Magic & Misdeeds

by Annabel Chase

  “You think?” I couldn’t resist the sarcasm.

  Did you see who left it?

  “No, but PP3 didn’t like whoever it was.”

  He scrambled to the window and parted the curtains to look outside. I don’t see anything except Hazel on her getaway broom.

  “I don’t think they planned to stick around for credit. Presumably, this is a message of some kind.”

  The raccoon turned to face me. I think I might have upset someone.

  “How? By taking their pizza and donuts?” To be fair, that would be enough to upset me.

  I told you I’ve been helping out animals down at the dump, he said. He ambled to the sofa and climbed onto a cushion.

  “Yes. Why would that upset someone?”

  Raoul gave me a sheepish look. My popularity has soared for a reason. I’ve sort of been granting favors.

  I eyed him suspiciously. “What kind of favors?”

  Barry—that’s one of the beavers—he needed special wood for his dam from a different part of the forest. Raoul motioned with his paws. So I arranged for him to get some.

  “Why couldn’t Barry get his own wood?” I pictured a beaver with a leg in a cast or some other obstacle.

  The part of the forest where that particular type of tree is located might belong to someone else.

  I tapped my foot impatiently. “Spit it out, Raoul.”

  Raoul released a breath. Fine. It belongs to Gilbert the Goat.

  “Is Gilbert an actual goat?” I asked.

  What else would he be?

  I crossed my arms. “And what else is Gilbert? Why does a goat have a stranglehold on part of the forest?”

  The forest is divided into sections, Raoul said. I might have crossed into Gilbert’s one too many times when granting my favors.

  “Is that where you got the wood for my altar?”

  His hangdog expression said it all.

  I jerked my thumb toward the doorstep. “And that’s Gilbert’s way of expressing his displeasure? What’s next? Am I going to find you covered with ants on the doorstep?”

  I’d had my own unpleasant experience with the mob. Jimmy the Lighter was the whole reason Marley and I were in Starry Hollow now. He’d tried to kill us and might have succeeded if my cousins hadn’t shown up in time.

  “Why don’t you stop granting favors? Or at least stop granting the ones that involve crossing Gilbert the Goat?”

  Raoul snuggled against a pillow. I don’t think it’s right that he claims ownership of any part of the forest. That type of tree should be available to any beaver that needs it.

  I joined him on the sofa. “I appreciate your willingness to help the little guys, but it’s getting too dangerous. I can’t have Gilbert and his cronies lurking outside Rose Cottage. What if something bad happened to Marley or PP3 because of this?”

  Raoul picked at an imaginary thread on the pillow. It’s been really nice feeling needed. These little guys are relying on me and you see how appreciative they are. It feels really good.

  I patted his furry leg. “I bet it does.” On the one hand, I understood Raoul’s desire to help. On the other hand, I’d escaped that kind of danger in New Jersey. Although I wasn’t convinced Gilbert the Goat was in the same league as Jimmy the Lighter, I wasn’t keen to be proven wrong. And I hated ants.

  That pizza was a warning, Raoul said. If I don’t stay off his turf, he’s coming after me.

  I contemplated the issue for a moment. “What if there was a way we could reclaim the forest for all the animals?”

  Raoul made a garbled sound. You mean force Gilbert to give up his turf?

  “Basically, yes. He has no right to any part of the forest. It’s public property.”

  How would you convince him? With magic?

  “I could try a ward of some kind, but I’m not sure how it would work. That would keep animals out rather than allow anyone in.”

  Raoul set the pillow aside. I can think of another option.

  “What is it? Anything I can help with?”

  The raccoon stared at me with his beady dark eyes. All the animals have one fear in common.

  “Really? What’s that?”

  One word—aunt.

  I scoffed. “I don’t think so, buddy. They just delivered a colony of them right to our doorstep.”

  The raccoon shook his head. No, not a-n-t. Hyacinth. Your aunt.

  Ah. That made more sense. “You want me to call in the big wands?”

  I don’t think we have a choice.

  I slid to my feet. “I’m heading over there later, so I’ll take care of it.”

  Thanks, Ember. You’re the best.

  I winked at him. “I know.” Take that, Hazel, I thought to myself. Misplaced confidence, my ass.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The moment Marley arrived home from school, I ushered her upstairs to brush her hair and make herself presentable for afternoon tea at Thornhold. Aunt Hyacinth had decided it would be impolite not to host Philip one more time before his departure. It seemed my aunt’s obsession with social mores outweighed her dislike of Philip.

  “I would’ve thought you’d be madly trying to finish the game,” I said, as Marley and I made our way onto the veranda.

  Philip held up his phone. “I’m checking others’ progress, but I fell too far behind to have any hope of winning.”

  Simon offered me cup and saucer. “With extra milk and sugar, just the way you like it, Miss Ember.”

  Florian came over to examine my cup. “It’s not really tea at that point, is it?”

  “Nope. Just fat and sugar, my two favorite food groups.” I blew the steam off the surface of the tea before taking a sip. I’d learned my lesson after scalding my tongue once—or maybe three times. Apparently, it took me multiple times to learn my lesson.

  Marley eyed a tray of homemade cookies. “Can I have one, Mom?”

  “You may have two, in fact,” Aunt Hyacinth said. “How was school?”

  “Great,” Marley said. “I turned my lab partner into a frog.”

  I whirled around and nearly spilled my tea in the process. “You did what?”

  Marley laughed. “Relax. It was part of the lesson.”

  “And how are you finding your wand?” Aunt Hyacinth asked. “I hope having such a treasured family heirloom helps unlock your potential.”

  Marley shot me an anxious look and I knew she was worried about revealing our progress. “I love it. It’s so different from everyone else’s.”

  “Aster and I are going to the beach soon to announce the winner of the tournament,” Florian said. “Will you be covering that for the paper?”

  “Yes, definitely,” I said.

  Florian pinned me with a hard stare. “And will you be covering anything else in your article?”

  “If you’re worried about the murder, don’t be. Another suspect’s alibi checked out this morning, so there’s nothing to report right now.”

  Philip bit into a cookie. “I don’t know what this says about the players involved in the tournament, but the murder didn’t seem to put a damper on the event.”

  “The sheriff must be nervous to have everyone leave later,” Florian said. “The murderer might leave town and never be caught.”

  “He’s directed any suspects not to leave town,” I said. “Of course, if none of them is the actual killer, then holding them here won’t matter.”

  “There’s the man of the hour,” Alec’s voice rumbled. The vampire strode across the veranda to shake Philip’s hand. “Good to see you again, Muldoon.”

  Philip pumped Alec’s hand enthusiastically. “I’m glad you were able to stop by. It’s been far too many years.”

  Alec snaked his arm around my waist. “I would be remiss if I didn’t at least manage a cup of tea with you before you leave.”

  “Alec!” Marley skipped over to hug the vampire. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

  “I assume we’ll all be heading to Balefire Beach from here
for the conclusion of the tournament,” Alec said.

  I pressed a finger into his broad chest. “You’ve assumed correctly.”

  “Alec, might I have a quick word?” Aunt Hyacinth asked. “It’s a minor business matter with the paper that requires your input.” She looped her arm through his and guided him into the house.

  Philip produced a pipe. “I’ll move to the opposite side of the veranda so as not to pollute your atmosphere.”

  “I’ll join you,” I said. “Marley and Florian seem busy anyway.” My cousin was entertaining her with all the screenshots he’d taken over the weekend. Thanks to the game’s augmented reality technology, he’d managed to stake a vampire in Elixir, slay a dragon in front of a playground full of children, and cut off an eel’s head with his friends in the background holding up pints of ale.

  I hoisted myself onto the low stone wall as Philip placed a mix of herbs in a pipe and lit it.

  “You look like Gandalf Lite with that pipe,” I said.

  He puffed and held the smoke in his mouth until he spoke. “Your grandfather had a long white beard. I like to think that someone in the human world caught a glimpse of him long ago and decided to write about him.”

  “I guess you knew a lot of my family members.”

  Philip wore a vague smile. “No need to be shy, Ember. If you wish to ask me about your parents, this is your chance.”

  “Nobody ever talks to me about my parents,” I said. “Not unless I push for a conversation.”

  “I can’t say it surprises me,” Philip said. “The family has always been somewhat rigid in their approach to emotions.”

  “Why?” I asked. “And how did you escape it?”

  He shrugged. “I moved away.” He eyed me over the pipe. “I suspect your father’s intentions were similar.”

  “I think he was more motivated by the death of my mother,” I said, “but he definitely wanted to get out from under the influence of the family.”

  Philip offered me his pipe, which I politely declined. “How was your father’s behavior in New Jersey? I’ve often wondered if it made a difference to your upbringing. Was he affectionate? Did he encourage you to express yourself?”

  I gazed at the blue sky above, pondering the question. “I used to think we were close, but there were so many lies.”

  “You must’ve sensed a wall of some kind, don’t you think?” Smoke in the shape of cotton balls puffed from his mouth. “Maybe that’s why you’re so comfortable with Alec.”

  I squinted. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, I don’t know him well, but it’s been my impression that the vampire is somewhat closed off on an emotional level. So maybe that’s why you’re drawn to him—because it feels familiar and comfortable.”

  “You think I’m dating Alec because of my relationship with my dad?”

  He shrugged. “It’s a theory. Many partners are chosen based on parental relationships. It’s nothing new.”

  I let the suggestion settle. “So, by the same token, do you think I might be uncomfortable with someone who displays genuine emotion and expresses their feelings?”

  “Absolutely, not because you don’t want it or don’t deserve it, but because it feels foreign to you.”

  My thoughts flickered to the sheriff, how open and willing he’d been to forge a relationship with me, whereas Alec was withdrawn and buried himself in work in order to avoid real feelings. And yet I’d still chosen Alec.

  “If you’re right, what does that mean?” My voice came out a whisper. “Does it mean my relationship with Alec is unhealthy?” And why did a pipe-smoking, game-obsessed wizard come up with this mind-blowing theory instead of a professional therapist?

  “That’s not for me to say.”

  “My father loved me,” I said, a little more insistent than necessary.

  “I don’t doubt that for a second, Ember,” Philip said. “He took great pains to protect you—to raise you away from what he probably considered to be a toxic environment.”

  I angled my head to look at him. “Do you think it’s toxic now?” I didn’t feel that way about Starry Hollow. I loved it here, and so did Marley.

  “It feels different now, I’ll say that much,” Philip said. “It could be due to a new generation of Rose-Muldoons. It could be the addition of two family members from New Jersey.” He winked at me.

  “Florian, Aster, and Linnea are pretty awesome,” I said. “I don’t know what I’d do without them, to be honest. They changed my life.”

  “That’s great to hear,” Philip said. “I had high hopes for them, but Florian…” He chuckled softly. “I mainly worried about the coddling.”

  “He’s spoiled. I won’t argue, but he’s gotten a lot better just since I’ve been here.” My cheeks burned. “That sounds like I’m giving myself credit.”

  Philip softly blew rings of smoke. “Maybe you should.” The smoky rings took the shape of horses and galloped away. “Maybe you’ve had more influence here than you realize.”

  “You’re a gamer. You’re not supposed to be insightful and good at feelings. You’re supposed to be awkward with poor social skills.”

  He laughed. “I’m all that too.” He pressed his lips to the pipe again. “I may have an unchecked interest in games, but I will say that breaking out of the suffocating bubble that is family made a big difference to my personal growth. I started to see the kind of toxic behavior I’d been a part of and it allowed me to make better choices as an adult.”

  “You seem very chill, Philip. I think whatever internal work you’ve done has paid off.”

  Alec’s long shadow fell over us. “Apologies for that.”

  “No worries. Philip and I were having a moment,” I said.

  Alec adjusted his cufflinks in two crisp movements. “Is that so?”

  Philip offered Alec his pipe. “I doubt you have anything to fear from me. I’m not half as sophisticated as a worldly talented vampire such as yourself.” The wizard tapped the pipe and slid his feet to the ground. “I’m comfortable with who I am.” He patted Alec on the chest. “Can you say the same?” Philip continued past the vampire and headed back to the house.

  Alec shot me a quizzical glance. “Should I understand any of that?”

  “Probably not. Philip is a pretty interesting guy though. I think Aunt Hyacinth has been missing out.”

  “I’m sure this isn’t the first time,” Alec said. “Sounds like you two had a wonderful conversation.”

  “He definitely got me thinking,” I said. “He knew my parents. He said my grandfather had a dope beard.”

  Alec smiled. “Dope, was it?”

  “I’m glad he was here,” I said.

  Florian waved to us from across the veranda. “I need to head to the beach to prepare. Would anyone like a ride?”

  Marley’s hand shot into the air.

  “I wouldn’t mind one,” Philip said.

  Aunt Hyacinth emerged from the house. “I’ll sit this one out, thank you.”

  “Actually, I have a favor to ask you,” I said. “Florian, I’ll meet you all at the beach. There’s something I need to take care of first.”

  “Can we play the game at the beach?” Marley asked. “I want to have the ocean as the background in one of my screenshots.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Florian said.

  Alec squeezed my hand. “Am I needed for this favor?”

  “No, you’re free to return to your rabbit hole.”

  He gave me a quick kiss on the lips. “Dinner tonight?”

  “I’d like that.”

  I waited for everyone to vacate the veranda before I told Aunt Hyacinth what I needed from her. I didn’t want to embarrass Raoul by blabbing in front of everyone. Although she agreed, I could see the skepticism in her eyes.

  I hurried home to rendezvous with Raoul and put on my hiking boots. My aunt met me outside the cottage and we began our trek into the woods.

  “I cannot believe you’ve convinced me to partake in
this lunacy.” Aunt Hyacinth held up the hem of her kaftan as she stepped over another fallen log.

  “It’s for the greater good,” I said. “Peace in our time.”

  “We’re talking about squabbling forest animals,” she said. “It’s absurd.”

  “They’re part of nature,” I said. “And our coven has a duty to the natural world in this town.”

  “Not when they’re acting like fools,” she muttered. “Where exactly is this Gilbert the Goat?”

  “I’m not sure, but Raoul said to meet him by the retention pond.”

  Aunt Hyacinth’s upper lip curled. “Retention pond? We’re not even meeting at a natural pond?”

  Only my aunt would be snobby about the type of pond involved in a meeting with the forest mafia.

  “We should’ve ridden in on horses for the intimidation factor,” I said.

  Aunt Hyacinth gave me a withering glance. “I don’t need an intimidation factor. I think you’ll find I’m more than enough.”

  I didn’t argue with that. “Sorry, if I’d realized how far it was, I would’ve had Simon bring you in that weird carriage.” All the towering trees made flying broomsticks difficult.

  “I’ll be discussing this issue at the next meeting with the Council of Elders,” she said. “We cannot have woodland creatures running riot in Starry Hollow.”

  “Will they actually care enough to do something about it?” I asked.

  She stopped walking and looked at me. “Ember, the Council of Elders took care of this town long before you arrived and we will continue to take care of it long after…”

  I laughed. “You expect me to be gone before you? Do you know something I don’t?”

  “I meant the council, not me specifically.” She continued walking in silence until we arrived at the pond. “I see the goat. To be fair, I smelled him first.”

  I surveyed the area. “Where’s our interpreter?”

  My aunt sniffed. “I’m a witch, Ember. I don’t need an interpreter.” She produced her wand and waved the tip in a circle as she muttered the incantation.

  Gilbert the Goat trotted forward. “It’s an honor to meet you, descendant of the One True Witch.”

  I raised a finger. “I’m a descendant too.”