Of course there was still a pervasive underlying tension between her and Bleidd that not even Jess could entirely remove. Bleidd was decidedly spooked about something and Allie relaying Ciaran’s warning the night before had only made it worse. However he refused to even discuss the subject so Allie was left to try to figure out what was bothering him on her own. She sat behind the counter now, working on filling internet orders and letting her mind wander. This all started the day I cut my hand she thought up until then things were fairly normal. Then, let me think. I fell and what was it Bleidd told Jess? That he’d had a bad feeling, something like foresight. And he was acting strange at the clinic after that and then…oh! I almost forgot! Then when we got home he found something on the doorstep and freaked out. And he’s been off since then…and that’s when the bad luck really kicked in.
She frowned, taping up a box to ship out. So what’s the connection? Rose says I’m not being hexed, but everything feels like a hex…but its also not just me…Bleidd has been having bad luck too, and so has Jason, just not as much. So that means, what? It can’t be that the house is being hexed because as far as I can see Shawn is fine. And its not consistent bad luck, there’s been some good luck in there too. It’s very strange.
She was still worrying the problem around in circles in her mind when the bells over the front door rang. She looked up as several people came in together and she recognized them as members of one of the local covens. She forced the worry away and smiled, “Hi guys, looking for anything specific today?”
The group’s leader, Randy, a tall heavy set man with sandy brown hair smiled warmly, moving up to the counter as the rest of the group scattered. “Hi Allie, you’re looking lovely as always. Any chance you have copies of Whitmore’s new book?”
Allie repressed a wince, knowing she’d have several copies if they weren’t in one of the missing boxes from her last order. “’Magical Theory in Borderlands’? I have about a half dozen on order, just waiting on the box.”
“Excellent,” Randy smiled. “Can you give me a call when they get in? We’ll probably take three copies to share around the coven.”
Allie only hesitated for a moment, caught between the desire for the sale and the desire to maintain strong boundaries with Randy, who had always made her slightly uncomfortable with his flirting. The need to make a profit won out. “Sure Randy, can you write your number down for me? And I’ll call as soon as they get here.”
She slid a scrap of paper and a pen towards him, which he took as he leaned forward against the old wood sales counter. “This is my home number, it’s the best way to reach me. As soon as the books get in give me a call and I’ll pop over and pick them. And if you ever just want to talk, or you decide to take me up on that standing offer for a cup of coffee feel free to call.”
Allie took the paper back without looking up, squatting to file it with her other papers under the counter, “Thanks Randy I’ll call as soon as the order gets in.”
She was more than a little bit afraid that he’d linger and try to make awkward small talk but she was saved from that when one of his friends called over and asked for his help in choosing a basic magic text that would meet their coven study requirements. Straightening up Allie gave a small sigh of relief. It wasn’t that she didn’t like Randy, she did, but like many of the locals he had a very particular idea about elves that painted them as both too intimidating to approach and at the same time sexually fascinating. Elves had a reputation, not an undeserved one, for being sexually open and adventurous that seemed to endlessly intrigue and attract humans. At the same time though elven culture was complex and to offend one could result in physical violence, so many people had a healthy caution of the elves. Someone like Allie, who was half-elven, tended to get treated with the same sexual objectification as an elf but without the layer of fear that kept people polite. She was used to it by now but it still made her nervous sometimes.
She finished packing up the orders she needed to get mailed just as the coven finished its shopping and she was relieved to see that they had picked out a variety of books, despite her not having the one they’d come in for. She relaxed a bit as she rang out each of them and chatted about the weather and local gossip.
The third and final person to step up to the counter was a woman that Allie had gone to high school with, although not someone she had known especially well. They’d lost touch quickly after graduation, but occasionally ran into each other around town over the years. Regina had always been a quiet, kind person and Allie liked her. “Hey Reggie, you decided to start studying with Phoenix Rising?”
The other woman smiled shyly, pushing her hair behind her ears. She was a natural blond which hid the traces of gray in her hair and except for a few more wrinkles around her eyes and mouth Allie didn’t think she had changed much since school. “Yeah, as long as Randy will put up with my endless questions.”
Randy, leaning against a couch in the seating area laughed, “I told you Reg we love questions. Bring ‘em on, and you’ll fit right in.”
Reggie blushed slightly, pushing her books towards Allie, but she was obviously pleased by the gentle teasing. Allie talked as she wrote up the sale, “These are good choices to start with. I like Adamson’s book a lot myself.”
“That’s right, I always forget that you’re a witch too,” Regina said.
“One of these days we’ll talk her into joining us,” Claire, one of the other coven members who had already paid for her purchases, joked from next to Randy.
“I think I’m pretty set in my ways as a solitary, but if I ever change my mind I’ll definitely consider you guys,” Allie said.
Regina cleared her throat slightly, “Speaking of solitary, Allie I heard that you finally started dating.”
“Really?” Randy said, arching his eyebrows.
Allie was sure she was blushing crimson and looked down with great interest at the receipt she was tallying up as she answered; she might not be able to avoid feeling their reactions but she could avoid seeing them. “I’m kind of engaged actually.”
“Really?” Regina said, genuinely surprised. Allie should have expected that reaction, since she’d gotten a reputation in school and afterwards for having absolutely no interest in romantic relationships. It had been a necessary defense mechanism to help stave off the harassment, especially in school, and had also reflected a genuine lack of interest for a long time. She had very few good friends and since she kept her personal life as private as possible most people who knew her casually had simply accepted the idea that she had no interest in anything sexual.
“How can you be kind of engaged?” Keith asked, feeling nothing but curious.
“Well, elves don’t have dating and marriage exactly the way humans do,” Allie hedged, reflexively trying to keep the details to herself. “But I am getting married, so that’s similar to being engaged, I think.”
“Oh,” Regina said, eyes wide, “You’re marrying an elf. Wow.”
Allie tried not to squirm under the scrutiny. “Yeah.”
“Well congratulations,” Regina said. It was hard for Allie to sort through the eddy of the other woman’s emotions to be sure how genuine her words were.
Allie nodded a bit tersely, “Thanks. Your total’s 48.53.”
She took the money still feeling awkward, but starting to realize that it was inevitable that people would find out. Belatedly she remembered that Regina’s brother was a cop and realized he’d probably heard about it at some point in the past few months around the police station. During the time she’d been helping the police and Elven Guard track down the dark coven that had been murdering girls in town both the detectives she’d worked with and the police mage had known she was seeing Jess. She couldn’t imagine how that would have come up in conversation with anyone else, but on the same hand it wasn’t a secret either. Now that this group knew and she’d confirmed it word would get around quickly and everyone would know. On the other hand Allie thought as she handed Re
gina her change better they talk about this than ritual murders or Liz’s death. It’s not like rumors of marriage are going to hurt my business, and on the bright side it might reduce the inappropriate flirting. That thought actually cheered her up and she’d regained her good mood as she waved goodbye to the group.
******************************
Bleidd sat at his desk at work listening with half an ear to the chatter over the radio. Long years at this particular job had taught him the fine art of keeping just enough attention on the radio to handle anything that he needed to while the rest of his mind wandered. Mid-morning on a Monday it was predictably quiet and despite the sound of Henry yelling in the back office he had plenty of time to think.
At the moment he was staring at yet another note, this one somehow left on his desk for him to find when he came in to work. His best efforts to magically trace the sender had failed. His efforts to block more from being left had failed. He sat staring at the almost illegible text in his hands feeling a mixture of frustration and anger.
‘You’ll pay for what you did. Fix it now before it’s too late’
He read and re-read the message but it made no more sense to him now than it had the first dozen times. It had been addressed, as all the others were, simply to “Outcast”, which told him nothing at all since his time being shunned from elven society was common knowledge. Thinking of that made him remember the sword Jess had gifted him with, the weight of it solid in his hands.
I am an Outcast no more he thought, clinging to the tactile memory. I was redeemed. I matter again, even if I am still here in this job, in this place. I have my honor back. I have a sword, again. I have a home that means more than just a place to sleep. I have a family, people who care about me, who I care about.
He thought of Allie and Jess then and of the important role they played in his life. Not since he had left his clan Holding and joined the Elven Guard back before even Jessilaen had been born had he felt such a sense of emotional reliance on anyone. It frightened him. Ours is such a fragile happiness he mused turning the letter over idly in his hands. And if anyone is likely to be cut out of it, surely it shall be me. He tried again to picture himself sitting by for years – long, lonely, celibate years – after the marriage contract was signed, waiting for Allie to give Jess the daughter she had contracted with his family for. Instead, as always his mind tormented him instead with images of Allie dying in childbed, as his sister had. As his cousin had. As countless other elven women he had known in the last millennia had. The thought was inescapable and unavoidable.
Grimacing he turned back to the letter. I will pay for what I did…what does this person think I did? And how do they expect me to pay? He frowned. It made no sense to send a letter threatening him if he didn’t offer recompense for something but not explaining what he had done or how he could potentially rectify it. And the letters had started at the same time the bad luck had begun, although he could find no sign of an actual curse. It was beyond frustrating and without thinking he balled the paper up in his fist and threw it in the garbage.
I do not understand what is going on here, but one thing I do know with certainty, he thought grimly I have not finally found something worth fighting for in life to let it all be destroyed now. Whoever is behind this I will find them and I will remove them as a threat. Somehow.
************************************
Allie’s good mood survived the morning, even after Jason’s friend Chris showed up to look at the back door and pronounced it a lost cause. He had told her that the entire door and doorframe would have to be replaced and his best estimate was an amount that made her flinch, especially on top of the morning’s events with the water heater at the house. Still the news may have been bad but Allie felt like they were making progress in fixing things and chose to keep looking on the bright side.
She had just finished forcing herself to eat a small peanut butter sandwich, when the bells over the door rang again and then mid-ring shifted to an oddly muffled sound that she had only ever heard a few times before. When one specific young elf had come in several times the bells had always rung the same way for him as they did now and it got Allie’s attention immediately. Looking up she could see that it wasn’t Sal walking in though. The first person in the door had been Faye, the owner of the town’s occult store Circe’s Cauldron, her flame red hair loose over a sheer black top which she’d predictably paired with a black tank top and long black skirt. Faye was nothing if not dramatic. She didn’t come in often, but it wasn’t unheard of either so Allie didn’t think much of that, but behind her was a younger blond woman in jeans and a faded t-shirt, and she grabbed Allie’s attention immediately. The young woman was the cause of the strange bell-sound; she had stepped in hesitantly but as soon as she saw Allie she froze, a look of shock and outrage on her face.
Allie actually took a step back, even with the counter between them, at the feeling of anger coming off the girl. She had no idea why the stranger could possibly be so upset with her, unless she recognized her from one of the stories in the newspaper on the ritual murders. Contrary to what her friends wanted to think not everyone was glad that the dark coven had been found and arrested and some people held Allie responsible for the events, including some of the deaths of cult members.
Before Allie could decide what to do though Faye was already walking up to the counter, her expression cool but not unfriendly. “’Afternoon Allie.”
“Hi Faye,” Allie responded automatically, trying not to stare as the strange girl walked stiffly up behind Faye. Years of working retail took over and she found herself going on as if the strange girl wasn’t still glaring daggers at her over Faye’s shoulder. “Anything I can help you with today?”
“As a matter of fact, there is,” Faye said, then gestured at the other woman. “This is Riley, she’s an out-of-towner. She’s been in the Cauldron a couple times while she’s here visiting and we were discussing curse removal. I’m afraid it got a bit beyond my expertise and I suggested she get your opinion. She was having a hard time finding your place though so I offered to walk over with her.”
Allie tried not to let her disbelief show. This Riley must have been spending a good amount of money at Faye’s store for the occult shop owner to have decided to show her over to Between the Worlds personally, or else Faye had taken a strong liking to the girl. Either one seemed equally strange to Allie, since Faye didn’t really seem to ever like anybody, but the young woman didn’t look like she could afford to buy Faye’s kindness either. Her curiosity at the situation outweighed the off-putting emotions coming from the young woman. “Hi Riley, I’m not sure what Faye told you but I’ll certainly help if I can. What exactly were you trying to find out?”
For a moment the young woman looked startled, as if she hadn’t expected Allie to actually talk to her, then she recovered. Her voice had a slight southern drawl to it when she spoke. “Well, ahh, I was trying to find out how to remove a multi-generational curse.”
Now Allie couldn’t hide her surprise. “That’s some major magic if it’s effecting several generations.”
“Yes,” Riley said, and Allie wasn’t sure if she meant it as agreement or as a question.
“How many generations have been affected?” Allie asked, thinking of everything she’d read about major curses.
Riley hesitated, glancing uncertainly at Faye who nodded encouragement. “So far three.”
“Hmmm. Does it seem to be weakening with each one?”
“No,” Riley said emphatically. “Just the opposite. It gets stronger with each new generation.”
Allie frowned. “That’s odd, it should either maintain itself or get weaker.”
“Are you calling me a liar?” Riley said, her voice belligerent. Even Faye looked surprised at the sudden attitude change.
“Of course not,” Allie soothed, holding her hands up in a peaceful gesture. “I’m just telling you what I know based on what I’ve read. Unless a spell is actively being
fed energy the effects fade with time, that’s what makes generational curses so hard to do, and why they usually sort of self-terminate within a few generations.”
“Maybe that’s just what you want me to believe,” the girl mumbled, but she sounded less angry and more uncertain now.
“Allie doesn’t lie,” Faye said confidently. “That’s why I love dealing with her so much.”
“Gee thanks Faye,” Allie said wryly.
Now the strange young woman looked puzzled, “Everyone lies.”
“Not Allie,” Faye repeated. “She’s part fairy and fairies don’t lie.”
And you know how much I hate being called a fairy, thanks Faye Allie thought before saying, “I don’t lie.”
“You’re part Fey?” the woman said hesitantly.
“On my mother’s side. My father was human,” Allie said, wanting to move on. “Anyway if the curse is getting stronger instead of fading then it must be tied into some source of energy.”
“Like what?” Faye asked, as Riley shifted from foot to foot and bit her lip.
“That’s hard to say,” Allie said. “What are the effects of the curse?”
“Huh?” Riley said, clearly not listening. Her emotions a swirl of opposing feelings.
“What are the effects of the curse?” Allie repeated patiently. “What’s it doing?”
“Oh,” Riley said. “Right. Bad luck, lots of just…you know like nothing ever works out for anybody. Constant problems. General misery.”
Heart of Thorns: a Between the Worlds novel Page 11
