"You're awesome. I wish I'd had it in me to tell her that."
"I made up for what you didn't say."
"Thank you." I blotted my eyes with the hem of my shirt. "I wish I understood what made her go off like this."
There was a pause, and then Amber sighed. "As silly as it sounds, I think it was the teacup."
"Seriously?"
"When we left, she said the crazy used to be confined to your work but now it's in every part of your life—even quiet lunches with friends. Then she asked how long it would be before those problems affected our lives." Amber blew her nose again. "I should've listened and given her a better answer. Instead, I blew her off, attributing it to coming down from the adrenaline rush. If I'd found the right words, she wouldn't have done this."
"No, if it was bothering her that much, it was just a matter of time before she found a reason to distance herself." That wasn't entirely true. If we'd been able to find the magic combination to alleviate her fears, things might have settled down to a point where she didn't think she needed to protect herself like this. Of course, with the way my life had been going, that would only have lasted until the next big police case or demon showed up.
"I have to go so I can get to work. Do you want me to come over later? I can cancel my date. It would be the two of us with cookie dough and a movie?"
"No, don't cancel your date. I think I'd rather be alone."
"Are you sure? Mark would understand."
"I'm sure. I'll call you if I change my mind."
"All right. If you need me, call."
"I will. Bye." I ended the call and sat there trying to figure out how so many things had gone wrong in such a short period of time.
I really needed to talk to someone, but I couldn't burden Amber with extra anger and frustration. Tiffany had hurt her too. Elron really wasn't the type for girl talk, and Landa—well, she was likely to tell me to keep my chin up and fight. This was the type of hurt that needed some coddling and then tough love. Plus, I still had to figure out what I was going to do about the Wapiti and joining a clan. Calling Mom was out of the question. Not only was I still waiting for her to return my previous call, but I wasn't going to cry all over her honeymoon. Dad was out of the question for the same reasons. There was one person I could call, and this seemed like it would be her thing.
"Hello?"
"Nana? It's Michelle."
"Oh, it's good to hear from you."
"What are you doing today?" My voice wobbled.
"What's wrong? It sounds like you've been crying."
"One of my best friends just said she couldn't be my friend anymore."
"Oh, sweetie. I can be at the lodge in thirty minutes. I was on my way to the mall, and I'm driving past you."
"I'd really like to see you."
"Of course. I'll be there soon."
"Thank you, Nana."
"It's what nanas do."
We hung up, and I started sobbing. I'd lost a friend. There wasn't another way to think of it. Tiffany was gone, and she wouldn't be back. It might have happened eventually, when one case or another tipped the scale, but she blamed the Wapiti, and so did I. If I didn't have such a wretched grandmother, none of this would've happened and Tiffany would be my friend now.
I didn't know how to get over the loss of a friendship. That hadn't been covered in my magic classes, and there weren't any spells to mend a broken heart.
When I'd cried myself out, I washed my face and swapped shirts. I was walking into the living room when someone knocked on the door. Opening it, I found Nana, with her spiked purple hair, holding two to-go cups and a bag of pastries from my favorite cafe.
"Oh, poor thing." Nana deposited the goods on the table and gave me a hug.
It could've been the lightly floral scent, the soft fabric, or the gentle arms holding me, but there was something about her hug that soothed my soul. Maybe if I'd had a grandmother longer, I would've been able to put a finger on it.
"I'm so glad you could come," I said as I released her.
"The reason I'm here sucks, but nanas are the best medicine for a wounded heart. I've got hot chocolate and peppermint cookies." She guided me to the sofa and with a frown moved the book out of the way. "What happened?"
Nana was onto something with the hot chocolate, I thought as I took a second sip. I did my best to explain the situation without breaking down again. It wasn't easy, but I made it through the explanation with only three tissue casualties.
Nana patted my hand. "As much as it hurts, friends come and go."
"And if it was something I'd done, or if we'd drifted apart, that would be one thing. But Tiffany's upset over things I didn't do, and things I'm not sure Gretchen did." Awesome, I was defending the woman who was responsible for my misery. A different person would've cheerfully assumed that she was responsible, but I was the type that needed evidence, and in this case there was plenty of evidence that pointed at a demon. Though, with the way she was acting, I wasn't sure there was much of a difference between the two.
"There's nothing you can do. Take joy in the friendships you do have, and keep living your life. The people who want to be by your side will find their way to you, and the rest will move on. That's life, sweetie."
Life was mean.
I tore into a gooey cookie and had to applaud the mint cookie and hot chocolate pairing. "I need time to be unhappy."
"And that is perfectly natural, but don't wallow too long." Nana picked the book up. "Where did you get this?"
"A witch from the Wapiti." I explained Tammy's visit. After some hesitation, I also told her about the premier's late-night appearance and Gretchen's release from prison.
"Forgive a suspicious old woman, but could Tiffany have been threatened by the Wapiti?"
"It's a possibility, but Tiffany hasn't been happy about the amount of danger in my life for some time, and the incident at the cafe really shook her." Nana made a good point. Since I couldn't do anything about Tiffany, I moved on to my next dilemma. "I wish I understood Ethel's angle."
"Nanas get a lot of superpowers, but mostly in the form of cookies and love; I'm not all-knowing. You're special to me because you're my granddaughter, and I know you're powerful. Your father is the best witch in our clan, and he says you're past him in several areas and will completely eclipse him in a few years. However, that doesn't explain Ethel and Gretchen's attention. What do you say we take a look at this book while we speculate? You never know; we might find something."
"Can't hurt." I flipped through the book until I found the page I had been at when Tiffany called. "What do you think of this?" I pointed to a section on clan scars.
Nana skimmed the section. "Just basic information."
I'd thought as much when I read it, but I wanted to be sure. We looked through a few more pages while we talked.
"I'm going to talk to Dad about joining the clan when he gets back from the honeymoon. If nothing else, it will make Ethel happy."
"But why is it so important to her?" Nana asked.
I knew it was a rhetorical question. Neither of us knew the answer, and with the morning's emotional turmoil, my head was too foggy for complex thought.
"And what to do about Gretchen?"
"What if I made a deal with Ethel? I can tell her I'll join the clan if she manages Gretchen. If I play my cards right, I could get her sent back to jail." That thought was nearly as good a medicine as the cookies and hot chocolate.
"Ethel might be willing to negotiate. It certainly isn't in her best interest to bind your powers. In fact, I bet she made the threat just to ensure your cooperation."
"It's working," I grumbled.
"Go along with her game until you can beat her," Nana recommended.
We flipped through a few more pages when Nana pushed my hand away and took the book.
"What?"
"Listen to this: 'While there are many stories detailing the origins of the clans, some facts are consistent throughout. All the clans evolv
ed from a single group, with the clan scars originating from the founder of each clan. The first premier, the woman from whom all clans stemmed, had a unique marking that resembled the tattoos humans use to adorn themselves. It is said that if that symbol reemerges, there will be a shift in the clans, changing our way of life. The individual bearing that scar will be the catalyst for change.'"
Nana turned the book so I could see a picture of a faded sketch. Maybe with the right light and a healthy dose of imagination it could be my clan scar, but I could also see a pitchfork if I squinted.
"So one or both of them think I have this mark?"
She closed the book with a thump. "That would be my guess, though I see a squid when I look at that picture, so who can say?"
"The rest of it, about a shift that will change our way of life, that's cryptic nonsense. It could mean anything from inventing a new piece of technology to an act so horrible all the witches are executed."
"And it likely means neither of those. Don't worry. You'll figure it out, and that passage could have nothing to do with their interest." Nana shrugged. "Although I'll admit that isn't the most probable option. Now, a friend is expecting me, so if you're feeling better, I'll meet my shopping buddy."
"I'm better." If confused and bursting with new information. "Could you answer another question for me?"
Nana nodded.
"If you had grown up outside a clan, do you think you could be happy in a clan?" I held my breath, hoping she would say something to make my decision easier.
"I think happiness comes from within. I love you." Nana gave me a hug and slipped out the door.
That wasn't really the answer I'd been looking for, even if it was true.
I checked my phone after Nana left, surprised that I didn't have a missed call.
I checked it again after I had a snack. At this point, I was looking out of paranoia. By late morning, I started to get concerned. Sure, they might've slept in, but not this late. If they'd stopped near Atlanta like they'd planned, there were several hours of driving ahead of them. They weren't going to waste much time when there was a beachside resort waiting for them. It might be winter, but between the spa, massages, and dinner shows, it was an alluring spot.
After obsessing over my phone for half an hour, I gave in and called Mom again. Her phone rang five times before it was answered.
"Michelle, how good of you to call."
That wasn't Mom, but I recognized the voice. It was Gretchen. My heart beat frantically in my chest, but my thoughts and words were clear. "I heard you got out of jail, but I didn't think you were dumb enough to test your luck so soon."
"Shush, it's not luck. This is an internal matter, and the police can't do a thing."
"Think what you like. Just tell me what you've done with Mom and Dad."
"They are my guests and will remain such until you and I come to an agreement."
Since the only thing we agreed on was that we couldn't agree, I didn't see this as a promising start to negations. "What kind of agreement?"
"You know what I want. You can have your parents back if you come here and join the clan."
I knew I wasn't going to like the answer to this question, but I had to ask. "And if I don't?"
"If you dawdle or fight me, I assure you their health will be a concern. I've already bound their magic."
"You hurt them, and you won't get anything from me." I hung up before I said something to make the situation worse.
It seemed unlikely that she'd fully bound their magic. That was a complex ritual, and even if she'd been planning it since my escape, she'd have a hard time pulling it off. It was more likely that she'd put a binding on them, which would eventually fade and could be weakened or removed without too much trouble. Under different circumstances, two witches could work together to break that type of a spell, but my mom wasn't that good of a witch. Mom's lack of power made her more susceptible. If a binding was left on long enough, there could be lasting damage.
I set the phone on my desk, afraid that if I kept it in my hand I'd break it. Gretchen was determined to get her way, but this time she'd made a mistake. I'd gamble my own health, but my loved ones were a different story. The last two people who'd threatened one of my friends were dead.
I didn't want to kill my grandmother, but it was beginning to look like she wouldn't stop until she was dead. If that's what it would take to keep my family safe, that's what I'd do.
With exaggerated care because my hands were trembling, I pushed my chair under my desk and started digging through drawers. The belt came out first, followed by a basket of ready-to-use charms. I also pulled out a wrist sheath and cheap practice wands.
"What are you doing?"
I jumped, gasping for breath. Elron was leaning on the door behind me. "You know it scares me when you do that."
"My apologies. I was not trying to startle you."
"You never are." Elves didn't make enough noise when they walked. One of these days I really would put a bell on him. "What do you want?"
"What are you doing?"
The charm rolled off my hand and back into the box. I turned to face him. "Mom and Dad have been taken hostage by my grandmother."
He looked at the pile on my desk. "And you are going to free them?"
"I lost one friend today. I'm not losing my family."
Elron continued to lean against the door. He had proven that he was ready to stand with me against whatever trouble came calling, and I hadn't even considered asking him for help. Maybe I could blame the mental lapse on fear, but that wasn't the truth.
Well, it wasn't all of the truth. I wanted to protect him, and deep down I thought he'd argue with me. I knew him better than that. Elron was honorable, and his word meant something. He would be in my corner, even if I didn't see things his way. Besides, it would devastate him if he failed to protect me, especially if I'd turned down his aid.
The love I saw in his eyes decided me. "Would you help? Gretchen said she'll hurt them if I don't do what she wants."
"I will help." His posture relaxed. "After a demon, how much trouble can a witch be?"
"Oh, don't say such things." I groaned.
"You are correct. We do not need to borrow trouble."
"No, we don't." I went back to stocking the belt with charms. "My best guess is that Gretchen snatched them yesterday after she was released from jail."
"Where is she holding them?"
"I assume at her house, since she seemed sure I knew where to find her." I was reaching for a charm when he captured my hand and turned me to face him.
"If we are venturing into her territory, we need a plan. A good plan." He led me out of my workroom and into the kitchen. With a look that plainly said I should stay, he set the kettle to boil.
This was hardly the first time I'd watched him make tea, but until now I hadn't realized that it had become meditative. He set the cups with their handles pointing to the right. Then he mixed a tea for each of us, setting the infuser against the handle.
"I'm sorry." The words didn't come easily. "I didn't mean to cut you out, but I got caught up in the moment."
He shook his head. "No need to apologize. It is your family on both sides of this problem. Family makes logic tuck tail and run."
The water boiled, and he poured it into the cups. When the kettle was resting on a cold burner, he focused on me. "Do you think she will hurt them?"
"She'd kill them if that would get her what she wants."
"Then we had best plan for that."
I didn't want to make those plans. It was bad enough to plan for her hurting one of my parents, but it was an entirely different thing to figure out how to prevent their deaths and what to do if one or both of them were killed. There was one way I could make sure Gretchen didn't get what she wanted. I could take myself out of her reach permanently. When I was gone, she wouldn't have a reason to hurt my parents.
"Maybe you shouldn't go with me. If she captured you, I—"
"Perhaps, but what will you do if I am not there?"
I lowered my eyes and studied the floor.
"I thought as much." He set a cup of tea in my hands. "There are better options, and I'm going with you to make sure you find those."
"Yes, but—"
"What will you do if she manages to make you a clan member?"
"I'll fight her. I'll break the bonds or take the clan."
"Then I should accompany you. I am not a witch, but I am hardly defenseless." There was smugness in his voice. "Elves have stood against witches before and can do it again."
Heaving a sigh, I said, "All right. But if I'm not going to die for this cause, you aren't allowed to either."
"You need not worry. As long as it took me to find you, I am hardly going to sabotage my time with you."
Chapter 22: Michelle
"Have you contacted the police?" Elron asked.
"No."
He looked at me, and I could read everything he would've said in that look. Why hadn't I, who was always telling people to consult the police first, called the police? Sighing, I answered the unspoken question. "Ethel has established this as an internal matter. If that's how she wants it to be, then that's what I'll do. Besides, I don't want to know what Gretchen or Ethel would do to some poor cop who got in the middle of this fight."
"Do not reach for the sun when you only need the moon."
"I don't speak elf."
Elron sighed and his eyes softened. "Is this the time to prove the disadvantages of their system? You need to protect your parents and yourself. Changing the relative positions of clan law and the law of the land is a lofty goal that might not coincide with the problem at hand."
"Maybe not, but it would be a lovely benefit. Then no one else would ever have to go through this again, and those criminals would be in jail where they belonged."
The problem with those brave words was that I didn't have any idea how to end the separation between clan and common law. It wasn't as simple as doing something to Ethel or Gretchen. There were clans across the country and around the world. As Elron had pointed out, it was a big goal and one that I might not be able to accomplish even if my parents were frolicking on the honeymoon.
A Witch's Concern (A Witch's Path Book 4) Page 18