Magic & Madness

by Annabel Chase

  “You’re in disguise,” Aster whispered, prodding me. “Go dance with him. No one will notice.”

  “Where’s Holly?” I asked, scanning the crowd. As much as I hated to admit it, Holly was beginning to grow on me. She’d stood up for me with the Power Puffs, and she seemed to genuinely care for Alec. More than anything, I wanted him to be happy.

  “I saw her dancing with someone else,” Aster said. “You know Alec, he probably only agreed to one dance.”

  I continued to stand there, paralyzed. “I can’t.”

  “Because of Granger?” Aster asked. “He isn’t here and, the last time I checked, you two weren’t exclusive. Besides, it’s only one dance. I’m not suggesting you run off and marry him.”

  No, even if I wanted to run off and marry him, the choice didn’t exist. Alec had made that perfectly clear. If I wanted to move forward with the sheriff, I had to let the vampire go. There wasn’t room for three in a relationship.

  “I don’t know the steps,” I said weakly.

  “I can help with that.” Aster placed her hand on my shoulder and said, “Aliqua.”

  A current of energy pulsed through my body. Whatever spell Aster had used, I knew it meant that I’d be able to perform this dance like a pro. May as well make the most of it.

  I cut through the crowd and made a beeline for the sexy vampire. Despite his mask, I saw the look of surprise on his face when I stopped in front of him. When his lips curled into a subtle smile, I had no doubt he recognized me. Wordlessly, I entwined my fingers with his. He said nothing in response, and I made sure to keep my thoughts shielded from him. I didn’t want him to know the scenario running through my mind right now. Not when the only articles of clothing involved were the masks.

  You’re closing a door, Ember, I reminded myself. Not catapulting through a window.

  He clasped my hand in his and we began to dance. My heart hammered in my chest as we swept across the floor. Thanks to Aster’s spell, my movements were effortless. Alec didn’t need magic, of course. The vampire embodied grace and elegance. As I inhaled his familiar scent, I longed to rest my head against his chest. The magic kept me from deviating from the dance moves, however. Definitely for the best.

  The entire routine took place in absolute silence. Because I didn’t need to concentrate on the steps, I was able to solely focus on him. On the muscles that lurked beneath his tailored suit. On the strong set of his jaw. In this moment, we were the only couple under the big top, and the music played for us alone.

  As the music came to an end, I stood on my tiptoes and lightly kissed his lips.

  “What are you doing?” he asked softly.

  “Closing the door,” I replied.

  “Thank you, Miss Rose. I shall remember this dance always.” He released me before offering a slight bow. Then he merged with the other guests and disappeared from view.

  I continued to stand there for a moment longer, trying to collect myself. Across the tent, I caught sight of Sterling as he lingered by the exit, a drink in his hand. He was easily identifiable, having discarded his mask. Although I dreaded opening a can of worms, I figured now was as good a time as any. He should consider himself lucky that I was the one confronting him and not Aster—or worse, Aunt Hyacinth.

  “Having a good time?” Sterling asked when he noticed me. “It took me a minute to recognize you.”

  “I’m not going to lie. It’s been pretty spectacular.”

  “Even without the sheriff?” Sterling queried.

  “I don’t need the sheriff’s company to enjoy myself.” That much was true. He was good fun, but I was certainly capable of having fun independently of him.

  “Fair enough.” Sterling downed the remainder of his drink. “Have you seen Aster recently? I think I’m ready to go home.”

  “She’ll be along in a minute, I think.” I moved closer to him so that I could lower my voice. I didn’t want to risk being overheard. “I need to talk to you about something.”

  He leaned forward, listening intently. “This sounds serious.”

  “I hope not,” I said. “I hope I’m being ridiculous.” I took a deep breath. “Colette.”

  It was the only word I needed to say. Sterling’s jaw clenched. “What about her?”

  “You tell me. Is there anything Aster needs to know?”

  Sterling grabbed my hand and pulled me outside the tent. The moon shone like a silver dollar, flat and bright against the inky backdrop.

  “It isn’t what you think,” he said.

  I crossed my arms and gave him my hardest stare. “Then enlighten me.”

  “Colette has been going through a rough patch with her husband.”

  “Sounds familiar,” I said.

  Sterling’s brow wrinkled. “Aster and I aren’t going through a rough patch. We’re fine.”

  “Why buy someone else’s wife an expensive piece of jewelry if there’s nothing going on?” I challenged.

  “I’m trying to keep Manfred happy at work, and part of that means keeping Colette happy.” He rubbed his temples. “I think I may have overstepped with the jewelry, though.”

  My eyes bulged. “You think?”

  Sterling’s nostrils flared. “Yeah, I was beginning to regret the attention I was paying her, especially tonight when she tried to kiss me.”

  “She tried to kiss you!”

  Sterling shushed me and moved me further away from the tent. “I wasn’t sure how to deal with it. I don’t want to embarrass her or Manfred. If he finds out she’s got a thing for me, it’ll be disastrous for their marriage.”

  “And yours! You’re in charge of a company,” I said heatedly, “not running a marital counseling service.”

  Sterling raked a hand through his hair. “I know that. I’ve been incredibly stressed lately. I can’t afford to lose Manfred, but I know his marriage is suffering as a result of all the hours.”

  “So is yours,” I shot back. “Everyone’s noticed your absences from family functions. You need to start paying more attention to Aster and the boys than to Manfred and Colette. Your family deserves at least that much.”

  Sterling groaned loudly. “Of course they do. I love my family. I love Aster. She’s the most perfect witch in the world.” He locked eyes with me. “Do you know how hard it is sometimes to be married to someone that perfect? It’s a lot of pressure on a wizard. I’m trying to balance all the elements in my life—to be great at everything like Aster is—and it seems that the harder I try, the more I fail.”

  Although I wasn’t a hugger, I really wanted to squeeze him right now. “Sterling, Aster loves you. She doesn’t need you to be perfect. She just needs more of your time and attention. If Manfred can’t handle the job and his marriage, that’s on him. Let him go if that’s what’s necessary.”

  Sterling rubbed his hands over his face, appearing to come to grips with the situation. “You’re so right, Ember. I’m sorry you doubted me. I’m not that guy, I swear.”

  “I believe you.” I did. If there was one thing I was reasonably good at, it was detecting bullshit. Or minotaur shit, as my Starry Hollow neighbors liked to say. “What are you going to do?”

  “Right now, I’m going to take my wife home and tell her how special she is. Tomorrow, I’m going to book a vacation for us, anywhere Aster wants to go.”

  “I think that’s a great idea,” I said. “You should consider bringing Mrs. Babcock along, so that you and Aster get time to yourselves as well.”

  Sterling brightened. “That’s brilliant. You wouldn’t mind losing her for a week or two? I know she’s your main babysitter.”

  “There’s always Florian,” I said. “Besides, I can easily go two weeks without a night out. That was pretty much my whole life until we moved here.”

  “Thank you for coming to me first,” Sterling said. “I know how close you and Aster are.”

  “I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt,” I said.

  “I know I’ve been absent and inattentive,
but I swear I’ll do better,” Sterling said. “I’d do anything Aster asked me to. She’s the glue that holds our family together.”

  “Would you quit your job?”

  “If that’s what she wanted, then yes,” Sterling said. “I’d quit tomorrow.”

  His answer surprised me. “You’re the head of a company. You’d walk away?”

  “I live to serve her,” Sterling insisted. “Whatever I have to do to prove my devotion—to improve her life, I’ll do it. There’s no line I won’t cross.”

  With those words, something clicked in my brain. “Prove your devotion,” I repeated.

  “Yes, that’s what I said.”

  “You’d do anything. Cross any line.”

  He scratched the back of his head. “I suppose there’d be a line somewhere….”

  “I need to go,” I said. “I know the truth.”

  He blinked. “I know. I just told you the truth.”

  “Not you,” I said, my mind reeling. “I know who killed Madame Bovary.”

  18

  I opened the flap to Madame Bovary’s tent and stepped inside. It was difficult to see in the dark, and I wished I had my wand to use as a light.

  “Who’s there?’ a voice asked sharply.

  “Zola?”

  The serpentine assistant slid out from behind a table, illuminated by a sliver of moonlight. “What are you doing here?”

  “I looked for you under the big top,” I said. “When I couldn’t find you, I decided to check here.”

  Zola peered at me. “Why?”

  “I know tonight must have been challenging for you,” I said. “Last night of the carnival and all.”

  Zola nodded. “Bianca and I always spent tonight drinking together. She loved a good bottle of bucksberry fizz.”

  “Who doesn’t?” I was careful to remain near the open flap. “So I guess the plan is to leave town without turning yourself in?”

  Zola’s human head snapped to attention. “Turning myself in? For what?”

  “For killing Madame Bovary,” I replied, trying my best to keep my voice calm and steady. I didn’t want her to sense my fear.

  “Why would I kill her? She was my friend.” Zola wiped a stray tear. “I was devoted to her.”

  “I know you were,” I said. “And that’s why, when she asked you to try to kill her, you agreed. She trusted you more than anyone.” My voice softened. “And you believed in her more than anyone, didn’t you?”

  After a brief hesitation, the dam burst and Zola broke into a flood of tears. “I had absolute faith that she’d see the ball coming.”

  “Her confidence was broken, wasn’t it?” I asked, moving closer to console her.

  “She was a mere shell of her former self,” Zola said. “I would have done anything to help her get her confidence back. Never in a million years did I think she’d actually lost her abilities. She was immensely gifted.” Her chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath between sobs. “I expected her to turn and block me at the last second, a huge smile on her face.”

  “But she didn’t anticipate you?”

  “No.” Zola gulped for air. “It hit her so hard.” She began to cry again.

  “Why didn’t you get help?” I asked.

  “I knew she was dead. The moment the ball connected with her head, I felt it. Blood was gushing.” She buried her face in her hands. “I panicked and fled the tent.”

  “And your plan was to leave town with the carnival?” I asked in disbelief. “Tell no one what really happened?”

  “Who would believe me that I didn’t intend to kill her? I’m half snake. Do you think my kind has it easy?” She sniffed. “One of the reasons Bianca and I became close was because she accepted me, scales and all. And I repaid her kindness by killing her.” Zola started to wail in a way that would’ve made a banshee proud.

  Compassion rolled through me. “Zola, her death was an accident. You didn’t mean to kill her.”

  Zola worked to compose herself, her skin blotchy from exertion. “You won’t tell anyone, will you?”

  I balked. “I’m sorry, Zola, but I have to report you to the sheriff.”

  Zola’s eyes turned to slits. “Why? You said yourself it was an accident. Just let me go.”

  “It’s still murder,” I said, beginning to feel uneasy. It was then that I realized Zola was now positioned between the tent opening and me. Stars and stones. Maybe I should have waited to confront her until I got in touch with the sheriff. With the carnival rolling out of town in a few hours, though, I didn’t want to risk Zola getting away.

  Her tail slapped the ground left to right. “I am not going to spend my life in prison because I was loyal to my friend. It isn’t fair!”

  Two serpentine fangs emerged from her mouth. She hissed and lunged for me. She moved much faster than expected, thanks to her slick bottom half. I dodged a blow and reached for my wand before realizing that I didn’t have it with me. Stupid costume.

  “Zola, you don’t want to hurt me,” I insisted.

  “No, but I want to leave town with the rest of the carnival,” she said. “I was loyal to Bianca, but I’m not loyal to you.”

  I picked up the deck of tarot cards and threw them at her. She swatted them away with an effortless flick of her tail.

  “I may not have a crystal ball, but I see death in your future,” Zola said, hissing again. “My fangs will make certain of it.”

  The sound of my heartbeat thundered in my ears. I had to get out of here or Zola was going to kill me. Without my wand, I wasn’t sure I could defend myself. Although I’d conjured magic before when under duress, I hadn’t done it deliberately. I wasn’t sure whether I could replicate it.

  I thought about all the lessons I’d had so far. The importance of my will. I was a Rose, and the daughter of Lily Hawthorne, an impressive witch in her own right. For the love of Elvis, I was from New Jersey! The more I remembered these things, the greater my confidence grew.

  “You can’t leave here,” Zola said. “Accept your fate.”

  “Fate is a cobweb,” I said, remembering Artemis Haverford’s description.

  Zola looked perplexed. “What?”

  The wind stirred inside the tent. I concentrated harder, tugging at the magic inside me. I know you’re in there, magic. Don’t let me down.

  The remaining items inside the tent began to blow in a circle around us.

  “What are you doing?” Zola asked suspiciously. “How are you doing that without a wand?”

  “I’m a descendant of the One True Witch,” I said, and summoned the strongest gust of wind I could manage.

  It was enough.

  The tent collapsed on top of us, knocking us both to the ground. I attempted to push away the yellow material as it covered me, but to no avail. The heavy material prevented me from flipping onto my stomach and crawling to an opening.

  A plus, Ember, I scolded myself. This is what happens when you improvise. Architect of your own demise.

  I wanted to call out to Zola and see whether she was okay, but I was afraid to expend the oxygen. I didn’t know how long I’d be trapped under the tent. I squirmed on my back, hoping to move toward the edge of the tent, wherever that was.

  Ember, stop moving!

  Raoul?

  Who else talks in your head? Wait, don’t answer that. I heard the sound of sharp claws tearing at the material above my head.

  I’m trapped.

  No kidding. I felt the chill of the night air as strips of material were pulled away, and I sucked in a grateful breath. Raoul’s bandit face appeared in a gap.

  “How did you find me?” I asked.

  I was scavenging…I mean, enjoying the costume ball—from outside the big top, of course. I felt your terror and tracked your scent here.

  “Zola’s trapped under here, too,” I said. “She’s the murderer.”

  I don’t think that will be a problem.

  It was only when I emerged from the fallen tent that the
reason became clear. The tent was now surrounded by members of the carnival. Jacob, Lizette, the large troll that Bentley and I had seen, plus dozens of others.

  “I’ve called Deputy Bolan,” Jacob said. “He’s on the way.”

  The troll pulled the tent away, revealing Zola’s unconscious body on the ground. A dwarf hurried to check her pulse.

  “She’s alive!” he declared.

  “Good,” Jacob said, his expression stormy. “I want her to live so she can face the consequences of her actions.”

  I hastened a glance over my shoulder as Raoul took my hand in his paw and guided me away.

  Why are you worried about her? Raoul asked. She tried to kill you.

  “She was scared. Killing her friend was an accident.”

  It’s out of your hands now. He took a moment to examine me. You look nice, but your mask is crooked and your hair’s a little messed up.

  “I was trapped under a tent, Raoul.”

  Still, the family has standards to uphold.

  I snorted. “To the manor born, eh?”

  Come on, Cinderella. The ball is officially over.

  19

  I examined the ingredients carefully and poured flour into a measuring cup. After my experience with the Power Puffs, I decided to work harder to teach myself to bake. I didn’t need to become a champion baker, but I wanted to make one item supremely well on my own, so that when Marley’s class needed cookie donations, I was armed and ready. No team of overachieving mothers. Just me.

  “Make sure your measurements are accurate,” Delphine advised, observing me. “Inaccuracy often leads to flat cookies. Nobody wants that.”

  “I can still think of a few takers,” I said. My familiar, first and foremost. “How are you feeling post-breakup? Still think you made the right decision?”

  Delphine rested her chin in the palm of her hand. “I sort of regret missing the ball, especially because it had been a dream of mine for so long, but it was time to let the dream go. The Florian I’d been obsessed with was a fantasy.”

  “Are you sorry you got in touch with reality?”

  She popped a cackleberry into her mouth. “Of course not. If I hadn’t dated him, the fantasy would have continued indefinitely. Now I know he isn’t the wizard for me.”