He held me against his chest, where I felt the steady beat of his heart. “Just know that you are very loved, Emma. And not just by me.”
“I want you to know…” I sighed deeply. “Even without the memories, this place feels like home to me.”
I felt his chest rise and fall. “I’m really glad to hear you say that. For me, home is wherever you are.”
Content was the only way to describe how I felt in that moment. Daniel’s presence made everything else fade away. Even if he weren’t an actual angel, he would have seemed like one to me.
Finally, I gathered the strength to break away. I couldn’t stand in the woods in an angel’s arms all day. I had memories to recover.
“That Lady Weatherby seems tough,” I said.
Daniel muffled a laugh. “Don’t worry. She likes you in her own special way.”
“Are you sure?” I asked. “I didn’t get that vibe in the council meeting.”
“She’s not exactly one to show emotion. We should probably head back into town soon,” he said.
“We should go back to the registrar’s office and finish our paperwork,” I said.
He shot me a quizzical look. “But you don’t remember anything. My exercise didn’t work.”
I smiled. “It worked, Daniel, just not in the way you were expecting.” I didn’t remember the details, but I knew in the deepest part of my soul that I wanted to marry this angel.
He offered his arm. “Let’s go then.”
“Shouldn’t we fly?” I queried. “I assume those wings are more than decorative.”
“Trust me, Emma. You don’t want to fly.”
“I don’t?”
He shook his head. “You have a tendency to…not do well with heights.”
“Not do well? You mean I fall?” Now that he mentioned it, I remembered having a fear of airplanes, so not wanting to soar through the air with my feet dangling made sense.
“You throw up,” Daniel said. “You take an anti-anxiety potion most days, which I assume you skipped this morning. One more reason to forgo the flight.”
“Good to know.” I extended my hand and smiled. “Then let’s walk.”
Chapter 5
By the time I got home from town, I was starving and exhausted. Who knew paperwork could take so much out of me? Well done, Spellbound bureaucracy.
I headed straight for the kitchen, where I found Gareth in the pantry.
“Daniel told me you were out of the closet,” I said.
“Hardy har,” Gareth replied. “A shame your sense of humor didn’t get hexed out of you as well.”
“Why are you in there?” I asked.
“You’d made a hash of these tins,” he replied. “They were completely out of order.”
“Out of order?” I queried. “You mean the expiration dates?”
He poked his head out to glare at me. “No, lass. I mean colors and letters. The tuna was in front of the chicken.”
It took me a moment to comprehend. “You alphabetize the contents of the pantry?”
“Let’s not go through this again,” he muttered.
“So I had this reaction before?”
“Of course you did. I cannot help that you’re a slob, you know. I’ve done my best with you, but it’s a constant challenge.”
“Now you sound like my grandmother.” I shuddered. Nothing I did was ever good enough for her.
“It wouldn’t be the first time you accused me of sounding like an old woman,” Gareth said. “How was the council meeting? Must’ve been strange, meeting everyone all over again.” He hesitated. “How was the Winged Wonder?”
“Daniel and I filled out our paperwork for our marriage license,” I said. “Stan was a big help.”
Gareth nearly knocked over a row of cans. “You applied for the license anyway? I thought you might reconsider.”
“He suggested waiting,” I said, “but I felt something when I saw him, Gareth. I knew I wanted to marry him, even though I couldn’t remember the details.”
“Talk about a leap of faith,” Gareth grumbled.
“The council has Sheriff Astrid investigating my memory loss. They think someone gave me a potion at my bachelorette party.”
“Aye. That would be my theory as well,” Gareth said. “You should drop by the country club at tee time and speak to some of the other vampires. They’re horrible gossips, which comes in handy on occasion.”
“Vampires drink tea?” I queried. I giggled at the thought of vampires seated around a table with their pinkies up. “I thought they were all about blood.”
Gareth made a noise of disgust. “T-e-e, as in golf. And, for your information, vampires have wide and varying tastes when it comes to beverages, although blood is a necessity. That’s why we have the Blood Bank Co-op.”
“Demetrius is a vampire, right?”
“He’ll be there,” Gareth replied. “You can trust him.”
“I thought so. I had a rush of positive emotions when I was with Demetrius and Begonia. I didn’t really understand the significance until I met with more residents.”
“You’ll need to set an alarm,” Gareth said. “Or stay up late. Their tee time isn’t during daylight hours. They prefer to play under the cover of darkness.” He lined up the cans so they were the same exact distance apart, using his index finger as a ruler.
“Should I ask Sheriff Astrid to come with me?” I asked. If she was investigating my case, maybe she should be there. In my incapacitated state, I might not ask the right questions.
“Let her follow up her own leads,” Gareth said, swapping two cans. “You don’t need her to talk to my friends. Besides, they might only be able to offer you rumors and speculation. That’s their specialty. A regular sewing circle, that lot is.”
“Rumors and speculation is more than I’ve got right now, so I’ll take it.”
“You should also go to the Spellbound Care Home when you get a chance,” he said.
“Why? Do I volunteer there?” That sounded like something I’d do.
“Sometimes you and Daniel volunteer there,” he said. “But you also spend a lot of time with Agnes.”
“Who’s Agnes?”
“She’s the former head of the coven,” Gareth replied. “A bit of a prankster, too. The care home keeps her as far away from magic as possible, so you need to leave your wand in the car.”
My face lit up. “My wand!”
“On the counter in the canister marked Tiffany,” he said.
I retrieved the wand. “Who’s Tiffany?”
“Your wand,” Gareth said. “Don’t look at me. You named her.”
I admired the Tiffany blue handle. “I can see why.”
“I’m glad one of us does.”
I waved the wand around the kitchen for fun. “Why do I visit Agnes if she’s on the verge of being unhinged?”
Gareth moved on to the spice jars. “She may be challenging, but she’s helped you a lot with your magic.”
“Why does she help me?” Agnes didn’t sound like the type of witch to help anyone without a reason.
“An excellent question,” Gareth said. “I have no earthly idea.”
“Maybe I’m blackmailing her,” I suggested.
Gareth knitted his brows together. “Blackmailing Agnes? I think not. If anything, it would be the other way around.”
“She’s that wily, huh?”
“Even her own daughter keeps a safe distance. I suppose that’s why she’s been keen to adopt you. She’s meant to give a speech at your wedding reception.”
I spotted a monstrosity of an animal lurking in the hallway outside the kitchen and jumped six inches off the floor. I backed away and held out my wand for protection.
“Dear God, what is that thing?”
Gareth peered around the corner. “That thing is Magpie. Be kind.”
“What’s his deal?” The owl was my familiar. Did I have a hellbeast, too? Maybe a Plan B familiar?
Gareth chortled. “He wa
s my cat before I died the true death. When you moved in, you decided to keep him.”
I eyed the cat suspiciously. “That was awfully nice of me.” Maybe fear drove me to such a rash decision. The so-called cat stared at me out of its one good eye and I tried to maintain my bravado.
“To be honest, it was one of the reasons I took an instant liking to you,” Gareth said.
“Really?” I kept one eye trained on Magpie in case he tried anything funny.
“That, and you were the first one I ever confided in about my true nature,” Gareth said.
I suppressed my shock. “No one knew you were a vampire?”
Gareth gripped the spice jar in his hand. “The devil have mercy. I think the spell may have taken a few brain cells along with your memories.”
I laughed. “I’m kidding. I know what you mean.”
Gareth emerged from the pantry. “When you decide to go to the care home to see Agnes, bring a bottle of Goddess Bounty. You’ll need to sneak it in, though. Do a cloaking spell.”
“I know how to do a cloaking spell?” I asked.
“Aye. I’ve heard you do it enough times. You tend to talk in your sleep as well.” Gareth pretended to hold a wand and proceeded to mimic me. “A frog to hop, a duck to waddle/heed the call to hide this bottle.”
“That’s adorable,” I said. “Do I put my hand on my hip like that when I do the spell?”
Gareth groaned. “And take Sedgwick wherever you go. Until we figure out what happened to you, it isn’t safe for you to be alone.”
Chapter 6
Thanks to Gareth’s tip about his vampire friends, I set my alarm for quarter to midnight and, by alarm, I meant my cantankerous owl.
Rise and shine, Your Highness, he said from his perch in my bedroom.
I stirred. “It’s midnight already?”
Close enough. Let’s go now, while there’s still enough nighttime left for my beauty rest.
“Are you always this grumpy?” I asked, throwing back the covers.
Not as grumpy as Gareth, Sedgwick said. He’s the worst. You complain all the time about what a grumpy old vampire ghost he is.
I stood and stretched. “I do? That sounds like a mean way to talk about my roommate. Isn’t he my best man of honor for the wedding?”
Sedgwick shrugged his feathered shoulders. What can I say? Sometimes you’re mean.
Hmm. I’d have to take his word for it. “Should we see if Gareth is around? He may want to come.”
I doubt it. He likes to go to the clubs at night and see what he’s missing.
“That sounds sad.”
He’s a sad dude.
“I thought you said he was grumpy.”
Maybe all that constant sadness makes him grumpy? How should I know? I’m a ray of moonlight.
I quickly changed and hurried downstairs to drive Sigmund over to the country club. It was nuts to see my grandmother’s old Volvo tricked out with magical elements. I had to study the dashboard before I left the driveway.
How did Sigmund get here again? I asked Sedgwick. He flew above the car as I backed out of the driveway.
You can remember the car’s name? my familiar asked.
Same as I remembered my own name, I said. I seem to remember my pre-Spellbound life.
I hired a bunch of elves to retrieve it from the bottom of Swan Lake, Sedgwick said. Then my friend Quinty added the magical touches.
That was kind of you, I said.
Yes, that’s me, Sedgwick said. I’m known all over town for my kindness.
How did you communicate with the elves? I asked. I thought you could only communicate with me.
Sedgwick hesitated. Okay, I might have exaggerated slightly. Daniel may have played a role in fixing your car. He was kissing your butt from the moment you arrived.
I smiled as I drove down the darkened road. It’s sweet that you wanted to take credit.
Whatever, Sedgwick grumbled.
I pulled up to the valet at the country club and an elf with a friendly smile opened my door.
“Right this way, Miss Hart,” he said.
“We know each other?” I asked.
“Everybody knows you,” he replied. “You’re Spellbound famous.”
“Is that like being internet famous?” I queried.
The elf frowned. “What’s an internet?”
“Never mind.” I strode through the empty lobby of the country club and stepped up to the counter. “I’d like to meet some vampires out on the golf course. Is there a golf cart or something I can take?”
The night manager chuckled. “No need. Wait one moment and I’ll get Patrick to escort you.”
An escort would be nice. I was mildly uncomfortable traveling at night, knowing there were dangerous creatures around. Even though Spellbound was allegedly safe and friendly, how safe could it be if someone wanted to wipe my memory clean? What if they’d actually tried to kill me and failed?
The sound of hooves caught my attention. A centaur stood beside me, wearing a broad smile. “Climb aboard. You know the drill,” Patrick said.
I did? I stared at his back for a moment. It seemed that I was meant to ride him like a horse, which seemed rude.
Patrick laughed good-naturedly. “Someone’s having a brain block. Insomnia before the big wedding day? Here, let me help.” He lowered his hind legs, and I tried to slide across his broad back. Not a smooth move. I was so nervous that I skidded right across and landed hard on the floor. I was so glad Sedgwick was still outside. I didn’t need his laughter echoing in my head. I was mortified enough.
“I would think you’d have plenty of practice by now,” Patrick commented, helping me to my feet.
“I ride you a lot?” I asked, then immediately blushed when I realized how naughty it sounded.
“Um, no,” the centaur replied. “But you ride broomsticks and angels.” He paused. “Sorry, only one angel, and you don’t ride him so much as he carries you around when he flies.”
Now we were both embarrassing ourselves.
I climbed on again and managed to stay upright. Patrick carried me through the doors at the back of the clubhouse and out toward the golf course. Sedgwick circled above us.
What took you so long? the owl asked.
Technical difficulties, I replied.
I spotted the vampires in the distance. It wasn’t difficult with their bright golf attire and ridiculous hats with pom-poms. I was relieved when I recognized Demetrius.
“Emma?” he queried, squinting into the darkness. “What are you doing here?”
Patrick dipped his lower body to the ground, so I could slide off with relative ease. Fat chance. The second I loosened my grip on his back, I slid straight down, slamming my bottom on the ground.
“Good evening, Emma,” another vampire said. “Elegant, as always.”
Patrick seemed to realize that I wasn’t completely myself. “Would you like me to wait for you and escort you back?”
“No, no,” I said. “I’ll be fine. Thank you.” Unless one of these vampires was secretly out to get me, in which case, dumb move, Emma.
Patrick galloped away and I turned my attention to the four vampires clustered around a ball.
“So, you’re all vampires?” I said. Great conversation starter, I chastised myself. Pulitzer prize for social skills.
Demetrius eyed me cautiously. “Yes,” he said slowly.
“And you play golf?” I glanced skyward at the nearly full moon. “In the middle of the night?”
Above me, Sedgwick groaned. This conversation again? At least you’re consistent with your line of inquiry.
“Are you still drunk?” Demetrius asked. “You know everyone here. Edgar, Samson, and Killian.”
“Right. Of course.” I couldn’t continue to lie. There was no way to ask for their help unless I told them what was wrong.
“Are you feeling okay?” Demetrius asked. “You were pretty drunk when Begonia and I brought you home after the party.” He turned to hi
s friends. “She didn’t remember anything. I was surprised she knew her own name.”
The group exchanged amused glances.
“Perhaps a Bloody Mary would be a good choice for you right now,” Edgar said. “We have plenty.”
“No, thank you,” I said. “The thing is, I may have been drunk, but there was also a spell at work. Maybe a potion.”
“To make you drunk?” Demetrius asked. “Hardly seemed necessary with an open bar.”
“The potion has caused me to lose certain memories,” I said. “I remember my life before Spellbound and I remember that I live here now, but the details are fuzzy.” That was an understatement.
“That’s awful,” Demetrius said. “How are you holding up?”
“Not too bad,” I said. “Thankfully, I have a lot of help.”
Killian twirled his golf club like a baton. “So you’re here to get reacquainted with us?”
I inhaled sharply. “Actually, I’m here because I need help figuring out who may have done this to me and why.”
“And you think we might know?” Samson began to laugh. “We’re not magic users, Emma. Surely, you remember that much about vampires.”
“I’m not accusing any of you of making the potion,” I said. “Gareth thought you might have heard something about it. A rumor, maybe.”
“To be fair,” Demetrius began, “any one of us could buy a memory loss potion. Just because we didn’t create it ourselves, doesn’t mean we’re off the hook.”
“Way to throw us under the broomstick,” Edgar said. He faced me. “I, for one, know nothing of the reasons or the culprit.”
“What are your feelings about breaking the curse?” I asked. “Is anyone here against it?”
Samson snorted. “Are you kidding? I would love the chance to shake the dust of this town off my feet.”
The other three vampires stared at him.
“Really?” Edgar inquired. “I didn’t realize you were so eager to get away from us.”
Samson seemed to reconsider the level of enthusiasm he’d demonstrated. “I assume you’d all come with me. We’d travel the world. See Mistfall again.” He pointed his golf club at me. “If you’ve never been, it’s a fascinating place. I dream of revisiting it.”
All Spell Breaks Loose Page 5
