by M J Hutto
“Fuck, I don’t know. Until a few days ago I didn’t even know I was dead. But I, I don’t think so. Maybe a little ‘g’ god. But I mean, hell, isn’t that what those were? I’m pretty sure you have to agree to owe a favor though, right?”
I flopped down on my back staring up at the ceiling. I really hoped so. I didn’t have any desire to owe a favor to a little ‘g’ god or a faery queen. Or any other mystical being to be honest. I almost hoped one of them owed Granda a favor.
I turned to look for Thibbs, maybe he knew something, but he was tottering around. He’d found my sweet tea and was in a sugar high. We didn’t go light on the sugar in this house, diabetes all the way. His metabolism would run though it quickly enough.
“What say you Thibbs? Do they have to have acknowledgement of a debt owed?”
He giggled and his light flashed haphazardly while he attempted to fly in a straight line without success. He finally sat in the sunflower on the coffee table, his legs and arms splayed haphazardly.
“Das right, cher. Unless someone agree for you.”
My mouth fell open. “Like who?”
“Anyone mon amie. Most like your Granda or maybe Jaylin.”
She jumped up from the couch and began pacing. She was biting her ghost nails.
“Jaylin, you didn’t.”
Her head jerked up. “Kable, I honestly don’t know. I have no idea and it’s scaring the shit out of me.”
“I guess there’s no point borrowing trouble, right? At the moment, I have to focus on not dying so I can focus on what ever comes next.”
We looked at the page again. She had signed the picture, ‘Lil’ with a heart dotting the I. It was a girl’s signature, loopy and whimsical. It didn’t seem to match the image but looks could be deceiving.
“That’s what she looks like?”
“I mean, yeah. She wears a business suit instead of a bikini but that’s definitely her. Those teeth are quite memorable.”
“So, you’re actually aware when you aren’t here?”
“Well, sometimes. Or maybe all the time and I just don’t always remember everything. Or maybe it is only sometimes. I don’t know, Kable. It’s all confusing. Being dead isn’t easy, okay.”
I snorted loudly. “It supposed to be the easiest.”
She scowled, “Well, it isn’t. It’s all a big scam. ‘They fuck you in the drive-thru’.”
I nodded. “Lethal Weapon 2, too easy.”
She shrugged. “True, nonetheless. So, where do we go from here?”
I rolled my eyes. “Okay, Buffy. ‘Saving people, hunting things, the family business’.”
She chortled. “Well, I’m obviously Dean.”
“No, dummy, you’re Cass. Honestly. Have you never even watched Supernatural?”
Thibbs was floating around looking for more tea, his sugar high worn off. His light was dull and sluggish.
“You funny, girl, if you think you Dean. You more Rowena, ain’t you?”
We both looked around sharply with wide eyes. Lightning bugs watched TV?
“What? You think you the only one what watch that show?” He swept the top hat from his head and wiped his brow. “I especially like the Scooby Doo episode.”
We all laughed and agreed it was great. Bonding over popular TV, who knew?
When it was time to open the shop, we all went together. We hung the rattle above the door entering the shop and our conversation lasted into the evening. They kept me company until bed. I dreamed of dark eyes and shadowy arms, unreachable; dark laughter in the background both mocking and sultry.
22 Magical Measures?
Two days passed with little progress in the case of the missing socialite, the dead Orokkians or my looming death march. Well, maybe not the actual march but the stopping of the march? Life moved forward regardless of hurts, fears, or joys.
Jaylin and Thibbs had come and gone and come and gone. Dorian had come by. Karmine and Kent had called. Mother called to see if I was coming to family dinner, I was not. Reva and Maxine were working again today.
Maxine said she and Dani had talked; they both agreed to separate. Dani left for a few days to let Maxine and Reva move her things out of the house and into the new one they’d found to rent. I’d given Maxine, some Leave Me Be for Dani. She said she told Dani what she was doing before pouring it into her tea.
She felt conflicted about the results. They had been together for a long time. It was hard to see her once fiery lover walk away with a noncommittal smile and a handshake. She was happy to be out of the bad relationship and hoped Dani would change for the better. I just hoped it was actually over.
Reva and her family were once again waiting. I could see the worry and frustration cloaking her. She smiled and continued to work hard but had an edge of grief edging ever closer. I offered a reading, but she didn’t want to confuse things. I understood that, sometimes the cards were inconclusive and others they were too conclusive. Better to wait.
We decided to have a dancing and singing day at the shop. We alternated, choosing our own songs. This was something I did periodically. We’d had a theatre day, medieval day, steampunk day, gothic day, superhero day and favorite character day to name a few. We usually advertised so the customers could participate but singing and dancing didn’t require any preplanning really. Right? We weren’t expecting anything elaborate or professional, just fun.
After the first few, the news went out on social media. I suspected Reva had updated our pages, so our customers knew. We chose upbeat and energetic songs and then started getting requests on social media after Reva posted a few videos. Business picked up considerably and the customers got involved too.
Jaylin was dancing hard to some Moulin Rouge when I sat down finally. Reva and Maxine were laughing while they sang their hearts out. Dorian walked in grinning. He helped finished up the song and sat down by me.
“What’s up?”
“Thought you might like to know your potion might’ve helped. We just picked up Sabine.”
“Alive?”
He nodded, “Oh, that’s so wonderful.”
He grimaced. “I don’t know. It’s good she’s alive but she doesn’t remember anything and is in pretty bad shape. Broken ribs, fractures in her face, a ruptured spleen, she might lose an eye. She was barefoot and naked when we found her, but we went straight to her.”
I frowned; the music was too loud. We walked into the kitchen area where it was a bit quieter and more private.
“When did whoever take the potion?”
“Aether drank it yesterday. He wouldn’t let anyone else.”
I quirked a brow, “Mmm, interesting. It should’ve only lasted twenty-four hours or so.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know exactly what time he took it. Maybe it did. Anyway, not even a tingle yesterday. He thought it didn’t work and then today he gets an image of Sabine on a park bench. And then one of her stumbling down the alley by Aphrodite’s Art Gallery.”
I leaned against the wall behind me, all the dancing had been fun but was exhausting. My legs were going to be super sore later.
“The place has a picture of Aphrodite on the wall of that alley, right?”
“Yep, that’s how we knew. Anyway, it was about five this morning when we found her. She didn’t start talking until about an hour ago. But, like I said, she doesn’t remember anything.”
I sagged with my arms crossed, shoulders forward and drawn in. I was glad they’d found her alive, and I hoped she would be okay. That seemed like such a silly thought. How could she ever be the same? Not to know what happened, only to see the results was terrifying; to know someone could do those things and make you forget not only it happens but who did it.
I shivered involuntarily and rubbed my arms briskly. I couldn’t imagine something like that happening.
“Did they let her go? Did she escape?”
He shifted from foot to foot. “We don’t know.”
A cold, breathless dread swept through me
. “Was he alone when he found her?”
Dorian gave me solid eye contact. “No. He hasn’t been alone since he took the potion. He was a little worried about how it might affect him, so he wanted someone with him.”
I tugged at my lower lip with my teeth. That was a possibility. Or he didn’t want there to be any reason to suspect him when or if he found her. He wasn’t stupid, I’d give him that. It had the added benefit of showing his willingness to try Chaos magic while showcasing his inexperience with it. I wondered if that was actually the truth.
“My potion was safe.”
“I’m pretty sure you know why he did it that way. No questions, no mistakes, no suspicion afterward. You know, like what you just did.”
I started to speak but let my mouth close while I shifted around. I looked at the the wall behind him, the counters, the baking racks, the door back into the front of the shop but not at his face. When I finally met his eyes, he nodded.
“He’s a good guy, Kable. And, from what I’ve seen, a good detective. He’s a closer.”
I smirked and he shook his head, “Yeah, like Brenda Leigh. Only maybe less rule bending, hopefully. He had a choice of assignments and asked to do this. He believes in this division.”
“Okay, I’m sorry.”
“I’m not the one you should apologize to.”
“I haven’t done anything to that man to be sorry for.”
He looked back at me with half lidded hard eyes and a set jaw. “Maybe not directly but you’ve suspected him from the beginning. And I don’t know what you did to him at your party, but he’s been distracted since.”
“What I did?”
“Whatever. It’s not him, stop being suspicious and critical.”
I frowned and stood up from the wall with my arms still crossed, “I didn’t do anything to him. But you’re right, I have been suspicious. I don’t know who to trust right now but I don’t think waiting to form an opinion of someone until I knew them better was suspicious or wrong.”
He tilted his head from side to side. “Fair, I guess. But you can trust him. I do and my life is more likely to be affected by that in a much more real way than yours.”
“Okay, fine,” I finally conceded. “But I’m not apologizing for not trusting a stranger. That’s ridiculous.”
He held up his hands in surrender. “Whatever. But he wouldn’t even come here today. Almost dropped his coffee when I mentioned riding out, splashed it on his shirt instead.”
I rolled my eyes but smiled before I could stop it. How ridiculous.
“When are y’all releasing the news you found Sabine?”
“Soon.”
We heard the music stop and the television volume increase in the storefront. It sounded like a news conference or report. We walked in to listen and watch. The mayor and police chief were standing on the podium along with Victor and Detective Aether.
Police Chief: Ms. Sabine Fairmont was located at 5: 07 this morning with the help of the task force. She is alive and currently in the hospital for evaluation. We are not at liberty to release any further information concerning her current condition. We are investigating her connection with previous incidents and will continue to update the public as new developments occur. Please allow Ms. Fairmont the time and privacy to heal.
Reporter #1: Is she connected to the other murders?
Police Chief: It is too soon to make those connections.
Reporter #2: Do we have a serial killer here in City 7?
Police Chief: We are not ready to make that assumption.
Reporter #3: When will you be ready? After one more murder, two more? When are we going to call this what it is?
Mayor: Now, Bodie, I understand your interest in this and your concern. We simply don’t want to make rash assumptions. Shane, we aren’t ready to connect anything. Ms. Fairmont is resting and as soon as we know, we will let you know. Blake, no one wants to know more than we what type of monster is killing our citizens. We just want to be sure we are following all leads instead of making assumptions.
Reporter #4: So, you’re saying there’s no connection between these murders and those in other cities? You don’t think this is the Chaos Killer?
Mayor: I don’t think I recognize you, young lady. I’m not saying any such thing. I’m simply saying its too soon to make that judgement.
There was further conversation but nothing else was really said. The shop had emptied out during the news conference. We turned off the television and stared at one another. A serial killer in City 7. Dorian looked at his watch and moved towards the door.
“I gotta get back to work. I just wanted to thank you for the potion. Might stop by tonight if it isn’t too late if that’s okay. Unless you’re going to dinner tonight.”
I shook my head. “I’m not and it’s fine if you want to stop by. I’ll order pizza or something.”
He nodded. “It’s a date. Bye.”
The mood had changed, less frivolous-a little darker.
“Look we don’t know anything different than we did before,” I said with raised hands. “It should be a happy day. She is alive and safe.”
Jaylin shook her head. Thibbs was nowhere to be seen. Reva and Maxine just stared at me. I grabbed the cleaner and paper towels to wipe down the tables and chairs.
“Hey, why don’t we decide how to paint the table. Y’all have any ideas?”
Reva ran her hand over the smoothed surface. I’d finished sanding it yesterday, now we just needed to finish it.
“What if we did a star chart? Like a constellation map?” This came hesitantly from Maxine.
My face lit up with a smile. “I LOVE it. I think I’ve got some glow in the dark paint left over from Halloween. This is amazing. AND!! I know someone who could do a clear resin over the top to create an entirely new table. Do we paint the tabletop dark blue or dark purple or black?”
I had dark blue paint already, so we decided to use that. The glow in the dark I had would go on top of a silver I had to go pick up. I grabbed black and purple while I was there, and we made a swirling Milky Way. We mapped out the star chart and spent hours painting. There were only a few more customers during the afternoon and before we knew it, it was time to close up.
***
I was sweeping up when I noticed someone at the door. It wasn’t locked so I waved Victor inside. He was dressed in the same suit he’d worn during the news conference. The rattle went off and we both looked up. He smiled and I realized it must not be working. We couldn’t test it before. I guess I’d have to tweak it a little. I sighed.
“Hey, Victor, what’s up? Karmine wanting some of our chocolate chip biscotti? I keep extra around just for her.”
His smile lifted the corners of his lips. “Yes. She does love it doesn’t she?”
I grinned, “Absolutely. I hope she lets you try some. It’s pretty good if I do say so myself. This one has peppermint chips too. Very festive.”
He nodded and followed me into the back. I gathered the biscotti together and handed it to him. He insisted on paying.
“You have a small business. We should be supporting you. You shouldn’t give out freebies.”
I nodded. “I feel blessed to be able to do what I love and have it support me. I do try to give back to the community whenever I can. It’s the least I can do.”
He looked around the shop curiously. I offered to show him around and he followed, paying attention to every detail. He was very focused. I bet that was part of what drew Karmine, his attention would be almost devotional in its intensity.
“So, you do your reading in here?”
“Yes, it started out life as a storage closet but works well for some privacy while remaining close to the counter. I started out on my own. I ran everything by myself. And I’ve kept it like this since the customers like it.”
He fingered the heavy brocade curtain I had in place of a door. The room was lit by string lights hanging from the ceiling. It was painted dark and smelled of fragr
ant herbs and oils. There were clove oranges resting in a bowl on the table.
He breathed deeply, smiling broadly while he continued to look around the room. I tried to see it from his perspective. I guess it was a little exotic with the crystals on the top of the bookcase and some of my older and more exclusive texts on the lower shelves.
I had a few jarred powders and a rather large, bottled scorpion sitting amongst the other items. The powders were peyote, mushrooms, salvia, and some cannabis. They were for various rituals and potions. The scorpion was a gift from a client. His name was Jared and he’d died of old age. He was given to me for protection.
Victor touched the bottled scorpion and then the jarred powders. He ran a finger over each label as he read, silently mouthing the words.
“I don’t see any bufotoxin.”
I wrinkled my nose. “You looking for some toad venom?”
He chuckled. “Maybe.”
“I have a license for those,” I replied pointing to them on the shelf. “The bufotoxin is a little trickier. I am allowed to have it for ‘spiritual’ reasons but not to sell. Plus, the toads are protected so the price is considerably higher. I could make you a potion with it as an ingredient or monitor you during a spirit journey, but I can’t sell you any.”
He nodded enthusiastically. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
I adjusted my perception of Victor slightly and then remembered Dorian’s words earlier about my suspicious mind. Maybe I did need to be a little more trusting. Karmine really liked this guy, and he was here buying her goodies.
“You do tarot readings? How about palms?”
I tilted my head to the side and twitched my cheek, “I definitely do tarot readings. I’m not as into palm reading. I can and I have but it’s not my strength. I find the cards speak to me a little more clearly. Palms and people hide things, well, they can anyway.”
He smoothed his hand over my table and then the bookcase. He touched everything he looked at. And he looked at everything in the room. He did not, however, touch the older texts. They had wards on them to dissuade touching, in fact. One of them was not a kind text and none were meant for non-practitioners.