Carolina Witch

by January Daphne

“Have you been listening to anything that was said today? The sheriff said there were claw marks and teeth marks on the body. The witch kid said it was a killing curse that anyone could do—including a werewolf. Frank said Liam and Martha got in a big fight three days ago and Liam hasn’t been to work since. And to top it off, he’s giving his blood to teenagers so they can play some messed werewolf drinking game. Liam sounds like just the man who would do something like this.”

  Blake dug his fingernails into the steering wheel. “You don’t know him.”

  “Have you ever seen the guy in his werewolf form?” I asked.

  Blake hesitated. “I’ve known Liam since he was eighteen, so yes, I’ve seen him in his werewolf form.”

  Benjamin had curled up in a ball beside me on the leather seat. His eyes were closed, but I noticed his ears were tensed, cocked toward Blake and me. He was listening intently. I was dying to know what he thought of all this.

  “What color is Liam’s fur?” I asked.

  “You know the answer to that. Ace told you.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “I want to hear you say it.”

  Blake pursed his lips. “I think someone’s trying to frame him.”

  “You didn’t answer the question.”

  “Black.” His hands shook. “Ok? It’s black, but that doesn’t mean anything. If someone’s trying to frame him, they’ll do everything they can to make sure the evidence points to him.”

  I glared at him. “Why are you protecting this monster?”

  A muscle tightened in Blake’s jaw as a steely expression fell across his handsome face. “Because he’s my friend.”

  “You didn’t seem all that friendly to him this morning at the bakery.”

  “That’s because he was checking you out, Natalie,” Blake said, irritated. “And it pissed me off.”

  I closed my mouth and stared forward at the road. The truck headlights spilled across the chalky white gravel that made up the narrow road.

  Blake sighed. “That came out wrong. Forget I said that. It’s just that Liam’s my best friend. I know you don’t know me that well, but can you please just give me a little more time to dig into this?”

  “Your best friend is a werewolf?”

  “Yes. And my other friend is a witch.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, you. I’ve known you about twenty-four hours now. We’re friends.” He gave me a meaningful look that warmed my insides like a mug of hot chocolate.

  The truck rounded the bend and I saw the outline of my aunt’s cabin.

  “Fine,” I said. “I won’t say anything to Angie. Yet.”

  I appreciate that.” His fingers found mine and he gave it a squeeze. “I’ll see you tomorrow.

  Blake and I said our goodbyes as Benjamin leap out of the truck. Together, we walked across the driveway to Martha’s cabin.

  “Did you have a nice nap?” I asked.

  Benjamin yawned, his flat pink tongue curling up. “I would’ve if I hadn’t had to sit through a lover’s quarrel the whole way home.”

  I threw up my hands. “That was not a lover’s quarrel. Maybe I’m wrong, but don’t you have to be lovers in order to have a lover’s quarrel.

  “Apparently not,” Benjamin said.

  “You’re literally the worst.” I paused at the front door and fished my keys out from my purse. “And for the record, you don’t have to be my familiar if you don’t want to. I can figure out this magic stuff on my own. I’m leaving in a week anyway.”

  “Stop talking right now.” Benjamin said in a low growl.

  “See there you go again being rude.”

  “Shut up and wait here,” Benjamin’s words rumbled in the back of this throat as he pushed the front door open with his nose and sprinted inside.

  I frowned. Why had the door been unlocked? Was there someone in the cabin?

  I heard a loud bark from Benjamin followed by the scream of a woman.

  Without thinking, I dropped my purse and rushed in after him. “Benjamin!”

  Chapter 12

  A dark figure stood in the corner of the living room. Benjamin bared his teeth. The hair on his back stood on end. His gravelly growl vibrated through my body. Benjamin wasn’t messing around.

  I flicked the light switch on the wall and blinked as light flooded the room. The intruder was a middle aged woman with reddish hair cut in a short, sensible layers that framed her pale cheeks. She held one hand out in a defensive stance and the other wielded a metal spatula like it was a sword.

  As my eyes adjusted to the light, Benjamin’s growling quieted.

  “There now, Bennie. It’s just me.” The women wiped her brow with the back of her hand. Once she seemed sure that Benjamin was out of “attack-mode” her gaze flicked over to me. “You must be the niece I’ve heard so much about.”

  “Natalie,” I said, introducing myself. “Can I ask who you are?”

  “Ida Honeycutt, Frank’s wife. I handle the housekeeping for the lodge and most of the vacation rentals on Wolf Mountain.

  “Oh. So… you’re here because you’re cleaning?” I could see the glowing digits on the kitchen microwave from where I stood. It was a quarter after six. “Kind of late for that.”

  “I wanted to drop off the rest of your linens. I didn’t have time to do all of them before you made it up here. Angie and I weren’t sure if you were going to show.” She sidestepped Benjamin and pointed to a pile of white sheets and blankets neatly folded in perfect squares on the coffee table. Then she walked over the kitchen island. “And I brought you a lasagna. You’re not one of those fussy eaters, are you?”

  “No.” I still had my guard up. “Why didn’t you turn on any lights while you were in here.”

  She gave a curious smile and I noticed she had a dimple on her cheek. “I had my hands full when I came in. I had just set down the tray of lasagna when Benjamin practically lunged at me.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “You know me,” she scolded.

  “Just because I know you doesn’t mean I like you,” Benjamin retorted as he hopped up on the couch and circled twice before laying down.

  Must be nice to be able to say whatever you want without anyone understanding you, I thought.

  “Oh, don’t you growl at me.” She folded her arms. “I don’t know what’s gotten into him. I bet he misses Martha. The two were inseparable.”

  “So I’ve heard.” I glanced at Benjamin, who lounged on couch, eyes fluttering shut.

  Apparently, he wasn’t concerned anymore. Seeing him relax made me relax.

  “Do you want the lasagna tonight, or should I put it in the fridge,” Ida asked. She seemed to know her way around Aunt Martha’s kitchen pretty well. I wasn’t sure if that was because she’d cleaned it so many times or if she was close with Martha.

  “I’ll have it tonight. Thanks.” As if on command, my stomach growled quietly, and I realized I hadn’t eaten since the bakery this afternoon.

  Ida squinted at the oven and tapped a couple buttons. Then she slid the glass tray onto the middle rack. “About ten minutes should do it.” She absently blew a piece of her fiery hair out of her eyes as she closed up the oven.

  She wiped her hands on her loose fitting navy jeans and headed for the door.

  “Wait.” I followed after her. “While your here, I actually have a few questions for you. You know, to help me with the lay of the land and all that.”

  Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Benjamin’s ears angle toward me. He was listening again.

  “Oh?” She hitched up her jeans, which were cinched around her waist with a worn leather belt. “What do you need to know?” She planted her hands on her hips.

  “Are you aware of all the,” I paused, searching for the right words, “unusual characters who live on this mountain.”

  Ida’s smile faltered. “The magical stuff, you mean.”

  I nodded.

  She sighed. “Unfortunately. You’ll find most people do know about magic around here. Not everyone, though
, so I don’t recommend running your mouth around town about it—especially not around my daughter. Frank and I do everything we can to keep her out of it all.”

  “You daughter?”

  “Lola Honeycutt. She told me she saw you at the bakery today.”

  It clicked. Both women had the same sunset-colored hair and cheerful, bright eyes.

  “I appreciate you not bringing any of this up to her. Poor girl’s been through enough. She doesn’t need anyone telling her stories, so she can go around being afraid of her own shadow.”

  “I didn’t mention magic around her,” I assured Ida.

  “See that you don’t.”

  I cleared my throat, wishing I could ease the tension that had crept into this conversation. I couldn’t back down now, though. I needed information. “You’ve probably heard about the state my aunt’s body was found in, and I’m wondering if you think it was a bear attack like the sheriff said.”

  “Bears are the least of our worries around here,” she said flatly.

  “Just between you and me, do you have any idea who would want to harm my aunt?”

  “How much time have you got?” She let out a hollow laugh. “I’d say the list of people who didn’t have it out for Martha is a lot shorter.”

  “I’m particularly curious about a man named Liam Evans who lives on the mountain.”

  “You and me both,” she said, a sour expression marring her delicate features. “He’s someone you’d be wise to keep your distance around. The boy’s trouble, plain and simple—though I suppose he’s not a boy anymore.”

  “Are you ok living so close to someone like him?” I asked.

  “If I had it my way, I’d have left years ago. My hubby Frank has other ideas. I don’t know why he stays. He’ll complain about his job until the cows come home, but he’s dead set on staying put.”

  “Frank told me he liked managing the lodge.”

  She smirked. “Well, of course, he’d tell you that. He wouldn’t want to offend you.”

  I thought about that for a moment. I wouldn’t have been offended, but I could see Frank wanting to tread lightly around me since he was hoping the buy the property. “Do you have any idea where Liam was the day my aunt was found dead?”

  She shrugged. “No telling,” she said. “I was busy getting all of the rentals cleaned up after a family reunion that was booked up here. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was with your aunt though. I did see him walking around here that afternoon.”

  I thought about the “X” Angie had drawn on Blake’s map. Martha’s cabin an the other vacation rentals were a short walk to the place the body was found.

  “Why would you think he was with my aunt?” I pressed. “I’ve sort of gotten the impression that him and my aunt didn’t get along.”

  A sly smile spread across her face. “Depends on the day, I suppose. I don’t know what the nature of their relationship was, but I’d catch Liam hanging around up here for no apparent reason at all. He lives about halfway down the mountain—at least several miles from here, but I’ll tell you, I’d aways see him skulking around up here while I was cleaning the guest cabins. He’d be knocking on Martha’s door and giving her stuff. Jars of herbs and vials of liquid.” She shivered. “That’s about all I can tell you, Sweetie. I didn’t know your aunt all that well, but I’m sorry for your loss. She meant well, but she should’ve known better. She made a mistake getting involved with Liam Evans.” With that, She shuffled towards the door—which was still wide open from when Benjamin had barreled in. “I’d better get going, but can I give you a piece of advice?” She grabbed her set of keys from the bench in the foyer and stepped into a pair of brown clogs.

  “Lanie was smart in leaving when she did. As a mother myself, I know she wouldn’t want this life for you. Get out while you still can.”

  “You knew my mom?”

  She smiled, and this time it looked genuine. “It’s a small town. Everyone knows everyone around here.”

  Chapter 13

  “What’s the deal with you and Ida? Seems like you hate her even more than you hate me?” I scooped a hefty helping of hash brows and eggs onto my plate. I had decided to make breakfast this morning, and was pleasantly surprised to discover how well-equipped Martha’s kitchen was. Despite a ridiculous number of mason jars in the pantry, you wouldn’t have had any idea she was a witch. She had dishes, pans, silverware, a food processor—all the normal kitchen stuff.

  Benjamin sauntered over to the table and gracefully hopped into one of the chairs.

  I hesitated before setting down my plate of breakfast on the table. Before I came to Wolf Mountain, I never in a million years would have shared a table with a dog. “Am I supposed to give you some of this?”

  “That would certainly be the polite thing to do.” Benjamin’s nose twitched as he eyed my plate.

  “But you’re a dog. Won’t this make you sick? Two nights ago you ate dog food, and yesterday you gorged on pastries and lasagna.”

  Benjamin put one oversized gray paw on the table. “Mythical creatures have fast metabolisms.”

  “Right,” I said. “So that’s a ‘yes’ to the eggs?”

  “I’ll take a bowl of coffee, too—with a splash of cream.”

  “Wow, ok. Anything else, sir?”

  “Not at the moment, thank you.” He was salivating, watching me plate this food.

  “You are the most spoiled dog I’ve ever met in my life.”

  “I’m a familiar,” he corrected.

  I slid a plate over to his side of the table and sat down. “So I’ve been thinking about last night, “I began. “How do you think Ida got in?”

  “The front door,” Benjamin said, noisily scarfing down his breakfast. “She’s a housecleaner. She has keys to just about every building you do.”

  “No, I mean how’d she get past all the enchantments and stuff that Martha put on the house?”

  “The enchantments only keep out supernatural beings. Werewolves, witches, shapeshifters, familiars and any other non earthly creature can’t enter this cabin unless they have explicit permission to enter. However, ordinary people are unaffected by the Wilder family enchantments.”

  “So if I was to invite someone like Liam or Ace into the cabin, they would be able to get in?”

  “Correct.”

  “And if they did not get an invite, the enchantments would keep them out,” I said. “So kind of like a vampire? They have to be invited in?”

  “In that way, similar to a vampire I suppose,” Benjamin lifted his head, talking with his mouth full. Bits of egg fell onto the table. “But the enchantments placed on this cabin require the owner to invite the creature in every single time. Liam or Ace would not be able to be in here if you weren’t also here.”

  I scooped up a forkful of eggs. “How did I get in? I’m supernatural, right? I’m a witch.”

  “You own the house.” Benjamin sniffed around the rim of his coffee bowl before he gave it one tentative lick. “You are the one who chooses what supernatural entities come into your home.”

  “Well, how’d you get in, then? I don’t remember inviting you in.”

  “It’s because I’m your familiar. Once the cosmic bond is created between a familiar and a witch, their energetic imprints merge together.”

  “We’ve merged together?”

  “That’s what I said.”

  I set down my fork. “Ok, hang on, I didn’t agree to that.”

  “Me neither.” Benjamin lifted his head from his coffee and burped. “But it’s what we’ve got. The house recognizes my energy as if it’s your energy. To the universe, we’re the same.”

  “Does that mean I’m going to start acting all high and mighty like you?”

  “No, I said that our energy is recognized as the same. That won’t affect our personalities. And if I act high and mighty sometimes, it’s because I’ve been alive for many lifetimes longer than you. I’ve learned a few things in that time.” Benjamin hopped of the chai
r and trotted over a place in the where the sun was shining through the window. “You, on the other hand, are reckless and have not fully comprehended the inherent danger of living on Wolf Mountain.” He laid down in the sun and rolled onto his side, basking in the warmth. “My duty for the rest of your human life is to protect and guide you. I didn’t get to choose this anymore than you chose to be a witch.”

  I started clearing the table. “So if I die, you’ll automatically be bonded to another witch somewhere.” I asked.

  “That’s how it works.” He heaved a heavy sigh and closed his eyes.

  “Do you like being my familiar?”

  “Irrelevant,” he said.

  “I’m going to take that as a no. And if you’re so miserable with me, why wouldn’t you just let me die?” I bent to load the dishwasher. “Why don’t you just take a vacation for a couple weeks and wait for me to get myself killed by some evil creature. Problem solved, right?”

  He opened an eye. “Some familiars choose to do that. We have free will just as you do. In magic, there are often loopholes.”

  “But you’re not looking for a loophole?” I dried my hands on a dish towel.

  He yawned. “What makes you think I’m not?”

  “Because I saw the way you rushed into the cabin last night when it looked like someone had broken in. We had no idea who was in here. You didn’t think twice about putting yourself in danger to protect me.”

  Benjamin closed his eyes and for a second he looked just like any other napping dog on a lazy Sunday morning. “You can think what you want,” he said sleepily.

  I spent the rest of the morning sorting through Martha’s things into three piles—donate, sell, and keep. I started with Martha’s bedroom, organizing her clothes and shoes into one of the three boxes. Most of the stuff went into the donation box, but a few items I chose to save. There was a dusty photo album on one of the top shelves. When I pulled it down and paged through it, I found pictures of Martha and my mom from decades ago. I recognize others as well. One photo showed a much younger Ida Honeycutt pushing a little red-headed toddler in a tire swing. Blake and Liam appeared in another photo holding snowboards and wearing carefree smiles. Their bright red and orange coats stood out against the snow-covered slopes in the background. Blake’s cheeks were rounder and rosier in the photo, and I would’ve guessed it was taken when he was in his early twenties.