Night Myst

by Yasmine Galenorn

Page 6

 

  Suddenly terrified, I made sure the window was locked and closed the curtains. Even so, I still felt vulnerable and exposed.

  Chapter 5

  When I was finished and dressed again--I'd have to do laundry soon considering how many times I was changing clothes today and how few clothes I actually owned--I sat on the bed, taking stock of the situation.

  Grieve had changed. His eyes haunted me and I couldn't figure out what the hell had happened. And he'd mentioned the Indigo Court. But mostly, I felt the sting of his rejection. Would he ever forgive me? And more important--could I love this new Grieve, who was far harsher and crueler? Would I even want to?

  We headed out to meet the lawyer at the diner, taking Favonis since Rhiannon was too upset to drive and Leo wanted a ride in my Pontiac GTO. His enthusiasm would have made me smile any other time, but after everything that had happened today, I really wasn't up for an automobile lovefest.

  As we pulled into the parking lot, I glanced around, nervous, but there didn't seem to be any mysterious creatures hiding out. Last night I'd been running for my life here. Today it was quiet, almost serene.

  As we filed through the door, Rhiannon nodded to a gentleman who was probably in his mid-forties, waiting in one of the booths.

  He was very suit-and-tie, but I had the feeling that beneath that professional exterior, he couldn't wait to get home to blue jeans and a T-shirt. He just had that look in his eye. Plus, instead of coffee, he was sipping on a milk-shake, and a piece of apple pie smothered in whipped cream waited in front of him. Somehow, pie and a strawberry shake made him seem less imposing.

  We slipped into the booth.

  "How you doing? Jim Fischer. " The lawyer held out his hand and I shook it. Nothing spectacular, just warm, firm, and strong. The kind of handshake that offered confidence and security.

  "Cicely Waters. And I'm fine, thank you. "

  Anadey was at the table immediately with menus and coffee. I was the only one who turned over my mug and I noticed she'd brought cream with her.

  "You just take your time looking over the menu," she said, "unless you already know what you want. Cicely, it's good to see you again. I was worried last night when those two ruffians left right after you, but I watched and made sure you got to your motel room safely enough. "

  "You know who I am, then?" Surprised, I wondered why she hadn't introduced herself the night before if she'd recognized me.

  "Of course, but you were so tired last night, I didn't want to push you into a long talk. Now then, what can I get you all?" She held up her order pad.

  I handed the menu back to her. "Chicken soup, and grilled cheese. Plain--make sure nothing with fish comes near either, please. "

  Leo and Rhiannon asked for hamburgers and fries, and Anadey ran the order over to Peyton, who glanced out from the kitchen and waved.

  "She's had a hard life, that girl," Rhiannon said.

  "Why? Her mother seems nice enough. "

  "Marta's daughter is nice, Cicely," Jim said. "But Peyton's father was a werepuma. And some of the Weres--lycanthropes especially--don't see magical Weres as true to their nature. Peyton was teased unmercifully as a child by the werewolves, especially the Lupa Clan. "

  "So you're Marta's lawyer? You seem kind of young. " I'd expected some elderly family retainer.

  "Marta transferred her business to me ten years ago, when I first took up practice. She never would say why, and I learned not to question. Anadey is Marta's oldest child. She also had a younger son, who died a few years ago. The mother left town, but Marta's grandson--Tyne--is a member of the Thirteen Moons Society. "

  "That much, I know. "

  "Jim's right," Anadey said, overhearing our conversation as she returned to pour more coffee, and bring Leo and Rhiannon their Cokes. "Unfortunately, Tyne and Mother never saw eye to eye, and she left him out of the family inheritance. He's stubborn, and he butted heads with every woman in the coterie. "

  "But he's still part of the Society?"

  "Yes, and he always ended up deferring to Mother, as is proper, but only after an argument. Mother used to say they wasted more time bickering than they did actually getting the work done. "

  It occurred to me that if he didn't like women in the Society, then maybe he saw his chance to ascend to power after his grandmother died, and might somehow be tied to the disappearance of my aunt, but I discreetly kept that thought to myself. I'd talk to Rhiannon about it later.

  "I asked Jim to meet you here because I wanted to reassure you ahead of time that I'm fine with you taking over Mother's business. " Anadey held up her hand. "Just a second. " She called back to the other waitress, "Jenny, fill in for me, and have Rob man the grill. Peyton and I will be taking a couple hours off this afternoon. "

  I stared at Anadey. Nothing but sincerity seemed to flow from her. "Are you sure? I don't want to horn in on something you wanted from your mother. Hell, I never even really knew her, more than just a passing hello on one of my few visits back to New Forest. "

  Anadey laughed. "Don't worry. I get the house, and gods only know, Peyton and I need it, but honestly, I have no interest in running Mother's business. You may come get her supplies any time you like. Besides, she was adamant about you being the one to carry on for her. I trust her. I always did, even if we didn't see eye to eye. And so now, on her word, I'll trust you to do right by her. You know, of course, that means you are automatically a member of the Society, though not much remains of the local membership. I suggest you begin building it back up from scratch. You'll need every scrap of what she left to you, I'm afraid. What with the way things are going in this town. " Her expression told me she knew more about it than I did.

  "How much do you know?"

  "I know your aunt has vanished. I know the Society is being systematically eradicated. " Anadey frowned. "The energy of the town has changed, people are disappearing, and I have a really bad feeling about what the wind's blowing our way. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll just run some last-minute instructions by my staff and then Peyton and I will be right back. "

  She excused herself. As soon as she was out of ear-shot, I said, "I'm confused. Why didn't Marta leave her daughter the business? Or her grandson? They're both magic-born. It doesn't make sense. "

  Jim spoke up. "Oh, yes it does, Cicely. Marta knew something. We're not sure what, but she changed her will about two months ago. Anadey was with her and agreed to all the changes. Tyne was pissy about it, but since he's not her closest of kin, he can't very well challenge what Marta's daughter won't. "

  He pulled out a sheath of documents. "Here are all the legalities. Marta left enough money for me to change the ownership and file new papers for you. All you have to do is take possession of the assets and supplies. I'll put in for a business license for you as soon as you give me your information. "

  Pulling out a checkbook from the briefcase, he handed it to me. "Here's the business checkbook--I've made all the necessary changes to move it to your name. I just need you to sign this form for the name change and proof of signature, and I'll turn it in to the bank today. Then you can take over the business account. " He placed a sheath of papers in front of me and handed me a pen.

  As Anadey returned with our meals, I glanced over the documents and was shocked to see a balance of four thousand dollars in the checkbook. Hell, Marta did pretty good for being the town witch. I still felt odd accepting the gift, but everything seemed in order. At least as far as I could tell.

  "What next?"

  "You sign those papers, give them to me, then get your things from Marta's house. I'll file all the pertinent documents. "

  Anadey paused. "Jim, I'm going to run over to the house with them and start sorting out things. " She looked at me. "There's a lot of stuff, it may take you a little while to go through it, but you can get an idea of how much there is today, and take a load home with you. "

  She wiped a strand o
f hair out of her eyes and at that moment, I saw the exhaustion and sorrow hiding behind her smile. It occurred to me that since her mother had recently died, I should say something comforting, but I honestly had no idea what would be right. I didn't have much practice at cushioning the blows of life for others. Or for myself, either, for that matter.

  Anadey seemed to sense my hesitation. "It's okay, truly. Mother wanted you to have these things. I'm a powerful witch in my own right, but I never had any desire to work with the Society, or to hire myself out. I've always been the solitary type when it comes to magic. But if you ever need me, I'm here to help. "

  "I don't know what to say. " I bit my lip. "I'm just sorry . . . "

  Placing a hand on my shoulder, she smiled down at me. "Cicely, my mother had faith in you. I'm not sure what she expected you to do, but she was waiting for you to return. Don't let her down. "

  We finished up quietly, then Anadey removed her apron and called to Peyton while Jim paid the bill. Over my protest, he paid for all of us.

  Once out on the street, Leo excused himself. "My employers are going to wake up soon for the night. I have work to do before then. "

  Rhiannon frowned. "It doesn't do to keep Geoffrey waiting, does it?"

  Leo shook his head. "No. No, it doesn't. I have to change before I make my daily report. They require more formal clothes than Windbreakers and torn jeans. " He gave Rhiannon a kiss and jogged down the street.

  "Call me if you need anything. I'll get the paperwork started and let you know when things are ready for you to officially open the business. It will probably take about a week or so for everything to go through. " Jim headed toward a silver Beemer.

  As Peyton and her mother got in the backseat, and Rhiannon and I climbed in the front of Favonis, I couldn't help but wonder just how much Marta had known about what we were facing. And if there was any way of contacting her spirit to find out.

  Marta's house had to be a hundred if it was a day. One of those wonderful places with a wide veranda, it included the requisite swing, and if we had warmer summers here in western Washington, I could imagine the parties that porch would have seen. As it was, Marta appeared to have used most of the space to store various bags and boxes--rock salt, sulfur, and potting soil; what looked like a huge box of short, white taper candles; crystals and other odd-looking rocks; pieces of wood that I guessed were for wands and short staves.

  A sign was tacked on one of the newel posts. It read: BEWITCHERY GARDENS: FOR ALL YOUR MAGICAL NEEDS. Well, I knew I'd be changing that name. Just not my style.

  "All of this stuff is yours. Well, maybe not the potting soil, but I won't begrudge you that if you want it. "

  Anadey unlocked the door and we followed her through the foyer into the living room, which totally upset my expectations. The furniture was sleek, not heavy and upholstered. A lot of chrome and glass, a gray leather sofa, bookshelves stained with ebony rather than a dark mahogany. Modern, with a minimalist bent. Not at all what I'd been expecting. A few scattered pictures of Anadey and Peyton ornamented the walls, and there were even fewer doilies and tchotchkes.

  "Please, make yourselves comfortable while I find my list here . . . "

  She hunted through a desk in the corner as I wandered around the living room. Marta had been tidy, that was obvious. Meticulous, in fact. Everything pointed the same direction, everything was lined up perfectly. As I moved over to the DVD shelf, I noticed all the movies were in alphabetical order by title.

  Peyton wandered up beside me. "My grandmother was one of those everything-in-its-place people. I used to drive her nuts when I was little by dragging things off the shelves or out of drawers and putting them back wrong. "

  I glanced at her. Peyton was tall, taller than either Rhiannon or me, and she looked part Native American, with long, brown hair and a slightly flat nose, and eyes that were the color of dark chocolate. She wasn't classically beautiful, but something shone through that gave her a smoldering, sexy feel.

  "Do you like working with your mother?"

  She shrugged. "She started the diner a few years back and needed me to cook. We're getting to the point where she'll be able to hire someone new, soon, and I can do what I really want to do. "

  "What's that?"

  "I want to open a shop called Magical Investigations. I'd like to work as a psychic investigator. I'm half-Were, but also half-magic-born, and I have a real knack with the cards. I've also got martial arts training. I moonlight now, taking a few private clients, but I'd love to do it full-time. "

  That gave me an idea. "Hmm. That sounds interesting. And it might be even more fun if you had another witch attached to the business. What do you think about working out of my shop once I get it going? We could team up if needed, especially since I know nothing about running a business. Our first case can be finding out where the hell my aunt is. "

  Peyton grinned. "My grandma was right--you're a go-getter. I'll think about it. Seriously, it might be a perfect match. "

  A moment later, Anadey had spread out several sheets of paper on the old oak dining table. "Come on over. She motioned to Peyton, Rhiannon, and me. "Sit down, please. There's a room upstairs with my mother's magical tools, but I'd like to wait on those. There may be something I want--for sentimental value. "

  "Of course," I said, once again not wanting to overstep my bounds.

  "Then there are the supplies on the front porch, another room filled with supplies, and the books. On that shelf over there"--she pointed to one of the wide wall-to-wall built-in bookshelves--"the entire middle section is yours. Why don't you start with them? We've got some boxes and can easily pack them up this afternoon. "