by Chloe Mayson
“When am I going to learn how to conjure up a spell, or brew one, or whatever it is that witches do to make magic?”
“Ah, there’s a reason that casting spells doesn’t come naturally to you, Miss Cortney,” Frank said and sighed.
“Yeah, why do I suddenly get the feeling that the hammer is fixing to drop?” Cortney said as she stared down the table at the scarred faced butler.
“Maybe I should have mentioned it sooner. However, I felt that the best time was after your twenty-first birthday ritual of inducting you into the witch world,” Frank said.
“Cut to the chase, Frank. I don’t want to hear a bedtime story,” Cortney said annoyed at yet another untold secret.
“You’re only half a witch,” Tom Cat seemed to get pleasure as he beat Frank to the punch.
“Frank, what does Tom Cat mean, I’m half a witch? And how can you even be half a witch? Isn’t that like being half a person?”
“Your father was mortal,” Frank said.
“Gee, I hadn’t thought much about my father,” Cortney said. She paused and appeared in deep thought for a moment. “Oh, so that’s why my mother fled with me. She didn’t want me raised as a witch. She wanted a normal life for me.”
“It was one of the reasons she left Bayou George,” Frank said, but didn’t furnish another reason.
“Aunt Morticia wanted me to be a witch. That’s why my mother and father took me and fled Bayou George,” Cortney declared fixated on her mother not wanting her to become a witch.
“Yes, and your aunt was upset with your mother for taking you. She sent people to bring them back, but they returned weeks later without you or your parents. When the investigators your aunt hired called to tell her they had found you in Malvern, it was the first word we had gotten of your whereabouts. Your aunt was devastated when she learned that your mother had died years earlier in a car accident,” Frank said.
“Please tell me my parents didn’t die in a car accident when fleeing Aunt Morticia,” Cortney said in a sad tone.
“It’s possible,” Frank said. “Anyway, now you know that you are only half a witch,” he added.
“And what does that mean? Can I only cast half a spell?” Cortney asked.
“Don’t be silly,” Mildred who was standing near the wall watching Cortney eat called out. “It just means that conjuring doesn’t come naturally. You have to put some effort, well a lot of effort, into weaving a spell.”
“Wow, all day I thought I was a witch. Tonight, I find out I’m only half a witch. Do you have any more information that you’re holding back, Frank?” Cortney demanded.
“I think that’s the last of the beans to spill,” Frank answered.
“Okay, so what do I have to do? Take conjuring classes?”
“Well, yes. Mildred will work with you using the Book of Unseen Arts. She can’t create spells, but she can instruct you how it is done,” Frank said.
“Great. I must work in the diner during the day and go to witch’s night school after I get home. Does that about size things up?” Cortney asked.
“You’re quick as a whip,” Frank said. “Do you want Mildred to start tutoring you tonight?”
“No, I want to go upstairs and soak in the tub and then go to bed,” Cortney said.
“I suggest no more late-night broomstick rides until we figure out which of the warlocks is trying to kill you. You’ve been lucky so far that you haven’t been hurt. However, lady luck is a fickle woman,” Frank said.
“Hopefully tomorrow at the council meeting I’ll get some insight as to the identity of the killer,” Cortney said as she finished her meal and pushed her bowl back. “Now if you don’t mind, I’m going upstairs to bed.”
“Should I come upstairs with you? If not, I’m going to have a second helping of rabbit stew. My bedroom is on the far side of yours. You should be safe with me on one side and Chester on the other side of you.” Gator said.
“What good is Chester since he’s translucent and can’t even sit in a chair?” Cortney asked shaking her head.
“Don’t dismiss the power of a good Boo,” Tom Cat spoke up. “Even witches and warlocks don’t want to anger a ghost and be haunted the rest of their lives. It’s hard to sleep when you hear chains rattling all night,” Tom Cat added.
Cortney smiled as she remembered her first encounter with Chester. “Yeah, you might be right,” Cortney said. She glanced at Gator as Mildred served him another helping of rabbit stew. “Gator, take your time, enjoy your rabbit as much as Mildred enjoyed running it down,” she added as she remembered seeing a big gray ferret enter the house carrying a rabbit in its mouth.
Cortney stood up from the table. “I’m going to bed,” she announced. “Unless there are other secrets you plan on revealing tonight, Frank,” she added.
Frank directed both eyes in Cortney's direction. “No, I’m good,” he said and tried to smile, but the scars interfered and made it look like a grimace.
“Tom Cat, you could have told me I was only half a witch sooner,” Cortney said as they climbed the stairs.
“And face your temper tantrum alone? Not on your life. It was bad enough in the presence of monster Frank,” the familiar replied.
“Don’t call him a monster. He’s a very sensitive…”
“Monster,” Tom Cat said as he finished the sentence.
“Why do I even bother with you?” Cortney said shaking her head as they arrived at the landing. “I’m tired. I’m not going to stop by and see Chester,” Cortney added as they headed down the hallway.
“Hmm, talk about insensitive. You are the only visitor that poor Chester gets,” Tom Cat said.
“Why are you putting a guilt trip on me?” Cortney demanded.
“Moi?” Tom Cat replied.
“Yeah, you. Who else would I be talking to?” Cortney asked.
“A ghost?” Tom Cat snickered.
“Okay, okay, I’m going to stop and see the old goat,” Cortney said as she stopped in front of Chester’s door. She knocked lightly before she opened the door. “Wakey, wakey.”
“If only I could sleep,” Chester said as he appeared in front of them. “It’s been a hundred years since I have known the sweet dreams of sleep.”
“Well, I want you to know that I’m forgoing that pleasure to stop by and say hello,” Cortney said.
“I forced her to visit you,” Tom Cat said.
“You did no such thing…”
“Children, no fighting,” Chester said.
“Chester, why didn’t you tell me I was only half a witch?” Cortney demanded.
“Well… I forgot. You know I’m getting at that advanced age when I sometimes forget little facts,” Chester said.
“Me being half a witch isn’t a little fact. It is humongous,” Cortney said.
“What do you care? You don’t even want to be a witch,” Chester said.
“I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to be ordinary. I want to do magic. If I had known how to conjure today, I would have turned both of those policemen into toads,” Cortney declared between yawns.
Chester made a clicking sound with his tongue. “I see that neither you nor Frank has informed Cortney that she must never reveal she’s a witch to any of the townspeople,” Chester said as he glanced down at Tom Cat.
“I thought it went without saying,” Tom Cat said in his defense.
“Gee, I haven’t told anyone other than Officer Ray. Do you think being a witch is something that I go around announcing to strangers?” Cortney said. “But don’t some of the people in town suspect that Aunt Morticia was a witch?” Cortney asked.
“No. Any time that someone saw something they shouldn’t have seen your aunt would conjure up a forgetting spell,” Chester said.
“Oh, that sounds harsh,” Cortney said.
“Morticia and your mother got run out of Walachia because they were believed to be witches helping Frank. They certainly didn’t want something like that happening here in America. Bayou George
is a refuge of magic unbeknownst to the good citizens, and it must stay that way,” Chester said.
“Sorry, Chester, I have to go to bed. I can barely hold my eyes open,” Cortney said as she turned and headed for the door.
“Do stop by tomorrow. I have grown accustomed to our little chats,” Chester called after Cortney.
“The poor thing. I have got to force Chester out of the bedroom. He should be more a part of the family,” Cortney said as she unlocked her bedroom door.
“Hmm, be careful what you wish for,” Tom Cat said as he followed Cortney into the bedroom.
Cortney walked straight to the closet. “Hildegard, sorry but no late-night ride tonight. It’s too dangerous,” Cortney said and somehow knew that the broomstick understood what she had told it. She stayed in the closet and put on her bunny pajamas.
“Don’t let Mildred see you in your bunny pajamas or you’ll be on the menu for lunch tomorrow,” Tom Cat said when Cortney emerged from the closet.
“What exactly is a changeling?” Cortney asked. “I’ve read about shapeshifters in novels; are they the same thing?”
“Yeah, basically,” Tom Cat said. “Except a shapeshifter is born one and a changeling is cursed to take the form of an animal as punishment,” Tom Cat said.
“Hmm, what did Mildred do to be cursed?”
“I never asked. It’s none of my business,” Tom Cat replied.
“Why is it that she never eats at the table with us?”
“It's her curse to eat raw meat as a ferret,” Tom Cat said.
“I hope Aunt Morticia isn’t the one that cursed Mildred.”
“She wasn’t. It happened before she started working for your aunt,” Tom Cat replied.
“Tom Cat, do you think Aunt Morticia had something to do with the death of my parents?” Cortney asked. It had been on her mind since she had learned of her parents fleeing Bayou George.
“No, but it could be the work of the person that poisoned your aunt. None of the warlocks were happy with Morticia being in control of the city council. They certainly didn’t want an heir taking over after her retirement.”
“Oh, come on Tom Cat. Call the council what it really is, the magic council. I was told a long time ago that the citizens of Bayou George are compelled to vote for the same council members year after year. And, they are even made to forget how long each member of the council has held the post.”
“Hmm, and here I feared that Mildred might have slapped you on your head instead of your butt when you were born,” Tom Cat said and snickered.
“I bet Gator is right. Cat stew does taste better than gator stew,” Cortney said in a serious voice.
Chapter Fourteen
Cortney glanced at the five men seated at the dining room table as she entered. They looked ordinary. If she hadn’t known they were all warlocks, she would have never guessed.
The only one of the council members she recognized was Councilman Innman. He sat on the right side of Frank.
“Gentlemen,” Frank said as he stood. “Miss Cortney, the new head of the council, has arrived.”
Four of the men stood immediately. Councilman Innman hesitated before he joined them on his feet.
“As I introduce you, please take your seat,” Frank said with such smoothness, it was easy for Cortney to imagine the freaky looking man was once a doctor.
“On my right is Dick Innman owner of Charley Brown’s Clothing Store,” Frank said.
“Yes, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Miss Cortney already,” Councilman Innman said as he took his seat.
“On my left is William Stonemason. He owns Stonemason Construction Company,” Frank said nodding to a tall, thin man with blond, curly hair and deep blue eyes.
“You are the spitting image of your Aunt Morticia, Miss Cortney. Welcome to Bayou George,” Councilman Stonemason said with a broad smile.
“Opposite Councilmen Stonemason is Gerhart Kessel. He’s a geologist and owns the only jewelry store in Bayou George.” The wiry man with the crewcut hairstyle nodded and took his seat without speaking.
“Sitting beside Councilmen Kessel is Fran Wigdahl; he’s a family doctor.”
“I hope that you will not be as locked in the past as your aunt was,” Councilman Wigdahl said.
“Last but not least is your friendly real estate broker Hawk Blackman,” Frank said.
“Miss Cortney, I will tell you up front. I’m not going to stop until you sell Barnaby House to me. I have lusted after it since I first arrived in Bayou George,” Councilman Blackman said.
“Wow, that’s a long time, Hawk. You don’t mind if I call you Hawk do you?” Cortney asked and didn’t wait for an answer. “You see, Frank has brought me up to speed. I know that all of you are warlocks. I also know that this is really a magic council of witches and warlocks and not a town council. We rule Bayou George. Sometimes we use magic, but for the most part, we keep any use of the dark arts hidden from the eyes of the mortal citizens of Bayou George. Am I correct so far?” Cortney asked
She glanced around the table. Everyone but Dick Innman nodded his head in agreement.
“My aunt allowed you warlocks to settle in Bayou George to help her preserve it as an enclave of magic. To ensure that the pressure of the outside world is limited, she hasn’t allowed any cell phone towers, micro relays or satellite dishes. Frank, as my guardian, has informed me that we will keep those policies in place.”
Thank God I got through the notes that Frank made me memorize without appearing to be an idiot, Cortney thought as she studied the faces of the five warlocks. None seemed happy with her little speech. Dick Innman had shaken his head the entire time she spoke.
“Frank, this is ridiculous. You are not a witch or warlock. You cannot be the head of the council, even if you are sitting in for Miss Cortney until she fulfills her contractual requirements,” Hawk said.
Frank shrugged his massive shoulders. “The spell that bound you to serve Miss Morticia now binds you to Miss Cortney. Break it if you can,” Frank said.
“Let’s not talk about breaking spells, Frank. We all only want what is good for Bayou George. We just have different opinions of what it is,” Fran Wigdahl said and smiled.
Fran Wigdahl’s warm smile tugged at Cortney’s heart. Wow, he’s got charisma.
Show time! Cortney thought as she jumped to her feet. “One of you sitting at this table poisoned Aunt Morticia!” she shouted as she pointed her finger at each of the men in turn. “I am going to find out which one murdered my aunt and bring you to justice. Frank tells me that if I find out which one of you poisoned Aunt Morticia, you will be stripped of your powers as a warlock and banished from Bayou George. And, I’m serving notice, that is what I plan on doing.”
“She’s only half a witch,” Dick Innman called out. “She shouldn’t even be allowed to sit at the table with us. I say we band together and cast her out of Bayou George.”
“I agree!” Hawk Blackman said.
Suddenly Gator appeared behind Frank
“Gentlemen,” Frank called out in a dangerous tone. “If anyone is crazy enough to vote to banish Miss Cortney they will have to deal with Gator, Miss Cortney’s enforcer. He was born of magic, and is resistant to normal spells. Must I remind you gentlemen of how dangerous he is when unleashed? Cortney has the power to unleash him.”
Dick Innman cleared his throat.
Hawk Blackman glanced at his plate.
“Frank, we have no intentions of breaking our oath spell to Morticia. So, you can call off your dog.” Fran Wigdahl said as he flashed his smile around the room.
In the blink of an eye, Gator vanished.
“Thanks. That creature makes me nervous,” Fran said. “Are we going to get to sample some of Mildred’s cooking tonight? I’m ravenously hungry,” he added.
“No, since one of you is a master of the dark art of poisons, there will be no more food served during the council meetings,” Frank said. “And since I haven’t had a chance to bring Cortney up
to speed on the issues facing the council, we will adjourn,” Frank said slapping his oversized right hand against the table.
“But there are issues to be debated,” Councilman Innman yelled.
“There will be no gathering of you five until I find out which one of you poisoned my aunt,” Cortney said. “Now leave my house!” she said as she somehow managed to put power into the words. That was a spell! I just conjured up a command spell!
The five warlock’s bodies jerked when they heard the order to leave. Cortney saw the surprise in their eyes that she could use words of power against them.
Cortney smiled as she watched them hurry from the dining room like beaten dogs.
“Hmm, I didn’t see that coming,” Tom Cat, who had been hiding behind a large urn, said as he emerged.
“I don’t know how I added power to the words,” Cortney said shaking her head. “It just came from inside of me.”
“Hmm, from the witch half, I suppose,” Tom Cat said.
“Do you want me to go after them and cut their throats?” Gator asked as he approached Cortney.
“Certainly not! I forbid you from killing any creature!” Cortney scolded. “Except alligators and possums of course,” she added.
“Rats!” Gator said shaking his head. “I can’t have any fun.”
“Frank,” Cortney called out. “Did you get any sense of which of the warlocks poisoned Aunt Morticia?”
The big freakish-looking man shook his head. “They all acted normal.”
“Yeah, I didn’t get a sense either. I do know that Councilmen Innman hates me.”
“Hmm, I think they all hate you,” Tom Cat said.
“Yes, men have a hard time taking orders from a woman,” Frank said as he stomped his larger right foot onto a spider that scampered across the floor toward him. “That looked like a poisonous black widow spider. I haven’t seen one of them in years.”
“Yuck!” Cortney shouted as she pointed to the floor. “There’s another one!” she yelled backpedaling away from the spider.
Suddenly, Tom Cat arched his back and hissed. “They’re pouring out of the walls,” the familiar shouted.