by Joyce Lavene
Sunshine’s eyes widened dramatically and her hair curled tightly. “A what? Weren’t they only around in Greek mythology?”
“When I was a child, a witch summoned one of the creatures to serve her. The harpy took the lives of several people before the witch was killed. They are usually called to take blood vengeance. Sometimes it can be justified—such as the murder of a loved one. Sometimes it is petty revenge for a real or perceived wrong against the summoner.”
“Really?” Sunshine searched Aine’s eyes before she started the car. “You’re telling me that someone from Norfolk called up 1-800-Get-a-Harpy to take care of their problems. Is that even possible?”
“For the right practitioner. It would doubtless be a witch who is committed to the dark arts. The witch would have to do more than dabble to call and control a harpy. Do you know of such a witch?”
“Sure. I know of several powerful witches. But they aren’t the kind you can call up and ask out for lunch.” Sunshine started the car and careened out of the parking lot. “Lunch! I almost forgot. My aunt is in town today, and I promised to have lunch with her. You might as well come along, even if you don’t eat. She’s older—maybe she’s seen a harpy too.”
Sunshine drove quickly to the cafe where she had scheduled to meet her aunt. She took a quick look at her hair and makeup before she went in with Aine. She knew her aunt would tell her mother everything about her.
“Aunt Molly!” Sunshine found her and gave her a big hug. “You look great. I love that new necklace. Where did you find it?”
“It’s actually quite old,” Molly Addison Renard said of her large amulet. “It belonged to a very ancient witch in our family line. Since I don’t have anyone with magic as a descendant to leave it to, you might be the one to inherit it.”
“Thanks.” Sunshine was about to touch it when she saw something move inside it. “What is that? Is something living in there?”
“I know that piece,” Aine said. “I have seen it in a time long past. It once belonged to Mananan MacLir. How came you by it, witch?”
Molly laughed but her cornflower blue eyes were wary. She looked to be in her late fifties but being Sunshine’s aunt made her older than her appearance. Her brown hair was attractively styled but in a subdued fashion. “Who’s your new friend, Sunshine?”
The hostess told them a table was ready. They followed the young woman to a spot with a pretty pink tablecloth and flowers on it. A waitress came and took their order for drinks.
“Aunt Molly, this is Aine of Ulster. She’s a real life beane sidhe. She came from Ireland searching for the last member of the family she serves.”
Molly nodded at Aine, but kept one hand on the necklace. “Aine.”
“Aine, this is my Aunt Molly. She’s a water witch. She’s fourth or fifth generation in my family line. She’s from Wilmington, North Carolina.”
Aine warily nodded back, knowing well the power of the magic held inside the other woman’s necklace.
They faced each other across the pretty table as though they were about to battle.
“Really, ladies.” Sunshine intervened. “I love this place. I don’t want to be thrown out. Aunt Molly, Aine is a friend. We’re working together at the agency. Aine, my aunt is not your enemy.”
“I understand,” Aine replied. “But the magic in that amulet is rarely held in a human’s hand.”
“It was passed down to me,” Molly explained. “A sea god gave it to an ancestor of ours, and it came to me through the family line.”
Aine nodded. “Ah. A gift from an immortal. Rare but not unheard of. Particularly from MacLir, who was always very generous with his lovers.”
“Hold on a minute.” Sunshine recapped. “That came from a sea god? Are they around too? I thought beane sidhes were gone, and now there are sea gods. I suppose harpies are possible too.”
Molly moved her hand from her amulet, more relaxed now that she understood what was going on. “Harpies? You know a harpy?”
Sunshine picked up the wine list as their server returned. “I think I’m going to need something stronger than sweet tea to explain all this. Would anyone care to join me?”
It took most of lunch to acquaint Molly with everything that was going on, even as fast as Sunshine spoke. They had wonderful food and wine with lunch—at least Sunshine and Molly did. Aine didn’t eat, although she did have a glass of wine. If the server heard anything of their unusual conversation, she didn’t let on but kept the wine bottle close at hand.
“That’s quite a story,” Molly said to her niece. “Don’t worry. I won’t mention it to your mother. The last thing you need right now is for her to fly up here and try to tell you how to take care of it. You’ve done so well with your detective agency, Sunshine. I’m glad you found something you enjoy doing.”
“Thanks. It can get hairy, but I really love it.”
“What about Jane? Have you had any luck changing her back to a normal mouse?”
“No. But she’s happy transforming into a woman when she feels like it,” Sunshine said. “And she’s a wiz on the computer.”
Molly frowned. “But her permanent transformation isn’t what the universe intended.”
“Maybe not.” Sunshine’s smile was strained. “But I think she’s happy. And if I can reverse the magic at some point, she’ll have a choice about it. Until then, she has plenty to keep her busy.”
“And fed,” Aine observed.
Sunshine asked how things were going in Wilmington. Molly told her that she and her coven were doing well. “We’ve actually added two new witches. Brian is very strong, although not well trained. The other is Dorothy—she’s actually Olivia’s daughter. She wasn’t raised a witch, but she’s coming along very nicely.”
“Olivia’s daughter?” Sunshine wondered. “That must be a story!”
“It is. Imagine Olivia being able to keep a secret for so long!”
They laughed at that, and Sunshine asked after her Uncle Joe and her cousin, Mike, who had no magic. They were Molly’s husband and son. Sunshine’s mother was also married to a man who wasn’t a witch.
“How’s your boyfriend, John? Are you two still together?” Molly asked.
Sunshine got uncharacteristically quiet. “He’s dead, Aunt Molly. He was murdered, maybe by the harpy.”
“Murdered? I’m so sorry.” Molly was shocked. “I’d offer your uncle’s help with that investigation, but if there’s a harpy involved, anyone without magic should stay far away. There’s only so much a police detective can do.”
“I know.” Sunshine collected herself, putting it from her. Her eyes were red, but she kept the tears from falling. “I have Aine now. You can’t go wrong with a beane sidhe, right?”
“I’m sure that’s true.” Molly squeezed her niece’s hand. “Don’t forget that we love you. Call if you get into trouble.”
“I will.” Sunshine sniffed but managed to keep it together.
Molly had to leave right after lunch. She was picking up her son at college on her way back to Wilmington. She hugged Sunshine again when it was time to go and smiled at Aine. “Good luck you two. Come visit when you get a chance. Aine, please come with her.”
“Thank you,” Aine replied gravely.
“Bye, Aunt Molly. Give Uncle Joe and Mike a hug for me.”
“Are you the sea god’s lover?” Aine abruptly asked before Molly could get in the car.
Molly’s rosy complexion went deep red as she laughed. “Good heavens no! But my friend, Olivia may have had a dalliance with him. I try not to think about it.”
Dark clouds swept over the city from the sea. Rain wasn’t far. Small and mid-size boats were putting in to harbor as the wind rose and the barometer plummeted.
“When I first came here, I was immediately attracted to your purple door agency,” Aine said as they got back in the car.
“Why do you think that was?”
“Power calls to power. I was drawn there as surely as I was pulled here by the presence of Sean O’
Neill.”
“I’m not that powerful.” Sunshine laughed.
“No,” Aine agreed. “But Mr. Bad is. His presence has made your detective agency as a beacon in the night to the creatures of magic and darkness.”
Sunshine didn’t know if she agreed with that, but she thought about it on the way back to the agency. When the beane sidhe had gone to check on O’Neill, Sunshine knocked on Mr. Bad’s office door. Jane scampered away before he called to come in.
“Miss Merryweather,” he said as she closed the door behind her. “Is there something I can do for you?”
“I wanted to tell you that Aine has a feeling about the killer who murdered John and the others.”
“Yes?”
Did his voice sound worried? Was there something not quite the same about his tone? Sunshine considered it. Was he wondering if Aine had told her something about him that could ruin their relationship?
She explained about the two new deaths at the tattoo shop and the possibility that a harpy might be responsible. “Do you have any experience with harpies? Is that even possible?”
He took a slow deep breath that seemed to make the room breathe around him. “You must know by now that anything is possible. It has been many years since I saw a beane sidhe. It would be much longer that I would have seen a harpy. But these creatures don’t disappear, Miss Merryweather. They hide in places no one thinks to look for them until someone summons them—or they are needed once more.”
“It’s going to take some serious research to figure out how to get rid of a harpy.”
“As I’m certain Aine has pointed out, you must search for the summoner.” His chair squeaked as he moved in it. “I should advise strong caution. It would be unlikely that you would survive an encounter with a harpy.”
“Yeah. You’re probably right. Aine might be able to take on one of them.”
“That’s difficult to say.”
“Well, thanks for your help.” She stood to leave, her insides quaking before she asked the next question. “Aine says the agency acts as a beacon to creatures like this. What do you think?”
“I think Aine is an ancient who knows far more than she will admit. Be wary, Miss Merryweather. There is definitely danger ahead.”
Sunshine thanked him again and left the dark office. She wished Aine had never made her think about Mr. Bad—who he was and why he was here in her building. Now she couldn’t stop thinking about it and wanting to ask him. It could only lead to trouble.
“I got a hit on Amos Johnson,” Jane told her when she had left Mr. Bad’s office. “He’s been admitted to the hospital. His condition is critical.”
“Thanks,” Sunshine said. “I’m going there right away. I’ll call Lloyd as I go. When Aine gets back, send her there.”
“I will,” Jane promised. “Would it be okay if I take a few minutes for lunch? There’s still plenty of cereal and nuts.”
“Take whatever time you need,” Sunshine said. “Just answer the phone if it rings.”
“Okay.” Jane nibbled on the side of a pencil. “I will.”
“Not the pencil.”
“Sorry.” She put the pencil on the desk and went toward the kitchen.
Sunshine considered her aunt’s words about Jane’s life not being what nature intended. She knew it showed in her actions every day. She should’ve had a thousand mouse babies by now and none of the stress working in her office. She hadn’t given up on trying to reverse that spell. It had eluded her so far, but she was determined to take care of it.
In the meantime, Aine was observing O’Neill having lunch with his girlfriend. The artist lived in a high rise with a huge window overlooking the blue water. Elena Spiros was indeed very beautiful—with wide enough hips to imagine her bearing at least one or two children. She wore her long, black hair loose on her shoulders and gazed lovingly into O’Neill’s eyes.
“Here.” He smiled as he held a tender morsel of chicken near Elena’s brilliant red lips. “I know you must be hungry.”
She leaned forward and kissed him. “Only for you, my love. We don’t need food. It’s enough that we have the nectar of the gods—love.”
It was hard for Aine to listen to such tripe. She could not completely disappear as Sunshine could, but she could camouflage herself and blend in with any background. At that moment, she was standing against the ivory-colored wall behind O’Neill and his beloved.
The room was filled with Elena’s paintings. There were landscapes, portraits, even a nude study of O’Neill. Aine looked at it as well as the other drawings and paintings of him. The O’Neills were always a handsome lot with plenty of charm that they spread abundantly with the people in their family as well as those who knew them casually.
“Are you sure you can’t have some wine?” Elena didn’t wait for an answer before filling his glass.
“No. Only coffee for me. I have to be back on duty again in a few minutes.” He leaned close and kissed her. “But it’s been a wonderful lunch. We should do this more often.”
“Stay with me. Forget your job for once.” She wrapped her arms around him so tightly that Aine feared she might be about to choke him. “What is it that keeps you doing what you do? Why would you put yourself in danger that way?”
“Someone has to do it,” he said. “Why do you paint?”
“Because it expresses my soul.” She bit his ear and then licked it. “Stay with me. Let someone else discover who killed those people.”
“I don’t think my partner would like that, Elena.” He kissed her and then got to his feet from the blanket they’d shared on the floor. “Dinner tonight?”
She pouted. “Must I be a corpse to get any attention from you?”
“You get all my attention because you’re so alive.”
“I can’t have dinner tonight with you. The gallery called. They’re going to be exhibiting my paintings beginning next week. Can you come for that?”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can. I can’t wait to see the exhibit.”
Aine followed him out of the apartment. She was careful not to let him see her. It seemed earlier that he’d glimpsed Sunshine while she was spelled to be invisible. The O’Neills had never had the sight, but perhaps this one was different.
She got off the elevator with him. Shards of lightning were beginning to fragment the sky as rain started falling in large drops, the breeze bringing the smell of wet pavement to her nostrils.
Because she was so intent on following him without being seen, she almost didn’t realize it when she suddenly appeared before him in the courtyard. The space was empty except for them, set behind a large wood fence that separated them from the busy street.
“O’Neill.” Her voice was hoarse and deep. The gray cerements of her burial shroud surrounded her, fluttering in the strong breeze. She was the hag again and realized she was bringing him news which she hadn’t foreseen. “This is the first warning of your death.”
Chapter Fourteen
O’Neill took a quick step back from her gaunt face and dark eye sockets. “Aine?”
“You cannot outrun your doom, young O’Neill. Your death is at hand.”
The warning was ripped from her, torn from what soul remained in her. It had never happened this way—no warning to her at all—even though in the past she had been close with the other O’Neills whose deaths she had forewarned. This time it was as though her intentions were not her own. She had changed form again without wishing for it.
It was wrong, and yet she couldn’t control it. The first of three warnings had been issued. She wailed loudly, bemoaning O’Neill’s impending demise, as was her duty. He stared at her, unblinking, in his terror.
Aine didn’t bother to resume her middle-aged form clothed in black. She let the storm winds lift and carry her away from the spot in the pleasant courtyard. She was not human any longer after all, having been dead herself more years than she could remember. The storm carried her back to the red brick building with the purple door. I
nside, she went to her room and collapsed on the floor in tears.
She wasn’t sure if she was more amazed at the death warning that had come over her without thought or knowledge—or if the tears that slid down her face were more astonishing. The last time she could remember crying was at the death of her infant son. She had been alive at that time, still the warrior Queen of Ulster. She’d hidden her tears from her army, lest they think her weak.
Why was she crying for O’Neill? How many of the family had she seen die? More than she could count, down through the centuries. This was why she’d been called here. This was why she’d awakened. Her job now was to give O’Neill two more warnings before his death. Then she would be there to comfort him as he died and escort his soul to the underworld.
Aine would be free of her curse at that time. The last O’Neill would be gone with no heir to carry on his bloodline. It was good. It was right. Her penance would be done. She would fall to dust, her life behind her.
There was a tiny knock at the door. “I’m sorry to bother you.” Jane’s voice was barely audible. “I saw you come in and wanted to be sure you were okay.”
The tremor in her tone made Aine realize what strength it took from this most pitiful creature to approach her this way. She forced herself to take on the middle-aged human form before she opened the door.
Jane was still a woman but barely holding on to that image. Her nose twitched and eyes bulged. Terror was written on every aspect of her countenance.
Because Aine respected the mouse’s courage, she was gentle with her. “I am as I have been. Go back to your duties. There is nothing you can do for me.”
“All right. I-I just wanted to check on you.”
Aine managed a smile. “You have the bravery of a lion, child. Warriors have trembled when they spoke to me and would not have done so if they were not forced. Carry it proudly.”
“Thanks.”
Jane crept away from the door. Aine went back into the room to stare at the city around her from the window. A short while later, Sunshine was there with a more insistent knock.
“Where were you?” She opened the door before Aine could answer. “I waited at the hospital for you.”