Magic & Murder (Starry Hollow Witches Book 1)

by Annabel Chase

  I nodded. “I’m from Maple Shade, New Jersey. My father raised me on his own.”

  “He never remarried?” the woman in the black cloak asked. Her pale skin was offset by thick, mahogany-colored hair. When she spoke, I detected a set of fangs.

  “This is Victorine Del Bianco,” Aunt Hyacinth said. “She’s the leader of the vampires in this town.”

  “No, Ms. Del Bianco,” I replied, feeling a lump in my throat. “He was devoted to my mother. He never got over her death.”

  “And you have a child, we understand,” Victorine said.

  “A ten-year-old daughter called Marley. She’s amazing.”

  “And your husband is deceased?” the elderly woman in the red cloak asked. With her heavily wrinkled skin and flabby arms, she appeared more of a crone than the Crone. I guess that’s why she served on the Council of Elders.

  “Amaryllis Elderflower, I already told you he was dead,” Aunt Hyacinth said sharply. “Don’t belabor the point. My niece has suffered enough in her short life.”

  “That’s okay,” I said. “I don’t mind answering. He died four years ago in an accident.”

  “What was his name, dear?” Amaryllis asked.

  “Karl,” I replied. “Karl Holmes.”

  The man in the blue cloak held up a finger to speak. “Oliver Dagwood here, former High Priest of the coven. I’d like to know where you met this Karl Holmes. Was he a paranormal?”

  “No, at least not that I know of.” To be fair, I didn’t know I was a paranormal until recently. “We met in high school, in ninth grade, but didn’t start dating until the end of tenth grade.”

  “Spell’s bells, you were just children,” Amaryllis said.

  “Yeah, we were,” I agreed. But we’d been fairly happy. Not puppies and rainbows happy, but still…who was?

  “Tell us about where you’ve been living,” Arthur said, leaning forward. “Were you really being pursued by the mob?”

  I shot a quizzical look at my aunt. Was she revealing all my secrets to the council?

  “I had a run-in with a member of a New Jersey crime family,” I said carefully.

  “New Jersey, New York. I love that whole area. Full of such characters,” Mervin said, with a laugh that sounded more like a hiccup. “Did he tell you he wouldn’t fuggedabout you?”

  “Let me think. First, he set fire to the truck I was in, and then he came to my apartment and tried to burn down the building with everyone in it.” I tapped my chin thoughtfully. “So, yeah, I guess it’s safe to say he wasn’t going to fuggedabout me.”

  “Is it true there are a lot of diners in New Jersey?” Amaryllis asked. “I love a good diner omelet with a side of hash browns.” She rubbed her stomach.

  “Um, yeah. I guess. Marley and I liked to eat at a place called the Olive Branch Diner.” Pancakes for dinner was always a treat for both of us. Marley liked to get whipped cream on hers.

  “I bet you’re a crazy driver,” Arthur said. “Maybe we shouldn’t give her a driver’s license here.”

  “Hey,” I objected. “I’m an excellent driver. If anything, driving in New Jersey qualifies me to drive anywhere in the world.” Including Italy.

  “She has a point, Arthur,” Amaryllis said.

  “What about this business with the sheriff?” Arthur inquired. “I heard from Granger Nash that you were questioned about Fleur Montbatten’s death.”

  “That’s because Sheriff Nash would love any opportunity to drag the good Rose name through the proverbial mud,” Aunt Hyacinth said with a sniff.

  I shrugged. “I found the body, so the sheriff said I’m a suspect until he finds evidence to the contrary.”

  Arthur’s eyebrows knitted together. “I see.”

  “My niece will get all the paperwork she requires and no one here will say boo about it,” Aunt Hyacinth said. She glanced around the table, daring anyone to speak.

  Arthur heaved a sigh. “I’m sorry, Hyacinth, but I think until your niece’s name has been officially cleared, we can’t possibly approve a passport for her. And her daughter’s passport is dependent on the legal adult’s.”

  I could tell from my aunt’s hardened expression that Arthur was going to wake up tomorrow with a snake in place of a body part.

  “Arthur has a point,” Misty said.

  “Of course he does,” Aunt Hyacinth snapped. “Arthur always has a point where you’re concerned, Misty. Allow me to let you in on a little secret. That ship has sailed. No amount of licking his paws will get you back into his…good graces.”

  Misty’s cheeks burned. “If we make an exception for your niece, we could set a bad precedent.”

  Aunt Hyacinth composed herself. “Very well then. If the vote isn’t unanimous, then we’ll table the issue of the passports until the investigation has been concluded and my niece’s good name has been cleared.”

  “If we’re almost finished, I have a question,” I said, raising my hand.

  “Miss Rose, there’s no need to raise your hand,” Victorine said. “This isn’t school.”

  A group of judging eyes surrounding you? Interrogating you? It sure felt like it.

  “Why does no one here say y’all?” I asked. “I thought everyone in the South said y’all.”

  “That’s your question?” Victorine pursed her lips, clearly disappointed.

  “I’m sure I’ll have more,” I said, “but that’s the first one that sprang to mind.”

  “While we are geographically located in the South, we exist in our own magical bubble, if you will,” Victorine replied.

  “But people can come and go,” I said. “They’re not trapped in the bubble.”

  “Oh no,” Victorine said. “We’re not like Spellbound. As you saw when you arrived in Starry Hollow, access is easy, albeit closely monitored.”

  “What’s Spellbound?” I asked.

  “An unfortunate incident in Pennsylvania,” Aunt Hyacinth said. “A cursed town where the paranormals can’t enter or exit.”

  “They brought it upon themselves,” Amaryllis grumbled.

  “We don’t know that,” Victorine snapped.

  Aunt Hyacinth banged her fist on the table. “That’s enough, councilors.” She swiveled her head toward me. “Any more questions, Ember?”

  “Who’s going to teach me how to use my magic? And how can I shield my thoughts from a vampire?” I looked quickly at Victorine. “No offense.”

  “Yes, there is the issue of your education,” Aunt Hyacinth said. “We thought it would be best if the coven took you on as a group project.”

  “A group project?” I echoed.

  “Yes, we’ll have each specialist work with you individually, beginning with the Mistress-of-Runecraft.”

  “The mistress of what now?” The odd name sounded familiar. I was sure someone had mentioned it before.

  Aunt Hyacinth patted my hand. “I’ll explain later, dear. Just know that your education will be taken seriously.”

  “Because I’m a Rose, after all?” I queried.

  She winked. “Now you’re catching on.”

  Chapter 12

  Starry Hollow High School looked like any other typical American high school. I was mildly disappointed that it wasn’t a Hogwarts-style castle, even though I knew it would be unlikely in a Southern seaside town.

  At two-thirty on the dot, the double doors burst open and hundreds of hormones came tumbling out. It struck me that in three short years, I’d have a teenager of my own. It hardly seemed possible. Would she start dressing like some of these girls, with their short skirts and overdone makeup? Unlikely. Marley wasn’t a typical ten-year-old, so I highly doubted she’d become a typical teenager.

  I grabbed the nearest boy. He looked about fourteen with acne dotting his cheeks. “Do you know a girl called Garland?"

  The boy looked at me like I was nuts. Maybe I was. "Of course I know Garland. Everyone knows everyone in this town."

  "Can you point her out for me? I need to speak with her." Af
ter the council’s passport rejection, I’d decided to take matters into my own hands and clear my name. I remembered Bentley’s phone call that mentioned Garland as Fleur’s herbology partner. May as well start with her.

  The boy stepped away from the crowd to better observe the students still exiting the building. His expression lit up and he pointed. "There she is. Brown hair and glasses."

  I saw her immediately. She reminded me of Velma from Scooby Doo and I suppressed the urge to laugh. All she needed was an orange turtleneck sweater and a ‘jinkies’ catchphrase.

  "Thanks, kid," I said.

  "My name’s Scott."

  "Yeah, okay. Whatever."

  He gave me a disapproving look. "That isn't very polite, Miss Rose."

  I stopped walking and turned to face him. "You know who I am?"

  He nodded. "I told you. Everyone knows everyone in this town." He gave me a small smile. "Don't worry. You'll get used to it."

  I doubted that very much. I was used to living an anonymous life. I could count on one hand the number of neighbors I knew in my apartment building.

  I made a beeline for Garland before she could disappear down the block. "Garland, excuse me," I called.

  Garland halted and turned around, a large book clutched to her chest. It looked like it hadn't been dusted in years. You would think they could afford a decent janitor in a town as nice as this one.

  "I'm Garland," she said, scrutinizing me. "You’re the long-lost Rose woman, aren’t you? Can I help you find something?”

  “Is there somewhere we can talk for a few minutes in private?"

  Garland glanced around, thinking. "The greenhouse will be empty this time of day. I'll take you there."

  What a surprise that the herbology student wanted to meet in the greenhouse. It was appropriate, if nothing else.

  I followed her across school grounds to an enormous greenhouse. I was expecting something that you’d find in a backyard. A small and manageable greenhouse. This one was the size of an Olympic pool. We stepped inside and I immediately felt transported to a magical plant kingdom.

  "It's incredible in here," I said. Color jumped out at me from every angle and the smells were intoxicating.

  Garland smiled. "It is pretty special, isn't it? Do you like plants?"

  "Probably not since I’ve killed every plant I've ever owned." And that included a cactus, allegedly one of the hardest to kill.

  “That doesn’t mean you dislike them,” Garland said. “It just means you’re inept at caring for them.”

  Way to rub it in, Captain Obvious. “I don’t recognize a lot of these flowers.”

  “There’s a mixture of plants, herbs, and flowers in here. The students use them for potions and spells. They wouldn’t all be available in the human world.”

  “Potions and spells? The closest I came to any class like that was chemistry,” I said.

  “Mixology and herbology have a lot in common with chemistry. I spend a lot of time in here," Garland said. "Some people have comfort food. I have a comfort space." She touched the leaves of a nearby tree. "Whenever I feel like I don't belong, I come in here and sit for a while. I always feel better when I leave."

  Typical teenager. Feeling like she didn't fit in. I didn't know a person alive who didn't have that feeling at one time or another.

  "So plants are your thing, huh?”

  Garland nodded and pushed her glasses back up her nose. "I want that to be my specialty when I'm older. My teachers say I'm a natural."

  "And you were partners with Fleur in your herbology class. Is that right?"

  Garland gave me a funny look. "Is that what this is about? Do you have questions about her?"

  “I do.” Did you kill her because she was the Daphne to your Velma? "I'm trying to talk to anyone who spent time with her."

  "Is this because you’re a suspect?" she asked, inclining her head. “You’re the one who found her, right? If rumors are to be believed.”

  Boy, gossip really did get around town quickly. "No, no. I'm working for Vox Populi, my family's newspaper. They want me to write a piece on her since I’m a new witch. They think it will be educational for me.” Lies and more lies.

  "What do you think I would say about her?" Garland asked. "She was the Maiden, after all. That meant she was pretty special."

  I eyed her closely. "Did that bother you? That she was chosen to be the Maiden?"

  Garland shrugged. "I think it always hurts when someone is chosen over you for something. It doesn't really matter whether you actually wanted it."

  "So are you saying you didn’t want to be the Maiden?"

  "I liked the idea of being special, of course, but the Maiden is a big responsibility." Garland surveyed the greenhouse. "And I already have my passion in life. If I were the Maiden, I’d need to focus on her responsibilities. That would mean sacrificing my own."

  Wow. A passion at sixteen years old. My passion at sixteen was admiring how good my butt looked in jeans. Garland didn't know how lucky she was. Some people spent their whole lives never figuring out where their true passions lie. Hell, I was one of them.

  "What about Fleur? Was she sacrificing a passion that you know of?"

  Garland laughed. "If you count non-coven friends as a passion, then yes. She spent most of her time with other paranormals like Uri, like she was too good for witches. Made me question their decision to appoint her as the Maiden.”

  “Who’s Uri?”

  “A vampire in our class. There’s a group that hangs out together, not that I ever get included.”

  "How would you describe Fleur's relationship with Uri?"

  Garland tended to a potted plant. “Best friends. I felt sorry for them.”

  “Sorry because they were best friends? Why?"

  "Because she was the Maiden and Uri’s a hot vampire. She’d never know whether their relationship could have been more.”

  "Maybe that's what kept their relationship strong,” I said. “The forbidden nature of it."

  “The friendship itself wasn’t forbidden. It was the understanding that there was no possibility of more. They had such nice chemistry.” She sighed. “I think they would have made a perfect couple.”

  “Did she even want a romantic relationship with him? Maybe she was perfectly content with the friendship.” I’d had plenty of male friends growing up without any desire for more.

  Garland snorted. “No clue. We didn’t exactly confide in each other. I’m giving you my own observations.”

  Garland did seem observant. Then again, outsiders usually were. “Where would be a good place to find Uri?”

  Garland took out her wand and tapped it against a few of the hanging plants. “He’s in an art class today that meets on Balefire Beach at sunset. He and Fleur were taking the class together.”

  “Thanks.” I paused. “Um, out of curiosity, did you just use a magic wand to water those plants?”

  She blinked. “Of course. How else would I do it?”

  Okay then.

  “So how was Fleur as an herbology partner? Any friction between the two of you?”

  Garland sighed. "Only because she didn't hold her weight. I was doing the minotaur's share of the work. She would show up and do the bare minimum and we’d get the same credit."

  "I bet you didn't like that very much."

  She pushed up her glasses again. "Who would? Everyone likes to feel appreciated. Fleur didn't even acknowledge that I was doing most of the work. She seemed to take it for granted. Typical popular girl attitude."

  Resentment rolled off Garland in waves. "Did it make you angry?"

  Garland snapped a stem in half. "Of course it did. It wasn't fair. She got to have everything. The title of Maiden, a great group of friends, the good looks, and the grades for things she didn't do."

  "What are you doing?" I asked, nodding toward the stem.

  She glanced absently at the flower on the floor in front of her. "It's called deadheading."

  That sounded
violent.

  "What do you know about hemlock?" I asked.

  Her expression brightened. "That's one of my specialties. I want to be the coven's foremost expert in fatal plants and flowers."

  So she openly admitted that hemlock was one of her specialties. Garland was either a fool or completely innocent, and she certainly didn't strike me as a fool.

  "You do realize that Fleur died from hemlock?"

  Garland's face fell. "I hadn’t heard that. How is that possible? It's really difficult to get access to hemlock.”

  "I think that's a question the sheriff might be asking you soon," I said. "I guess you have access to hemlock because, as you say, it's one of your specialties."

  Garland looked stricken. "Am I a suspect? I have no idea how hemlock would've gotten into her system. I'm very careful with it."

  Although I felt a little guilty for frightening her, I wanted to gauge her reaction. I didn't have a lot of transferable skills, but detecting a lie was certainly one of them.

  "Did you and Fleur work with hemlock together at any point?"

  Garland nodded emphatically. "Yes, recently. It was part of our herbology project. We even needed special permission to use it because normally deadly plants aren’t permitted.”

  “Was it one of those projects where you did most of the work?"

  "Of course. She was too busy hanging out with her friends and shadowing the High Priestess to help me with any of it."

  “Is there anyone else who might've had access to hemlock during this time?"

  Garland heaved a regretful sigh. “No, we were the only ones. That doesn’t look good for me, does it?”

  Although I agreed that it didn’t look good for her, she passed my sniff test. Garland clearly had her own path in life, and it wasn’t the same as Fleur’s. Garland’s jealousy didn’t seem to rise to a murderous level, just an annoyed one.

  “Okay, one last question,” I said.

  “What’s that?”

  “Do you have any clue what time the soccer game is? I’m supposed to cover it for the paper and I have no clue when or where it is.”

  Garland squinted at me behind her glasses. “Games are usually at five on the field behind the school.”