Shadow Magic, page 6
“Oh, yes. Monsters, ghosts, all sorts of dangerous creatures. Unfortunately, it seems to be a rite of passage for curious teenagers. More than a few have been hurt, some attacked by ghosts. Others by some sort of forest monster.” She shook her head, frowning. “Kids.”
“Why doesn’t the town wall it off or something?” I didn’t like wanton development but it seemed like it might be good to clear the land and turn it into some sort of government installation.
“They’ve tried. The town council voted to cordon it off with an electrified chain fence. They also hired security guards to patrol the perimeter. But kids still find ways to sneak in. It’s become a regular thing at the end of senior year for high schoolers to make their way into Hell’s Thicket and taunt the powers that be. Every year somebody gets hurt, but we still can’t convince them that they’re better off leaving well enough alone.”
“Well, that sounds stupid,” I said. “I guess you can’t convince teens that they aren’t immortal.”
Verity laughed, straddling the log and leaning back against the curve of the trunk. She looked up at the sky, and her hat fell off, exposing her bright red braid that she had wound around her head. Her hair was the color of spun copper, and I realized that she was actually quite pretty.
“Too true,” she said. “By the way, since you were gracious enough to answer my question, allow me to return the confidence. I’m a selkie. You’d think I’d be out on the ocean’s edge, but I’ve been through the shadow towns. Whisper Hollow is far too dark for me. And Moonshadow Bay is a lovely town, but it’s too close to Bellingham. I prefer rural areas.”
“I’ve never been to either place,” I said. “My mother moved us here when I was barely in my teens and I lived here until I turned eighteen.” I paused, then asked, “Are there others of your kind around here?”
“Actually, yes. Terameth Lake offers me the opportunity to swim in my seal form as much as I want to, plus all seals around here are protected by law. There’s a small Pod who live by the lake south of town. I’ve been accepted into the group. We’re the Mountain Lake Selkies. I’m not in the inner circle, but that’s all right with me. I’m with my own, and I feel safe here.”
There was something about Verity that inspired trading confidences. I decided right then that I wanted to get to know her better.
I glanced at my watch. It was quarter to ten. “I have to go, but please, give me a call. I’d like to talk more, if you’re up for it. Maybe we can meet for coffee?”
Verity smiled and nodded. “I think I’d like that too. I’ll call you tomorrow—today I have a picture to sketch and then I’m spending the afternoon putting up some peach preserves. But yes, I do think we’d hit it off. I’ll talk to you later, Marquette. It’s been nice to meet you.”
She stood and headed down the beach as I made my way back to my truck. It felt like I had made another step into fitting into the town. I was making friends, finally—something that I’d only ever been able to do with other agents. And it felt right.
I reached my truck as the rain began again. As I drove carefully out of the campground and back to Huckleberry Loop, I realized that I was actually happy. And that was a big step to adapting to my new life.
CHAPTER SIX
I stopped in the Cat’s Cradle to drop off the forms and pay the adoption fee. “Make me a double-shot caramel latte, please.”
As Jillian fixed my drink, I wandered over to the cat condo, looking for Sunshine and Midnight. They were curled up together, asleep. Their fur shifted gently as they twitched in their dreams. Midnight’s fur was sleek and shiny. Sunshine’s hair was long and fluffy. He’d need a good brushing every week. I decided to let them sleep right now, paid for everything, and then after adding a couple walnut-raisin oatmeal cookies to my order, carried the latte and cookies back to Shadow Magic.
“I’ll be back around eleven to pick them up,” I said.
Jillian grinned. “You won’t be sorry,” she said.
I unlocked the door, set my cookies and coffee on the counter, flipped on the lights, made sure everything looked good, and flipped the sign in the window to open. After that, I took my place behind the counter.
I pulled out my e-reader and brought up the book I was currently reading—a thriller from a new-to-me writer—and immersed myself in the action as I ate my cookies and drank my latte. About fifteen minutes later the bells on the door jangled and I slid the e-reader beneath the counter into one of the cubbyholes.
Marlo Mason had entered the shop. She was an elderly puma shifter who liked to think she dabbled in magic. She didn’t, really—she had no magical powers beyond her ability to shift and even that was getting sketchy given her age—but she bought spell kits and dutifully followed the directions. They worked in a way for her, enough so that she returned once a month. She would buy a prosperity kit and use it before she bought lottery tickets. When I thought about it, she actually seemed to win every time—not much, but enough to cover the cost of her kit and a couple of meals out.
“Good morning, Marquette,” she said, looking around. “You’ve got it looking festive in here!” She was about four-eleven, and her hair was long and silver, trailing in a braid down her back. She wore a flowered housedress, and she carried a white handbag over her arm. She walked up to the counter and set her purse on the glass, opening it.
I thought she was going to pull out some cash for a kit, but instead she brought out a plastic bag containing a stack of what looked like sugar cookies in the shape of pumpkins with orange icing on them.
“Here you go, dear. I decided to do some baking and thought I’d bring you and Granny some cookies.” She handed me the crinkling sack with a bright smile.
I flashed her one in return. “Aww, you didn’t have to do that, but we’ll enjoy these,” I said, meaning it. I liked Marlo and I liked her baking—she brought us cookies for almost every holiday. “Do you want a new spell kit?”
She nodded. “Yes, if you wouldn’t mind getting it for me? The usual, please.”
I slid off my stool and ducked out from around the counter, retrieving the kit. It contained a candle, pre-carved and anointed, a packet of incense, an incantation, and cabochons of prehnite and citrine to place by the candle. We charged ten dollars, plus tax, for the kit, which we enchanted during the waxing moon cycle.
“Here you go,” I said, handing her the kit. She tucked it in her shopping bag and handed me eleven dollars. I gave her back a dime. “Good luck.”
She beamed. “I don’t need luck, not with your and Granny’s skill. Have a nice day, dear, and I hope you love the cookies.”
I waved as she exited the shop. I was about to go back to my book when a group of four women entered the shop. I hopped off the barstool and went into my professional witch mode, and was busy until Granny got there at ten till eleven.
At precisely eleven o’clock, Granny took over and I slung my purse over my shoulder, picked up the carriers from the back of my truck, which was parked out front, and strolled to the Cat’s Cradle. Jillian was waiting for me. She looked as excited as I felt. I hadn’t been sure at first, but now, seeing Midnight and Sunshine sitting there waiting for me, I realized I was absolutely thrilled.
“Is everything okay? Are they ready to go?”
Jillian motioned for me to set the carriers on one of the tables, and—to my surprise—Midnight and Sunshine casually walked over to the table, jumped up, and curled up inside the carriers without any prodding at all.
We told you we were waiting for you, Midnight said.
I laughed, reaching in to give both of them a scratch behind the ears before shutting the carriers and fastening them securely.
Jillian handed me a receipt, which I folded and put in my purse, along with a file folder that she slid into a manila envelope. “Here’s all their information for the vet. I recommend going to Dr. Wise. She’s over on 43rd St. and she’s a wonder with animals.”
I grinned. “Granny’s excited about this, too,” I said. “At first I thought she was more excited than I was, but now I’m actually really looking forward to having them home.”
Jillian bagged up a couple éclairs. “For the road,” she said. “Here, let me help you carry them to your truck. You should put them in the front seat if you have room, rather than the back.”
“Of course. I cleaned out the cab of my truck this morning so that both carriers could fit.” I picked up Midnight and she picked up Sunshine. We headed out of the cat café, leaving her barista to watch the shop.
Out on the sidewalk, I was surprised to see so many shoppers already milling around. Usually, the downtown area was pretty empty until lunchtime and afternoon.
“There’s quite a crowd so early,” I said. “Is there something going on?”
“Actually, there is. There’s a talent competition at noon in the town square. It’s for kids from sixteen to eighteen. The winner receives a $5,000 scholarship to the college of their choice. If they aren’t ready to go to college, it goes into a trust for them until they choose a school. If they haven’t entered college by the time they’re twenty, they get the cash.”
“Well, that’s cool,” I said. “Who sponsors it? And who are the judges?”
“It’s sponsored by the mayor’s office. And the judges are an independent panel made up of several of the merchants. The panel changes every year, so we all get a chance to serve on it. It’s selected by lottery, though if you have a kid who’s eligible for the competition, you can’t be on the panel at the same time.” She shrugged. “For such a small town, Terameth Lake takes education seriously.” She paused, then said, “You do know that there’s a magical academy not too far out of town? It’s a little farther up toward the Mountain.”
I shook my head. “I didn’t know shadow towns were associated with anything like that.”
“Most of them are. Moonshadow Bay has an academy, out on Nimah Rock. I don’t know about Whisper Hollow.”
We stopped by my truck and I unlocked the doors. After glancing at the street to make sure there wasn’t any oncoming traffic, Jillian hurried around and slid Sunshine’s carrier onto the passenger seat. From the driver’s side, I placed Midnight’s carrier next to Sunshine’s. Using the seatbelts, we managed to fasten them both firmly. She set the bag of éclairs on top of the carriers and shut the passenger door.
“Thanks for your help, and thanks for the éclairs. I’ll get them situated at home and then let you know how they’re doing. In fact, why don’t you come over for dinner tomorrow night?”
“If Granny doesn’t mind, that would be lovely.” Jillian pulled out her phone to mark down the appointment.
“Granny won’t mind. She doesn’t care when I have other people over, as long as I don’t expect her to take care of the cooking. And even then, most of the time she volunteers to fix dinner, which I gratefully accept. I’m not much in the kitchen.” The clock on my phone said it was eleven-twenty. “I need to go. I’m supposed to meet Dagda down at the police station at around one.”
“Why on earth do you want to do that? I thought the two of you didn’t get along very well,” she said.
“I’m not that fond of him, but… Did you hear about Patricia Henson’s body being found in Tiger’s Eye Park?” It’d been on the news so I wasn’t giving away any secrets.
“I saw that last night. Wasn’t she one of your clients?”
I glanced around to make sure we weren’t being overheard. “Yes, and she told us several things that are kind of nerve-racking, given the fact that she was murdered. I’m going down to talk to Dagda. Since I was an agent with the Crown Magika, I might be able to help, unofficially.”
Jillian lowered her voice. “Do they know how she was killed?”
I nodded. “Yeah, but he’s keeping that information private so I shouldn’t repeat it. I trust you, don’t get me wrong, but I wouldn’t want anything getting out accidentally. If there’s one thing the Crown Magika taught me it’s how to keep a secret.”
Jillian frowned. “I get it. But as soon as you’re able, I want all the details. Meanwhile, I’ll see you Thursday night, if not before. Call me if you have any trouble or if you need any help with the kitties.”
As I slid into the driver’s seat, I gave her a wave and fastened my seatbelt. I glanced over at the carriers. “Well, I hope you’re ready to go home.”
All I heard was a little purp, and then Midnight’s voice filled my head.
Of course we’re ready. Can you get this thing in gear so we can get home and get out of these carriers?
With a laugh, I turned on the ignition, shifted gears, and pulled away from the curb, heading home with my precious cargo.
All the way home, Sunshine and Midnight chirped and purped, but neither one of them said anything to me again until we reached the house.
The rain had started again, so I hurried around to the passenger side. As I opened the door, a flash of lightning split the sky. I held my breath, counting. One… Two… Three—on the count of three a rumble of thunder rattled the ground. Three miles away. By the way the hairs on my arms stood up, I sensed that the storm was coming toward us.
Noise, scary scary noise… Midnight’s frantic cry hit my thoughts as another fork of lightning branched out.
“It’s all right. Don’t be scared. I’ll get you inside. The storm won’t hurt you.” I lifted both carriers out, surprised by how heavy both were, then used my hip to shut the door. I hurried up to the porch, scurrying up the stairs. At the door, I set the kittens down to fumble for my keys. They didn’t seem to like that at all, but the moment we were inside and I shut the door against the storm, I could sense them calming down.
“Your home,” I said. “This is where we live.” I carried them to the spare bedroom upstairs, next to mine, and shut the door behind me, setting the carriers down on the floor. I pulled off my jacket and draped it over the back of the armchair. I had gotten soaked on the dash from the truck to the porch.
Settling down on the floor, I pulled off my boots and then opened both carriers. After I did that, I reached up on the desk for two cans of cat food, which I opened and scooped into two dishes. Granny had made certain there wasn’t anything they could get into that would hurt them, so as they slowly slinked out of their carriers, looking around, I leaned back to give them room and time to adjust.
Well, what do you know—pitty pats! Dominique knelt beside me. I could see the faint glimmer of her aura. She sat down on the floor beside me.
Midnight looked at her, sure and steady, then raced over to jump on my lap, snuggling up against me. Surprised, and gratified, I stroked her back and leaned down to give her a kiss on the head. Sunshine followed and I soon found myself inundated with both kittens.
“They don’t seem afraid of you,” I said to Dominique.
I’m not interested in frightening them. They’re such beautiful creatures.
“Are you afraid of Dominique?” I asked them, lying back as they stretched out across me, falling into a rumble of purrs.
No. She won’t hurt us, Sunshine said.
“Are you happy to be home with me?” I asked.
A moment later, Midnight answered. Very much. The other lady was nice, but we didn’t like having so many people trying to pet us when we didn’t want them to.
I understood exactly what she was talking about. If you were sensitive to energy, regardless of whether you were human, witchblood, or cat, it was unnerving to have too many people crowded around you. And cats weren’t quite as able to tell people to quit touching them without drawing blood.
“Well, you’re safe here. You’ll like Granny, she loves kitties. And she’s witchblood as well.”
We waited for you for quite a while, Sunshine said. I didn’t think that you were going to come for us. But Midnight promised that you would and I trusted her. Sunshine sounded almost bereft. He let out a little mew.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, scratching him under the chin.
Midnight answered. We lost our mother and two of our siblings when we were babies. A feral dog killed them. I made Sunshine follow me underneath a house until the dog went away. But we heard my mother and our two sisters screaming. Our mother tried to protect us all.
My heart lurched. I couldn’t imagine how traumatic that must have been. I gathered them tight in my arms and hugged them. “I will do my best to never let anything or anyone hurt you. I know you miss your mother and your sisters, but you have me now, and you have Granny.”
And you have me as well, little lights, Dominique said.
I suppressed a laugh. Dominique was perfectly serious. “And you’ll have Dominique as well. We’ll take care of you and love you. If you don’t feel good, you need to tell me. I know it’s scary, but I can’t help you unless you tell me you need it. Promise me?”
Midnight hesitated, then in what felt like almost a whisper, I heard a plaintive All right.
“I have to go out for a while, but you’ll be okay here. Nothing can get in, and Dominique will keep an eye on you. She’s friendly, so don’t worry about her. I’ll be back later.” I stood up, after kissing both of them again. Midnight yawned and headed over toward one of the kitty beds. As she curled up in it, Sunshine followed her. They were asleep before I even left the room.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Terameth Lake police station was located next to City Hall, on Hibiscus Way. With the library across the street, and the main fire department next to the library, that took care of most of the government offices. The post office was farther down the street, and there were a string of stationery shops, cafés, and antique shops nestled in between the heavy brick buildings. While not directly downtown, the grouping was east of the town square.
I parked in a visitor’s space in the parking lot that divided the library and the fire department. On the way back to town, the rain had revved itself up again, and now it was pouring. I didn’t like using umbrellas, but given that the rain was coming down in sheets, I decided it might be wise. But as I stepped out of my truck and opened my umbrella, the wind caught hold of it and whipped it out of my hand, sending it high into the air as it spiraled over the buildings.
