by Gina LaManna
I took a sip, the coffee brew as dark as the devil and as bitter as a lemon, but I managed a smile. “This is delicious.”
“Really? I didn’t know how many beans to use,” Ranger X said nervously. “Are you sure I didn’t go overboard?”
I forced one more sip of the concoction down my throat. “Really brilliant. Thank you.”
The smile that bloomed on his lips at my approval made every second of drinking the pile of sludge worth it. “Oh, I’m glad. I know you need your coffee. Gus says so, at least.”
Internally, I sighed. Ranger X paid attention to my little quirks. He remembered things people said about me. He made the effort to keep me safe, make me comfortable, and tell me the truth. For a Ranger who could never marry and wasn’t interested in a relationship, he would make a darn good boyfriend. Shame.
“Thanks for staying last night,” I said. “I really appreciate it. I know...I know you could’ve gone with your men to look for the murderer, but instead you stayed here.”
“I would never have left you like that,” he said softly, our eyes locking over the curl of steam reaching for the ceiling. “I’ll always be here when you need me.”
“I know. It makes all the difference. I wouldn’t have gotten any sleep without you down here.”
“You look tired.”
“I am tired, but two hours of shut-eye is better than nothing.” We shared a quiet smile, the late morning more peaceful than usual, as if the wake of the crime had cleared all activity away.
“Eggs?” Mimsey called. “Who wants eggs?”
Ranger X looked to me. “Would you like some?”
“I’m okay,” I said. “Still feeling a bit queasy from last night.”
“You really need to eat,” he said. “You didn’t sleep, you probably burned through all of your calories, and you need strength. Have some eggs.”
A loud noise sounded overhead before I could agree. It sounded suspiciously like two pairs of footsteps. Ranger X raised an eyebrow first at the ceiling, and then at me.
“That’s nothing,” I said quickly. “But sure, I’ll have some eggs. A lot of eggs.”
Still giving me skeptical expressions, he stopped lecturing me about eating after I fixed him with my most innocent stare. When he turned to give Mimsey our orders, I shot a murderous glare through the ceiling, wishing I had the power to freeze my cousins in their tracks. Unfortunately, I didn’t know a spell for that.
Poppy and Zin had agreed to wait upstairs in my room until I could clear out the downstairs long enough for them to slip out the front door unnoticed. Turned out, leaving through the window was a lot harder than coming in, and neither of them felt particularly keen on explaining to Mimsey why they’d snuck into their cousin’s bedroom. However, judging by the sounds of the conveniently timed footsteps above, Poppy still wanted to put in a breakfast order.
“Was Gus planning on coming back last night?” Ranger X asked. “I haven’t seen him this morning.”
“I don’t know. He doesn’t keep me abreast of his schedule, believe it or not.”
Ranger X laughed. “That doesn’t surprise me in the slightest, though it does surprise me that he’s not around by now.”
Mimsey swept into the room with two plates, one in each hand, dropping them heartily on the table. “Eat,” she instructed before sweeping right back out of the room.
“We’re keeping things quiet,” Ranger X said, dipping his head low and taking a bite of the eggs. His voice was barely audible over the light crashing of the waves. “Only the Rangers know about the murder. The fewer people involved, the better. We don’t want to cause a wave of panic to spread through the islanders.”
“Because he was a Black Ribbon wizard?”
“That’s one part of it.”
“After all this time, I spoke with two Black Ribbon wizards in the same day. Can that be a coincidence?”
Ranger X took another bite of eggs. “I don’t particularly believe in coincidences.”
“Me neither.”
“But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad coincidence. We don’t know that Gus is involved with things, let alone the wrong side of things, and we shouldn’t jump to hasty conclusions.”
“Then where is he?” I leaned forward, my shoulders pressing against the table, my voice a hiss. “If he’s the only other Black Ribbon wizard, shouldn’t he be here helping us figure this out? Why did he disappear?”
“I can’t answer those questions right now, but I’m having my men look into it as we speak.”
“Eat, you two.” Mimsey poked her head into the storeroom. “Too much whispering and not enough egg swallowing.”
I forked an egg for show, but as soon as Mimsey resumed her cooking in the other room, I set it back down. “We don’t have time to sit here eating eggs.”
“We don’t know anything is wrong,” Ranger X said firmly. “Gus may waltz in at any moment. If he doesn’t, we’ll just trace his last steps...”
Ranger X trailed off as we met each other’s gaze, both of us realizing we had Gus’s last steps cooking eggs right next door. At once, we both called out “Mimsey!”
“What is it?” Mimsey appeared again in the doorway. “You almost made me burn the toast, and we all know Gus hates burnt toast. Where is that man, by the way?”
Ranger X and I shared a quick glance before I turned back to my aunt. “He’s not with you?”
Her face turned the shade of a blooming rose. “Me? What? Never,” she spluttered. “What do you think I am, a hooligan? I don’t let men sleep over on first dates.”
Ranger X and I shifted awkwardly in our seats while Mimsey eyed us judgmentally.
“Is there something you’re not telling me?” A bit of egg splattered in our direction as Mimsey thrust the spatula at us. “Are you two playing the dating game?”
Ranger X rose from his seat, the motion intimidating due to the sheer size of his body. “Mimsey, we need to know what happened with Gus last night. He didn’t stay over?”
“No,” she said, a genuinely confused look on her face. “He dropped me off at home plenty early, like a gentleman. I went home and watched the rest of a show with my daughter. Although, I think he mentioned something about catching up with an old friend afterward when I invited him in. He declined, and I didn’t ask too much about it. I was rather excited to get some alone time with my daughter. I love family, but sometimes there are a lot of them around, and it was a nice quiet evening for the two of us.”
I swallowed hard. “Do you know which old friend he was meeting?”
She shook her head. “He said it was a quick nightcap. Maybe at the B&B? Or maybe he was headed to Sea Salt, I don’t know.” Mimsey laughed. “I did ask why he wasn’t going to bring his friend to the bungalow for a drink to give you some business, but he said he didn’t want to bother you.”
“I’ll bet he didn’t,” I muttered. Gus wouldn’t have bothered me, but Harpin’s presence would have. Plus, Gus showing up to a meeting in his black robes would’ve raised some questions he wanted left secret. “So you haven’t seen him?”
Mimsey shook her head. “Ranger X saw me arrive here a few minutes ago. I got straight to cookin’, I didn’t even think to check around for that ol’ grump.” Even as she called Gus a grump, her face turned a girlish pink and her eyes sparkled. “I thought he was just in a mood and was organizing the storeroom or something.”
“We haven’t seen him,” I said. Then I clarified. “None of us have seen him this morning.”
Mimsey rested a hand on her hip. “Hmm, now that is strange. Maybe his meeting with his friend went late and he slept in?”
“When’s the last time Gus slept in?” I said. “He’s always puttering around here until the wee hours of the morning, and he’s still the first one up.”
Mimsey frowned. “You’re right. I don’t know then. That’s strange.”
Ranger X stood. “It’s time for me to get going.”
“Is something wrong?” Despite Mim
sey’s attempt at keeping a straight face, a layer of fear danced underneath. “X, what’s going on?”
“I’m sure Gus had an event with his friend that he didn’t tell either of you. Maybe they got breakfast this morning or something.” Ranger X gave Mimsey a quick salute. “Don’t worry, Miss Magnolia, we’re just going to check on him. Neighborly duties.”
“Fine, good. Good,” she said, distractedly tucking the spatula behind her ear like a pencil. Her fingers fidgeted with one another. “You’ll find him then?”
“You have my word,” he said. “Lily, can you walk me out?”
I followed Ranger X out the front door, down the steps, and onto the beach where my toes formed little caves in the already warmed sand.
“Are you going to be okay?” He turned toward me, one of his hands resting on my waist as he looked into my eyes. “Do you want me to stay? Just say the word, and I won’t go anywhere.”
I flashed him my strongest smile. “Go. Find Gus. I have to take care of a few things here, and then maybe I’ll see if Mimsey can watch Magic & Mixology. I have to meet with Liam to see if he knows where the ingredient for Poppy’s Vamp Vites can be purchased.”
“Be careful.”
“I will,” I whispered, my hand coming to rest on his chest, the firmness of his muscles strong and comforting under the soft pads of my fingertips. “You too.”
Ranger X took a few steps down the path, and I watched him go. Just before he reached the main beach path, he turned around and winked.
I tilted my head to the side. “What’s so funny?”
“Tell your cousins they can come out from hiding now,” he said. “I left them some eggs.”
My mouth hung open. “You knew this whole time?”
“Tell Poppy that if she swears like a sailor while she’s trying to climb your trellis, she’s never going to be sneaky.”
“What about Zin?”
“Zin…” He winked again. “She did good.”
Chapter 18
Twenty minutes later, I’d ushered Poppy and Zin safely out of the house, though their absence didn’t last long. As soon as they hit the beach, they turned right around and knocked on the door.
“Hello,” I said, trying to keep a straight face as my cousins stood on my front steps without ever having left. “How are you ladies this morning?”
Stifling smiles, they came into the storeroom and got right to work on the eggs.
“Nice of you to show up, girls,” Mimsey said. “Save some food for your cousin! She is shrinking. Lily, don’t you like my eggs?”
“I love your eggs,” I said in the most serious tone I could muster. “But I have to run an errand. Would you three be able to hold down the fort for an hour by chance?”
“Oh, run along. Trinket’s got the supply store under control today, and frankly I’d rather be here.” Mimsey hiked herself onto a bar stool and spread out to catch as much sun as possible on her white-as-marshmallow skin. It was a stark contrast to the blinding green muumuu floating around her plump figure. “I’m working on my tan, anyway. Don’t you think Gus would find me extra attractive with a tan?”
“Ew, Mom,” Poppy said. “No romance talk while I’m eating breakfast.”
Zin winked. “I think your mom would look lovely with a tan.”
Poppy reached over and forked an egg from Zin’s plate. Zin leapt to pull it back, but she missed, and Poppy caught the whole thing in her mouth.
I snuck out with a wave and a quiet goodbye, figuring that sooner rather than later was the best time to make my exit. Otherwise, I risked caking my hair in flying egg yolks.
The walk across The Isle was quick. I had no clue whether or not Liam would be at the B&B, but I didn’t know any place he’d be instead, nor did I have anyone to ask. Best to start at the beginning. Thankfully, the beginning was also the end of my short journey.
“Lily!” Liam rose from a seat at the coffee house just outside of the B&B. It could hardly be called a house, however. Born of a small wooden shack, the cafe’s only seating consisted of a few rickety tables plunked outside, and the only employee was a nervous young man who was so twitchy I wondered if he wasn’t high on espresso fumes. Liam waved. “How are you, dear? Let Sylvester know your order.”
I nodded to the twitchy espresso man called Sylvester. “One cappuccino, please.”
“Come, join me.” Liam pulled out a chair next to his. “What brings you around so soon?”
I waited to dive into my story until the cappuccino arrived a minute later, the frothy beverage delivering the jolt of caffeine I needed. Ranger X’s gesture had been nice, but the pot of coffee he’d made had been as undrinkable as a tub of gasoline. As I sipped, Liam watched me carefully.
“It’s good?”
“The best,” I said, glancing around. When it was clear that nobody was within listening distance, I bit my lip and struggled with where to start my request. There was no good place, so I dove right in. “I hear you have the ability to obtain, uh…” I hesitated. “Hard-to-find materials.”
Liam’s face didn’t register surprise, though one corner of his mouth quirked upwards. “I may, or I may have a friend who can help, depending on your needs.”
“This is private?”
“All of my business is private. Completely.”
“I’m looking for Dust of the Devil.”
Liam sat back. “Powerful. Dust of the Devil is a very volatile ingredient. May I ask what you plan to use it for?”
“Did the last Mixologist ever ask you how to find it?” I didn’t want to lay all my cards on the table before Liam gave me a peek into his hand. “From your reaction, it sounds like you’ve heard of it.”
“I’ve heard of it, though I’ve never sold it.”
My heart sank. “So my grandfather didn’t come to you for help?”
“I didn’t say that.” Liam crossed his arms over his chest, sizing me up for a long moment. Eventually, a ray of understanding crossed his face. “This is for your friend. The vampire.”
I shifted but didn’t answer either way.
“I’d forgotten about that. He only asked me for it once, many years ago.”
“If you don’t sell it, do you know who does?”
“It’s not a who…” Liam paused for an excruciatingly long moment. “It’s a where.”
“Where?”
Liam nodded. “The plant is self-sustaining. As I mentioned, it has volatile tendencies, so I refuse to transport it, as do most other traders.” My face must have sunk in dismay because he raised a finger. “Don’t look so blue, Lily-bell. Fortunately for you, it grows right here on The Isle.”
“No way,” I breathed out. “Really? I’ve been looking everywhere, and it’s right under my nose?”
“Not so much,” he said carefully. “It’s dangerous to use, and it’s dangerous to harvest. It lies within The Forest.”
I swallowed. “Can you lead me to it?”
Liam laughed softly. “My job does not require my hands to get dirty, and I like it that way. Some say I’m a pansy, but I don’t mind. I’d rather be a pansy than an idiot. I’m sorry, I don’t venture into The Forest.”
“But how will I find it?”
“Are you sure you want to?”
I thought of Poppy’s worried expression when she’d told me she was only taking a quarter of her necessary dosage. “I need it. Whatever it takes.”
“Fine. Give me your napkin.”
Chapter 19
Under the branches of a tree in bloom—
To the left of the biggest, yellow mushroom.
There, you’ll locate a desired find—
Take only enough; leave plenty behind.
I spent a few minutes in silence analyzing the riddle Liam had left on the napkin. “What’s wrong with good, old-fashioned directions?” I grumbled. “This means nothing to me.”
“Because you’ve never been to The Forest,” Liam said. “The Forest is a mystical place full of wonderful, dangerous
things. Within The Forest’s boundaries, things have a tendency to move and flow with nature. There, directions are not a fixed entity, merely a directional tool.”
“So no map?” I asked longingly.
“Sorry, but no. The Forest is in a constant state of flow, and it has adapted to be like this for a reason. It protects and guides those with purpose, while discouraging those who wander aimlessly.”
“Sounds easy to get lost.”
“It is.”
“How can I not get lost?” I swallowed. “Trail of breadcrumbs?”
“I wish it were so easy,” he said. “And I wish there was a house made of candy at the end of the trail.”
I laughed. Liam’s presence, even during stressful times, was easy and pleasant to be around. “That would be ideal.”
“Are you going alone into The Forest?” After my laughter died down, his expression turned somber. “Even with directions, it is a place rife with creatures that go bump in the night.”
“I’ll hopefully go during the daylight,” I said with another laugh, this one sounding noticeably forced. Liam didn’t seem amused, so I moved on. “I’m going to swing by today. I can’t endanger anyone else.”
“This is for a friend, yes? The friend will not go with you?”
“I don’t plan on telling her that I’m going at all,” I said. “She’d go with me in a heartbeat, and that’s exactly what I’m worried about. I’m not risking either of my cousins’ lives in there.”
Liam nodded, his eyes not fooled. “And what about those who aren’t your cousins?”
We were both thinking of Ranger X. “He’s busy today. I won’t bother him.”
“I imagine he’d like to be bothered if he knew you were going alone into The Forest.”
“Well, there’s a lot going on right now.” I looked into my cappuccino, wishing it refilled itself. Almost as if he’d read my mind, Sylvester swept over, his dark, greasy hair swinging in front of his twitchy face as he swiped my empty cup and replaced it with a new one. “It shouldn’t take long to gather a bit of the ingredient, right? I only need a small dose to start.”