by K E O'Connor
“That fox with the bug eyes is moving,” Nugget whispered. “And it just snarled at me.”
“It’s stuffed. It’s just a trick of the light.” I chewed faster. I wasn’t paying any attention to the freaky stuffed critters behind me. If I didn’t acknowledge them, they couldn’t hurt me.
“It isn’t,” Hilda said. “Several are moving. They’re creeping our way. And I don’t think they want to make friends.”
I stuffed the rest of the sandwich into my mouth and turned to face the animals. I couldn’t see anything different about them.
“I haven’t taken my eyes off that fox,” Nugget said. “Foxes eat cats when they’re desperate.”
“That one can’t eat a thing. It doesn’t have a stomach,” I said.
“But it’s living in a hexed house,” Hilda said. “We should leave before they make us their dinner.”
A movement on the top shelf caught my eye. I looked up to see a particularly malevolent hedgehog glowering at me. It bared its tiny teeth and growled.
“You’re right. Let’s get out of here.” I yanked open the kitchen door to find Ursa standing outside. “Have you been there this whole time?”
“Of course not! I’ve been busy sorting your room.”
“Great! We’re ready for bed.” I glanced at the stuffed animals. “Why don’t you show us the room?”
Ursa peered over my shoulder. “This way. I put out towels and fresh bedding. You can make the bed up yourself.”
“No problem.” I hurried away from the kitchen.
“Do we get beds?” Nugget asked.
“You can sleep in the shed in the yard,” Ursa said.
“The floor is fine,” I said. “They don’t like sleeping outside.”
Ursa grumbled to herself. “They’re not allowed on the bed.”
“Of course.” I winked at Nugget. They were absolutely sleeping on my bed if they wanted to.
“This way.” Ursa led us up the stairs and along a corridor.
“Before we fix a work plan for hex elimination, I wonder if you could do me a favor,” I said.
“It’s most unlikely. What is it?”
I hurried along beside her. “You know about Luna going missing?”
“I do. She’s still not shown up?”
“No, and I need to focus on her disappearance. The longer she’s missing, the less chance I have of finding her.”
“And? Spit it out. What’s the favor?”
“I’m getting close to a breakthrough, but I won’t be able to make any progress unless she’s my priority. I promise, I’ll help with your hexing as soon as I can, but I’ve got to keep the pressure on so Luna is found. I’ve already made contact with her, so I know she’s alive. I just don’t know where she is.”
Ursa turned and shook her head. “I do have sympathy for Luna’s situation, but you’re my assistant now. The Magic Council assigned you to me.”
“And I will help you, but Luna’s in trouble. She’s scared and alone. She needs me.”
“I need you. No, it’s out of the question. Unless you want to go back to prison, you’ll do what you’ve been tasked to.” Ursa stopped so abruptly, I almost walked into her. “It still boggles the mind that the Magic Council is utilizing your services, but I suppose they know best. Still, I’ll be bringing this to my uncle’s attention. He needs to know about this bizarre move. Using criminals to help upstanding members of the community. Whatever next?”
I glowered at her back as she led me to the end of the corridor.
“This is your room.” She pushed open the door, a smirk on her face.
I stared into the room, my stomach dropping. Ursa had wedged a tiny single bed in the middle of the hexed dolls’ room.
Her smirk widened. “I doubt you’ll get much sleep, so you can start your investigation immediately.”
Chapter 11
My eyes were watering because I hadn’t blinked for so long. Every time I tried to get any sleep in my terrifying new bedroom, a doll moved. It may be just an arm or a leg, or beady eyes would swivel in my direction, but these dolls were up to something, and the outcome would be bad for all of us.
“I think this is a positive sign,” Hilda whispered from her position on my head.
“What is?” I had to lower the covers so my voice wasn’t muffled.
“The dolls haven’t gone for an all-out attack. They’re anxious around you. They must remember what we did the last time we were here.”
“They may be anxious, but there’s a heck of a lot more of them than there are us.”
“I’m not staying here a second longer,” Nugget said. “I’ve already had my tail bitten twice.”
“Are you sure that isn’t fleas?” I said.
His whiskers bristled, and he hissed at me. “I don’t have fleas.”
“Fleas don’t like the taste of him,” Hilda said. “He tastes too much like the grave.”
“I taste sublime. But I’m done with being stared at by these freaky dolls,” Nugget said. “Can’t we explore the rest of the house for the ghost jar? Or just get out of here while we’re still breathing.”
I checked the time. It was two in the morning. We’d only been here a few hours, but I wouldn’t get a wink of sleep if I stayed here all night, waiting for the dolls to regroup and get us.
“I’m done, too. Let’s get out of here and find Storm and Odessa. We can work on finding Luna and be back here before dawn. Ursa won’t even know we snuck out.”
I headed to the window and peered into the dark night. A full moon looked back at me. It bathed the yard in a stark, shadowy glow. I grabbed my jacket and boots and put them on. I’d gone to bed fully clothed, feeling too vulnerable to wear the red stripy pajamas I’d brought with me. You couldn’t kick dolly backsides so easily in comfy nightwear.
“There’s a sloped roof beneath this window,” Hilda said. “We should be able to get out without having to go through the house and waking Ursa.”
“Or the stuffed animals lurking in the kitchen,” Nugget said.
I opened the window. “Russell, you go out first and scout ahead. Make sure the guards aren’t watching.” I hadn’t seen the Magic Council guards appear, but knowing Olympus, they’d be out there somewhere.
Russell gave a soft caw and swept out through the open window. A moment later, he was back. He bobbed his head up and down and then flew off.
“It looks good,” Hilda said. “I’ll go next.”
I held her over the window ledge, and she used a string of webbing to get down to the roof, before disappearing out of sight.
Nugget went next. He hopped out and gracefully landed on the roof, before sliding down and over the edge.
My exit was less elegant. The window was small, so it was a squeeze to get through. I caught my foot on the windowsill and almost pitched out headfirst.
I did a flailing somersault and skidded down the roof, grabbing the guttering at the last second and clinging to it. I expected it to break, and I’d plunge to the ground, alerting the guards and Ursa to what we were up to.
I took a few breaths, trying to calm my racing heart. I’d just started swinging my legs back and forth to get on the roof, when my hand slipped off. I squeaked. I couldn’t hold on one-handed.
Russell swooped over my head. He caught hold of the back of my jacket in his talons and frantically flapped his large wings.
“What are you doing? You can’t carry me. I’m way too heavy for you.” I let out another squeak as my other hand slipped.
Instead of falling, I was... flying. Well, almost. I couldn’t believe it. Russell was carrying me. Okay, it was more like a slow descent to the ground, but he was in control.
I landed with a grunt, but I was upright, and no bones got broken.
I turned, wrapped Russell in my arms, and kissed him on the head. “You’re the best bird familiar a witch could ever have.”
He squawked and nuzzled against me, before wriggling loose and flying away.
“When you’ve finished messing around, you need to follow me,” Nugget whispered. “There’s something weird going on in the grounds.”
“It’s probably the gnomes,” I said. “Did you see Russell save my life?”
“That bird is ridiculous. He still thinks he’s an eagle.”
“He is. He’s a magnificent, gladiatorial eagle. He just comes in a small black feathery package.”
Russell soared over my head and dipped his wing in response to my praise.
“You’ll give him a big ego if you keep talking like that,” Nugget said. “This way. I heard chanting, and that’s rarely a good sign.”
I checked around to make sure the Magic Council guards were nowhere near, then followed Nugget, Hilda, and Russell into the gloom of some nearby trees.
As we continued creeping through them, I slowed and tilted my head. It sounded like lots of low, deep male voices saying the same thing over and over again in a language I didn’t understand.
“We should leave them to it,” I whispered. “Maybe the gnomes are having a celebration we don’t know about. They won’t be happy if we blunder our way in and spoil their fun.”
“It’s not just chanting I can hear. There’s another voice mixed in with it,” Nugget said. “An angry voice.”
The chanting grew louder as we drew nearer. I stopped behind a large tree and poked my head around the side. My eyebrows shot up. There were twenty gnomes in a circle, their little arms held out. In the middle of the circle, Olympus was tied to the ground. And he was naked. There were symbols painted on his chest in black, but I’d gotten more than an eyeful when I first saw him, so didn’t make any more attempts to see what they were.
“What are the gnomes doing to Olympus?” Hilda was up on my shoulder, taking in the scene. She didn’t seem fazed by the lack of clothing.
I shielded my eyes so I couldn’t see Olympus in all his glory and looked again. “It’s nothing good. Not if he’s tied down.”
“Several of the gnomes have knives,” Nugget said.
“They could be preparing to make a sacrifice,” I said.
No one spoke as the chanting died. The largest of the gnomes stepped forward. He had on a green hat with a feather sticking out the top. Other than that, he was also naked.
“We’re gathered here tonight, brothers, to present an offering. Our home has been in distress for many years, and we’ve been unable to placate the darkness. It will only spread if we don’t act now. We cannot allow our home to be destroyed.”
The rest of the gnomes nodded and swayed from side to side.
He raised his arms over his head. “I speak directly to the darkness that has come to Witch Haven. We offer you this warlock to appease your anger. We hope you consider this a worthy sacrifice, and will leave us in peace.”
“They’re going to kill Olympus,” Hilda whispered. “It sounds like the gnomes have been having problems of their own.”
I chewed on my bottom lip. I was tempted to let them carry on with their planned sacrifice. Olympus was a thorn in my side. But he’d just stood up for me in front of the Magic Council. He’d done the deal that meant I walked out of there with my powers intact and could continue searching for Luna. I owed him.
Hilda beat her legs on my shoulder. “Are you going to let the gnomes kill Olympus?”
“Um, I’m thinking about it. That head gnome could have a point. Maybe this darkness needs a blood sacrifice to appease it. It’s not an uncommon ritual in some magic practices.”
“You need to make up your mind if you’re going to help him,” Nugget said. “The gnomes are about to start stabbing.”
Two gnomes approached Olympus with their knives held out.
Russell settled on my shoulder and nudged me with his beak.
“I’m still thinking. This could be our chance to get away. The Magic Council will still punish me, but with Olympus out of the picture, they’ll need time to regroup. He’s a key figure in the organization. Lose him and there’ll be chaos.”
“Get away to where?” Hilda said. “You’ve already decided this is your home, unless you’ve changed your mind. Don’t say you’re thinking about leaving us again?”
Russell jabbed me hard with his beak.
“Ouch! No, I mean, not really. I just thought for a second that it could be an option. You could all come with me.”
“You can’t let Olympus die,” Hilda said. “He’s in trouble. Look at him.”
“I’m trying really hard not to. He’s not got anything on.”
“I see no problem with that. He’s an attractive man. Did you see his abs? You could do a lot worse,” Hilda said.
“Hilda! I’m not interested in Olympus Duke. He’s annoying, and he keeps trying to arrest me.”
“He’s annoying and attractive,” Hilda said. “You must help him.”
“The time is right. The sacrifice is to be made,” the head gnome said. “Brothers, you may begin the ritual of a thousand cuts.”
I winced. That would be a horrible way to die. I sucked in a breath and stepped forward. “Wait! What claim do you have over this warlock?”
The gnomes turned toward me.
Hilda tapped my shoulder in approval. Russell cawed and flew off to settle in a tree, while Nugget stayed back, regarding the gnomes with narrowed eyes.
“Who are you to interrupt this sacred event?” the head gnome said, gesturing for silence among the grumbling gnomes.
“My name is Indigo Ash, the last witch in the Ash witch coven. I have a claim over this warlock. You have no right to take him from me.”
There was more muttering among the gnomes, and several of them looked fearful, suggesting they knew my reputation.
The head gnome walked over. “I’m Bumble Redstock. We know of your connection to the village. What is your claim, Ash witch?”
“We... we have an association.”
“An association? Elaborate.”
I caught Olympus’ gaze. His face was pale and sweating, and now I was closer, I spotted several wounds on his torso. He really was in trouble.
“We’re partners. We’re helping each other in a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
“This warlock is your partner? I wasn’t aware he had a connection with a powerful witch,” Bumble said.
“It’s a new thing. We’re taking it slowly and testing the waters. We’re not even sure we like each other yet,” I said.
“If you don’t like him, offer him to us. We need this ritual to work. We’ve tried so many things to appease the darkness. Nothing is effective, and we grow desperate for peace,” Bumble said.
“I wish I could hand him over to you, but I can’t. We have a deal in place. That’s not something I can break.”
“But we must have an offering for the darkness.” Bumble’s gaze grew anxious. “How about one of your familiars? Surely you don’t need all three of them.”
Nugget hissed behind me.
“No, they can’t be used. Does it have to be a blood sacrifice? Are you sure that’ll work?”
“No! But everything else has had no impact. And blood is powerful.”
“Have you tried food offerings? Or perhaps something delicious to drink?” I had no idea if it would make any difference, but many magical beings could be swayed with their favorite treats.
“Not yet.” Bumble turned to the other gnomes. “Why has no one suggested a food offering?”
They all looked at each other and shrugged.
“I’ll do you a deal,” I said. “If you release Olympus, I’ll supply you with the best fermented honey mead in the village.” Gnomes loved potent, sweet alcohol. And if an offering of mead had no effect, they could all get drunk and forget their worries for a short while.
There were excited murmurs among the naked gnomes.
“How much mead?” Bumble said. “This darkness won’t be happy with a small sample.”
“Twenty barrels.”
“A hundred. Enough for everyone.”
; “That’s a lot of mead,” I said. “How about thirty?”
The gnomes gathered together and talked over each other as they debated my offer.
Bumble pulled back and headed toward me. “Seventy-five barrels in exchange for this warlock’s life.”
It was still a lot of booze, but it would keep them quiet and out of trouble. “Agreed. And thank you. I appreciate you giving me your sacrifice. Although I’m interested to know what’s troubling you that you thought a warlock’s blood would solve your worries.”
Bumble glanced over his shoulder at his companions. “Release the warlock. Return him to this witch.” He looked back at me. “These are worrying times. We must quiet the darkness.”
“Do you know where this darkness is coming from?”
His flinty-eyed gaze ran over me. “Ever since you and Magda attacked the village, things have been unsettled. At first, it was only small matters, things that could be dismissed. But gnomes are watchers, and we miss nothing. We recorded matters and were careful to ensure the problems didn’t impact on our community. But over the last eighteen months, it’s been impossible to avoid.”
“I’m sorry you’re going through this. I never intended for there to be long lasting problems because of what happened that day.”
Bumble lifted his pointed chin. “You were a young witch. And you seem different. Are you... recovered?”
“I’m a work in progress. But I’m working on fixing things for everyone in Witch Haven.”
“That’s good to hear. We don’t want to lose our home. But if things continue the way they are, we’ll have no choice but to abandon Witch Haven.”
“And Ursa?” I said.
He snorted, and the other gnomes laughed. “Ursa lives here because we let her. Ignore what she tells you about us. We’re in charge of these grounds, and we allow her to walk around unharmed. She doesn’t control us, although we permit her to think she does. If she ever stepped out of line, I’d remind her who was in charge.”
I grinned. “It sounds like you know Ursa well.”
“Unfortunately, I do.” Bumble peered up at me. “Are you working with this warlock to ensure the village remains protected?”