Grimoires, Spas & Chocolate Straws

by Erin Johnson

  I looked to my friends, then back to him, wondering how serious this was. Should we call the magical medics? He seemed out of it and barely coherent. Then I caught the direction of his gaze. He stared straight at the beautiful Miss Sara. She laughed and his bushy red brows lifted in the center, his expression wistful.

  "Ooookay." I closed my mouth. I looked back and forth, from the charming, charismatic woman to my sick friend—lovesick. "Oh, Yann." I moved to stand in front of him, but he was tall enough that he continued to watch her over the top of my head, unhindered. I lifted my arm and waved my hand in front of his eyes.

  He glanced down at me, a question on his face. I shook my head, my heart heavy with sympathy, and lowered my voice to a whisper so that the others, chatting right behind me, wouldn't hear. "You've got it bad for her, huh?"

  His face went slack and two red circles formed on his cheeks. He dipped his eyes. "Eet ees dat obvious, huh?"

  I winced and stepped forward, taking his thick, freckled wrists. "I'm all for love at first sight, Yann, it's just…" I pulled my lips to the side and spoke in a barely audible whisper. "She's the black widow, remember?"

  His brows pulled together. "But surely someone so charming and lovely couldn't…."

  I arched a brow. "Remember Cordelia? She was beautiful and charming… and a murderer." I shook my head. "People are complicated. And maybe they are just bad rumors, but… I just don't want you to get hurt, okay?"

  "Yah." He nodded. "Tanks, Imogen. You are rrright. I must keep a clear head."

  I gave him a tight-lipped smile, then turned and we joined our friends. I glanced over as Yann immediately returned to a googly-eyed state. I'd never seen him like this, and it wasn’t like I wanted to dash his hopes of romance, but was it really a good idea to get involved with a woman rumored to have killed all of her many lovers? Then again, I trusted Misaki and Jun, and if they trusted Sara, then maybe I should too.

  17

  N.S.

  I sidled up beside Hank, and he glanced down at me, a twinkle in his eye. He took my hand and squeezed it and the knot of worry in my chest loosened a little. I let out a breath. We were here on vacation—an actual vacation. I needed to remember to relax, not jump to the worst conclusions.

  "And tomorrow night will be the highlight of the migration," Miss Sara was saying. "You'll have the best spot to watch from the beach, just outside the spa." She glanced around at all of us, a pleasant smile on her face, but lingered on Yann. Her dark eyes sparkled and a slight flush rose to her pale, freckled cheeks. I bit my cheek. Was she into Yann?

  Maple clasped her hands together. "That sounds so fun!"

  Wiley smiled down at her, Cat clinging to his head.

  Francis lifted his nose and looked around the hotel lobby. "Your hotel is delightfully refined. I must say, in my many, many years, I've rarely experienced such luxury."

  Sara peeled her gaze away from Yann and beamed at the vampire. She pressed a delicate hand to her chest. "I am honored by your compliment." She inclined her head in a bow. "I hope you shall be very comfortable here."

  "Oh." Rhonda chuckled. "I don't doubt it." Her eyes lit up. "I bet your robes are extra fluffy, aren't they?"

  Sara hid her laugh behind a hand. "The fluffiest."

  Rhonda nodded in appreciation. "I could get used to this."

  Francis covered his mouth with his long, pale fingers and yawned. "My apologies. You see, we're nocturnal creatures mostly, and up much past our bedtime."

  "Oh." Miss Sara turned and waved at one of the green-clad workers behind the desk. The man bowed and hurried over. "Hayata will show you to your room immediately."

  Francis bowed his head and took Rhonda's arm in his. "Thank you, Miss Sara."

  She turned to the rest of us. "Would you all care to go up to your room?"

  I glanced at Hank, then Maple. My stomach rumbled. "Actually." I bit my lip. "I'm a bit hungry—are there any places around you'd recommend for grabbing a bite?"

  Maple nodded. "And I'm dying to try some of the spa treatments."

  Hayata, the front desk worker, appeared at Sara's side and bowed to her again, then pivoted and bowed to all of us.

  "Please show these important guests to their room, Hayata."

  He dipped his head. "My pleasure, Miss Sara." He straightened and handed her a small white card. "Also, there's been a delivery for you." He tilted his head toward the enormous spray of flowers sitting on the desk.

  Sara froze, then glanced at the card. She paled and grew stony-faced, her jaw tight, then looked up and folded the card into a tiny square. She took a deep breath through her nose and stared off at nothing in particular, as though she was working hard to control her emotions. I lifted a brow. Wow. Whoever N.S. was must've messed up pretty badly—and by the looks of it, the flowers and the apology hadn't made up for it with Miss Sara.

  "After you're finished with our guests, please dispose of the flowers."

  Hayata's eyes widened for just a moment, then he bowed his head. "Of course."

  Sara lifted a hand. "On second thought…." She darted a look at the beautiful bouquet. "They are rather lovely. I'd hate to waste them. Why don't you have them delivered to the infirmary." She nodded and swallowed. "Perhaps the blooms can spread some cheer."

  Hayata bowed again, then motioned for Francis and Rhonda to follow him.

  "We'll catch up with you lot tonight?" Rhonda waved as she turned to follow her floating boyfriend toward the hallway.

  I nodded and waved. "For sure! Sleep well!"

  Francis turned and gave us a beauty pageant wave, and they were off.

  Miss Sara cleared her throat and smiled again, her expression more relaxed than it'd been a moment ago. "Back to your question, there are several wonderful restaurants nearby." She listed a ramen place for comfort food, a fancy sushi restaurant, and then hesitated, licked her lips, and seemed a bit strained. "And of course, there are all the food stalls. Better Than OKonomiyaki, located on the pier, is delicious." She spoke the last part somewhat flatly, as though it were a script she'd memorized.

  "Oh, thanks. Those sound great." I nodded, though I searched her face, confused by the change of tone.

  She grinned, relaxed again as she turned to Maple. "And please, enjoy full use of the spa. And you'll all have to try our signature Doragon Sand Bath."

  Maple and I grinned at each other and she turned to the owner. "A sand bath? What is that?"

  Miss Sara smiled and nodded to the open doorway behind us. "Head that way, out onto the beach. Go down the wooden walk to all the tiny green umbrellas." Her eyes sparkled. "You'll find out when you get there."

  That sounded… intriguing. Was it like quicksand?

  A woman in a green skirt suit and heels clicked over to us and stood a bit apart, waiting to catch Miss Sara's attention. She bowed deeply and spoke in hushed tones. "There's been a request for an interview with you, Miss Sara, by our special guest?"

  Sara's jaw tightened again, but she maintained her composure as she turned to us. "I must attend to business, but don't hesitate to ask me or any of the staff if there is anything we can do to make you more comfortable." She smiled at all of us, but her gaze drifted to big, burly Yann and lingered there. "I hope you'll have a delightful stay."

  18

  Let's Go to the Beach

  After we left the Doragon Spa, we headed out to the boardwalk made of smooth, even wooden planks. The delicious smells of fried food and cooking meat made my mouth water, but we held out on buying anything until we reached the pier and found the stall Miss Sara had recommended.

  As I stood in front of Better Than OKonomiyaki, with its red-and-white-striped tarp and short counter with three stools pulled up to it, my shoulders slumped.

  "Closed?" I pressed my hands to my noisy, aching stomach and read the sign that hung beside one of the lanterns. "But—I'm so hungry!"

  "I'm sure the owner did it just to spite you." Iggy rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "By the way, I haven't forgot
ten about a certain promise of driftwood."

  I pouted and my eyes slid to Hank, who stood beside me. He couldn't hold back a laugh when he saw my face. "You didn't even look this distraught when Tar attacked Calloon."

  "Yeah, well, I'd probably had lunch that day." I sighed through my nose.

  Hank squeezed my shoulders from behind and leaned down so his cheek touched mine. "There are food stalls literally as far as the eye can see."

  I grinned. "Yeah. Good point. I want the closest fried thing on a stick."

  Minutes later, we strolled happily along the boardwalk back to the spa. I held a stack of fried onion rings on a stick in my left hand, and a barbequed chicken leg in my right. At least I thought it was a chicken leg. Hank had been kind enough to carry Iggy for me, our shoulders brushing as we strolled close together.

  I took a bite from the smoky chicken leg and munched happily as I turned to gaze out at the sparkling ocean. The sky had turned a beautiful pink and gold as the sun dipped lower over the horizon, and a salty breeze blew my bangs back from my face.

  Maple and Wiley walked together up ahead, their hands linked and arms swinging, cones of ice cream in their free hands. Sam and Annie walked behind them, the older woman's arm hugged around his shoulders.

  I bit off a chunk of the onion rings and savored the greasy, crunchy snack. We passed sunbathers, kids building sand sculptures shaped like monsters, and teenagers splashing about and wrestling in waist-deep water. Seagulls cawed and swooped overhead and the gentle rush of the waves and cheerful laughter and chatter of passersby filled the air. I took a deep breath—I could get used to this.

  Hank and I strolled slowly along, and soon the others had outdistanced us. I felt his eyes dart my way a few times, and he cleared his throat.

  Grinning, I looked over. "Yes?" I tilted my head. "If you're about to say something about the barbeque sauce all over my chin, I know it's there, but I'm just going to have to be okay with that until I finish these." I held up my hands, full of food.

  Hank laughed, then frowned at me. "Yeah. It's kind of everywhere." He blinked, and magically my chin felt clean of the sticky sauce.

  "Oh, hey." I smiled. "Thanks." I lifted up my half-eaten chicken leg. "You're going to have to do that a few more times though, I think. I've got a lot more chicken to eat."

  "Chicken?" Iggy scoffed. "You think that's chicken? It's the size of your forearm."

  I scrunched up my nose and looked at Hank for support. "A big chicken?"

  He winced and shook his head. "I assumed it was some kind of monster."

  I blinked at the bone in my hand. "Oh." Suddenly I wasn't as hungry.

  Hank cleared his throat again, glanced at Iggy, then me. "I uh—I was actually hoping to talk to you about something soon." His eyes darted to Iggy again, and he lifted a thick brow at me, playfully. "Alone."

  Iggy sniffed. "Rude."

  Hank smiled, and I could tell he was trying to act casual, his hands tucked in his pockets, his tone light. But a tightness lingered around his eyes, which held an expression I found hard to read. He worried at his lips, and with surprise I wondered if it was fear.

  "Yeah, um, of course." I frowned, but tried for a light tone. "Is it serious?"

  He chuckled and tilted his head side to side noncommittally.

  My stomach tightened. Okay—now I was scared. I opened my mouth to ask him to just talk to me now, when Yann lumbered up from behind us and let out a heavy sigh.

  19

  Lovesick

  I lifted my brows, and Hank and I eased apart to let him through. My stomach clenched with guilt—I'd totally forgotten about Yann. Man, I felt like a pretty terrible friend. Not only was he lovesick, but I'd probably made him feel like a—I did some quick math—like an eighth wheel.

  Hank looked him up and down, a little crease between his brows. "Are you feeling all right?"

  I bit my lip. Shoot. In my hunger and excitement to be by the seaside, I'd forgotten to fill Hank in on my discussion with Yann about Miss Sara.

  "Yaahhh…." Yann's sing-songy voice trailed off and he hung his head. "But I've been da better."

  Hank glanced past him toward me and flashed his eyes. I winced. I had no free hand so I slid up beside the big bear of a man and gently nudged him. "Hey, buddy. You're not enjoying this great view and weather?" I gave an exaggerated smile and tilted my head toward the ocean to our left, the waves crashing clear as glass.

  Yann lifted his droopy head, sighed, then hung it again. He stumbled over a crack between the wooden boards and his scoop of vanilla ice-cream plopped onto his short-sleeved black cotton shirt. It slid off onto the boardwalk. His bottom lip quavered. "Oh, da no."

  "Oh." I grimaced and looked right and left, panicked. I felt like I was trying to head off the tears of a toddler. "Here, uh—" I frowned at my half-eaten monster leg and the one remaining onion ring on the stick. I couldn't decide which to offer him, both were equally pathetic, so I just pushed both at him. "Take mine."

  His throat bobbed.

  "Oh, wow." Iggy stretched out his words. "So generous of you."

  I shook my head. "Yeah, you're right, that's gross." I looked up. "I'm sure we can find you another ice-cream cone."

  Yann's eyes stayed on his feet and I shuffled to the side to let an older couple past.

  Hank nodded and reached up to pat Yann's broad shoulder. "We're almost back to the spa—I'm sure Sara would know where we can get you another one."

  Yann whimpered. "I am sure dat she would. She's a wery smart lady." He shook his head. "But eet ees not a good idea to get too close to her, rrright, Imogen?"

  I winced and gritted my teeth and Hank peeked around Yann's back and mouthed, "What's he talking about?"

  I pressed my lips together and tried to wrangle my thoughts. It's not like I wanted to be the one putting a damper on love, no matter how many obstacles might be up against it. I mean, I was the girl who'd fallen for an engaged prince, after all. But kind, trusting Yann getting involved with the black widow—it made my stomach clench with worry.

  "You know, I just meant that it's always good to be careful and not rush into things." I edged in front of Yann and tried to catch his eye. "Miss Sara could be great, but we just don't her well enough yet to, uh—to dive in headfirst. Not until we, uh…." I gulped. "Uh…." I pulled my lips to the side as I tried to search for the most appropriate way to put this. "Until we figure out if she murdered all of her former lovers. You know, so you're not next."

  Hank's jaw dropped, while Iggy gave me a double thumbs-up. "Nicely done. Very tactful."

  I gave him a flat look.

  Hank's eyes darted between me and Yann several times, until he gave himself a little shake and sidled up beside me. He lowered his voice, a grin playing at the corner of his mouth. "Yann. Are you interested in Miss Sara?"

  Yann's throat bobbed, and he lifted his brown eyes to look at Hank and me. "I haf not felt dis way aboot a woman een a wery long time."

  Hank's face lit up. He clapped Yann on the arm and beamed. "Yann, that's great! I'm so—"

  I lifted my brows and coughed at Hank. He paused and lifted a quizzical brow in return.

  "Black widow, remember?" I hissed.

  "Oh, oh." Hank rubbed his wrist and lowered his head in thought. He straightened, the breeze playing with his dark wavy hair. "You know, it's always good to take your time and get to know someone, Yann. But I have to say—it's just pretty amazing to feel that way about a woman, no matter what else happens." His eyes twinkled as he glanced at me. "I know firsthand that you can fall for someone… quite quickly."

  My heart melted. Oh, how did I get such a wonderful boyfriend?

  "Yeah," Iggy chimed in. "It's not every day you meet a girl who can polish off a hunk of mystery meat the size of a baby." He clicked his tongue. "Now that's the kind of girl you'd give up your kingdom for. Am I right?"

  Hank's face turned bright red as he pressed his lips tight together, his eyes alight with mirth.

  I
shook my bone of mystery meat at him. "Don't you dare laugh. It'll only encourage him."

  Hank and I walked on each side of Yann for the short distance back to the spa and chatted with him, trying to get his spirits up, but he still seemed down about Miss Sara. My conviction began to falter. Maybe I'd been wrong to butt in and discourage his interest in her.

  I forgot about Yann's woes when we rejoined our friends, who'd stopped in front of the spa. I stood with my back to the sea and did my best to brush my windblown bangs out of my eyes with my forearm to take it all in. We'd breezed past it earlier in my hurry to grab food, but the outdoor area of the spa was quite impressive. Outside the massive spa and hotel building, with its scaled roof tiles, an amusement park of spa treatments were offered on the beach, with an ocean view. Giant white teacups with pretty green paintings of dragons on the side sat on the sand, filled with ten to twelve bathers each. Steam curled up from the tea, forming the shapes of dragons, shells, and sandcrabs before dissipating into the air.

  I grinned. "Those must be the tea baths Jun mentioned."

  Maple slid up beside me and nodded. She pointed to the right of them, where men and women in bathing suits lay on huge slabs of polished green jade. Tiny brushes floated magically through the air, scrubbing them down everywhere—between their toes and fingers, even behind their ears. "That looks like it'd feel wonderful, doesn't it?"

  I lifted my brows. "Looks like it'd tickle."

  The frenzy of brushes paused over one man for long enough for an enchanted bucket of water to dump over him. The man gasped and opened his eyes wide, then caught his breath and turned onto his stomach. The brushes got to work on his backside.

  I scanned past the scrubbers to the next little section of spa treatments. I gasped and staggered back. "Sea snakes! Those poor people!" I looked around wide-eyed at my friends as hordes of tiny crabs crawled over a few men and women. Maple sucked in a breath and gripped my wrist. At this distance, it looked like they were being eaten alive by an infestation of big red spiders. Hank paled and shielded his eyes. He leaned forward, squinting. After a moment he grinned.