by Sonia Parin
Luna leaped off her shoulder and landed on the counter. Her voice hitched with impatience. “You were about to tell me about Taffy.”
“I met him before your time,” Lexie said as she recalled something Taffy had said in response to a tiny fib Lexie had been forced to tell about being Jonathan’s girlfriend. The St James House butler had a special talent for sniffing out lies and he’d confirmed she’d been telling the truth, which had been news to her. Either she was a good liar or…
Lexie slanted her gaze toward Jonathan. She’d met him shortly after arriving in Manhattan. A while back, she’d realized they’d been destined to meet because he’d been given the task of acting as her chronicler and guide. They were friends. Okay, so… she did like his broad shoulders and easy smile and sparkly ocean blue eyes, and they always had something to talk about, but he was Jonathan.
Luna shook her head. “I’m trying to follow your thoughts and, I’m sorry to say, you’re not making sense.”
“Would you like another coffee?” Dawn asked.
Lexie gave a distracted nod. Could they be more than friends? She enjoyed his sense of humor, even if at times she became the source of his amusement.
“Here’s your coffee. Enjoy,” Dawn said.
She knew next to nothing about him. If she really thought about it, not a day went by without mentioning him or thinking about him or, when she was lucky, seeing him. Her first response to any situation was always to head here to his bar. What if he felt the same about her? Should she do something? Say something? Lexie nibbled the tip of her thumb. What if all this time he’d been waiting to catch her at the right moment?
Luna purred. “Now you’re sounding like a teenager, but keep talking, or rather, thinking. I’m finding all this rather amusing.”
Lexie reached for her mug only to set it down again. She could give him a nudge. It’d be dreadful if he felt the same way and didn’t want to say anything for fear he might ruin their friendship.
He finished talking with a customer and turned. Their gazes met. Lexie thought she caught a flicker of… something. Pushing off her barstool, she strode toward him. “Hi. I’m…” She was what?
His eyebrow rose slightly.
“I’m thinking you and I need to have a sit-down chat… about your chronicling…” Lexie gestured with her hands. “You know, the stuff you write about me.”
“What about it?”
“Well, you want to get it right, so I thought you might have some questions for me.”
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Yeah, of course I am. You know I’m curious about the stuff you write and since I’m the main subject, I’d… I’d like to have a read through. It’s only fair. Also, you might have missed something important.”
Someone strode by and bumped against Lexie. She turned only to be bumped by someone else. Lexie lost her balance and fell back… straight into Jonathan’s arms.
“Have you been drinking Irish Coffee?” he asked.
“No, why would you ask that?” Lexie tried to straighten but her body had other ideas and she clung onto him.
“I think you’d better sit down before you fall down.” He guided her back to her barstool and took the one next to her.
“Hey, I thought you said you didn’t know Dawn.”
Jonathan shrugged. “I must have been distracted.”
Lexie reached for her mug of coffee and, finding it empty, frowned.
“Um… Why is Luna staring at me?” Jonathan asked.
Luna blinked, took a dainty step closer to Jonathan and brushed against his arm.
Whatever you’re doing, stop it, Lexie mentally hollered at Luna. Stop it right now, missy.
“Why?”
“Because you’re making a fool of yourself.”
Luna rolled her eyes. “Says who? You?”
Lexie leaned down. “Hey, is that coffee I smell on your breath?”
Luna shook her head. “Maybe. I was thirsty.”
“What’s going on?” Jonathan asked.
“That’s what I’d like to know.” When Luna brushed her cheek against Jonathan’s arm, Lexie growled. Turning to Jonathan, Lexie rolled her eyes. “If she becomes too much of a pest, just push her away.”
Jonathan gave Luna a scratch under her chin. “Why would I do that? She’s adorable.”
“Really? You’ve never thought so before.”
“I guess she’s grown on me.” Jonathan nudged her. “You wanted to tell me something.”
“I did. Did I?” Lexie couldn’t stop staring into his eyes. When he smiled, they sparkled and lit up his face. Had she noticed that about him before?
Luna flicked her tail against Lexie’s nose. “You’re hogging him. Don’t be so selfish. I want some attention too.”
Lexie swatted the space in front of her. “Do you know what it means to be a third wheel?”
Luna flicked her tail again. “How strange. I had the same thought.”
Lexie turned to Jonathan. “Now I remember. You offered to show me your Chronicle or whatever you call the book you use to write all my adventures in.”
He chortled. “I don’t remember offering.”
“Yes, I’m sure you did.”
Seeing Luna nestling against him, Lexie said, “I’m serious. If Luna’s bothering you, just shove her off.”
“She’s fine.”
Luna gave her a kitty grin. “He likes me.”
“What’s come over you?” Lexie asked.
Luna lifted her chin. “I could ask the same question. If we’re going to fight over him, you should remember I have claws and I’m not afraid to use them.”
Lexie tried to think of a retort when the ground beneath them rumbled.
Chapter Three
Jonathan surged to his feet. “Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?” I hear nothing but the beat of my heart, Lexie thought.
Luna blinked and leaped onto Jonathan’s arms. “Wherever he goes, I go.”
“It came from the cellar,” he said.
When Jonathan strode off, Lexie tripped over her feet trying to keep up with him.
Luna peered at her over his shoulder. “I’m embarrassed for you. You look needy. Pull yourself together.”
“Me? What about you? Look at the way you’re clinging to him.”
“It’s in my nature to be loving and adorable.”
“It’s in your nature to be aloof. Instead, you’re all over him. You’re a disgrace to your kind.” They went through to the back room and down a set of narrow stairs to a part of the pub Lexie had never ventured into. At the bottom of the stairs, Jonathan stooped down and pressed his ear to a small wooden door.
“No one’s supposed to be in there.” He dug inside his pocket and produced an ancient looking key. Before pushing the door open, he turned to her.
Lexie’s breath caught. He looked like a buccaneer about to bid her farewell before stepping aboard a vessel that would take him to faraway places, and put him in the path of swashbuckling adventures and…
Tavern wenches. Lexie pursed her lips.
“You might want to stay here,” he said.
Lexie gave a defiant lift of her chin. “Where you go, I go.”
Shrugging, he eased the heavy door open and stepped inside. “Watch your head.”
This time, the rumbling they heard was followed by the distinct sound of a fist pounding on a door. Lexie tried to look over Jonathan’s shoulder but Luna kept getting in the way.
“What is this place?” she asked.
“My inner sanctum.”
“I can’t tell if you’re teasing or not.”
When the ground beneath them rumbled again, Jonathan told her to stay behind him.
Gladly, Lexie thought feeling perplexed by Jonathan’s casual stride toward the end of the dark room. “Shouldn’t you take some sort of precaution?”
“Such as?”
“Grab something. A weapon.”
“Why? I have you and yo
u have all the elements at your disposal.”
The next rumbling eruption had Lexie clutching his arm. “What on earth is that?” As Luna curled up into a tight ball, Lexie peered over Jonathan’s shoulder and saw a small door that looked like a prop from a fairy tale with iron hinges in the shape of a fleur de lis. “Please tell me there isn’t an ogre on the other side.”
He chortled. “I’ve seen worse.”
“Where exactly does that door lead to?”
“Anywhere and everywhere.”
Luna curled her tail around his neck and put her paw on Lexie’s shoulder.
“Hedging your bets, Luna?” Lexie mocked.
“I’m not entirely comfortable with this scenario,” Luna purred. “I feel rather exposed sitting here so close to whatever is on the other side.”
A voice cackled, “Open up, O’Connor. I know you’re in there.”
Luna leaped off his shoulder and landed on Lexie’s.
Jonathan groaned under his breath. “What is she doing here?”
Luna and Lexie exchanged a puzzled look. “Any time you’re ready to share more information, feel free. We’re both listening.”
Jonathan pressed his ear to the door and appeared to be whispering something.
“What was that?” the voice bellowed.
Jonathan turned and shook his head. “It’s the Crone.”
“Is that a derogatory term or her official name?” Lexie asked.
“Both,” he said. “Crone. You know I won’t open the door to you. What do you want?” Jonathan demanded.
“You have something that belongs to me and if you don’t open up, I’ll burn your place down.”
“That’s an empty threat and I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t have anything that belongs to you.”
Jonathan’s conversational tone should have put Lexie at ease but it didn’t because she suspected his confidence stemmed from the belief he could rely on her calling on the elements to rescue them.
The Crone shrilled, “I followed the footprints and they ended here. No one can go through this door unless you open it.”
Lexie thought she heard Jonathan swear under his breath. She poked him but he ignored her.
“That’s impossible. This door hasn’t been opened in eons.”
The Crone bellowed. “You lie. I can sense it.”
Jonathan raked his fingers through his hair. “You still can’t come through,” Jonathan warned. “You know the rules.”
“Only too well,” the Crone replied. “My magic has been stolen and taken into your world. I want it back. You have until midnight.”
Seeing Jonathan slump against the door Lexie rolled up her sleeves. “Clearly I’m about to be enlisted to sort this out, so I need to know who and what I’m dealing with.”
“Who’s that?” the Crone demanded.
Jonathan curled his fingers around Lexie’s arm and drew her away from the door.
“Is that a Mackenzie Witch?” The Crone banged against the door. “Answer me, O’Connor.”
Jonathan sighed. “You said I have until midnight.”
“And you didn’t answer my question. Come closer to the door, Mackenzie.”
Jonathan shook his head and Luna dug her claws into Lexie’s shoulder, while Lexie stepped forward.
“Who are you?” Lexie asked.
“Are you deaf? I’m the Crone,” the Crone replied. “Step closer, I want to sniff you.”
Shrugging, Lexie leaned against the door. “I used Lavender scented soap this morning so I should smell nice.”
The Crone cackled and then fell silent.
“What?” Lexie mouthed as Jonathan gave a woeful shake of his head.
“You’re Morgana’s brat.”
“Have we met?” Lexie asked innocently. She pressed her ear to the door and would have sworn she heard the Crone sniffing.
“Midnight, O’Connor,” the Crone said. “Or you will suffer my wrath.”
Lexie flapped her arms in the air. “You’re going to have to start talking, O’Connor… I mean, Jonathan.”
Jonathan brushed his hands across his face. “I was doing an annual fix and repair of the place, including oiling the doors.”
Lexie pointed at the fairy tale looking door. “Including this one?”
He nodded. “I did it during the middle of the day. I didn’t take my eyes off the door for a minute. Well, maybe I did, but it was only a second. I should have known better. A second was long enough for something… someone to come through.” He nudged her elbow and led her back to the bar.
“Let me get this straight,” Lexie said as she settled on a barstool. “Someone stole something from the Crone and came through the door and she holds you responsible.”
“Yes.”
Luna and Lexie exchanged knowing looks. “Well, case closed. Dawn is the only new face around.”
Jonathan frowned. “Dawn? But she’s sweet.”
Dawn approached them, a bright smile in place. “Coffee?”
Lexie nodded.
Leaning forward, Luna sniffed her. “I don’t smell magic on her, but I do sense an inordinate amount of cheerfulness. That alone is suspicious.”
“What do you know about Dawn?” Lexie asked. When Jonathan didn’t answer, Lexie persevered. “You hired her. Did you get a look at her resume?” No answer. “You must know something about her. She didn’t just walk in off the street. Her cheerfulness is almost out of this world.”
“Actually, she did walk in off the street, right in the middle of our busy hour. She stepped in and started serving customers. She’s been showing up every day since then.”
“And she had the bright idea of hanging those hearts around the place?” Lexie asked.
“They’re not that bad and we are coming up to Valentine’s.”
Lexie found herself agreeing.
“That’s odd,” Luna said. “You’ve never struck me as a romantic.”
“Well, people change.”
Luna gave her a kitty shrug. “They do, but you don’t.”
Rolling her eyes, Lexie turned to Jonathan. “Any idea where you’re going to find the Crone’s missing magic? The clock is sticking and something tells me that locked door is not going to hold her back.”
Jonathan drummed his fingers on the counter. “I can’t believe something came through that door. I only turned my attention away for a second.”
“The Crone didn’t give you specifics and I’m beginning to think that’s a witch trait. Let’s put our heads together.” Lexie leaned against him and rested her head on his shoulder.
Dawn strode by and smiled at them. “You two look adorable. You make the perfect couple.”
Jonathan gave a slight shake of his head. “She’s too nice to have stolen magic from the Crone or even to hail from that other place.”
“That other place?” Lexie asked.
“It’s a sort of fairy tale place. Everything you can ever imagine dwells within there.”
As well as some things she couldn’t even begin to imagine, Lexie mentally added. “And the door?”
“Put there several hundred years ago to keep it all contained.”
Luna cleared her throat. When that failed to grab their attention, she flicked her tail in their faces. “You two need to snap out of it. I sense something coming.”
They both straightened but before they could turn around, the pub door swung open. A man stood on the threshold, his face shadowed by the brim of a weather-beaten hat.
“I told you I sensed something coming,” Luna purred.
“This isn’t good,” Jonathan said under his breath. “In fact, this is bad. Very bad.”
“Who is he?” Lexie asked even though she knew the answer. “Did you call him?”
“Nope. Did you?”
They both turned to Luna.
“Don’t look at me. I don’t even know his name.”
“And yet, I always get the feeling you know more than you let on.” Lexie managed t
o slide off her barstool. When the man reached her, he tipped his hat back. Oh yes. She recognized the O’Rourke chiseled features, dark blue eyes and dark hair. She’d met a handful of them and, while they all looked the same, they all had their individual dress styles. This O’Rourke detective was no exception. He wore a khaki shirt under a brown leather jacket and the sort of trousers she’d seen in her favorite black and white movies. “Indiana O’Rourke, I presume.”
He surprised her with a brisk smile. “Alexandra Elizabeth Mackenzie. Incoming High Chair of the Mackenzie Coven.”
“Did I call you?” Lexie couldn’t remember even thinking of the name O’Rourke, which would have been enough to trigger an avalanche of O’Rourke detectives.
“I followed the wreckage and it led me here.”
“The what?” both Lexie and Jonathan asked.
The door opened behind Indiana O’Rourke and this time, it slammed against the wall making the windows rattle. A woman strode in, her eyes wild, her hands clenching and unclenching. “Where are you, you two-timing, good for nothing swine.”
Chapter Four
Lexie watched the local police take care of the woman who’d been ready to kill her husband. “What’s going on, Indiana?”
“There have been eruptions like this one all over the Village. They all started much the same way. An enraged wife stormed into the Kitty Café and confronted her husband who’d been sipping a latte with his lover. Minutes later, another woman appeared wielding a rolling pin and ready to do some serious damage to her fiancé. She caught him red-handed with another woman. Dozens of incidents have been reported.”
“So it’s all contained in this area?” Lexie asked.
“So far.” The O’Rourke detective’s gaze dropped to her hand. “Are you two an item?”
“Huh?” Lexie looked down and frowned. Jonathan’s hand was wrapped around hers. “What are you doing? Why are you holding my hand?”
