“Well what is it?” Becky asked.
“She tracked down where Hazel got the car she was driving. It wasn’t reported stolen or anything, so she thinks it must have been loaned to her. At least that’s what she’s hoping,” I said with a sigh.
“And if the car was loaned to her and Fern knows who loaned it, then maybe they know where Hazel went?” Becky said it as if it was a question, but her eyes were already full of hopefulness. Granted I did feel that things were all going to work out, but I was pretty sure that it was just a side effect of the comet boosting my powers. I just didn’t want Becky to get her hopes up too much only to have them crushed later. I wasn’t sure she could take it if we didn’t find Hazel, if I was being honest.
“It’s a lot of ‘if’s’ and ‘maybe’s,’” I said trying to remind her that it was only a hope at this point.
“But those inherently mean they could be,” Becky replied. We were three stubborn women, Becky, Fern and I in our own ways. “I know that nothing is certain, but we can always hope.”
“I know,” I sighed. I didn’t want it to keep on worrying about what might or might not be. “I can’t help but be excited about tonight,” I said changing the topic.
“Me neither,” Becky said, a smile spread across her face. “We’ve both put in so much work for it. It’s beautiful in here.” It really was beautiful, that much I couldn’t deny.
“There are some people here looking for you,” A bored looking waitress said from the entryway of the main hall. Becky and I shared a look before nodding our thanks to the waitress. She ever so slightly rolled her eyes and left the room. As she left the room our ‘re-enactors’ entered. It was the ghosts, looking even more human than the last time we had seen them which seemed impossible.
“How do you do on this fine day?” Colonel Augustus asked us sounding jovial. They had even changed their outfits into more modern suits and a party gown for Mary Jane. It was almost unnatural - well it was unnatural to see them in such a state. I couldn’t believe they had gone out shopping for clothes, I wondered what kind of impression they had given the store where they bought their new outfits. It could not have been subtle.
“We’re doing well, thank you,” I said. I was taken aback by how normal they looked, in their modern clothing. Mary Jane looked beautiful. She was in a floor length gown, with full length arms as well of course, in her day elbows and ankles were considered scandalous. It still looked modern though with it’s sleek navy fabric, a scooped neckline that did show more skin than I would have thought her comfortable with. Both the men looked well put together as well in their streamlined suits. I was honestly starting to worry about my own outfit for the evening (which really, should have been the last thing on my mind).
“You all look lovely,” Becky said mirroring my own thoughts. I could see her jaw drop slightly at the sight of them and I’m sure that I looked similarly. I knew that the ball was a fancy affair with all the well to-do citizens of Stillwater but I hadn’t really realized how fancy it was until I saw our trio of ghosts. Stillwater was a town of old money, and that money was showing even in our dead friends.
“Thank you,” Mary Jane said her eyes were bright from within. “We are so excited for the ball this evening, we could not wait to see you.”
“We feel like our old selves again and the comet has not even passed us yet. We are hopeful that this time the effects will last longer than it has in the past,” The Colonel said. “I am certain that you both and your sister are feeling the effects of the comet as well. Does it not invigorate you?” He asked.
“We do feel more powerful,” Becky replied, but I wished that she hadn’t said so. With what Little Timmy had told us, I had been wondering about the ramifications of the comet passing. I had also thought about what Fern had said about the possibility of stopping the trouble that was to come. I felt the same guilt that Little Timmy had, what was the cost of this powerful feeling and would it be worth it?
“It is marvelous is it not?” Mary Jane said. Little Timmy was still seeming to be very subdued, in the same way that I was. I hadn’t even seen the tragedies that came after the comet and the possibility of them concerned me enough not to revel in the power or the confidence that the comet was giving me. I could sense that more tragedies were coming, and it felt like they were going to be worse than ever before. If only a whisper of the comet created fires and missing children, terrible murders and animal attacks, the real thing could only bring more tragedy. What we needed to know was if this was simply the way of the comet or if a deal had in fact been struck. One that required these tragedies in exchange for a boost in the power of those of the paranormal and the supernatural.
I wished and not for the first time that there was a way to contact other witches who might know more than we did. I wished for the council of witches to be real, so that they might solve the problems that might come from the comet. The only issue was the fact that if they were real at all, then they might have been the people who started this, and struck a deal. Becky made small talk with our three ghosts while I sat in silence. I felt rude, but I was too deep in my own thoughts to join in such light conversation. I was grateful that Becky was always able to keep things light and bubbly no matter what she was going through or actually thinking about. I guessed that it was part of the reason she had survived for so long. Growing up without family, living on the run, she had no choice but to pretend that nothing was wrong, otherwise she might have crumbled or been discovered.
“Miss Mazie, are you okay?” Mary Jane’s sweet voice knocked me off my train of thought. I blinked at her a couple of times before giving her a smile and a nod.
“I’m fine, just worried about what I’m going to wear tonight,” I said hoping that it was just true enough that they would believe me. I knew that the Colonel and Mary Jane were so excited to be human again and I didn’t want to upset them by talking about something that could put a damper on it for them. I’m sure they had already heard enough from Little Timmy about it. On second thought, I was sure that he hadn’t said a word to either of them. He had spoken to me in such a way that I could tell he didn’t want Colonel Augustus to overhear him. I wasn’t sure if it was because there was such a strong sense of hierarchy in the group, where Little Timmy was at the bottom, a possible respect for Colonel Augustus after fighting for him in the war and training under him or that Little Timmy was frightened of the man. I couldn’t blame him if he were...in death the Colonel was an intimidating figure. He stood over a head taller than me and was at least half a head taller than Little Timmy. He was broad in the way that military men are and he had a undeniable air about him that made you feel like you had to agree with what he was saying whether you actually did or not.
“I am sure that whatever you have will look lovely on you,” Mary Jane said kindly. “And you as well Becky.” Becky beamed, the excitement of the celebration finally coming was dawning on us. We had put in so much work to make it happen and make it as great as we could it didn’t really feel real that it was here.
Chapter Fourteen
I had to admit that I cleaned up pretty good. I thought I looked pretty nice in my own party gown, it wasn’t nearly as nice as Mary Jane’s, but it was far nicer than anything I had worn before. It was probably the grown up equivalent of a prom dress, but I had skipped my prom in high school, so I’d never even been close to wearing a dress this nice. Fern looked incredible as well, she was one of those rare red-heads that also looked incredible in red. She had a deep red lipstick on that matched the red of her figure hugging dress, and I couldn’t even pretend that I wasn’t at least a bit jealous of her. Becky looked understated but beautiful. I couldn’t imagine a scenario where Jimmy Jack wouldn’t fall to the floor and finally ask her on a real, proper date just at the sight of her.
“Are you sure you want to try it again?” I asked Fern for the millionth time. She had been insisting that we try the location spell one more time.
“Yes, Mazie, I am sure,�
�� she snapped. I had finally gotten on her nerves and that meant that she did want to do it. If she was unsure then she just would have kept on answering while she was really using each request as a possible way out. Since she was annoyed with me, I knew it meant she had truly made up her mind.
“Okay,” I replied. “Then we will do it before we go to the party.”
“No,” Becky said unexpectedly. I wasn’t sure if she was saying no to the whole thing or just my suggestion. “We have to do it when the comet is passing.”
“People will notice that we left the party,” I said. Even though one hunter was out of our lives, it didn’t mean that there weren’t others. There were always others and we could never be too careful. I was starting to sound and think like Fern in that respect.
“So?” Fern asked rhetorically. “We are always going everywhere together, I don’t think anyone will even notice and those who do won’t care.”
“Plus, if we leave when the comet comes, then we know everyone will be distracted by it.” I wasn’t really in a position to argue with either of them, but I felt like we shouldn’t be leaving the party even though I couldn’t explain why not. That seemed to be a theme with me at the moment. I had a lot of instincts telling me to do something or not do so something, or telling me about something or other and I couldn’t explain why or how but they just felt right. They felt like more than instincts or gut feelings, they felt like certainties, but since I couldn’t prove to anyone else that they were, I wasn’t going to act on them just yet.
“Okay, then we will leave the party ten minutes before the comet passes and we will return right after the spell is complete, no matter what the result,” I said this firmly.
“What if we figure out where Hazel is?” Fern asked looking at me with a raised brow.
“What if we don’t?” Becky asked pointedly.
“I can’t explain it, but something tells me we need to be at this party tonight,” I said seriously.
“Look, Mazie, I know that you and Becky put a lot of work into it, but if we see where Hazel is, there’s no way that I'm going to return to the party. I am going to find her and bring her back,” Fern retorted just as seriously.
“This isn’t about the work that Becky and I did,” I started, but I wasn’t sure where to go from there. “It’s just I have a gut instinct that the three of us are supposed to be at the museum this evening.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to go back either way,” Becky sounded small. “If we do see her, I agree with Fern. We need to go try and find her. If we don’t see her then I can’t. Hazel missing has felt like part of me is gone and if we fail again and don’t see her, I won’t be able to go back and pretend to be alright.”
“We have to go back,” I insisted, but I could tell I had already lost the battle. I knew it needed to be the three of us that where at the museum tonight, but just me would have to suffice. I’d go back if neither of them would.
“Well, don’t you three look like cake toppers,” Moody said skulking in from the living room. She was mad that she couldn’t come with us. I was already a crazy cat lady, I didn’t need the elite of the town thinking I was pathetic enough to have one as my date. Moody dramatically used a paw to wipe her face and ear. “As you can see, I’m all dressed up too, but with no where to go.” She gave me a pointed look as she spoke. The others could have taken her too, I wanted to remind her, but she would only ever be angry with me.
“I’m going to take it as a compliment,” Becky said giving Moody a reluctant head scratch. “Thank you.”
“It wasn’t one,” Moody replied ducking away from Becky’s touch. “You all look ridiculous. Like painted w—.” I stopped her before she could finish the insult and lifted her into my arms. I would regret it later when I put her down and my dress was covered in more cat hair than a lint roller can handle.
“You don’t mean that,” I said holding the squirming cat tightly in my arms so she couldn’t jump out.
“I do,” Moody said.
“If I were to invite you, would you still mean it?” Fern gave me an exacerbated look, worried that I was actually going to invite our cat to a ball.
“No,” Moody replied as she pressed her paws against me.
“Then you don’t mean it anyway.”
“So you aren’t inviting me then?” Moody hissed and scratched my hand. I dropped her, but as a cat, she of course landed on her feet.
“Moody, you are a talking cat, you can’t exactly go to a town wide ball,” Fern said, giving Moody an eye roll.
“Well, I don’t like being a talking cat then,” she replied with a hiss. “I don’t like being left alone all the time.” When she said this she sounded more vulnerable than usual.
“I know you don’t, but there’s not much we can do about it,” I said with a sorry sigh. I did feel bad for Moody, even though she was mostly just a pain in the neck. “Once this is over we can bring you into work with us every day.”
“You mean it?” Moody asked.
“Yes,” I said, surprised that this offer placated her so quickly. “I do mean it.”
“How about some liver treats to show me, just how much you mean it?” Moody said batting her eyes at me. I huffed a little but grabbed the treats regardless.
“Does that suffice?” I asked after giving her a handful. Moody was getting rounder and rounder by the day. Soon enough we’d be one of those people on the internet that everyone laughs at or judges because of how fat their cat is. It wasn’t my fault that the only way Moody wasn’t so moody was when she got her treats.
“Hmmhm,” Moody replied her mouth still full of the treats.
“We’ve got to get going,” Becky said after giving Moody a few pats on her head as she had decided to lay down on her stomach while enjoying her treats. “We’re going to be late, and we did put a lot of work into tonight.”
“That we did,” I said agreeing. Getting the three of us and our dresses into the car must have been something to witness as we piled in, more tulle than person. “We should drop the materials off at the kitchen before we go.”
“I agree, it will make it easier for us to set up later,” Fern said, though it was clear she had already had the same idea as she was already headed in the direction of the diner and not the museum. Our plan crumbled around us as we arrived at the diner. The whole thing was taped off with police cars and officers crawling all over the place.
“What the hell?” I whispered under my breath. It didn’t make sense for the diner to be closed off now, not unless the Sheriff discovered something that we hadn’t. Fern shared a worried look with me before getting out of the car.
“What’s going on?” She asked before closing the door. I rolled down my window so that Becky and I could hear the rest of the conversation.
“Nothing really, just tracing our steps,” I heard an officer reply. It was the same officer that gave Fern the file, Officer Mulberry. Fern didn’t respond with words but I could hear the disbelief on her face. “A couple days ago someone claimed to see candle light coming from the restaurant. They didn’t see much more than that, but the Sheriff wanted us to lock down the restaurant just in case it was Hazel or someone who knows where she is.”
“And you guys didn’t find anything inside?” Fern asked, which were my exact thoughts as well. My heart pounded as Officer Mulberry spoke to Fern.
“No, we think it was probably just some dumb kids. Closed buildings are kind of their bread and butter,” the Officer said. I could hear Becky let out a sigh of relief in the back seat. It was quiet enough that I think I was the only one that heard anything.
“You’re not wrong about that,” Fern replied with a forced chuckle. “Can you let me know if you guys do happen to find anything?”
“I’ll try,” the Officer replied.
“I know that the Sheriff won’t want you to, but at the end of the day, I just want Hazel found, and I don’t really care how,” Fern said. Had I attempted to say something like that i
t might sound pathetic or sad, but somehow it made Fern sound even more powerful and deserving of a position like Sheriff.
“I know, and we all agree,” Officer Mulberry replied with a nod. “I will tell you personally if we see anything or find anything that might lead to the discovery of your friend.”
“Thank you,” Fern said. If and hopefully when she won the campaign race, I could see Officer Mulberry becoming her number two. It was interesting to see him siding with her, and I wondered if it was a ploy. Perhaps he didn’t know who was going to win and was just ensuring a position of statue no matter what the outcome was. He had helped us before, but I wasn’t convinced it wasn’t because he thought Fern could help him out in the future.
“You should go to the ball,” he said with a smile, nodding towards Becky and I in the car. “Wouldn’t want the Sheriff to take note that you aren’t there.” Fern gave the man a suspicious look, none of us sure what that was supposed to mean.
“We’ll be on our way then,” Fern said getting back into the car. She was able to do so with grace this time, unlike the first time we piled into the car. I was glad for that. The officers might supposedly be on her side, but I didn’t want them snickering at her for not being able to get in a car without looking ridiculous.
“How are we going to do the spell now?” Becky asked.
Chapter Fifteen
As soon as we got to the museum, we went to the back room. It was the only place where we might be able to get away with doing the location spell. Fern and Becky were more than disappointed that we couldn’t do the spell at the diner. It was far more powerful if we did it in the place where we last saw Hazel, but hopefully the comet would make up for the difference in doing it at the museum.
“Are you sure that we should do this here?” I asked in a whisper yell to Fern and Becky. They both looked at me annoyed. “We work here, half the town is a room over!”
A Whole Lotta Witchin Goin On Page 8