Witching Ways

by T K Eldridge

  “How’s Mira doing?”

  “Probably happy he’s home now and she doesn’t have to juggle the little ones at Grams’ place. She graduated with her pharmacology degree before Reina was born, and is now studying herbal healing from Grams and Evelyn Rue. When she’s not juggling babies, she plans on helping create more effective remedies and potions. I think she’s brilliant, and a perfect mate for Sin.”

  “I think I still have a couple of the notebooks I used when I started teaching Lissa. I’ll send them to her with you when you go, if that’s okay?”

  “I think Mira would really like that, thanks.”

  “Now, is there anything I can do to help you?”

  “Actually, yes,” I told her. “There’s a text here that I’m having some trouble deciphering. Could you take a look?”

  The rest of the afternoon was spent working together, and I felt completely appreciated and wholly loved.

  It was a feeling I had recently learned to cherish.

  Chapter Five

  Sin

  It felt like it had taken a year to get back on my feet and back to work, even though it had only been less than two weeks. As much as I loved my family, I got too restless when I couldn’t work. And as much as I hated desk duty, if I were being honest with myself, I didn’t quite feel steady enough to be out on the street yet. Which left Tasha pulling temporary partners from the pool of SPD officers so she wouldn’t be out there alone. The environment was still too volatile to have solo officer patrols.

  Nearly dying had taught me one thing. I had to stop thinking like this was a part-time career choice. Tasha had called me out on that way back in the early days of my time with SPD, and while I heard her words, I hadn’t processed exactly what she meant.

  I got it now.

  Thinking like a healer, a fixer, nearly got me killed. I had to start thinking like a guardian. A warrior. I had to adjust my mindset and clarify my purpose, or I’d never see Reina grow up, or raise Ethan to be the best man he could become. I had made a promise to Mira, sworn an oath to be with her through life. I had other souls relying on me to be alive and present, and it was time to step up, instead of standing in place.

  With that in mind, I went to see the Commander.

  A tap on his door and he called out, “Come on in.”

  “Commander, do you have a few minutes?” I asked.

  “Of course, Sin. Come on in. Want some coffee?”

  “That’d be great, thanks.” I stayed silent while he fixed us each a mug of coffee, then took a sip while he settled back at his desk.

  “What did you need to see me about?” the Commander asked. “Are you not feeling well?”

  “I feel fine, Grampa. Still a little off, but getting stronger every day. No, it’s not my physical health I’m here to discuss. I kind of had one of those ‘clue by four’ moments and wanted to talk it out with you.”

  “I see. Well, what have you realized?”

  “I have to stop thinking like a healer or fixer, and start thinking more like a guardian or warrior. I have to stop standing on the sidelines and throwing up a shield now and then, and get into the battle proper.”

  I watched my grandfather settle back in his chair and smile. “I hate to say it, but it’s about damned time.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We all have those moments, when life shifts and we have to adjust so we can keep moving forward instead of getting run over, or, like it has been with you lately, get dragged along by the rest of the team. What brought you to this realization?”

  “Nearly getting killed. I knew Sophia. Dated her. Twice. She knows I’m part witch – and yet, she still attacked me.”

  “It was the uniform.”

  “No, it was hate. Fear. Anger. I saw it in her eyes. I was about to cuff her when the hand I wasn’t holding came around at me and that’s the last I remember.”

  “A spelled weapon can kill in the hands of someone with the strength of a child. You really are lucky you’re not dead. Where was your partner in all of this?”

  “The chaos split us up. We were both chasing a group and when one split off, I just went after that figure. It was my fault for not staying at her side.”

  “How did you know about the group in the trees back at the base site?”

  “A voice told me it was there.”

  “A voice?”

  “Well, it was Ethan’s guardian spirit that he calls ‘Biggie’. He gave me the toy the spirit preferred and sent him with me for the night. Ethan’s ability to see the spirit realm and his precognition may have been behind him giving it to me – but I’m grateful he did.”

  “Huh,” Grampa said and stared into his mug for a moment. “I haven’t had much experience with the spirit realms or the guardians the light fae have at their side, but it seems one saved quite a few of us from a bad night.”

  “I’m confused,” I said.

  “When we questioned the group you helped capture at the base, we learned their goal. If that group had hit us as they had planned, the communications for the night would have been down and we’d have been running around blind and deaf. Biggie is owed a debt of gratitude.”

  “I’ll let Ethan know to thank him again for us. I think Biggie also called me back to consciousness. I remember a voice telling me it was time to wake up – and I did.”

  “I should ask your sister to do some research into the guardian spirits. I regret my lack of information regarding them.”

  “Or you could just come to dinner some night and talk to Mira. She is light fae.”

  “Now that sounds a lot more fun than reading one of Sid’s reports. Could we do tomorrow night? You’re not on the patrol rotation until next week.”

  “Let me ask Mira,” I said and pulled out my phone. I sent her a text because calling, if Reina was napping, would be bad. “You up for dinner with Grampa Walsh tomorrow night at our place? If you don’t want to cook, I can bring home takeout.”

  Mira replied a moment later with, “Bring home takeout, I’ll throw together something for dessert, and we’re all good. Why does he want to do dinner?”

  “He wants to learn more about light fae and guardians. I told him you’d be a better resource than some book.”

  “Sounds good. We’ll talk more about what to pick up when you get home. Love you.”

  “Love you too. See you tonight.”

  “She says it’s okay with her as long as I bring home takeout. She’ll make dessert, and she’s glad to speak to you about the light fae and guardians,” I told Grampa.

  “Excellent. And I’ll bring the food. You just pick up some beer.”

  I laughed at that and gave him a fist bump. “You got it. I’m going back to work. I want to finish up those reports for Tasha before she comes in, so she can leave at a decent hour tonight, too.”

  “Is there anything else you need from me, Sin?” Grampa asked, love and concern in his expression.

  “Just permission to get into the gym tomorrow so I can start working myself up to fighting weight. I’ll take all precautions, but if I’m hitting the streets again in a few days, I need to get to work.”

  “You’ve got it. Now get out of my office.”

  “Yes, sir,” I saluted and left to the sounds of his chuckle.

  * * *

  The next night, Mira and I fed the kids early and put them to bed before Grampa came over for dinner. He brought barbecue ribs and all of the sides, and Mira had made an apple pie for dessert. We ate and chatted about random things, but the conversation settled over pie and coffee.

  “Sin tells me you want to learn about the light fae and about guardian spirits,” Mira said.

  “I know that light fae are of the elemental spirit class, and that many can see spirits, but not all. That’s about the sum total of my knowledge,” Grampa Walsh said.

  “There aren’t many pure light fae left. That’s one of the reasons I was sent through the portal to earth when I was a teenager. A group of fae that hat
ed the light had infiltrated the royal court and were systematically killing off all of the light fae, but saying it was politically motivated. It’s why my parents are gone.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Grampa said. “Why was it like that?”

  “Most light fae have some version of precognition, and many can speak with spirits and guardians. Imagine if you were plotting a crime and someone reported you for it, but they had never been around when you discussed it? That happened more than once. My father was a nobleman who worked with several of the higher-ranking nobles and royals. He heard about an assassination attempt from one of his guardians, and told the intended victim, so he could protect himself. That man told the rest of the royals about the threat, and my father was called to verify the accusation. He did, his guardian spoke to the light fae present and reported the conversation and the people involved – and they were all arrested for plotting against the royal house. They learned that my father and his guardian were the ones responsible for the arrests – and had my parents killed. I was to be killed as well, but my parents sent me to my uncle in the middle of the night and I was spared.”

  “I thought you didn’t know all of the details of what happened to your parents?” I asked Mira.

  “I didn’t. Then the portal collapsed and everyone landed on the islands – including the guardian spirits that had been with my parents. They eventually found me and told me what happened – and I verified it with the Queen.”

  “I’m so sorry,” I said and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “When did you learn all of this?”

  “A while back, but I forgot to share it with you with everything we’ve had going on the past year or more. It’s okay, Sin. I’ve made my peace, and those that were behind it all, have been gone a long time,” Mira said.

  “Is Ethan’s guardian, the one he calls Biggie, here now?” Grampa asked.

  “No, but I can call him. I’ve made sure the spirits give us privacy unless they’re watching the children or coming to share something they’ve learned,” Mira said. “Would the guardian of my son, the one he calls Biggie, come join us, please?”

  Mira turned her head towards the hallway and smiled. “Welcome, Guardian. What should we call you?”

  We couldn’t hear the exchange, but Mira chuckled. “He says Biggie is fine. And he says he’s glad to see you’re back home where you belong,” she told me.

  “I appreciate your presence and protection,” I said. “Thank you.”

  “He says you are welcome. He offers greetings to the Commander,” Mira said.

  “Greetings to you, Biggie. I offer my thanks as well for helping Sin point out those that would have harmed us all, and for protecting him,” Grampa said.

  “He said you’re welcome. He enjoyed being in the fray once again,” Mira said. “What do you mean?” she asked him. A few moments passed, then she said, “He says he used to be a soldier, and while he loves Ethan, he misses being around warriors.”

  “How do they get assigned?” I asked.

  “He had a son that he didn’t get to see grow. This charge was given to him, so he could enjoy seeing one of his descendants grow from babe to man.” Mira pressed a hand to her chest and whispered. “Pawpaw?” Tears shimmered in her eyes and I reached out to rest a hand on her shoulder.

  “He’s my father’s father. My grandfather that I called Pawpaw. My grandmother had their last son when I was about six years old. He died while away at war, and she and the babe died shortly afterwards. He never got to see his youngest boy, so he was given Ethan as a charge.”

  “Wow,” Grampa said. “That’s amazing. I’m so honored you’re here to protect this family.”

  “He says he is very happy I found Sin and he says Memaw, my grandmother, has Reina as her charge. I wouldn’t have known if they didn’t tell me, or speak of things we would both know. My vision of them is as of a golden figure of light, no features or distinctions. It doesn’t tell me if they’re male or female, but there is a vibration – a sense of presence – that is individual to each guardian.” Mira wiped her eyes and turned to Grampa. “I’m sorry, it seems I got lost in the realizations and forgot to ask your questions. What would you like to know?”

  “Oh, sweet Mira, this is a beautiful moment. Don’t worry about me. If you’re willing, I’d like to ask your grandfather if his ability to speak into Sin’s mind was unusual or brought on by a great need?”

  “He says that because Sin had the token he’s bound to, for now, that he could speak to his mind. That if you held the token, he could speak to you as well. He also said that he’s gathered a lot of intelligence over the past few days and would like to be able to converse with you…” Mira gave a soft laugh. “…but I have to pull the car out of the space behind the toy chest so you can have it on your person.”

  We all chuckled at that and Mira went to fetch the car and check on the kids.

  “I wonder what kind of intel he’s gathered. You’ll share it, won’t you?” I asked Grampa.

  “I will. I just hope I’m not taking Ethan’s only guardian away.”

  “You’re not. He has three or four. Mr. Langlois is just the one I’ve interacted with,” I said.

  Mira returned with the toy police car and handed it to Grampa. He looked at the toy and then startled when, I assume, the voice spoke to him.

  “He says it’s Sir Cedric, not Mr. Langlois,” Grampa said with a laugh. “This is amazing. How long do I get to speak with you?”

  Mira leaned in to murmur to me. “Pawpaw says he can stay with the Commander for a few days. The others will keep an eye on Ethan, and he would be of more use in the Commander’s hands right now.”

  “Well, I guess you’ve got your resource, Grampa,” I said.

  “And I am grateful. I’ll take my leave, so I don’t seem rude speaking to the air while you’re both sitting here. See you tomorrow, Sin,” Grampa said as he got to his feet. He gave Mira a hug and me a pat on my shoulder, the toy car deep in a pocket. “Stay safe you two. Goodnight.”

  “He’s like a little kid with a new toy,” I said as we closed the door behind him.

  “Pawpaw was so excited to talk to the Commander, too. I’ll imagine them both sitting down with a whiskey near the fire and sharing war stories,” Mira said.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t learn about your parents and the details until tonight. I am going to do my best to try and actively live my life instead of just experiencing it. I love you, Mirabella.”

  “And I love you, Sinclair. Now help me clean this up so we can go have a nice, long, soak in the tub together. Sound good?”

  “Sounds like perfection. And you can tell me more about your Pawpaw, and if your Memaw thinks we’re in over our heads with Reina.”

  Mira laughed, and I decided once again that it was still my favorite sound in the whole world.

  Chapter Six

  Sid

  Grandma Maggie and I worked together for two days before I had to go back to the SPD and take care of work there. The information I had gathered at the archives kept my head spinning as I filled out research requests and confirmed data on case after case. As I began to sort it all out and create a report based on my findings, I soon realized I would be presenting some radical information. It was even hard for me to wrap my head around – and I’d read the original documents. I needed to talk this out with someone, but I didn’t want to piss off Grams, and Sett was wrapped up in Lucia and little Rosie. I could go talk to my parents about it, but I felt like a wall had grown between us when they had little Rohan. I needed an old witch, and my best option would be my grandmother. I’d just have to suck it up and hope she had an open enough mind to help process what I had to say.

  After work, I picked up a bottle of Grams’ favorite wine, Thai take out, and headed home. I changed and knocked on the connecting door, then stuck my head in.

  “Grams, you home?”

  “In the kitchen,” she called back to me.

  I carried the wine and bag of food wit
h me, and set them on the table. “Do you have some time to eat with me and help me work through something? Or do you have plans?”

  “I was just going to have leftovers for dinner, since Liam has a late meeting tonight and an early one tomorrow. Dinner, a good book, and an early bedtime were all I had planned. What did you bring?”

  “I brought Thai food and your favorite wine. And I’m hoping you’ve got a wide open mind to listen to what I’ve been putting together.”

  Today’s t-shirt was a bright red with “I’ve got a good heart, but this mouth…” in white and a pair of puckered lips in pink. I grinned when I saw it as Grams brought plates and utensils over to the table.

  “I’ll do my best, you know that. But if you’re struggling, then don’t expect miracles from me,” Grams said as I went to find the wine glasses and corkscrew.

  “I don’t want to upset you, Grams, but I need someone who truly understands magic and witches, and you’re the best I know.”

  “Flattery, my dear, won’t get you very far – but it’s nice to hear,” Grams said with a laugh.

  I poured the wine and she opened the containers so we could serve ourselves from the various things I’d brought.

  “So, you know I’ve been doing a ton of research with Archivist Oak at the palace archives, right?”

  Grams nodded and passed the spring rolls.

  “I also spent a few days working with Grandma Maggie, deciphering some of the more obscure texts. What we uncovered had her feeling confused, angry, and more than a little frustrated that she’d never figured this all out.”

  “That sounds explosive. What did you learn?”

  “The Creators – the first power users – were not witches or fae – or, obviously, shifters. They were the Beings who created the elementals. Folklore and mythology have called them gods or saints, but they were more like primordial beings who had the power to create from the essence of life.”

  “Pretty much what many would consider gods, yes?” Grams said.