He nodded. “Thank you.” He smiled as he stood. “It is also an experience.” He’d begun to place the other contents back in his pockets when he paused to look at his coin. “Do you have, or have you seen, a unicorn?”
Halona and Jenn exchanged glances once more. Halona said, “Not since I was small. And I’m pretty sure it was a pony with a fake horn.”
Jenn gave a slight smile. “Although we do have a Magical Unicorn sculpture. It’s at the entrance of our Festival Park.”
He smiled. “I must go there then. Perhaps you would lead me?”
Jenn’s mouth dropped. “Maybe. First things first.” She stood, and as she wiped the sand from the seat of her pants, Nevlin could not help but notice as warmth flushed over him.
The three, followed by Scamp, walked to the breaking surf.
Jenn asked, “Are we doing Abundance Eight?”
Halona nodded. “I think that’ll be best, don’t you?”
Jenn nodded. “I do, but with a fairy blast, it’s often asked that no portion of the water be spoiled. Any water leftover must be poured onto or lit by fire.”
Halona smiled. “No worries. Grey has shot enough fireballs into these waters over time that the effects are bound to remain.”
When Jenn took Nevlin’s hands and held them out over the water, warmth radiated through his body. He felt more rejuvenated than he had in ages, centuries even. He felt a stirring inside him, a gentle tingle. He felt lighter than air, an uplifting energy. It was as if a current of awareness had passed through him. He took a deep breath, as he wanted to savor the feeling. He then watched as Halona clasped her fingers and dipped her hands in the ocean. He glanced at Jenn and then lowered his gaze as the water was poured over his hands. The women softly chanted.
“May God bless you, and the sea cleanse.
“With skies surround, they’ll be no end.
“May Moon’s embrace give rest at night.
“As Stars align and make all right.
“May Earth support you in this life.
“And heart be true in Sun’s own light.
“May you be well, and be so soon.
“For that is our intention too.”
It reminded Nevlin of an old Celtic poem, which pleased him. He thought of the women’s earlier reaction. They had been suspicious of him. They were clearly women whose concern was to protect the sea and all its habitants. And he admired them for it. And now here they were assuring his relief from a curse.
Now the real curse, he thought, might be within this Jenn. For, when she released his hands, he immediately missed her touch. In her hands, he felt as if a soft breeze had wrapped him in calm. He did not know why, but they had been comforting. That realization surprised him, just as his entire reaction to her had. He most certainly had never been pulled in the direction of one individual over all others.
The feel of Jenn’s hands lingered in his mind. He glanced over at her, wondering what it was. What did she have, or do, to cause this feeling? He suddenly had concern that he had said too much. She must surely know him to be crazy. What drove him crazy was why this was a concern to him. Still, to him, she was the most beautiful woman he had seen, and he had seen many in his days. He had known queens, princesses, even females from other realms.
He looked down at his hands and let out a sigh. All earlier ache and fatigue had left his body. He flexed his drenched fingers and made a slow fist motion. He glanced at the women. “Go raibh maith agaibh.” He felt warm as his face flushed, and he smiled sheepishly. “I mean, thank you.” He shook his hands and dried them on his pant legs.
“Are you feeling any better?” Jenn asked.
“Much. Thank you.”
He gave a nod as Halona motioned for them to sit. “Take a second to regroup.”
Nevlin lowered his gaze. “Halona, I do not mean this to seem rude, so perhaps I should not ask.” He lifted his gaze. “In my travels, I have been to Salem. Seeing what I did moments ago, and with your town nickname of Magicville, I am beyond curious. Are you related to George Jacobs, Sr.?”
Halona raised her brows. “Executed for being accused a witch? In my ancestry, yes.”
He shook his head. “It was a terrible time. A low point of the seventeenth century.” He pursed his lips. “George loved to farm. Was successful in his communication with the land.”
“You speak as if you knew him rather than read of him.”
“Yes. I did.”
The women exchanged glances.
Jenn raised her brows. “You knew him?”
Nevlin smiled and then lowered his gaze. “I am very old and have seen much. My father was truly the last of the great Druid scholars and astrologers, and I his only son. I had followed in his teaching, beliefs, and training. On my thirtieth birthday, before his passing, he conveyed to me that it is actually I who am the last of the great Druids as we have known. And, as such, he passed on to me a Druidic spell. “
He wondered if she believed him. He leaned in. “The spell, or curse depending on how one may view it, enabled me to live these one thousand and four years.”
Jenn’s and Halona’s mouths dropped though they remained still and listened.
“I remain as I am and do not age. That is unless I choose, within the next few days, to not honor the prophecy as I know it, which I do intend to honor. I do not become ill in any natural way, but I am, however, as you saw, subjected to curses and spells as much as anyone.”
Jenn ran her fingers through her hair, those strands moving like a river of gold. “One thousand and four? That is an odd amount of time.” She shrugged. “I just mean, why not one thousand?”
He chuckled. “Yes, Father was a strict numerologist. He knew four to be a lucky number.” He winked. “As in our Shamrocks. And when those numbers one and four combine it is, of course, five, which he felt to be even luckier.” He lowered his head. “At the time, he had also begun to relay to me that five would be significant. And the coin which I carry was given to me at that time. It is part of the spell, and it is also to hold clues. Though he passed before explanation.”
Jenn glanced down. “I’m sorry.”
He gave a nod. “Thank you. Though I have had a wonderful”—he chuckled—“and long life. The prophecy has allowed me to continue to serve.”
Jenn leaned in. “What is this prophecy?”
“During this time, I have traveled and sought to be a great scholar. I had been entrusted to keep a record of world events. More importantly, that of humanity and nature. To help ensure that mankind is good and that we stay on course. I have, however, needed to keep moving and have traveled throughout, so that I am never anywhere for long.” Nevlin smiled. "The logistics of my identity were very similar to that of the hero in your movie Highlander, though my life was never so exciting." He gave a nod. “Now I have lost you, I am sure. You know me to be crazy.” He looked off to the ocean and then stood. “I did not mean to take your time.”
The women stood as well. Halona smiled. “Nevlin, we own Beachcombers Antiques up the beach. Earlier you had said that you had nowhere to stay. How would you like us to find you a place to stay?”
He gave a nod. “I would like that.”
As they walked the shore, he looked toward the clouds in the sky. He noticed the one he was observing was nearly identical to the cloud insignia engraved within the metal of his coin.
Chapter 4
When they reached Beachcombers Antique Shop, it was clear to Jenn that Nevlin was taken in by the beauty of all the vines and flowering plants. The lush wisteria climbed up the front wall, and its lovely grape flowers scented the air. Its tendrils wrapped around the exterior spiral staircase which led to the curved iron-clad balcony. It was the entrance to a charming efficiency that had once been a home to Halona, which had since been transformed into a meeting space and a place for an occasional visitor.
Halona removed a key from her key ring. “I’m going to take Nevlin upstairs to show him the efficiency and grab a change
of clothes while I’m there.”
Nevlin gave a slight bow to them. “Thank you. I have been the world over, and there are wonderful people throughout, though the likes of you both I have never known before. If you are any indication of the town as a whole, I have made the right choice in coming here. I will repay you for your kindness.”
They smiled. “You’re welcome.”
Jenn unlocked and opened the shop door. “I’ll go inside and wait for your cousin Syd.” She patted her leg to have Scamp follow her, and he ran in and straight to his bed by the large bay window. Soon, he would have company when his friend Glimmer, Sydney’s Yorkie pup, would be dropped off as she went to school to teach her elementary class.
Jenn watched as Halona and Nevlin walked upstairs. She then closed the door, locking it behind her. She walked to the back of the store and up the interior steps that led to the efficiency. She bolted the two locks on the adjoining door and went back down. She began to walk around the shop to determine where she would begin setting up the recently acquired antiques—the ones that Halona’s cousin Jeremy had brought by yesterday, which had been recovered out at sea, and the antiques that she herself had brought back from her own recent travels.
Jenn has always had a love of antiques and the stories behind them. History had always been a passion of hers, and the two interests—a love of antiques and discovering the records to verify them— had been fulfilled since she’d first begun working for the Jacobs family at Beachcombers. She had worked here for over a decade, ever since she was old enough to hold a job. Soon after Halona’s parents passed, Halona had made Jenn a half-partner of the antique shop. It had been a touching moment and gave Jenn a renewed sense of interest and purpose. She had soon begun traveling to acquire special objects herself.
Jenn went to the counter and reached into a box of coins that had been obtained from a shipwreck. She laid them out. Cataloging and researching were some of Jenn’s favorite parts of her work. She had a few minutes to go through everything and log them. It was a quick task, as these were standard milled Spanish coins. And soon the doors would be open to make all this available to the visiting public.
She reached under the counter for a ledger and noticed a deck of tarot. She thought about Nevlin, and to her own surprise, she thought she might believe him. She had heard crazier stories than his, seen them play out. But, somehow, she still sensed there was more, lots more. She took the cards out, sat on a stool, and began to shuffle. She asked the cards, What can you tell me about Nevlin and his quest?
Jenn laid down the first card of a Celtic spread. It showed the King of Rods. She pursed her lips. That could be him. He spoke of a purpose. She laid the second card across it, revealing the Two of Pentacles. Balance, choices? Could be opposing forces? She continued along with the King of Cups, Four of Rods, Knight of Rods, Ace of Cups, and, then, the Page of Pentacles.
She stopped and considered the eighth card. The Emperor. “Effects of others, perception.” Rules, authority, organization. Structure and stability. She rolled her eyes. I didn’t see much stability in him.
She continued. Card nine, the Five of Cups. Hopes, fears. Universe knows best. Refocus, believe. “He shouldn’t focus on the past.” She came to the tenth and final card. The outcome. She laid it down. It was the Two of Swords. She whispered, “The only sword… the only air.” She slid back on her stool. He must make a choice? Is unable to choose. Stalemate. But he needs to make a decision. She glanced over the arrangement. She mumbled, “What is Nevlin up against? What exactly is he trying to decide?” She shook her head. Why do I even care? She shrugged. How can I not? He seems like a gentle guy, and he is obviously up against something. Besides, I always like an intellectual challenge.
She heard the latch turn, and the front door of the shop opened. Scamp ran over to greet Halona as she entered. Jenn scooped up the cards and placed them under the counter. “All set?”
“Think so. Be right back.” Halona, carrying a towel and a change of clothes, walked to the back of the store and entered the employee’s section. She returned a few minutes later and sat next to Jenn. “So, what do you think?”
Jenn let out a sigh. “I find it all a little intriguing.”
Halona rolled her eyes. “No, I mean what do you think of him?”
“Him? There’s the obvious of course. He’s handsome. Though a little odd. No accent that I could detect.” She chuckled. “Did you hear how he talks? He’s so formal.”
Halona smiled. “I thought it was kind of cute. Besides, who of us isn’t odd? But you’re right about one thing. He’s darling.” She raised her eyebrows in quick succession. “And, as of right now, only the two of us know he’s here. He’s obviously attracted to you.” She stood, went over to the cooler, and pulled out two bottles of water. She returned and handed one to Jenn.
“Thanks.” Jenn took a sip.
Halona tapped her on the arm. “Make your move, Jenn, and make it quick.”
She shook her head. “No, not me. He’s clearly a wanderer. You know me. Though I like to travel, I need a destiny, a purpose. I like stability. He doesn’t strike me as terribly stable, and in more ways than one.” She took a drink. “Besides, when I travel, I’m not into roughing it. I’m all about the air and luxury. Nothing about him says sunken tubs. Except algae maybe?”
Halona laughed. “That’s just wrong.”
“How exactly do you think he plans to repay you? We can’t even be sure his story is true. Not to mention, we really know nothing about him.”
Halona shrugged. “I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. We’re not using the space right now.”
Jenn raised her brows. “You’re nicer than me. Action without logic can be quite chaotic.”
“You’re plenty nice. You just think about all that can go wrong. Like I said”—she tapped Jenn’s forehead—“always in the head.”
Jenn took a sip. “So, you trust him?”
Halona shrugged.
Jenn bit her lip. “And… as far as only us knowing… make that three of us. I texted Chief Burke on our walk back. Just to see what he could find out about him.”
Halona’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“I wanted to make sure he wasn’t some lunatic.”
“That was a good call actually. Because, as much as I hate to admit it, you’re right. If we’re going to have someone right above us, we better know who we’re dealing with. The truth is, I wanted him close, to keep an eye on him.”
Jenn leaned her head back. “So, I’m not the only one using my head. I thought maybe you just felt for him.”
Halona smiled. “There was that too. I’m really curious to see what Kal comes up with.”
“So am I. And, as for truth, we may have to call in our very own truth sensor.”
“Moss Bentley,” they said in unison.
Halona crinkled her face. “Oh no, I have to tell Drake what I’ve just done. He’ll think I’ve lost my mind.”
Jenn raised her brows. “Forget him. What about your cousins?”
Halona threw her head back and groaned.
Jenn chuckled as she pulled out her laptop from under the counter. “Do you want me to start with categorizing the new coins so we can put them out on display?”
Halona brushed her hand in the air. “No, I know your mind’s always on the task, but forget all that for now. We have something more interesting to do.”
Jenn rested her elbows on the counter. “Like figure out if his story is true? By the sound of it, we don’t have much time.” She leaned back. “I was thinking of asking Sydney if I could use her library. Go through her collection and see if I can find something.”
“One of us should definitely keep a closer eye on him. Maybe we can offer to show him the town. And he already asked—”
Jenn looked down and shook her head. “No way, not me. You’d be a much better tour guide than me. I’ll stick with research and stocking the shelves.”
“No, he’d much rather have you take
him around.”
“I know that tone. There’s more to your request than just wanting me to play nice. Besides, I have a date later and we have work to do here. I can’t be running all over town. It’ll take twice as long getting around with all these crowds.”
“Your date’s with Lance Cornell?”
She pursed her lips. “It is.”
Halona shook her head. “How can you not be more enthusiastic? Who wouldn’t want to date a sexy coven leader?
Jenn feigned a smile. “If you really want me to play tour guide, I’ll do it if it helps.” She leaned on the counter. “Speaking of coins, did you notice the one Nevlin had? Looked ancient. Of course, according to his story, it is.”
“It did look authentic. Drake would love to see it.”
“I’d rather see you hold it. Find out what it can tell you. There has to be an extensive story there.”
Halona lifted her bottle to toast Jenn. “That’s it. That’ll tell us a lot. Could reveal everything.” She rested the bottle against her lips. “Now the question is, how do we get it?” She shrugged. “He’s been agreeable so far. Guess we could just ask. “
Jenn said, “Maybe he’s only been because he was acting suspicious and he knew it. He was kind of stuck.” She shook her head. “Curse? And his story? I’m still not sure that’s all there is.”
“Always in the head, that’s where you are.”
“And as such, how about this? You say you like it and want to ask Drake to make you one.”
“That might work. But what if he’s hesitant to let it out of his sight?”
Jenn took a drink and then let the bottle dangle from her fingers. “We’ll just explain that Drake doesn’t need to take it anywhere. He only needs to look at it.” She motioned between them. “Then we’ll ask to see it, step away, and you do that thing you do so well.”
Halona smiled and tapped her finger against her head. As she did, another tap startled them. It was on the shop door. Sydney had arrived. Jenn walked over and opened the door to let her and Glimmer in. Scamp rushed over to meet them, tail wagging as he gave his greetings.
Mystic Luck (Mystic Tides Book 2) Page 13
