by Sonia Parin
“Please and thank you?” The Crone gave an exasperated shake of her head. “Never mind all that. You’re as stubborn as your mother. Worse. You’re presumptuous. What makes you think you can waltz in here and demand my help?”
“I’m the incoming High Chair. I’m sure you want to be nice to me.”
The Crone responded with an easy smile. She pushed back her stooped shoulders and, straightening her back, she rose to her full height. A light breeze swirled around her lifting her hair and, as it did, her hair went from gray to a luscious mahogany red.
“You are not as powerful as you’d like me to think you are and you are in my realm. I call the shots here.”
Lexie’s shoulders eased down a notch. She hadn’t come here to taunt the Crone into a contest of who’s the toughest witch in the land…
The Crone stretched her hand out. Before Lexie knew what was happening, the parchment she held shot out of her hand. Okay. She had to admit to being suitably impressed.
The Crone studied the list and murmured to herself. “You must have a sick fairy.”
“Yes, I just told you that.”
Sinking into a rocking chair, the Crone tapped her chin. “I can help you with the turnips.” She peered up at Lexie. “Well? What are you waiting for? Sit.”
“I’d love to sit and chat but time is of the essence.”
“Nonsense. You’ll return even before you left.”
“Huh?”
“What news do you bring me? Not that I care what goes on in your side. When you were last here, you got into trouble with the Well of Tortured Souls. Did you end up fixing your little problem or was it for naught?” When Lexie didn’t answer, the Crone added, “The sooner you tell me, the sooner we’ll get to the list.”
Lexie paced around the room. She didn’t have a choice. Taking up the Crone’s offer to teach her the art of potion making, Lexie had visited a couple of times and had enjoyed their chats together, but then life had intervened and she hadn’t returned, until recently when she’d been in search of a ‘location’ potion and that had led her straight to the Well of Tortured Souls...
With a huff, she pulled up a chair and sat down to tell the Crone about the serial killer.
When she finished telling her tale, the Crone’s eyes widened. “And you’re still walking free? How is that possible? You know the rules. There’s to be no direct interference with the justice system in the human world.”
Lexie gave an impatient shrug. “Yes, well… I’ve never been one to toe the line. Who makes these rules anyway?”
“Those who know better,” the Crone murmured and looked away as if in deep thought. “What compelled you to take action against the serial killer instead of allowing the police to take him into custody?”
Lexie shifted in her chair. She hadn’t wanted to think about it. She definitely didn’t want to talk about it.
The Crone gave her a lifted eyebrow look. “We do what we have to do?” She leaned forward and, lowering her voice, said, “Something happened to you. I can tell. And it’s something you don’t understand so you’re ignoring it.”
Taking a deep swallow, Lexie nudged open the tiny compartment door in her mind, the one she’d slammed shut. “I saw the future as it would unfold. Actually, I saw several versions of it and they all had the same outcome. The killer was going to walk away free on a technicality. I couldn’t let that happen.”
“Yes, yes.” The Crone gave an impatient shake of her head. “But what happened before that?”
Lexie straightened and sat staring into space. Easing back into her chair, she drew in a long breath. “Before that, I connected with my inner self. I’ve done it before through meditation. This time, it felt different. Almost as if I became detached from myself.” Almost as if she’d called on her inner self and her inner self had… responded by taking action.
The Crone lowered her voice even more, “You reached the core inside you. The essence of yourself. The spark that is older than time itself.”
Whatever she wanted to call it, that essence had taken over. It had made decisions. It had driven her to kill a man because he would go on killing. Random O’Rourke had tried to stop her saying she couldn’t be judge and jury. He had tried and he had failed.
Lexie’s head lowered. “What I saw… all those possible outcomes with the same result… What if they weren’t real?”
“Everything you imagine can be real,” the Crone said. “If you can think it, it can exist. It already does exist as a possibility. Your journey here today already existed in many variations. The fact you were allowed to enter set a course which will lead you to an outcome.”
Getting the ingredients to make Rebel well again, Lexie thought. “Wait a minute. What do you mean by allowed to enter? Do you actually have a say?”
The Crone ignored her question by asking, “What happened after?”
Lexie crossed her arms. She really didn’t want to talk about it. Her inner self had taken matters into her own hands. If Luna and Rebel hadn’t intervened, Lexie would have ended up in an O’Rourke dungeon.
The Crone waved the piece of parchment paper as if to say, no story, no ingredients.
“Afterward, the O’Rourke detectives descended upon me. In their eyes, I had broken a Coven rule. A major one.”
The Crone gave her a puzzled look. “Surely, they know they can’t contain you.”
It took a moment for Lexie to react. “What do you mean? All those years ago, they took my mom’s twin sister. I went up against her. She was a powerful witch.”
“But she wasn’t you. There are rules and laws, both written and unwritten. Yours are mostly unwritten and the O’Rourke detectives have only just come to realize that. Even if your cat and your fairy hadn’t come to your rescue, the O’Rourke detectives would not have been able to take you in.”
“Unwritten?”
The Crone nodded. “Not defined.” She leaned forward. “When something is not defined, everything is possible. Defining something or someone creates boundaries and limitations.”
“How do you know this?”
The Crone gave her a small smile. “You saw the serial killer’s future. You’re not the only one with the power to see the future.” Her gnarled fingers curled around the armrest. “If you can see your future, you can see all possible outcomes and always be two steps ahead of everyone. You would know… You will know when they’re coming for you.”
Something caught Lexie’s attention; a dark shape moving in the background. Lexie narrowed her eyes and focused on the window directly behind where the Crone sat. Seeing nothing there, she decided it must have been a bird. She shifted her gaze only to look back when the shape appeared again. Disappeared. And appeared again.
Luna?
What was she up to?
Luna’s head bobbed up again.
The little scamp must be leaping up, Lexie thought. Shaking her head, she asked, “So, will I be able to get those ingredients from you?”
The Crone glanced at the list.
Lexie shifted her attention back to the window and sighed. Luna now had her little face pressed to the window. She’d managed to climb up onto the windowsill. She was about to look away, when she saw Trouble flying toward Luna.
Luna must have sensed her. Turning, she took a swipe at Trouble who danced away from her only to come in closer again. Luna didn’t miss her chance to take another swipe at her. This time, however, she lost her balance and fell off.
“Yes to the turnip,” the Crone said. “The rest of the items on this list are going to be tricky.”
“What about the apple? I saw an apple tree outside.”
The Crone shook her head. “Your gnome wants a bright red apple.”
“What’s the difference? An apple is an apple.” Her gaze skated over to the window. Lexie gasped.
“What’s wrong?” the Crone asked.
“Nothing.” She brushed a hand across her face and shook her head. Luna was floating. Actually, she was fl
ying. Trouble must have sprinkled some fairy dust on her to make her fly.
Luna’s legs were pumping hard and fast but she made little progress. Instead of enjoying the experience, she seemed to be frustrated. The fairy danced around her and bent over at the waist with laughter.
When Lexie saw Trouble hover above Luna she groaned. Now what? She wished she hadn’t asked. Trouble sat on Luna who in turn tried to take a swipe at her.
If Trouble decided to leave the Crone’s realm and come home with her, life… life as she knew it would end. There would be no peace and quiet. Ever. Not for her and certainly not for Luna.
“You’ll have to take to the road,” the Crone said. “And seek out the rest of the ingredients.”
“Which road?”
“There’s only one. It’s at the end of the path. You’ll come across a stall by the side of the road. Sometimes they have apples. Sometimes they have potatoes. If you don’t find what you want there, just keep going. You’ll eventually find another stall. The road will lead you.” The Crone studied the list again. “Be careful with the ginger. Whatever you do, do not take ginger from the Gingerbread House. It will turn out badly. The owner has a foul temper.”
“The… The Gingerbread House. Isn’t that a fairy tale?”
The Crone nodded. “The realm is full of them.”
“Are you saying fairy tales are real?”
The Crone snorted and shook her head in disbelief. “Fairy tales are nothing but fictionalized reality. Our reality is your fiction.”
“And they’re here? Within your realm?”
“Did you think fairy tales grew on trees? Of course, they’re here.” The Crone slid to the edge of her chair and, brightening, offered, “Tea and cookies?”
Lexie knew better than to refuse.
Chapter Eight
A quest
An hour later, Lexie emerged from the Crone’s cottage and found Luna lounging by a fish pond, her body stretched out over a mossy mound, her tail swaying from side to side. Trouble sat on the edge of the pond and dangled her feet over the water.
They appeared to have overcome their differences.
As Lexie approached, she heard Luna say, “If you come with us, she’ll make you sleep in a soap dish.”
Trouble seemed to think about it for a minute and then gave a small shrug. “Is it true there are many ways to skin a cat?”
Seeing her, Luna sprung up and scampered over to her. “What took you so long?”
Lexie rolled her eyes. “The Crone likes to do things her way. We had tea and cookies.”
Luna’s little tongue hung out. “Did you save some for me? It’s been hours since I last ate.”
“Sorry.” Looking over the gardens, she searched for the gnome. Somehow, she had to get close enough to ask him for a turnip. “What’s the gnome’s name?” she asked Trouble.
“We just call him gnome.”
Lexie insisted, “He must have a name.”
“Probably.” Trouble tossed a pebble into the fish pond. “Try Snub.”
Lexie strode over to the edge of the flower bed and called out in a soft tone, “Mr. Snub. The Crone said you’d be able to give me a turnip.”
“He probably doesn’t know who Mr. Snub is,” Trouble said. “Try calling him gnome. He’s used to it.”
It seemed rude to Lexie. She tried again. Moments later, something flew toward her and dropped at her feet. A turnip. Lexie bent down to pick it up. “So, this is a turnip,” she whispered. It looked like an ordinary turnip, but at least it came from the Crone’s realm. So, it had to be good. “Thank you, Mr. Gnome.”
Putting it into her backpack, she said, “One down… several more to go. Come on, Luna. We have to find the road.”
Trouble hovered up to Lexie. “I can take you to the end of the path.” She looked over her shoulder. “But no further. The Crone doesn’t like me going too far.”
Luna stretched and, taking a leap, she landed on Lexie’s shoulder. “Did you see me fly?”
Lexie smiled. “Is that what you were doing?”
“I found it difficult to steer. I’m sure it would be easier with wings. Do you think you could give me wings?”
As Luna prattled on about the benefits of having wings, Lexie lost herself in thought.
The O’Rourke detectives didn’t have any power over her.
What did that mean?
It definitely didn’t mean she was above the law.
Or… Or that she could pass judgement on anyone.
Surely, she had someone to answer to…
Chapter Nine
Wings of desire
“We’ve been walking along this path for hours and there’s still no sign of the road,” Luna complained.
Lexie cleared her throat. “Technically, I’m the only one walking. You’re curled up on my shoulder and Trouble is flying.”
Luna pressed her nose against Lexie’s cheek. “I’m glad you brought up the subject of flying.”
Lexie gave a weary shake of her head. Luna had been talking non-stop about it since they’d left the Crone’s cottage. Lexie had only just managed to change the subject, warning there would be no more mention of flying but the little scamp had tripped her up.
“I’m sure after a while of sitting on your shoulder or your head, I can become a burden,” Luna said. “That could be remedied if you give me the power of flight.”
Or, she could put her on a strict diet, Lexie thought. “For the umpteenth time, I wouldn’t know how to give you wings.”
Trouble flew on ahead, hovered for a moment, and then turned back. “The road is up ahead. This is as far as I go. Remember, the same rules apply. Stick to the road. Do not wander off. You’re in a strange land where strange things have been known to happen. Only talk to strangers if you absolute have to. Otherwise, stay away from anyone you don’t know.”
Lexie thanked the fairy.
As the fairy turned to leave, she tossed something at Lexie. “Just in case.”
Lexie caught the little pouch in her hand.
Fairy dust.
“No,” Lexie said.
“No to what?” Luna asked.
“No, I’m not going to use the fairy dust to give you wings.” They reached the end of the path. The road ahead looked rougher and uneven but no wider than the path. Lexie guessed few people, or whatever beings dwelled within this realm, came out this way.
Half an hour later, the landscape changed from pretty meadows to a forest with tall pine trees and the sky from a clear blue to a thundery gray.
Lexie instinctively pulled up the collar of her jacket.
Five minutes later, they came up to a clearing and the landscape changed again to fields of tall growing wheat swaying gently in the breeze.
“The gnomes have probably changed the locks on your door,” Luna mused. “You know how difficult it is to find suitable accommodation. We might end up sleeping on a park bench. If we’re lucky. Homeless people have probably staked their claim on every park bench in the city. If you ask nicely, Jonathan might be willing to put us up for one night.”
Up ahead, Lexie saw a stall by the side of the road.
“Okay, this is it.” She didn’t see anyone about. “I guess they must work on the trust system.” Coming up to the stall, she inspected the baskets sitting on a trestle table. “Beans and only beans.” Lexie drew out the parchment paper Mrs. Ellsworth had given her and scanned the list. “I guess we’re getting beans.” That’s when she noticed the sign. “Three beans for a cow?” She gaped at the sign. “We don’t have a cow. What sort of bartering system is this?”
Luna buried her little head in Lexie’s neck. “I think I know what you’re about to suggest. No, you cannot use your fairy dust to turn me into a cow.”
“Would I do that to you? Where’s you trust?” Lexie dug inside her pocket and drew out a handful of coins. She set them on the table, saying, “That should be enough for three beans. I’m sure I can get a pound of the stuff back home and onl
y pay a dollar.” She reached inside the basket for the beans but her hand met with air.
“What’s wrong?” Luna asked.
“I can see the beans but I can’t feel them or touch them…”
Luna purred, “I think they’re serious about the cow. Maybe there’s some sort of hidden camera. Or maybe they want gold coins. This is a magical realm. Your money is no good here. Gold, on the other hand, is good everywhere.”
“Gold. I’m not an alchemist.” Although… technically, if she had command of the elements then, surely, she could work some sort of magic. Lexie turned and looked toward the fields.
“Okay, you’re on the wrong track if you think you can find a cow wandering around the fields. And, if you do, do you want to be accused of cattle rustling? This is a topsy-turvy realm. We don’t know what laws, if any, they have here.”
True and even if she found a cow, she would most likely have to stray away from the road to get to it.
Lexie tried to reach for the beans and again met with air.
“They want a cow, I’ll give them a cow.” She dug around inside her backpack and drew out the cow jug they’d purchased earlier.
“Really?” Luna snorted.
Lexie shrugged and tipped the little jug back and forth, “It looks like a cow and it even sounds like a cow. It’s a cow.” Lexie set it down on the table and reached for the beans. This time, she managed to grab them. “See. It worked.”
“How many did you get?” Luna asked, her tone filled with excitement.
“Three beans.”
“I think you’ve been ripped off. They didn’t even give you a carry bag.”
“Would you like to lodge a complaint with customer service?” Lexie asked. Dropping the beans inside the backpack, Lexie took to the road again. “If my money is no good here, I’ll have to find something else to use.”
Luna lowered her head and insisted, “You need gold.”
Lexie scanned the countryside around her. How could a handful of items be so difficult to acquire? Anything might happen here. The last time they’d come into the Crone’s realm, she’d nearly lost both Rebel and Luna to the Well of Tortured Souls. The beans had been easy enough to find, but what about the rest? And how long would this take? What if they were too late and Rebel’s condition worsened? And what if they faced danger along the way? Would she have to use her fireballs?