Tabby nodded, but Max held up his hand. “Wait. Don’t you need a candle, some crystals”—he spun his hands in a circle—“some sort of altar?”
Sydney cocked her head. “Do you need an altar when your hands are in the dirt?”
“Well, no,” Max said, “but this is a bit different than dealing with the earth.”
“In what way?” Sydney asked. “I’m an air witch. I do spells.” She laughed. “I don’t need props. Just the air. Tabby, just look in the mirror and study your face, okay?”
Tabby held up the mirror and winced. A green shadow had fallen over her eyelids, and now she could see those sparks of red Max had mentioned. In another few days, she would look like Rionach’s kid sister.
“Think positive thoughts,” Sydney said. “You too, Max.”
“Sure thing,” Max said.
Sydney wrapped her hands around Tabby’s as she held the mirror. Tabby felt a warmth envelop her, traveling through her hands to her arms and into her torso, infusing her with strength, with hope. The warmth was followed by a tingling sensation that skittered along her nerve endings and sparked like fuses firing up in her grandfather’s old electrical box. She listened, almost in a daze, as Sydney began her incantation.
“Of Tabitha Whitlock, the mirror shows
“What those around her must not know.
“The ears, the skin, the eyes, the hair,
“All must be veiled with special care.
“We call upon this sacred air
“To help us with this plight most rare.
“The curtain falls over those nearby
“To shield what is seen by the naked eye.
“Tabitha Whitlock they will see.
“Nothing else.
“So mote it be.”
Sydney squeezed Tabby’s hands and pulled away. Tabby shook her head, trying to find some focus, then ran her hands over her face and over her ears. Yes, the pointy ears were still there, but she’d known they would be. It was a spell to hide them, not make them vanish. As powerful as Sydney was, even she couldn’t undo someone’s magic. Rionach had strong magic.
“How do you feel?” Sydney asked.
“Strange, but okay.”
“It didn’t work,” Max whispered.
Tabby twisted in her chair to find a face filled with sorrow and compassion, and she burst into tears. Max pulled her onto his lap, and Tabby went willingly.
“We’ll find something else,” Max said. “We’ll find a way to get Rionach back here. She has to do something about this.”
Sydney pressed a Kleenex into Tabby’s hand. “Dry those tears. He’s wrong, you know.”
Tabby and Max both swiveled toward her.
“What are you talking about?” Max said. “Look at her.”
“I am looking at her, and I see what you see. But there’s a reason. I am the spellcaster. You are…well, apparently, Max, you and Tabby are as close as you can get. The spell doesn’t affect you.”
“What does that mean?”
“Possibly everything,” Sydney said with a smile. “The universe knows these things before we do.”
* * * *
Tuesday Afternoon, March 14
Three more days. She’d never thought of her life as a countdown, and now she could do nothing else.
She just wanted to get home. Funny that she’d thought of herding cats yesterday because that was pretty much what she’d done most of the school day. She’d taken each classroom of students, one by one, into the art class and helped Diana Teagarden, the mixed media teacher, show the children how to make their own leprechaun hats for the school party on Friday. As if she hadn’t spent enough time on leprechaun issues this week. Now her fingers felt permanently glued together, and she knew she had glitter in places that should be glitter-free. The good news? Her glamour had held. No one seemed to notice the mint-green freak with the black eyes and the flaming red hair.
She also felt shorter. She’d thought of going into the nurse’s office and having her height measured, but she knew that would only draw unwanted attention. Besides, she was so short that people probably didn’t even notice if she’d lost an inch or two.
Max had texted her three times throughout the day just to check on her. When she’d mentioned, I might be shrinking, Max had taken it all in stride. He’d texted, What makes you think that? You can barely reach the sink now. The smiley face had been a nice touch, but Tabby really wasn’t feeling all that smiley.
Somewhere along the way this week she’d lost her happy. She blamed Rionach for that.
She tossed her bag onto the seat and slid behind the driver’s seat. Her head fell back on the headrest. Sleeping sounded so good, but then when the words, the chosen one slumbers, entered her thoughts, she decided she might not want to sleep for the rest of the week. She had no idea what that meant, but it didn’t sound good.
She shoved the key in the ignition just as her phone dinged.
Alex: So I hear you’re some kind of princess now.
Tabby: Been talking to Dad?
Alex: Um, no. Been talking to Cormac.
Tabby: Do I know him?
Alex: Not if I can help it. He’s my…
Tabby stared at the screen for several long moments.
Alex: My leprechaun.
Tabby’s heart lurched. She shouldn’t have been surprised. Her dad had already explained that Alex had been given the “welcome to leprechaun life” speech. She should have assumed by that her oldest brother had his own little second self.
Tabby: Oh, so what does he say about me?
Alex: You’re all the other realm is talking about. Guess their entire future hinges on some sort of choice. Your choice. How do you get yourself in these messes, Tab?
Tabby: Sometimes greatness is just thrust upon you.
She wanted to cry.
Alex: I’m sorry, Tab. I guess I could make jokes, but this is some serious shit. I wish I knew what’s going on. Cormac mentioned some…changes.
Tabby: Yeah. Changes.
Alex: Can you show me?
Tabby: Sure, why not?
She snapped a selfie and sent it winging toward Alex, wherever he was.
Alex: Holy freaking crap, Tab! How are you out in public? It looks like you’re in your car.
Tabby: Glamour spell. Those close to me aren’t affected, but it seems to work on most everyone.
Alex: Whatever happens, Cormac says they’re willing to accept it. They’re looking forward to meeting you, for what it’s worth.
Tabby: Always nice to have fans.
Alex: There’s Tabby with that positive spin. I’ll be home Friday morning. We play at Hooligans at 9.
Tabby stared at the screen. What was she supposed to say? She wasn’t sure she’d ever see her brother again.
Alex: Tab, I can blow this gig and come home right now.
Tabby: No, don’t do that. I’ll see you. No matter what.
Alex: Love you, little sis.
Tabby: Love you, big bro.
Alex: Peace out.
Tabby let the tears fall after that.
* * * *
Tuesday Evening, March 14
Max brought Chinese takeout for the whole family. The twins ate most of it. Emily and Aiden picked at theirs, watching Tabby closely. Everyone was so glum Tabby was beginning to feel as though she were going off to war. Tabby managed to eat an egg roll and some hot and sour soup.
“How’s the glamour holding up?” Her father finally gave up and tossed his paper plate into the trash.
“Seems to be working well,” Tabby said. “No one’s screamed when I walk into a room.”
Her hair was almost all red now. Her beautiful auburn was gone, and the spikes had begun to droop, turning into riotous curls. She looked like she should join Barnum and Bailey or a rodeo. It was nice to have several possible career paths.
“Anything else in those books?” her mother asked.
“Nothing concrete,” Max said. “Sydney pretty much h
ad it covered.”
Her father slid back into his seat. “I’ve tried talking with Oryn again. He got distracted by some money in the sofa cushions, but he did say that slumbering isn’t all that bad. Whatever that means.”
“Well,” Tabby said, “I do like to nap.”
Emily started to cry, and Aiden tugged her chair closer to him, wrapping his arm around her heaving shoulders. The twins stared at their mother with horrified expressions.
“I don’t understand any of this,” Emily wailed. “It’s just not fair. You’re human! Why is this happening?”
Tabby balled up her napkin. “I guess because I’m not as human as we thought.”
“There are no such things as female leprechauns,” Emily stated firmly. “Everyone knows that.”
“There are at least two,” Aiden said.
“And there used to be this other one,” Max said. “Mother Alastríona.”
“I hate this,” Braden snapped.
“So do I,” Mason said quietly.
“There’s no point in hating, boys,” Aiden said. “We don’t know what’s going to happen. At least not yet.”
“She’s our sister, Dad,” Mason said. “And there’s nothing we can do to help her.”
Aiden gazed fondly at her brothers. “We support her. We love her. We abide by whatever choice she makes.”
“And what if I don’t know what choice to make?” Tabby said.
Max took her hand and kissed it.
Emily lifted her face and swiped at a few stray tears. “You’ll make the right one, Tabby. We trust you. You’ll know what’s right when the time comes.”
“How can you be so sure?” Tabby asked.
“Because I know my daughter,” Emily said with a soft smile. “Whether she’s human or not.”
Chapter 8
Wednesday Afternoon, March 15
Two more days.
In any other week, in any other lifetime, Tabby would be eagerly awaiting St. Patrick’s Day. There were lots of Irish in town, as well as all the denizens of the mystical places found in Irish lore, legends and myths—who just happened to be real.
Now, though, all she could think about was a change and a choice.
She’d already gone through the change. As far as she could tell, the only thing left to experience was suddenly falling from five feet to three feet and adding about fifty pounds. She wasn’t sure any glamour could hide that.
She got through the workday, listening to all the happy sounds of the elementary school, watching all the smiling faces, tasting French fries and grilled cheese at lunch, and smelling all the little-boy smells that permeated the building. Her senses had certainly become enhanced in the last twenty-four hours.
At this particular moment, she was digging through her bedroom because she smelled a penny. She could almost taste the coppery scent. When Max walked into her room, she was crawling on her hands and knees from corner to corner in search of the elusive coin.
“Drop a contact?” he asked.
She sat back on her haunches. “No, I don’t wear them. I smell a penny.”
He hunkered down beside her, cupped her face, and gave her a gentle kiss.
“Hoping to get some retirement money?” he asked.
“Well, if I could find it, I might be able to change it and give the boys some extra money for their trip. Lord knows I probably won’t need it where I’m going.”
“Such a generous girl.” He tugged her, and they both went sprawling across the floor. He tucked her body beneath his. “Don’t you have a wallet full of pennies?”
She nodded. “I do, but I have this gut feeling it has to be found money.”
“Interesting.” He gave her a kiss. “You’re getting the hang of this leprechaun thing.”
“Okay, first of all, how can you kiss me when I look like this?”
He wrapped a short curl around his finger. “I don’t care how you look. You’re still my girl.”
“Okay, I’ll accept that you’re just crazy,” she said, “but second, you seem awfully okay with me being a leprechaun…and maybe leaving.”
His smile fell. “No, I’m not okay with that at all, the leaving I mean. But if you have to be a leprechaun, I can live with that. And if you have to go, I’ve decided I’m going with you.”
She pushed him off her and sat up. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am serious,” he said. “When Rionach comes back, I’m going to say she can’t have you unless she takes me too. We’re a package deal.”
“I couldn’t let you do that, Max.”
“Get used to it. It’s going to happen.”
“I could love you,” she said quietly.
“I think you already do.” He tapped her nose. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, and I’m not losing you. Now…” He glanced around the room. “Let’s look for that penny. I know the boys would love some extra spending money.”
They found three pennies and two dimes. After a moment in Tabby’s hand, they had five gold coins.
After that, they headed into town to enjoy some of the St. Patrick’s Day events already going on in the park.
* * * *
Thursday, March 16
One more day. What to do with possibly her last day of freedom. She decided she’d do one of her favorite things. After finishing her duties in the office, she went out onto the playground and set up an impromptu game of kickball with the fourth-graders. Watching the kids run around, reveling in their energy and freedom, she found a new appreciation for what she was both leaving behind and possibly embracing. That was the key. She’d decided, no matter what happened, she would embrace her fate. The old Tabby would have done that, before the green skin, the pointy ears, the hollow depths of her eyes, and this hideous red hair. The old Tabby was still inside, and though the wrapping on the package had changed, the gift inside remained the same.
When life gave you lemons and all of that jazz.
So what if her new charges in another realm weren’t ten? So what if they weren’t the beautiful little kids she watched now? They might be green and waddle and have manic smiles, but they were still beings capable of love and laughter, lighthearted banter and friendships. Oryn might have been erratic and random, but he had seemed happy. That was what mattered most in life.
She had a hell of a good time that day.
* * * *
Friday Morning, March 17, St. Patrick’s Day
Today’s the day. She bounced out of bed, unsure exactly what the day would bring but certain it would end—one way or another.
She dressed in her favorite St. Patrick’s Day outfit. On went the green mini-dress and her shamrock scarf. On went the black combat boots. On went the moto jacket. She’d already decided she’d tell her mom to give it to Felicia if she disappeared tonight. She normally would have put some green dye through her spikes, but of course, with her new hair, she didn’t bother.
She spent the morning herding cats, the kids all dressed in leprechaun hats and wearing varying shades of green. She felt as though she’d already fallen into the leprechaun realm, and surprising enough, she felt her happiness spike even further.
When she saw Max’s truck pull into the parking lot, she raced from the office and down the sidewalk. As he closed the truck door, she threw herself into his arms and he lifted her off her feet and swung her around. She kissed him before he could kiss her.
“Good morning, princess.”
“Top o’ the mornin’ to ya, gov’na.”
Max laughed. “Gov’na? Really? Isn’t that cockney?”
She pressed her lips together, holding in a giggle. “Top o’ the mornin’ to ya, laddie.”
“That might be Scottish.” He put her down. “We’ll get there. Only a couple more countries to go.”
She put out her arms and whirled around in a circle, staring up at the sky, red curls flying. The sun was so bright, shining down in splendiferous rays of spectacular beauty, beams of brilliant light winki
ng and twinkling off everything they touched. How could anything be wrong on such a beautiful day?
“I feel good today, Max. I know I should be nervous, probably terrified, but for some reason, I just feel good.”
“I feel good too,” Max said. “You bring that out in me.”
She hooked her arm through his, hugging it tight against her, and began the walk up the path. “I think we bring it out in each other.” She tipped her face up. “I can’t wait to see the clover.”
“Me too. Should be a great little crop. I put a bit more magic than usual.” He winked. “For the kids of course.”
She smirked. “For the kids. Of course.”
* * * *
“I found one!” Tawny cried.
“Me too!” said the water sprite.
“Mine’s gigantic,” the little earth witch said.
“Mine is so pretty,” cooed the little girl who hated worms.
Each child whooped and hollered as they found their lucky four-leaf clover. Max passed out small plastic envelopes so each clover could be safely tucked inside. The children secured their clover and marched back inside to enjoy their party before getting dismissed early for the St. Patrick’s Day events. Sydney came up and took Tabby’s hand.
“I’m wishing you all the luck I can today.”
“Thanks, Syd, but everything will be okay.” Tabby leaned down and plucked her own four-leaf clover from the ground. She twirled it in her fingers, the little leaves spinning. “I’m feeling very lucky today.”
“I’m glad, Tabby.” She brushed the wild locks away from Tabby’s face. “I hope I see you on Monday.”
“I hope so, too, but if not, I just want you to know I’ll be happy. No matter what.”
Sydney gave her a kiss on the forehead and started up the sidewalk.
Mystic Luck (Mystic Tides Book 2) Page 10
