Mind Over Magical Matters: Paranormal women's Fiction (Midlife Witchery Book 2)

by Brenda Trim

  Violet sighed and got up from the couch. “Alright, but just one drink. I could use a glass of wine, as well.”

  “I don’t have any. We drank the last of it the other night.”

  Aislinn held up a bag. “I grabbed some when we were out.”

  “You are a lifesaver,” I told her with a smile before turning to Ben. “I’m going to take your shirt off. Don’t lift your left arm. We don’t want you shifting those bones.” I was careful as I tugged the fabric over his head but couldn’t keep from causing him pain.

  Violet hovered behind me as I wrapped the wide tape around his chest. The area was already purple and definitely swollen. I could feel my best friend’s anger behind me. I wanted to reassure her everything had turned out alright, but I wanted the blood of whoever was responsible as much as she did.

  “I swear when we find out who was behind this, I am going to rip their arms from their sockets and beat them with it,” Aislinn growled.

  I glanced at my blood thirsty friend. “You will make a fierce mama bear one day.”

  She snorted. “Not likely. I’m almost forty and single. Kids just aren’t an option for me anymore.”

  “That’s not true, Aunt Aislinn. You’re still plenty young to have kids. You’d make a great mom,” Bailey said surprising us.

  “Thank you, Bailey, but there is still the problem of being single. I don’t see that changing anytime soon. And, even if it did, I would need to find a guy I liked for more than two seconds.”

  Argiess tilted his head and considered her words. “Are you afraid of commitment?”

  “Nope. I’m not afraid of it at all. What I’m unwilling to do is saddle myself with another asshole. In my experience very few men are capable of true love and loyalty.” I understood what she was saying and would likely feel the same way if I had an ex like hers.

  Bodin was married to Aislinn for over ten years and was cheating on her the entire time. She discovered his infidelity when his latest girlfriend ended up pregnant with his baby. It was a huge scandal in Cottlehill Wilds because the woman used to work for Violet and was friends with the two of them. As if that wasn’t enough to make you hate men, Violet’s husband ran off with a young nymph, as well. It was no surprise the two of them refused to consider dating.

  “I don’t need details to know someone hurt you badly,” Argiess told her with an intense look. “Whoever it was is an idiot. If I had a woman like you, I wouldn’t be able to think of anyone else. Judging all men based on a few bad ones limits your options and ultimately you will end up alone. You deserve more than to allow some asshole to rob you of your future happiness.”

  Violet sat forward. “I never thought of it like that.”

  Ben was gritting his teeth and sweat dotted his forehead as I finished securing his ribs. “He’s right, mom. You shouldn’t let dad ruin the rest of your life.”

  Violet smiled at her son. “You shouldn’t talk about your dad like that.”

  Bailey huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. “Why not mom? He treated you like shit. And he was always yelling at us. He wasn’t a good dad or husband.”

  I set the tape down and clapped my hands. “How about that wine?” We all needed to relax and put the night behind us. The situation was far from over, but at the moment we all needed a beat to recuperate so we could fight another day.

  Chapter 17

  An alarm slid through me making me catch my breath. The warning came from Pymm’s Pondside telling me someone had crossed onto the property. The magic didn’t sense malevolent intentions which is the only reason they were able to cross. That didn’t mean my visitor had my best interest in mind.

  “What is it?” Sebastian’s voice carried his usual demand. Thankfully I was a grown ass woman with no desire to follow anyone blindly or I’d be falling all over myself to respond.

  He’s only asking because he wants to be prepared to defend you. The reminder was enough for me to ignore my stubborn side. “Someone entered the property.”

  “Friend or foe?”

  Violet’s question followed right after Sebastian’s follow up. “Could it be Tunsall?”

  Knocking on the front door answered Violet’s inquiry, but nothing else. I tuned into everything around me like Grams had been telling me to do. I was glad to have the book, but far more grateful to have my grandmother and her snarky direction. I’d learned how to hone the skills I’d mastered and was picking up new ones.

  Getting up I was acutely aware of Sebastian following me to the door and my Grams chastising him for not allowing me to flex my magical muscle. I didn’t need to turn around to know the corner of his right eye would be twitching and his jaw clenched in an effort to keep his mouth shut.

  A smile hovered at the corner of my mouth until I opened the door and saw Lance standing on my stoop. Why the hell was the Chief Constable here? My gut twisted into knots. My closest friends and family were in the house safe and sound, but that didn’t make me feel too much better. His presence could only mean the killer had struck again.

  “Constable. What can I do for you?”

  Lance’s brown eyes looked down on me, his face held a grim expression. It was the same as I had seen each time I’d spoken to the man. “I need to talk to you about Kendra Williams.”

  I tilted my head. “Who?” The name didn’t ring any bells.

  “May I?” The Constable looked beyond me to Sebastian standing at my back.

  I turned my head and noticed Violet and Aislinn telling my grandmother to hide. The very human police officer would not understand why he was seeing a ghost in the form of my dead Grams.

  Turning, I stepped back and gestured inside the house. “Sure. ‘C’mon in.”

  Violet strode into view. “We were just sitting down for a cuppa. Can I get you one?”

  “I’d appreciate it. I’ve got a long day ahead of me.” Lance continued through my house, following in Violet’s wake.

  I still didn’t understand the obsession the English had with tea. Coffee was a far better choice. Of course, they felt the same about Americans and java. I paused before entering the kitchen and leaned into Bas.

  “Do you know Kendra Williams? Or what this is about?”

  Sebastian shook his head side to side while keeping his gaze trained on the other room. “No idea, but it’s not good. We need to tweak the wards to keep him out.”

  “That would be difficult to explain.” I patted his broad chest and continued to the island where Violet was pouring tea into a mug for Lance.

  “You mentioned someone named Kendra Williams, but I don’t know her. What is this about?” I tucked my hands behind my back to hide the way they shook.

  Lance took a sip and set the mug down. “Ms. Williams was attacked this morning in the park. She would be dead right now if Mae hadn’t discovered her and called for help.”

  I couldn’t stop my eyes from flaring or my mouth from dropping open. “That’s awful, but what does this have to do with me?” And why did Mae call the human authorities for help?

  Lance pursed his lips as Aislinn and Argiess entered the room. For several tense seconds I didn’t think he would respond while they were present. He broke his silence right when I was about to ask them to leave. “She was carrying your picture and a gun. What do you know about that?”

  “I have no idea. Like I said before. I don’t know who this person is and certainly can’t say why she would be carrying my picture.” I had seen enough TV shows about cops and investigations to know I was a suspect. “I haven’t left my house since returning with Ben and Bailey from London last night around ten.”

  “We were all together the entire evening, so if you think she might have done something you’re wrong…” Sebastian’s deep voice sent shivers through me. It was largely how turned on I was hearing him defend me. We’d been dancing around each other for months. It was getting hard to deny how badly I wanted to throw caution to the wind and take him to my bed.

  Lance rested his fisted han
ds on the counter as he leaned forward. “I’m looking at every piece of evidence we have been able to gather. It seems she was attacked shortly before four this morning and the only clue we have is your picture.”

  Bas crossed his arms over his chest. “Go ask her why she had it with her. Fiona can’t give you any answers.”

  “Bit hard to do that when she’s in ICU in a coma.” Lance refused to back down making their encounter a clash of the titans. “She’s the fifth attack this week. We’ve had three die on us and the other two have no memory of what happened to them.”

  Was this in addition to the supernaturals being killed? I couldn’t ask him if one was a brownie. Lance was ignorant of the magical world and a norm. “If they suffered a head injury it’s likely they won’t regain their memories.” Brain damage was tricky and impossible to heal. I’d bet whoever was responsible took steps to ensure their victims couldn’t talk about what happened. I wondered why they left humans alive, but realized they wouldn’t pose a threat to their plans.

  It was clear the being responsible was able to pass for human in order to move around so freely. I set that aside to consider another time. “Who died? I haven’t heard anything about these incidents.”

  Lance proceeded to tell us about the two victims found behind the bar where Aislinn worked and the third in the parking lot of Mug Shot, the café owned by Bruce, a dwarf. The fourth victim was discovered not far from Violet’s bookstore and then there was Kendra.

  It chilled me to discover the attacks occurred within hours after I had visited each location. I didn’t tell him that. No freakin way did I want to be hauled in for further questioning. I was clearly the uniting factor but couldn’t share that with him.

  “I wish there was something I could tell you that would help. I don’t know Kendra, and the others aren’t familiar either. Violet was really the only friend from my childhood that I kept in contact with and remained close to, so even if I knew them at one point, I lost touch long ago.”

  “Have you tried asking Mae or Camille to use their psychic gifts?” Violet’s voice was like a bomb in the room. At least that’s how it felt to me. Although everyone stopped moving to stare at her for one incredulous second. Thankfully, Lance missed the silent concern.

  Was it too early for wine? This day wasn’t shaping up to be any better than yesterday. I grabbed the chocolate croissants Bas picked up the night before and put them on a plate before setting it on the counter.

  “You know I don’t believe in that stuff,” Lance grumbled as he set an empty mug down.

  Violet wagged a finger at him. “You should know better than to say that. Especially in Isidora’s house.” It was then that I noticed Grams floating through the walls with a determined look on her ghostly face.

  I waved my hand trying to force her to retreat before she was seen. Lance’s brown eyes settled on me with a furrowed brow. “What’s wrong with you?”

  I choked on the pastry that stuck in my throat. “Wrong pipe. But Violet’s right. My Grams taught me the power of insight. Mae and Camille might have information they can share with you.”

  Lance sighed and grabbed a croissant. “Mae told me everything she knows, which wasn’t much. And I doubt Camille will be able to say anything to give me a direction for the investigation. I need solid evidence. And fast. There’s someone stalking residents of our town and it’s my job to stop them.”

  Aislinn straightened from the wall where she’d been leaning. “It’s a shame you have such a narrow mind and are so dismissive. Psychics are very helpful and often able to tell you where to start looking. Last week Camille helped Fiona find Is…uh a necklace from Isidora. Turns out it was in the house the entire time but hidden. Without her assistance it would have taken us far longer to discover.”

  She’d been talking about how the witch helped call my Grams to me. I doubted I would have ever been able to successfully bridge the veil between the living and dead to pull my grandmother across it and back home without her.

  In that moment I wished I was a seer and was able to glimpse the future. It would have come in handy a million times since I moved to Pymm’s Pondside. It would be nice to be psychometric, too. Then I could ask to see the picture or even go visit the woman and be able to see what happened to her with the brush of my hand.

  There was plenty of evidence to suggest a bilge was responsible for the killings, but that didn’t explain the fact that humans were injured and killed, as well. Surely, they would have suffered a worse fate. From what I’d been told the Dark Fae creatures showed no mercy. I saw evidence enough of that at Tunsall’s house.

  “You act as if they have magic or something. Finding a lost piece of jewelry is far different than discovering who tortured and killed people. It doesn’t take a genius to suggest looking behind dressers or under tables or something similar. Usually when something like that is lost it’s because it was knocked off of where it had been set down.”

  Clearly Lance didn’t believe magic or witches or anything of the sort existed. I’d even go so far as to say he found the mere idea ridiculous. It couldn’t be easy for him to be responsible for a town where more than half of its inhabitants were real creatures of myth and legend.

  “I see you aren’t willing to stretch your imagination and give something new a try. So, why do you think she was carrying my picture? Should I be worried? After all you said she had a gun, too.” I was trying to piece together the information.

  My gut told me they switched things up when I enhanced the wards. I’d bet the humans could fool the protections and get past the boundary. And then there was the fact that I proved I could use my power to detect a Fae’s presence. It meant they couldn’t sneak up on me like before.

  “I’d say she was working with someone that has it out for you. Only it doesn’t make sense. From what I was able to discover, you lead a simple life with minimal strife. Your biggest issue was when your husband got sick and passed away. Nothing that would have created enemies. The director of nursing at your hospital said you were never listed in a complaint or malpractice suit.” Lance ran a hand through his sandy blond hair.

  “So, what you’re saying is you think there is someone that wants to hurt Fiona and you can’t protect her.” Sebastian’s words landed like blows on Lance’s shoulders. As the Chief Constable he felt responsible for what happened in his territory. “Don’t worry, Constable. I’ll be sure to do your job and keep her safe.”

  I had no idea why Bas was goading Lance, but it wasn’t helping. I stepped in between the two men and pinned Sebastian with a glare before I turned to Lance. “Thank you for stopping by. I know you have a million things to do today and trust you will let me know if you discover anything new.”

  I gestured to the exit and waited until Lance nodded to Violet and Aislinn then left my house. Conversation stopped the second I reentered the kitchen. Grams was right behind me. “You need to go see that woman. She knows who set her up to kill you. We need that information.”

  I thrust my hands on my hips. “What exactly do you think I am going to do? She’s in a coma. It’s not like I can talk to her.”

  “Not with that attitude. You need to stop thinking like a norm. A simple dream spell will get you inside where you can direct her mind.” My grandmother stopped by the island and looked longingly at the teapot. I imagined it must be hard for her to be incorporeal. It made her presence even more of a gift.

  “I’m not sure leaving Pymm’s Pondside is such a good idea,” Aislinn interjected.

  “Why’s that? We need the information.” I hated sitting there doing nothing. My hands burned with my power bubbling right under the surface.

  “I think it’s a setup. A stranger walking around with a weapon and your picture would get the authorities attention. And yours as well. Of course, we would want to go and question her. Anything to lead us to whoever did this. It’s the perfect trap. We’d walk right into it unsuspecting.”

  Violet gasped. “You’re right. And it
took several tries for whoever did it to get it right which is why there are the other victims.”

  “Good point. We stay here,” I told them.

  Sebastian shook his head. “Not all of us. I’ll go and see what I can learn. Argiess you can come, as well. If they show their face it’ll be better to have both of us there.”

  I didn’t like the idea of putting them in danger, but it was better than walking into a trap. Besides the two men were more than capable of defending themselves. Everyone kept talking about how powerful I was and how much more I would gain, but I couldn’t see how I would ever have more than Bas and Argiess.

  Chapter 18

  “What precisely is toad stool? Is that like frog poop?” No way was I going to drink anything that had fecal matter in it.

  Grams glared at me from under her bushy eyebrows. “Don’t be ridiculous. Why would you use something that can give you a deadly bacterial infection? It’s actually a type of mushroom.”

  Aislinn laughed and Bailey chuckled from her spot on the window seat in the attic. Violet’s daughter hadn’t gone far from our side since we rescued her. I knew she was shaken but hoped this didn’t ruin her desire to strike out on her own. Every child needed to leave the nest and test their wings before they could truly fly.

  Violet entered holding a platter of sandwiches that she set on the table opposite of me. I’d added another to the attic because I had no desire to eat from the surface that I used to create potions. I was terrible and there was always something overflowing my beakers, and I had visitors daily, so there was a real chance I would end up ingesting something that would hex me with genital warts or something.

  “Don’t forget the stardust,” Grams warned, “or you will end up blocking your energy instead of joining a dream.”

  “Where the heck is the stardust?” I scanned the shelves and couldn’t find it.