Royal Witch Curse

by Zoe Arden

  I looked up at him. His mouth hung open.

  "You did this to me?" he asked.

  "I thought I was doing it to the killer."

  "What are you talking about? You think I killed Bisnunk?"

  "I don't know what to think. You haven't been here to tell me. I've got a million questions and no answers."

  "Ava," he said, slipping one arm around my waist. He pulled me close, and I could feel the warmth of his breath on my face. "I've never killed a goblin in my life. In fact, that goes against everything that I stand for. Everything that I've been working toward these last months."

  "What do you mean?"

  "I mean, the whole reason I went undercover to begin with was to save the goblins, not destroy them."

  "You know where Zulubar is, don't you?"

  "Yes, I've been protecting him and Kyrab since some goblin hunters tried to kill them."

  "Goblin hunters?" My eyes widened.

  "Goblin hunting is a cruel, illegal practice, but it hasn't stopped some people from enjoying it."

  "I've heard about goblin hunters before, but what does that have to do with Zulubar's disappearance?"

  "Someone put a bounty on Zulubar's head." He paused. "Not just Zulubar, Kyrab, too."

  "A bounty? You mean someone was paying to have them murdered?"

  He nodded.

  "Every goblin hunter in the world was after them. Most of them were amateurs and easy to stop. But there were a couple, Robbie and David, who were experts." He drew in a deep breath. "I met them in Bulgaria. They had a plan to get Zulubar and Kyrab long before I came along. They planned to kill them in Goblin Territory, thinking it would be easier to get them on their home turf because they'd feel safer there so would be less likely to pay attention to the land around them."

  "Poor Zulubar," I said. "To be ambushed in your own home..." I couldn't think of anything worse.

  "It took me months to bond with David and Robbie." Colt was staring off into the distance now, remembering a time from his recent past. "I finally managed to gain their trust, and they told me their plan just a couple days before it was to go into effect. They told me I could join them if I wanted."

  He let out a long sigh, and his shoulders slumped forward.

  "They almost died that night," he said. "I almost missed my opportunity to save them."

  "But you didn't," I said. "They're safe, right?" I could tell from the way he was talking that they were.

  "Yes, but they won't always be. Not unless I can figure out who put the bounty on their heads to begin with."

  "Do you have any ideas?"

  "A few, but so far none of them have panned out."

  "So, that night in the forest, with Bisnunk..."

  "Bisnunk was on my list of suspects. I knew he'd seen Zulubar and Kyrab that night when they were getting chased, and I thought that maybe if he'd been the one to place the bounty, he'd wanted to see his plan carried out."

  "You mean, you thought he went outside to watch them die." It was a horrifying thought.

  "It crossed my mind, yes."

  "You didn't kill Bisnunk, then," I said, "did you?" My voice rose in a high squeak, and I felt my cheeks flush.

  "No. I didn't."

  "Did you see who did?"

  "No. Whoever it was was tossing you around, about to rip your head off. I didn't get a good look at them, I was too far away, but I was able to shoot a spell at them and get them off you. I ran after them, but then I got hit with a spell myself."

  I bit my bottom lip. "Sorry about that."

  He chuckled. "Don't be. I'm happy to know you can take care of yourself. At the time, though, I thought it was the killer who'd struck me. I thought the mark on my hand was some sort of warning."

  "Not so much a warning," I said, "as a way to find you." I shrugged. "I thought you were the killer. I was trying to leave a way to track you down."

  He smiled at me. "Well, it worked. You figured out that I was there that night. What else have you figured out?"

  "How about what I haven't figured out?" I asked. "Like what Melbourne and Dr. Dunne have to do with this."

  "After Zulubar and Kyrab were attacked, I wanted to make sure they were okay. I couldn't bring them to one of their own doctors; I didn't know who we could trust."

  "So, you got Melbourne to help you escort them to Dr. Dunne," I said.

  "Yes. I had to take care of the hunters who'd nearly killed them. I called Melbourne because I knew I could trust him. I also knew he was strong. If someone else tried to attack them that night, I knew that Melbourne would be able to handle himself."

  "What happened to the hunters?" I asked.

  "Let's just say that they'll never see the light of day again."

  "In other words, you handed them over to Dean."

  "I had to. They deserve whatever he's given them, too. If they'd succeeded in taking out Zulubar, the entire goblin species would be in jeopardy."

  "Maybe not," I said. "What about Sheriff Knoxx?"

  "What about him?"

  I looked at him a moment. "You don't know. Do you?"

  "Know what?"

  "Sheriff Knoxx is royalty." I explained about the letter that Eleanor had discovered and Sheriff Knoxx's own admission to being next in line for the royal throne. Colt's eyes widened at this news. "I'm surprised you didn't already know," I told him.

  "Me, too," he said.

  "How does this fit in with everything?" I asked him.

  He opened his mouth to say something and an arrow sailed past his head, missing him by no more than an inch.

  His eyes widened. "Run!" he shouted then grabbed me and pushed me down the sidewalk as a second arrow whizzed past us.

  * * *

  CHAPTER

  TWENTY-SEVEN

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  I slammed the door to Mystic behind me and locked it. I was panting.

  "Ava?" my dad asked. He was standing behind the counter looking at me with concern. Trixie and Eleanor stopped what they were doing and looked at me, too.

  My dad hurried over to me. "What's wrong?"

  "Someone's shooting at me," I said, still panting.

  "Shooting at you?" Eleanor yelled, dropping her bowl of frosting. It plopped to the floor and left globs of chocolate everywhere like thick pudding.

  "With arrows. Colt was with me, but we got separated." I bit my bottom lip and hoped he was okay. At least I knew he could take care of himself. He'd been trained well in COMHA for circumstances just like this one.

  "Who's shooting at you?" Eleanor turned to face the back room. "Zane!" she shouted. "Come quickly! Ava's been shot at!"

  Sheriff Knoxx appeared from the back room in an instant. He had a peanut butter dream bar in one hand and his gun in the other. I almost laughed but thought better of it.

  "What's happening?" he shouted, looking at me. "Who's shooting at you?"

  "I don't know," I told him. "Colt and I were talking and all of a sudden an arrow whizzed by his head. We started to run, and the shooter chased us. I managed to get away, but only because Colt led him down a separate alley." I gulped. "He probably saved my life."

  My dad put his arms around me, drawing me into a hug. It felt safe in his arms, and I wished I could stay here. It was easier than facing the world.

  I looked at the sheriff, suddenly realizing I was forgetting something important. "Sheriff Knoxx," I said.

  Trixie was standing by the window. She cut me off with her next words. "Perx is coming. He looks like he has some people with him."

  "Guards?" I asked. I pulled away from my father and went to look out the window. Trixie was right. Perx was coming down the sidewalk with three guards walking right along behind him. I turned to Sheriff Knoxx. "Hide."

  He looked blankly back at me.

  "Hide," I repeated.

  "Why? "he asked.

  "There's no time to explain, just do it. I'll tel
l you later."

  Eleanor was watching me. She must've sensed the urgency in my voice even if the sheriff didn't. "Zane, do as she says. Into the back room with you, now."

  He took one last look at me, but did as Eleanor and I said and disappeared into the back room just as Perx and his men knocked on the door to the bakery.

  "Open up," he said. He was standing right on the other side of the door and could see me plain as day. I had no choice; I had to open up.

  "Why is this door locked in the middle of the day?" Perx demanded.

  I looked around me for help.

  "Because," Trixie said, "we were tired and wanted a nap."

  Perx did not look convinced. "Where is Sheriff Knoxx?"

  "I don't know," I said. "Have you checked the sheriff's station?"

  "We just came from there. His deputy informed me he was here visiting with his wife." He looked directly at Eleanor. "Where is your husband?"

  She shrugged. "I can never keep track of that man."

  "You know," said my dad, "he said something to me earlier about going to Mistmoor Point today. Maybe you should try there."

  "That's right," said Trixie. "Now I remember, too. He told me the same thing."

  "Oh, yes," said Eleanor. "I'd forgotten. Mistmoor Point, that's right. He was going there for some... fudge."

  "Fudge?" asked Perx.

  "That's right," I told him. "Sheriff Knoxx loves fudge."

  "Can he not get fudge here?" Perx asked skeptically.

  "The Mystic Cupcake is a bakery, not a candy shop," I said.

  "And have you no candy shops in Sweetland Cove which he might have gone to for this alleged fudge?" Perx asked.

  "Not any good ones," my dad said.

  Perx's eyes shifted slowly from one to the other of us. "Something tells me you're all lying."

  "You have no reason to think that," said Eleanor.

  "Perhaps I should bring you back to Goblin Territory with me. A night in one of our cells might change your mind."

  "Now you hold it right there," said my dad. "You have no right to come in here and just arrest people for no reason."

  "I have a reason. You are preventing me from arresting a traitor to our community. An assassin."

  "Who?" screeched Eleanor? "You don't mean Zane?"

  He looked at me. "Have you not told them?"

  I shook my head. "I only just got here. I haven't had a chance."

  "What's he talking about, Ava?" Eleanor asked me. Her bottom lip was sticking out in a pout.

  Perx turned to Eleanor. "Sheriff Knoxx is wanted for the murder of King Zulubar and his mistress, Kyrab."

  The faces of my aunts and father were like nothing I'd seen before. Shock, dismay, and anger happened all at once. They began talking over each other.

  "You can't be serious," said Eleanor.

  "Have you lost your mind?" said Trixie.

  "It's a bad joke," said my dad.

  While they were arguing with Perx, Perx signaled to his guards, who stepped forward and raised something at us that appeared to be some sort of a club.

  "Arrest them all," Perx said. His guards started for us. Trixie screamed.

  The back door opened, and Sheriff Knoxx stepped out. "Wait!"

  Perx smiled. "Sheriff Knoxx, surprising to see you here since I was informed you were not on the premises."

  "I came in through the back," he said. "They had no idea I was here."

  "Of course, they didn't," Perx said snidely. "Well, since you're here now and you're the one we want anyway, I suppose I can arrest you and let the others go."

  "No!" Eleanor screamed. She threw her arms around Sheriff Knoxx and hugged him as if his life depended on it. Slowly, he pulled her arms away and gave her a kiss. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

  "I'll be fine," he said.

  "I can't let them take you," she said.

  "You can, and you will," he said. "As Sheriff of Sweetland Cove, consider that an order."

  He looked at me. "Ava, if you can find Colt, tell him what's happened. Just don't let Eleanor do anything stupid."

  "I won't," I promised.

  Perx signaled to his guards, who placed Sheriff Knoxx in handcuffs and took him away.

  * * *

  CHAPTER

  TWENTY-EIGHT

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  I waited outside Perx's office with Eleanor. Trixie had gone to see Melbourne; my dad had gone to see Russell. Each was hoping the other might be able to help. The palace guards had let me and Eleanor in, but only because Perx left orders that they should. Apparently, he'd expected our arrival. I was just grateful that he wasn't trying to keep us out. Though I'd be even more grateful if he'd let Sheriff Knoxx go.

  Eleanor paced the stone floor, wearing a path in it. "What do you think they're doing to him?" Her eyes were wide and watery.

  "I don't know," I said, answering honestly.

  "Do you think they're hurting him?"

  I shook my head. "I doubt it. They wouldn't want to hurt him if they really thought he'd killed Zulubar. At least not yet, I mean. They'd want to know what he did with the body first. Wouldn't they?"

  Eleanor shrugged. "I have no idea. Zane has always disliked dealing with the goblins. Now I understand why."

  "He'll be okay," I said, trying to assure her. She didn't look like she was buying it. If my dad were here, he might have been able to do a better job. He always seemed to know the right thing to say. Sometimes I wished I could be more like him.

  Finally, the door to Perx's office opened. "Come in," he shouted.

  We went inside and found him seated behind his desk. I looked at the door, then back at him. There was no one else in the room with him. He had made the door open from behind his desk. It was a neat trick, though I don't know why I found it so surprising. Even witches and warlocks could make doors open without touching a knob when they wanted to.

  "What have you done with my husband?" Eleanor cried. Her red-rimmed eyes bore into him with hatred.

  "He is in our prison. He will be tried and convicted and then executed."

  I tilted my head to the side. "How do you know he'll be convicted?"

  "Because I have already convicted him," Perx said.

  My mouth dropped open along with Eleanor's.

  "But you just said he would face trial," Eleanor said. Her voice was shaky, and she was breathing hard.

  "Forgive me. I meant to say that he has already faced trial."

  Eleanor and I stared at Perx, not knowing what to make of his statement.

  "How could he have stood trial already?" I asked. "You just arrested him like two hours ago."

  "In the goblin community," Perx said, "trials take no more than ten to fifteen minutes."

  I looked at Eleanor, who for once appeared at a loss for words. So, I supplied them for her.

  "What kind of ridiculous hogwash is that?" I yelled. "Who tried him?"

  "I did, of course."

  "You?" Eleanor asked. "Don't you have judges for that sort of thing?"

  "I am the castle's head guard. I am the one in charge of trying and convicting all prisoners."

  "Is there no one we can speak with who might be able to overturn your verdict?" I asked, trying to be reasonable.

  "Of course," said Perx. "King Zulubar."

  I sighed, exasperated. "Someone who's not missing."

  "It's not my fault the king's dead," said Perx. "That's the fault of the man who murdered him."

  "No one's found a body," said Eleanor. "How can you convict someone of murder without a body?"

  "It was easy," Perx said. "The evidence all points to it. He will be executed in the morning."

  "The morning?" Eleanor cried. She looked as though she might faint.

  "Perx," I said, a new idea hitting me. "I spoke to Detective Colt Hudson, from COMHA."

  "I know of Detective Hudson," he said. "He is your fiancé. He is al
so one of the best agents at COMHA, from what I hear."

  "Yes, and he told me himself that Sheriff Knoxx is no threat to Zulubar. In fact, he told me that Zulubar and Kyrab are both still alive and under his protection."

  Perx's eyes widened. "Under his protection?"

  "That's right."

  "If this is true, then where are they?"

  I bit my bottom lip. I'd probably already said far more than I should have regarding Colt's protective duties, but I had to do something to save the sheriff.

  "I don't know. Not precisely. But I do know that they're safe and very much alive."

  I could see Perx thinking. He shook his head.

  "I'm sorry, but I cannot take just your word for it. Sheriff Knoxx is your uncle and your friend. You would say anything to save his life."

  "If you kill him, and you're wrong, you'll be killing royalty," I said.

  "Yes!'" Eleanor said, her eyes brightening. "And if Zulubar is dead as you say—"

  "And you kill the last of the royal lineage," I added.

  "—then you'll be responsible for the death of your species," Eleanor finished.

  He looked at us, suddenly uncertain. "That had somehow not occurred to me."

  He pressed his fingers together.

  "I have already asked our wisest doctors, scientists, and philosophers to begin working on a plan that might reverse our fate. I am confident they will be able to figure out a way for our species to continue."

  "But no goblin has been able to come up with a way before, isn't that right?" I asked Perx.

  "That is correct. But we have always had royalty available to us before. Now that we don't, our doctors will be forced to provide a solution."

  "But what if you're wrong?" I asked. "What if your doctors and philosophers and scientists plan something but their plan fails? What if they can't come up with anything which might save your people?"