by Lori Woods
“Then what’s the problem?” Alfie asked.
“We just don’t always get along…though I do have to admit having her around is much better than having that…that thing that pretended to be her.”
“Come on, Suzy, let’s go,” Snowball insists. “Why aren’t you getting ready to leave? Giving love advice to a dead person seems a waste of time.”
“Malcolm, I’m sorry, but I’m in a bit of a hurry.”
“Wish I could come along,” he says, sounding sad.
I sigh. “Malcolm, I have to go and get help in rescuing my friend, Val.” I sigh. “Tell you what, when I return, I’ll try to create a spell that will release you from your imprisonment in the apartment.”
He peers closely at me. “You promise, you promise?”
I nod.
“Okay, I’ll be a good friendly ghost and get along with the wife until you return.”
“How magnanimous of you,” I answer.
Finally, everyone is ready. Even Snowball has given herself a thorough grooming in anticipation of seeing the people she knows back in Nightshade. We climb aboard Broom Hilda and off we go. The weather is a little nippy, and I’m glad I wore my pink cardigan. Alfie wears a bright red cape he’d been saving for a special occasion. To keep warm, Snowball snuggles against Alfie, disappearing under his cape.
Almost before I think it’s possible, we’re approaching Nightshade.
Just after we land on the steps leading to the front entrance of the Library, Sprout rushes outside. “Suzy!” he calls. “Alfie, Snowball. Come in, I’ve just made fresh coffee.”
Again, I find it hard to believe what a handsome man Sprout is. I mean I was used to the ugly old guy who tended the library grounds. What a difference in him now.
“How are you, Sprout?” I ask.
“Surprised to see all of you. Here for a visit?”
I shrug. “I wish it were so. But one of the reasons I’m here is to ask for my grandmother’s advice.”
“She’s in the office. Let’s go inside and I’ll get her.”
Suddenly Joe rushes up to us.
“Suzy,” he says, “what a nice surprise. I saw you and Alfie overhead and just wanted to say hello.”
“You saw Suzy and Alfie, did you!” Snowball says.
“Were you with them?” Joe asks.
“Of course I was with them. What do you think? I have my own broom?”
“Snowball!” I say.
“What is it?” She sounds mad.
“Remember, you were hiding under Alfie’s cape.”
“I was not hiding! I was just trying to stay warm.”
“But no one can see you when you’re under the cape.”
“Oops.” She turns to Joe. “Sorry.”
Joe smiles. “No problem, Snowball.”
I take a breath. “Joe, actually I was going to come find you in a little while. One of the reasons I came back to Nightshade is that I want to ask for your help—you and the werewolf pack. Do you think you and the others would be willing to go to Hemlock with us?”
“I’m sure we would—those of us who can, at least. But what do you want us to do?”
I explain about the Doppelgangers. “And it may come down to a fight with them. In fact, I’m sure it will. I’d like us to stand up against them.” I pause for a moment. “Look, Joe, it could be dangerous,” I say. “So I’ll certainly understand if you and the others don’t want any part of it.”
“I’ll talk to the others, Suzy. I’m sure they’ll be willing to help.” He looks into my eyes. “We’re not afraid of a little action. I’m sure no one will disagree. No members of the pack, I mean.”
“Please let me know,” I say.
“I’ll let you know what the pack members say once I’ve talked to them. It may take some time.”
“No problem. I need to talk to Granny Maycomber and maybe follow through with her advice.”
“Okay, Suzy, I’ll be back.”
As we’re about to enter the library, I have an idea. It may be taking a gamble, but it should keep Snowball and Alfie from being bored, and also keep them out of my hair. I turn to them. “I’m sure I’ll have to do some research,” I say, “so I’m going to let you take Broom Hilda while I’m here.”
“You’re kidding,” Alfie says.
“No, but you have to be very careful. Alfie, I want you to hang onto her. Don’t put her down, and especially don’t let her out of your sight. Can you do that?”
“Why are you doing this?”
“So you can enjoy the trip. So you can see old friends and catch up on what’s going on.”
“But—”
“Come on, Alfie, before she changes her mind.”
“I’ll call Broom Hilda when I’m ready to go and tell her to make sure you’re aboard before you come back to the library.” I hand Broom Hilda to Alfie.
“Where do you want to go first, Snowball?” Alfie asks.
Before I hear another word, they’re gone.
Just as we reach the door, Doc races up. Did everyone in Nightshade see us arrive! “Doc! It’s good to see you.”
“And you too, Suzy. I saw you pass by and figured this is where you were headed.” He smiles. “And how is school?”
“Well…”
“Not so good?” the elf doctor asks.
“The problem is, of course, that I’m a Spell Master. Only the spells I create really work. With others, anything is likely to happen.”
“But otherwise, things are fine?”
“Not exactly, Doc.” I fill him in on what’s been happening with the Doppelgangers and that they’re still holding Val.
“I wondered why I hadn’t seen him lately. He wasn’t at church for the Wednesday prayer meeting, which is highly unusual.”
“I called him to come and help out; to free me from the Doppelgangers. He did that, all right, but then he got captured himself. I have to find a way to free him and to prevent the Doppelgangers from making people pass out just by touching them.”
“So you’ve come to talk with your grandmother, I gather.”
“Yes, I wish I had time to see everyone, but I don’t.”
“I must be going too,” Doc says. “I have patients waiting.”
“Okay, Doc. Maybe next time I won’t be so hurried and we can all spend some time together.”
“I look forward to it,” Doc says as he turns and heads back down the steps. Finally, I enter the library and head into the back.
“Okay,” Sprout says as he picks up the chalice that contains Granny’s spirit and hands it to me.
“Someone to see you, Susana,”
“Suzy,” she says, looking up from the bottom of the cup.
“Hello, Granny. It’s always good to see you.”
“And you too.”
“Thank you. How are things at the library?”
“Everything’s fine. Sprout and I work well together.”
“Don’t you get bored spending all your time in the chalice?”
“Bored?” She sounds surprised. “No, I’m never bored.”
“I don’t think I could stand it. All the time confined to a tiny space.”
“Well, time doesn’t mean much to me. You see, I… not sure what word to use. I suppose, so you understand, the best word is sleep.”
“Sleep?”
“Maybe suspended animation is a better way to describe it. When I’m not talking with anyone, I go into a different state of being. And because of that, I’m not really aware of the passage of time.” She pauses. “But that isn’t why you came to see me, is it? To talk about how I spend my time.”
“I do care.”
“I know you do. But you are having some sort of problem and want to ask my advice.”
I sigh deeply. “It’s the Doppelgangers.” For the third time since I’ve arrived in Nightshade, I explain what’s been happening.
“Sounds to me,” Granny says, “that you need a good spell to help out.”
“That�
��s what I think too. I need a protection spell. One that will make the Doppelgangers’ touch ineffective.”
“That may be possible. But you have to figure out the spell yourself. All I can do is advise you to look in some books here in the library.”
“What books, Granny?”
“Those that offer protection against different things. That’s what I’d start with. I know you can do it.”
“You think so?”
“Of course you know you’ll have to modify the spell to fit the circumstances.”
I smile. “Because I’m a Spell Master like you.”
“Yes, because we’re both that one in a million.”
“Thanks, Granny.”
“You’re welcome. So, while Sprout and I enjoy a coffee break, why don’t you go on back to the stacks and call up some books.”
“I’ll do that, Granny. Thanks.” Gee, I wish she could be more specific about how to find a spell I could adapt. But I know there’s nothing much she can do, stuck in the chalice all the time. At least she’s still around, and for that I should be thankful.
I feel nostalgic as I walk back to the stacks. I miss the library and feel an even greater desire to return to Nightshade and study with Granny.
“Protection spells,” I say.
Books begin to dance and jiggle all over the library.
“Me!” one of them tells me. “Look at me.” It sounds like a young child.
“Okay, are you going to come to me, or should I come to you?”
“I’ll come to you,” the book tells me. “I know I contain just what you want.”
“All right then.”
A book flies toward me and lands gently in my lap.
I read the title, The Closet Monster Protection Spells. I shake my head. “Sorry, book,” I say. “I don’t need that kind of protection. I’m not afraid to look inside my closet. Please go back to your place.”
“I was sure I was the one.” The book sounds regretful.
I give it a pat, and off it goes.
“Try me,” another book says in a deeper voice. “I’m two rows away from you, to your left.”
I head toward the book and pick it up. Protecting your Home from Wererats. I shake my head. I wonder if there are werecats too?
“What I need,” I say aloud, “is protection spells.”
“I’m the one. I know I’m just what you need.” The voice is like a giddy young girl’s. “I’m on the next row over. But don’t worry, I’ll come to you.”
“All right,” I tell the book. It sails into my hands. I read the title. Protection through the Ages: A Comprehensive Listing of Protection Spells from Ancient Times to the Present. Annotated.
Oh wow, is nothing going to work? Of course, it is. Granny wouldn’t mislead me.
I try again and again, and find all sorts of things on protection that won’t help at all. Like how to protect your loved ones from pesky insects. Yeah, right, how about using Raid Off, for heaven’s sake. Maybe the Nightshade Library should have a basement for useless or little used books as the Academy in Hemlock has.
I become aware of a tiny, tinny voice. “Demons!” it says. “Demons.”
“Demons?” I say.
“I have a spell to protect against demons.”
“How on earth could that help?” I’m disgusted with the lack of any progress. Then I decide, what the heck? I’ll give it a try.
“Okay,” I say. “Where are you? I’ll come and get you.”
“Right in front of you.”
I see a little book, hardly bigger than a pamphlet, but bound in red leather, jumping up and down.
I pick up the book and begin to read. “To protect yourselves from demons,” the first sentence starts, “you need to do the following.” I continue to read, and suddenly I think, This is it. This is really it. If I can modify the spell just right and make it my own, it will work. I can hardly contain myself. “Hurray!” I shout.
Sprout comes running. “Is something wrong?” he asks, his face a mask of concern.
“No, dear Sprout. Something is right! Really right. I found a spell that I’m sure will work. It was originally written to take away the power of demons, but I can change it.”
“That’s great, Suzy.” His face breaks out in a smile. “By the way, Joe stopped by a little while ago and said to tell you nearly all the pack have volunteered to go to Hemlock.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“He says he’ll bring them all here as soon as he can collect everyone, and you can take it from there.”
I frown.
“You can tell them what you’d like them to do,” Sprout adds.
“Thanks, Sprout. Did he say how long he’d be?”
“An hour or so. And that was nearly an hour ago.”
“Guess I better send for Broom Hilda and have her bring back Alfie and Snowball.”
I send my broom a mental message, and within minutes she and Alfie and Snowball are at the library, the latter two bursting with news about what they’d done and who they’d seen.
“I want to be home, Suzy,” Snowball says. “When can we do that?”
“Home?” I ask. “You mean the other side?”
“No, I don’t ever want to go back there to live,” Snowball says.
“Then you must mean Hemlock. I didn’t know you liked it so well.”
“I certainly don’t. I don’t like it at all.”
“Then where?” I ask. I’m kidding. Of course, I know where she wants to be. Nightshade. Just like I want to be back.
“Nightshade. Home! When, Suzy? When?”
“Me too,” Alfie says. “I didn’t know how much I missed the town and all my friends till now. I’ve been homesick ever since we left.”
“Soon,” I promise.
“Suzy,” Joe says, “I think you’ve met everyone.”
I look from face to face. I remember them all from the time they fought Night Shadow’s pack in Werewoods. “I certainly appreciate your agreeing to help,” I tell them.
“No problem,” one man says. He reminds me of his name—Ted. “We’re up for a little excitement.”
“It could be very dangerous.”
“Don’t you know—” He looks at the members of his pack.
“Danger is our middle name,” one of them says.
“Austin Powers,” I say.
“Austin who?” one of them asks.
“Never mind.”
“So, what’s the plan?” Joe asks.
“Well, I certainly can’t fly all of you back on Broom Hilda.”
The broom begins to shake her brush back and forth as if saying, “No, no, no.”
“So I thought we’d all take the train.”
“The train?”
“Yes,” I answer. “No cars, no trucks, no buses allowed in Hemlock.” I think quickly. If we cut out duck berry pie for a month, and Snowball limits her unicorn milk… “I’ll spring for train tickets for all of you.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Joe answers. “None of us are starving. None of us are homeless.”
“Thanks for the offer,” Ted says. “But we’ll pay our own way.”
I’m overwhelmed. “But I’m the one who’s asking the favor.”
“And you’re the one in school and on a strict budget.”
I blush. “Thank you. You don’t know how much I appreciate it.” I sigh. “I think if we hurry, we can catch the next train for Hemlock. I’ll explain everything to you on the way.
“But before we go, I need everyone to form a group in front of the library. I am going to modify a protection spell against demons to protect us all against the touch of a Doppelganger. One touch and they will render you unconscious.”
“Really?” Joe asks. “Even when we are in werewolf forms?”
“Yep! One touch and lights out!”
I read the spell for the fiftieth time, until I have all the runes in my head. Then I rearrange them slightly and substitute the rune for Doppelganger f
or the one representing a demon.
“Okay, everyone, stand still for a moment,” I say as I draw diagrams of the runes in the air in front of me. Then I take a deep breath and recite the spell in a commanding voice. The moment I say the last word, a white light flashes over me and the entire group assembled in front of the library. “I did it! I did it!” I shout, surprised at my own success.
“I knew you would, Suzy,” Alfie says. “Now I don’t have to worry about one of those things touching me again. Thanks.”
“Okay, let’s get on that train! It’s getting late!” I shout.
Everyone hurries out of the library and heads for the train station as I tell Sprout and Granny Maycomber goodbye.
“Meet you all at the depot,” I yell to Joe as Snowball, Alfie, and I jump on Broom Hilda.
The wolf pack reaches the station with two minutes to spare.
Once we leave the depot, I turn to the others, all gathered in the same car, and explain in detail what has happened in Hemlock and what sort of help I’ll need.
“Sounds like a good plan,” Joe says.
We all settle comfortably into our seats, some with their eyes closed, others talking quietly. Luckily, we don’t encounter a berserker on this trip.
Finally a little luck, I think, as I lean back and close my eyes for a quick nap.
CHAPTER 18
I glance back at Joe and the wolf pack chugging mugs of ale at a long table as I open the door to leave the Wizard’s Wand Inn. I hate that it’s too late to go to Bellow Moor to confront the Doppelgangers. I’m desperately worried about Val, and wonder how long a vampire can go without blood. I’m almost certain he can’t eat the awful mushroom gruel the Doppelgangers feed their prisoners.
Val, I’m coming! Don’t give up hope! I think as I hurry through the narrow cobblestone streets of Hemlock. I’m eager to get home to make sure everything is all right with Snowball and Alfie. I had sent them to the apartment before taking the rescue party to the Wizard’s Wand Inn for lodging. Red had recommended it.
“They will give room and board to anything with money,” she had said, looking disapprovingly at my friends from Nightshade.
It was then that I decided that once I rescued Val from the Doppelgangers, I would definitely return to Nightshade. Any lingering doubts were gone. Besides, I was tired of being the oldest student in class and the least able to perform the standard spells.
