The Witch Collector Part II

by Loretta Nyhan

  “I heard screaming,” Miro said, glancing warily at Evie. “What was I supposed to think? And do you know there’s a demon tied up in the alley?”

  “Is this the incompetent teacher?” Evie snarled.

  Miro’s eyes darted to meet mine.

  I shrugged at him, unable to do much else. “He’s competent enough.”

  Evie hopped over the pit and landed directly in front of Miro. He flinched as she approached. “She was out here without her talisman,” she admonished. “That should be lesson number one.”

  “My mistake,” he said quietly.

  She drew closer to him still. “I’d like to think it was an honest one, but something tells me that might not be the case.” Her voice, low and dangerous, cut into the night air. The moonlight bounced from the metal on her body, illuminating Miro’s strange eyes. He gazed into the distance, not looking at either of us, his mouth set.

  “It won’t happen again,” he said.

  “I have ways of ensuring it won’t.”

  Evie toyed with the silver clasp of his talisman. Miro’s hands began to tremble ever so slightly, and I fought the urge to reach out and steady them.

  “I don’t have a freaking talisman,” I interrupted. “Miro is protecting that knowledge because he has no reason to trust you. My mother didn’t have a chance to give it to me before she was taken. Now will you leave him alone?”

  Evie turned, shock slackening her features. “You’ve been transitioning without a talisman?” Her mouth turned up at the corner, and she laughed. “For the love of Isis, niece, you really are related to me.”

  I shoved my feet into my shoes, ignoring my shaky leg muscles. “It’s not like I could stop it from happening. We’re doing what we can without my talisman.”

  She snorted. “Which is?”

  “What you just saw. I stopped the shovel, even if I couldn’t maintain the hold. I feel like crap, but I don’t feel like death is imminent. That’s a step, right?”

  Miro looked at me, and I caught a trace of a smile. “It is,” he said. “Most definitely.”

  It wasn’t quite a compliment, but a tiny burst of confidence pulsed through me, nearly overriding the sickness from the magic. It was a little better. I was a little better.

  “You’re still in trouble without a talisman,” Evie said bluntly. “But I’ll give credit where credit is due,” she said to Miro. “Okay, teacher, you’ve gone up a notch: from incompetent to mediocre.”

  “Thanks a lot,” he grunted.

  “Let’s see if you can completely redeem yourself,” she said, ignoring his attitude. “If I had a stone that was once Breeda’s mother’s, could you consecrate it?”

  “Did she choose the stone for Breeda?”

  “No,” Evie said, a little deflated, “but she chose it for ceremonial reasons for our coven. Is that close enough?”

  “I don’t know. I can’t make any promises.”

  My brain was muddled, so it took me a second to process what they were saying. “Can that be my temporary talisman?”

  “It wouldn’t be temporary,” Miro said solemnly. “It would take the place of your original. The one your mother chose for you would mean nothing.”

  “Oh. I . . . oh.” My true talisman, the one my mother probably had with her right now, would no longer work. A fear nudged at my thoughts—would consecrating this one disrupt my connection to her?

  Miro turned to Evie. “You are definitely a blood relative?”

  She nodded curtly. “The only one besides her parents. I can run back to my shop right now and pick it up.”

  He glanced up at the sky. “It’s too far past midnight to do it tonight. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”

  Both relief and disappointment coursed through me. “But you can do it?”

  Miro paused, obviously weighing his response. “I think so. I’ll need my father’s help. If we begin the preparations tonight, a ceremony tomorrow should be no problem.”

  “Let’s wake Daddy then,” Evie said.

  Miro caught my eye. “I’m not sure—”

  “This is too important,” she insisted. “He can take a nap tomorrow. We’re waking him up right now.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” Dobra said. He stood in the entrance to the basement, a security light outlining his thin body in an unearthly glow. “Your voices rang clear as alarm bells. Unless you want the neighbors to know every bit of our sordid lives, I suggest we continue this discussion in my study.”

  We silently filed into Dobra’s office. He’d switched on a lamp, bathing the space in a soft, golden light. The effect was soothing, and I sank into the same leather chair I’d chosen hours before. I’d never felt so tired. My bones threatened to melt into the leather just as the shovel seeped into the earth. Evie, a steadying hand on my shoulder, stood next to me. Miro leaned against his father’s desk and drummed his fingers on the shiny mahogany. Behind him, his mother’s desk stood in the corner, a symbol of Dobra’s regret. We find ways to punish ourselves, I thought.

  Dobra reached into his pocket and drew out an envelope. He tossed it at me, spilling cloves into the air. “Care to explain what this is about?”

  Stunned and embarrassed, I just looked at him, my mouth gaping open.

  “Dad—” Miro interrupted.

  “I want to know what’s going on,” he demanded. “What were you doing in my garden tonight?”

  “Easy,” Evie hissed. “She was with me. I’m her aunt.”

  “Do you take guardianship for her? And for that . . . beast?”

  Evie brought the demon into the garden before we came inside. I’d never seen someone as visibly furious as Dobra when he saw a demon lassoed to his fence.

  I didn’t know what Evie was going to say to him, but I expected her to say something. When she didn’t, I looked up to meet her eyes and saw they were brimming with tears.

  “I could take responsibility for her, but my sister wouldn’t be happy with that,” she said. “So until we know definitely whether Breeda’s parents are alive or dead, we should operate under the assumption that they will be found. Breeda can sleep in my spare apartment, though I don’t think that’s the best place for her, given that a known practitioner of Black Magic recently broke in and ripped her parents from their beds. I prefer she sleeps in my shop tonight.”

  “An alchemist’s shop is not exactly ideal, either,” Miro grumbled.

  Fire sparked in Evie’s eyes, burning away the tears. “And this house is better? I know who you people are, and I know what you do.” She looked at Dobra’s lined talisman with disgust. “I see Black Magic is here as well, and will always be under this roof, no matter what you do to make up for your wrongdoings. If you think I’m letting my niece sleep unprotected in one of your beds, you’re crazy.”

  Miro’s lip curled into a sneer. “So you don’t want us to consecrate your stone? Maybe one of your many friends can help?”

  I sensed Evie had contacts and clients, not friends. Her fingers twitched, curling toward the heavy, silver cuffs around her wrists. But I knew she wouldn’t attack. We needed them.

  Dobra raised an eyebrow. “Consecrate?”

  “This alchemist has a stone that belongs to Breeda’s maternal line,” Miro said. “We might be able to use it to make a talisman.”

  “And she brought it tonight?” Dobra asked. “Is that why she came here?”

  Miro didn’t say anything, probably because he had no idea why Evie came. The silence stretched awkwardly; then Evie spoke up. “The demon is still bewitched, but when that wears off, it’ll want to tear apart the witch who did it. Since the demon was sent to capture Breeda, I want to know who that witch is.”

  “It does sound like a sensible plan,” Dobra said, looking at Evie with a small amount of respect. “You should continue to test his loyalties.”

  “I will,” Evie promised. “Now, will you consecrate my family’s stone? Breeda is at a definite disadvantage without a talisman.”

  “
Breeda’s been at a disadvantage from birth,” Dobra said.

  Miro winced. “Dad, it isn’t right for us to allow her to practice without a talisman if we can help it. You know we can’t turn our backs on this.”

  I saw the pain of the past in both their postures. Miro hunched toward his father and Dobra leaned away from him, unable to offer comfort. He ignored his son and addressed me instead.

  “You will stand on your own two feet with a true talisman around your neck. Do you understand what I’m saying?” he said.

  “I do.”

  “Then I will begin preparations. Tomorrow night, at midnight, we will consecrate the stone. Now I’m going to do something I rarely do—especially with an alchemist—which is to be a gentleman.”

  Evie barked a laugh. “What did you have in mind?”

  “Tonight you will share the guest room with Breeda,” he said. “After the ceremony you will lay your head wherever it falls.”

  “She doesn’t have to,” I said. I wasn’t averse to the thought of Evie staying, but if she didn’t stick around the next morning, I’d have a hard time getting away to see Seralina. I didn’t know what was going to happen with Brandon, but if I could find her, I could at least try to connect some dots regarding Sandy.

  Evie’s stare was so hard, I wondered if she could drill a hole into Dobra’s forehead through sheer force of will. “If you want me to babysit my niece, you might as well come right out and say it.”

  “I’m certain you can handle anything that comes her way,” Dobra said evenly.

  “What about the demon?” Evie smiled, but there was more than a hint of steel in it. “Do you want to keep it hitched to your fence?”

  For a second, Dobra’s composure fell, and uncertainty clouded his eyes. Then he said, “We have a root cellar underneath the basement. You can tie him up there.”

  Evie opened her mouth to protest, but when she saw my half-closed eyes, she nodded. “Fine, I’ll be Breeda’s bodyguard tonight. But if any of you try something funny I’ll melt the gold from all your teeth.”

  Chapter 6

  I woke up from the strangest sleepover ever, certain of what step I needed to take next. Seralina was at the top of my list. I wanted to know if she really did intend to join Sandy’s coven. I also wanted her to explain my reading. The cards were trying to tell me something, and I wanted a clearer picture of the message.

  Evie lay on the floor next to my bed, snoring away, her eyelids fluttering with metallic dreams. I slid out of bed and tiptoed over her, closing the bedroom door gently behind me. I showered quickly, braided my hair, and slipped on cargo pants and a black T-shirt that still held the scent of rosemary.

  When I returned to the guest room, Evie was gone. I panicked for a moment, then heard her deep, rich voice coming from the kitchen.

  “You should never flip an omelet,” Evie said as I walked in. “It’s like tossing a baby in the air and hoping she doesn’t land on her head. Here, give me that.”

  Miro stood at the stove, pan in hand. He blocked her reach and shot Evie a disdainful look. “If you don’t like it, don’t eat it.”

  Shelley sat at the table, squirming in her chair, trying not to laugh. She patted the seat next to her, and when I sat down, said, “You need to tell me everything. What went on here last night?”

  “Later,” I murmured. “We’re going to Seralina’s, if I can figure out where she lives. I can fill you in on the way.”

  “Ion texted me their address,” Shelley whispered. “They’re staying at the Moonstone.”

  I glanced at Evie, now digging hungrily into the omelet Miro prepared, much to his obvious satisfaction. I hadn’t had a chance to ask her about what Sandy said, and I didn’t have the luxury of waiting for a more opportune time. “Are you joining Sandy’s new coven?” I asked.

  Evie spit out a mushroom. “Has she been blabbing about that? I told her I might.”

  Miro stifled a laugh.

  “What?” I said.

  “Yeah . . . what?” Evie asked.

  He poured more egg into the pan. “Alchemists are notorious loners. You might be an exception,” he said, dumping a handful of mushrooms onto the cooking omelet, “but I doubt it.”

  Vadim walked into the kitchen rubbing his eyes. He didn’t react much when he saw Evie, only glanced at her as she stood and began to wash her dish in the sink.

  “Vadim, meet Evie the Alchemist,” Miro said, watching Vadim for a reaction.

  He didn’t get one. Vadim grunted a hello and grabbed a plate. “Nothing surprises me anymore,” he mumbled.

  Evie leaned against the counter and folded her arms. “You know, I had a coven once and I’ll have one again. It’s not a bad thing when someone has your back.”

  “I’m with you there,” Shelley said. She stood up and placed her half-finished glass of orange juice in front of Vadim. He gave her a half smile and drank it down.

  Miro opened a cabinet and pulled out a bundle of wild sage. “I need to begin clearing the house of all influences,” he said. “That means you guys need to get out.”

  “Fine,” Shelley and I said at the same time. We wanted to get over to Seralina’s and Miro was offering the perfect opportunity.

  Our enthusiasm raised Evie’s eyebrows. Before she could question us, Miro shoved a Post-it at her. “The ceremony requires these items from the family,” he said. “Especially the cauldron. Do you have the Soledads’?”

  Evie frowned. “It’s tucked away in my spare apartment, where Breeda was staying. I planned to bring that demon back to my shop first thing. Do I need to get it right now?”

  “As quickly as you can,” Miro replied. “I need to start oiling it. I should have begun hours ago.”

  “First, Breeda needs to say a big old hello to the demon,” Evie said. “If he’s not bewitched anymore, he won’t give her another glance. Then he’ll lead me to whoever did it.” She looked at me. “You’ll stick with me today, okay?”

  Not really okay. But the demon might lead me to whoever took my parents. I nodded.

  “I’ll go with you,” Shelley offered. “And after that, if the demon still wants you, we’ll go to the café and hang out.” She turned to Evie. “She shouldn’t exert herself today.”

  Miro nodded in agreement. “And anyway, Gavin hasn’t returned to the apartment since the night her parents were taken, but she shouldn’t take a chance visiting it, even with you,” he said to Evie.

  “How do you know no one’s been back?” Evie asked. Her tone was neutral, but her body went completely rigid.

  “Vadim’s stopped by a couple of times,” Miro said.

  “Nothing’s been touched,” Vadim offered.

  Evie turned to him, a murderous look in her eye. “You’ve been in my apartment?” she boomed.

  Vadim, looking bored, shrugged.

  “You’re not going back,” she insisted. “If someone sets foot in there again, I’ll know.”

  I didn’t quite understand how she’d know that. Miro obviously felt the same way, and rolled his eyes. “He needs to stick around here anyway. The consecration ceremony requires three men and three women.”

  “Look,” Evie growled, “don’t act like you have all the control in this situation, because you don’t. Just because you are doing this for my niece doesn’t mean you have any jurisdiction over me. Understood? If I want to bring her with me, I will.”

  “She’s hidden here,” Miro retorted, “and I’d like to keep it that way.”

  A malicious smile spread across Evie’s face. “Not hidden too well if her boyfriend could find her.”

  I sank in my chair while Miro stared me down.

  “See you downstairs, niece,” Evie said lightly, and took off down the hall.

  Miro slammed the dishes into the sink, the sound of china crashing against the stainless steel the only sound in the room. Shelley mouthed good luck and went to wait out the drama in the guest bedroom.

  “What else are you keeping from me?” he finally
said, the hurt in his voice only bested by the anger. “Why didn’t you tell me last night?”

  “It’s . . . complicated. I grew up with him, Miro. Brandon and I were together until he left for the training center in Seaside, which I now know is where all of our coven’s witches go to transition. If I told you I was meeting him, you wouldn’t have let me go alone, and he would have run sooner.”

  “He ran away? Why? What is he hiding?”

  “He was afraid of the demon.”

  “At least he’s intelligent,” Miro said without a trace of humor in his voice.

  “He’s been running around the city looking for Gavin,” I explained. “Nothing much has come up beyond the fact that Brandon’s mother, who he hasn’t seen in years, is here as well. That can’t be a coincidence. I don’t know anything about her, or what she’s capable of, only that she might be helping Gavin. Brandon doesn’t know where my parents are, but he is convinced his dad is dangerous.”

  “Does he know you’re unmarked?”

  “I didn’t tell him. I didn’t even tell him I’d started to get my magic.”

  “Why not?” Miro said, and then knelt before me, wrapping his hands around my upper arms. He pulled me closer to him, the kitchen chair scraping against the wood floor. Surprise caught the breath in my throat. “What stopped you? Wouldn’t you want to share that with your boyfriend?”

  “I’m not sure.” I leaned back slightly. Miro wasn’t hurting me, but the fierceness in his expression told me he was balancing on the razor-thin fence between controlled anger and wild fury.

  “You’re wondering, aren’t you?” he said, his low voice reverberating against every nerve in my body. “Why didn’t he come sooner? Why isn’t he here now? Why isn’t he camped out in front of your bedroom door, protecting you from his father?”

  I placed my hands against Miro’s chest and attempted to push him back. It was like trying to move a steel beam. “Maybe,” I said pointedly, “he’s afraid.”

  In response Miro dragged the chair closer still, and my hands slid toward his shoulders. His voice was barely above a whisper. “Is there something you’re still not telling me?”