Runes and Roller Skates

by Amanda A. Allen

  Harper paused and then ate a huge bite of the cheesecake, stealing Scarlett’s coffee to chase it all down.

  “Oh my,” Harper cursed and placed a hand on her chest, “I was terrified for a second there. How old is the sister?”

  Scarlett glanced over, feeling sick and said, “11.”

  Harper cursed again. “Where’s Ella?”

  “She’s at the house with Mom. I was thinking of taking Luna and the pets up there for a few days. Ella needs some time with the grove.”

  “She saw what happened?”

  “Just the body,” Scarlett said as if it were somehow better. It was of course, but it didn’t stop the satisfaction Scarlett felt in Harper’s slew of curses. She kept at it until Gram threatened to wash her mouth out with soap.

  “What do we know?” Harper said after downing even more coffee to stop the cursing.

  Scarlett explained that they’d only talked to the boyfriend so far, but he didn’t seem like a very likely choice.

  “He’s a buffoon,” Scarlett said when Harper asked if they were sure. “But his sadness isn’t faked. He was…sneaky about something, but I don’t think it was him killing her. And I’m sure he’s worried about the kid.”

  “She worked for old man Day? Never liked him,” Harper said as if she hadn’t once broken into the man’s house and stolen all his cash. He was the type of man who had a safe full of it. Harper was the type of girl to take all of it. Brad, Jimmy Day’s son, had been mean to Scarlett. Harper had exacted vengeance. “I vote for Day as having killed Bridget.”

  Scarlett’s brows rose and she said, “I’ll be leaving that interview to Lex.”

  “What is up with Lex being sheriff, huh? I wouldn’t have thought that Wally would hire Lex.”

  “No one else applied,” Mr. Throdmore said, rubbing his hand over his bald head. “Except the kid who checks the parking meters.”

  Harper cackled at that and then turned to Scarlett saying, “So how are we gonna find this kid?”

  Scarlett shook her head and then said, “I think she might be a druid.”

  “Oh,” Harper paused and then said, “And she doesn’t know what she is? Like me?”

  Scarlett nodded.

  “Then I have some ideas.”

  * * * * *

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Gram asked as Scarlett struggled to open the back door of the bakery with a birdcage under one arm and a cat transport at her feet.

  Scarlett’s exasperated look got Mr. Jueavas rising to cross from the seating area of the bakery, through the kitchens, and opening the back door.

  “I’m going to take Luna and the animals to Oaken house.”

  “And then?” Gram asked. Her gaze stated that she knew Scarlett too well to fall for any half-truths.

  Scarlett let out a piercing whistle for her massive dog, Max and said, “I feel bound and called, Gram. I’m going to try to find Maeve.”

  “You should have the Circle help you.”

  “I need to be out there. I need to find her.”

  “I’m coming,” Gram said. Her group of friends nodded and started muttering together.

  “I don’t have room for you and Luna and Ella’s things, the animals, Harper, and myself.” Thank goodness, Scarlett thought, count your blessings.

  “That’s all right. We have transport.”

  Scarlett’s eyes closed and she fought the desire to tell them no. The truth was—she couldn’t shake them. In fact, she probably couldn’t shake them at all, and the attempt would cost her.

  “Gram,” Scarlett said, glancing beyond her to Mr. Throdmore, Mr. Jueavas, and Henna who were all gathering up their things. “You gotta keep up.”

  “We’ll be fine,” Gram snapped.

  Scarlett was pretty sure she would which made it all the more frustrating. Gram might be in her retirement, but she was active and full of vinegar.

  Scarlett simply nodded, picked up the cat carrier, and headed to the car saying, “Heel.”

  Max followed without delay, so at least there was one creature in Scarlett’s life who cared what she wanted. The fact that he was a shaggy, over-sized dog didn’t matter, she told herself as she loaded the back of the SUV. She had the bags she’d thrown together for her girls, a box of random toys, so her mom didn’t disown her, and by the time she was done, Harper was opening the door for Luna.

  “Mommy,” Luna said, “Do you think Nana will let us have ice cream for dinner?”

  “Oh, of course,” Scarlett said holding back an evil snicker.

  “Do you think that she’ll let us have a campout in the grove?”

  Scarlett shrugged, but Harper was even crueler. “For sure. If she doesn’t, Cousin Marta will sleep out there with you.”

  That reminded Scarlett that she’d said Harper would have a sleepover with the girls. Scarlett was forced to rearrange the back of the SUV before Harper met her gaze and realized that something was up.

  Scarlett started towards the countryside where the Oaken property was, slowing as she passed the police station. Gus and Lex were standing outside arguing. She was deliberately obvious and gave them both her mom-eye. Gus had seen it often enough, but Lex shrugged that arrogant shrug and winked at her in a way that said he’d have given her a good look-over if she were a little more visible.

  Gram honked from just behind, and Scarlett sighed as she rolled the window back up.

  “It wouldn’t have worked anyway,” Harper said idly.

  “What wouldn’t have?”

  “Trying to sic mom on them. Gram is impervious to Mom and Aunt Briët.”

  Scarlett stretched out her neck, hoping the rising stress would settle somewhere other than her back and neck. She doubted she’d be so lucky

  “Mommy,” Luna said from the back seat. “Piper is lonely and the kitties are being mean to her. She needs a bird friend.”

  “No,” Scarlett said immediately.

  “But she needs a friend.”

  “She has you.”

  “But…”

  “No.”

  “Please?”

  “No.”

  “Pleeeeaassseeeeee?”

  Scarlett turned up the radio in the car as an answer and glanced at Harper who was staring.

  “What?”

  “How do you do that?”

  “Do what?”

  “Just say no.”

  Scarlett’s infuriated look at Harper was enough to have her sister flicking her hair over her shoulder to hide the recognition that she’d lost a battle of wills to a kid.

  “Say it with me,” Scarlett ordered, “Nooooo.”

  But Harper didn’t. She shook her head and said, “I think I’m just better at being an aunt.”

  “You’re a punk.”

  “I’ll buy the birdseed.”

  “Birds need fruit and seed and greens. They need their cage cleaned daily, and they need specialized cookware in the house, so you don’t kill them.”

  Harper’s surprised glance was enough to send Scarlett into a level of frustration that was hard to describe. She was already overwhelmed. She worked from morning to evening and fell asleep exhausted thinking of all the things she needed to do. Harper had just added another creature--with their poop, their need for food, their need for care and love. The last thing Scarlett needed was something more to take care of.

  And yet, there was no doubt in her mind that eventually Harper and Luna would bring home more birds or a rodent or perhaps a reptile. Reptiles were NOT welcome. Added to the frustration was the fact that Luna hit up Harper when Scarlett wasn’t around, and her sister didn’t have the capacity to say no.

  What was worse was the vague feeling that Scarlett was weak. That she should be able to take it all on. That somehow the divorce which she was still getting over, and being a single parent, and running the bakery, and needing to fix up the empty apartments wasn’t too much.

  That vague feeling had nothing to do with the endless to-do list or the way she woke feeling
behind and went to bed feeling even more behind than in the morning. Another to-do, another care, another pile of poop. She just couldn’t. But it was too late now. Luna was in love, and it glowed from her showering the little light green creature with magic. The bond was already unbreakable without damaging her baby. It certainly didn’t help that the little con-woman could talk to animals.

  “How does Max feel about all these extra animals?”

  Luna considered for a moment and then she shrugged. Scarlett bet that meant the Max longed for the day when it was just him and Luna curled up in her bed together. Certainly, Max wanted the devoted attention of his tiny mistress to himself. He probably ached for day he could sit, tongue-lolling, next to her and bask in her presence.

  “It is important to remember,” Scarlett told Luna, “That you are their Mommy. Can you give them the love they need? Can you brush them all properly? Can you…”

  “Ok, Mommy,” Luna said with enough sneer to make Scarlett regret the loss of her sweet little baby. It wouldn’t be long before Luna was throwing down the, I Hate You. And perhaps a couple more years beyond that before Luna, like Ella, would doubt everything Scarlett had to say. There was something about starting school that turned your precious angel into a smart-mouthed demon.

  She could only imagine how bad the high school years were going to be. She loved her daughter more than her life, and she was terrified of the teenage version of them already.

  “I need you to be good for Nana,” Scarlett said, referring to her Mother. “But you can feel free to be extra-naughty for Gram.”

  “She’s gonna kill you,” Harper said.

  Scarlett grinned wickedly and winked at her daughter through the rearview mirror.

  “I have a present for Gram,” Luna said in her sweet piping voice. “Harper bought it with me today. Gram likes me best because I bring her presents.”

  When they reached the Oaken property, Scarlett immediately sensed the druid magic being worked at the grove and rather than parking in her usual spot, she pulled off the long gravel drive alongside where the magic seemed at its height. Reaching back to open the bird cage and cat carrier, Scarlett released the animals out of the car. They bounded ahead while she wove through the trees letting her fingers trail against the trunks and saying hello to old friends.

  Ella and Scarlett’s mother, Maye, were not at the center of the grove, but they were in a little opening in the grove where the shadows were lengthening, and the dimming light of the sun was further obscured by the line of trees in this part of the grove. The trees blocked the setting sun, and the moon magic was stronger here than it would have been elsewhere in the grove. magic was in the air, tickling her nose, and swirling around her ankles as she crossed through the trees.

  Druids were many things, but perhaps the most layman term that could apply to them was nature witches. They could commune with animals, with plants, even with the wind. Scarlett, like her grandmother, and her youngest daughter was friends with the east wind. Ella and Maye, Scarlett’s Mother, were both particularly drawn to trees, and Harper, half-Warlock and half-Druid, was particularly talented when it came to moonlight. But, of course, both Warlocks and Druids were drawn to the moon in all of her guises, so that made particular sense for Harper.

  The peace of the grove was especially thick as they approached Ella and Maye. Serenity promoted by magic, the constantly changing seasons, the surety of the moon. It felt a lot like a safe room made of trees, wind, and light. Scarlett glanced around and said, “If you were a druid child on the run…”

  “…you’d find a grove,” Harper finished.

  “She should be safe enough in a grove,” Scarlett said, doubting her statement.

  “It depends on who is after her.”

  “The hunt is in the air,” Scarlett admitted as she pushed her hair back, and then in an absent-minded move of thousands of mothers, she wound it up into a knot on top of her head.

  “Like a cougar stalking a rabbit.” Harper agreed.

  “Perhaps our little foundling is as capable of protecting herself.” Scarlett didn’t sound confident and that was as concerning to herself as the skeptical look on her sister’s face.

  Harper didn’t say anything. There was something very fatalistic about Harper. She didn’t have it in herself to feel much for the random individual. Her distance came from being passed through home after home in foster care. She had been the little lost supernatural child. To too many, Harper still was that lost little kid. She got sympathy she didn’t want and babying that antagonized her. She got excuses she didn’t feel she deserved. Yet, it was because of Harper that towns like Mystic Cove kept a closer eye on the foster care system in general. Harper had been lost too long among humans who couldn’t help her, and in Scarlett’s eyes, her sister had deserved better, and her community must do better.

  “You don’t think so?” Scarlett glanced at Harper and then back to where Luna was nestling into the grass next to Maye. Luna laid her head on Maye’s shoulder with Max laying along her entire body. The kittens weaseled themselves in around Luna’s body, and the bird settled in the hollow of Luna’s neck.

  “No,” Harper said. “She’s a druid kid, and this is Mystic Cove. If someone is after her, they’re going to be a supernatural creature. She’s on her own—she’s a sitting duck. Druids are barely more powerful than a normal human. Especially untrained.”

  Scarlett sighed and then said, “Where would you have gone?”

  “Somewhere out of the way with access to what I needed.”

  “Like?”

  Harper’s sarcastic glance was enough to answer it for Scarlett. Food, water. Possibly bathrooms. But if they let it be known they were looking for a lost kid, whoever was after Maeve—if anyone was—would know to look for her. If whoever killed Bridget didn’t know about Maeve, she’d be better off scraping out an existence while Harper and Scarlett searched for her. But there was that sense in the air…the hunting sense that didn’t come from Scarlett and Harper. It was the one that would tell every druid paying attention that the circle of life was at play.

  “Someone is after that kid,” Harper said with a knife’s edge in her voice. The one that said she was going to find that little girl and whoever got in her way would regret their life’s choice.

  “Yes,” Scarlett said, her tone holding the same threat. Their gazes met, and they crossed to their sweet mother who had a little girl on either side of her. The family pets, including Maye’s, were curled into the warmth of their human’s bodies while wild creatures littered the outer circle, communing. They were healing Ella together for what she’d seen of Bridget’s body, and in a few days, the impact of poor Bridget’s body would be a distant memory.

  “We’re going to stock up on ice cream,” Scarlett said to her girls, promising herself to make it not-a-lie.

  “And to run some other random errands,” Harper added casually.

  “That baby squirrel over there is orphaned,” Luna said, sitting up and raining kittens. “Her name is Chitters, and she’s hungry.”

  “No, I don’t want to hear more,” Scarlett said quickly. “No.”

  Maye replied for Luna as Scarlett’s mom said, “You’ve lost already love. You lost the moment the squirrel gave Luna her name.”

  Harper’s cackle chased Scarlett back to the SUV where a 1960s oversized sedan was waiting with 4 retirees. Harper’s cackle cut off, the look she shot Scarlett was as agonized as Scarlett’s.

  Chapter 6

  Scarlett drove slowly through Mystic Cove going down Arbor Avenue and then up the next street with her druidic senses running. She passed Gus’s house on her third pass from North to South and saw him outside. She pulled to a stop in the middle of the road, motioning him over. All he’d be able to do was drive, but his presence made her feel better, and she was so sad.

  He took in the car behind them and then Harper and Scarlett with the sedan full of Gram and her friends.

  “Would you drive?”

&nbs
p; He nodded and got into the car without asking a single question. She and Harper climbed into the back of the car and held hands with their eyes closed.

  “Drive slow,” Harper said in a voice that wasn’t quite her own.

  “Hit as many groves as you know,” Scarlett added in a deep, morning murmur.

  Scarlett’s mind queued out, connecting first with the trees from Gus’s neighborhood who were old friends, then passed from tree to tree with Maeve in her mind. She felt flashes of recognition, but if any of the trees were connected to Maeve, they weren’t giving her up. The rumble of her old SUV filled her hearing like background noise, and the rustling of the leaves against the branches of the tree was far louder in her ears the anything else she’d heard close by.

  There was a nest of dovekie birds in that tree and another nest in the shadow of a chimney and roof on that building. She wouldn’t have been able to tell anyone where she was in town without opening her eyes, but she could tell you of every mouse trail, every secret path the raccoons knew. She knew where the nests were and the alley cats. She felt the press of animal consciousness after animal consciousness. In unison, she and Harper reached forward and rolled down the windows of the SUV to let the breeze roll over their bodies and ruffle their hair.

  “Nothing,” Harper said as the town came to an end. “But I have some ideas. Let me out.”

  She didn’t even wait for Gus to pull the car to a stop before she was opening the door, and he had to slam on the brakes. They were near the beach again, and at the beginning of the rock bluffs, but a good distance from where Bridget’s body had been found.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’m not sure,” Harper said, still connected with nature. She tapped the pocket where her phone was and went down over the side of the rock bluff. It wasn’t where they’d found the body, but some distance down. If, however, Maeve had left the body and made her way back into town, this was a very likely path.

  “What,” Gram’s snide voice interrupted, “Is that girl doing?”

  Scarlett tried for one of Lex’s arrogant shrugs, but she either did it wrong or Gram was immune.