What are you doing over Christmas? I think we’ve decided we’re all heading to Reuben’s for the day. You could join us.”
Reuben nodded. “Sure, you should. Take your mind off work.”
“I’ll see. I might be working, if this carries on.”
Briar frowned. “You already think there’ll be another?”
Newton drained his bottle and cracked open the next. “There always is, Briar, you mark my words.”
***
When Avery opened up her shop, Happenstance Books, the next morning, she tried to banish Newton’s grim news from her mind as she looked forward to the day ahead.
They would surely be busy with Christmas shoppers, and they had plenty of stock to replace from yesterday. The increased traffic that White Haven was getting following the publicity from the Walk of the Spirits was translating to great sales.
After she’d been up to her flat above the shop to feed her cats and give them plenty of fuss, Avery entered the small back room and put the kettle and the coffee machine on ready for when Sally and Dan came in; surprisingly she’d arrived before Sally, who was usually in first. Sally was the shop manager and Dan was an employee, although both were good friends.
Avery then headed into the shop and inhaled with a dreamy expression on her face. The smell of cinnamon and nutmeg from the oil burner behind the counter lingered from the previous day. The strings of fairy lights that had been put up for Halloween remained, but the pumpkins, witches, and ghouls had gone, replaced with a large Christmas tree in the front window, and sprigs of green pine branches and mistletoe on the shelves and displays. Giant baubles hung in clusters from the ceiling, and the whole place sparkled with Sally’s decorative touches.
She’d just arrived back in the kitchen to grab her second coffee of the day, when Sally struggled through the back door carrying two large Tupperware containers. Avery ran to hold the door open for her. “Hold on, let me help!”
“Cheers, Avery,” Sally said, looking flushed. “I’ve been baking for today.” She placed the containers on the table and shrugged off her coat. “I can’t believe you beat me in!”
“Don’t worry, it probably won’t happen again.” She peered at the boxes, trying to make out the shape of the cakes inside. “What have you made?”
Sally answered with a wicked glint in her eye. “Mince pies, baby ones, and clotted brandy cream.”
“Wow! For us?”
“Us and our customers.”
“Nice,” Avery said, eying them appreciatively. “Have you heard about the death at the college yesterday?”
Sally nodded, her face grim. “Yes, Dan told me yesterday afternoon. Poor girl, and her poor parents. Is Newton looking into it?”
Avery nodded, but their conversation was disturbed by Dan’s arrival. He appeared, wrapped in a large heavy coat and wearing a cap that he pulled from his head as he came in, revealing a thick shock of dark hair. “Ladies,” he greeted, as he slammed the door behind him. “It’s cold enough to freeze my bollocks off out there.” He lifted his head. “Mmm, but fortunately I smell coffee, and are those your delicious mince pies, Sally?”
Sally shook her head at him. “When it comes to my baking, your olfactory senses are uncanny.”
“I know. It’s fortunate you’re married, or I might have to woo you.”
Sally laughed at that. “Idiot. We were talking about that poor girl who died at the college yesterday.”
Dan’s mood immediately changed. “Yeah, that’s horrible. I caught up with one of my mates who teaches there. Understandably the whole place is talking about it, and it’s put a bit of a damper on people’s moods.”
Avery nodded. “Any thoughts on how she died?” She assumed the news about the body being drained of blood wasn’t public knowledge yet.
Dan watched her. “No. Why, what do you know?”
“It just sounds a bit unusual, that’s all.”
“Well, I presume you know more than we do, courtesy of Newton. I do know she was found sitting upright on a bench.”
“What?” Avery almost stepped back in shock. “I didn’t know that!”
“Yeah, very strange.” Dan nodded thoughtfully as he headed to get a coffee. “I saw Dylan yesterday, too. He’s pretty gutted. He knew her.”
Dan was referring to his friend, Dylan, one of the three paranormal investigators that helped the witches.
Sally and Avery glanced at each other in shock, and Avery fumbled for her phone. “I’ll call him. Poor Dylan. This just gets worse.”
Dan stayed her hand. “Not now, Avery. I think he had a late night, a few drinks to help him sleep. Maybe call him later?”
She put her phone away and wondered if some magic would help him, but then she rejected the idea swiftly. Magic wasn’t useful for anything
like that. It would only mask grief, or slow the healing process. Best to let him grieve naturally. “Sure, I’ll phone later. In the meantime, let’s stock the shop and get ready for the day.”
***
By mid-morning the shop was busy, and a steady stream of customers were coming in, bringing a blast of cold air with them every time the door opened. Outside the day was overcast and dark, making the Christmas lights in the shop even brighter.
Sally brought a batch of mince pies out and handed them around, cheering the customers and Avery and Dan alike. Avery was nibbling on her pie behind the counter and absently looking out the window when she saw Cassie head into the shop. It had been a few weeks since she’d seen her, and Avery left the counter to speak to her by the Christmas tree.
“Hey, Avery,” Cassie said, reaching forward to hug her.
“Hey yourself,” Avery replied, returning the welcome. She stepped back to appraise her. “You look different. I can’t quite work out why.” Cassie certainly looked the same physically; her pale brown, shoulder-length hair hadn’t changed, and she wore her usual skinny jeans, flat leather boots, and a three-quarter length jacket. It was her manner that seemed different. “There’s something a little meaner about you. I don’t mean that in a bad way!” she stressed, apologetic.
Cassie laughed. “No, that’s fine. I get that a lot. I think it’s because I’m more self-confident than when you first met me a few months ago.”
Avery nodded. “Yeah, that’s it. You looked terrified of all those spooks and ghosts for a while, and now you look like you could seriously kick their ass.”
Cassie leaned forward conspiratorially. She was of average height, a little shorter than Avery. “That’s because I probably could—if they were corporeal! We’ve all been learning to fight.”
Avery’s mouth fell open in shock. “Fight! Like proper fighting?”
“Yeah. For months now, since the summer, and more in recent weeks. Facing spooks and other weird paranormal stuff needs strength of character, but you need to back that up with physical fitness, strength, and agility. Me, Dylan, and Ben have all been training together.”
Avery glanced around the shop, and seeing that Dan and Sally seemed to have everything under control, she pulled Cassie to the back room, her de-facto meeting place. As soon as the door was shut, she asked, “Were you attacked or something? Is this why?”
Cassie reached for a mince pie from the supply in the second container. “Yes and no. Just the usual spirits rushing at us, falling objects, thrown objects, weird smoke, apparitions, and tricks. You have to be on your game, Avery. But you know that!”
“I guess so,” Avery mused. “But I have magic to help me.”
“Hence the training! We all started in the summer, a month or so after we met you guys and realised what was really out there.” Cassie helped herself to another mince pie. “These are delicious! Anyway, it’s been pretty intensive, but over the past few weeks, I’ve really started to feel the difference. I mean, clearly I’m no expert after so few months, but I have enough skills now to defend myself. With, of course, the aid of some of your magic.”
“Wow! Go you. I’m so impressed,” Avery said, admiring Cassie’s lean form. “So, you’re ready to face anything now?”
“I wouldn’t say anything...but that brings me to what I’m here for. We’ve been thinking about items you could help us with.”
“Go on,” Avery said, intrigued. She vaguely remembered having a conversation a few weeks back about objects that could be imbued with magic.
Cassie looked excited. “We’ve been asked to investigate this old house in West Haven, the little village on the road between White Haven and Harecombe. The house has an occult history, and the couple who have recently bought it want us to investigate it, although I don’t think anything is really happening there. We’re setting up recording equipment and a few cameras in some key spots, but...” She paused, mulling over her next words. “After our initial inspection of the house, I’ve just got a bad feeling about it.”
“The house, or the people who’ve hired you?”
She shrugged and frowned. “Both, really. Something’s not right. We’ve accepted the job, and the money is good, but I was discussing it with the guys. We need magical support.”
Avery was worried. None of them had ever expressed concern about an investigation before. “Do you want me or one of the other witches to come with you?”
Cassie shook her head. “No, we can do this on our own. It’ll be a week or so of monitoring, and then we might stay overnight. It will be a longish job, time you won’t have. Besides, we can’t rely on you all the time.”
“You’ve been pretty self-sufficient for a while,” Avery pointed out. “All those spirit sightings you’ve been following up on.”
“I guess so, but this feels different, and I can’t explain it.”
Avery thought for a moment. “So, going back to magical objects, you mean like a ring that could release a spell, or energy balls or fire balls?”
“Yeah,” Cassie said, her expression bright. “Exactly. Alex has taught us some simple banishing spells. Briar has taught me some basic potions that I’ve put into these salt bomb kind of things, and El said she could definitely work some magic into jewellery or a knife. So, can you help with anything? Fire balls sound good!”
Avery grinned. “They do, if I can work out how to make them so that you can use them! Leave it with me. I’ll see what I can do.” And then she had a thought. “Teaching you some simple wards would also be useful—you know, to protect yourself with. I use a shadow spell a lot to hide with. I might be able to package that up in something. But that would be a onetime use. Once you release it, it’s gone, until I make you a new one,” she warned.
“That would be amazing,” Cassie said, looking relieved.
“I’m glad you’re here, anyway,” Avery said, heading to the counter and putting the kettle on. “Have you heard about the death at the college?”
Cassie’s face fell and she sat heavily in the chair. “Oh, that. I can’t stop thinking about it. You know Dylan knew her—sort of?
“Dan mentioned it.”
“She was the cousin of one of his mates, I know that much. They found her on a bench!”
Avery nodded. “Yeah, Dan told me that, too. That’s just weird.”
“There was a big party last night, a sort of end of term thing.”
Avery pondered whether to tell Cassie about what Newton had said about the blood loss, and then decided she should. Cassie was a friend and could be trusted. “Newton said she’d lost a lot of blood, and there were two faint puncture wounds on her neck.” She poured them both a cup of tea and joined Cassie at the table.
Cassie visibly paled. “Like a vampire?”
“Yep, but not exactly bite marks. It’s particularly worrying because Harecombe is so close to White Haven, and I think a lot of kids from here attend there.”
“Isn’t that where Caspian lives?”
“Yeah, in the massive house he inherited from his crazy father.” Avery realised she had no idea who Cassie lived with. “Where do you live? With Ben and Dylan?”
“Not bloody likely,” Cassie said, incredulous. “Ben is so messy, it’s unbelievable. No, I live with a couple of girls in Harbour Village, Penryn. Ben and Dylan live together, though, in Falmouth, not too far from me. We ended up setting up our business there, after we got booted out of that room at the Uni. They managed to get quite a big place. It needs a lot of work, but it’s perfect for our needs. ”
“I remember you saying that might happen,” Avery said, sipping on her tea. She and Alex had visited their office at the Penryn campus during the summer. They had an impressive range of equipment that they used to monitor ghosts and poltergeists, as well as to test subjects who declared themselves as having psychic or telekinetic abilities. “Shame it didn’t work out.”
“Probably for the best. They wouldn’t like all this extra attention we’re getting at
the moment from the Walk of the Spirits.”
“I thought they’d like that!”
Cassie wrinkled her nose. “Sometimes there is such a thing as too much publicity!” She drained her cup, and then stood. “Anyway, I’d better go. I’ll be seeing Dylan later. I’ll ask him if he’s heard anything else. Cheers for the tea and mince pies!”
Avery stood, too, and walked with her to the door. “Okay, and I’ll conjure up some charms and magical aids for you. But ask if you need us. And if for some reason we can’t help, we have witch friends who can.”
As Avery watched Cassie leave, she reflected that she didn’t want her, Ben, or Dylan getting hurt.
4
After work had finished, Avery headed up to her flat, the smell of fresh pine from her Christmas tree soothing her senses. She breathed deeply, letting the cares of the day drain away from her. The shop had remained busy all day, which was great, but exhausting.
Night had already fallen, dark by 4.00pm at this time of year, so Avery closed all her blinds, blocking out the chill night, lit the fire with a spell, turned on a couple of lamps, and headed to the kitchen to feed the cats.
Medea and Circe wound around her legs, glad to see her, and she tickled their silky ears. Once she’d fed them, she poured a glass of wine, and then headed up to the attic, her favourite part of the house, and the place where she worked her spells. Avery had been pondering on Cassie’s request all day, and she had finally decided how to capture the shadow spell. She lit the fire in the attic, too, spelling on lamps, candles, and incense, and then sat at her large wooden table and pulled her grimoires towards her.
The familiar feel and smell of the pages tickled her senses, and she sensed the spark of magic beneath her fingers, wrapping around her arms and drifting across the room. When she opened the books, it was as if a sigh escaped them, a palpable excitement at their pages being turned. A witch’s relationship with her grimoire was a special one. It linked her to her ancestors, and bound their thoughts, feelings, and knowledge together. She never felt more like herself than when she was performing magic, and she knew the other witches felt the same. She smiled as she stroked the pages, softened by years of use, and protected by a spell that saved them from the ravages of time.
