“She probably wants you to catch up to the rest of the witches in your class,” he said. “She must think you have potential or she wouldn’t bother.” He plucked a few flowers from an obliging bush and handed them to me. “Wildflowers to brighten your kitchen.“
I accepted the makeshift bouquet and inhaled their fragrance. “Divine,” I said. Like you.
“More importantly, not poisonous.”
“I’ll make a note of it.”
We walked in companionable silence, listening to the birds and the scurrying of tiny feet. It was so easy to spend time with him.
“Are we going somewhere in particular?” I asked.
“Do we need a destination? Sometimes it’s nice just to wander.”
“Why do I get the feeling it’s not your first time?” I stopped to admire a misshapen tree. “Wow. This is the coolest tree I’ve ever seen.” It rose almost thirty feet off the ground, stark white with branches that beckoned us. It managed to be both creepy, yet strikingly beautiful.
He followed my gaze. “It’s looked like that for as long as I can remember.”
“Really?” I found that curious. “Shouldn’t trees grow and die here?”
“They do. Plants and flowers grow.” He gestured to the flowers still in my hand. “That tree is a landmark, though. It’s ancient.”
I pressed my palms against the sturdy trunk. “Not the least bit hollow either.”
Daniel’s eyes sparkled. “Speaking of hollow, I have something to show you.” He walked around the base of the tree and squeezed between two overgrown bushes. “This used to be a path, but it seems Mother Nature has reclaimed it.”
I followed him between the bushes, trying to avoid getting scratched by the brambles. After fighting my way through the thicket, we emptied into a small clearing where we were confronted by a massive tree. It had to be at least seventy feet tall. The base of the tree was hollowed out, and I noticed what appeared to be wooden slats on the inside of the tree.
“Is that some kind of ladder?” I asked.
“It is.” He eyed me carefully. “I know you’re not a fan of heights, but I think you’d appreciate this.”
I ducked inside the hollowed portion of the tree and began to climb. I left the bouquet on the ground, took a deep breath, and followed him up the ladder.
“Who built this?” I asked on the way up. Conversation would keep me from remembering I was gaining altitude.
Daniel glanced down at me. “No one knows. I don’t think many residents even know it’s here.”
When we arrived at the top, I realized that it was much more than a lookout post. It was, in fact, an elaborate tree house with a huge platform that offered an unobstructed view of the skyline.
“Let me guess. It was one of your thinking spots.” I bit back a smile.
“A long time ago,” he said. “I haven’t been here in ages.”
Someone else clearly had. There was an empty bottle on the platform. “What is that?”
Daniel picked up the bottle. “Scorpion’s Tail.”
I stared at the bottle. “Poison?”
“Hardly. It’s basically lemon fizz mixed with some type of strong alcohol.”
“Oh. Like a wine cooler.”
“What’s a wine cooler?” he asked.
“The go-to alcoholic beverage for every girl in high school where I grew up. They didn’t like the taste of beer, but they still wanted to be cool and drink.”
He set down the bottle and faced the skyline. “It’s so peaceful up here. I don’t know why I stopped coming.”
I joined him as close to the edge of the platform as I dared to get. “It is very pretty. And quiet.”
“It’s not far from your house,” he said. “Maybe this can be your thinking spot.”
“I’m not Winnie the Pooh.”
Daniel shot me a quizzical look. “Who?”
“You don’t know Winnie the Pooh?”
He wrinkled his nose. “Whatever it is, it sounds disgusting.”
I laughed. “I actually think he’s right up your alley. When I eventually make it over to the library, I’ll see if any of his books are there.”
“I’ll go with you,” he said. “I haven’t been to the library in a long time.”
“What do you do all day other than fly around and mope?” I asked. “Have you ever considered starting a business?”
He sat down on the edge of the platform, his legs dangling over the side. “I’ve thought about it.”
“And?” I remained rooted to the middle of the platform. Daniel had the benefit of wings if he slipped off the edge. I had no such escape hatch.
“I couldn’t decide on the type of business.”
“You must have a lot of interests,” I said. “Couldn’t you choose one to focus on? A philanthropy even?”
“I’ll give it some thought,” he said.
“In your thinking place?”
“Naturally.” He tipped his head back and smiled at me. “I like that you’re willing to mock me.”
“Because you like the abuse?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “I feel like it shows a level of trust. That you know I won’t take it to heart.”
Unlike Daniel, the professional thinker, I’d never given it much thought. “I guess that means Gareth and I trust each other too.” Because mockery seemed to be the basis of our relationship.
“You have to, don’t you? You’re permanent roommates now.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, we’ll be like an old, married couple in no time. All barbed comments and no sex.”
“To be fair, you wouldn’t be having sex with him even in solid form.”
Gareth had given his blessing for me to tell anyone and everyone about his sexual revelation. He seemed to enjoy the range of responses.
“Do you think Jolene ever came up here?” I asked. Between harp therapy and potions, she seemed to be searching high and low for some sense of tranquility.
“If she did, it wasn’t with me,” he replied. A deep sigh followed. “I really respected her, Emma. She worked so hard to overcome her depression and now this.” He paused. “She deserved a better outcome.”
I inched closer to him, still painfully aware of the seventy-foot drop. I was worried that my body would go into full-blown panic mode. I wanted to comfort him without the sudden need for him to comfort me.
I got close enough to place a warm hand on his shoulder. “By all accounts, she’d fallen in love with Alex and was looking forward to her wedding. She’d found hobbies to lift her spirits. Whatever happened to her, you were a positive force in her life. Remember that.”
His fingers brushed my own. “Thanks, Emma.” He peered up at me. “How would you feel about flying down?”
My hands flew to my hips. “I say all these nice, comforting things to you and that’s how you plan to repay me?”
“What if I throw you off the platform and then swoop down and catch you?” he suggested. “That might be fun.”
“Fun?” My eyes bulged and I backed away from the edge. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
He began to laugh and I knew I’d been had. “You really make life worth living. You know that?”
Chapter 11
We arrived at the academy classroom to find a note pinned to the door with instructions to meet Lady Weatherby at a place called the Labyrinth.
"This is so exciting," Sophie said.
“I’m not really in the market for excitement right now,” I replied.
Laurel clapped her hands together. “The Labyrinth is going to be so much fun.”
The words ‘fun’ and ‘Lady Weatherby’ didn’t go together in my mind. Something else was afoot.
“Maybe it’s a reward for our hard work this term,” Begonia said.
“Or punishment for our mistakes,” Millie said with a sharp look in my direction. I briefly wondered if Paisley had reported the cookie incident from harp therapy.
“Only one way t
o find out,” I said. “Let’s go.”
The whole setup reminded me of an elaborate bounce house for children. Of course, whatever Lady Weatherby had planned for us, I had a feeling it was not child friendly.
"Markos has kindly offered to allow us the use of his facilities," Lady Weatherby said. "He is a good friend of the coven."
I raised my hand. "Excuse me, Lady Weatherby? What exactly will we be doing in the bouncy castle?"
"All in good time, Miss Hart,” Lady Weatherby said. "The five of you will be divided into two teams. The teams need to find their way out of their respective mazes."
"Don't you think I should be a little bit more experienced before you throw obstacles in my way?” I asked.
“Like the way you threw cookies in everyone else’s way?” Lady Weatherby asked. The other witches looked at me blankly. “You needn’t worry, Miss Hart. We’ve opted to overlook your most recent indiscretion.”
I blew out a breath and tried to relax.
"The terrain inside is soft and springy," Millie said. "She probably thinks you’re less likely to get hurt this way."
There had to be more to this game than simply finding the exit.
"What’s the prize?” Millie asked.
Lady Weatherby chuckled deeply. "Must there be a prize? Can we not win for the sake of winning? I will never understand the younger generation."
"Is it just the first team member to get out of the maze?" Sophie asked. "Or does the whole team have to be out to win?"
"Good question for a change, Sophie. All team members must be out of the maze." Lady Weatherby stood by the entrance. “This is not your typical maze, witches. The terrain was designed by Spellbound’s premier architect. No one builds a maze like a minotaur."
Translation: expect the unexpected.
"Do we get to choose our teammates?” Millie asked.
“I pulled names from the coven hat this morning,” Lady Weatherby said.
I didn't really mind who was on my team. I figured no matter what, I was the weak link. If this had been playground dodgeball, I would've been chosen last.
"Laurel, Begonia, and Sophie. Stand to the left, please. Millie and Emma, stand to the right."
"It's not fair," Millie said. “It’s basically three against one.”
I winced. So now I didn’t even count.
Lady Weatherby narrowed her eyes at Millie. “I think you will find there are two witches on your team.”
“I’m at a disadvantage,” Millie insisted. The disadvantage, of course, being me.
Lady Weatherby’s steely gaze fixed on Millie. “You’re smart enough for two, wouldn’t you say?”
Millie straightened. “Yes, Lady Weatherby.”
“Are we allowed to use our wands?” I asked.
"You will use anything at your disposal," Lady Weatherby said.
"Is there a time element?" Millie asked.
"No time element. When I say ‘begin,’ you will enter the maze.” Lady Weatherby held her wand in the air and fired it like a pistol. I jumped at the sound. "Begin."
Begonia’s blue eyes were round with fear. Of the three of them, I knew Laurel would be able to keep a clear head.
I turned to Millie. "The sooner we start, the sooner we finish."
“It’s a bounce house designed for children,” she scoffed. “How bad could it be?”
We started down our assigned path. The inflatable walls were too high to see over or around. We could still hear the chatter of our friends on the other side of the wall.
"It's soft material," I said. "Watch." I threw my body against the wall and bounced off, landing hard on my butt.
Millie rolled her eyes. “Please tell me you meant to do that.”
"Anything to ease the tension,” I said weakly. I stood up and brushed off my bottom. "But the terrain is designed to be soft. Lady Weatherby doesn't want us to get hurt. She just wants us to be inventive." True or not, I needed to boost my confidence. At least I’d taken my anti-anxiety potion this morning. That would help me not to panic.
We walked further until the sounds of the other witches died away. After a few more steps, the interior opened up and we came upon a rope dangling from an invisible ceiling above. Below was a pool of water.
"Water?" I breathed. "Is she nuts?" Witches couldn't swim. In fact, my mother died from drowning. I wondered if the other witches were encountering a pool of water, too.
Millie tugged on the rope. "I guess we’re meant to swing across to that ledge." She pointed to the inflatable ledge on the other side of the pool. I estimated it to be about fifteen feet away.
"Is there magic we can use to get ourselves across?" I asked. Too bad we didn’t bring a broom. I would choose a low-flying broom over water any day of the week.
“Be quiet and let me think," Millie snapped. She closed her eyes, mentally running through any potential spells.
"I don't think I can swing across without falling in," I said. My upper body strength was nonexistent. Add to that my fear of water and we were looking at a disaster. "Can you think of a spell that involves swinging over long distances?"
Millie shushed me and covered her face with her hands. "Emma, I am trying to figure this out.”
"Sorry," I mumbled. I could feel the panic rising inside me. I was pretty sure Millie felt the same way. She was no more likely to survive the water than I was.
"If only it were cold enough to be ice," I said. "Then we could skate across."
Millie peered at me through her fingers. "What did you say?"
"Nothing. Just wishful thinking." And I didn't even like the cold. I much preferred Spellbound’s temperate climate.
"Emma, that's it," she said excitedly. "I know a spell that can freeze water."
"Seriously?" That was music to my ears.
“My sister taught it to me last year when we wanted to prank my brother.”
“You froze a pool for a prank?”
She huffed. “Obviously not. We froze his bath water just as he was getting in. He slipped and fell. Grabbed the shower curtain on the way down and took that with him. It was hilarious.”
It didn’t sound hilarious. Then again, I wasn’t a fan of comedy pratfalls.
"I bet the rope is a diversion," Millie said. "It's here to make us think we need to use it."
That Lady Weatherby was tricky. "Would you like to do the honors?"
Millie took out her wand, focused her will, and pointed at the pool. "As gentle as a morning breeze/make this pool of water freeze."
We watched in anticipation as the water slowly formed an enormous solid cube. As Millie stepped forward, I stopped her with a hand. "Give it one more minute. Be sure it's frozen all the way through." The last thing we wanted was to fall in. Then we risked hypothermia as well as drowning.
We used the rope to ease down onto the surface of the pool. It was cold and very solid. Holding hands, we carefully made our way across. It was almost enjoyable.
"I've never been ice-skating," I said. "Have you?"
Millie shook her head. "Witches tend to avoid any activity involving water, even if it’s frozen."
“Lady Weatherby must've been very confident that we’d figure this out. Otherwise, I'm surprised that our first obstacle would be so dangerous."
We made it to the other side and I boosted Millie so that she could climb up to the ledge. Once she was safely there, I saw a flash of hesitation in her eyes before she leaned over to help me. Would she really have left me here?
"One obstacle down,” I said cheerfully. “Who knows how many left?” It was not a comforting thought.
"I wonder how the other girls are doing," Millie said. "I worry about Laurel. She’s so young."
"Laurel’s the last witch I’d worry about,” I said. “She's very capable for someone her age." It was true. Laurel was going to make an excellent witch someday. With Sophie and Begonia there to help, they would be fine.
The next obstacle we encountered was a wall. There seemed to be no way
around it. That meant we would have to go over it. I couldn't see how to gain a foothold. The material was smooth and there was no obvious way to gain purchase.
Millie stared upward. "How high do you think this goes?" she asked.
"No clue," I said. "Is there a spell for leaping tall stories in a single bound?" A Superman spell, perhaps.
Millie scratched her head thoughtfully. "I can’t understand why Lady Weatherby felt it was fair to just have the two of us on a team. I have to do all the thinking."
"Hey," I protested. "I may not know the spells, but it was my idea to turn the pool into ice."
Millie had the decency to blush. "I would've come up with that answer eventually, though."
A little credit would have been nice, but my priority was getting out of here.
"I remember a spell that Ginger taught us,” Millie said. "No, wait. That involved a potion, not a wand."
"Doesn't matter," I said. "Lots of spells with potions seem to have a wand-based counterpart. When I went to Mix-n-Match, Paisley mentioned that there were lots of spells that you could do with the wand that were equivalent to a potion."
Millie’s eyes lit up. "You’re right. The potion we made with Ginger was a bubble spell. We rose in the air and floated around the exercise room.” She smiled to herself. “That was a good day.”
I whipped out my wand. “Okay. I’ll try this one.” I inhaled deeply and focused my will on getting us over the wall. Carefully. I didn’t want to catapult us into matching head injuries. “Wrap us in bubble/to keep us from trouble.”
An invisible barrier formed around me. My feet lifted off the ground and I strangled the scream in my throat. I needed to stay calm. Millie rose beside me in her bubble, brushing gently against the inflatable material as we headed over the top. I kept my eyes open in case there was a lava pit or a lion’s den on the other side of the wall. There wasn’t.
It was worse.
We stood on a platform with two rows of poles in front of us. The poles dangled above an oval pool of boiling water. It reminded me of a giant cauldron. Steam drifted upward, frizzing the ends of my hair. Freezing this water would be useless. The drop was so far down that we wouldn’t be able to get back up to the surface.
Doom and Broom (Spellbound Paranormal Cozy Mystery Book 2) Page 11