by Amy Boyles
He shrugged as if murder was no big deal. “Then you came along and she saw her chance for even more fame. Of course not everyone liked Frankie.”
Vic lowered his chin and shot me a pointed glare. “Your mother, for instance, hated her. When someone magicked a dozen black roses on Frankie’s doorstep, it wasn’t hard to figure out who it might have been. So me and my cockroach friends decided to make it even more sinister.”
“So you left the roaches and the note?” I croaked.
“That’s right. So I did.”
While Vic mused on his brilliance, I was thinking through the pain, trying to figure a way out of this mess. I called on my water power and pushed at the ropes of liquid holding me, but a finger of water shot out from the tendril and snapped my water into submission.
“The only thing that can fight water is fire,” Eugene hissed from his spot on my chest.
“No,” I argued.
“Then I used my magic to kill her in the tub.” Vic laughed. “Once again with the help of my little friends. They frayed one of the cords and made it easier for me to cast the electrocution spell. What I wouldn’t do without them.”
Vic turned his attention back to me. “But now you must die and your mother must take the fall for my deeds. As much as I’d love to keep chatting, time’s a wasting.”
He pointed to the tendrils. “Rip her apart.”
The intensity increased and I screamed. I didn’t want to die. I mean, who ever did? But this was about more than me. This was also about Mama. I couldn’t let her take the fall for Frankie’s death.
Eugene lifted from around my neck. “If you won’t take my power, I’m just going to give it to you.”
“No, Eugene!”
But it was too late. The skull’s mouth opened, and it shot a line of fire directly at my chest. My body opened to it, absorbing the magic it offered. It felt like my body had been split open, swallowing and gulping up a dump truck load of power.
The magic streamed into me, and my world shifted and twisted, contracted and sharpened. Fire burned in my very core, and I felt like every cell in my body flamed.
There was something dark and powerful in fire magic. Water, air and earth were all very simple elements, things that could be molded and shaped to do what I wanted.
But fire? Fire was completely different.
The fire itself seemed to want to take hold of me and do what it wanted. That wasn’t going to happen.
I stared at the ropes of water strangling my right arm and I concentrated.
Fire flared from my wrist. It enveloped the water and extinguished it with a nasty hiss.
The same thing happened to my left arm, my right leg and my left leg.
I dropped lightly to the ground. I stared at Vic, who gaped at me, fear shining in his eyes. His mouth opened and shut like a fish gulping for air.
I extended my hand, and fire shot from a lamp. It wrapped itself around Vic and held him in a vise.
Then the rumbling started. I felt a great crack inside me. Heard a loud popping outside as if the world were breaking in two.
The fire holding Vic extinguished, and a deep well formed in the pit of my stomach.
This was it—the prophecy was coming true. I felt all magic drain from me, felt it disappear. I’d caused it to happen. This was all my fault.
But I didn’t have time to concentrate on that because Vic lunged for me.
Just then everything stopped. Vic froze as if he’d suddenly become paralyzed.
I gasped as a voice popped up behind me.
“So, it finally happened, didn’t it?”
I whirled around to see Hildegarde the Swamp Witch standing at the door. Water dripped from her clothing, pooling onto the floor around her.
I crumpled to the floor. “I’ve done it. I destroyed magic. It wasn’t my fault. I didn’t mean to.”
Hildegarde glided into the room, leaving a trail of water behind her. “Oh, I wouldn’t be so worried. Prophecies are funny.”
I wiped my nose on my sleeve. “What do you mean?”
She brought her hands together. “They happen but who’s to say how long they really last? Magic is gone, but for how long?”
“I don’t understand.”
A slow, knowing smile of superiority slid across Hildegarde’s face. “Did the prophecy say forever?”
“Um. I don’t remember.”
Hildegarde shrugged. “I don’t believe it did.” She raised a finger and cocked an ear as if to listen. “Wait for it.”
As quickly as it had extinguished, leaving me feeling as if a great void sat in the center of my chest, the power returned in a great rush, like a gale of air swooshing into my chest.
The tendril of fire that I’d wrapped around Vic returned, and I could feel it, the buzzing of magic in the very air.
I glanced at Hildegarde. “Why?”
She touched my cheek. “Perhaps it’s because only one person can possess all four elements. When that happened, magic had to reform, rethink how it will work together. You threw it for a loop, so to speak. But we are witches and we are strong. We survive and so does our power.”
She inhaled deeply and exhaled a cleansing breath. “Use your gift wisely. You will have trials and tribulations in your path, but I’m sure you’ll be able to overcome them.”
“Um. Okay. So magic is here. It’s back?”
Hildegarde’s mouth coiled into a vacant smile. “It is. It’s back. Gone for a moment but here to stay.”
She turned to go. The water trailing behind her reminded me of a snail’s trail of slime.
“Hildegarde,” I said as she reached the door.
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
I hiked a shoulder to my ear. “I don’t really know, but I have a feeling I have things to thank you for.”
She smiled. “You’re welcome.” The door flew open, and Hildegarde pointed outside. “I believe the authorities are on their way. Be sure not to let that water wizard out of your fire grip. You have many powers now, Charming Calhoun. You are a rare creature. Enjoy it while your life remains simple.”
Wait. What? “I’m sorry?”
But the only reply Hildegarde bestowed on me was a blown kiss. Then she vanished out the doorway. The next thing I knew Thorne was crossing the threshold.
Lines of concern etched his face. “Are you okay?”
I took a moment to really gauge that. Was I okay? I now had the power of all four elements—earth, water, air and fire—and I barely knew what to do with any of them.
But physically, I was fine. No bones broken and Vic still hovered, wrapped in fire.
So the one major concern I had bloomed in my chest. “Mama?”
Thorne took me by the shoulders. “She’s okay. Fine, actually. I’ve released her.” He nodded toward Vic. “What’s going on there?”
“Oh, well, funny you should ask.”
“I didn’t do anything,” Vic shouted. “Get me out of here.” He wiggled against the flames. “Let me out right now. I’m innocent. Don’t believe anything she tells you.”
Thorne’s silvery eyes darted from Vic to me. “So I’m to believe everything you tell me.”
“Exactly.” I thumbed in Vic’s direction. “He killed Frankie because she rejected him. Used his cockroaches to help him.”
Thorne’s gaze landed on a roach as it scurried across the floor. “Well, that’s original. Not what I would have expected.”
“And yet it’s so strange.”
Thorne nodded to Vic. “Can you explain why there’s fire around him?”
“Oh yes, I did that.”
“Charming!”
My mother’s voice at the door was a welcome sound. I moved past Thorne to her and threw open my arms.
“Mama! Okay, I’m going to admit it’s strange that all of y’all have shown up right now. Not sure how that happened.”
“I just had a feeling,” Mama said, “that you would be
here and that you needed me.”
I had to thank Hildegarde for that one, I suspect. For a seer who seemed so seriously loopy, the woman might actually have had some sense after all.
As I reached to hug Mama, she extended her palm to cut me off. “What was that with the magic vanishing?”
“It’s my fault,” Eugene admitted sheepishly. “I forced Charming to take my gift.”
“And magic disappeared,” Mama snapped. Before I could respond, she waved her hand. “I know it’s back. I know it only vanished for a moment, but still. Hildegarde could have told us the situation would be temporary. But leave it to a swamp witch to get drunk off boiled peanuts and leave out the important parts of a prophecy.”
I pointed to Vic. “Can we please focus on this situation? You’ve been released and we’ve found Frankie’s killer.”
Thorne cocked his head toward Vic. “If you release him from these um, flames, I’ll take him in.”
I cringed. “Oh. Well. I don’t know how to do that.”
Mama scoffed. “Really, Charming. Just point your finger at him.”
I aimed my index finger at him and said without much conviction, “Flame go away?”
The fire disappeared. Thorne pulled a set of magical handcuffs from his waist and locked them on Vic. The vampire tugged Vic toward him. “You can tell me your whole story when we get down to the jail.”
“She’s lying,” Vic shouted. “She’s a liar. An absolute liar! Don’t believe anything she says. I didn’t kill Frankie. I didn’t admit it.”
Vic continued yelling as Thorne pulled him through the doorway.
“I’m innocent!”
Mama clapped her hands, and his voice cut off. “Thank goodness. He was about to give me a headache, and I already have enough of one of those. For goodness’ sake, what a pain in the rear end.”
She looked at me and sighed. Then Mama opened her arms for me to hug her, which I did. “Charming, I’m so glad you weren’t hurt.”
I frowned so hard I felt a line wedge between my brows. “What do you mean?”
“When the magic blew out for a moment. I was worried something happened to you.”
I gently unfolded myself from her grasp. “So you weren’t really worried that magic would disappear?”
“Of course I was,” she sniffed. “But I was also worried something would happen to my daughter. I lost a husband once; I don’t want to lose you, too.”
A tear welled in my eye. I knuckled it away. “You never talk about Dad.”
Mama’s voice caught. “Because some things are too difficult to discuss. Sometime I will tell you about his research. What he was doing. I’ll tell you everything I know.”
A genuine smile spread across my face. “I would like that.”
And I would. It would bond my mother and I closer together, make us the mother/daughter team we were meant to be.
Rose’s head suddenly popped into view. “Charming! What happened to you?”
“Rose!” My hands flew to my cheeks in surprise. “I’m so sorry! I forgot about you. I got attacked by Vic Blass.”
Disbelief dripped from her voice. “The announcer?”
“Yes! He killed Frankie; he tried to kill me. In order to save my life, Eugene latched on to me. Magic died but it came right on back.” I smirked. “Hildegarde forgot to mention that part to us.”
“Oh.” Rose fluffed her hair. “Well, all that sounds good, but what am I supposed to do with him?”
She tugged Watts into view. Rose still had water ropes tied around him.
I glanced at Vic’s phone. “Let me just call Thorne and get him back here.”
“Nonsense,” Mama said. “I’ll magic him to the jail.” She clapped her hands and Watts disappeared.
She brushed her palms. “Now. I don’t know about y’all, but I’m ready for some peace and quiet. Who wants to return to the house and have a nice hot cup of cocoa?”
Rose smiled. “That sounds wonderful, but Pig actually likes her hot chocolate the frozen kind.”
I bit back a laugh as Pig pranced into view. “Of course she does,” I said, happiness bubbling inside me. “Of course she does.”
With that, Mama whisked us back to the house where we spent the rest of the night in peace and harmony.
Chapter 25
A week later Thorne and I were finishing up a date in which he’d taken me horseback riding.
It didn’t sound like much, but it was better than sitting in a stuffy restaurant where I was pretty much the only person who ate.
Surprisingly, Thorne enjoyed outdoor activities. I guess it wasn’t that surprising, really. I mean he had a lot of time on his hands. It made sense that he’d spend it keeping himself busy.
I slid off the saddle and walked my mount into a barn. The inside smelled of hay, horses and freshly cut grass.
A stable man took the reins from me. Thorne slid up beside me and took my hand.
“Thanks for coming out here. I know it’s a different kind of date.”
I smiled up at him. “Thanks for asking me.”
We stepped outside. Thorne ran his fingers through his hair. “Listen, about the other day when we kissed.”
Fear spiked in my chest. “You’re not going to say you regret it, are you?”
He wasn’t going to say that, was he? That he regretted kissing me? How horrible. I couldn’t even imagine if that was true.
“No,” Thorne said quickly. “Absolutely not. I don’t regret it. I just wanted to let you know that I was afraid you’d think I was trying to take advantage of you.”
“You mean because I was practically naked?”
His cheeks burned bright red.
“Are you blushing?”
Thorne glanced away. “I don’t blush.”
“Are you sure? Because that’s what it looks like,” I teased. “That you’re blushing. Surely you’re not blushing.”
“I’m not blushing. Vampires don’t blush.”
“Looks like it to me.” I shrugged. “Anyway, if you say so.”
“I say so,” he growled.
“Touchy, touchy.”
We studied each other before laughter bubbled up in both of us.
“It’s okay to blush around me,” I said shyly. “I won’t tell anyone your secret.”
We’d reached Thorne’s Jaguar. He stopped and took my hands. “The one thing I don’t want us to have with each other are secrets.”
His words speared my heart to my spine. I inhaled sharply. Thorne spoke about us as if we were a thing—a vampire/witch thing.
“You…” I couldn’t complete a coherent sentence.
Thorne cupped my cheek. “Do I think this is going somewhere? Yes. Do I think you and I might kill each other before it gets anywhere interesting? Another possible yes.”
I scowled. He laughed at me. “But don’t worry,” he said. “If it’s up to me, I’ll try to keep the peace as long as I can.”
“That’s reassuring,” I mumbled.
Then without asking, Thorne dipped down and kissed me. I felt it all the way to my toes. I wrapped my arms around him and enjoyed the warmth that seeped into me.
Boy, did Thorne know how to kiss.
When we parted, he smiled down at me. “Want to get some food?”
I nodded. “Sounds great.”
We headed into town as the sun burned down the sky. Pinks and blues smeared across the atmosphere, and I bit my bottom lip, excited about this new development in my relationship with Thorne.
We were a thing—sort of officially. Or unofficially. Or whatever it was that we were.
We paused at a stop sign to watch a caravan of trucks with tarps across their cargo areas rumble past.
“Is the National Guard here?” I murmured.
Thorne smirked, showing off the dimple on his left cheek. “No, that’s not what it is.”
“What is it?”
Thorne stopped the car, he was about to explain it when Mayor Dixon waddled up with India t
railing behind, a notebook cradled in her arms.
It was Saturday. Why was the mayor working? She rapped on Thorne’s window. He pressed the button and it hummed down.
The mayor flattened her palm to her chest in relief. “Oh, thank goodness the two of y’all are here.”
I dipped my head to get a good look at her. The mayor’s cheeks were red, and she looked flustered as all get-out. “Why? What’s going on?”
Winnifred Dixon shuddered. “Witch’s Forge has just received a mummy exhibition.”
My eyebrows arched high with interest. “Oh? That sounds fun.”
“Charming, I need you to match the main archaeologist.”
“Er, I just matched Frankie and she wound up dead.” Seriously, this wasn’t something I was into. “Maybe we can just let the mummy exhibit be the mummy exhibit.”
The mayor shook her head. “I don’t think so. See, I’ve already promised you’d match him. And maybe you can even take a glimpse at the mummy’s soul mate.”
I recoiled. “What? It’s a mummy. It’s Egyptian. It’s dead.”
The mayor smiled with enthusiasm. “Doesn’t mean it didn’t at one point have a true love.”
I hedged. “Okay, maybe.”
Winnifred pointed to the locks. “Well, come on. Thorne, get her out of there. We’re going to meet the archaeologist right now. This is so exciting for our community and for the future of Witch’s Forge.”
I shot a look to Thorne, who unclipped his seat belt. “Okay. Let’s go meet this guy and see who his mummy is in love with.”
I suppressed a giggle as my gaze locked with Thorne’s. He winked and I knew that I might be working but our date was still on. The chemistry between us ignited my core.
I pulled my belt off and smiled at the mayor. “Okay, let’s go meet this professor and his two-thousand-year-old mummy.”
Thorne took my hand and led me across the street where the exhibit was being set up. A large pyramid rose into the sky. Dust filled the air. I felt like I was standing before one of the great pyramids of Egypt.
Thorne’s silvery gaze shifted to the mayor. “All right, Mayor. Introduce us to this archeologist.”
The mayor waddled on past us. “Better yet,” she called over her shoulder, “why don’t I introduce you to the mummy?”
