Witch Cake Murders (A Cozy Mystery Book): Sweetland Witch

by Zoe Arden

"What about Damon?" Megan asked. "Is he going to be okay?"

  "What?" Lucy asked. "Oh yeah. Damon's fine. Sorry. I lied. He's not even in the hospital. He's probably at the beach, down by his boat."

  "What?" Megan cried. "You little wombat! I'm telling mom as soon as I—"

  Lucy hung up the phone. "Serves her right. Maybe now she'll learn her lesson."

  "All this time, I've had it wrong," I muttered. "The cake... the wand... they're not at all connected. Are they?"

  "Doesn't sound like it," Felicity said.

  "Yeah, but you know what that still doesn't explain?" Lucy asked.

  "What?" I asked, hoping she had some brilliant answers tucked away in the back of her brain somewhere.

  "Sheriff Knoxx. Why is he hiding that chocolate cake? You think that was love potion cake, too?"

  I shrugged. "No idea."

  The front door chimed, and Sheriff Maxwell came walking in.

  "There you two are," he said, looking from me to Lucy. "Hi, Felicity."

  She blushed.

  Lincoln returned his attention to us. "I've been looking everywhere for you. Sheriff Knoxx called when he couldn't find you and asked me to check around this side of the island."

  "For us?" I asked

  He glanced at Felicity, who smiled politely at him. I could see deep feelings for each other running between that glance.

  "Ava," he let out a breath, "there's no easy way to say this. Your father..." His voice trailed off.

  "My father?" I screeched. My heart hammered in my chest. "Oh, my witches. What is it? Is he... is he...?"

  "He's escaped."

  "Escaped?"

  In one dark flash, the world around me spun on its axis. The last thing I felt before hitting the ground was my heriotza necklace burning a hole in my chest. Then the world went black.

  * * *

  CHAPTER

  THIRTY

  .

  .

  .

  * * *

  What happened to me? …

  * * *

  .

  When I woke up again, I knew hours had passed. My eyes hurt adjusting to the light. I looked around the room I was in.

  It wasn't Cakes and Creations.

  Crud. I'd traveled or transported or whatever it was again. Where was I this time?

  Deep burgundies, plush carpet, and velveteen drapes filled the house I was in. The couch I was lying on was Victorian. Whether original or a remake, I couldn't say. The decorations were... assorted. There wasn't a nicer or more accurate way to put it.

  All around the room was gold and glitter. So much so that parts of the room looked like a golden disco ball. The rafters were solid dark wood. Pink ribbons and strings hung from them. A Santa Clause statue sat in one corner of the room, and in the opposite corner stood a statue of a giant orange rabbit. I tilted my head, staring at it.

  Why is it orange?

  I rose from the couch and a heavy drum began to thump away inside my head. At least it wasn't as bad as the first time I'd blacked out.

  "Ohhh," I moaned softly, then covered my mouth with my hand. This was not the time to talk to myself. I had no idea where I was or who I was with.

  Voices sounded from not too far away. They were whispering. There were at least three, maybe four of them. My stomach was churning and aching at the same time as I tried to walk. I took two steps and fell to the ground. My knees curled to my chest as a tsunami of pain washed over me.

  No. This isn't as bad as my first blackout. It’s worse.

  The wave passed, and I clawed my way back up to a standing position, grasping onto a small piano that stood against a wall. Slowly, I made my way toward the only door I could see.

  A thousand old movies of young women abducted by vampires flashed through my head.

  Please don't let vampires be real. Pretty please?

  The door was open the smallest of cracks. Enough for me to look through with one eye. The voices became louder. Clearer.

  "I think we should call Sheriff Knoxx," Lincoln was saying.

  "Absolutely not," Lucy roared as quietly as possible. "You have no idea whether you can trust him."

  I had no idea what they were talking about, but I was glad Lucy was smart enough to know better than to trust Knoxx. Not when we still had so many unanswered questions about him.

  "I just don't get the feeling that he's as bad as you think," Lincoln said. "An irritating individual, yes. But a bad cop? No way."

  "Forget it," Lucy said with a tone that said the matter was closed.

  "What about Detective Hudson?" Lincoln asked. "He works for COMHA. He's gotta be able to help."

  "We don't even know who gave it to her," Lucy said.

  "It doesn't matter," argued Felicity.

  "Of course it matters!" yelled Lucy.

  A voice I didn't recognize suddenly chimed in. "Girls, girls. Sheriff. Everyone, let's all just calm down a moment, shall we? After all, today is Sunday, a day of rest and relaxation. Let us remember that as we proceed."

  "Today is Tuesday, Mom," Felicity said.

  "Is it?" Felicity's mom asked, sounding confused. "Oh, well yes, of course it is. However, that changes nothing. We must proceed with caution."

  "I say we wake her up and tell her what's going on," Lucy said. I silently applauded my friend for taking my side.

  "I say we call her aunts first," Felicity said.

  "I say we call Detective Hudson," Lincoln said.

  "I say it's a little too late for any of that," Felicity's mom said. "Good evening, Ava. Glad you're back with us."

  Everyone turned to the door I was peeking through. My cheeks reddened, but I pushed the door open.

  "You're alive!" Lucy yelled, flinging her arms around me.

  "Of course I'm alive," I said. Then something occurred to me. "Is there a reason why I shouldn't be?"

  My question was met with dead silence. My stomach churned again.

  "How are you feeling?" Felicity's mom asked, touching my forehead. Her hand was cool compared to the fever burning in me.

  "Not so great, to be honest. My stomach hurts."

  "That will pass," she said.

  "Ava, this is my mom, Amelia Redfern. You're at her house, right now."

  "Nice to meet you," I said, manners taking over despite the pain I was in.

  "I wish it was under better circumstances," Amelia said. "Like a picnic or a hurricane."

  I was glad she missed the look I gave her. Whatever was going on, she seemed to be trying to help me. I didn't want to hurt her feelings.

  "So maybe one of you can tell me why you're all standing out here deciding my future without me?"

  "Ava," Lucy said softly. "You've been asleep for four hours."

  I blinked. "You're not serious?"

  She nodded. I looked around at the solemn faces. At the tabletop littered with takeout boxes and dirty napkins. At the black cat clock hanging on the wall, its tail giving out the time. And I realized she wasn't joking.

  "What happened to me?"

  My stomach began to burn. Instinctively, I reached for my heriotza necklace. It was gone.

  "My pendant!" I cried, alarmed. "I've lost it."

  Amelia shook her head. "No, dear. I removed it from you."

  "You removed it?" I asked, confused. "Why? It's my good luck charm."

  Four pairs of eyes widened in disbelief.

  "Who in the witching world told you that rubbish?" Amelia demanded.

  "W-what do you mean?"

  "Ava!" Lucy cried. "Do you seriously not know what that stone you've been wearing around your neck is? How long have you been wearing it anyway?"

  "I, uh, I don't know exactly. A week or two? Since just after Brendan died."

  "A week... or two?" Lincoln asked, looking pale.

  "And you're still alive?" Lucy blurted. Her frightened face suddenly brightened. "You're Superwitch! I should make you a costume with a giant S on it."

  I tried to laugh but it came out like a cr
oak.

  "Will someone please tell me what's going on here?"

  "Ava," Amelia said, gently taking my arm and leading me to a full-length mirror. It was the kind of mirror you'd find in a horror novel. Dark and ancient with black trim. It looked classically scary. Except for the troll doll with pink hair poking its head over the top, winking.

  "Look," Amelia said.

  I stood staring in the mirror, not knowing what I was supposed to be looking for. I looked like my normal self, so far as I could tell. Bright blond hair, though it was somewhat matted to my head. Pink lips, though they looked a bit grayer than usual. Smooth creamy skin, except... around my neck.

  I pulled the collar of my shirt open for a closer look. Just under my collarbone, in the center of my chest, was a bright red circle the size of a golf ball. In the center of it, it looked as though my skin had been eaten away by acid.

  "What happened to me?" I cried, panicking.

  "Ssh," Amelia said, stroking my hair. "You're safe now. But we have to know something, before another moment passes. Who gave you that necklace?"

  "Why?" I asked.

  "Because," Amelia said. "That necklace is no good luck charm, Ava. It's bad luck. The very worst kind."

  Lucy jumped in, unable to contain herself.

  "Ava, heriotza is an old Basque word for death. Whoever gave you that necklace is trying to kill you."

  * * *

  CHAPTER

  THIRTY-ONE

  .

  .

  .

  * * *

  What have I done?" …

  * * *

  .

  "Kill me?" I squeaked.

  That couldn't be right. Polly had given me that necklace. Polly. My friend.

  "I have to admit, Lincoln and I suspected some sort of dark magic was involved you when you showed up at the beach. Snowball said you appeared out of nowhere. That's not an easy thing to do."

  "Then why didn't you say something?" Lucy cried.

  "We weren't sure. And in the witching world you don't go accusing other witches of dark magic unless you have some sort of evidence. You know that. It can lead to disastrous results if you do."

  I remembered learning about the Salem Witch Trials growing up and thought maybe Felicity had a point.

  Amelia opened a small wooden box. Inside, wrapped in a cloth tied with a sage leaf, was my necklace.

  "Sage acts as sort of shield," Amelia explained. "It drains some of the power from the stone."

  "Like Kryptonite?" I asked.

  Amelia looked with confusion to Felicity, who shrugged. Felicity looked to Lincoln, who also shrugged.

  Lucy laughed. "Yes," she told me. "It's a lot like Kryptonite." She leaned over to Felicity, who still looked confused. "I'll explain it to you later," she whispered.

  "Anyway, it's very dark magic," Amelia said. "Very dark and very dangerous."

  "The fact that you've been wearing it so long and are still alive proves how powerful a witch you are," Lucy said.

  "So?" Lincoln asked, putting on his sheriff's face. "Who gave it to you?"

  Everyone leaned in a little closer, waiting for my answer.

  I licked my lips. "Polly Peacock," I croaked.

  Lucy's face went white. Amelia and Lincoln turned to each other. Amelia picked something off a table and held it over her head. It looked like a round, white stone. She began to walk around me in circles, chanting something.

  "Um... Amelia?" I asked.

  "Sssh," Felicity, Lincoln, and Lucy said at once.

  I kept my mouth shut until Amelia had finished. "I've just placed a protective charm around you. It should help to keep you safe, at least for a short while. And you won't be randomly transporting anywhere anymore. It was all we could do to stop you from disappearing on us this time."

  "That's right," Lucy said. "It was actually kind of cool. One minute you were here, the next you were turning into a sort of bubble."

  "I turned into a bubble?" I screeched.

  "Not exactly," Lucy said. "It's just part of what the heriotza can do to a witch. You should be grateful you only transported the one time while you were wearing it."

  "I am. And thank you for the protection charm," I said. "Um, what about my chest?" It was hard to resist fingering the deep red crater where the necklace had literally burned a hole in me.

  "You should be all right for now. Felicity and I laid some peppermint petunia oil over you while you were unconscious. It will prevent the burn from worsening and heal you to a point. But when you're back in Sweetland Cove, I advise you to see Dr. Dunne."

  "Sweetland Cove!" I suddenly cried, turning to Lucy. "Oh, my witches! We need to go. Now!"

  "Why?" Felicity asked. "It's getting late. And you're still hurt. Stay here tonight. Both of you. Go back to Sweetland tomorrow."

  "My aunts! They don't know what's going on. What if something happens to them? I need to warn them!"

  "You stay and rest," Lincoln said. "I'll call Sheriff Knoxx and tell him what's going on. Let us handle this."

  "No way," I told him, already searching the room for my purse. "I have to get back. Tonight."

  "Why do citizens always think they're Columbo?" Lincoln asked, giving Felicity a knowing look. I ran back into the sitting room where I'd woken up to see if my purse was there. Lucy followed me.

  "If I drive fast," she said. "I can make it back in two hours. Maybe less if I use a speed spell."

  "You can't just blink us there?" I asked her.

  "Blink us there? I'm a witch, not a genie."

  I paused in my search just long enough to look at Lucy and ask, "Genies are real?"

  "Of course they are."

  The door behind us clicked shut.

  "Sorry, girls," Amelia called through the thick wooden door. "We'll let you out when we know it's safe."

  "Warthogs!" Lucy cried, trying to push the door open.

  "They locked us in?" I asked, infuriated. You just couldn't trust anyone on this island!

  Lucy and I spent the next twenty minutes trying to find another way out.

  "Do something magical," I told Lucy, annoyed that with her witchy powers she couldn't even open a locked door.

  "I've tried," she snapped. "Amelia must've placed some sort of enchantment over it."

  I sighed and flopped onto the couch.

  "Where's your phone?" I asked, kicking myself for not getting one yet.

  "In my purse," Lucy sighed. "Out there." She pointed toward the door just as we heard a click. Felicity's head poked into the room.

  "Felicity, you cannot keep us here!" I hammered at her.

  "Sssh!" she said, holding a finger to her lips. I stopped talking. "My mother's in the next room. Lincoln's down at the station."

  "You're letting us out?" Lucy asked.

  "I know what it's like to be in this kind of... sticky situation. Sometimes the only person you can trust to be Columbo is yourself." She opened the door for us. Lucy and I ran from the room before she could change her mind.

  "Thanks," we told her. Lucy grabbed her purse. Felicity had mine ready for me. We took it and got out of there.

  "Just be careful," Felicity warned us as Lucy kicked the car into gear.

  "Autoairium," Felicity said and the car suddenly doubled its speed.

  "Oh, my roses," I said, closing my eyes.

  My stomach rolled in on itself like we'd just hit the first drop of a rollercoaster. When I opened my eyes again, the evening sky was whizzing by us at warp speed.

  "Do you wanna call your aunts?" Lucy asked as if nothing abnormal was going on. I had no idea how she could steer the car going so fast. I didn't want to think about it. "My phone's in my purse."

  "Thanks," I said and carefully searched Lucy's purse until I came across a midnight blue phone case with little twinkling stars. I blinked and looked again. The stars were actually twinkling.

  The logo at the top read: WITCH MOBILE.

  I turned it over and was happy to see that aside from
the twinkling stars, everything else about the phone looked normal. I dialed Mystic's number, hoping my aunts were still there doing inventory.

  They answered after three rings.

  "Aunt Eleanor?"

  "Ava? Where in the witching world are you? Do you know your Aunt Trixie and I have been worried sick? Your father's escaped from jail."

  "I know," I told her. "Sheriff Maxwell told me."

  I could almost hear Eleanor frown.

  Trixie began whispering near the receiver. "Is that her? Tell her to get back here. I need her to explain the difference between Jelly Bellies and Jelly Beans."

  I couldn't help laughing despite the situation.

  "Why are you in Mistmoor Point?" Eleanor asked. "You didn't have another blackout, did you?" Her voice was layered with worry.

  "No. Well... yeah. But I was already in Mistmoor when it happened. That's why I'm calling. I found out what's been causing them."

  I took a deep breath. I had a feeling this wasn't going to go over well.

  "Heriotza," I said.

  "Herio..."

  I gave Aunt Eleanor a full minute to process this.

  "Where," Eleanor asked, her voice tight and dripping with anger, "did you get heriotza? And why didn't you tell us?"

  "From Polly Peacock. And I didn't tell you because I didn't know what it was. She had it in her store. She... she told me it was a good luck charm."

  Another round of silence and a second later Eleanor began to shout.

  "Of all the unwitchly acts! What a... a toad bottom! A measle blossom! A dim-witch!"

  I could hear Trixie in the background begging to know what was going on.

  "Don't you worry about this for one second," Eleanor howled. "Your Aunt Trixie and I are on this."

  "Wait, what do you mean?" I asked.

  I wasn't even sure whether Eleanor heard me. Her voice was cracking with rage.

  "Trixie and I are going over there right now to talk to that little warthog. And her mother, too! I know that The Alchemic Stone deals with the darker elements from time to time, but I always thought they did so safely. Anastasia should never have allowed anything so dark as heriotza in her store."