“Hey,” Kenny called after me. “Where are you going? The fun’s just about to begin. We need you for ghost bait.”
“Swell,” I muttered, pushing my way past the tattooed Lilah who was standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking unhappy. Then more loudly I said, “You’ll have to find someone else to play that part.”
He hung over the railing, smiling down at me. “Come on. Don’t you want to be on the show?”
“No. As a matter of fact, I don’t.”
“Well, you don’t have to be on camera if you’re shy. But we could still use you. This is your house and that could be the hook. We’re going to start calling out ghosts and finding out what’s what with cameras rolling. You don’t want to miss it.”
“Just watch me,” I muttered, turning to go. And then I realized I was face to face with Derek. I shuddered. He had that look guys get when they’ve been drinking all evening and they’ve just realized they are going home alone again if they don’t do something, quick. It wasn’t a look I enjoyed seeing. Grinning, he narrowed his eyes and stood right in my way.
“Where you going?”
“Somewhere that’s not here,” I said.
“Hey, don’t go away mad. You’re too pretty for that.” And he pulled me into a quick embrace. I’m not sure why. Maybe he was drunk. Maybe he’d seen me letting Kenny get a little too close, or maybe he was just crazy. Regardless, he reached out and the next thing I knew, I was part of a silly tableau that was nothing like I’d ever wanted.
“I like your style, sweetheart,” he said, and then he kissed me.
Chapter 5
Or, I should say, he made the attempt. Kissing takes a second or two and it was less than that before I’d grabbed his head and tossed him over my shoulder in pretty spectacular fashion. Actually, I was surprised it worked so well. I’d just been practicing that move in my martial arts training and it had never gone off so perfectly at the dojo. It was pretty neat that it did so here. Derek landed on his back on the floor, looking very surprised and I was standing there, looking down at him.
The next thing I knew, Shane was there and he’d picked Derek up by the shirt and had him slammed up against the wall. I heard Shane utter a few harsh words and a warning, and then he was helping me, leading me out onto the front porch and away from the others, and I looked up at him, still puzzled as to why Derek had done it.
“What the heck?” I said.
But Shane was grinning at me. “Nice move, girl,” he said. “I can see you are learning a thing or two.”
I shrugged, half proud, half embarrassed. “Told you so,” I said.
He pulled me close and hugged me, then let me go. “What can I say?” he said in a voice that was filled with amusement. “You’re irresistible. Men can’t keep their hands off you.”
“Oh, get out!” I said, half laughing at him, because he really looked so adorable in the moonlight. “I know a snow job when I hear one.”
His smile faded and he took up my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing my fingers softly while holding my gaze with his own. He could be so sexy sometimes.
But then he dropped my hand and got serious. “Be careful, Haley. These Hollywood people are used to living a little more free and easy than we are here in the sticks. Just keep your wits about you.”
Funny. That sounded like something my grandmother might have said. And she might just have said it to Shane himself.
“Shane.” I reached out and touched his arm. “Tell me about the ghosts. Are you really involved with this? Are you in charge of coordinating ghostly affairs here? Or anywhere?”
He hesitated. “I’m officially law enforcement liaison with this production company for now. Until I can find a way to get out of it.”
“Ah.” I smiled at him, feeling better about this all the time. “Then tell me. What is the deal with these ghosts? Where does Rennie get them? How does anyone manage them?”
“Haley, you’re supposed to be concentrating on your training,” he said evasively. “Don’t worry about ghosts.”
“My training!” I rolled my eyes. “Do you know what she’s giving me now? Mostly small spells, all about managing people’s movements, keeping them under control, creating illusions. I want to learn more powerful things. When do I get to blow something up? When do I get to learn how to harness nature and bend it to my will?”
His eyes sparkled with amusement, despite all he was doing to try to keep from smiling at me again. “One step at a time, Haley. You need to learn how to control things on a micro level before you get to the big stuff. You don’t want to hurt anyone just because you’re so gung ho on blowing things up.”
He was right and I knew it, but I couldn’t keep the whining down. “If I’m supposed to learn how to fight demons…”
“All in good time. You’ll be ready when you need to be. Believe me, I’m watching you every day. I’m keeping track.”
That surprised me. I wasn’t sure what to say to that. “Tell me more about the ghosts,” I said, more to keep him with me than because I really needed to know.
“I don’t think the ghosts are going to be your problem.”
“Maybe not, but I need to understand.”
He looked at me sideways, shaking his head. “Okay. Here goes. Most of the havens have ways they manage their ghosts. Some keep them in magical cages. Others in glass spheres, like snow globes, always locked away. Rennie has decided to try more humane methods of organization. We’re not sure how this is going to work out in the end, but it’s her baby. She thinks that ghosts should be free to do what they want, within reason. She had to work hard to get Gran Ana’s OK and once she got that, they set up these houses and tours. The ghosts can feed on scaring people, which is what they do. It comes naturally to them. She sets up houses and haunted house tours and that seems to work out pretty well so far. The ghosts get to jump out and say ‘boo’ and at the same time, they are organized so that they won’t go off the rails.”
“On a crazy train,” I muttered, thinking that over.
“Right.” His mouth quirked. “I didn’t know you were an Ozzie fan.”
“Am I?” There were so many things I wasn’t sure of and I really wasn’t sure of this.
“Anyway, the ghosts are kept pretty busy and so far, they haven’t hurt anyone.”
That gave me a shiver. “Do they do that?”
“Do what?”
“Hurt people.”
He looked away, obviously not anxious to answer that.
“Are ghosts intrinsically dangerous?” I asked. “I mean, I know they’re scary. But can they hurt people?”
He turned back and faced me. “Yes. Some can. They can drain the life right out of a person, if they are unfettered. That’s why we have the ghost keepers. They need very tight controls. They’re pretty docile if they don’t think there’s any leeway. You have to keep them on their toes.”
“So to speak.” I was laughing softly, thinking of ghosts up on their toes. “Hey Shane? Tell me this. Did I have an aunt named Tina?”
“Tina?” He thought for a minute. “Not that I remember.”
“Hmm.”
“Why?”
“Well…I was alone in the house for awhile and up in a bedroom and…well, a ghost came out to talk to me.”
He groaned. “I was afraid of that.”
“Anyway, she said she was my Aunt Tina and…”
“You used magic, didn’t you?”
“Uh…”
I tried to remember. Did I?
“Haley, you know you’re not allowed to use magic in town and on regular people. It’s forbidden.”
“Oh, I don’t think I did. In fact…”
“Just don’t do it. If I catch you doing it, you know I’ll have to take you out to see Gran Ana. And she won’t be happy about it. You’re only supposed to use magic when she authorizes you to, and then you’re never to use it on townspeople. You got that?”
I stared at him a bit resentfully. The rule
s seemed to be getting stricter and more meaningless as far as I could see. I was ordered to learn to use magic, but only when specifically told to do it. Otherwise, my gift of magic would be outlawed and I would be made to pay. It didn’t seem fair at all.
I wanted to ask him more, but I could hear Clarissa calling for him in the house. I knew my time with him was just about over.
“So are you Clarissa’s official local escort?” I asked with a bit more acid in my tone than I should have used.
His mouth turned down at the corners in a strange way. “Clarissa is sort of flailing right now,” he explained. “She just lost her personal assistant. She’s used to having help.”
“And you’ll do in a pinch?”
He grimaced at me. “Funny girl.”
He turned his head toward the house. He was going back into the fray and leaving me on my own. The sound of wings coming from the street toward the house only reaffirmed that judgment.
“Here’s Oliver,” Shane said, looking out into the yard. “I’m going to let him take you home. Okay?”
I wanted to pout, but I knew it was no use. He had to deal with Clarissa. I was just in the way at this point. I turned and smiled at the raven as he flew down and settled on the porch railing.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hi,” he said. “What are you doing in this part of town?”
“This is where I grew up. Or so they tell me.”
“Yes, I believe that’s true. When I heard the ghost filming people were here, I thought I should come over and take a look.” He seemed to shudder. “Before the place gets completely destroyed.”
“Wise of you, I think.” I smiled at him. “But I have a favor to ask. Can I bum a ride with you?” I was ready to leave Shane and Rennie and all the ghosts in my old house to their various tasks. I was tired. It had been a long day and I just wanted to go home.
“Any time,” Oliver said, his black raven eyes gleaming.
I looked around. Shane had already gone back in the house, but I wanted to make sure there were no other spectators. Hitching a ride with a raven wasn’t something you saw every day. In fact, if anyone did see us, Oliver would probably have to come back and do some of those erasure of the mind tricks he was so good at.
“Ready?” he asked.
I nodded. “Take me away,” I said, closing my eyes and holding my breath. We’d done this before, but it never failed to leave me limp. It wasn’t natural. Actually, I suppose it was supernatural. But it was a quick way to get home.
Oliver made a funny clucking sound and that magical thing happened again where his size increased hugely and his wings wrapped around me, and in no time at all, we were airborne.
When I dared to open my eyes, I glanced back at the house and held back a gasp. Was that my grandmother coming out from between two camellia bushes and starting toward the front steps? It sure looked like her—the flowing robe, the silver blond hair. I wanted to tell Oliver to take me back, but it was too late. In a moment, we were at our destination. We landed in front of my café and I had to reach out to steady myself as Oliver turned me loose.
“Okay, okay, hold it,” I cried as I got my bearings. “Don’t you go off yet. Tell me this. Was that Gran Ana arriving at my old house just as we left?”
“I couldn’t say, Miss,” he said rather formally. “I didn’t see her. Perhaps. Perhaps not.”
“Seriously?” I tried to demand he deal with what I knew I’d seen, but he was having none of it. A quick bow, and he took off. I didn’t get another word out of him. Annoying bird! But handy to have around.
I turned and started toward the front porch. And then I came to an abrupt halt. Something was wrong.
The café had been closed for at least two hours by now, and I could see that Krissy’s car was gone. But there were strange lights flickering inside, lights moving back and forth. Someone was in there. My heart began to beat a little faster.
What is the first thing that comes to mind in a situation like this? Burglary, of course. But then my imagination began to work overtime. Maybe it was something even worse. What if someone was trying to sabotage our business? There were people in town who resented me—and I still wasn’t sure why. Or…what about angry ghosts? There might be some roaming free, no matter how meticulous Rennie thought she was with the managing work she was doing. Maybe…escaped convicts hiding from the cops? A spaceship full of aliens, looking for provisions? Or—how about this? What if my grandmother had sent some supernatural beings of whatever ilk to test my reflexes? My ability to use magic on the fly? I certainly wouldn’t put it past her.
Whatever—I had to go in to find out. I steeled myself and started forward.
Moving stealthily now, I went up the steps as quietly as I could, flattened myself against the wall and peeked in through the front window. The lights were still moving, and they looked so odd, as though they were being muted somehow. I tried for a better look and a child’s shriek made me jerk back, away from the window, trembling a little now. What on earth was going on? Was Gavin in there? Without Krissy? How could that be possible?
There was the sound of running feet, then a bark.
Toto? The bark was muffled, just like the lights. Had someone locked him up? Wrapped him in a blanket?
I couldn’t figure out what was going on but I couldn’t stay outside, just waiting there. I had to go in. Tentatively, I tried the doorknob. It was locked. I slipped my hand into my pocket and drew out the key. There was a scuffling sound inside and I took advantage of that to turn the key in the lock and open the door, first a crack, then wide enough to allow me to slip inside, closing it as quietly as I could behind me. I blinked in the dim light, crouched and waiting for something to come at me, ready to fight.
But nothing came. It seemed no one had noticed me….yet!
I calmed my breathing as well as I could and then began to analyze what I was looking at.
The area I was hunkering down in was the café, the front room of my bakery/café establishment. There was a display counter on one side, and tables and chair should be distributed throughout the middle of the room and along the opposite side from the counter. I knew that, but couldn’t see it. It was hard to make out images in the dim light but it began to look like tents had been set up all across the floor. It took a moment to realize they were made from overturned tables, draped in blankets, and harboring what looked like flashlights and lanterns inside. It was the way the light came through the blankets that made it so eerie.
My fast beating heart began to slow as reality hit me. This wasn’t an invasion from Mars. It wasn’t even an invasion from the cemetery. This was kids. Kids playing, making tents with blankets. Wasn’t it?
As if to answer, there came a “Whoop”, from one of the tents and a short figure ran out into the middle of the room. He was armed with plastic balls and he threw a couple toward the stairway. A hooded figure came running down the stairs and answered the first attacker with what looked like a barrage of spongy tennis balls. The smaller figure shrieked and ran back to his tent.
The figure from the stairway cried out in triumph and ran back up the stairs.
Okay, I was right. Kids. I laughed softly, watching them from the shadows. They were taking turns making forays into each other’s territory, attacking and retreating and shrieking with excitement and laughter. I was beginning to get it. What a cute game.
Then a surprise! A small furry animal ran out into the middle of the floor. I jumped, thinking it was a mouse or a small rat, but on closer inspection, I realized it was the same little woodland creature with Disney-like characteristics who had taken a quick trip down my back earlier in the day. I put my hand over my mouth to stop the tiny scream that was trying to burst free. Couldn’t help it—just a natural female reaction to rodents. But seeing him again—he was so cute!
And then—there was Toto, racing out to grab the small guy in his teeth—but gently--and carry him into the safety of one of the blanketed tent structures. I watched
with my mouth hanging open, completely captivated.
That was enough for me. I’d seen it all now. It was just a game, but maybe it was time to put an end to it. I needed some weapons of my own. I reached around into a bin from the kitchen and grabbed a sack of material that would just fill the bill. From what I could tell, the short one was Gavin, the dog was Toto, and the little beast who was some kind of imaginary creature as far as I could see was my attacker from that afternoon. But who was the hooded monster playing stairway guard?
I was about to find out as they all began to sneak out of their various hiding places, apparently headed toward a grand battle in the center of the room.
Just as the hooded figure came into the muted light of the lower tent, her hood fell back and I saw her clearly. It was the girl Krissy had hired to take care of Gavin. Of course! That made all the sense in the world. It was Mandy Vega. No wonder.
They were coming out, step by step, and they all seemed to be giggling in unison. Time to make my move.
I jumped out, flicking on the light at the same time. I didn’t want to traumatize them by leaping out in the dark.
“Okay, everybody!” I yelled. “Hold it right there.” Shocked, the four of them turned and stared at me, horrified.
Chapter 6
And that was when I attacked. I uttered a war cry meant to chill their blood and then I pulled open my bag of weapons and began to grab and throw gobs and gobs of day old bread like it was grenades set up to vanquish the enemy. They shrieked and ran for cover. I laughed aloud and threw more bread. Even Toto headed for the safe zone.
Mass destruction. I was winning! I felt like king of the world!
Sort of. It didn’t last very long. They turned on me as they realized who I was. They crept out. They threw things back. Pretty soon everything looked like bread dough snowballs. We laughed, we cried, we made a horrible mess. But it was so much fun. Kids. They get all the good games.
And once it was truly all over and Mandy was sweeping up the pieces of bread and Gavin was collecting his plastic balls and I was picking bread dough out of my hair before folding up the blankets to take them back upstairs, I finally got a chance to talk to Mandy.
Witches in Wonderland Page 6