Masquerade in Chaos: Kable VonSable

by M J Hutto

  Now I just had to figure out how not to get dead.

  5 Plans

  I walked into my house and petted two of my four animals. The others were outside playing with their unholy amount of toys. It took only a moment for those two to join the others.

  I walked into my lab and perused ingredients. Three walls were lined with shelves of varying sizes and the fourth was bookshelves full of books and tomes. One end of the room had a large wooden table for spell-work and there was a circle on the other side. It was permanently set into the floor and there were sigils inscribed into the rings. I had incorporated sigils from multiple languages and religions into a braided circle of gold, silver, and copper. The technique had helped guard against baddies from multiple religions, realms, and planes. Granda, my mother’s father, had taught me that simply not believing in something didn’t mean it didn’t believe in you or that it couldn’t hurt you.

  So, my first step was always to remove all of the dust and dirt from the circle. Next, to walk the perimeter of the room chanting my protection incantation. And lastly, cleaning the table with a mixture of rainwater, vinegar, lemon, and lavender oil to remove any remnants from my last round of spell making.

  I pulled my grimoire from the nearest shelf and placed it into the wooden stand beside the table. I turned the pages to look over the spells I was preparing. These were by far the most popular and thus the most common I performed but I always read over them before beginning. It only took one thing being off to ruin the whole affair. I’d had more than one mishap in the past and wasn’t keen to have another mistake like the great skunk out of January that kept me from using my lab for nearly a month. It had taken daily cleaning and four different spells for disassembling smells. Who would have thought accidentally substituting rosemary for rose would cause such a toxic smell? And the air had burned, not just smelled. I shuddered at the thought and made sure I pulled the ingredients I needed from the correct bins.

  I placed the copper pots I used for spelling on top of the individual burners. I would start one after the other. The premise was the same for all my potions; something for each of the five senses and one for the spirit. Sometimes there were extra ingredients, but I tried to keep things simple, less chance for skunk like disasters that way. Each of these potions were simple and had been completed so many times since Granda had taught me they practically cooked themselves.

  Love Lingers wasn’t technically a love potion, more of an attention grabber and…okay it’s a love potion but nothing more complex than pheromones. It won’t make someone who hates you love you, but it will make someone on the fence take a closer look or someone who was once in love with you reconsider those feelings. It’s a love booster I suppose more than a love potion. Free will is important to the universe and to me.

  I put the base for the potion in the pot, Champagne for taste, and started the burner. Once it was simmering nicely, I added the other ingredients one at a time: a 1inch square of silk for touch, a sultry laugh for sound, a love poem for the mind, cinnamon for smell and a lavender sprig for sight (I used lavender or jasmine depending on supplies and my mood). Once everything had been added I stirred the concoction three times widdershins and three times deosil while a reciting the spell. The contents turned a lovely shade of lavender and settled to a gentle bubbling simmer. I set a timer for forty-five minutes, the timing was very important. Burnt love potions tended to produce less than ideal results.

  The next one was Leave Me Be. It had been known to cause a stalker to lose interest. It also worked well for those office romances that did not go well; allowed the scorned parties to lose interest and move on. The base for this potion was sour milk for taste, not a pleasant smell to bring to a boil but we all have our burdens to bear. This was followed by the sound of nails down a chalkboard, snail mucous for touch, rotten eggs for smell, beige paint chips for sight and a terms and conditions page for the mind. The same widdershins/deosil stirring and another recited spell. Turn down burner and this one was simmering a perfectly beige color. Another timer was set, this time for sixty minutes. If it was underdone it could backfire and lead to disgust instead of simple ambivalence.

  The last potion for today was Placement Potation. This potion helped locate lost things. The most important part of this potion was adding a small piece of what you were looking for to the finished product. A drop of blood, a hair, a sliver of the type of metal. That along with whispered intent could lead you pretty close to what you were searching for. It worked about eighty percent of the time for the layperson. Some people couldn’t focus well enough for success. It worked ninety-nine percent of the time for me.

  The potions base was an energy drink for taste (and to wake up the senses). This one didn’t simmer first; I simply added the ingredients. The tinkling of a bell for sound, frankincense for smell, a four-leaf clover for sight and a search a word for the mind (easy difficulty). I stirred three times widdershins and three times deosil, said the spell and turned the burner up for a rolling boil. I set the timer for ten minutes and then would allow it to steep for fifteen additional minutes.

  I had a few minutes to be sure my amber bottles were ready before the first potions finished. I had three separate glass funnels to use. I didn’t like to chance crossing them. Glass was from the earth, so it was safer than plastic to keep the potions pure and uncontaminated. The amber bottles helped keep them potent longer. They lasted about week in the open and three months in the amber bottles. They were likely good for longer, but I didn’t trust their efficacy outside of the three months I’d tested, especially for my non magic customers.

  I poured the potions as they became ready and waited to cork them until they’d properly cooled. The process wasn’t a bad one and I actually enjoyed having something tangible when I finished the process.

  I placed the corked bottles in a basket to take over to the shop later. I was washing up the pots and funnels when Jaylin spoke.

  “So, how’s that sexy brother of yours?”

  I jerked around and nearly choked on my own saliva. “Jeeze, Jaylin, you scared me half to death.”

  She doubled over with laughter while I tried to get my heart rate under 180. She finally stopped laughing and motioned for me to answer. I rolled my eyes and started putting things away after I dried them.

  “Kent is fine. He got married to a reporter,” I said chuckling. “She’s gorgeous and funny and smart. They’ll have drop dead gorgeous children.”

  Jaylin sighed, “I guess I couldn’t expect him to mourn me forever. I mean I know we never dated, and he barely said ten words to me, that weren’t brotherly, but I was still holding out hope. How about Karmine? Still up to no good?”

  “She’s seeing a politician. I guess it depends on what you call no good. I haven’t met him yet.”

  “Oh, she’s back on guys again?”

  “You know Karmine, it’s all about the spirit. The body they’re in is just bonus fun,” I said flipping my hand toward her. “Where the heck did you go when you left yesterday?”

  She shrugged her thin shoulders and quirked her mouth. “I’m not sure what to call it. It isn’t heaven, I don’t think, but it isn’t hell either. Maybe it’s purgatory or maybe it’s the in-between. I guess it might depend on what you believe in.” She mewed her mouth and then scrunched up her nose.

  “Well, do you feel like you’re paying penance? Or are you sitting on clouds playing a lute? Are you even aware when you aren’t here?”

  She frowned and pushed her shoulder length white hair away from her face. “I’m definitely aware. No lutes or clouds, no penance; it only felt like a few minutes went by for me. I guess maybe time moves differently. It’s probably not as important when you’re already dead. No aging and no appointments.”

  That seemed like a legitimate explanation to me. I was glad she had returned. “Did you by any chance find out anything more about this situation?”

  “Yeah, no.”

  I sighed and closed my eyes. I had ab
solutely no idea what to do about this whole murder thing. For now, all I could do was stay vigilant and cautious. In the meantime, there was my family dinner to dread.

  “Are you confined to this house, or can you go other places? Is there a way for me to contact you when you’re there? And are you stuck in that outfit?” I snickered when I said the last part. She was wearing the dress her mother had picked out for her funeral. It was a pink baby doll outfit and made her look like she was about fifteen.

  Jaylin stuck her tongue out at me and further perpetuated the look. She screwed her face up in concentration, but nothing happened to the outfit. She threw her arms up and let out a frustrated groan.

  “I guess I’m stuck. Why did you let my mother dress me in this? Good lord, where did she even find it?”

  “Hey,” I said shaking my head. “I wasn’t consulted. Your mom was in a bad place and was not open to suggestions. She calls me every few months to talk about you now. She misses you very much.”

  She smiled sadly. “I tried to visit her. She can’t see me. I can go other places, but I need a strong connection to either a person or place to stay for any length of time. It takes a lot of energy to manifest, but I don’t seem to drain as quickly around you. Plus, so far, you’re the only one who can see or interact with me.

  “I don’t know if you can contact me. Like I said, you’re the first person I’ve been able to interact with. Do you have any of my things? Maybe the next time I’m gone you can try to contact me or maybe summon me?”

  I nodded. “I’ve got the charm bracelet you gave me with some of your charms on it. I took your lotus blossom and Yoda charms. Maybe if I think of you when I’m wearing it, I can contact you?”

  We both shrugged. It couldn’t hurt to try. It looked like we would be doing some experimentation with the InBetween.

  “I have to go over to my parents’ house tonight. I’m not sure what my mother has planned but she is insistent I make an appearance. I have to get ready soon. If you can make the trip, you can at least see my brother and sister even if you can talk to them.”

  She nodded eagerly and we went to find something tolerable for me to wear. Dinner with my parents was always an ordeal, which was why I’d missed the last two. Hopefully, my bestie would be there by my side to make it a little better tonight.

  6 Obligations

  I pulled my car into the driveway of my parents’ brightly lit home and cut the engine. I sat listening to the engine tick while it cooled and wondered if I could leave without my mother causing problems. Not bloody likely.

  The house looked like a cheerful and happy place. How many kids selling things had made that mistake? Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, band members. This neighborhood had a homeowner’s association and lawn requirements. There were tasteful decorations for Christmas as regulated by the neighborhood; candles in the windows, a wreath on the door and a lit tree showing through the picture window. The elder VonSable’s followed the letter of the law. That didn’t make them welcoming or easy to sell things to.

  I listened to Shinedown tell me how nothing really lasts forever and wondered if it was a sign. I nearly hit my head on the roof when a knock on the window came. Karmine was grinning in at me and the music turned off. I’d been in the car long enough it automatically stopped to save battery power. I sighed and opened the car door causing her to quickly step out of the way or be hit with it.

  “Trying to fashion a reason to escape?” she asked with a raised brow.

  I rolled my eyes and stepped out of the car. “No. I was just checking to make sure I had everything.”

  She fought a smile and nodded sagely. “Of course. Come on, we’ll walk in together.”

  I laughed. “You worried I’m gonna run?”

  She put her arm around my back and steered me toward the house. “Of course not!”

  I turned around to make sure I’d locked the doors and saw one of the most beautiful men I’d ever seen. He was tall and stunning with dark hair and green eyes the color of new spring leaves. His lean face, chiseled jaw and Grecian nose created an appealing view. The compressed line of his thin lips brought me up short.

  Karmine turned to see what had caught my attention and her face broke into a smile. Ah, this must be the politician. His face did not change and the closer he came the more pronounced the frown lines around his mouth became. Oh Karmine, this was not a happy man. I softened my control on my shields, allowed his aura to show. It was orange and violet-red with oily green ribbons running through; this was an energetic, passionate man with possessive tendencies; covetous, jealous, and explosive. I snapped my shields back in place and smiled up at the beautiful man.

  “Kable, this is Victor. Victor this is my sister Kable.” His face completely changed from hard and cold to open and warm when Karmine introduced him. It was interesting to watch, and his face was even more beautiful when he smiled.

  He reached out to shake my hand. “Kable, I’ve heard so much about you. It’s nice to put a face to Karmine’s tales.” I nodded and shook his hand. His voice held no particular accent, perfectly modulated to fit in anywhere. He’d been raised for the political arena. His grip was respectable and after the shake he ushered us inside the house, holding the door until we passed inside.

  I rethought my original perception. Maybe he wasn’t unhappy so much as feeling the need to keep emotions and thoughts private. Being in the public eye must be hard. Karmine said he was on the move in the political circuit and had hopes for an election on the national scale soon. How serious was she about this one? She tended to love em and leave em after mutual enjoyment, but this guy had aspirations. Maybe I should just mind my business. I had enough going on in my own crazy life without worrying about my adult sister’s lovers.

  I walked to my father’s study to attempt to contact Jaylin. I glanced around at the leather clad office. If you thought of an old Victorian gentleman’s study, you would have an image of my father’s study. Nothing here had changed since my childhood. The books were the same, the leather chairs and settee was the same, the huge wooden desk was the same. His office chair had changed throughout the years, but he bought the same things whenever the need arose.

  The leather from the settee creaked when I sat down. I inhaled deeply the beloved scent of old books and older knowledge. When I was little this had been my favorite room in the house, before everything changed. I shook myself to dislodge the past and darker thoughts. I needed to ground myself before I let my spirit seek out Jaylin. I slipped off my ballet flats and planted my feet on the wooden floor. I settled the chiffon tiers of my skirt around my legs, drew deep breaths in my nose, and pushed them out of my mouth. I’d been meditating like this since for as long as I could remember. Granda began teaching me tricks to control my breathing, my emotions, and my spirit before I could talk.

  Once I had myself grounded, centered, and relaxed I wrapped my fingers around the lotus petal charm and thought of Jaylin. After a few minutes of nothing happening I pulled the second charm into my grasp and called out to her again while concentrating on her image in my head.

  “What are you doing?”

  I nearly fell off the settee I jumped so violently. “What the hell Jaylin?! You were supposed to try to talk to me first.”

  “Well, Kable, you weren’t talking. You were just yelling my name over and over. It was embarrassing. The other ghosts could hear and were staring at me. We’re gonna have to work on your delivery.”

  “Oh,” I said prolonging an o with my mouth and face flaming. “Sorry. I didn’t know how hard it would be for you to hear me. I guess I was trying too hard.”

  She rolled her eyes but laughed. “It’s all good. Nobody talks to a lot of them at all. So, they don’t really know how any of this works any better than we do. On the plus side, it worked and I’m here. I saw Kent and his super-hot friend walking in.”

  “Oh yeah, Vera is a total hottie. She is also one of the most dynamite and smartest people I know. They are great together. I can
’t wait to see the absolutely darling babies they make.”

  She laughed, “Kent would make beautiful babies with a garden troll, but I wasn’t talking about anyone of the female persuasion. This was a tall, dark haired, dark eyed, brown skinned man with cheekbones you could slit your wrists on.”

  I groaned while she continued. “Also, looks like your cousin is here too. Wonder how he got dragged into this.”

  I slipped my shoes back on and smoothed my clothes. While I’d dressed appropriately with a chiffon skirt, a drape necked sweater top and ballet flats, I’d worn them in all black to irritate my mother. I knew it was petty and yet, there I was. Besides, I looked good in black, it brought out my uniqueness without washing me out the way pastels seemed to.

  Jaylin and I walked out of the study and into the minefields. Nothing like a family dinner to sharpen your weapons of verbal warfare.

  I could see Kent moving down the hallway towards the dining room which meant I was running behind schedule. “Try not to distract me too much. Mother might try to commit me again if she thinks I’m talking to myself. She never did understand the whole talking to animals thing.”

  “Okay, but we seriously have to talk. Your mother committed you!?!”

  I nodded and quirked an eyebrow as we walked. I tried sending my thoughts to her, but she just looked at me with widening eyes. “What the hell are you doing?”

  I smiled and shrugged. “Was trying to see if I could contact you telepathically. I guess not.”

  Kent turned before we went into the dining room. He smiled warmly and hugged me. “Hey weirdo. How’s it going?”

  I exaggeratedly rolled my eyes and sighed loudly. “Just bein’ weird and whatnot. How about you?”

  “Same. I have to save Vera in a minute. Mother has her trapped in there talking about how June is the best time to get pregnant so you can manage the later months during winter. I’m expecting a chore list soon telling me the best times to have sex with my wife.”