by Kathy Dexter
Ally’s eyes grew round. “Like those accused of witchcraft in Salem?”
Ben nodded. “But other groups, besides the Puritans, ostracized––even hunted down and destroyed––those who exhibited what you might call unacceptable behavior. Fear makes people do terrible things.”
“Like burn people at the stake,” Ally said.
Or more accurately, hang them.” The image of such wickedness clouded Hunter’s vision. “Not such nice behavior from so-called civilized communities.”
“That’s why towns like Mystic Lake sprang up,” Ben told them. “We can protect each other from disbelievers.”
“I catch your drift,” Ally said. “You want us to keep our mouths shut about this place.”
“Not quite what I meant,” Ben said. “Outsiders visit our town all the time, Ally. Particularly the Museum of Magic. Tourists buy many quaint and rare items from craftsmen like me and ensure that our economy thrives.”
“But they are unaware some of the citizens have unusual abilities, aren’t they?” Hunter said. “The kind that might frighten people.”
Ben studied her face for a moment before speaking. “Having a special gift can scare the person who possesses it, too.”
“Yes.” Hunter breathed deeply. He understood better than she had when she first discovered what she could do with the dragon. “Particularly if no one else around you shows any signs of having the same. . .skills.”
Ben nodded. “Makes it easier when you can share the knowledge. Another reason for places like Mystic Lake.”
“Don’t you feel isolated out here?” Ally asked.
He shook his head. “Many residents don’t have the magic you’ve seen in Theo, Clarissa, and your friend Hunter.”
“Ordinary folk like me?” Ally said.
“Sure. And some who inherited the paranormal gene even decide to surrender their powers.”
“Really? I’d love to heal people.” Ally’s eyes glimmered with excitement. “Or fight off criminals as Hunter did. Why would someone not want to do those things?”
“Perhaps to live a normal kind of life without all the attention?” Ben raised his shoulders. “I’ve heard different reasons from the Middlings.”
“A word which means average.” Ally frowned. “I’d rather be something more.”
“A few Middlings who moved here without any magic developed an inner strain of it. We haven’t figured out how yet.”
“Or what kind of super power someone gets? Flying would be nice.” Ally smirked at Hunter. “Only if I could control my flight plan and not wind up in a tree.”
Ben’s laugh boomed. “Not quite how it works, Miss Ally. After all, a magician isn’t a one-trick pony. He––or she––can make objects and people disappear, or float, or read minds. It’s a matter of discovering each gift and, through practice, figuring out how to use it.”
“Like I was attempting to do in the woods,” Hunter said. That also explained how Theo could mind link as well as heal. What else could he do? Even scarier––what else could she do?
“Maybe there’s something in the water after all,” Ally said. “I better start gulping the stuff down.”
Theo came in with a tray of glasses and a pitcher of iced tea. “I thought this would be better than a hot cup, Dad.”
“Good thinking, boy.” Ben helped his son distribute the drinks. “This is a superb blend from Clarissa. It should help restore you fully, ease the shock and anxiety you experienced.”
Ally drank half her glass. “Yowza! Mighty tasty stuff.”
“Clarissa has a small store in town.” Ben sipped his drink. “You should stop by and pick up some of her brews.”
Ally giggled. “Maybe between her herbs and the water, I’ll find my magic.”
“What about you, Ben? Where do you sell your carvings?” Hunter asked. “We’d like to see some of your finished work.”
“Yeah, instead of a close-up of the original source,” Ally said.
Ben’s cheeks reddened. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am. I should have checked the area better before chopping down that dang tree. But if you want to see some of my creations, come to the Artisan Barn. I have a booth there.”
“We’ll find it,” Hunter promised. She glanced at the wooden tables in the well-kept living room and the elaborately carved cabinets in the kitchen. “I see you’ve done some lovely work in your home.”
Ben smiled. “It’s my handiwork, but not my home. My son Logan lives here.”
“Dad’s got great stuff at the museum gift shop, too.” Theo’s voice echoed with pride.
Hunter tried to remember what wooden art she’d seen there. “Unicorns and dragons? Wands?”
“I have one Dad made just for me. I’ll show you.” Theo dashed down a hallway.
Ben turned to Hunter and pointed at her necklace. “The blue amber in your amulet is quite rare. And that dragon has been carved by a truly gifted artist. An extremely valuable piece.”
Hunter touched it. “A family heirloom.”
“I saw your grandmother wear it once, and then your mother,” Ben said.
Hunter exchanged glances with Ally. “I’ve lost all memory of that time. The deaths of my parents apparently caused trauma to my brain. I've tried to remember, but only flashes of our lives together manage to surface.” She saw some kind of recognition in his eyes. “You know what happened to me?”
Theo sprinted back into the room and braked in front of Hunter. “Look! Isn’t it awesome?” He placed the wand in her hands.
“I’ve never seen anything like it.” Intrigued, Hunter felt along the spiraling wood, stopping at three odd figures carved near the winged horse at one end of the wand. “Runes?”
“Yes. This one that looks like the shaft of an arrow––Algiz––removes blockages. The R, Raidho, sees through illusions to the truth. This one shaped like the pointed end of an arrow is Tiwaz and leads to wisdom and justice.”
“I heard you talk about losing your memory,” Theo whispered. “We can find out what happened to your parents.”
The boy held tight to the winged horse on his wand. With his free hand he touched each rune in turn. A blaze of white fire flew from the wand tip and struck Hunter’s amulet. Sparkles of glittering light flowed from the dragon and cascaded into a blue fog above their heads. As it dissipated, wisp by wisp, an image of a boat materialized, floating on Mystic Lake. No. Disintegrating. Three figures stood on the deck.
Hunter strained to make out the faces.
The front door flew open and slammed against the wall. The boat and its occupants burst into starry ashes and vanished.
Standing in the doorway, a woman with stormy eyes and tangled, blonde-streaked brown hair pointed her forefinger at Hunter. “Stay away from my son with your evil ways, witch.”
CHAPTER 7
W HISTLING, LOGAN DROVE along Wyvern Way. He enjoyed the Saturday afternoons when he didn’t have to work and could meet his father and brother at his house, a refuge lately for the other two.
Worried about Theo’s loss of exuberance and withdrawal into silence over the past month, Logan had invited his brother to dinner. With light probing, he’d managed to get Theo to open up about Sylvia’s eruptions into unexplainable rages, screaming if a towel lay on the bathroom floor longer than five minutes or a dirty plate or glass didn’t get deposited in the dishwasher fast enough. After those explosions, Dad spent more and more time at the Artisan Barn or in his workshop. Theo resorted to biting his nails until they bled.
Logan had approached his father, but Ben wouldn’t talk about it. Logan did manage to get permission for Theo to come to Logan’s house several nights to do his homework. At first Sylvia had balked. When Theo lied and said his grades had begun to slide, Ben overrode his wife’s protests. Logan gave his brother a key to his house, providing Theo with a sanctuary whenever the boy required one. And Logan continued to have dinner with his brother at least twice a week, work permitting.
What was wrong with Sy
lvia? As soon as he could squeeze out some more off-duty time, he’d investigate. No nine-year-old should have to endure such tension and turmoil.
At Theo’s request, Logan stopped at his dad’s house to pick up his brother’s favorite book. On the cover, Syrena, the warrior princess, rode her blue dragon into battle. The boy must have every line of the story memorized by now.
Logan turned into his driveway and pulled in behind his father’s car. As he got out, book in hand, he noticed another vehicle parked up the road. He walked back for a better view. The car belonged to his stepmother. Logan clenched his jaw. What was Sylvia doing here?
He jogged to the rear of the house and vaulted onto the deck. Sylvia screamed about a witch who should stay away from her son. Logan slipped through the open doorway, using his cop training to absorb the scene.
Hunter caught his attention first. Something about her connected to a physical pleasure deep within. She stood in front of Theo, chin high, eyes blazing blue fire. The witch ready to cast a spell against her accuser?
Theo jerked sideways and slipped an object under a nearby sofa cushion. Ah! His wand. If Sylvia spotted that, she’d go bonkers.
Theo hurried to Hunter’s side and put a hand on her arm. “Mom! She’s my friend.”
Sylvia growled at the other woman. “Look what you’ve done, witch! Turned my son against me, corrupting him with that devil dragon of yours.”
She reached for Theo, but he turned toward Hunter and clung to her.
“He’s a good boy, Mrs. West, with a generous heart.” Hunter’s voice remained low and reassuring. “He healed my friend.”
Ally waved her arm. “See? The damage is all gone.”
“Using magic?” Sylvia’s voice scraped like chalk on a blackboard. “Theo! After I ordered you not to follow the devil’s ways!”
“Calm down, Sylvia.” Ben’s words had a rough edge to them. “You’re scaring the boy.”
Sylvia whirled on him, pointing an accusing finger. “What kind of father are you? Letting him muck about in such madness. We agreed he had to stop.”
“You made that decision, not me.” Ben rose, his back straight. “You insisted on punishing him if he continued, so I told him not to practice in front of you.”
“Both of you deliberately defying me!” she screeched, her face distorted. “You’ve exposed him to this wicked woman and jeopardized his immortal soul!”
Logan had heard enough. He maneuvered around Sylvia until he could distract her. Despite the anger that roiled through his chest, he had to remain calm in order to handle the woman whose sanity seemed to have evaporated. What would she do if she completely lost control? “Let’s go outside and talk, Sylvia. I’m sure we can figure something out.”
Her face writhed with malevolence. “You’ve urged my son to disobey me. He can’t come here anymore. You’ve destroyed the purity of his life force.”
“Not sure what you mean by that.” Where did she get these lunatic ideas? “Hunter rescued Theo from the museum thieves last night.”
Something akin to fear flickered through the brown of Sylvia’s eyes. She clasped a handful of hair on both sides of her head. “My boy in danger?” She peered around Logan until her gaze fastened on Theo. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were asleep when I got home.” Theo’s voice quivered. “I tried to wake you up this morning, but I couldn’t. I shook you over and over. I finally had to leave to meet Logan at the police station.”
Sylvia dropped into a chair by the door and masked her face with her hands. “I don’t understand what’s happening.”
Ben stooped next to his wife, took her hands and held them in his. “Something’s wrong with you, Sylvia. You must see a doctor.”
She stared at him, then pulled away. Her words wobbled. “You think I’m crazy. Want to lock me up.”
Theo scuffed to his mother’s side and whispered, “Maybe you should stop taking those pills.”
A crease deepened between Ben’s eyes. “What pills?”
Covering his mouth with one hand, Theo drew in a breath. “I wasn’t supposed to tell you,” he murmured through his fingers.
Ben grasped Sylvia’s elbow to help her stand, his voice grim. “Time to leave.”
“Not without my boy.” Sylvia twisted away and stumbled into her son.
Theo patted her arm. “It’s okay, Mom. I’m coming.”
“Wait.” Logan handed him the book. “You asked for this.”
Theo’s face brightened. He ran over to Hunter. “Would you sign this for me?”
“Of course, Theo. You’re my friend.”
When he sat down with Hunter on the couch, Ally leaned close and spoke low enough so his mother couldn’t hear. “Your wand is tucked safely along the back of my cushion.” She gave him a high five.
Theo mind linked with Logan. Will you take care of my wand?
Don’t worry. He joined them and handed Hunter a pen.
She glanced at him. So you mind link as well.
Genetic trait.
That’s what your father said. Hunter bent her head, wrote, then returned the book to Theo.
The boy read her inscription out loud. “‘To Theo, my favorite hero. Syrena and her creator are proud to know you.’” Theo’s eyes glistened as he turned to hug her.
Sylvia darted across the room and snatched the book from Theo’s hand. Flipping it open, she gathered clumps of pages and ripped them from the binding. She flung the wads to the floor.
Theo cried, “Mom! No!”
Logan gripped her around the shoulders in such a way that she could not move but wasn’t harmed, either. “You’ve caused enough hurt today, Sylvia.”
Sylvia twisted and pounded him on the chest. “Are you blind to what that evil witch is doing to your brother?”
Logan tried to reason with her. “We don't live in the Dark Ages. Hunter's book teaches kids to be brave, to fight for what is right.”
“Magic has ruined this community far too long,” Sylvia snarled. “My friends and I will fix that. One way is to keep the witch from spreading her vile beliefs to our children.”
Ben strode to Logan’s side. “Let’s get her out of here.”
“I’m not going without Theo.” She clutched her husband and struggled wildly to free herself from Logan. “We can’t leave him near that woman.”
Ben’s face paled. “Theo can’t be with you when you’re like this. We’re going to the doctor.”
“I can’t take any more pills,” Sylvia cried. “They’re messing with my mind.”
Logan exchanged glances with his father. I’ll go to the house and search for the ones she’s been taking. He released Sylvia into her husband’s arms.
“You’re plotting against me.” Sylvia lowered her head and bit Ben’s hand.
He jerked his arm away.
Sylvia grabbed Theo and pulled him to her chest.
The boy gasped. “Mom, I can’t breathe!”
“We’re getting far away from these people.” Sylvia’s words slurred as she staggered backward.
CHAPTER 8
F RANTIC, HUNTER SOUGHT an opening. How could she rescue Theo from this madwoman?
“Don’t come any closer.” Sylvia’s voice rose to a high-pitched scream, her eyes wide and out of focus.
Choking, the boy flailed at her hands, unable to loosen her hold. The color emptied from his face, and his eyes rolled upward.
Logan and Ben leaped toward Sylvia.
Hunter moved first. She snatched her amulet and pressed the dragon. A blue beam shot through the air and zapped the crazed woman.
“Ow!” Sylvia cried and dropped Theo.
He crumpled to the floor.
Sylvia bent to grab her son, but the beam froze her in place. It transformed into a smoky blue fog. It coiled tighter and faster until a blue cocoon crystallized around the woman and pinned her to the wall.
Father and brother rushed to Theo. Logan checked the boy’s pulse. “He’s alive.”
/> Ben lifted his son and carried him to the couch.
After grabbing a fringed brown and white throw from a nearby chair and covering Theo, Ally slid her hand across the boy’s forehead and down his cheek. “He feels so cold.”
Logan signaled to Hunter. “The dragon.”
She sat on the edge of the couch next to Theo and placed the amulet on the boy’s chest. “Breathe, Theo.” Hunter’s voice shook and her heart thundered like a thousand marching band drums. Can you hear me? Mind link!
Nothing.
Wild to save the boy, Hunter leaned down until her forehead touched his. “Syrena and Henry will help you, but you must fight, too.” She placed his limp fingers on the amulet and put her hand on top of his.
Blue fire sizzled from her hand to his, jumped and hopped from point to point along his body, until he looked like a pincushion of incandescent blue lights.
Theo expelled a shuddering breath and opened his eyes. Appearing dazed, he swallowed hard and croaked, “Syrena. You saved me.”
“You’re back.” Tears weaved a pattern down Hunter’s cheeks as she folded Theo in her arms.
Logan examined Sylvia, eyes now closed, incapacitated, fastened to the wall. He touched the blue cocoon, which opened enough to allow him to take her pulse.
“She seems to be sleeping,” he told the others.
“Like Sleeping Beauty?” Theo sat up and yawned.
Logan’s lip twitched. “She pricked her finger on a magic spinning wheel.”
“Oh, right.” Theo closed his eyes and soon snored.
Logan looked at Hunter. “Did you or the dragon put him under?”
“It understood that sleep would keep both him and his mother quiet until they could be helped.” Hunter couldn’t believe she understood that.
“How do you know?”
“I mind linked with the dragon.”
“So what do we do now?” Ally asked.
“Medical attention,” Logan answered. “Dad, take Sylvia and Theo to Dr. Adams’ clinic. I’ll ask Clarissa to meet you there.”
The cocoon opened to Logan, waited for him to remove his stepmother, and then dissolved like cotton candy on a child’s tongue. He carried Sylvia to her car where Ally and Hunter made her comfortable in the back with blankets and pillows.
