Heists and Homicides

by Lily Webb

  I picked up the pace and hoped Grandma wouldn’t see me pass Raina’s house when I walked by. The last thing I needed was an interruption from her, though I intended to talk to her afterward anyway. Thankfully, I snuck past without incident and kept going down Moonbeam until I reached the overgrown lawn of number seven.

  There weren’t any lights on inside and all the windows had their blinds drawn, though the purpose was sort of defeated by how many of them were broken. Was I supposed to knock or what? I didn’t have to wonder long because Heath’s face appeared in the crack of the doorway and he motioned me forward.

  After looking over both my shoulders to make sure I was alone, I hurried to the door and he ushered me inside. He wore black robes, as usual, and smiled at me as we stood in the musty entrance.

  “Are you sure everything’s okay? This seems awfully weird to me,” I said.

  “Everything’s fine, Zoe, there’s no need to worry. Please, this way,” he said and led me into what was probably once the living room. Cobwebs stretched across every corner in the room and the dust was so thick on the floor that I felt it gathering in my lungs with each breath I took. How long had this house been abandoned?

  At the center of the room, a rickety wooden table was capped by two chairs, perfect for us.

  “Please, have a seat,” Heath said and didn’t wait for me to do so for he sat down himself. I eased down into the chair and tried not to think too hard about all the bugs and other creepy crawlies that must’ve been living in the house while it was vacant.

  “I assume this has to do with the bank?” I asked. He smiled.

  “Not exactly, but close,” he said. “I actually wanted to talk to you about how you’re doing. You learned a lot about yourself, your family, and Moon Grove in the last week or so. How are you holding up?”

  “Honestly, on a day-to-day basis not much has changed,” I said. “Grandma and I are still trying to figure out a way to buy a house here, or build one, or something, so I haven’t had a whole lot of time to think about it. That’s probably not a bad thing though.”

  “No, far from it. I’m glad you brought that issue up, however,” he said and his crow’s feet deepened around his eyes as his smile widened.

  “Why’s that?”

  “Since our arrest of Ash Norwood and Xander Crane, I’ve been struggling to come up with a way to repay you for everything you’ve done. On more than one occasion since coming here you’ve put your life and reputation on the line for the sake of Moon Grove, but what you experienced in the vaults took things to an entirely new level,” Heath said.

  “You don’t need to thank me. Anybody in my shoes would’ve done the same thing,” I said. Heath laughed and shook his head as he rested his hands together on the dusty table. It squeaked underneath him and I feared it might collapse.

  “No, Zoe, I think that’s where you’re wrong. I’ve lived in this town my entire life, and spent most of my adult years serving in government, but I’ve never met another witch like you,” he said. “I can’t think of a single soul who would’ve charged down into those vaults the way you did, not even me.”

  “Really? But you’re one of the most advanced warlocks in town, aren’t you?” I asked.

  “That’s flattering, though not entirely true. Even so, the vaults in the bank and their traps were specifically set up to be able to confound even the strongest witches and warlocks. If they weren’t, what good would they do?” he asked.

  “Fair enough. I don’t know how many people would be able to walk through fire, manage not to drown, almost get killed by a dragon, and still come out in one piece,” I said.

  “Exactly. By all accounts, you should never have been able to reach that necklace, nor should Ash, who frankly is just as powerful as I am. But somehow, you did it. There’s always been something special about you, Zoe, and every time I think I’ve seen it all, you surprise me again,” he said.

  “Well, to be fair, I had some help,” I said. “Had it not been for that voice I heard telling me what to do, I don’t think I would’ve survived either.”

  “A voice? This is the first I’m hearing of this,” he said.

  “I know, I haven’t told anybody because it sounds crazy,” I said. “I don’t know where the voice was coming from or whose it was, but I’m telling you, there was someone or something talking to me and guiding me through all that.”

  “You don’t have even the slightest clue?” Heath asked.

  “Well, at first I thought it might have been my wand, but that sounds even crazier than hearing a voice does,” I said and Heath’s eyes went wide.

  “It’s not inconceivable, actually,” he said. “The bond between a witch or warlock and their wand is something not even the most advanced magical practitioners yet understand. No wand is truly brand-new to its owner. Most are made up of reused parts, and sometimes wands are passed down through generations.”

  “Right, and when you gave me this wand a few months ago—”

  “No, no, I didn’t give it to you, it chose you, never forget that,” Heath interrupted.

  “Fine, sure, it chose me. Anyway, you told me at the ceremony when I got the wand that it was rumored to have belonged to Lilith herself many years ago,” I said as I pulled the wand from my bag and held it in both hands. It was nothing special to look at, and had it not been for the polish it could’ve easily been mistaken as an everyday stick, but there was no denying its power.

  “As far as we’ve been able to trace it, yes, that’s true,” he said. “But it’s had owners since then as well.”

  “Like who?”

  “Your mother, Ember Clarke,” he said and the room spun away from me as I stared down at the wand. Was that who I heard talking to me in the vault? Was it possible that some part of my mother was forever bound to the wand? And was that why it had chosen me?

  “Could it really have been her that I heard?” I asked.

  “I couldn’t say for sure, but it’s a strong possibility. Each owner leaves their mark on a wand. Even long after they’ve rejoined the Veil, their influence lingers on the instrument.”

  “This new life of mine is never going to stop surprising me, is it?” I asked. Heath chuckled.

  “No, probably not. Based on my own experience, I’m still being surprised after seventy five years in this town. I’m not making any promises yours will be as eventful, but I wouldn’t be shocked,” he said.

  “But that brings me to the real reason I asked you to come here. As I said, I’ve been struggling to think of a way to thank you for your service, and then this afternoon it hit me right over the head,” Heath said. He rapped his knuckles on the table and gestured around the room.

  “Welcome to your new home, Zoe,” he said and the air leaked out of my lungs as I struggled to understand.

  “I’m sorry, what?”

  “Okay, I suppose it’s not all that new in terms of its condition, but it’s also not entirely new to you,” Heath said.

  “I’m still not following,” I said.

  “As you recently learned, you were born here in Moon Grove, and for a short time you lived here as well. This was the house you and your parents lived in when you were a baby,” he said and I froze in my seat.

  “Is that why it’s been abandoned for so long?” I asked.

  “I can only assume so. Who would want to live in the house of a family that’s gone missing? Especially now that their daughter has returned?” Heath asked. “The truth is that this house belongs to you and your grandmother, Zoe.”

  “Where is everything? Was there anything left in the house?”

  “I’m afraid nothing other than a stray photo that got left behind in the move back to Lumberton,” Heath said. He pointed to a dusty shelf across the room and my heart jumped into my throat when I spotted the frame.

  Without a word I pushed back from the table and crossed the room. I picked up the three-by-five faded frame and choked when I saw it.

  There we were, my mother, m
y father, and baby me, on the front porch of this very house. My mother was beautiful, her flaming red hair tied up in a tight bun on top of her head, her freckles dotting her face just like mine. She clutched me close to her chest where I gripped a locket of her hair that had fallen out of her bun. My father, tall and thin with curly brown hair — clearly where I’d gotten it from — stood with his hands in his pockets, beaming.

  “There may be others like it somewhere in here. Obviously, not a soul has been inside this house for years, so there could be remnants in the attic. But I’m sure you and your grandmother would enjoy sifting through it on your own,” he said. I nodded as I tried not to cry.

  Standing in their house, holding the only photo I had of my parents in my hand, was the closest I’d felt to them in all my life. Knowing what I knew now about what happened to them and what they had given their lives to protect — what I had also nearly given my life to protect — made my heart swell with pride.

  “Thank you,” I whispered as I turned back to Heath. He smiled and nodded as he stood from the table. “This is the best thing you could have given me.”

  “I’m glad. Here, you’ll be needing these,” he said and fished out a pair of keys from the pockets of his robes. He dropped them into my palm and gave me a hug.

  “The house needs quite a bit of work, as you can see, but I have no doubt you and your grandmother will put your stamp on it in time,” he said when he released me.

  “She’s going to be so happy,” I laughed as I thought about the look on Grandma’s face when I told her about the history of the house and showed her the picture I still held in one hand. I couldn’t put it down.

  “Oh, I can imagine. That reminds me, there’s something else I want to talk to you about, Zoe,” Heath started, jamming his hands into his pockets and rocking on his heels.

  “I don’t like the sound of that,” I said and he smirked.

  “Just because we have their leader in custody, it doesn’t mean we’ve stopped the Black Brotherhood,” he said. “In fact, I would argue that going forward we will need to be far more vigilant than we have been thus far.”

  “Right, just because we cut off the head doesn’t mean we slayed the beast,” I said. Heath nodded.

  “That’s correct. To that end, I feel it’s more critical now than ever that Moon Grove elects a new Head Witch,” he said and my fingers tingled. Was he about to ask me what I thought he was?

  “I can see it on your face, you know where I’m going with this,” he said, smiling. “I want you to run, Zoe. There’s no one better suited to the job, but I don’t want to force you. Will you consider it? Of course, you’ll have my full support during the campaign and I will do everything I can to make sure you’re elected.”

  I glanced down at the photo of my mother and father and knew they would’ve wanted me to do it too — because Moon Grove needed me as much as I needed it.

  “I will. I’ll do it for them,” I said, holding up the photo.

  “I can’t tell you how proud of you they would be. Now, let’s celebrate, shall we?” Heath asked. He popped his fingers into his mouth and whistled, piercing my ears with the noise. A rustling noise rumbled through the kitchen and into the living room and a second later Grandma Elle’s head peeked around the corner.

  “Surprise!” she shouted as she entered the room, followed by all my friends. Beau bounded around the corner with a bouquet of vibrantly-colored flowers in hand and threw his arms around me, smacking a kiss on the top of my forehead.

  “Welcome home, Zoe,” he whispered in my ear as Grandma joined him in hugging me and I melted into the happiest tears I’d ever shed.

  “Cheer up, Sugar, this is a good thing!” Grandma said. “You’re gonna be the boss around here soon, you can’t be weepin’ all over the place!”

  “I know, I’m happy, that’s why I’m crying,” I laughed through my tears.

  “What good is a new house without an appropriate housewarming party to match? Here’s to Moon Grove’s future Head Witch!” Heath shouted. He waved one hand and a bottle of champagne appeared in the other. He popped the top off and the bubbly liquid exploded, showering all of us, but I didn’t care in the slightest.

  I glanced down at the photo still clutched in my hand, beaming, and could’ve sworn I saw my mother and father beaming right back.

  Book 5: During a run for office, one of Zoe Clarke’s competitors is assassinated and Zoe’s accused—so she turns to unlikely allies to help clear her name.

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  Turn the page to read chapter one, or buy Covens and Coffins now!

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  Covens and Coffins Excerpt

  Chapter 1

  A whirl of color and wind sent my hair flying from my face as twelve witches thundered past on broomstick; the sheer speed of their movement filled Veilside Stadium with a tornado-like roar.

  My heart lodged in my throat as the racers leaned into a dangerous, tight left turn, moving so quickly I couldn’t keep track of them — much less make out their details — and in a matter of seconds, twelve bolts of color zipped by my face again.

  “I hope you aren’t expecting me to do that,” I shouted to Raina, my magical mentor and newly minted campaign manager as I gripped the handle of my new broomstick like my life depended on it. She laughed and shook her head.

  “We’re here to shoot a campaign ad with you on broomstick, Zoe, not murder you,” Raina said. Auburn strands of hair dangled out of the tightly pulled bun that perched on top of her head like a bird in its nest.

  “Though I’m sure there are more than a few people who wouldn’t mind seeing you crash and burn,” Mallory, my best friend and partner-in-crime, taunted.

  “Thanks for the encouragement,” I groaned and wiped my sweat-soaked palms on my violet racing robes.

  Sometime in the month since I’d decided to run for Head Witch, one of the most powerful positions in the magical town of Moon Grove, my staff decided it would be a good idea for me to learn how to fly a broom — and shoot a campaign video to prove it. How could I expect any respectable witch or warlock to vote for me without that basic skill?

  Of course, it was a strategy that assumed I survived the attempt.

  “Oh, come on. You’re gonna do great, just like you do with everything else,” Mallory teased and playfully punched my arm. Her brown curls shook with the motion and nearly took flight themselves as the racers zoomed past us again.

  “She’s right, Sugar, much as it might kill ya to admit it,” Elle, my grandma and number one fan, said with a smile. I scowled at her and Mallory both.

  “You’re lucky I love you two; otherwise I’d find someone else to write my speeches and cheer me on,” I said.

  “Be my guest. You’d lose the election for sure,” Mallory said, beaming, and Grandma cackled. Raina tried to cover for herself by biting her lip, but I didn’t miss the smirk on her face.

  “I hate it when you’re right,” I said.

  “Why don’t we rehearse your lines to take the edge off?” Mallory asked.

  “That’s a fine idea,” Grandma agreed.

  I swallowed hard and took a series of deep breaths to unravel the anxiety clenching my chest like a fist.

  “Zoe, are you with me?” Mallory asked, waving a hand in front of my face.

  “Yeah, sorry, my mind’s racing faster than they are right now,” I said, gesturing at the track as the witches slowed and eventually landed in its center. Knowing that their practice session was almost over didn’t do anything to ease my nerves — because it meant it was closer to showtime for me.

  “Don’t worry, you won’t be moving that quickly anytime soon, dear. You have to learn to walk before you can run,” Raina said and rested a hand on my arm. “Besides, the safety staff will catch you if you fall.”
r />   “Oh, I’m definitely going to fall, you can bet your broom on that,” I said. Raina frowned.

  “Zoe, you’ve faced down some of the most frightening people and creatures our world has to offer. I think you can handle a broom,” she said.

  “You’re right,” I sighed, though I felt the opposite.

  “It looks like practice for the racers is over,” Raina said, pointing at the witches in their vibrant robes and goggles as they walked off the field, broomsticks in hand.

  “Come on, let’s get started. We’ve only got the track for an hour. Places, everyone! We need to make this count,” Raina bellowed to the crew that followed her out onto the grass.

  “It’ll be over before you know it, Sugar,” Grandma whispered in my ear as she slipped her arm through mine and tugged me out on the field.

  “I wish Beau was here. Just looking at him would make me feel better,” I said. I had my entire campaign staff with me, but the only person I wanted to see was Beau Duncan, my boyfriend and lead anchor on Channel 666’s Moon Grove Tonight.

  “I bet he’s just running late at work. You ain’t the only candidate in the race he’s gotta keep an eye on, you know,” Grandma said.

  “Yeah, I’m aware,” I said. In that moment, with the handle of a broomstick stuck to my sweaty palm, I would’ve traded everything to be back at The Moon Grove Messenger covering the election myself — but I couldn’t be a reporter and a candidate for office; talk about a conflict of interest.

  “He’ll be here as soon as he can. I’m sure of it,” Grandma said. “Now get out there and break a leg.”

  “Poor phrasing, Gram,” I groaned, but marched to the center of the track to meet Raina anyway. In the time I’d spent dragging my feet, the production crew had already magically constructed our set.