Joyce Cummings was growing belladonna plants in her front yard. And they were growing well by the looks of it. Each was brilliantly dark green, flowering and fruiting. Celestial got off the bench to look up and under the plants, hoping to see a few branches stripped of berries. That might be all she needed to help aim suspicion away from herself. However, the plants appeared untouched and healthy. Though as she stood and brushed off her knees, Celestial considered that it wouldn’t be particularly difficult to take one or two berries from each plant and keep everything looking perfectly normal.
She would have to tell Nikoli. Maybe he could ask around, see if anyone saw anything outside of Joyce’s. Maybe Joyce would be more open with him than her. Though she would still have to tell him it was better not to drink the tea. And warn him from asking about Sergio.
Celestial’s own mental devil’s advocate stepped in before she could raise her hopes too high and she sat back on the bench. Even if the branches had been stripped. Every last berry taken...that still didn’t mean Joyce was the killer. Or even working with the killer. She glanced to the road, mere feet away and noted how easily it would be for anyone to come up and grab a handful of berries and be on their way.
Taking in a deep breath, Celestial watched the bees bump off the invisible divider she had placed between them and the belladonna flowers. She supposed butterflies would have to pollinate them. Though if the plants died, Celestial figured she wouldn’t be too upset at the loss.
Just like someone had taken her tea cup, it was entirely possible someone had seen the opportunity and taken some berries from Joyce’s plant. If she was going to point the finger at the other witch, Celestial would have to come up with something more substantial than circumstance.
Maybe it was the scent of the flowers or her own train of thought but Celestial felt like she was spinning in circles. Eventually she stood and started down the short path. It would be a good idea to see a few more people in the town. Partly to make sure they were doing alright and partly to keep a good cover if Joyce should ask.
She turned at the end of the walkway and glanced back to Joyce’s home. Celestial almost tripped as she saw the other witch glaring daggers at her from the window. It was difficult to tell how long she had been there or how much she had seen but one thing was clear enough from the sour look on Joyce’s face: If she had disliked Celestial before, she really didn’t like her now.
Trying to recover, Celestial sketched a wave and gestured to the garden. She mouthed, ‘They’re beautiful!’ and mimed smelling one of the roses that climbed up the wooden gate. Joyce’s look didn’t change except to settle more firmly into itself. Celestial dropped her hand and smiled at the woman, taking her leave. At least the flower garden had helped put her in the mood to work even if it hadn’t offered a clear murderer. And really, wasn’t that expecting a bit much from a flower garden?
Chapter 16
Even with everything going on, Celestial still found herself up to her elbows in orders to her shop. One of her most popular products, a lavender soap, was in near constant danger of being completely sold out.
Celestial wasn’t surprised by this. After all, the soap was as good at washing away germs as it was worries and problems. The soap was imbued with a minor but effective spell. Even those with no magical abilities would be able to benefit from it.
She had just received a particularly large order of the soaps. A frequent customer wanted them as party favors at her upcoming baby shower. She was pouring the soap into the molds when Victoria Sarin walked into her shop.
Celestial immediately felt uneasy. She always did when a dark witch was around. All white witches were very sensitive to these sorts of things, but Celestial felt it more keenly than other witches.
“Hello, Victoria,” she said. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“Oh, I suppose I’m just here to browse.” Victoria moved languidly, looking at the wares that Celestial was selling.
“Well, I suppose you’re able to do that. Please, let me know if there’s anything I can help you with.”
Celestial thought it was best to be cordial but firm if needed with the dark witches. If they weren’t doing anything wrong, there was no reason to interfere, but it was hard for Celestial to imagine a situation in which a dark witch wouldn’t be trying to do something to cause chaos.
Victoria sifted through the soaps. “Have they caught your cousin’s killer yet? I’m sure you’re still so devastated over what’s happened.”
Though she would never admit it, Celestial thought it was nice to be asked about her cousin’s murder without being accused of being the murderer in the same breath.
“No, we haven’t discovered the killer yet, but I’m sure they’ll be brought to justice soon.”
Victoria chuckled to herself. “If you weren’t such a goodie two-shoes, I would think you were the one who killed her. A less straight-laced white witch would have been jealous she didn’t get the chance to do the deed herself.”
Celestial pursed her lips. She didn’t like that Victoria felt free to discuss the murder so casually. “It was a very heinous crime. I would never wish that on anyone.”
“Well, I know you wouldn’t. I can’t believe that others think you have it in you, frankly.”
“I appreciate you saying that. Not many people believe it, truthfully.”
“They can’t see past their own noses then.” She picked up a soap and smelled it. “I noticed you haven’t visited my shop yet.”
“I haven’t,” Celestial admitted. “Unfortunately, I haven’t had the time.”
“It’s great,” Victoria said. “I made it just the way the tourists like it. They’re all so amused by buying from a witch. It’s like a novelty to them. And I’m happy to play the part.”
“I see.” Celestial wondered if Victoria had a point.
“Being the owner of a successful magic shop yourself, I was hoping you could give me a few tips. You always seem to do well for yourself.”
“I’ll see if I have the time. I’ve been very busy with orders, and, of course, I need to take care of Isabella’s death.”
“Doesn’t she have a sister that can do that?” Victoria asked.
Celestial sighed. She didn’t want to get into the particulars of her family dynamics with Victoria. “Opal is doing what she can. Like I said, I’ll stop by your shop if I have the time.”
Victoria smiled. It was sickly sweet and menacing all at the same time. “Wonderful. You’ll love it. My products are just to die for.”
“Great. I’ll try to stop by.”
Victoria grabbed a few more soaps and lotions and brought them up the counter. “I want to buy these. Maybe they’ll bring me luck and I’ll be as successful as you.”
Celestial rang up the total. Victoria paid for the goods. “I hope that your shop is successful, Victoria.”
“Thank you, Celestial. You’re really too kind. Goodbye now.”
Victoria walked out of the shop with a bag of Celestial’s soaps and lotions. Athena flew out of the back room and hopped onto the counter.
“What was that about?” she asked. “Has the world turned upside down? Since when are you giving business advice to the dark witches?”
“I’m not actually planning on going. Besides, she was probably just trying to be polite.”
“She came all the way over here and gave you a fake request to visit just to be polite?”
“Well, maybe not. But, regardless, I’m not going. Going in there and buying something is unthinkable at this point. I don’t think my products are powerful enough to cancel out the negativity that would bring.”
“Do you think she’s cursing her items?”
“No, not that. Dark magic just has strong negative energy regardless of if it’s a curse or not. A soap made by a dark witch would bring negative energy no matter what. It puts out what you put in.”
“I agree that you shouldn’t go there,” Athena said. “Besides, what if people thi
nk you’re involved with dark magic? That might make you look even more suspicious.”
“That’s true,” Celestial said. A thought occurred to her. “However...”
“I already don’t like the sound of this,” Athena commented.
“Well, who’s more likely to be involved with or know something about a murder than a dark witch?” Celestial wondered. “If I go to her shop, perhaps I’ll find someone who knows something.”
“You could also find the killer,” Athena warned. “I know things are dire, but you have to think of your own safety.”
“I don’t think anyone will try to strike me down in the middle of a tourist shop,” Celestial said. “There’s no harm in asking a few questions.”
“Maybe, but you should still be careful.”
She smiled at her dragonfly familiar. “I’m always careful. Besides, this is the first conversation in what feels like a long time where I haven’t been accused of murder. Things are looking up.”
Chapter 17
After the conversation with the dark witch, there was a dark aura lingering around her shop that Celestial couldn’t shake. She had considered visiting Victoria’s shop to get some information out of her customers, but that bad energy convinced her otherwise. Thoughts of the case soon overwhelmed her, and Celestial found herself heading back to the bed and breakfast in hopes of getting more information from Opal.
The young girl pried the front door open and timidly welcomed Celestial inside. “Good to see you again, do you want to come in?” She stood aside, waiting for the other to enter.
With a small smile, Celestial gently squeezed past the other into the main room. “Sorry to bother you again. I know you’re going through a lot right now.”
Opal nodded, letting out an exhausted breath. “Tell me about it. I haven’t been getting much sleep either, I’ve just been staying up wondering who could have done this to my dear sister.”
The admission sparked Celestial’s curiosity. “Did you come to any conclusions? Anyone in particular who had bad blood with your sister?”
Shaking her head, Opal shrugged. “Who didn’t have bad blood with Isabella? I thought all night, but I couldn’t narrow down the list. She wasn’t well liked.”
Celestial studied the other’s face as she said those words, but she couldn’t detect any deception. After all, she had come to the same conclusion when Tamara had posed the same question.
“However, there was something I thought about that might help the case.” As soon as the sentence left Opal’s lips, Joyce stormed into the room in a fiery rage.
“Excuse me, what do you think you’re doing here?” Joyce yelled, her hands flying to her hips as she stared Celestial down. “You’ve bothered Opal enough, it’s time you leave the poor girl alone.”
“I didn’t come to cause trouble.” Celestial raised her hands in defense. “We were just talking.”
The explanation wasn’t enough for Joyce, and she kept shouting. “About what, harping on her dead sister again? She’s been through enough, don’t you think?”
Opal stepped between the other two ladies. “It’s alright Joyce, she isn’t bothering me.”
“Not yet, but just you wait until her words start spinning in your head and keep you up at night. You don’t need to be pulled into the investigation when you’re so busy grieving. Let the police handle it.”
“Joyce, I mean no harm. I was just speaking to Opal about what was already on her mind.” Celestial stepped backwards towards the door as Joyce kept advancing.
“Now is not the time. We’d like you to leave.” All three women stood silent for a moment until Opal protested.
“I’d like to speak to Celestial.” Joyce’s face fell. “But, I do think you’re right Joyce, I haven’t had much sleep lately and perhaps it would be better for all of us if you came back another time.”
The smug look on Joyce’s face left Celestial feeling hopeless, and she eventually gave in. Though she knew she was leaving with no new leads, she couldn’t argue with a grieving sister. “Okay then Opal, I’m sorry to have bothered you and I wish you a good night.”
The other two watched Celestial retreat through the front door before Joyce slammed it moments later. “Trust me, it’s for your own good. That woman would have pushed you to answer questions you shouldn’t even be considering.”
Opal frowned, following Joyce down the hallway as she sped off into the sitting room. “Hey, I appreciate you looking out for me but I can make my own decisions.”
“Your judgment is a little compromised right now, I’m just trying to save you from further heartache.” Joyce relaxed on the couch, pulling a cup of tea into her lap and groaned. “After all that time wasting my tea’s gone cold.”
“Well it would’ve been warm still if you hadn’t butted in like that,” Opal teased.
Joyce’s eyes shifted up at Opal and narrowed quickly. “Speaking of butts, that Celestial is just trying to save her own.” She took a sip of the chilled tea, smirking to herself as she spoke. “Everyone knows she hated Isabella, and that her cup was the one at your sister’s bedside.”
Opal balled her hand into a fist. “Now look who’s upsetting me? Celestial is a good person, I don’t believe she would do something like that so it’s useless trying to turn me against her.”
“Dear, I just have your best interest in mind. Look at the facts, her cup was found at the scene, and now she’s doing damage control trying to come and implant stupid ideas into your fragile mind.”
Taking a seat beside Joyce on the couch, Opal gently took the other’s tea cup into her own hands to examine it. “Think about how many cups like this very one exist all over the world. Pinning a murder on someone just because of a cup is pointless.”
Joyce shrugged, snatching the cup back from her friend. “I’m just simply stating the facts, that’s all.”
“Another fact you may have overlooked was the belladonna. Celestial doesn’t have any.”
“Well, going back to your point about how many cups like this one exist, just think about how easy belladonna is to come by. I happen to have witnessed Celestial looking at my own plants rather suspiciously.” Joyce took another sip of the tea before putting it down in defeat.
“That’s a stretch.” Opal offered to put a fresh pot on, and Joyce nodded.
After indulging in two piping hot cups of tea, Joyce finally relented with a sigh. “Okay, you got me. I don’t truly believe Celestial would kill Isabella either, especially with her own cup.”
Opal grinned. “So all it takes is some hot tea to make you change your stance? I wish I’d known that when Celestial was here.”
“Oh don’t be silly. I haven’t fully changed my stance, Celestial is still on the very long list of suspects for me. Thank you for the fresh pot, though.”
Opal looked at the other, confusion evident on her face. “So if you still believe she’s suspicious, then what did you mean?”
“Oh dear.” Joyce shook her head, tapping Opal on the nose condescendingly. “I just meant to say that Celestial isn’t that stupid. She would have planned something better than leaving her own property at a crime scene.”
With a huff, Opal shrugged Joyce off. She retired to her room, but couldn’t help considering Joyce’s words. Maybe she was right after all.
Chapter 18
The small bells hanging on the doorknob to the store rang as Dakota opened the door and walked in.
Celestial smiled at him. “I see you didn’t land in my garden this time,” she said.
He smiled sheepishly back at her. “I set my landing for a block away just to be safe,” he said.
“Well, thank you for the thought. How is everything?” she asked.
“I wanted to tell you about some news I’ve been hearing.”
“There’s news?” Celestial asked, leaning on the counter. “What sort of news?”
“Well, news that a gris-gris bag may have been used in Isabella’s death has gotten out. Now everyon
e and their mother are convinced that they work.”
“Oh no,” Celestial said. “Do they think all magic is evil?”
“No. The opposite in fact,” Dakota said. “They’ve become convinced that magic can do anything and is the solution to all of the world’s problems.”
Celestial shook her head. “People can be so foolish. magic is simply a tool.”
“I know. However, it seems that Victoria Sarin has capitalized on the publicity. There’s lines out the door to get ahold of one of her gris-gris bags.”
Celestial’s eyes grew wide. “People hear something was used in a murder and now they want it for themselves?”
“Well, think about it,” Dakota said. “Not everyone wants to murder someone, but they do want to get their hands on something guaranteed to work.”
“Perhaps,” Celestial said. “I just hope no one plans to use magic for any more evil.”
“Maybe,” Dakota said. “I think everyone’s guessing that they’re being used for a mix of good and bad.”
“How do tourists even know about the murder?” Celestial asked. “I don’t know that I’ve ever kept up with the town news of any place I’ve ever visited.”
“Well, someone has to be telling tourists at the places where they congregate. And where do tourists tend to congregate?”
Celestial sighed. All the pieces fell into place.
“Victoria’s shop. Of course.”
“Exactly.”
“Oh, I can’t believe her. How could someone use such a tragedy to make money?”
Dakota shrugged. “Dark witches must not have a problem with that sort of thing.”
“Well, they should,” Celestial said with a huff. “She’s profiting off of a murder.”
“If they had a problem with it, then I think it would be much easier to turn them to the light,” he said. “She’s just using the juiciest bit of information she has to turn a profit.”
“I wonder if hers even work,” Celestial said. “She could be selling them anything, and they wouldn’t know the difference.”
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