by Zoe Arden
"So what does that mean?" Sheriff Knoxx asked, annoyed.
Dr. Dunne opened his mouth to answer but was cut off by a young woman with long brown hair pulled back in a low ponytail. I almost didn't recognize her. Megan Lockwood's face was red and puffy like she'd been crying.
"Excuse me," she said, coming up to us. "I-I heard about Damon. Tellinger. I mean..." She took a deep breath. I felt bad for the poor girl. I'd seen her and Damon dancing at the party. She must have really liked him. I wondered how much he liked her. Jealousy pricked lightly at the nape of my neck. "Is he okaaay?" Megan's last word stretched out in a soft wail.
"He's fine, Megan. Or rather, he will be after a little rest."
Megan let out a visible sigh of relief.
"Dr. Dunne," Sheriff Knoxx snapped. "I'm a busy man. What about the love potion cake?"
"Damon's illness may have been accidental. He had three times the amount of love potion cake in his system that a human should have. A warlock could handle something like that, but humans... our bodies aren't built quite the same way. I believe Damon simply ate too much cake and overdosed."
Our bodies? Dr. Dunne was a human?
"Then the question is... where did Damon get such a cake?" This time the sheriff was looking at my aunts instead of me.
Megan was pale but she seemed more in control. "I'm sorry," she said. "I should go." She took off down the hall. I didn't blame her. Sheriff Knoxx had that sort of effect on people.
"We only sell love potion cakes to witches and wizards," Eleanor said defensively. "Never to humans. Precisely for this reason."
Sheriff Knoxx grumbled to himself. "I'm going to speak with Mr. Tellinger," he said and walked off, casting one last look over his shoulder at me and my aunts.
Dr. Dunne shook his head. "He won't be getting much. Damon is still unconscious, at the moment. I suspect he won't be waking up for several hours yet." He gave me a grandfatherly pat on the back. "You did good today."
Dr. Dunne shook all our hands. My aunts and I left the hospital and stepped into the cool spring air.
"So Dr. Dunne is human?" I couldn't help asking. "I thought humans weren't supposed to know about witches, but it seems like Dr. Dunne knows everything."
"There are exceptions to that rule," Trixie reminded me.
"Yes, many of the top doctors on Heavenly Haven are human. For some reason, they seem drawn here. One time, the Witch's Council looked into the matter, thinking someone had placed a calling spell on the island, but they were never able to prove anything."
"Speaking of the Witch's Council..." Trixie said, looking at her sister. She gave Eleanor a nudge as we walked back toward the Mystic Cupcake.
One thing I'd learned since arriving—there wasn't much use for cars on the island. The cars that were here were usually brought in by tourists. They simply weren't necessary. Eleanor and Trixie had one, but it stayed housed in their garage. Things were simply too close together to drive anywhere.
"What's wrong?" I asked, sensing bad news from the way Trixie began to twirl the long yellow ribbon attached to the collar of her lime-green shirt.
"Margaret told us something..." Eleanor sighed. "I suppose we might as just tell you. You'll find out soon enough anyway."
"What?" I asked, growing more and more alarmed the longer Eleanor stalled her answer.
"COHMA is sending someone to take over the investigation into the human murders."
I blinked. "I'm sorry, did you say coma?"
"The Council on Magic and Human Affairs," Trixie said. "C-O-M-H-A. but no one actually pronounces the H when they say it.
"COMHA," I said to myself. A new thought occurred to me. "Does that mean Sheriff Knoxx is off the case?"
"Most likely he'll be assisting the COMHA investigator," Eleanor replied. She hesitated before continuing. "We just wanted to warn you. The man they're sending is supposed to be a real hard-hitter. He's young and looking to make a name for himself. He's the kind of man you need to watch out for."
"What's his name?" I asked.
"Colt Hudson," Eleanor said. "Detective Colt Hudson. And he doesn't like inexperienced witches."
* * *
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
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* * *
The footsteps were getting louder. Closer. …
* * *
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The Alchemic Stone's sign was so small I missed it walking by. I had to retrace my steps to the address I'd searched up on Eleanor and Trixie's computer. The shop itself was a tiny brick enclave on the west edges of downtown Sweetland. There was no shopfront window. No display to lure you inside. If you didn't know it was there, you probably would never have seen it.
I supposed that might have been the idea. As I understood it, this store catered to witches and wizards only. No humans allowed.
Across the street, a man paced back and forth. He kept looking at the store, then looking away. He saw me and he froze.
Damon?
His forehead creased. Instead of continuing to pace, he turned and walked away. I didn't have time to think about Damon right now. He was a distraction I didn't need at the moment.
The front door was old and wooden with a zig-zagging crack running down the middle. It creaked when I pushed it open. Stepping inside, my head began to spin like I was caught up in a tornado. My stomach lurched as if I'd just taken a fifty-foot drop. The whole thing lasted no more than a second, but it was enough to leave me shaken. I took several deep, calming breaths.
"It's an enchantment," a female voice said.
I looked up to see Polly Peacock standing behind a counter with Slater Winston.
What's Slater doing here? I thought no humans were allowed.
"An enchantment?" I asked.
"Yes, if a human accidentally comes inside, they'll be hit with a dizzy spell that sends them back out. No humans are allowed in here." She looked at Slater. "Well, almost no humans."
Slater wrapped his arm around Polly's waist, and I suddenly understood why he was one of the few. I'd seen them dancing together at the party, cozy and obviously smitten with each other. I wondered how much he knew about the witching world and what would happen if they broke up. Would Polly have to cast a spell to make him forget everything?
"Is that why Damon was waiting outside?" I asked.
Polly and Slater froze. He shot her a look I couldn't quite read. Like he was mad about something.
"Damon, huh?" Slater asked. "Wonder what he could be doing here?" He looked at Polly again, and her cheeks turned pink. Was Slater jealous? Maybe things between Damon and Polly weren't quite as over as they seemed. My heart sank just a little.
"Well, I better go catch up to my him," Slater said to Polly, kissing the tip of her nose. "Nice seeing you again, Ava."
When he was gone, Polly turned her attention to me. "I'm glad you're here. There's something I've been wanting to tell you." She took a breath. "I'm sorry about the party. I wasn't very... polite. I guess I just wasn't in a good mood or something. Anyway, I just didn't want you thinking I was always like that."
For a moment, I was too stunned to say anything. Then I found my voice.
"Thanks, Polly. Apology accepted." I smiled at her. She smiled back.
"Good. Now then. What can I do for you today?" she asked, getting back to business.
She was a little brusque, but I supposed I would be too if she'd interrupted me and my boyfriend smooching. Or was it because I'd told her new boyfriend that her old one was hanging around outside her shop?
My mouth ran suddenly dry. I needed answers that Eleanor and Trixie weren't willing to give, but what made me think I could get them from Polly?
"I've been studying Magical Herbs and Plants," I began.
"Oh? I love that series." Her eyes lit up. "What volume are you on?"
"Volume one."
"Just wait till you get to three. You won't be able to put it down."
"Er, I'm looking fo
rward to it." I guess mentioning the book had been the right thing to say because Polly's gruffness softened considerably.
"That's why I'm here actually. I'm having a bit of trouble understanding some of the... more toxic elements of certain plants." I'd rehearsed this in my head on the way over, but saying it out loud sounded lame to my own ears.
"Well, we only carry a very small selection of toxic items here. Only the ones that have dual purposes and are allowed by the Witch's Council. Which plant are you interested in?
"Boxie quills."
"Boxie quills?" Polly asked, surprised. Her blond hair was pulled high on top of her head and wrapped in a messy bun. "I would have thought your aunts could answer any questions you might have about that."
"Yes," I said, clearing my throat. I didn't want Polly to know that Eleanor and Trixie had the plant in their shop and were hiding it. I wasn't yet certain what the implications of that were. I only knew that Trixie and Eleanor were keeping things from me, and I was determined to get to the bottom of it.
"Well, Aunt Eleanor and Trixie have been so busy lately with... a new recipe they're developing. I didn't want to disturb them."
"A new recipe? Really?" Polly asked. "What kind of recipe?"
"Oh, it's top secret." I smiled. "Even I don't know all the particulars."
"I see." She eyed me a moment longer. I could feel her studying me.
"Boxie quills are poisonous," she finally said. "Especially to humans. The witching world only uses them on rare occasions. The seeds inside are quite powerful, but even the tiniest pinprick of the plant is enough to kill."
I gulped. For such a dangerous plant, I'd sure seen an awful lot of it lately. First at The Mystic Cupcake. Then at the party, when I'd seen Brendan walking around with a stem of it in his hand.
"Well, that's what the book says," I told Polly. "But what I wondered was about was what the book doesn't say. Like, why would someone use boxie quills? I mean, from what I read, the powers you receive from the seeds are unpredictable. So why would a witch risk it?"
Polly's lips turned up at the corners. "That's a very observant question. Boxie quills are considered to be bordering on dark magic. They're just too dangerous for normal witches and wizards to use."
"Dark magic?" I asked.
"Yes. The only witches who would ever use such a thing are bad ones."
Impossible, I told myself. Trixie and Eleanor had never been anything but kind to me. Their magic was only used for good. Wasn't it?
And what about Brendan? He seemed far from being a powerful wizard. I could see him having a bit of a dark side, but murder? Did I really think he was capable of that?
The beaded curtains separating the store front from the back room suddenly pulled back and Polly's mother appeared. She was wearing a bright yellow dress that moved with her when she walked. Around her head was a turban. The kind that fortune tellers wore.
"There you are," she said, looking at her daughter. Her eyes widened when she noticed me. "Ava," she said. "Welcome to The Alchemic Stone. What can we do for you this afternoon?"
"Ava's doing some research about boxie quills," Polly said, smirking. There was something about her tone that bothered me. Maybe it was only that I got the feeling she didn't quite buy my story about researching boxie quills.
"Boxie quills are quite powerful," Anastasia said, "but even more dangerous."
"That's what Polly was just explaining," I said.
Suddenly, Polly's mom stopped moving. Her eyes turned all white and her head fell back.
"Oh crumb bums," Polly muttered. "Here we go again."
"What?" I whispered. Anastasia moved toward me with one arm outstretched, her forefinger pointing at me. Her nails were long and had been painted blood red. She moved so lightly it was as if she were floating.
"Ava Rose..." Anastasia said in a deep, sing-song voice.
Polly rolled her eyes. "She likes to be dramatic when she's making predictions."
"Predictions?" I muttered, fascinated by what was happening in front of me. Anastasia seemed completely oblivious to the store around her as her arm began to move in giant circles. She knocked over a display case of crystal and Polly ran to catch it before everything could break.
"You are in danger," Anastasia said.
"Danger?" I asked, the hairs on my arms standing on end. "What do you mean? What kind of danger?"
"Trust no one. Leave Heavenly Haven at once."
"Leave the island?" I sputtered. I'd only been here a couple of weeks.
"Danger! Danger! Danger!" Anastasia repeated like a parrot. Then her arm fell to her side again and her eyes returned to normal. She shook her head, clearing it.
"Oh, roses, that was a tough one."
"What do you mean?" I asked, panicking. "How am I in danger?"
Anastasia could only shrug. "I'm sorry, my dear. I can't tell you. The predictions only make themselves known to me when they care to. But feel free to look around. We have many charms here that can protect you from hexes and curses, if that's where your danger lies."
With that, she sashayed back into whatever store room she'd come from, leaving me alone with Polly.
"She's right, you know," Polly said. "My mom may be a bit theatrical, but her predictions are never wrong."
She walked to a glass case that held row after row of necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Each item had a large stone affixed to it in some way, all of varying shades and colors. It was like looking at a magical rainbow. Beneath the case, hidden behind a locked door, was a small wooden box.
"Here," Polly said, setting the box on the counter. "Come take a look." She inserted a tiny key and the box popped open. Inside lay several necklaces, each with their own unique pendant. I could feel the energy pouring out of them.
Polly removed a blood-red stone set on a silver chain. It shined like light in a mirror.
"It's beautiful," I told her. "What is it?"
"Heriotza. It's a type of stone that used to be quite popular in Europe, along the Atlantic coast. It's very powerful. Very precious. Very... protective."
I reached out one hand and touched it lightly with my fingertips. Something inside it seemed to jump. Like it belonged with me. Like it knew I needed its help.
"Put it on," Polly said.
"I probably shouldn't. I mean, it looks expensive. I don't have—"
"Just put it on," Polly insisted. She stepped behind me, holding the necklace in place. It really was beautiful. I lifted my hair for her and she clasped the ends together.
"There," she said, stepping back. "Beautiful and safe. That's exactly what you need."
"How much is it?" I asked, thinking of the ten dollars I had in my pocket.
"On the house," she said, smiling. "A gift from me to you."
"Oh! I couldn't."
"Nonsense," Polly said. "Consider it a gift between friends."
I fingered the necklace. I could feel it working. I already felt safer.
"Thank you," I said.
Note to self: bake Polly the best cake ever.
"Just make sure you always wear it against your bare skin," she said. "Tuck it under your shirt, where no one can see it."
"Why?" I asked, doing as she instructed. It seemed a shame not to show off something so beautiful.
"Part of its power comes from its direct contact with you. Another part of its power lies in keeping itself hidden."
"Like a secret weapon?" I asked, intrigued.
"Exactly," Polly said. "Like a secret weapon."
I thanked her again and left the store. My head was dizzy.
Dark magic? Danger? Trust no one?
It was all too much to take in. I headed back toward The Mystic Cupcake. It was getting dark and I knew Eleanor and Trixie were probably beginning to wonder where I'd wandered off to.
The streets seemed strangely absent. Footfalls sounded in the distance. I looked behind me, but there was no one there. Something about the hollow sound of the footsteps on the pavement mad
e me nervous. I walked quicker toward the bakery.
The footsteps were getting louder. Closer. Their pace quickened. I looked behind me again and thought I caught a shadow duck behind a building.
"Hello?" I called out.
Nothing but silence.
I clutched tightly to my heriotza necklace. It pulsed with a strange energy that made me feel safe. I was grateful to Polly for giving it to me. I hurried to the bakery, not looking back again. Even as the footsteps closed the distance between us.
* * *
CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
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* * *
"You are here! "
* * *
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I spent a restless night in bed, dreaming of dark beings with hidden faces. They were pulling at me. Trying to lift me out of bed and take me away. Suddenly Damon was there. He held me close, protecting me from the evil. His body was warm. His lips were hot as they pressed against mine. Then the beings ripped us apart. I woke up screaming.
I lay panting in the darkness, certain that someone was there. That it hadn't been just a dream. Tootsie and Rocky came running into my room.
"Tootsie heard Ava scream." The orange fur ball jumped onto my bed and began rubbing his head against my chin.
"I'm okay," I told him.
Rocky barked and followed Tootsie onto the bed. The wolfhound licked my face. "Rocky will protect you," he said. It was good to know that when things got scary, Rocky didn't just go back to sleep.
I fell asleep nuzzled between my aunts' familiars. When I woke up, Trixie and Eleanor had already left. There was a note on the counter.
Rocky said you had a nightmare. Sleep in. Will meet you at Mystic later.
—Aunt E.
I scratched Rocky's head before grabbing a bagel and heading toward Coffee Cove. The same nagging feeling I'd had last night—that I was being watched—followed me all the way to the café.