by Lauren Quick
Honora’s heart raced. Panic flashed through her.
“The well, the well, the well…” voices all around her chanted. Vivi had been right all along. There was a well in the Banishment and thanks to her jealous cellmate, she was about to see it up close. From what Vivi had seen, it wasn’t pretty.
The guard put a cuff spell around Honora’s hands and allowed her to slip on her shoes before shoving her out of the room. As she was walking out, Fever grabbed her arm and whispered, “Remember when you asked who the alpha witch was in this place? Your mistake was not realizing that it was me.”
20
The hotel room was overflowing with glass vases filled with flowers. Music poured from a grand piano, the keys magically tinkling. After all the drama with Honora and Vivi, Clover wasn’t in the mood to have fun. She could barely focus on her task as she sat on a pink velvet chaise lounge, staring at a flute of champagne that she was supposed to be guzzling in complete rapture. Derek leaned nonchalantly against the fireplace mantel, dressed in a tux with his wavy hair slicked back. Swirling the ice around in a barely touched glass of scotch, his roguish demeanor was effortless. With his brow arched, he played the part of a handsome cad perfectly.
“Vivi’s home, safe and sound,” he said, trying to reassure her. “Pepper’s message said her fever has gone down and she’s resting comfortably. There’s nothing more you can do for her.”
Clover’s foot bounced up and down. “I knew we should have postponed.”
“We can’t postpone. The article appeared in the paper today. This is our last chance to catch the Lady Raider. You’ve worked hard for this and there’s nothing you can do to help either of your sisters right now.” Derek had always been the reasonable one.
“I know. You’re right. Is the tiara in place?”
“Don’t worry. I took care of everything. It’s resting on a black velvet stand on the dressing table in the bedroom.”
“Thanks, Derek. Sorry to be so scatterbrained. I’m just worried.” Clover tucked a strand of her new icy blonde hair behind her ear.
“As a good sister should be. But remember we’re talking Honora here. She’s the tough one in the family. She’s a flyer, strong, and opinionated. She’ll handle whatever the Banishment throws at her. You need to get your mind off her. Have a little fun.”
“You’re right. Time to get into character.” She smiled. “I am a spoiled rotten rich witch with jewels and a crown to show off. I just hope the glamor holds out. I only had half a bottle left and I’m afraid it won’t last through the night.”
“When it wears off, we’ll pack it in. It’ll be our sign that the party’s over.” He straightened his tie. “But until then we might as well enjoy ourselves.”
There was a knock at the door, causing Clover to practically jump out of her skin. She planted her feet on the floor, ready to launch into action. “What’s that?”
“I ordered us some room service. We can’t very well starve while we’re waiting to be robbed blind.” Derek answered the door and the attendant wheeled an elaborately set table covered in a white cloth and silver-domed dishes into the room. The succulent smell of roast meat wafted into the room.
“It smells delicious,” Clover said and sauntered over to the dining table where she took a seat as the attendant served the food.
“I ordered your favorite,” Derek said. He tipped the attendant who nodded and left them to enjoy their late dinner.
“Braised short ribs and mashed potatoes,” Clover said as she lifted the lid off her plate and inhaled the scrumptious aroma. “I’m going to burst right out of his dress once I devour this meal.”
Derek poured the wine and joined her at the table and the two of them dug into their food.
Clover sipped her wine. “I’m very curious to discover the Lady Raider’s persuasion. How do you think she gets into the room?”
“I don’t want to guess and be wrong. Flyer is the most obvious, but maybe she has some sort of climbing skills. She leaves a clear escape route,” Derek said.
“That’s true. A window is always left open.” Clover chewed, her face scrunching.
“Something wrong with your food?” Derek asked.
She swallowed. “No, it’s divine. I was just thinking. What if the open window is a ruse and she doesn’t enter through the window at all?”
“Good point. Everyone seems to be focused on her ability to enter the rooms from the outside. Are you suggesting it’s an inside job?”
“Could be.”
Derek raised his finger to make a point. “But the only witness said she escaped from the window.”
“Eyewitnesses are notoriously bad.”
“True, but the police are buying it and it’s also our only lead.”
After eating, Clover and Derek decided to inject some fun into their evening. Derek flicked his wand, filling the room with the sound of a bass and horn section to compliment the piano. He took Clover’s hand and spun her around the room, dancing to a jazzy song. Clover laughed as she was dipped and swirled around the room. The mood lightened. After another dance, Clover settled on the chaise and stared into the enchanted hand mirror that reflected what was happening in the bedroom, which was nothing. There was no movement at all around the gleaming black pearl tiara. The cluster of pearls created a dramatic headpiece with a huge shining black pearl the size of a grape in the center. It looked like the headdress worn by a wicked queen of the seas.
She leaned back and sighed loudly. “It’s already past ten o’clock. How much longer should we give her?”
Derek sat next to Clover on the chaise. “An hour at least.”
Clover shivered in her sexy beaded silk gown. “I can’t wait to get out of this dress. I’m freezing.”
“No one’s stopping you from putting on a sweater.” Derek flicked his wand, putting another log on the fire in the now blazing fireplace. “That should help a little.”
“I brought a wrap, might as well use it.” Clover wandered into the bedroom and rummaged through her overnight bag. The tiara sparkled from the vanity. Not even a nibble. Any self-respecting thief should be desperate to get her sticky fingers on it.
Once cocooned in her knit wrap, Clover sat at the dressing table. She picked up the glittering crown and placed it on her head. She resembled an evil mermaid. It really was stunning, the black pearls unique, pried from the shells of dozens of oysters—or at least it looked that way as the pearls weren’t real. But still, she’d never seen anything so unusual.
She touched her cheek. Her face trembled. Her body warmed with magic. The glamor was wearing off. She knew it would. She stared in the mirror and suddenly she was herself again, just Clover. She smiled at her reflection. The party was over.
A loud gasp from behind her in the room caused her to turn around, but no one was there. “What was that sound?”
Derek darted into the bedroom. “Are you okay? Has something happened?”
“I heard something.”
They both got quiet and listened, but there was nothing.
Derek went to the window and peered out. “Did it come from outside?”
“No. It was in the room. I think it was a person, a woman’s gasp.”
“I’ll check just in case.” Derek opened the window and looked out on the ledge. “You were right. There’s no one out there.”
Clover cast her senses around the room. It was filled with strong magic. A shiver cascaded over her arms. “Derek, we aren’t alone in this room. I think she’s here right now, with us.”
Derek held up his wand as he scanned the empty room. “Is anyone here? You might as well show yourself.” He closed his eyes and began whispering a spell. He was a spell breaker and could dissect the strongest of magic. His brow pinched. “The magic in the room isn’t a spell,” he said. “I
t’s a persuasion. A cloaking persuasion of some kind.” He swallowed and lowered his wand. “It’s unbreakable.”
Without warning, a witch materialized out of thin air. She was dressed in a black catsuit and indeed she had a blonde ponytail pulled up high on her head. She was young, probably only a few years out of Haven Academy. Her eyes were bright shiny blue, wide and glassy. She stared at Clover, mouth gaping.
“You’re Clover Mayhem. You’re Cassandra Reason, the famous word witch. I love you. I mean I love all of your books.” The Lady Raider was starstruck.
Derek glanced at Clover and raised his eyebrows. Clover walked slowly toward the witch as if she were a woodland creature that might scamper off at any second. If Clover was going to catch her, she needed her to move toward the vanity where the capture spell had been placed. “It’s so nice to meet you.” She grabbed the girl’s hand as if she were going to shake it and pulled her toward the vanity. “Sit down and let’s have a little chat.”
The girl pulled away as if suddenly regaining her senses. “No. I’m not staying. You surprised me. I wasn’t expecting you.” She backed up right into Derek, who held her by the arms.
“I know who you are too,” Clover said. “You’re the Lady Raider. And I’d love to talk to you. I’m a huge fan.”
“You are?” she said.
“Of course, silly. Why do you think I’m here wearing a tiara?” She touched the pearl crown that was still perched on her head.
The Lady Raider crossed her arms over her chest and pulled out of Derek’s grip. “You came here to trick me.” Her eyes darted to the window, which Derek had left open.
“You don’t have to be afraid. I just want to talk and to get your side of events,” Clover said.
“Clover wants to write a story about you,” Derek said, trying to keep her from bolting for the window.
“About me?” Her voice was thick with skepticism.
“Yes. About you and your adventures as the Lady Raider. I can only imagine the tales you have to tell. And that’s the problem. I don’t want to imagine it. I want to hear it from you.” Clover stood, blocking the window, wanting to keep her talking. “Your persuasion, for one, is remarkable. You have the persuasion of invisibility. There have only been a handful of witches and wizards with the ability recorded in history.” Clover’s heart raced. She never would have guessed.
“That doesn’t surprise me, since invisibles can literally disappear.” She sat on the edge of the bed, resigned to speaking with them.
“Tell me about it.” Clover sat next to the young witch. “I’m here to listen.”
“My family kept my persuasion a secret. I studied and worked hard to cultivate a boring normal life. My family was afraid that the police would watch me or that the Witch Council would have me monitored to prevent me from becoming a criminal. I was a good witch, doing what everyone else wanted me to do. Can you believe I worked in a small office all day long? And now look. All their worries came true. I couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted to break out and be free and wild and me. But I grew restless. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone, especially my uncle, but I couldn’t live a lie anymore. I went rogue and became a jewel thief. In a strange way, I just wanted to be seen.”
Clover sympathized with the young witch. “And this is how you did it. You became infamous and did so using your persuasion.”
“It wasn’t hard. I slipped in the room when you ordered room service.” She shrugged.
“Clever,” Derek said. “The police think you use the window.”
“I always leave one open as a decoy. They took the bait. And then one time I got too cocky and materialized too soon, almost got caught, and I had to pretend I was about to dive out of the window before I turned invisible again. The witness only confirmed the police’s suspicion about me. Worked like a charm.” Her eyes sparkled.
“You saw the articles I put in the paper,” Clover said.
“I should have known something was up. The story was perfect, too perfect. I should have known it was fiction,” she said with annoyance at herself.
“I know what it’s like to pretend to be someone else, to need to be someone else and hide your real magic.”
Her brow creased. “I can’t go back to my old life. I won’t do it.”
“As much as I admire your skill and spunk, you can’t keep robbing people,” Derek said. “Besides the fact that it’s illegal, it’s also just wrong.”
“It’s all I have right now. It’s who I am.”
“You’re more than this. You can do so much more,” Clover said. “You could work with the police, maybe Hex Division. I could talk to my mom. She has connections and we could help you develop your magic.” She was grasping at straws, but seeing the young witch made her want to help her.
She stood, abruptly. “Don’t you get it? I don’t want to change. I like who I am right now. This is the real me.”
“A criminal,” Clover said.
“An adventurer,” she countered.
“Then let me tell your story,” Clover said. She was losing her.
She put her hands on her hips. Her blue eyes flashed. “We’ll see about that.” The Lady Raider disappeared.
Clover pointed her wand at the door and cast a locking spell. Derek did the same to the window. In a flurry of magic, they flung casting nets around the room, trying to snare the witch, but with no luck.
“I think she’s escaped,” Clover said. Her heart sunk for all the effort they’d expended just to lose her in the end.
“She’s had a lot of practice being invisible and avoiding the typical trappings.”
“At least we now know who she is.” Clover slumped into a chair and pulled off her tiara.
“What are you talking about? All we know is that she can turn invisible.”
“Something she said. I think I know the Lady Raider’s true identity.”
21
Honora’s hands were bound behind her back. Witch Cross led her outside with a hood over her head, engulfing her in musty darkness. She knew she was outside by staring at the ground and seeing the grubby stone floor turn to green grass. Honora’s heart leapt at the sight of the tiny green shoots trying to poke out of the dirt; being outside gave her renewed hope. Fresh air rose up and she inhaled deeply as she hobbled along, magical shackles encasing her ankles. Witch Cross squeezed her upper arm tightly and shoved her toward the stacked-stone edge of the well, which she could make out from beneath the hood.
Honora heard the rubbing of wood against stone. She felt the presence of others surrounding her. Witch Cross yanked the hood from her head. Honora squinted as the light hit her eyes. She blinked rapidly, trying to focus on her surroundings. She was in the middle of a field with the stone well at her feet. The Banishment was off to her right. A circle of prison guards surrounded her, watching with wands raised, expressions hungry for her to flee.
“We’ll see how a few days in the well changes that attitude of yours.”
“A few days!” Panic flooded her veins. “I can’t be down there for a few days.” She was meeting with her lawyer tomorrow. She was going to tell him to get her out of there, to force Corder to end this little experiment. She’d miss her appointment. “Please, Witch Cross. I’m begging you. Please let me out tomorrow. I understand what I did was wrong. I won’t do it again.” Technically, she didn’t do anything wrong, but she knew that they’d already assigned her guilt and her only hope was to beg for forgiveness.
“Too little, too late, Mayhem. You thought the rules didn’t apply to you and now I’m going to teach you a lesson and send a message to the rest of the witches inside at the same time.” Witch Cross flicked her wand and Honora levitated off the ground. Her heart skipped a beat. It was almost like she was flying, except the cuff around her ankle was still there. The guard lowered Honora d
own into the well.
The curved stone wall was damp and moss covered. It was deeper than she thought possible. A sense of despair grew inside her the deeper she descended. Finally her feet touched the hard-packed ground. She craned her neck and saw Witch Cross wave to her and then disappear. The sky was white and blank, a circle of freedom. She waited for them to close it up, but thankfully they didn’t, leaving the well open, maybe to keep her from suffocating. That was something, she thought. There was a worn blanket folded up on the ground and a bucket for bathroom breaks, she assumed. How thoughtful of them.
Honora reached out and touched the cold stone that surrounded her, dragging her fingers around the circumference of the well. She knew it was stupid but she tried to fly, jumping up and down and yet the cuff weighed her down, strangling off her magic like a noose. She slumped to the ground and punched the hard-packed earth beneath her. It was stupid to try to escape. Vivi had been right. She’d seen the well in her premonition. A sense of despair washed over her as coldness crept into her bones. She tried to breathe, to settle the growing panic. She could handle the well. She had to handle it.
She smiled to herself and snorted as she remembered what the skull had told her back at Diabolical about wells, there was only one way in and only one way out. She jerked up. Maybe not. Honora slipped off her shoe and pulled out the map that was crammed into the toe. Next she grabbed the bag of stones that was in the toe of the other shoe. Alana was going to be furious when she discovered that Honora was going to be in the well on the full moon with the map and the stones. She would once again miss her chance to cast the spell and escape.
Honora spread the map out before her, while she still had some daylight left. Could she really perform the spell and escape? If she had no conscience, she’d do it in a heartbeat and leave the Banishment and the well far behind her. She could create a portal and walk right back into her own apartment or she could go to Vivi’s shop or Clover’s house in the Meadowlands, anywhere as long as it was far away from here.