by R. Mason
“How about we don’t do it in a crowded car park?” Amethyst tilted her head, and Harper looked around for a moment before nodding.
“I call shotgun!” Dylan shouted, climbing into the passenger seat.
“No one was going to fight you for it,” Amethyst and Faye shared a look, before climbing into the backseat, “So, where are we going?”
“Your place?” Harper said, but Amethyst shook her head.
“Both my mum and Ash will be there.”
“I haven’t seen Ash in ages,” Faye pouted. Harper started the car and they pulled out of the car park. It took a moment for Amethyst to tear her eyes away from Faye’s bottom lip, and when she did, she saw Dylan giving her a funny look in the rear-view mirror.
“We can’t talk about all of this there,” Amethyst gestured at the car, and they all knew what she meant, “What about yours?”
“My dad’s home, and he’s bringing his girlfriend over tonight. Dylan?”
“I was hoping you’d skip me,” Dylan sunk into his seat, and Harper grinned.
“His place is as hippy as you can imagine,” Harper explained with a laugh, and Dylan tried to slap him, “Honestly, beads in the doorways, loads of books on Wicca and all kinds of other witchy crap.”
“It’s not crap if it’s all real,” Dylan argued, the very picture of a toddler.
“Some mythical things may be real, Dyl,” Harper raised his eyebrows, “But what your mum believes in? That’s kind of ridiculous.”
“Dude, we’ve talked about you making fun of my mum’s beliefs.”
“You’re the one that’s embarrassed for us all to go see her,” Harper said gently, trying to be placating.
“Of course I am!” Dylan shouted, “It’s weird for new people. That doesn’t mean you get to make fun.”
“When did you get so sensitive?”
“When did you become such an asshole?”
“Guys,” Amethyst leant forward in her seat, looking between the two boys. Dylan’s brow was furrowed, and it was probably the angriest Amethyst had ever seen him. In the driver’s seat, Harper was watching the road again, his jaw clenching, “We can’t argue with each other when the real enemy is out there,” She nodded at the windscreen, and Dylan swallowed.
“You make it sound so dramatic,” He said, still pouting.
“Considering that all of our lives are in danger,” Amethyst leant back in her seat, “It is pretty dramatic.”
“I’ll give you a non-dramatic translation,” Faye rolled her eyes, and stared out of the window, her head leant against the glass, “Who makes fun of whose mum doesn’t matter, and sorting out Kamini does. Better?”
“You’re right,” Harper said, his voice somehow calmer than before the argument, “I’m sorry, Dylan.”
“Apology accepted,” Dylan grumbled, “Arse hole.”
“You love me.”
“Reluctantly.”
“And in other news,” Harper pulled over, “We’re here.”
“Oh,” Amethyst looked out of the window at the house they were parked in front of. It looked normal. No obviously hippy things on the outside, apart from the dream catcher Amethyst could see in a window on the second floor, “How anticlimactic.”
“What were you expecting?” Dylan climbed out of the car, and Amethyst swiftly followed, shrugging, “A broomstick collection? Maybe a few black cats?”
“Wow, I wouldn’t have pegged you for a witchist,” Dylan tilted his head, looking so much like a puppy that it made Amethyst laugh.
“You’ve known me for how long?”
“Formally? Like, two weeks,” Dylan sighed, “Yeah, I guess I can’t really know you that well, can I?”
“As long as you know she snores,” Faye spoke up from the other side of the car, “You know her pretty well.”
“Once you’ve heard her snore,” Harper widened his eyes dramatically, “You can never forget it.”
“Okay, first off,” Amethyst ignored the glare Faye was sending Harper’s way, and held up a finger, “Rude. And second, we’re here for a reason, so, shall we actually go in?”
“Lead the way,” Harper patted Dylan’s back, who flinched slightly.
“Too hard,” He declared, then made his way up to the door. Again, Amethyst expected there to be some sort of smoky cloud of incense behind it, but instead there was just a beaded entry to the living room, and some giant crystals by the welcome mat.
“You know,” Faye put her hands on her hips and looked around, “I’m kind of disappointed.”
“Same here,” Amethyst said, “This isn’t nearly as embarrassing as I was expecting.”
“Thanks,” Dylan rubbed the back of his neck, and Amethyst took this moment of stillness as an opportunity to take her tie off. She stuffed it in her blazer pocket afterwards and took a quick look in the mirror to make sure her hair wasn’t as awful as she thought it was.
“Come on,” Harper headed through the beaded entry to the living room, “I want a cup of tea, so we can talk in the kitchen.”
“God, you’d think this was your home or something,” Dylan followed him, winking at Amethyst as he passed her.
“You’re both idiots, and I want a cuppa too.”
“Oh, me too!” Faye jogged a little to walk by Amethyst’s side, and spluttered when she got wacked in the face by beads.
“Smooth,” Amethyst whispered.
“Shut up.”
There were more crystals in the other room, and it stunk of incense. So much so, that Amethyst saw Faye put her sleeve over her nose as they made their way to the kitchen.
“Shi-” Amethyst held in a curse when she stubbed her toe on something. She looked down and saw a ceramic cat giving her the side eye. Moving quickly past, she managed to bump into Harper’s back in her attempt to escape.
“Careful,” Harper smiled at her over his shoulder and she stuck her tongue out at him. She felt like a kid for a moment again, then Dylan opened his damn mouth.
“While the kettle’s boiling,” He flicked the switch and leant against the counter, “Let’s start the debate.”
“I’m not sure I have the energy for this,” Amethyst groaned, walking around Harper and his stupid tall body to stand opposite Dylan, “You mind if I-?”
“Hop on up, sis.”
“Please never call me that again.”
“Noted,” Dylan nodded, and Amethyst hopped up to sit on the counter, “So?”
“So,” Amethyst looked at Harper pointedly, “I don’t want to trust a guy who was Kamini’s right hand man.”
“I think he could be useful,” Harper crossed his arms, “We don’t know anything about Kamini. We don’t know her weaknesses, her background, or what she’s really planning. Leon would know.”
“Would he though?” Faye said, “He could just be a lackey. Maybe Kamini knows we’re in the dark here and is dangling an information carrot in front of us when he really knows nothing.”
“That’s a big reach,” Dylan said, “You’re assuming Kamini has even thought this far ahead. You didn’t see Leon when he changed sides. You didn’t see that emo kid’s reaction.”
“It’s called acting,” Amethyst rolled her eyes, “I could convince you I’d switched sides. I could probably get Faye in on it too and have her bawl her eyes out. Either way, we can’t trust him! He’s an asshole and I don’t want him anywhere near-” Amethyst held back Faye’s name- “anywhere near any of us.”
“I’m not saying we trust him,” Harper said calmly, using that damn placating voice that made Amethyst want to curl up into a ball and listen to it for hours. He should make audio books, “I’m saying we use him. We see what information he has, then throw him out the door.”
Amethyst considered him for a moment, and tried to read what he was feeling. He always looked so calm. No matter what the situation was, Harper was in control. She wondered what he would be like when he was angry. What would it take to make him snap? Maybe if something happened to Dylan. She let her eye
s go across the room to the boy in question, and twisted her mouth.
“Do you really think we should trust him?” Amethyst asked him, “Or are you just saying that because Harper is?”
“I can form my own opinions, thanks,” Dylan turned around when the kettle clicked off, and went about making their tea. Somehow Amethyst felt like she had said something wrong.
“Faye?” She asked gently, “What do you say?”
“When he threw me in the back of their van, and took me to the crypt,” Faye started, looking at the floor, chewing on her bottom lip, “I thought I was going to die. I thought they were going to kill me to get to Amethyst, and I was terrified. When you’re going through life, you don’t really think about it,” She looked up at Amethyst, “Dying. But then, I did. I thought about who I’d be leaving behind, and what I would miss. I can’t do that again.”
“But you didn’t die,” Harper frowned, “You were hardly injured. We need to get the upper hand here.”
“I can’t see him again,” Faye pleaded, “I can’t.”
“You don’t have to,” Harper replied, still unreadable, “We’ll meet up with him, and you can stay home with Dylan.”
“I’m not staying home,” Dylan said stubbornly, handing around tea. Amethyst held hers between her hands and took a huge gulp, loving the slight burn as it went down.
“I have to see him, if we’re going at all,” She tapped her fingernails against the ceramic cup, “Harper can stay with you, Faye, since it’s him that’s forcing us to deal with him.”
“Forcing is a bit strong,” Harper laughed, and gave Dylan a grateful smile when he handed over the cup, “I just think we should explore all options.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Amethyst rolled her eyes, “Me and Dylan will meet up with Leon, and you two can bond.”
“Oh, God,” Faye groaned.
If Amethyst was honest, she wanted to sneak a camera into the room to see what would happen. It’d be a right show.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“This is stupid,” Amethyst wanted to stomp her feet, but she was already pouting like a child and anything else would be too far.
“If it works it won’t be stupid,” Dylan replied, looking around nervously. It had been ten minutes since they’d left Faye and Harper at Volkov’s, and ten minutes since they went looking for Leon. It ended with them standing by the end of the forest, ready to shout.
“We don’t even know if we’ll be in the damn forest then I’ll be yelling like an idiot and we won’t find him and-” Amethyst was stopped by a hand over her mouth, and she narrowed her eyes at Dylan. Maybe ripping his head off would help her mood.
“He’ll be here.”
“Who’ll be here?” A voice came from beside them and they sprung apart, hackles going up. Dylan reached for crowbar he had stuffed in the back of his trousers, and Amethyst clenched her fists, hoping her own strength would be enough, “Woah, calm down.”
“Leon,” Amethyst sighed, relaxing slightly, but not completely, “How did you know we were here?”
“You’re loud,” Leon tilted his head, “And when you’re living in the wood you learn to use anything as entertainment.”
“Being homeless is the least of your worries,” Amethyst watched him carefully, trying to gauge his mood. Was he going to do something? Was this an ambush?
“Take your hand off that thing, Dylan,” Leon said, “I’m not going to do anything. I’m harmless,” He shrugged, “Mostly.”
Dylan glanced at Amethyst, who nodded, and he moved his hand away from the crowbar. They had some questions prepared earlier, but hadn’t really expected to be confronted so soon. It felt displaced.
“We’ve thought about your offer, from yesterday,” Amethyst said, trying to sound assertive, “We’ll accept your help.”
“Oh, really?” Leon took a step closer, and Dylan held a hand out.
“Stay over there,” He warned.
“Here’s me thinking we’re friends,” Leon shook his head, “Anyway, I was told that if you came to me for help in this, you’ve already lost.”
“Do you want to help us or not?” Amethyst snapped, “We don’t have all day.”
“Fine,” Leon sighed, running a hand through his hair, making it even messier than before. Looking him over for the first time since they arrived, Amethyst noticed that he looked like crap. He looked homeless, which was no surprise. His Henley was dirty, and his jeans were ripped. Whether it was on purpose or not, Amethyst couldn’t tell. There were bags under his eyes too. Amethyst would have felt sorry for him if it wasn’t for the whole, you know, kidnapping Faye thing.
“Why do you think you can help us? What information do you have that we don’t?”
“Um, I don’t know,” Leon scoffed, “All of it? You know nothing about Kamini apart from the fact that she’s a bitch.”
“I don’t really feel like having this conversation here,” Amethyst said, “So let’s go to the café across the road.”
“I don’t have any money,” Leon bit his bottom lip.
“Then don’t buy anything,” Dylan replied simply, before crossing the road, Amethyst and Leon following closely behind.
“He hates me,” Leon grumbled, and Amethyst couldn’t help her laugh.
“We all do.”
◆◆◆
FAYE
Volkov’s was dying. It was like the guy hadn’t bothered looking after his flowers, aka his business, in days. Faye ran her fingers over a dead petal, and watched as it fell onto the floor.
“Where’s this Volkov guy?” She asked Harper, “Shouldn’t he be looking after his flowers?”
“He’s a busy guy,” Harper shrugged, “Especially so close to the Summer Solstice.”
It was only two days away. Even if they wanted to start whatever potion it was that Amethyst told her about, it was far too late. Not only that, but the full moon was the day before. Tomorrow. Ever since Amethyst had turned, Faye had kept track of when the full moon was. It wasn’t hard. There were tonnes of apps for it, and reminders that would let you know in advance when the full moon was coming.
Faye wished she could be there with Amethyst when she spoke to Leon, but she couldn’t face him. Not yet.
Just the thought of seeing him again made Faye feel sick.
Harper broke her out of her thoughts when he dropped something off the counter.
“Sorry,” He muttered, picking it up again. He seemed nervous.
“You know,” Faye said casually, “You don’t have to impress me.”
“What?” Harper whirled around, staring at Faye with wide eyes. It made her want to punch him.
“I’m not Amethyst’s keeper,” She explained, but the words felt bitter in her mouth, “If you want to date her, you can. I’m not the person who’s going to stop you.”
“I don’t think you’re her keeper,” Harper’s shoulders relaxed, and he turned around again, heading into the back room and expecting Faye to follow, “But she values your opinion above others. I’ve gotta watch out for you.”
“I’m not going to bad talk someone I don’t know.”
“No,” Harper smirked, stopping outside another door and leaning on it, “But I have a feeling you’re good at reading people.”
“You think I’ll read something bad about you?”
“I don’t know,” Harper shrugged, his smile easy, “Anything bad yet?”
Faye considered him for a moment. His red jacket was kind of ugly, and she didn’t like the way he seemed so confident in himself. But those weren’t actual bad things. That was just Faye’s jealousy rearing its ugly head. She pursed her lips and met Harper’s eyes.
“Not yet.”
“Good,” Harper grinned, then opened the door.
The room was empty.
“Shouldn’t he be here?” Faye walked in, looking around for any signs of someone being there recently. There was a cup of tea with a layer of mould on the top, and Faye’s nose wrinkled. Who left that laying around?
“He should be,” Harper frowned, flicking through pieces of paper on a desk. The entire place smelt stale. It wasn’t really a surprise. Faye had assumed that some guy who was a wizard or some crap would have a dust filled room with old books and stuff in it. The mouldy tea was unpleasant, though.
“Then, why isn’t he?” Faye asked, and Harper met her eyes, unreadable.
“I don’t know.”
They both stood in the room, silent. Faye started to feel unsettled. She walked fully in, and started to look for signs of something happening. She looked under books, on top of shelves, and under some paper weights. Nothing.
“What are you doing?” Harper sighed behind her, and Faye ignored him, “Faye.”
“I can’t just sit here,” Faye almost shouted, and took in a deep breath to calm herself down, “I’m too pathetic to go and see Leon, so I’m going to figure out where Volkov is. Or what happened to him.”
“What makes you think something happened to him?”
“I don’t know,” Faye said quietly, “Just a feeling.”
She turned back around and spotted something under a piece of paper on the desk. The entire thing was a mess of books and empty vials. There was a pot of what looked like cod liver oil tablets near the back, and Faye wondered if Volkov was the kind of guy to take vitamin tablets. Surely, he would have magic or something for it, but Faye wasn’t a psychic/wizard/witch expert.
She didn’t say anything to Harper, who was moving around on the other side of the room, and moved the paper out of the way. There were two words engraved into the table.
KEMP DON’T
The last letter wasn’t as deeply engraved, as if Volkov was in a rush. Faye frowned, and ran her fingers over the letters. She had no idea what it could possibly mean.
“Hey, Harper,” She looked over her shoulder to ask Harper if he knew what it meant, but he was gone, “Harper?”
Panicked, she ran over to the door and tried to go out into the front of the shop again, but it was locked. Why was it locked? There was another door on the other side of the room that must’ve led to outside, but it was also locked.