by Joyce
I gave them the same pep talk I’d given myself. “I know it’s hard, but we need to find it.”
“Hard?” Elsie made a humphing sound in her throat. “It’s impossible! We worked on it a long time. It’s hidden somewhere, Molly. I don’t think we can find it.”
“What about asking the Bone Man?” Dorothy asked.
“Usually you can only make one deal at a time with him,” I explained. “We’ll see how it goes, since he summoned me. There might be some wiggle room.”
“What about the seer?” Dorothy suggested. “Didn’t you say she could find anything?”
“It’s not about finding with her,” Elsie began in her old teacher’s voice. “It’s more about if she can see what it is. It’s difficult to explain.”
“I was thinking we could use our magic tonight with the full moon to uncover the secret place the spell book is hidden,” I intervened. “Moonlight is good for discovering secrets. We could make this our joint priority instead of making individual requests.”
“That’s a good idea,” Elsie said. “I don’t think it will work, but the only thing I was going to ask for was a boyfriend for Aleese. I think she’d be more hospitable with Larry if she had a boyfriend over for supper too. I could always do a love spell later.”
“That’s fine with me,” Dorothy said. “I don’t have a boyfriend, but I have a new house and more money than I know what to do with, not to mention a Mercedes. What more could a girl want?”
Her emotions gave her words away. They screamed out how disappointed she was that Brian had left after our tiff yesterday. Obviously she hadn’t heard from him.
Elsie reached around to the backseat and patted Dorothy’s hand. “Don’t worry. He’ll be back. Brian likes you. It might be why he’s hung around so long—though I’d like to think it was partially our company too.”
Dorothy smiled. “It’s okay. I don’t really expect someone like Brian to want to be with someone like me.”
“Why ever not?” Elsie demanded.
“Well, he’s got money, and he’s interesting, not to mention that he’s hot. Those type guys don’t date girls like me.”
“That’s ridiculous.” I pulled into the parking area for the ferry. “You’re a beautiful young witch with strong gifts of magic. I’m sure Elsie is right and he likes you a lot, Dorothy. I think we should consider giving him a little nudge tonight. Everyone dresses up. We should find you something to wear that will knock him down.”
“Because we have nothing else to do between now and then, so we can go shopping,” Elsie muttered.
“I’m sure there will be plenty of time,” I assured her. “Let’s make sure Brian knows what he’s going to lose if he doesn’t shape up.”
Dorothy’s soft brown eyes were hopeful as we got out of the car. “You really believe that, Molly?”
I hugged her. “Yes I do. Now let’s get this over with so we can get ready for tonight. I know Brian will be at the celebration. Even if he’s not looking for us, let’s make sure he notices you.”
We paid for our tickets to the island. It was early in the season, so there weren’t any other people waiting to take the ferry. Elsie and Dorothy had to visit the ladies’ room before we left. I got on the ferry, watching the activity of the workers and the captain as the crew got ready to depart.
There was a sudden thump as though something had hit the ferry from beneath. It raised the boat high enough that it lost its moorings and began to drift into the channel of water between the mainland and the island.
I thought the ferry would simply go back, but it seemed it was only a few moments until it was time to leave. If they went back, it would wreck their schedule.
The captain shook my hand and apologized. “I’m sorry, ma’am. Occasionally this happens. There’s a swell pushing the ferry toward the island. Rest assured your money will be refunded on the other two tickets you purchased—unless your friends want to take a later ferry.”
I saw Dorothy and Elsie come out of the tiny bathroom. They watched the ferry leaving and began to hurry toward it. Elsie gave up right away and waved to me. Dorothy ran all the way to the dock before she stopped. I could only imagine their distress. My cell phone had no coverage either, so I couldn’t explain.
I knew I could turn around and take the return ferry as soon as I reached the island, but that wouldn’t solve my problem. Intuition—part and parcel of a witch’s life—told me this was no accident.
I had felt the magic as it released the ferry from the dock. I couldn’t identify it or where it had come from. Everyone had always said that the Bone Man had no magic of his own. Yet it was suspicious that he’d only contacted me, and now I was the only one going to the island.
The mainland receded farther and farther until I couldn’t see it. I looked down into the water that splashed against the side of the ferry. I breathed in the sea air. This was where my magic was strongest. I didn’t like the idea of seeing the Bone Man by myself, but I was glad I had this time on the water to renew and refresh my energies.
I held my mother’s amulet in my hand. I could feel that the water inside was in tune with the sea. The amulet was warm to the touch despite the cool nature of a water witch’s magic.
Despite the strange start to my journey, I gathered my wits before confronting the Bone Man. His appearance alone was enough to make many witches faint at his feet. Dealing with him was difficult too. He was sharp and ready to take advantage—as he had with Olivia’s staff. We’d come to trade other items that day for the help we’d needed, but he’d soon taken the one thing he really wanted. He’d given us information in return, but I hadn’t felt as though it was worth the price we’d paid.
We got Olivia and her staff back again, but it wasn’t because of anything we’d done. The Bone Man had released her. We couldn’t have stopped him from keeping her out here forever.
This time, I had to be better than that. Sharper. Smarter.
He wanted something from me. I remembered his keen interest in the amulet when we’d been here last time. He’d promised to show me how to use it if I came back again. I wouldn’t make that trade. I would learn to use it myself.
I wished I’d put on the amulet when my mother had first given it to me. But it was gaudy, and at the time I’d considered it ugly, something only my mother would wear. I wasn’t impressed by her stories of how many other witches in our family line had worn it, or that it had been a gift from a sea god whose name no one could remember.
My feelings were very different now. When I came upon it in my jewelry box last year, I was surprised to feel the power emanating from it. I put it on and had worn it ever since—despite Cassandra’s demand that I give it to the council for safekeeping.
Or perhaps because of her request.
I tried to frame in my mind what I was going to say to the Bone Man when I saw him. I could ask him why he’d contacted me. Or I could just wait for him to tell me. Words might get in the way. Mostly I wanted to know why he’d been in my bed, and then I wanted to hurry home for the moon celebration.
If he was in some kind of trouble, as Olivia seemed to think he might be, I’d ask what it was about and what was in it for me if I helped him. It sounded coldblooded, but it was best not to get personal with him. He could easily turn anything I said against me.
I hardly noticed as the ferry bumped into the dock at Oak Island. The captain shook my hand and apologized again for what had happened. I told him not to worry. My friends could accompany me next time.
“That old swell cut off a lot of time for us.” He glanced at his watch. “But we’ll keep the same schedule for the return trip. Enjoy your visit.”
I left the ferry and walked past the old lighthouse. I didn’t see anyone visiting that day. It looked forlorn and lonely in this time of electronic devices that guided ships at sea. And yet the beacon from its lamp still shone ou
t over the water every night beginning at sunset and ending at dawn. It was part of a network of lighthouses that stretched along the North Carolina coast to keep ships from foundering in the Graveyard of the Atlantic.
But I wasn’t there for a mental history of the lighthouse, I reminded myself. I turned and started the short walk to the old cemetery that was hidden in the trees. Not many came this way, and yet the sandy path was always clear of debris. The Bone Man lived in the cemetery, which had sheltered the dead from the first settlement.
I wondered if the witch that had been in my dream was buried there. Or was she real at all?
My purpose was clear, and I had been calm about following it right up until I began to see the small headstones that marked the cemetery. It suddenly hit me that I was going to visit the Bone Man alone. My heart started racing and the logical part of my brain screamed at me to leave while I could. My whole body trembled in terror at what I was about to do.
“This is crazy,” I muttered to myself in the silence. “I should go back and get Elsie and Dorothy. I can’t do this alone.”
But before I could turn from the path into the cemetery, there he was. The Bone Man rose up from behind a tombstone with his red mouth and terrible smile.
“Welcome back, Molly.”
CHAPTER 10
Spirits of the moon, fly close,
Mark this spot where we do host.
Water clear,
Soil damp,
Time to dance,
Light the lamp.
The Bone Man knew my name.
I had never heard him call anyone by his or her name before. It was terrifying to think that he knew who I was, where I lived and where Smuggler’s Arcane was located. I was frozen to the spot as I considered what that meant. My mind raced as I gazed at him.
I always thought I was imagining his height and countenance when I hadn’t seen him for a while. But each time I was wrong.
He was impossibly tall and thin. There were normal humans who were seven feet tall, but they weighed enough that their bones weren’t so prominent. He was a horror poster for starvation. The joints in his arms, hands and legs stuck out with only a thin layer of skin covering them. His head was barely more than a skull under a black top hat. There were black eyes in the skull sockets. The wind from the sea shook the dried bones that hung around his throat. He wore a tattered black suit covered in dirt as though he’d dug it from a grave. His hands and feet were large and prominent, with no shoes or gloves to cover them.
He had a visage no living person should have to see—especially alone.
The island wind whipped around me as he waited for me to reply to his greeting. It took a moment or two for me to recover enough to speak. All my preparation on the ferry was blown away by the sight of him.
“Hello.” My voice cracked and squeaked.
“It’s very nice to see you again. I thought it would happen sooner after I saw you wearing the amulet, but you are a very stubborn lady, aren’t you?”
He laughed and I shivered.
“I’m not really that stubborn. Why would I come to see you?”
“Because you want to make a trade for knowledge about the amulet.” He rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “What have you got for me?”
This was not a question I had anticipated. I hadn’t planned on trading anything for knowledge of the amulet. I wasn’t desperate enough to explore its abilities by coming out here to see him.
What should I say that won’t make him angry? “I’m just letting it come to me naturally. Thanks anyway. I don’t want to trade for that knowledge.”
He moved closer. I caught my breath as he towered over me, skeletal face staring down, red-stained mouth open.
“It won’t just come, Molly. You must be taught to use it. The magic in the amulet is old magic—not even magic at all the way you understand it. I can show you what to do.”
This was something new. The Bone Man seemed determined to convince me into learning about the amulet from him. Usually we were in the opposite position of seeking something from him.
What does he want from me? I gulped as my brain raced to decide what to do. It must have shown in my face.
He laughed again. “You are very transparent, Molly. You understand why you’re here, don’t you? The Bone Man wants you to do him a favor.”
A favor? That was nearly enough to send me running back the other way. I knew many witches who’d reacted to him in that way the first time they’d seen him. If Olivia, Elsie and I hadn’t been so determined to get what we needed when we’d first come here, we would have done the same.
“You want me to do you a favor?” I had to make sure I understood the situation so as to decrease the chance of trickery.
“Yes.”
“And in exchange, you’ll show me how to use the amulet?”
“Yes.” His smile stretched hideously across his face. “You catch on quickly.”
“Suppose I don’t want to trade knowledge of the amulet for the favor you’re asking of me?”
He actually pondered that question for a moment, one bony hand to his chin. “Then I suppose you might have something else you would like me to do in exchange. You have something you need that I can supply?”
I considered his words again. I couldn’t believe I was negotiating with him. As I saw it, I was in the position of power on this. Maybe I was wrong—I hadn’t heard the favor he was asking yet.
“I see you twisting the marriage ring on your finger. Could you be having marriage problems? Perhaps we have a deal.”
“What? I didn’t ask for anything. We don’t have a deal.” I knew he’d try to trick me. I couldn’t let that happen.
He closed his eyes. “You want protection for your husband and son from the Council of Witches, no?” He laughed again, almost upsetting the top hat on his head. “I heard the tiny whisper of knowledge from your husband after he’d learned that you are a witch. We both know what the council is capable of.”
“Yes,” I whispered the fear that had gathered in my heart since that night, hating that he knew it too.
“I can do this for you, Molly—if you will grant my request.”
Could he really keep the council from hearing Joe’s possible slips in the future? I couldn’t do it. I didn’t know anyone who could. How could he protect Joe?
“You have no magic.” I said it as flatly as I’d thought it.
“You’re right. At least I don’t have magic that you or your kind understand. But I can protect your family from the council. They will never learn your secret.”
“I don’t believe you.” What I really couldn’t believe was that I’d said those words out loud. “No one can do what you’re promising. It’s one of your tricks.”
His face—what there was of it—twisted. I thought for an instant that he might kill me. Or curse me. Who knew what? I was terrified. I don’t know what kept me from running away.
Then he laughed again. “You want me to prove myself to you, eh? I don’t think anyone has asked that of me in a very long time. You are a brave woman, Molly Addison.”
I started to correct him. Addison was my maiden name. I had been a Renard for longer than I’d been an Addison. I decided not to press my luck. I’d come this far on sheer audacity. I would wait to see what his next move was.
I could see the choppy gray ocean through the trees. He stared at it for a moment and raised his hand.
Immediately, the waves that beat against the rocky shore began to grow. I could hear shouting from the area of the lighthouse. The voices were raised in alarm as the Atlantic rose higher, lapping at the base of the old structure.
The Bone Man hadn’t moved. His hand was still outstretched, his black eyes fixed on the water. I could see the ocean coming closer. Water was already filling the sand between the old headstones. It kept rising
, as it had in my dream about the witch in the old colony. The soles of my shoes were getting wet.
“You’re a water witch?” I dared to ask, though no water witch I’d ever known was powerful enough to raise the sea.
The Bone Man lowered his arm and looked back at me. “Understand it as you will. Never doubt that I can do what I say.”
He’d convinced me. I was sure the sea had risen this far on other occasions, during hurricanes or floods, but not on demand and not on a clear, sunny day.
“It was you, wasn’t it?” I dared to ask. “You caused the ferry to leave without Dorothy and Elsie. You caused the swell that brought the ferry here faster.”
He bowed. “You recognize my hand in this.”
I was completely blown away by the information. He had magic I couldn’t explain or hope to duplicate. I was amazed and, for some odd reason, less afraid. Maybe it was our kinship to the water or maybe I finally understood something about him. I wasn’t sure. But when I searched his black eyes again, I was more at ease.
“Why did you visit me at home and at the shop?”
“I thought I had made that clear. I need a boon from you.”
“But why me? There are other more powerful water witches in this area. Why not call one of them?”
“You do yourself a disservice. And the choice was mine to make.”
“It’s the amulet, isn’t it?” I smiled at his discomfort. “You chose me because you know I have the amulet. What is it about it that you find so interesting? Did you know that the Council of Witches wanted me to surrender it to them?”
His face contorted again. “Never give the amulet to them or anyone else. It only belongs to you now that you are the last of your line.”
“I won’t.” I touched the amulet and didn’t ask how he knew I was the last witch in my family.
“And now that you are finished with trying to understand me, do we have a deal? Are you willing to trade the safety of your husband and son for my request?”
