Witches in Wonderland

by Lauren Quick

  “Three o’clock. Red scarf,” Honora said.

  Harper didn’t look, or didn’t appear to look. “I’ve seen her before. She has lunch with one of Kat’s assistants. Do you think she’s following us?”

  “Trust me. She’s tailing us. There’s also a wizard wearing ridiculously tight jeans coming up behind us. And he’s wearing a red T-shirt. It’s like they’re advertising their allegiance.”

  “The Red Queen has a loyal following. I’ll give her that,” Harper said. “But why are they following us? We haven’t done anything. You haven’t done anything, have you?” A frown marred her pretty face.

  “I’m a Mayhem. We attract trouble all the time. It’s our thing.”

  “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “Currently, we’re dealing with a rogue wizard named Devlin Strange who stole a powerful magical coin. We suspect Kat Keene stole the coin from the council and Devlin double-crossed her by snatching it right out from under her. She’s not happy with him to say the least.”

  Harper grabbed Honora’s arm as they left the main garden and glided over a metal bridge that connected the building to another rooftop park. “Shouldn’t you have told me that tidbit of information sooner?”

  Honora turned, tracking the witch and wizard following them. They were both forced to stop and feign interest in other things when Honora and Harper stepped onto the bridge and paused. “I wanted to keep you out of it as much as possible. Your job’s important and I didn’t want you to get into trouble. I thought I was doing you a favor. I’m sorry. I should have said something earlier.”

  “We’ll talk about that later. Right now we need a plan.”

  “Follow me. I don’t know about you, but I could use a little exercise.” Honora stepped toward the side of the bridge, leapt over the edge into the air, and took flight. She plummeted for a short span before swinging her legs back in an acrobatic move, banking around, and then pulling up sharply, coming to a stop on the other side of the bridge, hovering in the air. Harper had followed and currently hovered near the side the bridge out of sight, watching the wizard in the tight T-shirt, who was pacing back and forth above her.

  The red scarf witch raced into action and dove over the side of the bridge, flying at full speed right at Honora, breaking her cover in a confrontational move. To back the witch off, Honora shot a blast of warm air from the tip of her wand at the last second, causing the witch to bounce backwards in an awkward jerking motion.

  “Tell Keene I don’t appreciate being tailed,” Honora said, hands on hips.

  The witch regained her balance and drifted closer, a scowl on her face. “I’ve got a message for you. My boss wants the coin. Your only play should be to get it and send word when you have it to her and no one in your family gets hurt.”

  A hot bead of anger pulsed through her. No one threatened her family. “My play is to stay loyal to my friends and family. You can bet one of us will find the coin, but I sure as Hazel won’t bring it to Kat Keene.”

  With a surge of emotion, Harper flew out from position near the bridge and into the witch’s face. “The coin belongs to the council and it will be returned to us! Your boss is going down.”

  From the bridge, the wizard in the red T-shirt yelled, “Back off! You’ve been warned!” as he launched a series of attack spells at Harper.

  “Harper, watch out!” Honora yelled, but it was too late, for the spells hit her in the back and her body arched upward in pain. She dove to the side of the bridge for support and threw her arm over the ledge, clutching desperately. Recovering quickly, she lunged at him, spinning in a tumble of limbs. She jumped up and took a defensive stance, pulling her wand from her skirt pocket and directing it at him. Leaping to his feet, he shoved her aside, racing back the way he came, over the bridge and through the garden, disappearing into the crowd that had gathered to watch the commotion.

  Honora flew to Harper’s side to see if she was okay, and by the time she did, the red scarf witch had disappeared.

  Harper paced and rubbed her back the best she could. “I’m all right. I hate stingers, especially in the back.”

  Honora cringed, knowing from experience the searing muscle pain of a stinger spell. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  Honora walked Harper to her office. “Should I tell my boss what I’ve found out?” Harper asked.

  “Yes. If you trust her like you say you do, you have to. Tell her everything I’ve told you and talk to her about your suspicions of Kat Keene. Let’s see what she does.”

  “She might want to hang back this time and see what happens. It’s not easy accusing a council member of stealing, especially since we have no proof she stole the coin in the first place.”

  “Then I’ve got a lot of work to do,” Honora said. “If I’m going to get solid evidence of Kat’s involvement.”

  Honora picked up take-out and headed to her loft apartment on the other side of town. There was nothing like a juicy bacon burger to cure her woes. She set the food on the table and noticed that an envelope had been slid under the front door. Her senses snapped to attention. She snatched it up and inspected the seal, but seeing the double M insignia, she relaxed. It was from the aunties. She broke the seal and read the invitation, shaking her head. A tea party. Really? Honora had never been to a tea party and had no desire to attend one. Sipping tea and eating crumpets wasn’t her thing. Neither was polite socializing and chitchatting about topics she’d rather keep buried like why she hadn’t gotten married and settled down.

  Honora had a decision to make on that front. She took her lunch to the coffee table and leaned her head into the sofa cushion and groaned. Ren was divine, and he was also coming for a visit this weekend. Their relationship had grown serious. She’d never met another wizard who could not only keep up with her, but also challenge her, and she didn’t want to screw things up. Once a relationship got serious, Honora tended to find a reason to break it up, and she was determined not to do that this time.

  She folded up the invitation. Looked like she was headed to a tea party tomorrow whether she liked it or not.

  15

  At her shop, Vivi finally had time to inspect the newest family heirloom—the leather jacket. She ran her hands over the buttery soft leather worn to a smooth crackled surface. The jacket hummed with magic. The wizard who’d once worn it was afraid of something or someone. Why else would it be covered in a net of magical wards? Everything had a past—witches, wizards, familiars, houses, buildings and objects. Especially objects, which arguably were the most complicated, since an object could be passed between owners, sometimes from a long line of generations and sometimes between total strangers. The past left its imprint on everything.

  The jacket had a history, both good and bad. Vivi could sense it.

  All the aunties had told her was that it belonged to a relative, and from the size and design, she knew the relative was a wizard. But figuring out who was not going to be easy. That was the point, the aunties would tell her. They were leaving her breadcrumbs to follow. When Vivi first tried the jacket on at Clover’s house, her focus had been scattered. She’d been trying so hard to please her aunties that her persuasion overpowered her thoughts.

  Sensing the magic now, she reasoned that the powerful ward woven over the surface was to defend against black magic. But there were also layers of magic infused into the fabric, more spells or charms. She would have to deconstruct the magical properties to figure out the additional magic uses. Plus, the wizard’s personal magic had also left an imprint. She couldn’t tell what his persuasion was from just touching the jacket, but she sensed he was strong. Who would need that kind of protection?

  The bell on the front door rang and a group of witches filed into the shop. Vivi glided behind the counter and smiled brightly, ready to help her customers. Too bad she hadn’t invented a potion to be in
two places at once. Now that was an idea that would surely win an award at the potion contest.

  While ringing up sales and restocking the shelves, Vivi tried to think of some relatives who might have owned the coat. Clover knew the most about the family tree. She practically had it memorized, so Vivi didn’t know why the aunties had given the coat to her. Sure she reacted to it, but Clover could have narrowed down who it belonged to much faster than she could. After sifting through her memory of aunts, uncles, and cousins, Vivi came up with only one suspicious wizard who might have owned the coat.

  He was the black sheep of the family—Uncle Seth, her mother’s brother. He was the sore spot in the family. He’d caused Elspeth much pain and suffering growing up and was somehow directly linked to their grandmother’s death, which Elspeth refused to discuss. Unfortunately, Vivi might have to dig up the past and force Elspeth to finally tell her daughters the details of Gwendolyn’s terrible death.

  Was her Uncle Seth the real owner of the jacket? Was that why her aunties refused to tell her more about the jacket and the magic it still possessed? Elspeth would be devastated if her brother were involved in black magic. Vivi shuddered as the image of her uncle floated into her mind’s eye. His thick wavy gray hair and dark gray eyes had imprinted into her young mind. He’d had a hard time at Haven Academy and was obsessed with dark magic, constantly experimenting with antiquated spellcraft, including the origins of blood magic. He joined a dark coven when he was only eighteen. After Gwendolyn’s death, he disappeared and no one had seen him since. They suspected he’d gone totally dark, embracing black magic to the fullest.

  Vivi jumped when the sound of someone pounding on the front door roused her from her memories. She’d been going through the motions of closing up the shop and hadn’t realized anyone was even still around. Vivi poked her head out of the back room and saw Scarlet waving at her through the glass.

  “Are you closed?” she bellowed, yanking on the locked door.

  Vivi shook her head and hurried out front. “Yes. See the closed sign.” She pointed to the sign hanging in the window, but unlocked the door anyway.

  “Thanks,” Scarlet said, wedging her hip inside of the door and sliding into the shop like the lynx she was.

  “Hey,” Vivi started to say more but stopped herself. There was no point trying to stop Scarlet when she was on a mission. “Can I help you find something?” she asked instead.

  “I need a sleeping potion and something to help with these bags under my eyes. Also, I need help with split ends and I have some wicked sore feet.” Scarlet motioned to her high-heeled leather clogs, without realizing that maybe she should start with her choice in footwear. “Arnica won’t stop bragging about the potion you designed especially for her aching feet.” Scarlet had helped herself to a woven shopping basket by the front door and was scooping up potions and dropping them inside. The Evil Queen was one of the most successful shops in Willow Realm and it showed in her complete lack of a budget. Price and quantity were no objects.

  Vivi handed Scarlet the Sole Soothers potion she’d created at Arnica’s request. “What brings you out so late?” Vivi asked.

  “There’s never a moment’s peace at my shop. Hey, that’s a great name for a potion—Moment’s Peace. I want a cut of the profit if you use the name.” Scarlet never stopped hustling. She had profit on the brain.

  “You’d never have it any other way,” Vivi said with a smirk.

  “True. How’s it going?” she asked. “Any more visions lately?” She tossed a new hair elixir into her basket.

  “Yes. I had a vision brought on by a leather jacket.”

  “Really? Do tell,” Scarlet said, cocking an eyebrow.

  Vivi told Scarlet all about the aunties and the jacket. “I’m guessing the wizard who owned it was wicked strong,” Vivi said. Thinking of her uncle made a stitch form in her brow.

  “Strong magic does that,” Scarlet said, running purple enameled fingernails over the jacket. “It’s like a transfer of magic and causes a jolt to your system, sometimes activating your persuasion.”

  “An energy jolt. Like a magical shock. That’s an interesting trick.”

  Scarlet nodded. “Exactly. So you’re probably right. But your aunties won’t tell you who owned the jacket? Sly old bats.” Scarlet meant no insult and Vivi smiled while she rang up Scarlet’s purchases and put them into a bag.

  “You got that right. I’m convinced they want me to find out for myself.”

  “What are your plans for it?” Scarlet asked, placing a few gold coins into Vivi’s outstretched palm.

  She dropped the coins into the cashbox. “I want to find out who owned it and what spells are currently on it. I’ll do an impression potion to find the owner, but I’m not sure yet about the current spells. I know one’s a ward.” She could still sense the thrumming protection magic on the jacket.

  “Yep. I can feel that one too.” Scarlet pulled out her elegant black wand with silver filigree carved into the surface. Scarlet muttered a spell and waved her wand over the jacket. A green glowing light emanated from the wand tip and glided across the leather. A few sparks popped and the jacket glowed with a golden light. “There’s a full curse ward on it. Plus, for good measure, he installed a bounce-back charm to send any curses back on the perpetrator. But that’s all I’m getting.” Scarlet lowered her wand and muttered a deactivation spell.

  “That was a lot. Thanks,” Vivi said.

  “No problem. What’s next?” Scarlet asked.

  “If you want to stay, I was going to brew up an impression potion,” Vivi said.

  “I don’t have any plans tonight. Crank up the heat under the cauldron.” Scarlet pulled her hair back into a ponytail and said, “Let’s get brewing, sister.”

  Within the hour the potion was bubbling and a strong earthy scent filled the air. Vivi waved her wand and an icy cold blast hit the potion, cooling it enough to pour into a spray bottle. She muttered the spell and, with another wave of her wand, the potion was ready to go.

  The witches stood over the jacket and Vivi gave it a light misting with the potion.

  Her expectations were big. She suspected Seth was the owner and was hoping for confirmation. But nothing happened. No spark. No magical release of energy or sudden apparition. Vivi glanced at the spray bottle. “You watched me brew the potion. I know I got the recipe correct and the incantation was perfect, if I do say so myself.”

  Scarlet ran her hand over the jacket and rubbed her fingers together. “Yep. Cold and damp. The jacket could have been wiped. Tough break.”

  “I should have expected this. The jacket was important to someone once. There is no way I’d let something important to me leave my possession without a magical cleaning.” Vivi’s brow furrowed. “There has to be more I can do.”

  “You could charge the spell to give it more power,” Scarlet said.

  “With what? It’s just the two of us. We’d need a coven to enhance the magic properly,” Vivi said, but Scarlet had gotten her mind buzzing.

  “What we lack in numbers, we make up for in tenacity.”

  “Let’s do it. We’ll use a circle to focus the magic.” Vivi dug out a half-dozen white pillar candles and a jar of crystal salt and made a circle on the floor, placing the jacket inside while Scarlet arranged the candles.

  Next, the two witches stood over the jacket. After applying the potion again to the surface, they clasped hands and repeated the incantation for the impression potion and focused their joint energy into the circle. The air hummed with magic. Warmth spread from the center of the circle and over Vivi’s skin like she was standing in the sun. The hair on her arm rose.

  “I’m getting something,” Vivi said.

  “Me too.” Scarlet squeezed Vivi’s hand.

  Vivi’s skin started to burn. She shifted as the sensatio
n grew. “Scarlet, we have to stop. The magic’s too strong.”

  Scarlet held tight. “It’s about to break. I can feel it.”

  “No. It’s not breaking. There’s something wrong.” Heat radiated up Vivi’s arms to her face and neck, feeling like she’d stuck her head in an oven.

  The circle vibrated, a huge shimmering bubble of energy formed around them, and then a snap hit Vivi like a slap in the face and both witches went tumbling backwards on to the floor, the circle broken. “It’s a bounce-back spell. The impression potion slapped back at us,” Vivi said, her face still stinging.

  Scarlet rubbed her cheeks. “That spell better not leave a mark. I’m not in the mood to do a concealing spell.”

  “It could have been a lot worse.” Vivi waved her wand and swept up the salt crystals that were now scattered all over the floor. The bounce-back spell wasn’t close to black magic and not a strong enough spell for a dark magician. Maybe the jacket didn’t belong to Seth, after all.

  Scarlet dusted off her pants and gathered up her shopping bag and purse and Vivi let her out. “Have a good night. You Mayhems are never a bore. Always something crazy going on.”

  Vivi finished cleaning the shop, locked up, and made her way to her apartment. After finishing a bowl of chilled tomato soup and a grilled cheese, she slumped into the sofa and sipped a glass of crisp white wine. A cool spring breeze blew in the open window, fluttering the curtains. With a squawk, Rumor coasted through the window and landed on his perch, ruffling his glossy black feathers as he settled down. Attached to his leg was a small envelope.

  “Where’d that come from?” Vivi asked and set her wine glass down as she untied the message from her familiar’s leg. “I didn’t send you out to deliver a message. So you’re doing a little freelancing. Is that it?”