by CC Dragon
I shrugged. “I don’t mind, and we have room. But why not put him in the dungeon at Bran’s mansion? It’s much bigger and more populated than my little cells.”
“Bran and Aunt Trezel are already mad at me for missing the ball. I don’t want to impose. She’ll get her anxiety up. She won’t trust him, and he was a human, so they won’t want him poking around the mansion during the days.”
“I have a home,” Ken reminded him.
“The days of the full moon can leave you with a hungover effect, but only if the potion doesn’t work,” I said.
“And the potion works, I’m sure. So, he’d be bored and asking Serena and that human of hers questions,” Harry said.
“I can control myself,” Ken replied.
“Do you want to be part of a magical world or go back to your human one?” I asked Ken.
Ken said. “Human. I’m not magical. I’m not normal, but I’m not sure what the hell to do other than this.”
“Then, it’s best to be here. My café caters mostly to humans. The vampires work here, so if you try to run, they can catch you, but you’re not in a big mansion where you could get into more trouble,” I said.
Ken nodded.
“Okay. Done. Brad?” I waved him over.
“Yes, boss,” Brad said.
“Ken here is going to be our guest downstairs for this full moon. Make sure he gets three of the potions and is locked up before moonrise for the next three nights. Go show him the accommodations,” I said.
“Sure.” Brad nodded to Ken.
Ken and Harry both followed Brad.
I pulled out my phone and called Bran.
“Hi, how’s things?” he asked.
“Nothing, nothing and more nothing. Harry turned up here with a new werewolf friend. You really don’t want him in your dungeon?”
“I don’t care, but Aunt Trezel gets paranoid. We could put him in his own cell with a memory spell, but layering potions and spells at the same time can be rough on weres. I see why he thinks your place would be less stressful,” he said.
“Okay. No big deal. Brad is showing them the cell, now. Would I be bugging you if I asked if your aunt found out anything?” I couldn’t help myself.
He chuckled. “It’s fine. I get it. She hasn’t said anything. Aunt Trezel has her own way of doing things. You can’t rush her or push her. She’s mad at Harry for missing the ball, so he probably would rather hang around you more, anyway. I’ll let you know when I hear something.”
“Fine. Thanks. I haven’t seen our thief come in, yet,” I said.
“Patience is tough, but sometimes, you can’t force things, no matter how much you want to,” he said.
“I know. Oh, I meant to ask. Do you happen to have a good-looking gay male cousin around somewhere?” I asked.
“Charlie isn’t supposed to be in town for another week or so. He’s in grad school. How did you know that?” Bran asked.
“I didn’t. A psychic friend of mine did. He’s not super magical, so he doesn’t get invited to things, but he sort of sensed I should set him up. Make sure to bring him around the café when he’s here. The twins are planning a Harry Potter weekend,” I said.
“You must be joking,” he sighed.
“I know, but the humans love it. Fine, you can avoid that but bring him by another time,” I replied.
“I will. I promise,” he said.
“What are you doing about this she-were who is picking up men and biting them?” I asked.
“What should I do?’” Bran asked.
I sighed. “See, this is where you need to stop being so rich and removed from things. That woman is a problem. She either doesn’t know what she is, and he caught her on a bad night, or she knows and is getting revenge on men because a man bit her.”
“That’s a leap for her motives,” he said.
“Well, we won’t know if we don’t find her. I’ll text my uncle and let him talk to Ken. He can get the information,” I said.
“There you go. Our world has an order. The gypsies are much better at that sort of thing. I don’t want to step on their toes,” Bran said.
“That makes sense. The gypsies are the hunters. Let them investigate and handle it,” I agreed.
“See, I’d have handled it much worse and ended up getting bitten,” Bran joked.
“Really, a wizard of your powers? You might get seduced but not bitten.” That remark was a bit of a test.
“I’d never get seduced by any else,” he assured me.
“Good answer. I need to stop by and talk to the prisoners,” I said.
“Come on over.”
I ended the call and texted my uncle. This wouldn’t be a fun encounter, but people’s safety was more important than my family drama.
Bran opened the door when I arrived. That was odd, but it was after ten at night.
“Butler on vacation?” I asked.
He smiled. “I thought I’d spare him. He does get time off to sleep occasionally.”
“You’re a kind employer. I did check on the prisoners before. I wanted to make sure they were humanely treated. I hate to suspect them in the theft,” I trailed off as I entered the mansion.
“I don’t know how they could’ve done anything. They’re locked up. Both are accounted for.” He smiled and closed the door behind me.
“They have friends on the outside. Maybe one of them found out what happened and is after me? To get back at me for getting them in trouble?” I couldn’t discount the chance that they had people out there who would come looking for them—or be out to avenge them.
Serena and Ryan thought they were wrongly imprisoned for what they had done. No doubt they had friends who were casting sloppy spells, as well.
“That’s a safe bet. We’ve had a couple of young witches come looking for her. She had friends. Some of Ryan’s hunter buddies heard, too. They’ve been caught trying to sneak into the mansion, so you’re not wrong. But I don’t think they are sophisticated enough to plot a theft like that. Or planning out enough a way to get back at you. They’d be more shock and awe,” he said.
“I agree, but I went down there to check on them, and suddenly, things go missing. I can’t ignore the coincidence. I’m sure they’re finding a way to communicate with the outside world. Through a sympathetic family member for Serena, if nothing else,” I said.
Bran frowned. “I wouldn’t say that’s impossible.”
We headed to the dungeons, and the guard on duty nodded.
“Got the truth potion?” I asked.
“Always.” I held up two vials.
“What?” Serena asked with a sneer as we approached her cell.
“Wake up, Ryan,” Bran shouted.
“What is your problem?” Ryan sat up.
“Spell books were stolen from my private collection. You two might have a reason to do something bad to me. Let’s make sure that you’re innocent,” I said.
“Drink up.” Bran lowered the invisible barrier of the cell and handed one to Serena, then did the same with Ryan.
“Why? We’re stuck here. How could we have stolen anything?” Serena smirked.
“You could have a friend do it for you,” I suggested.
“You think if we could get revenge that we’d steal books?” Ryan asked incredulously.
“You? Probably not. But it’s good to be sure.” I smiled.
“Drink. Now,” Bran ordered.
Ryan did and purposely dropped the bottle on the floor.
Serena glared. “You don’t trust me.”
“Nope. Drink it.” Bran waved the magical doors back up.
She downed it and threw the bottle at the magical barrier, where it bounced and rolled harmlessly across the floor. An alarm went off and the guard turned to a panel. He punched a few buttons, and the alarm silenced.
“Did either of you ask or suggest to anyone else that they should steal anything from Claudia?” Bran asked.
“Yes,” Serena said.
“What and who?”
Bran pushed.
“I suggested my mother steal her powers. Or her café.” Serena replied.
“Not the books?” I asked.
“Books...” She rolled her eyes and snorted.
“Did you ask anyone else to get revenge on her?” Bran asked.
“I sent a few messages to friends through my mom, but they never responded. They didn’t get back to my mom, so I guess they wouldn’t bother,” Serena said.
“Quality friends,” I said.
“They probably only liked you for your money and strong family. Get better friends,” Bran suggested.
“You let her see her mother?” I asked Bran.
“Family visitors only,” Bran said.
“I don’t get any,” Ryan complained.
“What about you? Sneak any messages out? Bribe the staff?” Bran asked.
Ryan threw up his hands. “With what? I have no money. I have no family left. I gave up everything for her, and now, I’m stuck here.”
“You don’t have any hunter buddies who might come after me?” I asked.
Ryan shook his head. “They’re about the hunt. If anything, they’ll avoid you and your uncle. This is dumb. If we were going to do something to Claudia, it’d be way bigger than some dumb books.”
“They were pretty serious spell books with dark magic,” I added.
“If I had my magic, maybe that’d be fun. Get you with your own mom’s spells. But, without magic, there is no point,” Serena said.
“Do either of you know of anyone who’d want to hurt Claudia like that?” Bran asked.
“Jealous cousins? They don’t have the magic she does,” Ryan said.
“Ruled them out,” I said.
“It’s gotta be the gypsies,” Serena scoffed.
“Why?” I asked.
“Some gypsies have magic. Everyone knows they’re thieves. Hunters, fine. But it’s all a cover. They con and steal and use people. Why wouldn’t they steal powerful dark spells?” Serena asked.
Bran looked at me.
“I don’t have that many gypsies that come to the café. I mean, there’s a fair amount, but they wouldn’t steal from me,” I said.
“You’re not one of them. You’re fair game. I have been doing my studying and reading, no matter how much I complain and sometimes play dumb. I read up on gypsy rules and traditions. If you don’t have any gypsy blood, you’re fair game for cons, theft, or use without any guilt or repercussions from their society. Did you piss off any of them?” Serena asked.
“No. They’re like my extended family. I took Bran to a gypsy wedding,” I said.
“They love her,” Bran agreed.
“You were invited, but you took a guest to a gypsy wedding? That could be considered an insult. Or exposing their kids to another outsider. They don’t know him or trust him. Someone might not have objected at the time but were angry at your boldness,” Serena replied.
It could be possible someone hadn’t liked it. I swallowed hard.
“Those men looked like they’d be pretty outspoken if they objected to something,” Bran pointed out.
I nodded. “But women wouldn’t call me out, because I’m not a gypsy. They wouldn’t have authority over me. Men wouldn’t call me out either—they’d go through Uncle Vin. But it would’ve been done there and then. If it were a gypsy, it’d be a woman who isn’t close enough to get to my uncle. Maybe on one of the grooms’ sides. It was a double wedding.”
“Huge wedding. Tons of people. And you’re treated like family. Bran told me about the wedding. I’d like to see those dresses. I don’t hate gypsies, but I don’t trust them,” Serena said.
It wasn’t the most impossible scenario. Someone in that extended family could’ve been offended that I attended the wedding and had brought another non-gypsy guest. I could be explained away as adopted in a way by a gypsy—but Bran wasn’t screened or gypsy approved.
“Thanks, Serena. I’ll check on that angle,” I said.
I started up the stairs.
Bran followed me. “Do you really believe it’s a gypsy?”
“No. I don’t, but I don’t know the grooms’ families. I know the brides’ wouldn’t be mad. They understand the circumstance of how I came to live with Uncle Vin. The story would get around the wedding to anyone who asked. Still, there could be one person on either of the grooms’ sides who thought my bringing a date to a gypsy wedding was setting a bad example. I’m unmarried, I live alone, and I’m dating a man—unchaperoned. That breaks a lot of gypsy rules,” I said.
“If you’d gone alone, it would be no problem?” he asked.
“We sat with my uncle. He left the gypsy group, but his family still communicates with him and invites him to things. It’s an odd sort of place. They aren’t considered gypsies, anymore, but they’re still blood. He basically adopted me so the gypsies wouldn’t reject me. He did a good thing. I was orphaned, so they wouldn’t be mean to me. But, if I’m being a bad influence on their daughters, that would be judged.” I sighed as we reached the main floor.
“You’d have heard about it, though. Right? If someone was offended. You uncle or someone would’ve heard about it and told you maybe don’t bring the boyfriend next time,” Bran mused.
“They might’ve told him, but I’m not sure he’d tell me. With this family-secret business, I’ve been a bit distant,” I said.
“Can’t hurt to ask. Stealing books feels like a gypsy thing,” he said.
I frowned at him.
“You want to think everyone is good and kind. One person at that whole wedding could have objected to me enough to want to teach you a lesson. This could just be part one,” he defended.
“There are good and bad in every group. I just hate stereotypes,” I said.
“This is playing the odds. And where there is smoke, there is fire. The gypsy people have a reputation. The wedding was a blast, but don’t go all crusader to say they’re all innocent when some would be criminals just by statistical fact,” he pointed out.
“I’ll check into it, thanks. At least we know Serena is studying, despite the attitude.”
Chapter Eight
No matter what I tried, I couldn’t banish the butterflies on the day of the coven meeting. Surprisingly, I saw all three new witches come in. Esme greeted them. I was on the second floor watching to see who took an interest in the fact that the secret room was closed.
Brenda tinted red, but I already knew she easily lied or at least hid her powers well enough to let a cake nearly drop. Trela tinted pink, as well as some of the others.
“Why’s the room closed?” Ellen asked.
There were mumbles of agreement in the confusion.
“Well, I guess we should start. I’m sorry to say someone broke into that room and stole some my mother’s spell books from the bookcase. For the new people, normally, we meet in there, so we’re not interrupted by the café and they aren’t bothered by us. The noise can echo. But, unfortunately, I don’t feel good about letting people in there, now. I don’t have much left from my mother, and that someone broke in there and stole...”
“I’m sorry. Brad mentioned something but then said he wasn’t supposed to talk about it,” Ellen said.
“I figured it’d gotten around to the staff, but that’s fine. The idea of opening this up, right now, is hard. I’m sure it’s none of the regular coven members, but we have some guests. Plus, I went to a magical ball. It was fun, but it also put me on the radar of some new witches and wizards,” I admitted.
“It wasn’t your boyfriend?” Brenda asked.
I shot her a look. “He’d have no reason to steal those. His family is very strong magically. There’s no need for him to see those old spells. We’ve added protective spells on this area and the café overall. I’m sorry. I know it makes everyone feel like we might have an enemy. Hopefully, it’s just me with these new acquaintances. But that shouldn’t stop us from meeting and welcoming new potential members like Brenda, Trela, and Amelia.”
<
br /> There was a bit of applause but a general unease.
“Do you teach spells and things?” Brenda asked.
“No, not as a rule. Magic isn’t the goal. Community is. We do some fundraisers and charity efforts. We celebrate the special dates, though I couldn’t be there for this equinox because of the ball. Smaller groups do different things,” I said.
“Do you think it’s good to mix magical and non-magical? Seems uneven and odd,” Brenda said.
“How was your coven set up before?” Ellen asked.
“Magical only. There was a separate one for those without powers. The goals and challenges are different. It’s not better or worse,” Brenda said.
“Separate but equal? No thanks,” Genie said.
I grinned. “I agree. If all you want to do is collect powers, that’s no reason for a coven. Unless you want to steal powers or spells. Helping each other is one thing. Learning from each other. If you want a magical group for people trying to improve their powers, I’m not sure how much interest there would be, but we won’t include or exclude people based on their powers or lack of them.”
“And you’re the boss of the coven?” Brenda asked.
“Leader. Along with Esme. There are other covens if you don’t like our setup. But they aren’t as big. Inclusion is a plus to most people,” I said.
“Do you vote for who is the leader?” Brenda asked.
“Most of us work. We don’t have time to do the emails and rituals and update newsletters and meet new members,” Ellen said.
“And they’re the most powerful. That has nothing to do with it?” Brenda asked.
“This coven dates back a century. My mother and her mother were members. It’s worked just fine with people who have the time taking on the jobs that take time. Powers aren’t important when you’re not under attack,” I said.
Brenda pointed to the room. “But, now, you might be. Are you willing to fight?”
“Is that a threat?” Trela asked.
“I’m not threatening anyone, but someone broke in here. Maybe they just wanted the spells or maybe they wanted to hurt you and will do more. You don’t know,” she pointed out.
“I will find out. If anyone knows anything, I’d appreciate the information. But I’m hoping to have it all sorted out and solved by next month’s meeting. Now, any new business?” I asked.