She signed herself out Against Medical Advice, but only when she agreed with the doctor’s suggestion that she submit herself to her Captain’s supervision. He put her back on light duty so he could keep an eye on her during the day.
That was a small price to pay for having the evenings and weekends free to pursue her own projects. The very first thing she did was to confirm her suspicions. Hazel, Grace, Elle, and Sadie were all gone—who knew where.
No one had seen them, and Grace’s husband was worried sick. He looked sideways at Carmen when she came around asking questions, but she couldn’t help him. She only told him she was worried about Grace disappearing, which was true.
He already knew Carmen was one of their little gang of five. Four of those went poof! in the middle of the night without leaving word to anybody, and the fifth turned up under questionable circumstances. Of course he had questions, but she was supposed to be the cop here. She let him think she was investigating, which she was—just not officially.
Officially the precinct couldn’t explain the disappearance and wasn’t trying. One woman missing, they could explain. Four women missing with no sign of foul play and no indication of unhappiness beforehand? The minions of the law had no explanation for that, and neither did Carmen.
She used all her old tricks to track them down, but after another week of coming up empty, she had to face the truth. They weren’t here. They were over there, in that other world where Hazel sent them.
How could Carmen find them? More to the point, how could she get herself sent back there? She could no longer deceive herself that her experience was all a dream. She didn’t have any hallucination. Hazel zapped herself and Carmen to medieval Scotland, and Hazel must have zapped the others there, as well.
If it wasn’t a dream, if she didn’t imagine Angus and his brothers and the castle and the Phoenix Throne and every other detail of that world, she had to get back there. She really did fall in love with Angus. She really did fight and struggle for his sake. She slept with him and kissed him and held him in her arms. She gazed into his eyes, and she wished against all hope she could stay with him.
If all that was real, she couldn’t go back to a life without him. She had to find a way to get back to him, to put him on his Throne and hopefully find her friends. If she managed to do all that, maybe she could send back whichever of her friends wanted to come back.
She cringed when she thought about Hazel. What was Hazel doing over there right now? What were Angus and his brothers doing to her? They thought she was the witch, and Carmen never got a chance to explain the situation before she wound up back in this wretched world.
How nasty and barbaric this world appeared to her now! How ugly and noisy and smelly it was. How shallow and pointless it all seemed compared to the lofty beauty of that other world.
How could she ever like this place? How could she ever feel she belonged here? Why didn’t she hate it as much as Hazel did? If Carmen knew then what she knew now, she would have felt as Hazel did, that she never really belonged here, that she belonged to a magical world full of mystery and romance and unlimited possibilities.
Hazel could never explain to anybody how she felt, and now Carmen couldn’t explain it, either. She wandered through a wasteland of blank faces, not one of them seeing what really went on in Carmen’s heart.
Not one person in this whole world understood how she really felt. No one knew she loved Angus. No one even knew Angus existed. If she tried to explain it to anybody, she would be locked up in a padded room and drugged into oblivion.
Almost two weeks after she got out of the hospital, her Captain called her into his office. She no longer walked with a pained hunch to protect her ribs, but her heart would never recover.
“Sit down, Lieutenant. I want to talk to you.”
She sat down and waited her fate.
“We can all see something’s bothering you. I was starting to think I made a mistake taking responsibility for you leaving the hospital, but I saw the way you changed that tire on the squad car yesterday, and I can see you’re all healed up, so I know it’s nothing to do with your accident.”
“No, Sir.”
He studied her. “Do you need to see the precinct counsellor? Are you suffering any flashbacks or anything related to the crash? We have protocols for that, you know. Go get it dealt with and get back on the job.”
Carmen took a deep breath. She expected it to come to this. She did her best to hide it, but she couldn’t anymore. She already hid so much. Why shouldn’t she unburden herself to the one man who might be able to help her?
“It wasn’t the accident, Captain,” she told him. “Four of my oldest friends disappeared with no explanation. Ron and Tina already investigated it, and they already put it in the cold case files. I tried to investigate it myself in my free time, but I came up empty. That’s what’s bothering me. I wish there was something I could do, but I can’t.”
He leaned back in his chair and nodded. “I know the case you mean. That’s a strange one, but I had no idea you were involved in it somehow.”
“I didn’t want to tell you. I wanted you to believe I was fit to return to duty.”
“What do you need?” he asked. “Do you need counselling, or do you need time off?”
She shrugged. “To be honest with you, I don’t know what I need.”
He shot forward in his chair. “All right. Here’s what you do. You go home. I want you to take the rest of the day off and think about what you really need. If you decide to come back to work, you’re going to see the counsellor twice a week until we get this cleared up and you’re back to your old self, kicking ass and taking names. Understand?”
Carmen tried to smile. “Yes, Sir. I can do that.”
“Good. Then get out of here.”
Carmen went home. She paced around her house for over an hour, but the walls hemmed her in. She couldn’t stand this. She knew what she needed, and she wouldn’t get it from the precinct counsellor.
She needed to get back to Scotland, and not just any Scotland. She needed to get back to that magical realm she left behind. She needed to get back to Angus and Hazel and all the others. Nothing else would do.
She would never rest until she found a way to get back. She would spend every waking moment studying magic and the occult. She would learn the spell Hazel used until she perfected it and accomplished her aim.
She couldn’t hang around the house any longer. She ventured forth and walked the streets in search of anyone, anything that could help her. She kicked herself for not bringing the phone book with her, so used her cell phone instead.
She looked up every esoteric business in town. She visited New Age trinket shops, Tarot readers, and even churches one after the other. Most people looked at her like she was crazy when she even hinted what she was after.
“We just don’t do that sort of thing,” said the purple-haired young girl behind the counter of the crystal shop.
“Don’t you know we could get in a lot of trouble for doing something like that?” said the grey-haired manager of the organic food shop across town.
The Presbyterian minister wagged his finger in Carmen’s face. “You better not mess around with that stuff. You could be damned to Hell for all eternity.”
Carmen fled to the refuge of the open street. Her eyes darted here and there, but she didn’t see anyone or anything that could help her. She was stranded in this place she used to call home.
She used to pride herself on being able to walk anywhere and relate to anybody on any subject whatsoever. When they found out what she did for a living, they opened up to her. They expressed interest in her work and respect for her career ambitions.
Now every hand turned against her. No one wanted to have anything to do with this project that meant so much to her. She would never fit in here again.
She crossed the street between honking traffic to the park. She slumped onto a damp wooden bench and shoved her hands deep into her vest po
ckets. Cold seeped into her bones, and she shivered. She may as well go home in defeat. She wouldn’t find anyone out here who knew what she wanted to know.
Kids and dogs played in the park. Their laughter and excited barks grated on her nerves. How could anyone be so happy when she was so miserable? Still, she didn’t get up. Not even her own house offered her any comfort.
If only Hazel was here, Carmen could ask her about the spell she used. Carmen kicked herself for not paying closer attention to Hazel’s activities when she had the chance. Sadie had the right idea. Sadie took an active interest in everything Hazel did. Sadie wanted to learn and she did, even when Hazel got interested in something far outside Sadie’s own field.
Some investigator Carmen turned out to be! She picked and chose what she wanted to investigate. If something didn’t jive with her version of reality, she simply ignored it. She dismissed Hazel as a pathetic crank. Carmen didn’t give Hazel’s interests the time of day.
Now she needed Hazel more than ever, and Hazel wasn’t here. Carmen considered going back to Hazel’s house and rifling her papers. She just might find something. Carmen pushed that idea out of her head. That would be a gross abuse of her powers as a police detective. Hazel wasn’t a murder victim, and her house wasn’t a crime scene.
Hazel was alive and well. If Carmen could only get back to her somehow, Carmen would treat her differently from now on. She made herself a solemn vow on that.
She got ready to haul herself to her feet for the long empty-handed walk home when a frumpy bag lady sat down on the other end of the bench. She gave Carmen a toothless grin when their eyes met. She reminded Carmen of Gahkra—all except the wheeled trolley in which the woman pushed her few possessions.
The woman let out a heavy sigh. “Phew! My feet are aching today. Did you ever see such weather? And here it is, the middle of October. We need rain, though. Makes the plants grow, doesn’t it?”
Carmen tried to ignore her.
“Do you know I just walked all the way over here from Croven’s Gate, and I’ve got another ten miles to walk before I get back to where I’m going. How about you? How far do you have to go to get back to the Phoenix Throne? You’ve been walking a long way, too, and you don’t look so good. I’d say you need a nice stiff cup of chamomile tea to boost your…”
“What did you just say?” Carmen snapped.
“I said you need a nice stiff cup of chamomile tea to boost your…”
“Before that,” Carmen interrupted. “You said I had to get back to the Phoenix Throne.”
The old woman waved her hand. “Oh, never mind about that. Don’t pay any attention to me. I just say the first thing that pops into my mind. I can see you don’t want to talk about it, so I’ll just be moving on. Don’t sit there too long. The bench’ll soak through your jeans.”
Carmen fought back the urge to yank the woman back down next to her. “Wait a minute! What do you know about the Phoenix Throne?”
“Oh, nothing much. I just said that to make conversation. Don’t pay any attention to me. I’ll be moving on now. Maybe I’ll see you around sometime.”
Carmen leapt to her feet and planted herself in the woman’s path. “You’re not going anywhere until you explain yourself. How did you know I was trying to get back to the Phoenix Throne? If you even know the Throne exists, you must know a way to get back through to the other world.”
“Oh, you know. It’s not such a big deal. All you do is open the portal, and you’re through. Anybody can do it. You should know that. I don’t know why you’re moping around out here. You could have been back through ages ago if you only tried.”
“I don’t know the spell,” Carmen replied, “but you’re not going anywhere until you show me how to do it. I’ve been going out of my mind, and four of my friends are trapped on the other side.”
The woman shrugged. “I can show you, but that won’t help you with the problem you’ve got.”
“What problem is that? Will the curse come back if I return?”
“Oh, the curse!” the woman cackled. “The curse is still there. The curse never went anywhere, and it’ll keep on going until the King pays the Phoenix Tribute. You know that.”
Carmen stared at the woman’s ugly old visage. How she knew so much about the Phoenix Throne, Carmen didn’t know and didn’t care. She couldn’t let this woman walk out of her life.
The woman peered up into Carmen’s face. A spine-chilling grin spread over her weathered face. “You’re the thistle. Don’t you know that? You’re the thistle growing wild and alone, far away. The King has to pay the Tribute to get you back, or he’ll never lift the curse.”
“How does he do that? How does he lift the curse?”
“I just told you. He lifts the curse by paying the Tribute. You should know that. That’s why he lost the realm in the first place. His ancestor wouldn’t pay the Tribute. He wanted to stay the way he was and not change anything. When he refused, the Forces cursed him and snatched the realm out of his hands.”
Carmen shook her head. “This is incredible! So what’s the Tribute he has to pay?”
“That doesn’t concern you.” The woman shouldered passed her, grabbed her trolley, and started off down the sidewalk.
Carmen hurried after her. “I’m coming with you. I’m not letting you out of my sight until you show me how to get back there.”
“You can come with me to where I’m going, but it’s a long walk, and you won’t be able to do the spell there.”
“Where are you going?” Carmen asked.
“St. Joseph’s Shelter on Parker Street. That’s where I live.”
Carmen frowned. “You’re right. We won’t be able to do the spell there. You better come to my house. I’ll give you something to eat and place to stay. You can even stay there after I’m gone if you show me the spell to get back through.”
The woman cocked her head. “Really?”
“Sure. I’ll be gone, so I don’t care what you do with the house. I’ll even sign it over to you in the event I don’t return in….” Carmen thought fast. “Let’s say a year. If I don’t come back in a year, ownership of the house reverts to you. How does that sound?”
The woman shook her head and clucked her tongue. “You shouldn’t do that. I can’t take your house.”
“I don’t care about anything but getting back through and helping the King get his Throne back. I’ve been going crazy over here…” Carmen froze in her tracks and peered into the woman’s face. “That’s what happened to you, isn’t it? Is that why you’re homeless, because no one believed you about that other world?”
The woman kept walking. “I want to see this house of yours.”
Carmen didn’t say anymore. Her heart raced, and her blood sang in her veins. She was doing this. This woman would show her the way back. She would never return to this God-forsaken country. She was going back to Angus!
The two women walked side by side for a while until Carmen stole a glance at her face. “What’s your name?”
The old woman stopped, gazed up at the sky, and thought hard. “I think it might be Lucy.”
Chapter 26
Angus crossed his arms over his chest and stared through the kitchen portico into the garden. Was it really only a few days ago he sat out there with Carmen? Where was she now? Would he never see her again?
Callum paced back and forth behind him. “I dinnae lik’ it a’tall, mon. I dinnae lik’ it a’tall.”
Jamie and Fergus sat together across the room. They watched their two older brothers to see what would happen next.
“’e’s richt, Angus, mon,” Jamie offered. “We shouldnae mess wi’ the witch. She could enchant us intae ghosts asweel, and then allus would be a colossal waste o’ time.”
“Ye cinnae tamper wi’ magic, mon,” Callum added. “Ye cinnae ken what weel happen, messin’ about in spells and whatnot. Leave weel enough alane. Carmen’s gang, and she an’t comin’ back. Ye kenned she had tae go tae lift the curse. Ye’l
l mak’ matters worse tryin’ tae get her back when ye shouldnae.”
Angus didn’t turn around, and he didn’t answer. He passed so far beyond these petty conversations. He couldn’t bother with them, now or ever again. None of these men knew what went on in his heart and mind. If they did, they wouldn’t question.
Just then, Ewan appeared between the hedges out in the garden. He held a bunch of lavender in one hand, and he searched the herb beds on his way back to the kitchen. He stopped to bend down, and when he resumed his walk, he held a bunch of sage with his other discoveries.
Callum came to a halt behind Angus’s back. “Did ye hear what I said, mon? Ye cinnae mess around wi’ these spells. Ye’ll mak’ the curse ten times worse before ye make’ it better.”
Angus still didn’t turn around. “I heard ye.”
Ewan caught sight of Angus and grinned. He held up the herbs in one hand and crossed the last few yards to join the brothers.
“Did ye find e’erythin’?” Angus asked.
“I found it.” Ewan held out the herbs. “Now we mun’ prepare ‘em to ‘er way o’ thinkin’, or they’ll no work.”
“Can ye manage all that?” Angus asked.
“Aye, mon,” Ewan replied. “I ken manage these. We just need the cards, and we’ll be all set.”
“I’ll manage the cards. You work on the herbs while I go tae speak wi’ her.”
Ewan went off to the kitchen with his herbs. Angus started toward the other door when Callum moved in front of him. He stopped Angus with a hand against his older brother’s chest. “Did ye hear naught I said tae ye, brother?”
“I heard ye,” Angus repeated. “Now get out o’ me way. I got business wi’ that woman.”
“She’s no a woman,” Callum insisted. “She’s a witch, and she’ll flay ye alive if ye go in there. There’s no a mon among the three o’ us that’ll go in the same room wi’ her, and ye cinnae go in there alane. Ye’re taking yer life in yer hands, Angus, and ye’re meant tae be our leader. If anything happens tae ye…”
Ghost Clan Page 18