Dances With Witches (A Hannah Hickok Witchy Mystery Book 5)

by Lily Harper Hart

  Cooper wasn’t convinced, but he knew better than arguing. “Okay. Take your phone. If you run into trouble—”

  “You’ll be the first one I call.”

  IT WAS WITH DETERMINATION THAT HANNAH raced out of Casper Creek. She was gratified that Cooper hadn’t insisted on accompanying her, but he was a pragmatist. Losing Lindsey was not an option. That meant they all had to work together to find the girl.

  Rain threatened the sky, maybe even another storm, but it remained dry for her hike. She kept her eyes peeled as she looked left and right for signs someone had been on the property recently. She came up empty.

  Once at the newly-erected barrier, she paused long enough to look for errant witches and then forced herself to keep moving. She was barely on the other side when Abigail appeared.

  “What are you doing here?” The ghost looked stricken by Hannah’s sudden appearance. “Turn around. You need to go back.”

  Hannah had no intention of doing that. “Lindsey is missing.” There was no sense dragging things out. “She left a note for Boone that she was coming out here to look for Angel, but nobody has seen her.”

  “Lindsey?” Abigail’s expression reflected confusion. “I don’t understand. How did she get out here?”

  “I’m not sure. She has a license. Maybe she took Boone’s personal truck. I forgot to ask.” And, now that she thought about it, Hannah was doubly confused. “Maybe she called an Uber or something.”

  “It’s not safe for a young girl to hop in an Uber.”

  It was a true statement. Given what they were facing on a regular basis in Casper Creek, though, it was also absurd. “We have to find her. If she stays missing ....” Hannah couldn’t finish the sentence.

  “Boone will never get over losing her,” Abigail finished, resigned. “You really shouldn’t be out here, though. Something is ... happening.”

  Intrigued, Hannah waited. When Abigail didn’t expound on the statement, she made a face. “Are you going to tell me what that something is or leave me to go insane?”

  “I don’t know what it is. I just feel ... different. There’s a spark that wasn’t here before. I don’t know where it’s emanating from.”

  “A spark?” The explanation was too vague for Hannah to follow. “I don’t understand what you mean by that.”

  “I don’t understand either. I just know it’s not safe for you to be out here.”

  “I don’t have a choice.” Hannah refused to back down. “I have to find Lindsey. I’m going down to the creek to look.”

  “Stay here. I’ll look for you.”

  “No. I appreciate the offer, but this is my responsibility. Angel was only taken because I suggested she visit in the first place. I can’t just abandon Lindsey to whatever creature is doing this, no matter how stupid her actions were.”

  “I’m not asking you to abandon Lindsey.”

  “Then what are you asking?”

  “For you to take care of yourself.”

  “I have no intention of dying,” Hannah reassured her. “That’s not on my to-do list. I have to do what’s right for Lindsey, though. She’s the priority.”

  Abigail worked her jaw, debating, and then shook her head. “You’re so stubborn.”

  A ghost of a smile played around the corners of Hannah’s lips. “Perhaps I inherited it from you.”

  Abigail returned her granddaughter’s smile, although it was wan. “You do come by it naturally.” Resigned, she held out her hands in defeat. “I’ll go with you, offer whatever help I can. You have to be prepared to run if it’s necessary, though. Promise me.”

  “I promise to protect myself to the best of my ability. I have to find Lindsey, though.”

  “I guess that’s the best I can ask for.”

  They set out together for the creek. Abigail floated rather than walked so the uneven terrain didn’t slow her down. Hannah kept her eyes on the ground so she wouldn’t accidentally trip over a root or rut, only briefly lifting her eyes. When they crested the final hill before they hit their destination, Hannah’s breath caught in her throat. There, standing on the wrong side of the creek, was Stormy ... and she looked intent as she studied something on the ground.

  “What are you doing here?” Hannah blurted out before she thought better of it. The smart thing to do would’ve been to close the distance and make sure Stormy couldn’t lash out with her magic. Once she spoke, though, that opportunity was lost.

  “What?” Stormy jerked up her head, surprise evident on pretty features. “What are you doing here?”

  “Are you kidding? This is my property.”

  “Yeah, but it’s early. What are you doing up so early?”

  It was only then that Hannah noticed Stormy was dressed in the same clothes from the day before. The woman’s hair, always immaculate, was disheveled. The heavy eye makeup she often boasted was smeared under her eyes. “Did you spend the night out here?”

  “I’ve been doing important things,” Stormy replied, squaring her shoulders as she stood. “Don’t worry about what I’ve been doing. Worry about yourself.”

  Suspicion fired in Hannah’s gut but there was no time to question the other witch. She had other things to worry about. “I’m looking for a girl.”

  “Oh, really?” Stormy cocked a sarcastic eyebrow. “And here I thought you were in love with the security douche. I guess you learn something new all the time.”

  Hannah rolled her eyes. “I’m looking for Boone’s daughter. She came out here looking for the other girl, the one from the accident. Have you seen her?”

  “The sheriff’s daughter?” Stormy’s expression was cloudy, as if she was having trouble keeping up with the conversation. “I don’t understand. Why would that girl come out here? Wait ... she’s not magical, is she?”

  “Not last time I checked. Why does that matter?”

  “I was simply curious.” Stormy pursed her dry lips. “I haven’t seen the girl. I’ll be on the lookout for her, though. Is that enough to get you to go away?”

  “No. This is my property. You’re not supposed to be over here.”

  “I don’t see a sign proclaiming it private property.”

  “Here’s your sign,” Hannah snapped, pointing at her dour scowl. “You’re trespassing. Go someplace else.”

  Stormy didn’t make a move to retreat. “Perhaps you should call the police and have them handle the situation. Oh, wait, you can’t. The sheriff’s daughter is missing and he doesn’t care that you’re throwing your weight around regarding property lines.”

  “He might,” Hannah shot back. “Especially since he doesn’t trust you. I mean ... we can’t find his daughter but here you are. He might want to question you over that.”

  “I didn’t take his daughter.”

  “No offense, but you’re not exactly trustworthy. It’s hard for me to take your word on this.”

  “That’s because you’re a suspicious soul. If you were smart, you would embrace your brethren. You’re not smart, though, so you turn your back on us in favor of going it alone. That’s on you, not me.”

  “My brethren?” Hannah found that her temper was ready to explode. “I don’t even know what that’s supposed to mean.”

  “Witches, you moron. You constantly fight with us when we should be your allies.”

  “Why would I ever consider you an ally? You and Astra want to take this place from me even though you have no claim to it.”

  “We don’t want to take it, just share in it. Magic like this shouldn’t belong to one person. It needs to be explored, controlled, and then honed.”

  The convoluted words made no sense to Hannah. Since she had zero patience, she figured there was no sense hanging around and continuing what appeared to be a fruitless conversation. “You’re never going to be a part of the magic here.” Hannah was firm on that. “This place is supposed to be a haven for those who believe in good karma, those who practice white magic. I won’t let evil touch Abigail’s legacy.”

&nbs
p; “Oh, you’re such a Mary Sue.” Stormy’s eyes filled with disgust. “Your grandmother isn’t as innocent as she pretended to be. She wasn’t giving of heart and soul. In fact, she was a liar. She promised Astra a place at her table and then cut her out of the meal entirely. What sort of person does that?”

  Hannah darted a look to her left and found Abigail watching the other witch, a grim set to her jaw. Obviously Stormy couldn’t see her, though, which Hannah found interesting. Abigail had been practicing her abilities and had clearly mastered a new one. If she could control who could see her and when, that would likely play in their favor ... at least eventually.

  “Abigail wanted to share her magic with Astra,” Hannah supplied in an even tone, although it took effort to keep her temper in check. “She wanted to show her a way to goodness. Astra couldn’t see far enough past her own desires, though. She was greedy and wanted to take this place for herself, and don’t bother pretending it was because she had good intentions. That’s not who she is.”

  “Astra has her own goals,” Stormy replied. “She’s not perfect by any means, but at least she doesn’t pretend to be some wide-eyed innocent. When she went after Cooper, it was because she wanted him to be hers. Yes, she wanted to dominate him. She didn’t pretend to be anything she wasn’t, though.

  “You, on the other hand, came in here with a different purpose,” she continued. “You acted as if you had no idea that magic even existed. I mean ... you’re a powerful witch and yet you don’t even bother to use your magic to find your stupid dog. How pathetic do you have to be?”

  If Hannah was confused before, she was doubly baffled now. “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

  “You’re a descendent of the most powerful witch line this part of the country has ever seen,” Stormy insisted. “You have Josette’s blood running through your veins, for crying out loud. The second you showed up, it was obvious what would happen ... and yet you won’t embrace it. You refuse to accept your destiny.”

  Not for the first time, Hannah had the distinct impression that someone else — an enemy witch for that matter — knew more about who and what she was than she did. Stormy seemed so sure of herself, so self-aware. Hannah was the exact opposite. While she was embracing the fact that her life was changing, everything else was a mystery.

  “What is it you think you know?” Hannah asked finally.

  Abigail stirred. “Now is not the time to linger. You’re looking for a missing girl. Playing games with this one is a waste of time.”

  Hannah didn’t necessarily disagree and yet the edge to her grandmother’s voice gave her pause. “What do you know?” The question was actually directed toward Abigail but Stormy, who couldn’t see the third conversation participant, was the one who answered.

  “I can’t believe I have to spell this out for you,” she muttered, shaking her head. “I mean ... get with the program. You’re supposed to be smarter than this. Astra has marked you as her equal. That means you need to be up to the challenge if this land is to be reborn.”

  Hannah was legitimately baffled. “I don’t understand.” Her head hurt from trying to follow the conversation. “Why won’t you just tell me what’s going on? You said I have Josette’s blood running through my veins. How is that possible? She only had two daughters and they never bore children.”

  “No, that’s what the official story said. There was more to the actual story, although Abigail worked hard to hide it from Astra. She was afraid that Astra would try to embrace her legacy when she wasn’t ready — and she was probably right — but all the work that old witch did to try and obfuscate the truth was for nothing. Astra found another source of information. She knows.”

  “She knows what?” Hannah practically screeched. “What does she know?”

  “That she’s supposed to take up where Amelia left off.”

  Hannah shook her head. “That makes no sense.”

  “It does if you accept that you’re supposed to take up where Bettina left off.”

  “What?” Slowly, Hannah tracked her eyes to Abigail and found her grandmother’s shoulders sagging in defeat. “What is she saying?”

  Now it was Stormy’s turn to be confused. “Who are you talking to?”

  Abigail let loose a sigh. “I was just trying to protect you.”

  “From what?”

  Stormy scanned the area for an unknown visitor. “Seriously, who are you talking to?”

  “Am I somehow part of some ancient story?” Hannah asked in a shaky voice.

  “I honestly don’t know,” Abigail answered. “It’s possible, though.”

  “How?”

  “It’s a long story.”

  “Maybe you should shorten it and tell me anyway.”

  “What about Lindsey?”

  “You’re trying to distract me.” Hannah refused to back down now. “Just tell me.”

  “Fine, although this is not the way I would’ve chosen for you to find out.” Abigail held out her hands in a placating manner. “You’re not a descendent of Josette, no matter what this idiot would have you believe.” She jerked her thumb in Stormy’s direction. “You are, however, a descendent of Clement.”

  “But ... I don’t understand.”

  “That makes two of us,” a new voice echoed from the east, a shadow emerging from beneath the weeping willow.

  Stormy jolted at the arrival of the new visitor, taking a moment to absorb the girl’s dark hair and eyes. “Who are you?”

  Hannah was the one to respond. “Angel? I don’t understand.”

  “You will,” Angel responded in a dark voice. “It’s time for all the answers to be made clear. Isn’t that right, Abigail?”

  The ghost didn’t look happy to be called out. “I didn’t realize it was going to end like this, Hannah. You have to believe me.”

  Hannah didn’t know what to believe. “Just tell me what’s going on. I think I deserve to know.”

  “She’s right,” Angel agreed. “If you don’t tell her, I will.”

  Abigail was resigned. “I’ll tell her. You have to be patient, though.”

  “That’s never been my strong suit but go ahead. I’m dying to hear what you have to say.”

  18

  Eighteen

  “The story I told you was true,” Abigail insisted. “I didn’t exaggerate. I didn’t lie. I might have, however, left a little something out.”

  The queasy feeling settling in the pit of Hannah’s stomach grew more pronounced. “Why don’t we start with the basics?” she suggested in a cold voice. “How are we related to Clement Creed?”

  “He lived on the mountain after Josette died. Although he never married again, he did ... have relations ... with some of the people who worked the property for him.”

  Hannah’s brow furrowed. “Like slaves?”

  “Not slaves. More like indentured servants.”

  “That’s not any better.”

  “Back in those days, indentured servitude was fairly normal. It wasn’t an ideal way to live, but the poor immigrants coming from Europe needed to earn their way in a new country, and working for a man who seemed to be making a good living was one of those ways.”

  Hannah ran the double-talk through her head. “Clement paid for passage for these people and then insisted they work for him until they paid off their debt. Did all of them work in the fields?”

  “Mostly.” Abigail bobbed her head. “Not all of the workers were laborers, though. Some worked in the houses for Bettina and Amelia. They were hand maidens of a sort.”

  Realization dawned on Hannah. “They were expected to wait on the daughters and then service Clement in other ways.”

  “Pretty much.”

  “Hold up.” Stormy raised her hand. “What’s going on here? Who are you guys talking to? Is this the teenager you were looking for? If so, you can take her and go. I have some things I’m supposed to be doing and I’m rapidly losing interest in watching you guys talk to air.”

  �
��It’s not air,” Angel replied, raising her hand into an exaggerated claw and throwing a bolt of magic toward Stormy. The witch immediately reached for her throat, her mouth open and protesting, but no sound came out. “You’re not part of this. You never will be. You might want to be part of it, but you’re not worthy. It’s time for you to be quiet.”

  Fear jolted through Hannah when she realized Angel had silenced Stormy with magic. “I don’t understand. Were you ever in danger?”

  “I don’t think I’m who you think I am,” Angel replied. “It doesn’t matter, though. My path is now set in stone. It’s your path that needs to be arranged.”

  Bewildered, Hannah looked to her grandmother. “You need to explain this, and it had better be quick. We’re running out of time.” She had no idea how she knew that, but it felt fairly obvious. “Just tell me.”

  “Clement fathered multiple children with the servants,” Abigail volunteered, not offering up a single word of protest. “He was the sort of man who bragged about his virility and liked to prove it. He didn’t provide for the children he sired. Basically, he freed the indentured servants when they turned up with child, provided them a pittance, and sent them on their way. We’re ancestors of one of those servants.”

  “How great for us,” Hannah drawled.

  “Believe what you want about Clement — and I happen to think he was an abhorrent individual — but it’s likely he sent the women away to protect them. Bettina and Amelia wouldn’t have reacted kindly to more heirs. In their twisted states, they would’ve used the children as fodder until it was only the two of them standing.”

  “They were just as evil as their father,” Hannah mused.

  “They were dual-natured,” Abigail countered. “The girls weren’t of one world. Amelia came from another plane. She never belonged here. Josette wanted to make sure she had enough power to overthrow Clement if it became necessary, though, and she was determined to harness Amelia’s powers. She wanted to use them in conjunction with Bettina’s magic. That backfired.”

  “The fissure that opened up,” Hannah surmised. “It wasn’t some sort of accident caused when the girls were playing. It was on purpose.”