by K E O'Connor
Ursa Wyrm stood outside, her lips pressed together as she clasped a squirming Nugget to her chest.
Chapter 2
I ducked back from the window, but was a second too late as Ursa turned and saw me.
She thumped on the door again. “Don’t hide from me, Indigo Ash. I know this mangy cat belongs to you.”
“How is she seeing the house?” I whispered to Hilda.
“I don’t know, but you need to let her in, or she’ll keep thumping on the door and give the game away. If Olympus was around when she arrived, he’d have followed her right here.”
I stared at my hands. Was my magic failing me again? I’d only just got it back, and it was already malfunctioning. I shook my head. There must be some other reason Ursa could see the house when no one else could.
“Open up this instant, or I’m taking this cat and having him stuffed for my mantelpiece,” Ursa said in a high-pitched nasal voice.
“You’d better open the door,” Hilda said. “I hate the thought of Nugget being stuffed. Although at least it would stop his complaining.”
“It probably wouldn’t. He’d still find a way to let us know he was grumpy about something.” I grabbed the handle, unlocked it, and pulled open the door.
Ursa was a tall woman, standing at well over six-feet tall. She had her hair scraped back in a tight bun set at the base of her neck and wore an unflattering calf-length flower print dress.
Before she had a chance to say a word, I grabbed her arm, yanked her into the hallway, and slammed the door shut. “How did you get through my magic?”
Ursa arched a thin gray eyebrow. “You’re not the only one with power around here. I believe this thing is yours.” She held out Nugget.
I grabbed him from her. “He is. Why do you have him?”
“Ursa’s creepy old house was my diversion plan.” Nugget squirmed out of my grip and landed elegantly on the floor.
“My beautiful house isn’t creepy,” Ursa said. “How dare you.”
I remembered Ursa’s house. Imagine the scariest movie style house you’ve ever seen. Times that by ten. Then add creepy corner turrets, narrow windows that were lead-lined and smoky so you couldn’t see in, curtains that twitched on their own, and strange smells drifting from a garden that stank of the dead. That was Ursa’s house. It was called Gravesend Manor.
“What were you doing creeping about in Ursa’s house?” I said to Nugget.
“I wasn’t in the house, just the garden. She has those nasty gnomes dotted about. I was planning to bring them to life and set them to work on the village. They’d be the perfect distraction for the Magic Council.”
“Don’t you put one paw on my gnomes. They’re precious to me,” Ursa said. “And why would you want to bring them alive any more than they already are?”
“Your garden gnomes are alive?” I said.
“Of course they are. But that’s beside the point.” Her stony stare fixed on to Nugget. “What are you going to do about your misbehaving cat? I can’t allow him in my garden. I expect he does his business in there as well as trying to interfere with my gnomes. Cats have no ideas about boundaries. No pooping on my flowers.”
“All your flowers are already dead,” Nugget said. “Some of my fertilizer would revive them.”
I held up a hand to stop the bickering from going any further. “You still haven’t told me how you got through my magic wards. How were you able to see this house?”
Ursa narrowed her eyes at me. “I knew Magda well.”
“Which doesn’t answer my question. No one should be able to see this place.”
“Perhaps not. But I’m powerful.” She sniffed and lifted her chin. “I take it you’re hiding from someone.”
“Yes! From everyone.”
Ursa looked around the hallway. “This place hasn’t changed much since the last time I was here. It was only a few weeks before Magda went dark.”
“I haven’t gotten around to updating yet,” I said. “I’ve been busy.”
“Yes, the entire village has been talking about your unwelcome return.” Ursa marched past me and entered the living room.
“Make yourself at home, why don’t you.” It looked like she wasn’t leaving anytime soon. I followed Ursa, along with Nugget and Hilda.
Russell was perched in the corner of the living room. He squawked when he saw Ursa and disappeared into the kitchen.
She turned to face me. “I knew Magda and I know this house. I also recognized Nugget when he turned up in my garden, and I figured something was wrong. I heard what the Magic Council did to the house, so decided to take a look. It didn’t take me long to discover the magic wards, but then I often combined magic with Magda when we worked a big job together, so her magic felt familiar.”
“I didn’t know you worked together.” I gestured to a chair, eager to hear more about Magda before she turned dark. That was all people were interested in talking about, and there was so much more to her than that.
Ursa perched on the seat. “We did. I liked her. And even when she went rogue, I fought her corner for a while, but the evidence was insurmountable. She let dark magic take over, and you followed in her footsteps. This village will never forget what you did.”
I settled in the seat opposite her. “That’s why I’m still here. Well, it’s one of the reasons I’m staying in Witch Haven. Magda was innocent. So am I. And I’m going to prove that.”
“I expect all criminals say that.”
“Maybe so, but I have evidence.”
Ursa tilted her head. “Even though I didn’t lose anyone the day you two attacked, I remember it well. You were blasting out that toxic magic like glitter from a unicorn’s backside. It’s amazing more people weren’t killed.”
“We didn’t do that willingly.” I clasped my hands together, my magic tickling my skin. “And I’m going to clear Magda’s name. I’ll show she wasn’t responsible for her actions that day.”
“Tell me how you expect to do that, when everyone saw what happened to her?” Ursa settled back in her seat.
“Um, I don’t have the time right now. Perhaps we could arrange—”
“I’m not leaving until I know why you’re here and what your plans are. If I get a hint you’re plotting more trouble, I’ll take you down myself.” She folded her arms across her narrow chest. “And you can make me a herbal tea. Call it payment for bringing that mangy furball back to you alive.”
Nugget must have slipped out of the room, because he was nowhere to be seen to defend himself. I bet he was listening in, and would be furious at being called mangy. He spent hours grooming his fur until it shone.
“We can do tea another time. I really have to—”
“You really have to convince me you’re not here to cause trouble. Or I’ll go straight to the Magic Council. I’m sure you’re aware they’re looking for you.”
“No! Don’t do that. I’m here for genuine reasons. If you really were Magda’s friend, you wouldn’t turn me in.”
“And I won’t, so long as you explain yourself.” She studied me as she peered down her long nose. “How about this? You answer my questions, and I’ll answer yours. And if I’m satisfied with your responses, I’ll even show you how to secure the magic wards around the house so no one will ever find this place.”
“You’re on.” That was an offer I couldn’t refuse. I swiftly made two mugs of peppermint tea, grabbed cookies from a packet, and returned to the living room.
Ursa stood by Magda’s magic cabinet, one hand resting on it.
I set down the tray with the drinks and cookies on and walked over to her.
“We cast blindingly impressive spells thanks to the contents of this cabinet.” She patted the cabinet like it was her favorite gnome. “Tell me why you think Magda is innocent?”
We returned to our seats, and I took a sip of my herbal tea. I wasn’t a hundred percent sure about sharing everything with Ursa, but she could be useful to me, and I needed to keep her on side.<
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“Magda kept journals when she was alive. They contained everything from spells she was trying through to her thoughts about what happened on a particular day. She kept them in that cabinet. I pulled one out and discovered she’d left me a message inside it. It told me a rival witch coven wanted to take over Witch Haven. They used Magda to do that and threatened my life. They forced her to act the way she did. She tried to keep her grip on the magic they gave her, but it got out of control. It infected me, too.”
Ursa lifted her mug and took a sip. “I’ve always wondered about that day. It was so out of character for Magda. Although a few weeks before it happened, she became withdrawn. She turned down several invitations to try a new spell I’d been working on. It was unlike her. She was always on the cutting edge of magic because of you.”
“Me? What did I have to do with her testing spells?”
“Magda wanted to stay a step ahead of you, so she could help you if you ever needed it.” Ursa shook her head. “She was so fond of you.”
My throat tightened. “Magda was much more powerful than me.”
“Because you hadn’t come into your full power. The day you turned eighteen, that would have changed. Of course, you got yourself arrested by the Magic Council, so your true potential was hampered. But Magda wanted to ensure she could provide you with a proper mentorship.”
I blinked away tears as happy memories of Magda threatened to overwhelm me. “She was always great to me. And now I have her journals. They’ve opened my eyes to the possibility someone else was behind what happened all those years ago. That’s my first step to clearing her name and mine. But I’m not only here for that.”
Ursa tilted her head like a curious owl. “Indeed. What else keeps you here? The Magic Council want your hide. I think they’ve questioned just about everyone to discover your whereabouts. You’ve caused a stir since you returned.”
“And I know it. But I’m not leaving until Luna has been found. She’s my best friend. I need to make sure she’s safe.”
The stern expression on Ursa’s face softened a fraction. “I heard about that. Is it true she wasn’t well and walked out of the hospital? Some people are saying she ran away.”
“She wasn’t well, but she didn’t run off anywhere.”
“So what happened to her?”
“Luna was having trouble with a ghost. I tried to get rid of it, but only made things worse. And I’ve got no proof yet, but I’m certain this ghost is behind her disappearance.”
Ursa’s eyes narrowed. “Are you telling the truth?”
“Of course. Why would I lie about my best friend going missing?”
“Because you have a terrible reputation around here. Is it a coincidence that you show up and Luna disappears? What’s to say you didn’t make her vanish? Could you be the same dark witch who’s trying to fool everyone again?” Ursa stiffened in her seat, and the floor beneath my feet trembled as her magic drifted around her.
“No! I’ve changed. Something much darker than me is troubling Witch Haven.”
“I doubt that’s possible. Or have you forgotten how many people died at your hand?”
I lowered my gaze. “I remember each one of them every day. But I’m not the one spreading darkness through Witch Haven.”
“There’s no darkness in Witch Haven. Not since you and Magda were taken away.” Ursa sniffed. “I was wrong to come here. I should have gone to the Magic Council the second I discovered this place was still standing. You’re the cause of our problems.”
Panic welled up inside me. My fingers twitched, and I had to repress the urge to use my magic to silence Ursa. “I’m not. And don’t go to the Magic Council. If you do, I’ll have no chance to clear Magda’s name, and no way to help Luna. I don’t care what happens to me after I’ve fixed those problems, but I need to be free to investigate. You can report me to the Magic Council after I’ve made things right.”
Ursa’s fierce gaze remained fixed on me as she continued to drink her tea. She lowered her mug. “I have an ability few people know about. I can drain the power from a spell. Not all spells, but many of them. That’s how I saw through your wards. I recognized the magic signature as that of an Ash witch. I felt around for a while and decided to see what would happen if I absorbed the spell’s energy.”
“That was risky. You could have been absorbing anything.”
“It’s not such a risk for me.”
I nodded. That meant Ursa was powerful. I needed to tread carefully around this sharp-faced witch, or I’d be on the receiving end of that magic.
“I don’t use it often. It’s a tiring business, holding another witch’s power, and my ability would be in high demand if others knew what I could do. Magda knew about it.”
I kept quiet, uncertain why Ursa was telling me this.
She continued. “I keep the power of the spell temporarily. I will use that to strengthen your wards, along with a few other spells I’ve channeled over the last few days. No one will find you with the assistance of my magic.”
“Well... thanks. I’d appreciate that.” I clenched my hands around my mug. “Why help me, though? You don’t trust me. You think I’m trouble.”
Ursa pursed her lips. “I don’t trust you completely, but I won’t say anything about you being here for now. It seems you have a purpose for staying in Witch Haven. I respect that.”
“Thank you. Hopefully, I’ll be able to find Luna quickly. Then I can concentrate on clearing Magda’s name.”
“Wait, you haven’t heard me out. You don’t get my power for free. I believe you’ve always had a way with ghosts, haven’t you?”
“That’s right. I mean, I can see them and interact with most of them.” Where was she going with this?
“I remember you as a child spending hours wandering around the graves talking to the dead. I always thought you were an odd little thing.”
“It’s always come naturally to me,” I said. “Although I’m out of practice, I still see them as easily as I see you.”
“Excellent. That’s what I thought. So, here’s the deal. I’ll keep quiet about your hidden house and strengthen your wards, if you help me with a little problem.”
“What’s the problem?”
“Since you’re so into ghosts, let’s see what you can do about mine.”
Chapter 3
I stared at Ursa. “You have a ghost problem?”
“I do. At least, I have an unwelcome presence in my home causing me trouble. It’s most likely a restless spirit.” She stood and headed to the front door. “Hurry up! What are you waiting for?”
I remained in my seat. “Maybe you missed the part when we talked about me being wanted by the Magic Council? I can’t go wandering about with you. Olympus Duke has already been around here looking for me.” Besides, I had enough going on. I couldn’t add another problem to my list.
“It’s already getting late, and the Magic Council don’t enjoy paying overtime. Olympus is probably tucked up in his rooms already, sipping whiskey and plotting your downfall.”
I shook my head. “I can look into your ghost problem another time. I must focus on finding Luna.”
Ursa put her hand on the doorknob. “I understand. If you’re not interested in helping, then I have no reason to keep your house a secret. Perhaps the next time Olympus asks me where you are, I’ll lead him here. In fact, that’s an excellent idea. It’ll be good to have something over the Magic Council. They’ll owe me a favor if I tell them where you’ve been hiding.”
“No! Don’t tell them I’m here.” Despite everything I’d just told her, Ursa was mean enough to turn me over to them. “I’ll come with you.”
“I knew you’d see sense. And as a special favor, I’ll go out first and ensure none of those officious Magic Council members are lurking in the bushes. And I’ll see to those wards while I’m about it.” She chuckled to herself as she headed out the door.
Nugget reappeared, thrashing his tail from side to side. “We’re
not helping that harridan. She squeezed me so tightly, I almost passed out. She’s mean. And she smells of mothballs and death.”
“Ursa has us backed into a corner. If we don’t help her, we’re in trouble. And you took a risk by lurking in her garden and messing with her gnomes. You know what she’s like.”
“So this is all my fault?”
I glanced at Hilda, who shook her whole body at me. “Well, you did stir her up by prodding her gnomes.”
“I was helping! I thought the gnomes would be a fun idea,” Nugget said. “Ursa must have an alarm set up in her garden. The second I touched one, there she was, looming over me.”
“And now she’s found us,” I said. “And I guarantee that if we don’t play her ghost game, then we’re history. She’ll go straight to the Magic Council and tell them everything she knows.”
Hilda scuttled onto my shoulder. “What are we going to do?”
“I can’t fail Luna. And I have to stay free from the Magic Councils clutches.”
Nugget groaned. “We’re going to Ursa’s creepy house, aren’t we?”
“Yes, all of us. Maybe her ghost problem will be an easy fix. We can deal with it and guarantee her silence.” I held my arm out for Russell to land on, then we headed out the door.
I spotted Ursa by the gate. She turned and gave me a thumbs up. “It’s all clear. It’s unlikely you’ll get arrested tonight. This way.”
“Could she had said that any louder? I don’t think the poltergeist in the last cottage on the left before you leave the village heard her,” Nugget said.
“I’m sure she could. But let’s not wait around to test that theory.” I had to jog to catch up with Ursa as she strode along in her practical black shoes. “How long have you had this ghost problem?”
“Two days. I woke in the middle of the night and discovered my bedroom was cold. I knew it wasn’t a problem with the heating. I tried the light, but it wouldn’t switch on. Then a pair of glowing red eyes appeared over the end of my bed.”
“This has never happened before?”