by J. D. Shaw
“Misery loves company. She must have felt a great deal of satisfaction having such power for the first time.”
“What about the vandalism at Miss Octavia’s shop?”
“Yes, I think she did that and planted Pastor Kilpatrick’s business card at the scene in the hopes to stir up more trouble.”
“But you told me that you overheard his conversation with Eunice at the hospital. They wanted to clean up the town and get rid of certain people.”
“I did, but that’s the most sloppy way possible, wouldn’t you think?” Vivienne shook her head. “She has an ax to grind with Pastor Kilpatrick, but I don’t know exactly what it is.”
Joshua scratched his chin. “You’re right. People like that cover their tracks much better.”
“I think it’s more likely that Natalie overheard Eunice and Sally’s conversation at the bank and decided to target Nathaniel and Tristan.”
“You witnessed Tristan having an affair with that guy in New York when you slipped into his memory. How is that connected to Natalie?” Joshua asked.
“That man was a relative of dear old Edgar Rothwell. What better way to deal with family sin?” Vivienne reached out and gave Tommy a pat on the head as he smelled her hair. “You know, being stuck in the hospital all week gives you time to really think things through.”
“So how do we deal with a banshee?”
“I had a folklore book in my purse.” Vivienne started to get up from the sofa when Joshua stopped her. “You stay put. Let me get it.”
She nodded back. “It was in the car the last time I saw it.”
Joshua nodded. “It was, but I took it out and put it into your bedroom when we brought your car home Monday night.” He wandered off to get it.
“Do you feel like garlic bread, my darling daughter?” Nora popped back into the living room.
Vivienne smiled at her. “Can you make it extra cheesy?”
“Sure can.” Nora waved the wooden stirring spoon in her grip like a wand and wandered back into the kitchen. “Dinner will be ready in about fifteen minutes.” She called out as the doorbell rang. “Are you expecting company?”
“No.” Vivienne shook her head.
Nora walked over to the front door and opened the peephole cover. “Who is it?”
“Delivery from Hummingbird Floral.” The voice replied from behind the door.
“Oh.” Nora replied with excitement as she unlocked the door. “How lovely.”
Vivienne could see a tall high school boy, dressed in a heavy jacket and a woolen hat hand a large fruit basket to Nora. “Happy Holidays.” He smiled.
Nora accepted the big basket and waved at him. “Happy Holidays young man.” She then shut the door in his face.
“Mother.” Vivienne scolded her. “You were supposed to tip him.”
“For what?” Nora asked as she walked the basket over to Vivienne and set it on the coffee table. “Doing his job?”
“It’s customary.” Vivienne sighed. “He’s just a poor high school kid working part time.”
Nora clucked her tongue. “I swear, everyone doing anything these days feels they need a tip for doing the job they’re getting paid to do.”
“Never mind, I’ll catch up with Brian downtown and make it right.” Vivienne admired the brown wicker basket. It was filled with apples, oranges, kiwi fruit, plums, and a large pineapple. Wrapped in a festive red and green cellophane, an envelope dangled from the curled ribbon tied on top. “I wonder who sent it?”
“Open the card and see.” Nora rubbed her hands together.
Joshua returned with the library book in his hand. “Who sent that?”
Vivienne opened the envelope and pulled out the card. “Heard about your accident and hope you are on the mend. Give me a call when you feel better. Cheers, Samantha Charles.”
“Such a lovely young woman.” Nora gushed.
“I wonder who told her?” Joshua asked.
“It must have been Kathy.” Nora guessed.
“Probably.” Vivienne smiled.
“I better check on dinner.” Nora dashed off.
Joshua handed Vivienne the book. “Here you go.”
Vivienne opened it to where the pages were dog-eared. “Okay, so it says here that holy water is an effective way to drive the creature away when under attack.”
“Anything else?” Joshua asked as Tommy jumped onto his lap and began head butting him while purring.
“This isn’t a hunting manual.” Vivienne winked. “We’re going to have to wing most of this.”
“That’s assuming we can find her.”
That won’t be a problem.” Vivienne interrupted. “Despite the fact that she can roam the entire town, there is one place that she always will appear.”
“The graveyard.” Joshua snapped his fingers.
“There’s something buried there that keeps her anchored. We need to find out what it is.”
“You’re in no shape to go back there right now.” Joshua put his arm around her.
“Nor do I want to.” She agreed. “What about the Rothwell mansion?” Vivienne asked. “Did you find the attic?”
“Brian Amberry knew about the attic. He stores some of the seasonal décor up there.”
“Did you check it out personally?”
Joshua nodded. “It was empty, except for the decorations he told us about. There wasn’t a skeleton tied to a chair.” He took a deep breath. “But, when I ran the ultra violet light up there I did find some residual blood spatter on some of the floorboards.”
“I knew it.” Vivienne snapped her fingers. “So Edgar did murder her up there.”
“There wasn’t enough blood to indicate anything like that. It was just a few stains here and there.”
“Still, that proves that what I saw in my vision was true.” Vivienne nodded.
“But that’s your magic at work.” He whispered quietly. “We need solid proof for anything to be verified.”
“I think we need to set a banshee trap.” Vivienne’s eyes sparkled. “Bait it with something she can’t resist.”
“And what would that be?”
Vivienne glanced at the Christmas tree that sparkled in her living room. “I’ll bet Miss Octavia might have a suggestion. I’ll go see her tomorrow morning.”
“I don’t know why, but I have this feeling we’re missing this one thread that connects everything together.”
“Me too.” Vivienne agreed.
Nora called out from the kitchen. “Dinner is ready everyone.”
Joshua helped Vivienne to her feet. “After you.”
She winked at him. “Such service. Why don’t we dine here more often?”
“Joshua, would you be a dear and fetch me some antacid tablets from the bathroom medicine cabinet?” Nora called out again. “This sauce is going to give me trouble, I can tell just from the aroma.”
Joshua lowered his head. “Probably because the staff can drive you crazy.”
Vivienne gave him a light tap on the arm. “Now dearest, she means well.”
“Anything but the cherry flavored ones.” Nora corrected. “For some reason they don’t seem to work as well and the flavor is just dreadful.”
“You’re right.” Vivienne smiled. “It’s the staff.”
CHAPTER 20
Saturday, December 14th
Miss Octavia stared at Vivienne as if she were rambling some arcane spell incantation. “You want to run that by me again?” She asked with her charming tropical accent.
“Do you have any charm bags or herbs that would be effective in repelling a banshee?”
“I didn’t realize that your unfortunate accident at the cemetery affected your mind.“ Miss Octavia put her hands on hips.
“I’m serious.” Vivienne replied as they sat at the reading table inside Mother Earth Mercantile.
“Child, if you’re serious than you have some cuckoo problems going on up there.” Miss Octavia tapped her index finger on her head.
Vivienne grimaced. “Look, I’m coming to you as a trusted friend.”
Miss Octavia raised an eyebrow at her. “If you are a friend, then you will allow me to test that.”
“Test?”
She got up from her chair and walked over to a set of shelves were various glass bottles of liquids were neatly displayed. She retrieved a small clear vial of prismatic cut glass and pulled off the rubber stopper. “You will drink this.”
Vivienne stared at the vial. “What is it?”
“As I said, it is a test.” Miss Octavia handed her the vial. “If you want my help with such a matter, I need proof.”
“Why do I suddenly feel like Alice?” Vivienne took the vial from her. “You don’t have a white rabbit carrying a stopwatch hopping around in the back room, do you?”
“Drink.” Miss Octavia ordered without even cracking a smile. “Or leave my shop.”
Vivienne took a deep breath. “To friendship.” She raised the vial and then slurped the contents. She wasn’t sure what she expected to taste, but whatever it was had no flavor.
Miss Octavia eyed her carefully. “How do you feel?”
Vivienne set the vial on the table. “Fine.”
“I’m just giving it a moment to work.” Miss Octavia replied.
“Can I ask what is it now that I’ve imbibed?” Vivienne smiled.
Miss Octavia nodded and then a big smile appeared on her face. “Of course, child. I had to make sure you were who you said you were.”
“Well, what did I drink?”
“Holy water.” Miss Octavia replied as she retrieved the vial from the table. “I couldn’t take any chances.”
“So you do believe in magic?” Vivienne felt relief wash over her that she hadn’t sent snake venom or some other poison down her gullet. “May I ask why you thought I wasn’t me?”
Miss Octavia returned the vial to her collection. “While you were in the hospital, I got a surprise visit from you.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You came to see me on, let me think, Tuesday evening I believe.” Miss Octavia sat down across from Vivienne and rested her hands upon the crystal ball that was between them.
“I was in a coma then.” Vivienne explained. “I didn’t wake up until Wednesday afternoon.”
“That’s what I found out, after the fact.” Miss Octavia explained. “You see, this banshee you are worried about has some powers she shouldn’t.”
“Obviously.”
“When you fell into that grave you must have lost some kind of personal object. Something that would allow her to assume your form using her dark magic.”
Vivienne thought back to that horrible moment and gasped. “I lost a boot when they were pulling me out.”
“And that is all she needs to assume your form.”
“Why would she want to become me?”
“She warned me that Pastor Seamus Kilpatrick was on the warpath and wanted to get rid of me. So, she asked me to craft a potion that she could spike Our Lady of the Lake’s annual holiday bake sale items with that would sicken a great number of people in town. She would then create some evidence and use Joshua to plant it ensuring that the preacher man would be brought to swift justice.”
“That’s diabolical.” Vivienne gasped. “I would never do such a thing.”
“Which is the point at which I became suspicious of her identity.” Octavia continued. “I played along and thanked her for looking out for me. I then asked if she would like some tea and she said yes. I went into the kitchen and boiled some holy water to use for the drinks. When I brought it out, she took a tiny sip and then she excused herself, saying she forgot she had an order to work on back at the bakery and that she would return for the potion on Sunday morning.”
“The holy water sickened her?” Vivienne asked.
“It must have. She couldn’t get out of my shop fast enough.” Miss Octavia sighed. “Dark magic is powerful, but it is easily disrupted when you know the proper counter measures.”
“The holiday bake sale is Sunday afternoon, so she must plan on spiking the baked goods in the morning during Sunday mass.”
“That was my guess as well. I’ll craft something for her, but it won’t be what she thinks it is.”
Vivienne shook her head. “She knows me well. Sunday mornings Joshua and I always sleep in late, usually past eleven.”
“So she’s able to assume your form and walk in carrying donated baked goods without anyone thinking twice.”
“How is she going to frame Pastor Kilpatrick?”
“I don’t know yet.” Miss Octavia continued. “She is drawing on some sort of dark magic source that is nearby.” Miss Octavia continued. “Cayuga Cove is a nexus of magic activity. Do you know what that is?”
“A nexus means a center focal point.” Vivienne replied. “I got a pretty high score on the verbal portion of my S.A.T.”
Miss Octavia nodded. “I’ve been to some magical places in the world, but I’ve never felt anything like this before. It’s practically broadcasting a signal to those who are able to hear it.”
“I believe you.” Vivienne let her guard down. “I’ve felt it too.”
“You are a child of the Goddess. I could tell the night I tested you in the library.”
“That was you?”
“I had my suspicions, but I couldn’t be sure. You moved around too much for my crystal to get a good fix on your aura.” Octavia smiled. “Finally, I just gave up and decided to leave the book out for you to find.”
“Which I did and started me on the path leading to Natalie.” Vivienne took a deep breath.
“I didn’t mean to scare you like that, but I’ve never been any good at sneaking around.”
Vivienne smiled. “You were right. I am a witch.” She put her hands over Octavia’s. “But you can’t tell anyone about this. No one knows, not even my mother.”
Miss Octavia smiled. “I understand. A small town. Small minds. They are not ready for such knowledge.”
“That’s it exactly.” Vivienne nodded. “If word got out about what I am it could destroy everything.”
“We are bound by honor never to reveal our sisters and brothers to the ordinaries.”
“Are you part of the Elder Council?” Vivienne asked. “Did they send you to help me?”
“No, my child. I work best alone.” Miss Octavia revealed. “I was curious as to what I would find so near a powerful source of magic.”
“It wasn’t always like this.” Vivienne explained. “A few months ago, there was another witch in town who violated the sacred oath and began to work with dark magic. Her reckless actions opened some portals that we won’t be able to close, until the Elder Council figures out some kind of solution.”
“There is more to the story than you know.” Miss Octavia interrupted. “There is a history here in town, a magical history that explains why we are drawn here to this spot.”
“I think it has to do with the refugees that fled from the Salem colony during the witchcraft hysteria.”
“You’re on the right track.” Octavia affirmed with a gentle squeeze of Vivienne’s hands. “The Elder Council brought me here as a freelance witch to help them with the portal problem. I specialize in stitching together the fabric of history through my visions and working the tarot cards.”
“How come Nana Mary doesn’t know about you?” Vivienne asked. “She didn’t even sense you.”
“I am able to shield my power from everyone. That is my unique gift. The ultimate undercover witch for hire.” Miss Octavia nodded. “Like you, I must ask that you not blow my cover. Not even your Nana Mary can know about my true nature or my mission here in Cayuga Cove.”
“Why did you trust me?”
“Because, telling you is the only way I can save your life.” Miss Octavia spoke softly. “I’ve seen you die several times during my card readings.”
“I’m going to die?” Vivienne’s voice cracked.
“The night of the full
moon, I’m afraid.” Miss Octavia explained. “The readings revealed one solitary time when you do manage to outsmart the banshee that haunts this town. One possible path to escape the dark fate she has planned for you.”
“What do we do?”
“We start by arming you with the very things you asked me for when you first came in tonight. You need to set a banshee trap and you need a way to drive her away forever. I can help you with that, but we haven’t much time.”
Vivienne felt a sense of panic rising inside her. “How much time?”
“She will carry out her plan when her power is at its zenith. The full moon.”
“That’s three days from now.” Thanks to Joshua’s lupine nature, she knew the moon phases by heart.
“I had a feeling you keep careful track of that.” Miss Octavia smiled. “He’s a good one, your man. Very non-typical of werewolves.”
“Yes he is.” Vivienne agreed. “But, when he’s in wolf form he’s at a disadvantage when it comes to helping me out.”
“As I said, our foe is very intelligent.” Octavia echoed. “We have quite a battle ahead.”
* * *
Normally, on a Saturday afternoon Vivienne would be hard at work in the kitchen of her bakery, but Stephanie insisted she take the weekend to recover and report fresh on Monday morning. Vivienne began to feel as if she were the part-time employee in her own shop, but then she realized she was just lucky to have an amazing employee like Stephanie to keep the fires burning without missing a beat.
So, she found herself with a free afternoon thanks to the lucky combination of Joshua working a twelve hour shift while Nora was busy hosting a clutter-free seminar at the Whispering Pines home.
As she drove back to her home with an assortment of magical items to use in defense of Natalie’s attack, she decided to follow up with a thank you. She pressed the telephone button on her stereo system. “Call Samantha Charles.”
“Calling Samantha Charles.” The monotone automated voice crackled through the speakers.
The phone rang three times before Samantha answered cheerfully. “Vivienne Finch, am I glad to hear your voice.”
“Hi Samantha. I just wanted to thank you for sending that gorgeous fruit basket. You really shouldn’t have.”