by K E O'Connor
“Don’t get too close to that one in the middle. The doll on the throne,” I said. “I’ve been watching her. I think she’s the source of your problems.”
Ursa stopped in front of the doll who now looked like a picture of wide-eyed dolly innocence. “It can’t be Mary-Sue. She’s such a good girl. She always sets an excellent example for the other dolls.”
“I’m telling you, Mary-Sue may look like a sweetheart, but that doll has a heart of evil. Get rid of her, and your problems will be over.”
Chapter 4
“I made a mistake coming to you for help.” Ursa shook her head, her attention on her precious dolls.
I tried to help her pick up bits of smashed up doll, but she pushed me away. “Just go. You’ve done enough damage. I’ll have to figure out another way to deal with this ghost. I should have known better than to waste my time giving you a chance to prove yourself.”
I stopped grabbing up pieces of doll and looked around the room. “Ursa, I don’t think this is a ghost problem. I’m not the best witch to help you if this is something more complicated, like a curse or a hex.”
“You’re right about that. You’re the worst witch,” she muttered.
“Then why come to me for help? It can’t just be because I see ghosts easily. Lots of magic users have that ability.”
Ursa sat back on her heels and sighed. “It was because of your connection with Magda. I gave you the benefit of the doubt. I wanted to see if you could still be useful to Witch Haven. Useful to me. Instead, you abused my hospitality and destroyed my precious doll collection. And now you accuse Mary-Sue, one of my most beloved dolls, of being the leader of these atrocities.”
I looked over her shoulder and my eyes widened. “Um... Ursa, you need to pay closer attention to Mary-Sue.”
The doll was slowly rising from the shelf, her arms outstretched and her teeth bared.
“Was this just a game to you?” Ursa gestured at her ruined collection. “You’re mocking me because of my interests? I know people think I’m old-fashioned and set in my ways, but why shouldn’t I have a hobby I enjoy? My dolls bring me comfort. Mary-Sue is no exception. I refuse to believe she’s involved in this. You’re behind this.”
“No, I’m not. And you need to take a look for yourself. Mary-Sue’s about to pounce on you.”
Ursa pointed at the door. “Get out! Take your familiars and your lies and leave my house. I never want to see you again. In fact, leave Witch Haven. No one wants you here. And once I’m through with you, everyone will know you deceived the Magic Council. And I expect you were involved with what happened to Luna. You’re just a spoiled witch.”
I looked at the evil expression on Mary-Sue’s face, and then at Ursa as she continued to rant at me. Since I couldn’t convince her of her doll’s unstable behavior, Ursa would have to experience what was about to happen to her. Maybe it would make her change her mind about me, and she’d stop throwing accusations my way if she had an evil doll stabbing her in the head.
I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back against the wall.
“And another thing. I’m going to tell everyone—” Ursa shrieked as Mary-Sue jumped and landed on the back of her head.
The doll sank its tiny teeth into Ursa’s hair and clung on for dear life.
Ursa bucked and writhed, screaming and hopping around as she tried to dislodge the doll.
“That doesn’t look much fun. Should we help her?” Hilda said.
“Mary-Sue or Ursa?” Nugget said.
I stayed where I was as Ursa staggered about. “Not just yet. Sometimes, a person has to experience a difficult challenge before they learn a valuable lesson.” I tried not to smile. Anyone who collected this many scary-faced dolls needed a little payback.
“Get it off me!” Ursa blundered over to me and crashed to the floor by my feet. “It’s chewing through my hair. It’s trying to kill me.”
“I’ll help, so long as you admit Mary-Sue could be the problem in your house.”
“I won’t do that. She’s an angel.”
“Then we should leave you and Mary-Sue to get to know each other better. I hope you survive the night.”
“Wait! Don’t go. Just get it off me, please.”
“Do you now think Mary-Sue may be a little possessed?”
“Yes! Whatever you say.” Ursa kept reaching for the doll, but couldn’t get a hold of her. “I can’t believe I brought a demon doll into my home.”
I placed my hands on the back of Mary-Sue, making her hiss at me. “Hold still. If you move, my magic could hit you.”
Ursa shook beneath me as I fired up a spell and poured it into the doll.
Mary-Sue screamed, rolled around, and then dropped off Ursa’s head. She lay on the floor in a crumpled heap, smoke billowing from her white dress.
Ursa crawled to the door, wrapped her hands around her knees and drew them up to her chest. Her face was pale and sweaty. “Why did she attack me? I’ve always been good to her.”
I stepped on Mary-Sue to make sure she didn’t creep off and start plotting her next assault. “How long have you had her?”
Ursa swiped a hand across her sweating forehead. “I got her a month ago. I picked her up from a collector. It was the first time I’d dealt with him. He seemed professional, and his prices were reasonable. I got her for a steal.”
“Maybe there’s a reason you got Mary-Sue so cheap,” I said. “Could this collector have given you a hexed doll? He wanted to offload it because she was causing him too much hassle?”
“No! She has such a sweet face,” Ursa said. “And she’s been here for weeks. Why would she turn on me now?”
“It could be a latent curse,” Hilda said from her position on my shoulder. “Or a hex that needed something to stimulate it.”
I nodded. “Maybe the magic contained in the doll is interested in your power. And this house has a unique quality to it. You said yourself there are plenty of ghosts already here. That particular brew could have been what the curse or hex needed. It fired to life, then got Mary-Sue planning murder. And she could have infected the other dolls. That’s why they’ve begun to misbehave.”
Ursa raised a shaking hand and pointed a finger at me. “No! This is because of you. You ruined my dolls, just like you ruined Witch Haven.”
Now she was getting mean, and after I saved her from Little Miss Kill-A-Lot. “I had nothing to do with your dolls getting spiteful. This is the first time I’ve seen them. How would I have managed to hex Mary-Sue and then made sure you bought her? I didn’t even know you collected dolls until I came face-to-face with this porcelain nightmare.”
“I’m not talking about my dolls.” Ursa rested her head back against the wall. “Something... dark seeped into this village after you and Magda were taken away.”
It wasn’t the first time someone had mentioned this. I leaned back against the wall. “Do you know that for sure, or are you guessing?”
“Everyone felt it. The day you and Magda turned dark, the atmosphere in the village changed.”
“Because of the killings.” I swallowed down my guilt. “A horrible event like that changes a place forever.”
“Not just because of the killings, although they were awful. It was as if a spiteful mist descended on the village. People changed. This used to be a friendly place, neighbors talked to each other and checked in on each other. Now, people keep out of each other’s way. They have no time to spend being nice.” Her gaze shot to me, and fear flashed across her face. “What darkness did you leave behind?”
I closed my eyes for a second and rubbed my forehead as a cloak of sadness settled over me. “To my knowledge, I left nothing behind. And I was telling you the truth about what I found in Magda’s journals. There was a dark witch coven wanting to take over the village. If we hadn’t been stopped that day, this place would be entirely different. I’m so sorry for what happened. I wish I could go back and change it. And if what we did changed the fabric of the village, I also
regret that.”
“Your regret is worthless now.”
I looked around the messed up room. “Maybe this killer doll situation has nothing to do with that. But...” I needed someone to confide in about my situation, but Ursa was the wrong person. She’d always been sneaky, and I just didn’t trust her.
“But what?” Ursa said. “What do you know? Can you change things? Are you a part of this dark coven, and you’re back to finish what you started?”
I shook my head. “I know as much as you, but I want to find out more. Tell me about this darkness. When I asked about any problems in the village at Magda’s house, you said there was nothing wrong. Why hide that?”
“Because this is my home, and I want to remember it how it used to be.” Ursa’s glare softened. “It isn’t the same, and it’s getting worse. Your friend was taken, and now my dolls have turned into tiny killers with an attitude problem.”
“What else?” Was this doll possession a part of something bigger?
Ursa stared at the smoldering remains of Mary-Sue pinned under my boot. “Unexpected fires breaking out in people’s houses, animals behaving strangely, spells misfiring, and then the ghosts playing up. And my gnomes... they’ve been chanting late at night. They won’t tell me what’s wrong, but I sense they are also unsettled.”
I nodded. When you add that all together, there was a much bigger problem going on in Witch Haven. Something dark was brewing in this village, and I had to stop it before it wiped everyone out.
I looked at the mess I’d made. “I’m sorry about your doll collection. I didn’t mean to damage them. I really was trying to help.”
Ursa’s bottom lip jutted out. “If Mary-Sue hadn’t jumped on me, I wouldn’t have believed it. But I see now that my dolls are dangerous. I’ll seal this room until the problem can be resolved.”
“And I’ll help if I can, although I’m not sure what I can do. Hexes and curses aren’t my speciality. And my magic isn’t working quite right.”
“No, you’ve done enough. I should have believed you when you said you couldn’t help me. I’ll find another way.”
“If I can’t help you, maybe you can help me to uncover this mystery in the village. All the things you told me about, they could be connected. And it’s more evidence to show the Magic Council. They may listen if other people are also having troubles. Some of these problems must have been reported to them.”
“I’m sure they have been.” Ursa pulled herself upright and smoothed down her dress. “But the Magic Council has bigger things on their mind. You’re a problem for them, and until they’ve dealt with you, they won’t be interested in reports of dogs going into the cemetery and digging up their masters, or a misbehaving collection of dolls trying to kill their owner.”
“They should be interested. If they’re not, then they’re missing the bigger picture. You know people on the Magic Council. Talk to them. See if you can get them to put the pieces together.”
She shook her head. “It hardly seems fair to exploit my resources, given what you’ve done to my dolls.”
“Your dolls are murderous nightmares. You should sling them on a bonfire and incinerate them.”
Her eyes narrowed. “It’s time you left. And don’t come back.”
I stood my ground. If I could get Ursa on side, she’d be a powerful ally. The Magic Council wouldn’t ignore her pleas for help. “You need to speak up about these problems. If no one is talking about them, how will the Magic Council ever help?”
“They’ll help once you turn yourself in. They’ll deal with you and then pay attention to the other problems.” Ursa jabbed a finger at me. “I’m still not convinced you’re innocent. And you’ve been in my house for less than an hour, and it’s in tatters. I dread to think what will happen once you’ve been in the village for a couple of months.”
“Nothing will happen. I may even make this place better if people don’t stand in my way.” Was Ursa being spiteful, or was she born this way?
Ursa stood back and gestured at the door.
I could have continued arguing with her, but there was zero point. Once a bad witch, always a bad witch, that’s how she saw me.
With a heavy heart and dragging feet, I left the room. I trudged down the stairs with my familiars and out the front door. It slammed behind me.
“Don’t listen to Ursa,” Hilda said. “She was only saying those things because you upset her. She seems to care more about those dolls than people.”
“Some of what Ursa said was true, though. The Magic Council is focused on me. If they continue to believe I’m the source of all this trouble, then they won’t look anywhere else.”
“Then we’ll make them look. We’ll show them evidence and prove you have nothing to do with this and you’re trying to help,” Hilda said.
“If we’re going to face the Magic Council, we’ll need backup,” Nugget said. “We’re awesome, and can always help you take down a bunch of killer dolls, but you need more witch power on your side.”
I nodded. “I’ll speak to Odessa and Storm tomorrow. They may help. But I don’t want to drag them into the middle of my mess and get them in trouble.”
“They’re your friends, they won’t mind,” Hilda said. “And you know they want to find out what happened to Luna as much as you do.”
I huffed out a breath. During my time away from Witch Haven, I’d gotten used to ignoring offers of help, and had shut myself away so I didn’t see anyone and only had myself to rely on. It still felt alien to hold out a hand when I was in need. But Storm Winter and Odessa Grimsbane were two of my oldest friends. Alongside them and Luna, I had a great set of girl pals when growing up. And I knew I could rely on them now.
Fortified by my decision, I increased my pace, eager to get away from Gravesend Manor and Ursa’s harpy behavior and her freaky dolls.
I’d just reached the gate and was struggling to get it open, when someone grabbed me from behind.
“At last. I knew if I waited long enough, I’d get you!”
Chapter 5
I screamed, grabbed the arm of whoever was attacking me, and blasted them with a zinger of a spell.
There was a very male sounding grunt from behind me, but whoever it was held on tight.
I kicked back, hoping to hit a bony bit, while Russell zoomed overhead, squawking and flying down to attack my unknown assailant.
Nugget stared behind me, his eyes widening as his fur puffed out.
“Do something!” I yelled at him.
Nugget shook his head. “I don’t want to get arrested.”
Arrested? I raised another spell and sparked it on my fingers. “That first hit was a warning. The next time, I shoot to kill.”
“How very like you, Indigo Ash.”
I froze. I recognized that voice now I’d processed it. Worst nightmare come true. It was Olympus Duke.
I reined in my spell and stopped struggling. “How did you know I was here?”
His grip eased a fraction, but he didn’t let me go. “I knew you’d come out of hiding, eventually.”
Russell swooped down again, aiming his talons at Olympus.
“Call off your familiars, or I’ll arrest them, too,” he said.
I squeezed my eyes shut for a second. I didn’t want any of my familiars to get injured or in trouble for defending me against Olympus. “Back off, everyone.”
Russell flapped to the top of the iron gates and sat on them, cawing angrily.
I couldn’t see where Hilda had gone, but she’d been dislodged from my shoulder when Olympus grabbed me. I hoped she wasn’t hurt.
“Are you going to let go of me, or is this your attempt at a slow dance?” I asked.
“That depends. Will you run if I let you go?”
There was no point in making a run for it. As Head of the Magic Council, Olympus had advanced magic using abilities, and all the permits needed to blast it at me with no repercussions.
It caused me pain to concede to him, but I nod
ded. “I won’t run.”
He released me and stepped back. I turned to face him and winced at his angry expression. Blood dripped down one cheek. It looked like Russell had gotten in a few good strikes before I’d called him off.
“So, what have I done wrong this time?” I tilted my head and placed my hands on my hips.
“All of you are in trouble,” Olympus said. “I know your familiars helped get you out of the room I had you held in.”
“Have you any proof of that?” Not so many days ago, Nugget, Hilda, and Russell performed an awesome jailbreak. They got me out of a magically warded room, free from the building, and away from the clutches of the Magic Council, before they stripped me of my powers.
“They’re your familiars. That’s what they’re here for, to do your bidding. And they have to pay for their crimes.”
Nugget snorted. “I do no one’s bidding. I’m not a slave. I choose to be with Indigo. I can leave anytime I want to.”
“It’s true. Nugget is his own cat,” I said. “Just like Hilda is her own spider, and Russell, well, you get the idea. They don’t deserve to be punished for anything. I broke out on my own.”
“That’s impossible. Your magic was impaired at the time.” Olympus’ dark gaze ran over me. “Although I see that’s changed. What did you do?”
My hand went to the necklace I wore. “I stopped doubting myself. My magic came back when I needed it the most.”
“A likely story. Not that it matters where you got that extra magic from.” Olympus’ stern expression hardened. “I had an unhappy Judge Zimmerman visit Witch Haven to conduct your hearing. He was displeased to learn you’d escaped my custody.”
“I’m sure the judge understood. An innocent witch must look after herself. He wouldn’t want a grave injustice on his hands. That wouldn’t do his judgely reputation any good.”
Olympus narrowed his eyes. “He raged at me for over an hour. He suggested I was incompetent.”
“Then he knows you well,” Nugget said.
“Hush. That’s no way to talk to an esteemed member of the Magic Council.” I repressed a grin. I wasn’t getting out of this, so I may as well have fun with Olympus before he arrested me and inflicted some cruel punishment.
