When we finished looking at pictures, I asked, "What happens now?"
"I talk to the local authorities, and I expect they'll file charges."
I held back a sigh. This wasn't going to go away quickly. "When were they taken into custody? Could Gretchen have planned this morning's attack before going to jail?"
"That's an angle we're looking into."
"You can't talk to me, can you?"
"Michelle, you're a victim in these cases. The only reason you have as much involvement as you do is because you're the only witch around and you're one of us."
"All right. I get it. Do I need to do anything else now?"
"Nope. We're done."
"Thanks, Rodriguez." I took off, ready to be home.
This trip back to the lodge was as uneventful as I'd hoped. When I pulled in, I quickly added spells to my car that would give me some warning the next time someone tampered with it. After spending a few minutes with Ty, I placed the tea set in my workroom. I went to the bathroom and unwrapped my hand. The charm had done its job. All that was left of the wound were a few puffy pink lines.
I moved my hand around and poked at the healing injury. Nothing hurt horribly, and I wasn't having any range-of-motion problems. The EMT might think my hand needed more attention, but it seemed to be doing just fine, and I knew the quality of my charms.
After cleaning up and changing clothes, I pulled the last of the food out of my fridge. When I finished eating, I passed up tea for an ordinary cup of water and headed into my workroom.
Tired or not, I didn't want to leave the tea set in there unattended until I knew what it was. Sure, I had good protections, but recent events had me paranoid, and I wouldn't sleep well until I knew what I was dealing with and how to contain the items.
I moved the teacup and teapot out of the box and onto my workbench. They looked as ordinary as they had in the cafe, but I knew better this time. Scooting the teapot to the side, I put the teacup in front of me. I knew what it did, which would help me figure out what made it ornery. Since I didn't know what the teapot would do, it would be easier to examine it after I'd finished the cup and had more information.
The teacup looked positively benign, all white and blue, with nary a hint of tooth. A big believer in being prepared, I got lightweight leather gloves out of a drawer and pulled them on. They'd been broken in a long time ago, and I didn't lose much dexterity. In addition to the protection typical leather gloves would offer, these were spelled to increase their durability and resistance to harm and to prevent magic from working on my hands.
I picked up the shield bubble that contained the cup and turned it this way and that. When I couldn't find anything interesting visually, I started my magical examination. Setting the cup on the table, I tried to get a feel for it. There was something there, a hint of magic and a bit of something else. If it was spelled, it was unlike anything I'd seen before, and it brought to mind Gretchen's talk of expanding my education.
Reaching out with a tiny tendril of power, I probed it. The teacup reacted instantly, its side opening up to show off the jagged row of porcelain teeth. It leaped into the air, snapping its teeth and whipping from one side to the other. As soon as it landed, it leaped back into the air and started hopping across the inside of the shield ball.
Shaken, I set the ball on the worktable. I let go of it but kept my hands close so I could catch it if it started to roll away. Until I knew what it was, I didn't want to be careless and let the cup break.
I probed it again, lingering longer. This time I wasn't worried about it retaliating; if the teacup and teapot were going to attack my magic, they would've done so by now.
The teacup still didn't feel like it was spelled. There was magic in them, but they weren't precisely magical. It was more like an aura around a sentient creature. As I continued to probe, I noticed that the teacup was moving around, often away from the direction of my power.
Switching my focus, I scooted my magic near one side of the cup. It moved away. When I moved my power to the other side, it moved away again. I chased it around the shield a few more times before pulling back to ponder.
The teacup hadn't moved in response to a push, but to get away from my power even when there wasn't any contact. That was weird. Since it didn't have any spells to give it the ability to sense change and move around like that, I wasn't sure what to think of its shenanigans.
I brought the teapot closer and tried the same thing with it. Sure enough, it scooted away from my power too. On a hunch, I moved the teapot and teacup so that they were at the farthest points in their shields from one another and sat back to watch.
After a minute had passed without any change, I started to second-guess myself. Those doubts went out the window when the teapot scooted closer to the cup and the cup hopped closer to the teapot.
It was possible that the two of them were attracted to each other, but that wasn't the feeling I'd gotten. My guess was that they were somehow alive.
With that in mind, I dug out two bags that were strongly charmed to contain and nullify items, and stuffed one part of the tea set in each bag before returning them to the box and securing the lid. I didn't want those things getting out on their own and terrorizing my apartment. Besides, until I knew what they were, I wouldn't know how to protect against them.
The tea set had a strong Japanese vibe, which brought to mind the TV show I'd watched the other night. With that in mind, I pulled a stack of books off my shelves and started my research, focusing on Japanese items. The set could be from a different country, but Japan was my first guess and I'd learned to trust my guesswork.
This was one part of the job I didn't enjoy. If I'd known what information I was looking for, it wouldn't have been bad, but there wasn't an index entry for Mysterious Hand-Biting-but-Not-Enchanted Tea Set, and I couldn't remember what the TV show had called their possessed tea set.
If it was a Japanese item, I might need help with the identification. Since we didn't live near there and didn't have much interaction with artifacts from that area, my education hadn't focused on them. The lack of focus on other cultures was something I was trying to rectify now that I was on my own. Emergencies didn't just target items native to our region, and the more I knew going in, the better off I'd be during a sticky situation.
When I flipped to the fifth page listed under "Possession" in the index, a picture of a teapot looked up at me. Pausing, I read the first part of the description. The Morinji-no-okama, or teapot, was a type of Tsukumogami. Tsukumogami were household objects that had been around for at least one century and had spent some time in the possession of a demon. These items acquired something of a spirit, but not a happy spirit. No, the Tsukumogami became rude and mean, and had a reputation for aiding demons.
The book went on to say that even though people continued to find Tsukumogami, the connection to a demon couldn't be confirmed as demons were extinct. Morinji-no-okamas were a variety of Tsukumogami, and the one in my possession seemed to be a teapot-teacup combo.
I gave the tea set an uneasy look. It struck me as rather suspicious that they'd shown up shortly after Gremory's death. If Gremory had planted them in the cafe to cause trouble, it had worked, though probably not in the time frame he'd hoped. That would be unfortunate, but hardly a long-term problem. On the other hand, it was possible that a different demon had deposited the tea set in the cafe, and that option made my blood run cold.
Sure, Sylvia had warned us about more demons, but I'd thought we'd have more time. It had only been a couple of weeks since we'd killed Gremory. Could demon gossip move that fast? If so, they were well informed for a group that was supposed to be in such deep hiding that the entire world thought they were extinct.
Though this felt more like something Gretchen had a hand in than an undeveloped plot of Gremory's. She would be more than happy to help me figure out the mysterious item if only I joined the clan. Not to mention she'd obviously had enough people watching me to know that I enjoye
d eating at that cafe, and any mysterious magical item in this town was likely to cross my desk sooner or later.
If this was a plan of hers, I could squish it easily enough by dealing with the tea set myself. Reading through the information a second time, I looked for a way to destroy the set. It didn't matter how it had ended up in the cafe; I wasn't going to allow possessed kitchenware to continue its existence.
The book was skimpy on details, which wouldn't do. I needed to get this right, because I didn't want to risk releasing an evil spirit. It hadn't been hard to capture the tea set, but once the spirit was separated from a physical form, it was an entirely different problem. For one, it wouldn't be easy to find. It could go anywhere in the world. For another, it might not be restricted to possessing small, inanimate objects. A teacup was rather harmless, but it could get into a chainsaw, gun, or even a person. The potential for disaster rapidly expanded.
Now that I knew what I was looking for, I set the book to the side and opened a different resource. What I found was less than encouraging. I had to set up for multiple rounds of purification, with safeguards on the spell that would capture the spirit if it separated from the teacup and teapot. After that I could pulverize them, purify them again, and check to see if the spirit was there. If it was gone, I could purify and drain the energy from the spell.
It was a good thing I'd taken the tea set. Rodriguez wouldn't have been able to do these spells. In fact, it was more than most witches would want to tackle alone. There were lots of places where a minor mistake could impact the outcome of the entire procedure, but that didn't bother me.
The entire process took just over an hour. Setting up the spells required all of my concentration; every rune had to be correct. With the spells in place, I purified the set. The best part was when I got to smash them with a hammer. I got more satisfaction out of seeing chips of china flying into the air than I should have. Some of that was retribution for the bite, and the rest was working off frustration from Gretchen's attacks.
I probed the china pieces and the bag. Sure enough, the spirit was gone and there was the lingering feeling of a small death. Satisfied, I moved on to the next purification and draining the energy. The last part had an interesting effect as the bits of ceramic turned to dust. When the spells had been removed, I purified the ashes and stuck them in the trash.
Being on the paranoid side, I took my trash out to the bin behind the lodge. If I'd managed to do something wrong, it would have to do more than cross my living room to surprise me in my sleep. To someone else that might have been overkill, but I'd had a bad run and proactive measures felt appropriate. It would be worth asking Elron if there was a demon's bane willing to live in my apartment. Those flowers were a vital component in the spells that killed demons, and it was always better to be prepared.
When I got back inside, I remembered that Gretchen and her thugs in skirts had been arrested. For the time being they were off the streets and shouldn't be causing me any trouble. The memory cheered me up, and I tidied my workroom before realizing that I had to call Mom and give her the news. It was her mother who'd been arrested, and she should hear about it now. Hopefully no one from the clan had contacted her.
I picked up the phone and dialed her number. Mom answered on the third ring. "Hello?"
"Hi, Mom."
"Is everything okay?"
I started rubbing my temple with my right hand. Once upon a time she would have asked what I was doing or if I'd had a good day. These days it was a strongly worded inquiry to my health and current situation. I'd given up on objecting to the shift in our conversations because I'd do the same thing in her shoes… assuming I let my child out of my sight.
I started with the things that were bothering me rather than Gretchen's release since she might have something helpful and motherly to say. "I'm tired of the attacks from the clan. They won't leave me alone, and Ty killed one of them to keep me safe."
"Do you know who?"
"Thomas Blackwell."
Mom sighed. "He never did have much sense, and his emotions had a tendency of getting the better of him."
Tears filled my eyes. "He was going to hurt me. If it hadn't been for Ty…"
"It's all right. Ty was there."
"I know, but he can't always be there. Elron can't always be there. I have to get the better of them every time. They only have to win once."
"Would you stop because Gretchen came out on top in a fight?"
"Well… no."
"One thing that has comforted me through this is that she wants you alive and well. I know my daughter—as long as there is a sliver of a chance, you'll fight. I ran from my problems, but you're stronger than I was, Michelle. You would've planted yourself in that clan and told all of them how it was going to be."
"I don't feel strong or brave."
"But you are. It took me years to find my strength, and it pales when compared to what you do without a second thought."
"You volunteered to be a single mom and hid my abilities from your family. You hid Dad from the family too. That takes more guts than you're admitting."
Mom gave a short laugh. "I had help, and when things are settled we'll have a long conversation about the types of strength. Maybe time with Marti and the Docga will help you see how different you are from the other witches your age."
"Yes, Mom." I gave up and switched topics. "I have some good news."
"Oh?"
"The police arrested Gretchen and several other clan members today. Their bail hearing will be tomorrow, but I've been told it's likely that the state will hold them."
It took a moment for Mom to say something. "Good. That should keep them occupied."
"I'm sorry," I said, unsure of a better response. Her mother was going to jail, as were people she'd grown up with and considered friends.
"Don't be sorry. They brought this upon themselves, and they haven't been family to me since I was forced out of the clan. It's no more than they deserved." Her voice wavered at the end.
"That doesn't make it any easier." She could say that as many times as she liked, but I knew better. In her heart she'd still thought of them as loved ones, and this proved that they didn't deserve that title.
"Family is rarely easy. They broke the law and hurt you; it's time for them to face justice." She sounded better, but there was still a lack of conviction.
I decided not to press the issue. "I wanted you to hear it from me."
"Thank you, Michelle. You and Elron have directions to the wedding location, right?"
"We do. I promise I'll be there this time."
"I know. I love you."
"Love you too."
We hung up, and I set the phone on the coffee table before stretching out on the sofa. Families might not be easy, but I didn't think most of them were this crazy. After all, how many estranged families resorted to multiple abduction attempts to reclaim a relative?
I wished I had confidence that a stay in jail would curtail Gretchen's antics, but I had a feeling it would take more than that. I really wished I had Mom's confidence that I would get through this, but I didn't. There were a lot of Wapiti and only one of me.
Chapter 16: Michelle
Someone knocked on my front door. "Michelle? It's Landa. You have a visitor."
"Coming," I called out. I got off the sofa and opened the door. Landa was alone in the hall.
"Where's the visitor?"
She pursed her lips. "In the parlor. It's a witch who won't give her name. If you don't wish to see her, I'll send her away."
I shrugged. "I might as well see who it is."
We didn't talk as we walked to the parlor, but we didn't need to. Landa didn't approve of this visitor, and if she'd had her way, the woman would be forcefully shoved out the door and barred from reentry.
The moment I saw the witch I recognized her. It was Tammy. She was as impeccably dressed as the last time I'd seen her, but this time the blouse was in a pastel and the slacks were light gray.
>
Landa had parked herself in the doorway, and I wasn't about to ask her to leave. The witch glanced at Landa before settling her attention on me.
"It's going to be a lot harder to abduct me from here."
She flicked her fingers dismissively. "It wasn't my intent."
"Then what are you doing here?"
"The minister sent me."
My hand clenched, and it took deliberate thought to avoid summoning my wand. Landa growled.
Tammy paused and, when she was satisfied that we weren't threatening immediate violence, continued. "She would like for me to extend an offer for a three-day stay, during which you can experience what we have to offer. As a measure of goodwill, she has asked me to give you this book." She held out a leather-bound book that looked innocent enough, but I'd learned not to trust appearances.
"I don't want it."
"It's harmless."
"Nothing from Gretchen is harmless. What kind of trick is this? Assault me this morning and then attempt to entice me this evening?"
At the word assault, Tammy stiffened and lowered the book. "What assault?"
"Don't be coy. It doesn't suit you."
"I have not talked to another member of the clan since early this morning. I had business in Atlanta before I came here, and my phone malfunctioned shortly after I left home. Please, tell me what happened." There was a tightness around her mouth that made me think she was doing her best to hold it together even though she knew she was about to hear bad news.
"I was attacked this morning by eight of your fellow clansmen. Thomas Blackwell didn't survive." I blinked back tears. He was responsible for his actions, but that didn't make me feel better about my part in his death—a pointless death that could've been avoided if Gretchen would let go of her obsessions and act like a normal person.
"She gave me her word that she would do nothing until she heard back from you on this offer." Tammy sat down abruptly. "Though, it could be… they would not dare." She realized she was thinking aloud and focused on me. "You have my apologies."
A Witch's Concern (A Witch's Path Book 4) Page 11