“His name wasn’t Nick by any chance?”
“Yes, it was. Do you know him? I’ve never seen him around here before.”
“You wouldn’t. It’s his first visit. Don’t worry. I’ll handle him. Just make sure you don’t tell him anything about what we do here if he gets in again.”
“No worries about that. I made out this was a regular bar, and we serve the usual beer and spirits. He had a quick half and then left.”
“Good, let’s keep it that way. He won’t be a problem but let me know if he comes back again.”
“Will do,” Izzie said.
I stepped out of Cloven Hoof and inhaled the delicious smells in the air. I got a tangy whiff of barbecue, a sugary puff of cotton candy, and there was a definite scent of chocolate.
Wiggles nudged me with his nose. “We’re going to have fun tonight.”
“I hope so.” My excitement faded as I spotted Nick hurrying toward me.
“Hey, I’m glad I found you,” he said.
“I didn’t know you were looking for me.”
“You look nice.” His appreciative gaze ran over my clean black pants and sparkly top. I rarely did sparkles but made an exception on nights like this. “I stopped by earlier, but you weren’t about.”
I raised my eyebrows and discreetly pressed a finger into the magic barrier around the building. It was intact. “Did you need something from me?”
“Everyone tells me Cloven Hoof is great.”
“I’ve had no complaints.”
He grinned. “Would you like to buy me a drink?”
I snorted a laugh. “Not any time soon.”
His grin widened, his dimples popping. “I thought I’d ask. I don’t want you to think I’m old-fashioned by offering to buy you one.”
“Nobody is buying anybody any drinks.” I went to step around him, but Nick moved into my path.
“There’s something about you, something about this whole place that is different. There does seem to be something magical in the air. Is it just me, or are the colors brighter?”
“It’s just you.” I glanced at Wiggles and shrugged. There wasn’t much I could do to help this guy. His family no longer had anything to do with Willow Tree Falls. He most likely had a tiny bit of magic swirling through his veins but wouldn’t be able to do anything with it. It was best he didn’t know what really went on here. He’d only miss what he couldn’t have.
Nick shook his head. “You’re still glowing. I’d say it was a healthy glow, but it’s still a little green.”
“I need to get going,” I said.
“I’ll come with you,” Nick said. “I want to do more interviews with residents. Hey, maybe you can be a future interviewee? Being a club owner, I bet you’ve got great stories to tell.”
“That’s not going to work.”
Nick kept up with my fast pace, not seeming to pick up on the hints I was dropping that I wasn’t interested in him keeping me company. “What’s wrong with your dog’s eyes?”
I slowed and stared at him. “Nothing. What do you see?”
Wiggles’ eyes were now permanently red, the intensity of color growing when he grew agitated or angry.
“It looks like he’s got pink eye,” Nick said. “I’ve never seen it so intense before. Have you taken him to the vet?”
“He’s not sick.”
“It’s contagious,” Nick said. “Make sure he doesn’t come into contact with any other dogs until he’s better.”
“Like I said, Wiggles is fine.”
Wiggles pretended to act like a normal dog, sniffing the ground and cocking his leg up a nearby bush.
Nick watched him for a moment. “He looks healthy enough other than the pink eye.”
“Tempest.” Rhett Blackthorn appeared on the path as we turned the corner. He had his leather biker jacket over one shoulder. His dark, intense gaze shifted to Nick. “I’m not interrupting.”
“No, Nick was leaving.” I gave Nick a pointed look. “Don’t you have people you need to interview?”
Nick’s affable grin faded, and he glanced from me to Rhett. “Oh, sure, if you’re busy.”
I nodded. “See you around.” I watched as Nick hurried away, glancing over his shoulder as he did so.
“That guy could not take a hint,” Wiggles said. “And accusing me of having pink eye. I should have bitten him.”
“He’s persistent,” I agreed.
“If he’s causing you problems, I can have a word,” Rhett said.
“It’s nothing I can’t handle. Do you need me for something?” I tried hard not to admire his toned biceps on display thanks to the white T-shirt he wore. We had history, but that was where our relationship needed to stay. Romantic distractions were not an option.
“Your guy is getting out of control. I thought you’d like to know.”
“My guy?”
“Axel. He’s drifting around the village telling all the non-magicals his father is a wealthy demon.”
I groaned. “Someone must have sold him dodgy produce.” My gaze cut to Rhett. “It’s not your gang, is it? I’ve had to tell some of your guys to stop dealing in stuff they don’t understand.”
Rhett raised a hand and shook his head. “My boys know better than to do that. They don’t want to cross you or your fearsome auntie. Josh is still talking about the time Queenie knocked him out and then forced him to ride pillion on the back of his own bike.”
“That’s right, and she’d do it again, so make sure they aren’t selling anything they shouldn’t. I’d better go see how bad Axel is.” For the last couple of months, I’d been helping Axel Shadowsoul with his little magic mushroom misuse problem. He’d used them so many times that he’d gotten a taste for them and had trouble functioning if he didn’t have a healthy supply of mushrooms flowing through his system. He’d twisted my arm and asked for my help in getting his head clear. We’d been spending a lot of time together, and quite often, it was time Axel used to try to worm his way into my affections.
“He was outside Sprinkles. I heard him say something about going to the stones.”
“Thanks. I need to make sure he doesn’t do anything he’ll regret or that will get him noticed by the angels.” My motive was selfish. If Angel Force thought the produce I sold at Cloven Hoof got people hooked, and it almost never did, they might take my license.
“It might be too late for that,” Rhett said. “He’s got issues.”
“Haven’t we all?”
Rhett fell into step with me as I hurried toward the busy main street. “I’ve got a couple of guys in the gang who had similar problems if you want me to lend a hand in getting him clean.”
“We’re getting there. It’s just taking longer than I thought it would. It doesn’t help when Axel gets his hands on supplies he shouldn’t.” I couldn’t ask Rhett for help with Axel. They weren’t exactly best buddies.
“Any time you need my input, just say. I had to come down hard on my guys before they straightened themselves out, but they’re better men for it.”
“If I need any muscle, I’ll let you know.” I indulged myself with a peek at Rhett’s muscles before looking straight ahead and concentrating on not tripping over any of the non-magicals milling around. I had to remember I was just friends with Rhett. He was always there, offering his help and assistance. Most of the time, I never took him up on it. Now and again, it was nice to know he was there, watching my back, the same way he did for everybody else. Even though he liked to play the tough biker guy most of the time, there was a softer side to Rhett, the side that made my heart pound.
“Tempest, have you got a minute?” Dazielle poked her head out of Mystic Mushroom, a slice of pizza in one hand.
“I’ll catch up with you later.” Rhett nodded a quick greeting to Dazielle and hurried away. His gang operated on the wrong side of the law more often than not, and he had a tense relationship with Angel Force.
“You’re hanging out with interesting company.” Dazielle wiped
cheese off her chin, still managing to look angel perfect, despite the grease on her hand. She wore her usual uniform of pristine white pants and a white shirt. Why did everything with angels have to be white? Surely, if they wore black like I did, they’d get more wear out of their outfits.
“Are you off duty today?” I nodded at the pizza.
“Not a chance, not with so many non-magicals around. We’re struggling to handle all the lost children and drunken behavior.” She took another bite of pizza. “A person has to eat, though. I wanted to offer you another out-of-town job if you want to go out again so soon. It’s a nasty demon with a taste for virginal college students.”
I laughed. “Good luck with finding many of those. What does he do when he finds one?”
Dazielle’s nose wrinkled. “I’d tell you, but I want to enjoy my pizza.”
“I can take the job. Give me a few days to straighten up things here, and I can head out again.”
“This one’s an Irish demon. I’ve no idea how he crossed the water, but he’s causing havoc with the non-magicals. It won’t be long before someone is killed.”
“Send me the file, and I’ll take a look.” I patted my stomach. “While you’re here, do you want to take this demon off my hands? Well, out of my gut?”
She stared at me. “You’re carrying Frank and Raksh?”
“Yep, both on board and both unhappy about it. Raksh put up a fight, so I had to grab him while I could. He’s kicking like a mule. I need him gone.”
Dazielle stuffed down her pizza. She pulled a slim silver tube from her back pocket and flipped the lid. It was a demon canister and sucked those pesky demons right inside. “Cough him into this.”
I grabbed the tube, turned my back so the non-magicals wouldn’t notice, and coughed. Raksh shifted up my windpipe and stuck fast.
I gestured at my back. “Hit me,” I wheezed.
Dazielle was never one to hold back. My ribs groaned as she slammed the flat of her hand onto my back several times.
I gave a huge belch, and Raksh zoomed out and into the tube. I flipped the lid shut and handed him to her. “One demon promptly coughed up.”
“Good work.” She tucked him in her pocket, slapped me on the back again, and waltzed away.
“Someone must have put a feather in her panties,” Wiggles said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Dazielle smile so much.”
I grinned at him as I rubbed my sore back. “It’s got more to do with tonight’s celebrations than feathers being anywhere they shouldn’t be. Tonight makes everyone happy. We all get a chance to recharge and celebrate.”
“Including me,” Wiggles said. “What are we waiting for? Let’s head to the stones like everyone else and see what trouble we can get into.”
I followed along behind Wiggles, soaking up the atmosphere and feeling a hundred times better now Raksh was no longer taking up residence. On solstice eve, Willow Tree Falls became even more alive with power and magic. Everyone felt good. I could feel my magic energy overflowing, and my fingers tingled with power desperate to be released.
A small side effect was that Frank was also stronger and had been misbehaving for the last hour, sneaking thoughts into my head and suggestions about letting him out for a quick play.
It wasn’t happening, not this evening. No matter how strong Frank got, I was stronger. I was in control tonight.
As I reached the edge of the stone circle, the crowd thickened. Everyone, magical and non-magical, was drawn to stand inside the stones and soak up the vibrations. I walked slowly around the outside of the stones, touching each one in turn. There was something incredible about tonight, and I wasn’t going to miss a second of it.
“Where have you been?” Aurora bounded up to me, carrying an enormous tub of popcorn. “You’re missing all the fun.”
“I had a bit of business to take care of. I’m here now. What have I missed?”
She grinned as she stuffed popcorn into her mouth, small pieces sticking to her glossed pink lips. “Auntie Queenie and Granny Dottie had a dance-off. It was hilarious. Everyone stood around them in a circle and clapped them on. I thought Auntie Queenie was going to pop a hip at one point; she was grinding against a stone and trying to twerk at the same time.”
“That’s something I’m glad I missed. Who won?”
“Granny Dottie, of course. She’s so competitive.” Aurora reached out a hand to me, her expression cautious. “Is everything good with you?”
She was asking about Frank in a roundabout way. We didn’t often mention him by name. It only excited him when he became aware of Aurora. I nodded and grabbed her hand. “Let’s take a look around.”
Aurora beamed at me and skipped ahead, tugging me along behind her. I nodded at Merrie as I saw her at the Cloven Hoof stall. She smiled and waved me away. She looked like she was enjoying herself.
There were stands selling all kinds of treats, from popcorn to cookies. People danced around, even though no music played, and everyone we passed smiled and nodded, happy to be here.
As we walked around, I kept an eye out for Axel, but I couldn’t see him. Hopefully, he’d decided to sleep off the effects of whatever he’d taken somewhere quiet and out of the way.
Despite the energetic vibe of the stones, I still felt a certain amount of bone weariness from my time away from Willow Tree Falls. Being away left me drained. Still, I wasn’t passing up on the fun and was even convinced by Aurora to dance around the stones.
The next time I checked, three hours had passed. I couldn’t have been dancing for that long! I leaned against a standing stone and stifled a yawn. All this partying was exhausting, and it had been a long day. I needed a time out.
I checked Wiggles was keeping himself out of mischief before creeping away into the quiet of the surrounding woods, making sure none of my family spotted me and dragged me back. I only had to walk for a short while before the noise faded and the peacefulness of the forest engulfed me. I trailed my fingers over a few of the trees, noticing how they vibrated with energy.
I sat on a soft pile of moss and leaned back against one of the trees. I needed five minutes with my eyes shut, and then I’d get back to the party. A quick nap to recharge and I’d be dancing again.
My eyes were growing heavy when I heard faint footsteps. I eased one eye open. It was the forest’s wild woman. She rarely made an appearance and never in the daytime. I didn’t consider her a threat. I knew little about her, only that she lived in the woods. She’d been here for as long as I could remember and thrived in the sanctity of the forest. She definitely had magic but kept her distance as she was doing so now, skirting around me, her cautious gaze fixed on my face as she slid past.
I relaxed against the tree and shut my eyes.
***
A hand grabbed my shoulder and shook me. I gasped in a breath as my eyes flicked open. For a second, I had no idea where I was. In my confusion, Frank took advantage. His energy surged up my spine like a sticky dark mass, only becoming stronger when I saw it was Aurora who’d shaken me awake.
My hand went to her throat. “Are you crazy? Get away from me.”
Aurora’s eyes bulged as my fingers tightened around her neck. She blasted a spell into my stomach. It shot through me and made me lose my grip. I shoved her back and scrambled away.
Her eyes widened as she backed away. “I’m sorry. You were asleep. I didn’t think Frank would be a problem.”
Frank’s energy curled up my neck. Once his hot power reached the top of my head, I was in trouble. “Get out of here.”
“Tempest, I didn’t mean it. I didn’t know Frank would be in control when you woke.” Aurora clung to the tree next to her as if it would protect her from the dangerous demon inside me who wanted her dead.
“He’s not. Not yet.” I held up a hand to block my view of Aurora. Even the scent of her was driving him mad. This demon was obsessed with my sister.
“I’m sorry. I’ll go.” Aurora turned and ran.
I gritted
my teeth, focusing on Frank and shoving against his power. “Get back where you belong. She is not for you.”
Frank purred with delight, but his energy sank an inch. “I’m just biding my time, little witch. That was a warning.”
“Next time you try a trick like that, I’ll move us out of Willow Tree Falls to some cold, magic sucking place demons hate. I’ll stay there forever if you ever harm Aurora.”
He growled inside my head and sank back further. “You wouldn’t dare. It would hurt us both.”
“It would be worth it to see you suffering.” It would be awful to leave this place for good, but I’d do it. I’d leave if Frank ever became too much of a problem.
I noticed Aurora had slowed and hidden behind a tree, peeking out every few seconds, concern clear on her face.
I let out a shaky sigh. “It’s okay. He’s back where he belongs. What is it? Why did you wake me?”
She crept out from behind the tree. “I had to find you. Mom is upset. There’s been a body found in the cemetery.”
Chapter 4
I stared at Aurora. Had she taken leave of her senses? “A body in the cemetery. That’s hardly news. That’s where all the bodies go.”
“Not a dead body. Well, yes, a dead body. Not one in a coffin and not one buried in the ground. This one was laid out dead for everyone to see.”
I blinked slowly at her, my half-asleep, demon-muddled brain struggling to catch up. “Someone left a body in our cemetery?”
“Yes! Come on. Everybody is there. Angel Force is trampling over everything as usual. It’s upsetting the demons, and they’ve made two new cracks in the last hour trying to get to the angels.”
I shook my head. The last thing we needed was a bunch of angels running around the cemetery. It would take us weeks to calm the demons.
“Hurry! Mom is going crazy. She almost had a fight with Dazielle.” Aurora gestured for me to speed things up.
“That I’d like to see.” We raced out of the forest and passed the almost deserted stone circle.
I blinked in surprise. I must have been asleep a lot longer than five minutes if the party was over. Apart from a few passed-out non-magicals, everyone had gone.
Hell of a Witch (Crypt Witch Cozy Mystery Series Book 2) Page 3