One Bad Witch

by Danielle Garrett

  I frowned. “So, she didn’t come home last night at all? It would have been late. Sometime after midnight.”

  “Not as far as I know.”

  “When I saw her this afternoon, she was wearing the same thing she was in last night at McNally’s,” I said out loud, more to myself than Posy.

  “I’m sure she’ll settle in,” Posy said, though it was far from convincing.

  She vanished and I frowned at the empty space she’d occupied. Posy was often cagey, but this was strange behavior, even for her.

  What in the Otherworld was going on?

  Chapter 10

  Cassie stayed for a couple of hours and by the time she left, we’d polished off a large pizza—with some help from Adam—and I officially had my bridesmaid’s dress. Evangeline came home just as Cassie was leaving and pouted over missing out on dress shopping.

  As far as I knew, Narissa was in her room. I got sick of watching the stairs and decided to go back to work on my potions. Evangeline joined me in the kitchen and helped apply stickers to the outside of the various glass vials I used for packaging. She sat at the table, flicking her wand in alternating strokes between a pile of sticker sheets and box of vials.

  “I don’t know about this potion,” I said, stirring a thick concoction that was starting to resemble split pea soup. “I think I must have missed an ingredient somewhere along the way. I’ve made it before but it didn’t look like this.”

  I set the spoon aside and raked my fingers through my hair. “Argh. I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately.”

  “You want me to read the ingredient list back to you?” Evangeline offered, a vial hovering in the air before her.

  I shook my head and killed the burner. “No thanks. I think it’s a lost cause. I’m going to call it a night. What a mess of a day.”

  “At least you got a cute dress out of it,” Evangeline said brightly.

  “I’d rather have gotten a pile of potions out of it,” I muttered, hunting down my pot holders. “But Cassie is happy, and it was good to spend time with her, even if she did keep needling me about Adam the whole time.”

  Evangeline laughed, the sound a warm melody. “She’s got wedding fever. It happens to the best of them. I don’t know how many times I’ve been a bridesmaid, but I’ve been the maid of honor on two occasions. And all my friends, these strong, savvy, independent women, turned into wedding-crazed lunatics until the big day. I suppose it’s sweet, really. They’re so deliriously happy, and they just want the same for their friends.”

  I nodded in agreement and carried the kettle to the sink, taking tiny, shuffling steps to keep any of the wrecked potion from spilling onto the floor. The kitchen had seen enough carnage for one day. Plus, I really didn’t feel like mopping. “Did you date a lot when you were in Los Angeles?”

  Evangeline was a flirt. She didn’t make any attempt to cover it up. For as sweet and grounded as she was, there was no denying she loved attention, especially from handsome men. Which, if you thought about it, wasn’t weird. There weren’t many women who would turn down the eye of a handsome man—assuming he also had a nice personality to go along with his looks.

  “I was always busy working,” Evangeline replied, resuming her labeling. “Sure, there were a few relationships here and there. I never lacked for a date to a wedding or other high-profile events. But, for the most part, it was lonely. I worked long days and spent so much time around people and noise during the day that most of the time, I just wanted to go home by myself.”

  “So, what did you tell your friends when they were in their wedding love-bubble and driving you crazy?”

  “Well, usually, it was easy enough to turn their attention back to some wedding detail. Throw them off the scent long enough to change the topic.”

  “That’s what I did with Cassie today. I told her I’d try on the dresses, but we had to stop the Adam talk.”

  Evangeline grinned. “She’ll come back to earth eventually.”

  “I hope so. Right now, I can’t even explain my feelings to Adam, so there’s not much hope of me finding a way to put it into words to tell Cassie.”

  Evangeline’s wand paused and she wrinkled her brow. “You two okay? I know things were a little tense a while back, after that whole mess with Sasha Pringle. But lately things seemed good.”

  “That’s the problem,” I said, dropping the empty kettle back onto the stove. “He wants us to move into our own place.”

  “Oh!” Evangeline’s expression was a mix of surprise and disappointment. “Are you considering it? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I would be happy for you. Bu, things sure wouldn’t be the same around here without you. I know it’s only been a little over a day, but I don’t get the vibe that Narissa is going to be my new BFF anytime soon. She’s never here long enough to have more than a passing conversation with.”

  Evangeline raised her wand and went back to labeling. “Why don’t you just move upstairs into the master bedroom with Adam? That would basically be the same thing, right?”

  “It’s against house rules,” I said. “Posy thinks such things should only be for married people, and we’re definitely not ready for that step!”

  The last vial lifted from the box and Evangeline flicked her wand. A sticker peeled off the page and gently caressed the vial, sealing itself to the glass with machine-like precision.

  “You’re really getting good at those,” I said, admiring her handiwork. “I should probably start paying you.”

  She laughed. “No need. It’s like therapy for me.”

  “Well thank you. It’s a big time saver for me. I haven’t mastered the wand work, so I have to put them all on by hand, and let me tell you, that’s like the opposite of therapy.”

  Grinning, she stood and lowered the vial into the stand I used for filling. Unfortunately, despite hours in the kitchen, I didn’t have anything ready to pour. I picked up the vials and tucked them in one of the cupboards behind the sink. I moved a few cleaning products around to conceal them.

  “What are you doing?” Evangeline asked.

  “I’m running out of room to store stuff, but you know how Posy gets about the cupboard rules.”

  Evangeline sighed. “I hate to say it, but girl, you need to take your man up on that offer, and get yourself your own kitchen.”

  I frowned and moved the bottle of bleach an inch to the right and then closed the cupboard. “Maybe so.”

  “You up for a movie?” Evangeline asked as I stood back up. “I just got a few new ones. I’ll go grab them from my room and see if Adam wants to join in.”

  “Sounds good,” I replied, making sure the vials weren’t visible from any angle. “I’ll clean up in here and get some popcorn going.”

  Evangeline scampered from the kitchen and I started a bag of popcorn before scrubbing the ladle and knives I’d used for my potion work. Just as the timer on the microwave went off, my phone rang. I dried my hands and grabbed my phone from the back pocket of my jeans as I moved to get the popcorn before it could burn.

  “Hey, Nick,” I said, tucking the phone against my shoulder as I peeled the bag open and dumped the contents into a large ceramic bowl. “How was—“

  “Holly, I need your help,” he interrupted, his voice a strained whisper.

  I dropped the empty bag of popcorn in the trash can. “What’s going on? Where are you?”

  “I don’t know,” he said, still keeping his voice low, as if someone was nearby and he didn’t want to be overheard. I could hear other voices in the background, but they sounded distant and fuzzy. “Can you use that tracking spell you told me about?”

  “Sure, but I—”

  “Do it. Now! Bring Adam too.”

  “Okay, but, Nick—”

  Beep beep beep.

  He was gone.

  “Bat wings!” I raced for the kitchen door and tore through the living room. “Adam! Adam, Evangeline!”

  Adam appeared at the top of the stairs, shirtless, rubbing a whi
te towel on his head. “What’s up, gorgeous?”

  “I need you down here, now. Nick’s in trouble, and we gotta go. So put some clothes on and let’s go. Grab Evangeline, too.”

  I didn’t wait for him to comply before running down the hall to my bedroom. I yanked the secret-stash book down from the shelf and grabbed the vial with Nick’s hair. I repeated the incantation from the night before and a glowing line appeared, pointing in the same direction before. I followed it, but stopped in the living room where Adam and Evangeline waited at the bottom of the stairs, wearing matching expressions of concern.

  “Holly, what’s going on?” Evangeline asked.

  “Nick called,” I said, the fear in Nick’s voice spurring me forward. “He was supposed to be at a pack meeting tonight. He was whispering, you know, like he was afraid of someone overhearing. He asked me if I could use the tracking spell I used last night to find him again.”

  “Wait,” Adam said, holding up a hand. “What? You used a tracking spell on Nick last night?”

  “Not now,” I snapped. “I’ll explain later. Right now, we have to hurry. He’s in danger.”

  “Do we know what kind of trouble?” Evangeline asked.

  “I—I don’t know,” I replied, grabbing my coat. “He just told me to hurry, and he said I needed to bring you,” I said, gesturing at Adam.

  His face fell. “Okay, let’s go.”

  “This line will lead us to him,” I said, gesturing at the golden ribbon that hung suspended in the air. “Think of it like magical breadcrumbs.”

  “What line?” Adam asked.

  “That one,” Evangeline said.

  He shook his head. “I don’t see it.”

  Evangeline and I exchanged a look.

  “It doesn’t matter,” he said. “You two can see it; that’s all we need. You think I should shift?”

  I shook my head. “Not until we know what’s going on.”

  “All right. Lead the way.”

  “We can take my car,” Evangeline said.

  We fled the house and Evangeline became the embodiment of a bat out of hell as we chased the glimmering light through town.

  The tracking spell led us out of the harbor, heading up the highway to one of the wealthiest beachside communities along the coast. The farmland and rustic small-town vibe vanished, replaced by ritzy neighborhoods and gated communities, where the multi-million-dollar homes all boasted ocean views. The golden line wove down a street that hugged a sharp drop-off into the Pacific and then to the driveway of a massive home with modern lines and expansive picture windows.

  “He’s in there?” I said, staring open-mouthed at the huge house.

  Evangeline pulled off the road and killed the engine. “Looks like it.”

  “Wait a second,” Adam said, his face paling. “I know this house. This is Lord Bracken’s estate.”

  Evangeline wrinkled her nose. “Lord who?”

  “Bracken. He’s a vampire lord and an all-around swell guy, you know according to those he doesn’t torment and imprison just for kicks.”

  My heart jumped into my throat. The golden line was pointed smack dab in the middle of the front door.

  “Nick,” I whispered. “What did you get yourself into?”

  Chapter 11

  “What would Nick be doing here?” I asked, not expecting an answer.

  Evangeline raised her wand. “I don’t know, but I’m guessing it’s not for a dinner party.” She paused, her eyes bulging a little, and then swallowed hard. “At least, I hope not.”

  Adam peeled off his shirt. “I’m shifting. Something tells me you’re gonna need the muscle.”

  Evangeline scrambled out of the car and I followed behind, leaving Adam to disrobe and shift in the backseat. Thirty seconds later, I opened the back door and a one-hundred-and-sixty pound dog climbed out onto the street. His paws were the size of salad plates and every pound on his wide frame was solid muscle. I placed my hand on the dog’s head and he lowered it. He was ready.

  My insides felt like jelly, but I forced myself to walk tall and proud, as if I had every right to be strolling up to a powerful vampire lord’s front door. Adam slowed to keep pace with Evangeline and me, walking between us as we crossed the street. The driveway was empty, but the home had a three-car garage attached to it, making it impossible to know if anyone was home or not.

  “You said it was silver bullets that killed Breanne?” Evangeline asked.

  I’d filled her in briefly during the panicked drive. “That’s what the SPA agent said.”

  “I hate to say it, Holly, but that’s kind of got old-school vampire written all over it.”

  I winced. The thought had already been rocketing around inside my own head, but it sounded twice as bad when she said it out loud. A werewolf-vampire war would only lead to one thing: death.

  And a lot of it.

  With Nick caught in the crosshairs.

  We reached the edge of the driveway and I hesitantly stuck a foot over the line, halfway expecting a swarm of bats to come pouring out a second floor window like some kind of gothic security system.

  Stars, Lacey would kill me if she knew I even thought such a thing.

  “What’s the plan?” Evangeline asked. “I’m not sure just walking up to the front door and asking for our friend back is going to work.”

  “Well, right now, we don’t know whether or not Nick is here voluntarily.”

  Adam whined.

  “Yeah, I know, long shot, but maybe it was all a misunderstanding.”

  He shook his massive head.

  I drew in a deep breath. “All right. Plan? Um, we say we’re selling vacuums?”

  Evangeline sputtered a laugh. “Suppose brooms would be more appropriate, all things considered.”

  Adam growled.

  He was the king of joking around and pulling pranks, but when it came to real danger, he apparently had little tolerance for it.

  I rested a hand on his head and tried to think of a reasonable excuse. Something that would get us into the house so we could follow the tracking spell to Nick before it fizzled out.

  Adam jerked around and stalked back to the car. He shoved his nose at the tire. Evangeline and I glanced at each other.

  Adam tried again, this time moving his head even more frantically.

  “Stars, this is worse than regular charades,” I muttered.

  Adam whined and raised a paw and made a slashing motion.

  “Oh! Blown tire!” Evangeline exclaimed.

  He wagged his tail and trotted back over to us.

  We exchanged a look and Evangeline shrugged. “It’s worth a shot.”

  I hoped they were right.

  Evangeline took the lead, and we all trouped up the stairs to the front door. She rang the doorbell, and we all took a collective gulp of air as we waited for someone to answer.

  “What if no one is home?” Evangeline asked after a long minute stretched by.

  “Nick’s in there,” I said. “The tracking spell has to be right.”

  We considered the gold light, still shining on the door. “Is it just me, or does it look like it’s fading?” she asked nervously.

  “We need to hurry,” I said. “I didn’t think to bring the rest of Nick’s hair with me, so if we have to do another spell, we’d have to go all the way back to the manor. By then, he could be out of the range of the spell. It’s not meant to work for distances much farther than ten or fifteen miles.”

  Evangeline licked her lips. “He’s here,” she said, arranging her coat to cover the wand she had holstered at her side. “We’re not leaving until we find him.”

  Adam whined and gestured his nose at the door. Someone was coming.

  Sure enough, the door opened, and a silver-haired woman poked her head out. It was immediately clear she wasn’t a vampire. Vampires didn’t have wrinkles or age spots. Part of their curse—which was really more of a blessing, minus the thirst for blood thing—was preternatural youth, perfect skin
, taunt muscles. Even humans who were turned past their prime years would revert back to the best version of themselves upon waking up as a vampire.

  The woman at the door looked at all of us, rearing back slightly when Adam took a half step forward. “Can I help you?”

  “We certainly hope so,” Evangeline started, smiling sweetly. “I’m afraid we’ve got a flat tire and our cell phones are dead. We’ve been lost for over an hour, and just when we found our way back to the highway, we hit a nail in the road. Can you believe that?”

  The perk of having a friend that used to be a famous actress—she can lie her pants off and do it with a convincing smile.

  “Would you be so kind as to let us in to use the phone, so I can give AAA a quick little call?”

  The woman peeked over her shoulder. “I’m really not sure—”

  “That’s my car,” Evangeline said, angling her body so the woman could see past her to the shiny car parked under the street light. “We tried your neighbor but no one answered.”

  Still looked nervous, the woman glanced at me and I hurried to give her my best smile. “It would really help us out.”

  Finally, she nodded and took another small step back, keeping her eyes on Adam as she did. “You can come in, but I’m afraid your dog will need to stay out here. The master of the house has terrible allergies and doesn’t let animals in the house.”

  I wanted to argue, but Adam ducked his head and looked to the side of the house. He’d find another way inside, if need be.

  “Thank you so much!” Evangeline said, hurrying inside before the woman could change her mind.

  I brushed Adam’s head with my fingertips and moved past the woman. “Stay, Adam.”

  “Your dog’s name is Adam?” the woman asked, following us inside once she closed the door on the giant beast of a dog. “My son’s name is Adam.”