“Not in your dressing gown. I won’t be long.” Jeremy strode away and thudded down the stairs before I could argue with him.
I said to Stanley, “I should be the one who talks to Conway. I’ll quickly get dressed and then we’ll go after Jeremy. I spotted some of Mum’s clothes in a drawer under the bed. I hope they fit me.”
The clothes did fit me. The jeans were torn around the knees and there was a stain on the T-shirt, but that didn’t matter. I even found a clean pair of socks at the back of the drawer.
As I pulled the socks on, Stanley cocked his head to one side and said, “Did you hear that? There’s someone upstairs on the balcony. I’m going to have a look.” He scampered off.
“Stanley! Wait!” I ran after him, my socks slipping on the wooden floor. “Stanley, don’t go up there without me!”
I raced up the stairs and noticed the door at the top was open. I went out onto the balcony and came to a sudden stop.
Conway was standing a few feet ahead of me. Stanley was in his arms and was struggling to get free.
“Cassia! There you are. We’ve got a lot to talk about, haven’t we? We’ve got plans to make and things to discuss. Now that Nerita is out of the way, you can become my queen.” He smiled broadly as if he were delivering the best news ever.
I gripped the wooden rail at my side for support. “Conway, did you kill Nerita?”
His eyes twinkled with joy. “Of course I did. I did it for you, my love.”
Chapter 31
My knees felt weak and my grip on the handrail increased.
“What do you mean?” I asked. My glance kept going to Stanley and I could see how much he was struggling to get out of Conway’s arms.
Conway took a step closer. “I fell in love with you the second I saw you, Cassia. Then, when we went into the café and you had that ice cream which made you glow with happiness, my love intensified and I knew I’d do anything for you. I told you then I’d find out what had happened to the missing sirens, and that’s what I did. I confronted Nerita and demanded that she tell me the truth. I’ve known for weeks that she was up to something.” He shook his head sorrowfully. “She told me about that black rock of magic that she’d put in your world. In your world, Cassia! She said it was going to cause damage there and that humans could be killed. Your people, Cassia! She was going to hurt your people in your world. And she didn’t care! I couldn’t have that. I had to get rid of her.” He laid a heavy hand on Stanley. “I did it for you and your world. Your old world, that is. You’re going to be part of my world soon. To be honest, I’ve been thinking about doing away with her for a while. She was so rude to me and alway put me down in front of the other mermen.”
I noticed Stanley had pulled one of his paws free. I played for time and said, “How did you do it? How did you kill her? How did you get that pure water into a bottle without hurting yourself?”
He gave me a lingering look. “I love how you’re so concerned about me. It was Von who did it.”
“Von?”
“Yes, the sea hag. She has magical abilities. Nerita used one of Von’s magical potions when she went to see Uncle Mortimer in the forest.” He smiled. “I knew about her secret visits to Uncle Mortimer. Isla told me. She was a nosy mermaid, but useful for a while. I ordered Von to fill that bottle for me. I also ordered Von to give me an enchanted key which would open any door. Von can’t disobey me, not when I’m going to be king soon. You should meet her. You’ll like her. She’ll help you turn into a mermaid. She’s already got the spell ready. Von’s amazing. She even put a spell on me on the day I turned up at your apartment. Her spell made it appear that I was dying. You helped me. I knew you would. I could see the love in your eyes as you looked after me.”
Stanley had another paw free.
I continued, “You put the comb in the apartment in town.”
“I did. I prised it from Isla’s fingers when I ended our engagement. She didn’t take that news easily.” He took another step forward. “You are so beautiful when you’re asleep. I watched you for hours. Why did you give the comb back to Isla the next day?”
“I thought she was the one who left it in the apartment.”
He nodded. “That’s what I thought. I took it from Isla, yet again, and made it clear that our engagement was over. I ordered her to leave Brimstone. Then I came here and put the comb next to your bed downstairs when you were asleep.” He squeezed Stanley’s back. “I don’t want this creature sharing a bed with you again. It’s not fitting for a queen.” He tilted his head. “But then you gave the comb to that stupid witch friend of yours. Why?”
Conway’s hand was resting too heavily on Stanley’s back and I could see him struggling to breathe. I forced a smile to my face and said, “I’m ignorant in the ways of the merpeople. I didn’t know what it meant. Was it you who brought me back from Knotty Cove?” I remembered the kisses on my cheeks and tried not to shudder.
Conway said, “Of course it was me. I couldn’t leave you in that dreadful place. Von helped me bring you back home.” An annoyed look came into his eyes and he looked down at Stanley. “Keep still! Stop wriggling!”
I moved closer to Conway and held my arms out. “Give Stanley to me. I’ll look after him.” I attempted to send magic into my fingertips. As soon as Stanley was free, I was going to use an immobilising spell on Conway.
Conway’s face twisted in disgust as he looked at Stanley again. “What do you need this creature for? It can’t even swim. It’s of no use to us.”
Conway suddenly turned to the side and flung Stanley over the wooden rails. I froze and my heart stopped beating. Conway grabbed my outstretched arms and pulled me into his tight embrace. “It’s just the two of us now.”
“Nooooo!” I screamed. I wriggled in his arms. “Nooooo! Stanley! Let me go!”
Conway squeezed me so hard that I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t use my magic. I heard a distant yowl from Stanley and I went limp in his arms.
Stanley. My Stanley.
The ferocious rage that I’d felt at Knotty Cove awoke in me. In an instant, I pulled myself free and shot a dose of magic at Conway’s smug face. I spun around and looked over the rails hoping to see Stanley somewhere. My fingers tingled ready to shoot magic out to save him somehow. Where was he? My vision blurred with tears. Stanley? Where are you?
I heard a meow behind me and turned around.
Luca was standing there. He had Stanley safely in his arms.
Stanley said, “Luca caught me! He saved my life.”
I couldn’t move. Love for Stanley welled up in my heart along with tears in my eyes. I gulped and said, “I thought I’d lost you.”
Luca said briskly, “I was on my way over to see you when I saw your cat in the arms of a merman up here. I could sense that things weren’t right so I stopped next to the wall and listened to what the merman was saying.” He gently stroked Stanley’s head and his tone softened. “I’m glad I was ready to catch this little fella. Are you okay, Stanley? That must have been quite a shock for you. I know you like flying on Cassia’s broomstick, but this can’t have been pleasant.”
Stanley said, “How do you know I like flying?”
Luca frowned. “I don’t know. I just do.” He rubbed the back of his hand against Stanley’s cheek. “And I know you like it when I do this.”
Stanley purred.
Luca laughed and then looked over at Conway who was frozen in place. He said, “Who’s he, and why did he throw Stanley over the rails? Are you two getting married?”
I wiped my tears away and walked over to him. “No, I’m not getting married. He killed his sister. I’ll tell you about it in a minute.” I held my hands out. “Can I have Stanley back, please? Thank you for saving him.” Fresh tears rolled down my cheeks.
Luca put Stanley in my arms and then, to my surprise, he reached out and wiped my tears away with the back of his hand.
He pulled his hand back and stared at it in astonishment. “What’s happening? Why i
s my hand glowing like that? What’s in your tears? Magic?”
We watched as my tears stood out like diamonds on the back of his hand. They glowed silver and then turned into tiny stars. The stars grew bigger and floated towards Luca’s head. They settled on his hair like a crown.
Stanley said to me, “Are you doing that?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know what’s happening to him.”
The stars suddenly popped and vanished.
Luca blinked in surprise and then gave me a studied look. “Cassia? Cassia Winter? And you, Stanley.” He blinked again. “I remember you; both of you. I remember everything.”
Hope pierced my heart. “Everything? I said. “What do you mean by that?”
He smiled and his blue eyes sparkled with warmth. “Everything. All our time together as children, and our time together when you came back to Brimstone.” His smile faltered. “I remember Astrid and what she did to me before she left. Oh! I’ve been awful to you. The things I’ve said! I’m so ashamed. Can you forgive me?”
“We already have,” Stanley announced. “Do you really remember us? Are we friends again?”
Luca nodded. He placed his hand on my arm and said, “We’ll always be friends. Cassia, don’t ever let that happen to me again. If I lose my memories, do magic on me! Get all the witches in the land to do magic on me! I don’t want to forget you ever again. Neither of you.”
I smiled at him and my heart felt lighter than it had done in days, perhaps weeks. As I beamed at him like a fool, I recalled something he’d said a few minutes ago.
“You said you were on your way to see me? Why?”
“Your gran and Blythe have returned to Brimstone safe and well. They want to see you. They are too tired to come here themselves, so I offered to do so.”
Fresh tears sprang from my eyes. “They’re back? And they’re safe?”
“They are. Come here.” Luca put his arm around me and pulled me close. “There’s no need to cry. Everything is okay now.”
“I know,” I mumbled into his chest. “These are happy tears.”
Stanley sniffed in my arms. “Mine are happy tears too.”
I let the tears ebb away and continued to rest my head against Luca’s chest. I knew I had to deal with Conway soon, and I was anxious to see Gran and Blythe again. But, just for now, those things could wait. This was a lovely moment, and I wanted to enjoy it for as long as possible.
Luca sniffed and said, “You smell nice. You smell of roses.”
I smiled and felt Mum’s love wash over me. Just one more minute and then I’d return to my life as a justice witch.
One more minute. Maybe two.
About the author
I live in a county called Yorkshire, England with my family. This area is known for its paranormal activity and haunted dwellings. I love all things supernatural and think there is more to this life than can be seen with our eyes.
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Warm wishes
April Fernsby
The Brimstone Witch Mysteries:
Book 1 - Murder Of A Werewolf
Book 2 - As Dead As A Vampire
Book 3 - The Centaur’s Last Breath
Book 4 - The Sleeping Goblin
Book 5 - The Silent Banshee
Free short story - The Leprechaun’s Last Trick
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The Murdered Mermaid
A Brimstone Witch Mystery
(Book 6)
By
April Fernsby
www.aprilfernsby.com
Copyright 2017 by April Fernsby
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, electronically or mechanically without permission from the author.
The Murdered Mermaid (A Brimstone Witch Mystery Book 6) Page 16