Long Islands and Larceny

by Sara Bourgeois

  “How are we going to get in?” Blossom asked.

  “I don’t think we have too. Look,” Starla said and pointed to a dark spot on the roof.

  It was Presto. The kitchen window had been open to catch the afternoon breeze, and the cat must have climbed out and onto the roof.

  Starla steered the boat up next to the house and Blossom held it as steady as she could. Starla stood up and called to Presto. The cat trotted casually over and allowed Starla to pick him up. He didn’t seem affected by the storm or the fact that he was hanging out on the roof in the rain.

  “Is he still just a cat?” Blossom asked hopefully.

  “I think so,” Starla said and held Presto to her chest tightly while Blossom rowed.

  The trip back to the resort didn’t take long. About halfway back, the wind and waves started again. They made it back just in time to miss the other side of the eyewall hitting Clownfish Cay with full force.

  Starla was glad that she’d gotten Presto because she knew her house would be underwater for sure by the time the storm was over. She wasn’t prepared for the lecture that Kane had surely prepared for her, but when she scanned the resort lobby, she didn’t see him anywhere.

  The lobby was full of people who’d gathered there to take shelter from the storm, but Kane was absent. “Where is Kane?” Starla asked when she found his receptionist sitting on a couch drinking coffee.

  “He’s still out there,” the woman said with a sniffle. “He went out to the far side of the island to help an elderly woman who got trapped. All of her neighbors left thinking she’d already gotten out.”

  Starla felt her stomach clench.

  Internally she cursed herself for being weak. This was her fault. The only reason the island took her powers was because she didn’t have skill to overcome whatever was blocking them. If she’d spent more time practicing and less time mooning over whatever distraction she’d found as short-term entertainment, Kane and the rest of the island would be safe. If that was the lesson the Elders wanted her to learn, she got it loud and clear.

  Outwardly, she began to cry, and the rain stopped.

  Moments later, a small boat approached the resort. Starla jumped up and ran outside. It was Kane, and he had an elderly woman wrapped in a blanket next to him.

  Several more people rushed outside to help him get the woman out of the boat and into the lobby. A woman who worked behind the desk appeared with a hot cup of coffee for the woman, and one for Kane too.

  Starla could only stand back and watch in awe. This was her home, and these were her people. She wiped the tears away from her eyes and turned her attention out the window.

  With all the force of witch’s will, she pushed the clouds back out to sea. She wasn’t sure what else she could do, but she could do that much.

  When the faintest hint of sun began to show, Starla felt Presto at her feet rubbing against her legs. She looked down, and the cat looked up at her and winked.

  “You could have picked something a little less intense to get your point across,” Starla said as she knelt down and stroked Presto’s head.

  My dearest Starla, it’s not all about you. If this storm had hit the other island, it would have been lost forever. There were people left behind by the evacuation. Not everyone got away, but not one life was lost on Clownfish Cay today. You were a part of that even if you don’t know it, and even if you don’t know how yet.

  She heard Presto’s words in her head, and it was a relief. Well, it was Damek’s voice. Either way, her cat was fine, and she hadn’t lost Damek forever.

  The next day, all the water had receded from the island. People ventured out to check on their homes and businesses. Starla knew her house had been completely underwater, so she was in no hurry to go there again.

  So, she and Blossom made their way to Blossom’s house. It was gone. The storm had lifted the house off the foundation and carried it out to sea.

  “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!” Blossom shrieked as they rounded the corner onto her street.

  “I’m so sorry,” Starla said and put her hand on Blossom’s shoulder.

  “Sorry? For what?” Blossom turned and she had a huge smile on her face. “I hated that place, but I had it insured to the teeth! Do you have any idea the insurance payout I’m going to get? The whole place is gone! It’s marvelous.” Blossom began doing a happy dance in the middle of the street. “But look. All of my neighbors’ houses are fine. It’s like a miracle!”

  “You’re happy.” Starla said.

  “Yeah, I’m going to build my dream house,” she said. “I’ll have enough left over to start my business. No matter what happens, I won’t have to work for someone else anymore.”

  “Should we go check on the gift shop?”

  “We could. If it’s wrecked or gone, they’ll rebuild. The owner had good insurance too. That’s how I knew how much I needed. Even if he decides to take the payout and run, I’ll just start at a new location. My store,” she said. “My store, Starla!”

  The pair made their way to the cruise ship docks to check on the store. Blossom was in such a good mood, Starla didn’t want to spoil it by going to her house.

  As they approached the docks, Starla and Blossom could see ships off in the distance. They had to be the cleanup crews and contractors Kane had said were coming to the island to help them rebuild.

  Starla and Blossom stood on the dock and watched the ships and boats approach. Soon, Kane joined them to help greet the workers and assign tasks.

  The island didn’t have an official mayor, so there was a project manager and several foremen with the crews. Starla wondered how Kane had gotten such an overwhelming response to their plight, but she didn’t question him.

  Instead, she dove in and tried to help where she could. While Starla helped workers find their way to their assigned areas, she noticed that Blossom had taken an interest in one particular man. He was a foreman with huge biceps and a killer white smile.

  Starla thought Blossom was having a good run. She’d lost her house but was excited about her impending huge insurance payout. The hunky foreman she flirted with seemed just as interested in her.

  It wasn’t until Starla got back to the resort that night that her heart felt heavy. When she walked through the doors, she spotted Louisa and her two children. The kids were on the floor playing with a couple of miniature toy cars. They didn’t notice their mother was sitting on a bench above them crying.

  Starla walked over and sat next to her. She put her hand on Louisa’s shoulder. Louisa looked at her and offered an attempt at a half smile.

  “At least they are letting me stay here for a while,” she said. “But it’s still so much to deal with. Our home is gone, and I don’t have a job anymore. I don’t know what we’re going to do, but I don’t want the kids to know. They were so scared. I’m glad we’re safe. I don’t want to sound like I’m not grateful for the blessings I’ve had.”

  “I don’t think you sound ungrateful. Maybe you could take the kids swimming. They’re setting up stations in the conference room where people who lost all of their clothes can get some more. I don’t think they have swimsuits, but you could get some t-shirts and shorts.”

  “That’s a good idea. I think it would lift everyone’s spirits. Thank goodness for the indoor pool.”

  “Come find me later when it’s time to eat. I think Kane said they’d be serving meals in the upstairs restaurant.”

  As Louisa and her kids got up to leave, Starla noticed the elderly couple she’d talked to before. They were outside the front windows taking pictures of some of the wreckage with a digital camera.

  Starla wondered if they’d bought a new one or if it was the one they’d reported stolen.

  Later that night, there was a knock on Starla’s room door. It was Annabeth, and she was in tears. The normally sharply dressed bar manager was also looking bedraggled in old clothing that was at least two sizes too big.

  Starla realized that just abou
t everyone must have lost most of their clothing in the flooding. She made a mental note to call Juniper and see if the witch community could pull together some more clothing for the islanders. She wondered why she hadn’t heard from Juniper.

  “I tried to call you, but the phone lines are too busy. It’s almost impossible to get a call through. So, I decided to come talk to you in person,” Annabeth said and answered Starla’s question.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked and stepped back so that Annabeth could step into the room. Once Ann was inside, Starla closed the door behind them.

  “The Blue Saloon is pretty much gone. The storm hit it hard,” Annabeth said with another sniffle. “The owner isn’t interested in rebuilding. He’s taking the insurance payout and cashing in.”

  Starla pulled her former manager into a hug. She liked bartending, but it wasn’t the end of the world if she had to find another job. The Grand Coven would most likely make arrangements for her. Annabeth needed her job, and she didn’t have a powerful organization of witches in her corner.

  “I’m so sorry, Annabeth,” Starla said. “I know how much you liked that place.”

  “It’s okay. One of the other bars in town had been trying to recruit me for a while, but I wouldn’t leave the Blue Saloon. I guess I don’t have to worry about that now. I’ll have a full-time job, even during the rebuilding process,” she said after they let go of the hug. “I know you need a job too, so I asked. They said once they’re open again, I can squeeze you in when people call off or need to take extra personal days. I couldn’t get you a regular position. I’m so sorry, Starla. I’ll help you find something else. Some people will leave the island after this. There will have to be an opening.”

  “Don’t worry about me,” Starla said. “I’ll figure something out. I’m just glad you’re not out of a job.”

  When Annabeth left, Starla racked her brain about what she could do. Not having a job would mean she’d have more time to help Kane with the cleanup and rebuilding efforts, but what then?

  Chapter Eight

  Stone Church

  Five Years Before…

  Pots boiled on the stove, and Starla hummed an ancient tune. She’d put on her best ceremonial robe for the occasion, and the doorbell rang to announce Juniper’s arrival.

  Starla pulled up the hem of her floor-length mulberry robe and hurried to the foyer. When she pulled the heavy oak door open, Juniper stood there with two more buckets of wax.

  “What colors did you bring?” Starla asked excitedly.

  “Pink and black. We can never have enough black, and Valentine’s Day is coming up, so I figured we’d be doing a few love spells for cash.” Juniper said and stepped through the doorway.

  “We are not doing love spells for cash,” Starla said with a laugh. “Absolutely not. You know what they say about doing magic for personal gain.”

  “Yeah, that it can make you a lot of money. Don’t be such a prude, Starla.”

  “We’ll talk about it later. We’ve got a lot of work to do.” Starla took the bucket of black wax from her friend. “Oh isn’t this fun? It feels like being a kid on craft day at summer camp.”

  “Are we just doing the straight ceremonial candles today, or did you get all that stuff to do your special candles too?” Juniper asked.

  “I’ve got feathers, rhinestones, glitter, and a variety of scents we can use alone or mix and match. Oh, and I got some glass jars so we can layer the different colors of wax too. We’re doing twice as many this year since we sold out in a day last year.”

  Every year, Starla and Juniper took one day to make all the ceremonial candles they’d need for the coming year’s magic. It was one of Starla’s favorite days.

  The last year, Starla had decided to make a bunch of specialty candles as well. She and Juniper had set up a table out in front of the house, and they’d sold them all within a few hours.

  That year, they’d sell twice as many candles in half the time. They continued the tradition every year until Starla went to live in Clownfish Cay.

  Some of the other witches in Stone Church thought Starla and Juniper were nuts for making their own. Basic candles weren’t expensive, but they were time-consuming and messy to make.

  Starla and Juniper wanted to know exactly what went into their magical tools, though. They’d spent a huge chunk of their lives perfecting their magic, and they weren’t about to let weird energy from store-bought candles dampen the effects of their spells.

  They were so good that even the Grand Coven used their candles for their most important celebrations and rituals. It never once occurred to Starla to make her special candles more than once per year.

  Well, never is a long time. It took five years and a hurricane.

  Present Day

  One thing the island did still have was internet access. Instead of waiting for the phone lines to work again, Starla decided to email Juniper and ask about the clothing. She also asked about some wax and other supplies.

  Why get another job when she could work for herself?

  Her idea was to start making candles again. She could make some of the kind she used to make with crystals and other fancy embellishments, but her new idea was to make cocktail candles.

  Starla would make tropical drink scented candles right in the glasses they were served in, and she could sell them as souvenirs to the tourists. Clownfish Cay would open back up to the cruise ships as soon as the tourist areas of town were cleaned up, and based on the amount of support the corporations had sent, they wanted the ports opened fast.

  Perhaps she and Blossom could go into business together. Blossom wanted to open a gift shop, and if she’d sell Starla’s candles, there wouldn’t be much need for a roadside stand in front of her house.

  Her house.

  Starla hadn’t been there yet. She kept telling herself it was because there were more important things, but deep down inside, it was because she knew she wasn’t ready to face the loss of her second home in less than a year.

  It also hurt her heart that she couldn’t make everything right again. If she had her magic, Starla could fix it all overnight. The island could be back to normal the next day. She could use her magic to find the stolen items too, and then Louisa could get her job back.

  “I think if you find the nautilus, you can put it all back together,” Presto said and jumped onto the hotel bed.

  “How am I supposed to do that?” she asked. “How do we even know it wasn’t washed out to sea in the storm?”

  “Unfortunately, I think you have to find it either way,” Presto said.

  “Hey, wait a minute. Why are you talking again? Were you really gone? Or were you just torturing me?”

  “Starla, I wouldn’t do that to you. I don’t know how I managed to come back. I went somewhere that was here, but also far away. It’s hard to explain unless you’ve experienced it. It was like being in a hole watching everything happen above you,” he said. “But something shifted, and I lifted back up to the surface. It’s like some of the magic is seeping back in. Don’t you feel it?”

  “I do, and I’ve even been able to use some magic. I don’t have my full powers back, though. I wish I did. Blossom and I could do so much if we had our magic.”

  “Orion Kane could help too. If he knew what he was, the three of you could do a lot.”

  “The Power of Three.” I said.

  “Yeah, and if you had me. Like, the real me and not a cat me, we could call the corners.”

  “Presto, are you trying to start a coven with me?”

  “Only if you get me out of here,” he said, and Starla swore he chuckled.

  Chapter Nine

  The next day, Starla helped Kane out with running the cleanup operations again. She wanted to be solving the thefts, finding the nautilus, and figuring out why the island had eaten her magic, but there were people suffering. There was work to be done.

  When she arrived back at the resort after a hard day’s work, she found Holden waiting for he
r in the lobby. He was dressed in a finely tailored navy blue suit, and Starla couldn’t help but think that he looked really out of place amongst the wreckage of the island and all the dirty people. Everyone was trying to keep clean, but the mud and lack of clothes made it nearly impossible.

  But there was Holden, looking like he’d stepped out of a cologne commercial. He also had a white box in his hands.

  “Hello, Starla,” he said when she approached him.

  “You’re a sight for sore eyes,” she said. “What gives?”

  “I want to take you to dinner. You’ve been doing so much for this island. I think someone should pamper you a little,” he said.

  “Take me to dinner where? None of the restaurants are open yet.”

  “Well, the food won’t be anything particularly special, but I’ve arranged to have tonight’s dinner delivered to my suite. It’s the best I could do on short notice.”

  “You’re dressed so well. I’m afraid all I have to wear is two pairs of muddy blue jeans and three oversized t-shirts.”

  “That’s where this comes in,” Holden said and handed Starla the box.

  “What is it?”

  “The stockroom for the resort gift shop wasn’t completely destroyed. Some of the cocktail dresses and shoes survived. I thought you might like to get dressed up. Thought maybe it would make you feel better.”

  It was a sweet thought, but Starla couldn’t shake the feeling that it was the total opposite of what would make her feel better. She wanted to throw on some clean sweats and sit on a sofa eating pizza and watching movies. That would have made her feel more human, but she figured that she would give Holden’s idea a try. She’d learned a lot about herself since she’d arrived on the island.

  “Thank you,” Starla said and took the box.

  “Can you meet me upstairs in an hour?”

  “Sure,” she said with a smile. “It sounds like fun.”

  When Starla got up to her room, she opened the box and let out a huge sigh. The dress was beautiful, but it was pink. It was baby pink, short, and covered in Swarovski crystals. There was a matching pair of high heels encrusted with the same pale pink crystals.