by Zoe Arden
"That doesn't mean he can help how he feels."
I ignored Lucy's comment. I knew Trevor had a bit of a crush on me but I also knew he would never act on it. Not while Colt and I were together, and I didn't think either of us were going anywhere.
Eleanor hurried by. "Ava, have you seen your father? He's absconded with the coconut macaroons again."
I giggled. My father loved those darn little cookies even more than I did. "Sorry," I told her, "maybe he's with Sadie?" Sadie was a nurse at Sweetland Hospital and my father's on again off again romance. I'd seen her around here somewhere. Eleanor hurried off to keep looking.
"Look," Lucy whispered, "Calista's gone. I bet she snuck outside to get away from everyone."
"I would, too, if people were staring at me like that." I paused. "She looks so young. Did she really kill someone?"
Felicity nodded. "Yes, but it was an accident."
"That's what they say," Lucy said. "But who knows?"
A small voice behind them suddenly said, "I know."
We turned to see Calista standing there. Her bottom lip was quivering. She was holding a piece of apple strudel. "It was an accident," she said, then louder, "IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!"
The entire room stopped talking. The music that had been playing came to a halt.
"Of course, it was," I said quickly. "We didn't mean—"
"Why won't anyone give me a chance?" Calista cried. Her pigtails bobbed up and down as her head shook and her brown eyes began to water. "I wish my mom had never made me come tonight. Everybody in Mistmoor hates me, I don't know why she thought Sweetland would be any different! You're all the same!"
She threw her apple strudel at me. It missed and bounced off the wall, landing uneaten on the floor.
Someone nearby murmured, "What a waste of sugar."
Calista stormed past her mother and grandmother, who stood with violet faces. The door chimed as Calista exited the bakery. The gasps that followed her were as loud as church bells in the silence of the room. A figure stepped through the door just as Calista ran through it. The gasps that had echoed after Calista grew even louder, some of them turning to small shrieks as a dark, hooded figure entered the room.
Oh, no. It can't be. I blinked rapidly. Lucy elbowed me in the ribs. "Am I seeing things," she whispered, "or is that...?"
Polly Peacock pushed the hood of her jacket back and smiled at the room before turning her gaze directly on me. "Happy birthday, Ava."
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CHAPTER
FIVE
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Wilma Trueheart, Polly's aunt, hurried in behind her, pushing Polly further inside the room. Several people stepped back as Polly stepped forward.
"Happy birthday, Ava," Wilma cried, echoing Polly. She was all smiles and waves, as if she hadn't just walked in with a lunatic on her arm. Wilma ran up to me and drew me into a surprisingly strong bear hug.
Wilma wasn't a bad person but her first month in Sweetland Cove had been rocky. She'd alienated half the town trying to put The Mystic Cupcake out of business. Everyone had been surprised when she'd decided to stay. It took a strong person to face up to their actions, and I had been able to lay aside any hard feelings for her because of it.
"Thanks, Wilma," I said, feeling the eyes of everyone in the room on us. I set my gift from Trevor aside and glared at Polly, who kept a bright smile plastered on her face. Almost as bright as Wilma's. I thought both of them were trying way too hard to look happy.
Whereas people had only whispered about Calista's appearance, they spoke openly about Polly's.
"What is she thinking?"
"They can't let her stay."
"If she grabs a wand, tackle her," said Natalie Vargas.
People weren't even trying to keep their voices low. I wondered if that would make Calista feel better if she knew. At least people had tried to put on an act for her. With Polly, they didn't care enough to even pretend. Polly's smile faltered ever so slightly. Her aunt let go of me and returned to her side, linking arms with her niece and dragging her toward me.
There were sudden gasps and groans. Everyone here knew what had happened the last time Polly and I had met. My father appeared with Sheriff Knoxx, holding a half-eaten plate of macaroons between them. The sheriff's eyes widened when he saw Polly. He started toward her, looking ready to kill. Eleanor jumped between them, grabbing hold of his shoulders and whispering something fiercely in his ear.
"Let's go," Polly whispered to her aunt, eyeing the sheriff apprehensively. Wilma shook her head and gripped Polly's arm tighter. Polly's smile had faded but Wilma was still wearing hers. It looked like her lips had been frozen that way. I saw Colt start toward me from the corner he'd been hovering in talking to Sheriff Lincoln Maxwell.
"I hope you don't mind," Wilma said to me, struggling to keep her grip on Polly, who was squirming busily at her side, "but I thought a night out would do my niece some good."
I shot a look to Lucy and Felicity, whose mouths were hanging open. "Um..." I said. I knew that Wilma had been invited to my party but I didn't think anyone had suspected she'd try to bring Polly with her. The invitations had gone out before her release anyway. "Err..."
I had no idea what to say. Trixie was standing near her boyfriend, Melbourne Hammond. Russell was nearby them. Both Russell and Melbourne were vampires, and I could see their fangs poking out from behind their upper lips. I knew how hard it had been for Melbourne and Russell to fit in with the Sweetland crowd even though they were both good people. Most of Sweetland's residents accepted them now but it hadn't been easy. Especially for Russell, who'd made a lot of mistakes early in his life as a vampire. Showing off their fangs wasn't something either did lightly.
Polly stopped struggling against Wilma's grip. She sighed and took a small step toward me. Colt was at my side now. He took my hand in his and I felt his strength warm me, embolden me. I stepped toward Polly. We were still a full foot apart but it was the closest I'd been to her in some time. Even at the bakery earlier, I'd managed to keep my distance. She cast a furtive glance around the room.
"I don't want to your ruin your party," she said in a near whisper. I could see guests straining to hear her and let go of Colt's hand to step even closer. It was nobody's business what she had to say to me. "I just want to feel normal again," she murmured so softly I almost missed it.
"Well," I said, feeling a sudden surge of sympathy for Polly that irritated me. I didn't want to feel sympathy for her. It went against all of the anger and resentment I'd built up toward her in the last year. I knew what it was like to feel like an outsider, though. Hadn't I felt that way when I'd first arrived on Heavenly Haven? Hadn't Sheriff Knoxx made unfounded judgments against me? Hadn't everyone?
Yes, but the judgments against Polly aren't unfounded.
Colt's hand wrapped around my waist, drawing me back to him. What if I'd never given Colt a second chance, I suddenly wondered. We'd hated each other when we'd first met. He'd tried to lock me up in jail. It all seemed a distant memory now but I couldn't shake the relevance. Part of me couldn't help but think that everyone who wanted a second chance deserved one. But just one.
I licked my lips and felt Colt's hand press against the small of my back. "You'd better hurry up and get some cupcakes before they're all gone," I told Polly. "Besides, we're cutting my birthday cake soon. You wouldn't want to miss that." I turned and grabbed Colt's hand like it was a life vest and walked away.
I drew in deep breaths as the music slowly resumed. Polly hovered in her spot a moment before turning toward the pastry table.
"Are you insane?" Lucy whispered when I got back to her.
I shrugged. "I have no idea." Someone had set another plate of coconut macaroons on a nearby table. I grabbed it and started shoveling them into my mouth, nervous. "I need a drink," I announced.
"More punch?" Felicity asked, already moving toward the t
able.
"I think something a little harder might be in order," Colt said and ran to get me a glass of hard cider.
Eleanor and Trixie came up to me. "I'll talk to Wilma," Eleanor said urgently. "I'll tell her to get Polly out of here."
"No," I told her. "Don't. I don't want any more scenes."
Trixie opened her mouth to protest. "But—"
"And I think that maybe Polly's being sincere when she says she's changed."
My aunts looked doubtfully at me. "Even if she's not," I continued, "she has no powers. The Witch's Council stripped her of them long ago, and COMHA double checked. They even removed her pixie powers. How dangerous can she be?" My aunts, Felicity, and Lucy remained silent. "And she has to check in with Colt every day," I added. "You know he wouldn't let anything happen to me."
I realized that any irritation I'd had for Colt because of his parole officer status had vanished. Now I was glad that he was Polly's parole officer. Who better than him to keep an eye on her?
Eleanor sighed. "Fine, but I'm not letting her out of my sight."
"I think you're all crazy," Lucy said. "We should be tossing her out of here on her butt." She shook her head, muttering something about wildebeest mushrooms. I hoped Lucy didn't try anything silly. The last thing I needed was for Polly to turn into a giant wildebeest and run wild around my party. I'd rather she just threw a strudel at me like Calista.
Colt returned with my drink and Sheriff Knoxx in tow. The sheriff's face was beet red. He sipped a glass of cider and kept his eyes trained on Polly, who was standing with Wilma, eating a cookie and trying to ignore the stares she was getting.
"She knows I'm watching her," Sheriff Knoxx said. Eleanor rubbed his arm, trying to calm his temper before the goblin could surface.
"I love you," Eleanor whispered.
Sheriff Knoxx's gaze broke away from Polly and turned to Eleanor. His whole face lightened. He smiled and kissed her lightly. When he pulled away, his eyes fell to the window behind us.
"Did you see that?" he asked, agitation resurfacing in his voice.
"What?" Eleanor asked, looking toward the window where he was still staring. I shot a look toward it, too, but saw nothing except blackness.
"A giant raccoon just walked by," Sheriff Knoxx said. "It must have been at least seven feet tall. Should I go after it?"
Eleanor stared at him a moment as I stifled a laugh. She took the glass from his hand, sniffed it, and said, "I think you've had enough to drink."
I looked down at the cider I'd begun to sip then back up at the window. Something moved in the darkness. My heart stammered a beat before I realized it was Rocky's head. Tootsie and Snowball were standing on his back. They all peered through the glass. I laughed.
"It was just Rocky, Snowball, and Tootsie," I said. "They must have gotten bored at home."
"Okay," Sheriff Knoxx said, "but if I see that raccoon again, I'm arresting it."
Lucy giggled as Eleanor led the sheriff away from us for some fresh air.
The familiars disappeared from outside the window and I heard the door chime as one by one they wandered into the party. Snowball was basically a vacuum. Though tuna was her favorite, I knew she'd be happy with cake and cookies, too.
I shot a quick look toward Polly, who had moved to the punch bowl. She looked directly at me. Her blue eyes turned black. All black, like something out of a horror movie. I couldn't even see the glint of bakery lights in them. I blinked and it was gone. Her eyes were blue again.
"It's cake time," my father called out loudly from across the room.
I looked uncertainly down at the drink in my hand, then back at Polly, whose eyes were still blue. "Here," I said to Colt, handing him my drink, "you take this. Before I start seeing things, too."
* * *
CHAPTER
SIX
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The lights dimmed as my father, Eleanor, and Trixie wheeled out my birthday cake. I had to pick my jaw off the floor when I saw it.
A hundred candles glowed in the dark, lighting up the faces of those around us. I could see all the way to the back of the room. Trevor stood smiling widely. Natalie Vargas stood near him. For once, she was focused on something other than gossip. Melbourne and Russell were close by, their fangs having retreated back to wherever fangs came from.
I spotted Calista with her mother and grandmother. They must have caught up to her and convinced her to come back inside. I was surprised that they'd succeeded and wondered if I should try and talk to her later. Maybe apologize. I couldn't find Polly or Wilma anywhere and part of me hoped that they'd left.
Then the song started, and I forgot all about Polly and Calista.
"Happy birthday to you..." my family and friends sang. I don't know who did it but someone conjured the sounds of a soft guitar to strum along with the voices. My eyes began to mist as I felt the warmth of the people I cared most about in the world wish me all the best for my birthday.
The song ended and the lights came back on. With the full lights of the bakery shining brightly down, I couldn't help but appreciate how much work must have gone into the creation of this cake. It was more than a cake; it was a monument.
The cake must have been at least eight feet tall. It was like three wedding cakes stacked together. The largest, bottom tier was several feet around; the smallest, top one just a foot. It was no ordinary tiered cake though. It was topsy turvy. The tiers sat at odd angles. Some of them seemed to be defying gravity. The middle tier sat almost on its side the angle was so steep, yet it was supporting at least five more tiers above it. I had no idea how they'd managed to build it but was certain magic must have been involved. Even harder to believe than the gravity-defying angles was that they had managed to hide this from me.
"Wow!" I shouted, a giggle rising in my throat. "Just... wow!" I clapped my hands over my mouth, awestruck. Snowball and Tootsie ran across the room. Rocky bounded after them. There was a sudden hush as they got a little too close to Eleanor's legs, nearly tripping her up. She regained her balance and ordered Rocky and the others to stop playing indoors.
My dad and aunts set the cake on a stand in front of me, and I was able to appreciate the tiny details now as well as the larger ones. The top layer had a bright blue waterfall going over the side. It had been crafted from the finest buttercream frosting and gel and almost glowed it was so bright. The waterfall continued over each layer, in some cases swirling or twirling around as it continued on its way to the bottom layer, where a mighty river had been formed all along the base.
There were tiny seagulls and albatrosses sitting on the cakes. Some looked as though they were about to take flight, others looked as though they had just landed. Small fish jumped out of the frosting, swimming from one layer to the next. The overall frosting was a mix of white and varying shades of blue. It gave the whole cake the appearance of ocean water and sea foam.
"The cake is vanilla bean and coconut," Eleanor said, beaming.
"And dark chocolate with caramel sea salt," Trixie added.
"And strawberry with dark chocolate cherry filling," my father said.
"The layers alternate," Eleanor said, her face giddy. "And we added a combination of happiness and good luck extract throughout the whole thing. So, whoever eats any should walk out of here feeling like they've had the best night of their lives." There was nothing that Eleanor liked more than surprising people.
"It's beautiful," I told them. "Thank you." I hugged each of them in turn and picked up the cake knife.
"Wait!" Trixie shouted so loud that the cake shook on its stand.
Colt flinched, thinking it was about to fall. I could see him ready to catch it but it stood resolute. No danger of collapse imminent. Lucy let out a loud sigh. Felicity gripped Lincoln's arm. She smiled at me but eyed the cake closely.
"What?" Eleanor cried, shooting an irritated glance at her sister.
"Oh, my roses," Eleanor laughed, turning to me. "She's right. I got so excited I almost forgot. Ava, make a wish and blow out the candles. Hurry before they melt everywhere."
Trixie looked around the room. "Somebody get the lights."
The bakery flickered back into darkness except for the light of the candles, which was almost as bright as the overhead lights but much softer. I caught a glimpse of Polly, who'd suddenly reappeared. I wondered where she'd gone. Her eyes flashed black, like looking into midnight. I blinked again and it was gone, replaced with the bright blue I was used to seeing.
She stood near Trevor, who was watching me with a dopey grin on his face. I hoped Colt didn't notice. He knew Trevor liked me but had never shown any jealousy over it. He knew I only had eyes for him. Still, that didn't mean he would appreciate Trevor's goofy grin.
"Go on," Natalie called out. "Make a wish already. I need cake!"
The crowd laughed. I closed my eyes and wished that everything in my life could be as perfect as this moment. I opened my eyes and blew out the candles. It took several long breaths before the bakery went black. Everyone cheered. The scent of sulfur wafted through the air. I wrinkled my nose.
"Lights!" Eleanor called. The bakery lights flickered once, twice, then fell back to blackness. "It's those silly charms of yours, Trixie. They're messing with the lights. I should never have let you put so much glitter everywhere."
"You didn't think my charms were silly when the lights were working."
"I've got it," my father shouted, and suddenly the bakery was washed in bright yellow lights. Everyone clapped.
"Thank you, Eli," Eleanor said, smiling at him.
A loud shriek pierced the air. Everyone stopped talking and turned to look at Natalie Vargas. She was still standing near the back of the room. Her face was white as snow.
