Spirited Blend

by Kennedy Layne

  Even I could admit that the exterior of the cottage was downright eerie looking, especially this time of year when the foliage had dropped. The interior? My Nan had style, it was that simple. She’d been a fashionista in her own right. She’d mixed a modern vibe with an antique style that had blended perfectly, and there wasn’t a major design element I had changed since moving in. Besides, being surrounded by her own special touches made me feel closer to her.

  We might be standing next to her in the afterlife if tonight doesn’t go as planned. Speaking of plans, what is yours? I’m confusing myself with someone who matters, seeing as I’m just a casual observer here tonight.

  “Leo, I can hear you complaining all the way in the bathroom,” Heidi called out from where she was tucking her blonde hair into a black hat. She had some crazy idea that it would prevent Ivan from recognizing her in the future and holding a grudge against her that she was involved in this cesaral spirit bell caper. “I need a few more minutes to prepare.”

  I adjusted my black turtleneck, experiencing a bit of déjà vu. We’d dressed like this once before during a stroll through the cemetery, only to find an empty crypt that had been void of anything we’d expected to find. I was really hoping that a brief conversation with Ivan could enlighten us on why the bell kept ringing and the residents of Paramour Bay were seeing their long lost loved ones.

  We technically already know the answer to that question, so we could essentially call off this so-called meet and greet with death.

  “We do know that the veil is thin this time of year, but spirits normally don’t go around showing themselves to just anyone,” I argued, at a loss as to what type of spell I’d even be able to do to rectify this situation. I mean, we are talking the other world. I wasn’t even sure an entire coven had the power to go up against something like that. “Look, we’ll leave well enough alone if Ivan tells us that everything is fine without our intervention.”

  I have an idea. We can give the bell to him. I’ll sacrifice a bit of my time to stay behind and show him how it works. Maybe shoot the bull for a little bit.

  “You’re just trying to wiggle your way into that poker game, aren’t you?” I asked, not surprised when the doorbell rang. Ted said that he’d come to collect us when he was on his way back to the cemetery. “Did you forget that Ivan’s host body is allergic to cats?”

  I did not, which is why the family grimoire is currently on the coffee table and open to a page where you’ll find a cat dander protection spell.

  It didn’t surprise me to know that Leo would go to great lengths in order to be a part of Ivan’s weekly poker game. With that said, I wasn’t so sure how a grim reaper would feel about a witch casting a spell on him.

  “Ted, come on in,” I said as I flung the door open. He was a stickler for manners, and never came in without an invitation. “Heidi isn’t quite ready yet, so—”

  Sweet angel of mercy, what in Hades is that abomination standing next to Ted?

  That was the same basic question that had also formed in my mind, only I hadn’t been able to vocalize it once I realized Ted was not alone.

  Standing next to Ted was none other than my very own mother. That recent sense of déjà vu came back tenfold as I took in her appearance. Regina Lattice Marigold was once again dressed all in black, looking more like Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.

  You mean, if the Mistress of the Dark was wearing leather pants and matching hipster boots. My eyes are burning, Raven. Make it stop.

  “Good evening to you, too,” my mother said wryly, not waiting for me to move from my frozen spot in front of the entrance. “Why is it that I had to hear from Beetle that the residents of this town are seeing their dead relatives, may they rest in peace?”

  There’s no peace to have when you look like an acolyte of the Manson family—

  “Mrs. M, what are you doing here?” Heidi asked enthusiastically as she finally joined us, most likely having a good idea that she’d cut off one of Leo’s not-so-nice quips. “Hey, I love those pants.”

  Why me?

  Heidi was definitely laying it on thick, but her eagerness proved to be enough to steer my mother’s interest from Leo back to her outfit. She turned her right leg inward, posing as she looked down at her favorite boots.

  I feel a hairball forming at the back of my throat.

  “Thank you, Heidi,” my mother beamed before straightening and giving Leo a glare. So much for letting things go. Then again, Leo had been at fault for that one. “I’m here to make sure that the meeting with our local grim reaper goes off without a hitch. Those soul suckers can be downright tricky, from what I hear. This one can play a mean hand at poker, too. I couldn’t believe my ears when Beetle explained what had been taking place recently. And don’t even begin to think you can convince me that bell didn’t warn you about this whole mess. Really, Raven? A phone call saying that the cesaral spirit bell had been alerting you of random souls roaming around Paramour Bay would have been nice.”

  Nice would have been you staying in the city, but that didn’t happen, either.

  Ted continued to stand near the front door, his back ramrod straight as usual. He didn’t particularly care for my mother, most likely having heard more than a few details from Leo rather than Nan about Mom leaving home to raise her daughter in the city. Ted had been very protective of my Nan. The hurt that remained when her only daughter chose to leave witchcraft behind had definitely left scars on everyone involved.

  “Mom, there’s nothing for you to worry about,” I said, wishing that Beetle hadn’t relayed the town’s gossip to my mother over a phone call. He had no idea that we were witches, so it hadn’t even crossed my mind that Beetle would end up calling my mother about something that he’d no doubt overheard at the diner. “You really should have called me first before driving all the way here. And how did you know that we were going to visit Ivan?”

  “Why, I called Ted, of course,” my mother exclaimed with a wave of her hand, as if that explained everything. It didn’t. Not by a long shot. The two barely exchanged greetings, let alone an in-depth conversation about witchcraft. “Shall we get this meeting over with? I have plans with Beetle later.”

  Second hairball, coming right up.

  “Ted, why didn’t you tell me that you spoke with my mother?” I asked, flabbergasted that the question had even fallen off my lips. “I could have saved her a trip.”

  “Ms. Regina called the boutique this morning.”

  My mother didn’t look the least bit guilty that she’d tracked Ted down at the boutique, knowing full well that he’d be there paying a visit to the mannequin he’d fallen head over heels in love with since first laying eyes on her. I didn’t even have to confirm that my mother asked him yes or no answers, thus allowing Ted to respond in short answers without Mindy or anyone figuring out what was being discussed over the phone.

  Speaking of trips, can we free up your mother for her broom ride home?

  “Mom, you really should just go on and enjoy your evening with Beetle,” I suggested, though why I did so was beyond me. My mother claimed to have given up witchcraft, but Leo and I had already proven that to be a whopper of a self-serving fib. She’d clearly kept her pointy hat in the ring, and I’m pretty sure she was having a wee bit too much fun with these mysteries that she kept popping in on. “Heidi, Leo, and I are just going to ask Ivan a few discreet questions. We all know that the veil between us and the afterlife gets a bit thin this time of year. We’re just being wary of complications, and simply talking about a few spirit sightings…nothing more than that.”

  One good thing about Beetle not knowing our little secret was that I was pretty much assured my mother had no idea how many times the cesaral spirit bell had rung recently. She’d be more likely to accept that only three sightings had occurred, which wasn’t all that unusual around All Hallows’ Eve.

  We never thought to check for bugs. Not the eight-legged kind posing as eyelashes on Regina and Rowena’s faces, but the l
istening kind that might be planted all around this cottage. I wouldn’t put it past your mother, Raven. She might even have cameras.

  Considering that Mom could hear every single word that Leo had just said, it wasn’t a surprise that the two had begun arguing. I sighed in resignation and shot Heidi a look of gratitude. She’d tried to help, but this verbal altercation between my mother and Leo had been bound to happen. It was then I noticed the makeup underneath Heidi’s eyes.

  “Heidi, why do you look like a football player ready for kickoff?” I asked, having already guessed the answer. With that said, she’d gone above and beyond attempting to alter her appearance before meeting Ivan. “It’s not like a grim reaper can come and snatch you up in the middle of the night. You are young, healthy, and probably won’t pass into the afterlife until you’re well into your old age.”

  “One can never be too careful,” Heidi bantered back, patting her black knit cap that she’d stuffed her blonde hair into before adding the thick black lines of what had to be my regular eyeliner onto her cheeks. As far as I was aware, I hadn’t had any greasepaint lying around in the bathroom. “So, what’s the plan, Ted?”

  Heidi’s question finally drew Leo and my mother’s attention away from one another. Ted shifted his weight in that uncomfortable manner of his when put under the spotlight, but he concisely summed up the brief meet and greet. It was barely long enough for Heidi to flash her cell phone at me.

  My stomach reacted as if I were on a roller coaster, which was pretty close to the truth. With all these unexpected twists and turns this evening, I might as well have been strapped into the front seat. I’d completely forgotten that Liam had been meeting us out at the cemetery, but Heidi had thankfully diverted that so-called date for another time.

  My mother had no idea that Liam knew the truth about our lineage.

  I held my breath, hoping that Leo wouldn’t remark on the sensitive topic, thereby cluing my mother in on our secret.

  I get to add two additional items to my next catnip order. Agreed?

  My mother did that perfected eyebrow arch thing of hers, catching on that Leo was basically blackmailing me over something or another. I didn’t mind, though. Anything was better than receiving a long-winded lecture from my mother that would undeniably delay tonight’s meeting unnecessarily.

  “Fine,” I relented, not really having a choice. Besides, I’d already seen the contents of the cart on the catnip site that was still up on my computer. He’d already added the items, knowing full well a time would come just like this that he’d be able to use to his advantage. “Now, what do you say, Mom? Go on and join Beetle for a late movie or something. We’ve got this covered.”

  My mother narrowed her eyes in suspicion, causing Leo to shudder in what I could only assume was the mere thought of spiders. A dull headache had begun to throb behind my temples, and we’d yet to even step one foot out the door.

  Spiders rank right up there with clowns…creepy no matter which way you look at them.

  “I think it’s best I go with all of you,” my mother replied stubbornly, which I’d already known and accepted her forthcoming negative response to my suggestion. She might still claim to not want anything to do with the supernatural, but she always managed to insert herself into the mysteries that kept Leo and I quite busy these days. “Ted, you can ride shotgun with me. I want to know all about your poker buddy, even his tells when he’s trying to…”

  Heidi, Leo, and I sighed as the odd pair finally left the house, fully expecting us to follow right behind. We were a bit slower in that task, grateful that the short car ride across town wouldn’t be in the accompaniment of my mother.

  I’m surprised she didn’t arrive here on the backs of small children.

  “You knew all along that your mother would be here, didn’t you?” Heidi murmured, making sure that her voice didn’t carry on the night air.

  It was quite chilly, and I was grateful that I hadn’t changed out of my black turtleneck. I’d already grabbed my jacket from the coatrack before closing the door behind us. I doubt that we’d be at the cemetery long, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

  “Mom’s habit of showing up unexpectedly isn’t so surprising anymore,” I said wryly, watching as Ted tried to squeeze his large frame into the compact vehicle. “She might continue to deny practicing witchcraft, but having her by our side while meeting the grim reaper might not be such a bad idea. She’s been at this much longer than I have. She might be useful.”

  You’re right, Raven. Maybe we should consider making a deal of some sort—a bit of information in exchange for good ol’ Ivan to give your mother an express ticket on the cool chute to Hades. I bet he’d get points for collecting her soul. I never considered it before, but there’s a good chance that Regina is on Hades’ ten most wanted list. Go figure. The possibilities for tonight’s meeting are finally looking up!

  Chapter Six

  It was hard to stop the shivers of unease that traveled over my body from head to toe at the sight of that slightly crooked wrought-iron gate in front of the cemetery. Understandably, there was something very foreboding about standing in front of a graveyard the night before All Hallows’ Eve. Low patches of fog wove its way through tombstones of all different shapes and sizes. Truthfully, the older ones that were worn with age or cracked and sitting at a bit of an odd angle gave me the heebie-jeebies.

  It wasn’t as if the plots were so bad that they needed immediate attention. Keeping in mind a reaper was in fact the groundskeeper at our cemetery, it appeared to be maintained on a fairly regular basis; regardless, there were still indicators that this graveyard had been around for quite a while. The spooky vibe was intensified due to a few of the tombstones having moss climbing over some of the marble surfaces, yet the grass was freshly mowed. I guess that wasn’t surprising, given that this place was full of contradictions.

  “Did I ever tell you about the time I snuck into a graveyard with Tommy Poplar back in high school?” Heidi asked in a low whisper, skimming the first row of tombstones with the powerful beam of her flashlight. “We—”

  I used the back of my hand to smack Heidi on the arm, once again experiencing a very strong sense of déjà vu. Even Leo couldn’t contain a groan of misery regarding the last time we’d visited the cemetery at night, only to find a crypt that was empty yet full of mystery.

  I can only take so much, and a few quick tokes off my catnip pipe is only going to last so long. Don’t jinx us with talk of empty crypts and memories of soul-eating ghouls…unless one wants to drain the lifeforce from your mother. If that’s the case, I’m all for summoning up the undead. Maybe Skippy has a recon group in the area.

  “This way, Miss Raven.”

  Ted’s formal tone had startled all of us. He hadn’t whispered or used a subdued tone, but instead spoke as if we were having a conversation in the middle of the day on the main street of town. I wasn’t sure why people felt the urge to speak softly in a cemetery, especially at night. It wasn’t like the dead could be awakened by our conversations. In fact, maybe those left behind might enjoy the opportunity to overhear a discussion.

  My mother had already parted the semi-rusted wrought-iron gate and was waiting for us just inside the entrance to the cemetery grounds. I could see the slight interest in tonight’s escapade by the sparkles in her emerald green eyes. The nearly full moon was giving off enough light that we technically didn’t need the flashlights.

  Oddly enough, I hadn’t noticed before now that All Hallows’ Eve would have a full moon this year. That had to have some significance when it came to our current ghost invasion. Having once before descended into one of the crypts lining the back of the cemetery, I wasn’t taking any chances. There were plenty of dark niches around here.

  “Ted, where is it exactly that you play poker?” I asked, the last to join in on our single-file march into the graveyard. Leo had made sure that he was tucked safely in between Heidi and me. “In one of the crypts?”

&nb
sp; My position in line is very strategic, Raven. I spent the car ride over here going over our approach and options for a marching order. We can increase our chances of survivability by weaving through the tombstones. The reason being is that your mother would sacrifice me in one blink of those spider eyes of hers. Two, Ted moving in any direction is like watching molasses drip down the side of a pancake in the dead of winter. Heidi loves me, and you have a tendency to throw an energy ball in random directions at the slightest hint of danger, clearly evident by the time you tried to melt Ted by hitting him in the chest with that horrifying defensive move. My best odds are right between you and Heidi, provided that Skippy doesn’t join the party. In that case, I’d have to go with option B.

  “Don’t you dare ask that ragamuffin what option B is, Raven,” my mother warned from her position in between Ted and Heidi. She’d slipped in behind Ted when he’d taken the lead through the cemetery without hesitation or consultation. I wasn’t even sure that Ted had a fight or flight instinct. “Leo, you haven’t shut up since we got here. Put a sock in it or pipe down so that I can listen to our surroundings. Raven, you should do the same. Tune into your senses and take heed of any intuition that strikes you at a moment’s notice.”

  Leo had abruptly stopped in front of me, crouching down low with his hefty butt stuck up and wiggling in the air. My mother had upset him, and he was now getting ready to pounce without thinking of the consequences. His self-preservation had gone out the window, and it just went to show how rattled he was that we were creeping through the cemetery with the intention of meeting the grim reaper. I knelt down and gently put my hand on his back as the others continued forward.