by Zoe Arden
"Without the use of magic?" Eleanor, Trixie, and Lucy all cried together. Poor Dr. Dunne. He didn't even realize what an incredibly human thing that was to say.
"Erm, well, yes. I just thought... sometimes these memory issues resolve themselves. If her brain doesn't want to remember what happened, there may be a reason for that."
"Yes, but if we want to find Pennyweather anytime soon, we need Lucy's memory to point us in some sort of direction," Sheriff Knoxx said. "Even if it's the wrong one. At least then we'd be able to eliminate something."
"There's always the goblins," I reminded him.
I could almost see his eyes roll. I knew he'd been uncomfortable taking me to see them, and I hoped he knew how much I appreciated it. I just didn't know what to make of the information they'd given us. Draugar. Missing teenage goblins. Dead missing teenage goblins, I corrected myself, remembering what King Zulabar had told us.
"I think we'll stick with helping Lucy get her memories back, for now," the sheriff said. "Maybe later we can consider the goblins."
I thought that was a mistake. If Sheriff Knoxx hadn't been so blinded by his own discomfort with his goblin heritage, he may not have been so quick to dismiss them.
Sheriff Knoxx's radio blared. "Sheriff Knoxx, this is, uh, Otis. Otis Winken. Over please."
The sheriff grabbed his radio off his belt and squelched the static that was coming from it. "Knoxx here. Go ahead, Otis. Over."
"Uh, yeah. I'm down here at the Coffee Cove, talking to Melbourne, and no one's seen Megan since last night after her shift ended."
"You mean she didn't go home?" Sheriff Knoxx winced. "Over."
"Oh yeah. Over. I mean, it seemed like she'd gone home, but I talked to Vincent and Brenda Lockwood again and they said they couldn't say for sure. Megan's door was shut when they went to bed, and they assumed she was inside. Over."
Sheriff Knoxx's face tightened. I could tell part of him wanted to reach across the walkie talkie and strangle Otis for delivering such bad information. Lucy's face grew a shade whiter.
"All right, Otis. Thanks. Over."
Lucy looked at him, her eyes already turning red.
Knoxx folded his arms across his chest. "Looks like we have another missing person on our hands."
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CHAPTER
TWENTY-THREE
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I had slept at the hospital but insisted that Eleanor and Trixie went home. They were reluctant to leave after hearing about my goblin adventure, but I wanted them to check on my dad. When they'd gotten home, they'd texted me that my dad was sleeping on the couch.
Like Sheriff Knoxx, neither of them had put much stock in the draugar element, though they were concerned to hear that goblins were disappearing. When I'd told them about Kiya, they'd grown silent.
"Kiya's family was one of our best customers in Goblin Territory," Eleanor had said. "How awful."
When I awoke this morning, Dr. Wallace was here from Mistmoor Point, along with Felicity and Sheriff Lincoln Redfern. They were all conferring in the corner with Sheriff Knoxx and Dr. Dunne. Felicity sat on the edge of Lucy's bed, painting her nails.
"Hey, sleepyhead," Felicity said when she saw I was awake.
"Morning," I said, yawning. "When did you guys get here?"
"Not that long ago."
Felicity and Lincoln were two of the very few people in Mistmoor Point who didn't carry grudges against those of us who lived in Sweetland. The long-standing rivalry between our two towns seemed rather silly to me, but both sides felt very strongly about it. You were either in favor of Patrick Mistmoor or Sara Sweetland. Pick your side and stick with it.
Lucy's mother was curled up in a corner, still asleep. She had a tissue in her hand, and her husband gently tugged at it as Brenda let out a loud snore. He threw it in the wastebasket and turned to me.
"I'm going to get myself some coffee. Want a cup?"
"Sure, thanks."
"Be right back." He walked to Lucy's bed, kissing the top of her head. I was surprised to see that she looked so wide awake and checked the time. It was already ten.
"You look better today," I told her. "Your cheeks have more color."
"You sound like my mom," Lucy said but smiled. Vincent lingered a moment longer, looking at his oldest daughter. I could only imagine what he and Brenda were going through. Getting one daughter back only to lose the other didn't seem fair.
Dr. Wallace walked toward me and shook my hand like an old friend I hadn't seen in years. His hair was grayer than the last time I'd seen him in Mistmoor Hospital, and he was sporting a matching mustache.
"Ava, have you met Amanda Hollyberry?" he asked, indicating a pretty woman to Dr. Dunne's right. "She's the best magical elixir expert in all of Heavenly Haven."
Amanda blushed but didn't contradict him. She was in her early forties with fiery red hair that matched Felicity's, though much darker, and lashes so long they looked fake. Like most witches on this island, Amanda was either blessed with natural beauty or had a knack for applying makeup like a professional airbrusher.
I sometimes forgot that most doctors on Heavenly Haven were human, and in delicate situations like the one Dr. Dunne was facing, magical experts were sometimes brought in to help. No one quite understood what drew human doctors to the island. They seemed to have a strange connection to the land itself or maybe it was the people. No one could explain it.
Either way, doctors were some of the only humans to receive permission from both the Witch's Council and the Council on Magic and Human Affairs to know the truth—that magic was all around us.
"Hi," I said, rising to greet Amanda.
"Nice to meet you, though under these circumstances I'm not quite sure that 'nice' is the best word to be using."
"Good point."
"So, what's the plan?" Lucy asked, sounding frustrated. Felicity had just finished applying a shiny sky blue to Lucy's pinky finger. Lucy waved her hands in the air as Felicity worked to keep her from ruining her work.
Amanda moved to Lucy's side and produced a vial no wider than a pen and about half the length.
"Drink it," she directed.
Lucy looked at it a moment, cocking her head to one side.
"What is it?"
"Nothing bad. I made it yesterday so it could sit out overnight. It needs time to come together."
"Are you sure it's ready?"
"Of course. Now drink it."
She pushed the vial into Lucy's hand.
Lucy took a deep breath. "Bottom's up," she said and tilted her head back.
We all watched her closely, waiting to see what, if anything, might happen. I'm not entirely sure what we thought that would be. Steam coming out of her ears? Would she turn into a pile of goo? When nothing happened, we all exhaled, both relieved and irritated.
"Something's wrong," Lucy said. "I don't feel any different."
Amanda scrunched her face. "Well, there's no such thing as perfect magic."
"What does that mean?" Sheriff Knoxx asked. I think he'd been hoping something big would happen. He wanted Lucy to get her memory back just as much as she did.
"It means back to the drawing board. If you'll excuse me." Amanda whispered something to Doctors Dunne and Wallace then left the room without another word. I hoped the next potion she gave Lucy had more of an effect.
"Some expert," Lucy snarled.
"Amanda's doing her best," Lincoln said.
"Yes," agreed Dr. Dunne. "It's difficult when you don't know what sort of magic you're dealing with. Were you hexed, cursed, spellcast...? It's impossible to say."
Lucy grumbled something unintelligible. Her mother rolled over in her chair and fell right out of it. She landed on her back with a loud thump and jolted awake.
"Yowww!" she cried. "Who did that?"
Lucy cracked a smile. "You did."
"That's absurd," Brenda replied.
"I don't make a habit of rolling out of bed."
She stood up and dusted herself off. Her eyes fixed on Lucy, confirming that she was really there.
"Anything come back to you?" she asked.
"No," Lucy sighed.
The hospital room door banged open and Vincent came stuttering in, holding two coffees. One of them had spilled all over his shirt, staining it brown and burning his skin a light pink.
"Did you see what's happening out there?" he asked, setting down the coffee he hadn't spilled. He went to the window and looked out.
"What?" I asked.
"People. Hundreds of them. I think they're picketing."
"Picketing?" Lucy's mom asked, coming up beside him. "Picketing the hospital?"
Sheriff Knoxx followed her to the window. The crease in his brow deepened when he looked outside.
"I don't think they're here for the hospital," Sheriff Knoxx said.
Whatever was going on, Lucy's dad was right. There were at least a hundred people out there. They were holding signs I couldn't quite make out. Some of them had drawn little pictures that looked like droplets of blood, but I wasn't sure what that was supposed to symbolize. I mean, who protested giving blood?
The door to Lucy's room opened again with a loud crack. Dr. Dunne let out a groan as Margaret Binford stormed inside. "Doesn't anybody knock anymore?" he asked.
"Where's Lucy?" Margaret asked, pushing past us as we tried to save Lucy from whatever wrath she'd come to throw down at her.
"This is a hospital," Dr. Dunne argued. "You can't just go bursting into patients' rooms uninvited."
"I'm here representing the Witch's Council, of which I am the head. As you well know. I also represent the people."
"What people?" Sheriff Knoxx asked.
"The people of Sweetland Cove and Mistmoor Point." Her eyes skipped first to Lincoln then Felicity.
"Why do they need representation from you?" Lucy asked. "Last time I checked, both towns had mayors." She bit her lip a second and looked at me. "Don't they? Or is there more that I've missed?"
"No, you're right. We've got great mayors."
Her face relaxed again, but it didn't last for long.
"There are rumors circulating," Margaret said. "Mind you I have no idea how they got started—"
"Of course not," Sheriff Knoxx balked.
"—but I know the kernel of truth when I hear it."
"What in the witching world are you talking about?" I asked her. "What kernel of truth?"
"Demons," she spat. "Goblins. Trolls. Vampires. Dark magic. Whatever it is that has caused this poor girl to lose her mind."
"I have not lost my mind," Lucy yelled. "Just my memory."
"Oh, poor child. She doesn't even know what she's saying." Margaret feigned sympathy and started circling the room like a vulture.
"Whatever business you think you have here, Margaret, it's all in your head," Sheriff Knoxx said. "Now leave. Consider it an order of the Sweetland Cove Sheriff's Department, of which I am the head."
"I only want to know the truth," Margaret snapped and jumped in Lucy's direction so fast that Vincent knocked over his other coffee. It fell off the table and drowned his shoes.
"Where were you this last week? Who had you? You don't have to be afraid of anyone, you hear me? Not an-y-one!" She overemphasized the last word, practically screaming and showing us just who we should all be scared of.
"You leave my daughter alone!" It was Breda Lockwood's turn to snap now. She pushed Margaret lightly in the chest, inching her back toward the door.
For the first time, Margaret seemed to fumble.
"I'm only asking to, um, check on your daughter."
"You don't care about Lucy. Or Megan. You're just being nosy. Do you have something to do with all those people outside the hospital?"
"Of course I do," she said haughtily. "I organized the event."
"What event?" Felicity asked. She'd risen from the bed and was looking out the window now, too.
"The protest, of course," Margaret said.
"And just what is everyone protesting?" Sheriff Knoxx asked.
Margaret marched over to him and removed a manila envelope from her oversized purse. She withdrew some papers and handed them to him. Sheriff Knoxx looked at them a second before his face grew red as a beet.
"Is this a joke?" he asked.
"A joke? I should hardly think so."
"What is it?" Lucy asked. He looked around the room, lost for words.
"You're nuts. You know that, right?" he told Margaret.
"I may be nuts to you, but to those people outside I'm a savior. I'm the only one trying to put a stop to this crime wave."
"Will someone please tell me what's going on?" Lucy screamed.
Sheriff Knoxx exhaled. "She wants me to arrest Melbourne Hammond. For kidnapping and possible murder."
"Melbourne Hammond?" Brenda and Vincent asked, stunned.
"Margaret's gathered a petition. She's gotten everyone in town to sign it. They want Melbourne locked up. Today."
* * *
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
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"Have you lost your mind?" Lucy demanded.
Margaret arched her back. "Not at all. I'm simply stating the obvious. How many vampires are there on Heavenly Haven? Thirty? At most?"
She looked around the room, daring anyone to challenge her. No one did.
"Melbourne is one of the few of his kind who live out in the open. Do you know that he actually claims to enjoy the sun?"
"Melbourne is very old," Sheriff Knoxx said carefully. "He doesn't react to sunlight the way younger vampires do."
"Yes, but he was the only vampire, young or old, to be dating Pennyweather. He was actually seen with her the night before she disappeared."
"That doesn't prove anything," Lincoln said. Felicity stood at his side, ready to back him up if needed.
"It proves he knew all the victims. Think about it. Lucy, Pennyweather, Megan... what do they all have in common? I'll tell you what—Melbourne."
I hated to admit it, but Margaret actually had a point. Megan and Lucy both worked for Melbourne at Coffee Cove, and Pennyweather was dating him.
"Melbourne did not kidnap me," Lucy said.
"Are you sure?" Margaret asked. When Lucy couldn't answer, she beamed. "You see. Whether he's turning them or eating them, we don't know."
"Melbourne did not turn me into a vampire," Lucy stammered. She looked worried, though. That was Margaret's power. She played to people's fears.
"That's it!" Dr. Dunne finally snapped. He'd been holding a clipboard but slammed it down on the counter now, marching toward Margaret. "Out!" he yelled, pointing toward the door. "And do not come back. You are not welcome in this hospital unless you are bleeding from the head, and maybe not even then!"
Margaret's jaw dropped open. She harrumphed her way out of the room. When she was gone, no one spoke for a full minute. We simply enjoyed the silence. It was broken when the hospital room door opened a moment later.
"You are not coming back in here," Dr. Dunne yelled before turning to see who it was.
Aunt Trixie stopped so abruptly that Eleanor ran into her back. "Is it my shoes?" Trixie asked, looking down at her feet and frowning. She had on glittery gold shoes that curled up at the toes, like an elf.
"I thought they were cute," she said.
"Oh, Trixie, I'm sorry." Dr. Dunne's face reddened. "Of course you're welcome to come in."
"Are you sure? I can go home and change."
"Don't be ridiculous," Eleanor said, pushing her sister forward.
"I apologize for snapping at you. I thought you were Margaret Binford."
"Oh, roses!" Trixie cried, horrified. She raced to a mirror. "Do I look that old?" She scrutinized her face while the rest of us tried to convince her she didn't look a day over thirty-five.
Whi
le everyone was busy calming down Trixie, my eyes drifted toward Lucy's neck. What if Margaret had been onto something? I liked Melbourne, but I knew next to nothing about vampires. Until a week ago, I hadn't even known that they existed.
"What are you doing?" Lucy asked when she caught me staring at her neck.
"Nothing," I said, quickly moving away from her, but she was onto me.
"I am not a vampire," she snapped at me.
"Of course not. I was just..." But I couldn't come up with a good alternative to "checking for bite marks," which was what I'd been doing. "Oh, fine, I was just double checking."
"I'm sure that if I had a vampire bite anywhere on my body, Dr. Dunne would have noticed when I was brought in."
"Of course, I would have," Dr. Dunne said. "You can hardly miss a thing like that."
"What have we missed?" Eleanor asked. "Why is everyone so concerned about vampires all of a sudden?"
Sheriff Knoxx's radio squawked. "Sheriff, this is Otis. Otis Winken."
"Go ahead, Otis. Over."
I couldn't help but laugh whenever I heard Otis on the radio. Sheriff Knoxx had tried for a year to get him to say "over" after ever transmission, but he only got it right about half the time. Sheriff Knoxx had finally given up.
"I'm up at Whisper Crossing, checking out a report we received. Over."
"Yes?" Sheriff Knoxx asked with more patience than I would have thought possible.
"I don't see anything yet, but there's a real bad smell out here. And it looks like someone's been digging up graves."
"Otis, did you say digging up graves? Over."
"Yes, Sheriff. Over."
"Sheriff, I can send my deputy out to the Crossing to assist yours, if you'd like," Sheriff Maxwell offered.
