Witching Ways

by T K Eldridge

  “Oh, wow. Are you sure you want to move there?” Sid asked. She knew how much I had hated the place before.

  “It’s so different – it’s like it’s not even the same house. Rooms are configured differently, updates to the plumbing and kitchen – it’s really different. Mira and I walked through and it looks nice, lots of space. I don’t really want to leave the farm, but I have to do this for my family.”

  “I guess that fixes Sett and Lucia’s problem, right Grams?” Sid said.

  “Yes, if they’re willing to move,” Grams said.

  “I think if they trip over Rosie’s toys one more time, they’ll all be happy to move,” Sid said.

  “And Grams said you could move into Sett’s place, then she could offer Evelyn Rue your little apartment,” I said.

  “If you’re interested in moving,” Grams added.

  Sid was quiet for a moment, then looked up at me. “We’re all growing up, aren’t we?”

  “Maybe a little faster than we’d planned, but yeah, we are,” I said.

  * * *

  Once the decision was made, the various moves happened faster than I could have imagined. Grams coordinated the whole thing and in less than a month, we were all settled in our new abodes. Most of our east wing home still needed furnishings, but we had the essentials and were taking our time to pick solid, quality pieces that would last the test of kids and years. As for getting ready for the twins, we had Reina’s infant gear and Mom gave us the newborn stuff she’d had for Rohan, so we had enough for both babies. Eventually, we wanted to have the boys on one side of the hallway and the girls on the other, but for now, the twins would share a room on the same side as Reina.

  When it came to decorating and fixing up the place, I had some input, but I mostly left the decisions up to Mira. I picked a nice desk and chair to use up in the owner’s suite alcove so I had a place to work when I needed to, but that was pretty much it. We moved everything from the house on the farm, and the east wing still felt empty. I had to be careful closing doors because the space echoed, and I didn’t want to wake anyone when I headed off to work.

  Tasha greeted me with a cup of coffee as I came out of the locker room. “You’re teamed up with Grizz today, and I’m with Ian, but all four of us have court this afternoon, don’t forget.”

  “I won’t. It will be a short one, since Leslie Brown took the plea deal. We just have to record our statements for the record and she’ll be off to Galliol,” I said.

  “I think the part that bothers me the most about her case is her total lack of any expression of guilt or remorse. I mean, at least I got the use of my arm back, but her son, Chester, will spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.”

  “To me, she seems to have had some kind of mental breakdown. I put that in my report, too, so maybe they’ll try and get her the help she needs. Also, how did you heal so quickly?” I asked.

  “Well, it’s not fully healed. I still have a wrap for my shoulder, but basic use is back. The muscle is knit back over the bone, the bone is fragile, but healing – now I just have to re-train the muscles to work properly. No weight lifting, no punching the heavy bag, no carrying groceries with this arm – but it’s not my dominant side. I can still shoot, cuff a suspect, and so on – and we’re down a couple of Agents, so here I am,” Tasha said.

  “I see lots of physical therapy in your future.”

  “Yes, and more hours with Evelyn Rue. She’s really a treasure. I’m glad she’s safe with your Grams on the farm now.”

  “Wait, she wasn’t safe before?” I asked.

  “No. When someone leaked that she’d helped heal you, she started to get threats. Then her apartment was trashed. She’d been staying on Pack land with Benny’s people,” Tasha said.

  “I didn’t even know. How did I miss this? I mean, I knew she’d been spending a lot of time at Grams’ place – but I’ve been so caught up in my own crap, I didn’t even stop to ask. I’ll have to send her flowers or something,” I said.

  “You know those liquor-filled chocolates they sell at Gavin’s Bakery? Get her an assortment of those. They’re her favorites,” Tasha said. “Ian’s ready, I’ve gotta go. Best find Grizz.”

  I waved as she headed down the hall, then shifted my bag, tossed my empty coffee cup, and went to find my partner for the day.

  Grizzell was in the parking lot, checking our vehicle over when I found him. “Hey, Grizz.”

  “Morning, Sin. Ready to hit the road?”

  “Sure, but I do have one side trip for today. I want to pick up some chocolates at Gavin’s for Evelyn Rue.”

  “Sounds good to me. I can get some baklava for Glenda while I’m there,” Grizz said.

  “Who’s Glenda?” I asked as I buckled in.

  “My lady. While you’ve been moving across town, Glenda moved into my caves in the aerie. We had dated off and on, but now that we’re back here and staying settled for a while, we’re looking at maybe bonding and starting our own family.”

  “Well, congrats, Grizzell! That’s wonderful. It’s nothing like I expected it to be, but I wouldn’t change it for the world,” I said.

  His smile said it all. It was nice to see the big guy so happy.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sid

  I loved my new place, and I was lucky in that Sett and Lucia took advantage of the move to buy some new things that reflected both of their tastes. I put stuff in storage and lived in Gram’s guest room for a week while painters came in and painted everything, the kitchen got updated, and the floors sanded and refinished. Evelyn needed her own space sooner than my schedule allowed, so I just took over one of the storage barns on the farm and loaded it up with my things. The new house had two bedrooms and a bath upstairs, a living room, eat in kitchen, half bath and a spare room on the main floor, and a glorious back porch all screened in. Off of the screen porch was a greenhouse that I couldn’t wait to fill with herbs and vegetables – and the one thing Sett regretted leaving behind. Although, I had heard Lucia had made arrangements to get one put on their new place before the cold weather settled in.

  For me? I planned on turning the first floor spare room into my home office space with walls of bookshelves and cabinets. Having a room specifically for working from home was a luxury, and would help keep the rest of my place neat. The little in-law apartment had always seemed cluttered because my kitchen table became the default work area. It would be nice to be able to just shut the door on whatever current project I had going and not have to move books, papers, and computers every time I wanted to sit at the table and eat.

  Tasha had left the hospital and between Grams, Mom, Mira, and Evelyn Rue, she was healing faster than anyone expected. Even with the fluctuations in the magic, the stabilizing influence of Mira’s fae powers really seemed to pull it all together. As for the witches and the antagonism in the community, it was still a problem – compounded by the fact that sheer exhaustion at dealing with it all kept pushing people over the edge. I had to find a solution, and fast.

  No, I hadn’t been back to the palace since the day I couldn’t find the books, or Oak. Neither Grandma Maggie, nor Oak, had returned my many messages, but Seelah told me they were both present and in fine health. Just that they were unavailable to see me. Never one to force my way into a situation where I wasn’t truly wanted – well, not with family anyway – I took my scans and my research and worked on it from home.

  I finished translating the Path of the Creators and published the thirty page pamphlet with Grams, so she could get it handed out. I kept my name out of it – we just said it was compiled and translated by the Fortin witches and given to the community to help work through the ley line issues. In the foreword, I explained that research had shown the lack of attention to traditions, like the Path of the Creators, had led to the increasing frequency and duration of the ley line fluctuations. That it was believed that the more witches that practiced these traditions, the less the impact of the fluctuations.

  I w
asn’t so sure they were buying it, but Grams was doing her best to sell the idea. She tucked the pamphlet into every delivery she sent to a family with witch blood. Sett and Lucia handed them out to staff and students at the Academy, and I even took a stack of them to Cove Collegiate Academy, the school that served supernatural students from kindergarten through grade twelve. Alec McGinty, the headmaster at Collegiate, was one of the Commander’s friends and welcomed the opportunity to get some help for the witches in our community.

  “Hello, Headmaster McGinty,” I said as I stepped into Collegiate’s office a few minutes ahead of my scheduled appointment. The man I had come to see stood at the high counter, pen in hand as he scribbled on a stack of papers while the secretary, Ethel Robertson, watched.

  “Don’t interrupt him yet,” Miss Ethel said. “I’ve been trying to get him to sign these for three days.”

  I held up both hands and chuckled. “Nope, not me, Miss Ethel. I don’t need you upset with me again.”

  Miss Ethel had been the school secretary when my mother had attended Collegiate – and when Sin and I had been students here. She was as much a fixture of the place as the antique brass trim on that polished counter in front of her. Yet, like every other witch in the region, Miss Ethel looked tired and worn.

  “There you go, Ethel. All signed. I’ll be with Ms. Boudreau now, but I could really use a coffee when you get a minute?” the headmaster asked her.

  “I just made a fresh pot, I’ll bring you one in. Would you like one, too, Sidonie?” Miss Ethel asked.

  “If it’s not too much trouble, sure. Just black for me,” I said and followed the headmaster into his office.

  He closed the door, a worried expression on his face. “She’s not looking well. Neither are the rest of the pure witches on my staff – and most of the absences we’ve had in the past few weeks have been predominantly witch students. I am counting on you to have some hope for us.”

  “Let’s wait until we won’t be interrupted,” I suggested and took a seat at the front of his desk.

  Miss Ethel tapped on the door, then carried in a tray with two mugs of coffee and a plate of cookies.

  “You’re wonderful, Ethel. Thank you,” the headmaster said, then watched as she left the office and he reached over to lock the door. “Now we’re safe.”

  We got our coffee and a couple of cookies, then I handed him a copy of the pamphlet. “This is what we have, and it’s going to every witch family in the community, across both towns and even into the city. Sett even sent a box of them to our cousin in New Orleans that owns a bookstore. The more witches that do even a few of these rituals, the sooner the ley line fluctuations should settle out. I hope.”

  McGinty took the pamphlet, then read the foreword before he flipped through it. “Being a shifter, I can’t say how well these might work, but having worked and taught witches for decades, I can see they’re not overly complex or difficult.”

  “They’re not. The hardest part for me was in translating the old names for herbs and spell ingredients. Queen Maggie gave me access to the Archives and that helped the most. It was my work in the archives that pointed me to this as a possible fix in the first place.”

  “But you’re not sure.”

  “No, I’m not one hundred percent sure, but I’m hopeful. I learned some things that are going to shake the foundations of how the species relate to each other – but that’s not something I’m willing to discuss openly right now. The climate out there is volatile and it wouldn’t take much to turn things into another Species War.”

  “I’ve been seeing it on a smaller scale here, at the school. Witch kids going after fae kids. Shifter kids protecting both witch and fae from each other. It’s a nightmare,” McGinty said.

  “Do you have any of the elemental kids in school yet?” I asked.

  “This past semester, we had a couple dozen enrolled. Sylphs, mostly, but a few nymphs and dryads too. The surprise was when ten of the griffin kids enrolled. The parents all stated the same thing – they want their kids to be exposed to other species so they can learn to get along before they’re out in the world.”

  “Sin has been partnered with Grizzell Leonidas lately. I can tell you we were both surprised to learn that Grizz wasn’t just a shifter – but a mythic.”

  “I was surprised, too. Alpha Benny had him as his second for decades, and I never suspected. He’s a good man, Grizz. I’m glad he’s back in Belle Cove.”

  “Me, too.” I took a breath. “Okay, I have two boxes of pamphlets in my SUV. I didn’t want to just bring them in and assume you would do this, so what do you say?”

  “Bring it,” McGinty said with a smile. “I’ll even get a couple of the witch classes to work on the rituals as part of the class assignments. That ought to get things moving.”

  “That sounds great, thanks, Headmaster. I appreciate your cooperation with this.”

  “I’m just glad we’ve finally got something to offer as a possible solution. I’ll come out with you and get the boxes. Save you a trip.”

  I finished my coffee and tucked the cookies into my pocket, then followed him out to the parking lot. While Alec McGinty was a shifter and could have easily carried the boxes by himself, he brought a hand cart and loaded them up to wheel the boxes inside. It was too exposed out front and normal folks could see if he did something unusual like that.

  I waved as he headed back up the walkway, then got into my vehicle and drove away. “Call the Commander,” I said, and the bluetooth connection dialed my phone.

  “All set with Alec?” I heard over the speakers.

  “All set, Commander. He is going to have some of the witch classes do the rituals as part of the class assignments. I will say this, though. Miss Ethel doesn’t look well.”

  “She’s pure witch, if I remember correctly. Robertson, right?”

  “Yes, sir. She’s been the secretary at the school since before Mom went there. I’m going to see if the farm has a stock of Mom and Mira’s restorative potion. I’ll bring some to her later today.”

  “I’ll just buy a case and send it to the school so they can pass it out. I’m sure she’s not the only one that could use a little pick me up.”

  “If I remember correctly, there are about two hundred witches – teachers, students, and staff – at Collegiate.”

  “We don’t need another Leslie Brown, so I’ll get on that right away. Stay safe out there, Siddie.”

  “Will do, Grampa. Love you.”

  The call disconnected and I headed to the station. I had work to do.

  * * *

  About an hour before quitting time, my cell phone rang. I was deep into research for a case, so I just picked it up and answered without checking who was calling. “Boudreau here,” I said into the phone.

  “Sidonie, it’s your grandmother, Margaret.”

  I sat up and turned away from the computer so I could focus on the call. “Hello, Grandma Maggie.”

  “I am calling as your grandmother more than the Queen right now, but we’re both asking this favor of you. I need you to stop researching the Macha and simply focus on the Path of the Creator aspects.”

  “And why do I need to stop researching the Macha? I suppose this also applies to the Badb and the Nemain, too?”

  A sharp intake of breath could be heard before her voice came through again. “Considering the three are all connected, I would appreciate it if you stopped researching all three of them. It’s in everyone’s best interest that those three beings stay buried in the annals of time.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I said so.”

  “That’s not good enough, Grandma. It’s never been a good enough reason for me, from childhood on. Tell me the real reason, or my answer will have to be no.”

  “I am not able to tell you right now. And if you persist, then your access to the Archives and Oak will be revoked.”

  “Whatever, Grandma. I’m not stopping. Let me know when you want to put on your big girl pant
ies and do the right thing. Love you. Bye, now,” and I disconnected the call.

  It took me a whole minute or two of counting breaths before I felt like I could manage to not throw my phone at the wall. Frustration, more than anything else, surged through me. I had expected something like this, but I still held out hope that it wouldn’t play out this way. Guess it was a good thing I had borrowed a few tomes the last few times I stayed at the palace, after I saw the way the wind was blowing. I’d treat them like the treasures they were, but I hadn’t been able to scan everything yet and didn’t want to miss something important.

  My focus for the case was gone, so I typed up my notes, sent in what I had, and closed things down to leave. I stopped by the Commander’s office. “Commander?” I said as I tapped on the door.

  “Come in, Sid. What’s up?” He was at his desk, a stack of folders spread out around him.

  “Grandma Maggie is being Queen Margaret right now and I am on a countdown to get the books I borrowed all scanned before she magically recalls them to the palace. Can I work half days for a few days to get this done?”

  Grampa looked up at me. “She’s doing what? Never mind. Take the time off so you can get it done. This situation is untenable and we need to get this settled.”

  “It could be a few days, it’s a slow process,” I said, wary that he would expect it done in hours.

  “I know, Siddie. It’s fine. Take the time, get it done. Send me updates as you make progress.”

  I made my way around his desk and leaned over to hug his shoulders and kiss his cheek. “Love you, Grampa. Don’t stay too late, okay? Grams has had sausage and meatballs simmering in the slow cooker all day.”

  “She said she’d just make the pasta when I got there. I’ll be out the door in an hour at the latest. Go, scoot. You’ve got a mystery to solve.”

  I scooted.