by Elle Adams
Madame Grey is afraid? She’d officially freaked me out, too. If neither of us had wrung a confession out of anyone we questioned, then maybe I should just dose everyone in the house with Rob’s potion until they felt amiable enough to confess to the crime.
“Is that all you wanted to ask me, Blair?” Madame Grey went on.
“Yea—no, it isn’t,” I said. “Um, I also wanted to talk to you about Rebecca. She says some people at school are bullying her, including Sammi. I know she’s your granddaughter—”
“Sammi?” she said. “The girl probably thinks she’s defending her coven against Mrs Dailey and her ilk. I’ll have a word with her.”
“But—” I broke off. Maybe it was for the best that the situation be dealt with early on before it escalated, but Rebecca wouldn’t be pleased with me for interfering if it made things worse. Still, she had her familiar to help her through this rough patch. “I don’t want to make things worse, that’s all.”
She gave me a rare smile. “I understand, Blair. Run along, and if you learn anything new about the theft from anyone in your house, you will tell me, won’t you?”
“Of course.”
I left her office and headed home, turning the new information over in my mind. Aveline still struck me as the most likely culprit but also the least likely to confess. Maybe Rob’s potion would help, though. If I got the Head Witch into a better mood, I might stand more of a chance of getting a confession out of her.
An alarming series of crashing noises greeted me as I unlocked the door to the flat. There, I found Aveline standing in the living room, using her wand to move a group of unfamiliar armchairs around.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“What else? Arranging the accommodation to my liking.” She flicked her wand, and the sofa transformed into a large squashy pink monstrosity that looked like an inflatable marshmallow. “This is all too drab.”
“This isn’t a holiday rental, it’s my home,” I said. “I put a security deposit on the place and I’d like to get it back. And did you even pay for that furniture?”
“For the next week, this is also my home,” she said. “Oh, and do shut that familiar of yours up.”
“MIAOW,” Sky said from the corner. He must have braved the Head Witch’s wrath to come home and yell at her for wrecking the place. I moved to his side and picked him up before she turned him into a pink sofa, too.
“Madame Grey owns this house,” I said ineffectually.
“Madame Grey owns the town. We’re guests here.” She lowered her wand. “Much better.”
“Have you seen Alissa?” I asked, with as much patience as I could muster.
“She took that cat of hers outside,” she said. “At least her familiar knows its place.”
Sky hissed and squirmed in my arms, suddenly twice the size as he’d been before.
“What’s wrong with him this time?” She squinted at him. “Is he growing?”
Uh-oh. “He does that when he feels like he’s under threat.”
Sky growled, low and menacing, as the Head Witch moved closer. “Think I’m a threat, do you?”
“Did you steal the sceptre?” The words escaped before I could stop them. “I mean, pretend the sceptre was stolen?”
Her mouth opened and closed. “You what?”
“Miaow.” Sky wriggled out of my arms and padded to the door, while I ran after him before she made me into a permanent piece of furniture. From the stunned expression on her face, Aveline hadn’t faked the sceptre’s theft, unless her shock was because she hadn’t expected me to guess.
Crashing noises sounded from behind me, and I fled through the back door and into the garden.
“Is that you, Blair?” Alissa called from somewhere behind a row of flowering plants. “Has the Head Witch finished redecorating yet?”
“Nope.” I made my way over to the bench where Alissa sat in the shade of a large tree, Roald in her lap and a textbook at her side. Sky jumped on top of the textbook and curled up, earning a raised eyebrow from Alissa.
“I didn’t see Sky come into the house,” she said.
“I think he wanted to make sure she didn’t throw away any more of my stuff.” It was bad enough she’d tossed out my personal collection of bubble wrap. “He half-transformed into his monster form and then I asked if she’d stolen the sceptre herself, so I guess I’m living in the garden now.”
Her eyes bulged. “What did she say?”
“She didn’t. I ran out here before she turned me into a futon.” I glanced over my shoulder at the house, but my bedroom window appeared to be closed this time.
Alissa lifted Sky off her textbook and closed it. “If you ask me, that she’s still alive and kicking is proof that she had something to do with the sceptre’s disappearance.”
“Maybe.” Sceptre or none, odds were, if Aveline continued as she was, someone would bump her off before the week was up anyway. Unless I asked Rob for that werewolf potion. “Want to go to the pub until she calms down? Assuming my familiar doesn’t commit murder while we’re gone.”
“I thought he was at Nathan’s,” said Alissa. “But yeah, sure.”
“So did I.” I laid Sky down on the ground at the foot of the bench. “You didn’t terrorise Nathan’s other cats, did you?”
“Miaow,” said Sky, his tone neutral.
I checked my phone but found no new messages from Nathan. Perhaps he was breaking up another brawl at the border. Just my luck. Still, if I couldn’t have a date with Nathan, a girls’ night out would more than compensate.
Alissa stood, tucking her textbook under her arm. “How did your lesson go?”
“Not too bad. I helped Rebecca get her own familiar, and I think we’re going to start training them together.” I indicated Sky, who yawned.
“Are you sure he’ll behave?” she asked.
“Sky behaves when it suits him,” I said. “I’d like to unleash him on Aveline in his monster form right now, to be honest. Anyway, Rebecca adopted a ginger cat who’s been ditched by a couple of apprentices already.”
“Poor thing,” she said. “That’s good, then. I heard she was having trouble at school.”
“Yeah.” Too late, I remembered Sammi was Alissa’s cousin. “Did Madame Grey tell you that?”
“She mentioned it.” Alissa approached the back door, beckoning Roald to follow her. “Looks like the Head Witch left your room alone this time.”
“Don’t speak too soon.” I risked a peek inside through the back window. Aveline didn’t seem to mind that everything in my room was covered in glitter, but I’d rather take a bath in the stuff than let her stay another week. I hardly believed she had the nerve to get rid of our furniture, too. As for where she’d got the replacements from…
Right. I’m going to give her the potion as soon as I get back from work tomorrow.
Alissa and I went upstairs to pick up Nina, then we all headed to the pub together.
“I’ve been making excuses to stay outside all day,” Nina admitted as we walked down the high street. “What was she even doing in your flat?”
“Ensuring I’ll never get my security deposit back.” I led the way into the pub and ordered a cocktail by tapping the menu.
“My grandmother won’t charge you for the damage she does, don’t worry,” said Alissa, taking a seat opposite me. “She knows perfectly well what the ghastly woman is like.”
“Does nobody on the council like her?” Nina perched on the remaining seat. “Is that why someone stole the sceptre—not to use it, but out of contempt for the Head Witch.”
“I doubt it,” I said. “Unless they planned to leave town the next day and never come back.”
“At this rate, they’ll never leave.” Alissa tapped the menu and ordered her own drink. “If the ceremony goes ahead without the sceptre… well, it can’t. Most likely it’ll have to be delayed until it’s found. It’s less powerful on days other than Samhain, but it’s do-able.”
I groaned
. “Please don’t say that. The only thing keeping me going is knowing she’ll be gone by Monday.”
“I don’t understand how someone could just pick up something that powerful and wander off with it,” said Nina. “Doesn’t it have security measures built into it or anything?”
“That’s why I’m sure the Head Witch knows more than she’s letting on,” I said. “I mean, she must figure she has free rein to do whatever she likes as long as the sceptre is missing. Perhaps she faked it for that reason.”
Our drinks appeared on the table and Alissa picked up her bright pink cocktail. “But you said she looked shocked when you accused her of orchestrating the whole thing.”
“She did.” I picked up my own drink. “Not sure that counts as a confession. I should bring backup with me next time. And wear a bulletproof vest.”
Nina gave a laugh. “It would explain why nobody heard the break-in, at least. Maybe she turned the sceptre into a piece of furniture.”
“I wouldn’t have thought that would be possible,” said Alissa. “My grandmother conducted a thorough questioning of all the witches today, but I can see Aveline wriggling out of confessing the truth. Thanks to the new prison security, we’re confident that there aren’t any unsavoury characters in town.”
“That’s good news,” Nina said. “I was awake all that night, too. I saw you out the window, Blair, but nobody else. My mother’s freaked out about the whole thing and says I should move.”
“She does know it’s an occupational hazard of living with us, right?” Alissa sipped her cocktail.
“We have almost as high a turnover of neighbours as Dritch & Co does in employees,” I added.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere,” Nina said. “I might have said differently if it was my flat the Head Witch commandeered, mind.”
“I expect most people would.” I took a sip of my cocktail. “Would either of you object if I spiked Aveline’s drink with a potion the werewolves give their cubs to make them less grumpy at the full moon? Rob offered to bring some to the office tomorrow.”
Alissa tilted her head. “Given how she’s acting right now? The whole town would cheer you on. Sounds like the same potion we use on shifters at the hospital if they’re acting out and frightening the staff. It can turn a full-grown werewolf into a cute and cuddly puppy.”
“I think it’s the only way we’ll survive this. Though I doubt anything could turn her cute and cuddly.” I gave a shudder. “But maybe if she’s in a better mood, she’d be more inclined to confess to faking the sceptre’s theft. If she’s wise to my lie-sensing abilities, we’ll need her to loosen up to be in with any chance of learning the truth.”
A sudden hush fell over the pub, and everyone turned to the door as Madame Grey strode in, her cloak billowing behind her and her snowy white wand in her hand.
“Alissa, Blair, come with me. You too, Nina.”
Alarmed, I jumped to my feet. “What’s going on?”
“There’s been a murder.”
My stomach lurched. “Who?”
“Grace Rosemary.” She beckoned imperiously for us to follow her, and we did, without a word. Grace? She’s Aveline’s friend. Unless my accusation earlier had pushed her over the edge.
We hurried after Madame Grey, into the house and through the hallway to the open back door. There, a body lay in front of the rows of herbs, silent and still.
Grace Rosemary was dead.
“When… when did this happen?” The bright pink of her hair looked even more unreal than usual, and I had to remind myself to blink and look away.
“Not long ago, if it was after we left.” Alissa crouched down next to her. “Have you checked the cause of death yet?”
“Inconclusive,” said Madame Grey. “But there isn’t a mark on her. That suggests magic was used—dark magic.”
Like the sceptre. A chill ran down my spine. The killer might even have been in the garden at the same time as Alissa and me. Being in the same house as a thief was bad enough, but a murderer was something else entirely.
Footsteps came from behind us. Then a scream. “YOU!” howled one of the twins, who wore a pink dress today. “You did this.” She waved a finger at Madame Grey. “Your household murdered my mother.”
“Don’t be absurd,” said Madame Grey. “I received a call from Shannon when she found the body.”
I spun around as she pointed towards the nearest bench. I hadn’t seen the blond witch, sitting there watching the scene unfold. “Where is Aveline? Still in the flat?”
“She isn’t answering the door,” Madame Grey responded. “Patience—watch out. You’re trampling on a crime scene.”
“She’s our mother,” hissed Patience. “Whoever did this, their coven will pay dearly.”
She whirled on the spot, slamming into the house. I heard her hammering on all the doors. When she returned to the garden, accompanied by her twin, her eyes were streaming and her expression was livid.
“Dead,” said the other twin, who wore blue. “Who did this?”
“Someone who wants to risk the wrath of the Rosemary Coven,” Patience said, rapping on my bedroom window with her wand.
“What the bloody hell do you want?” Aveline shouted from the other side of the glass.
“Grace is dead. I was starting to worry you were, too.” I stepped closer to the window. “Where is your daughter?”
“I sent her out to get me a new walking stick. This one is too short.”
So she wasn’t at home. That leaves Shannon, Aveline herself, and Grace’s own daughters as the potential suspects.
There came the sound of footsteps, punctuated by Aveline’s loud complaints that her hip wouldn’t stand for charging around like this. Then she emerged from the house, leaning on the carved stick she’d been using earlier.
Madame Grey attempted to approach the body, only to find her path blocked by the twins. “Charity… Patience, please move aside. We need to determine the cause—”
“We know the cause.” Patience straightened upright, jabbing her wand at Aveline. “Murderess! I saw you reeling in her mother with your flattery and your lies.”
“She’s dead?” Aveline pulled out her wand and pointed it at Grace’s body.
Both the twins leapt at her with exclamations of outrage. “You murdered her.”
“I did not,” Aveline said.
True. “She didn’t,” I said, then shrank under the twins’ punishing glares. “Dark magic killed her. Right, Madame Grey?”
“Correct, Blair,” she said. “If I may examine the body—”
“You’ll do no such thing.” Charity spun on the spot to face Alissa’s grandmother. “Is this how you show hospitality here in Fairy Falls, murdering our coven leader?”
“Watch you aren’t next,” remarked Aveline. “Don’t think I haven’t heard you gossiping about the inconvenience of putting up with a coven leader who won’t die. My daughter says much the same.”
Alissa’s eyes bugged out, matching my own expression. They can’t have murdered their own mother, can they? The twins hadn’t tripped up my lie-sensing power when I’d tried to find out who’d stolen the sceptre, but it was an unlikely coincidence that Grace had shown up dead a day later.
“Aveline, you’re being absurd,” said Madame Grey. “I suggest you all take a moment to calm down before pointing fingers. I, however, intend to call the police.”
Great. Just what we all need… gargoyles in the garden as well as vengeful witches.
“Calm down?” Aveline gave the twins a withering look. “I bet I was next on your list, wasn’t I?”
Charity narrowed her eyes at her. “Keep pointing your wand at me and you will be.”
“ENOUGH,” Madame Grey boomed, loud enough to startle Shannon into falling off the bench. “Did you kill your mother?”
“No!” chorused the twins in scandalised tones.
“Not lying, are they?” Aveline turned to Shannon, who scrambled to her feet. “Or is the perso
n who found the body the real murderer?”
“No, I’m not!” Shannon’s voice was high, shrill. “I was sitting out here minding my own business when I saw a flash of light. I ran over to the house and found her lying there, dead.”
“Flash of light?” said Madame Grey. “Purple light, was it?”
“I can’t be certain, but I think so.” Shannon visibly trembled. “I didn’t see the killer.”
“How convenient.” Aveline sniffed. “Our lie-sensor is awfully quiet. Not omitting information yourself, are you, Blair?”
“No,” I said. “She’s not the killer.”
“Blair was with us at the pub,” said Alissa. “The only people in the house were you—and Aveline. Patience, Charity, when did you realise your mother was missing?”
“Ten minutes ago,” said Charity. “She likes to take a walk at midday.”
“Liked,” said her sister. “Before one of you murdered her.”
Madame Grey took a step forward. “I must examine the body with the help of a forensic team—”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Patience insisted. “She’s our mother. She will be taken back home where we will deal with her with the proper respect.”
“I thought you wanted justice,” said Aveline.
Patience narrowed her eyes. “Yes, I do. Maybe you had an accomplice commit the deed. Only the sceptre can have done such a thing.”
Madame Grey shook her head. “There are other spells… poisons… certainly methods that would be open to any highly gifted witch or wizard.”
“You seem to have given this a large amount of consideration,” said Charity. “Maybe you had a hand in it yourself. Your enemies do have a habit of disappearing, don’t they?”
I stifled a gasp. Now she was accusing Madame Grey?
The air chilled, while Alissa’s alarmed expression matched my own.
“If you mean Mrs Dailey, she’s safely locked away in jail,” said Madame Grey, her face carefully blank. “Those who try to usurp my position have committed a criminal offence, so yes, they are jailed. Would you prefer them to walk free? Or perhaps you have considered committing a similar offence yourself?”