Familiars and French Roast

by Jinty James

  Suzanne sat at the kitchen counter. “I was sitting here.” She pretended she was typing on her phone. “Making the suspect list.”

  “Then Autumn called out,” Maddie added.

  “We made the coffee.”

  “And you grabbed a plate of health balls.”

  “That’s right!” Suzanne stared at Maddie.

  “Maybe you got distracted and left the phone on the counter,” Maddie said slowly.

  Suzanne glanced wildly at the counter, as if expecting her phone to magically reappear. “Then where is it?”

  “I noticed Edith and Brenda left the great room at various times during the music session,” Maddie remarked.

  “Did they?” Suzanne’s eyes rounded.

  “Mrrow!” Trixie seemed to confirm Maddie’s comment.

  “Maybe one of them took my phone.”

  “Why?” Maddie crinkled her brow. “Do you really think one of them is the killer?”

  “Someone must be,” Suzanne replied. “Why would anyone take my phone if they weren’t the murderer?”

  “Good point,” Maddie conceded.

  Suzanne bent down and opened the cupboard doors below the counter.

  “I can’t see my phone in here.”

  Maddie looked in the cupboards above the sink and pulled out the cutlery drawers. Nothing.

  After they searched the kitchen thoroughly, Trixie helping by poking her head into the bottom cupboards, Suzanne heaved a sigh.

  “It’s definitely not in here.”

  “No.” Maddie opened the refrigerator and then the oven.

  “I’m going to look upstairs.” Suzanne marched down the hall.

  “Wait!” Maddie and Trixie caught up with her. “Are you going to barge into everyone’s rooms?”

  Suzanne shrugged. “I hadn’t thought that far ahead.”

  “We can search our room first,” Maddie told her.

  “Mrrow!” Trixie ran ahead of them and nosed around at the bottom of the staircase. Near the handcrafted wooden railing, Maddie spied something black against the beige carpet.

  “Suzanne!”

  Her friend hurried over and picked up the black object.

  “My phone!”

  “Mrrow!” Trixie looked pleased at finding it.

  “Thank you, Trix.” Suzanne smiled at the cat.

  “But what is it doing here?” Maddie wore a puzzled frown.

  “I’m sure I would have noticed it if I’d dropped it.” Suzanne turned on the phone and pressed some buttons. “My suspect list is still there!”

  “Shh!” Maddie warned her. They were outside the great room and she didn’t want anyone overhearing them.

  “Nobody’s tampered with my list.” Suzanne sounded pleased. She checked for missed calls and texts, but there weren’t any.

  “I wonder when Detective Edgewater is going to call,” Maddie mused.

  Suzanne checked her watch. “It’s four o’clock. You’d think he would have given us an update by now.”

  “And that’s why I enjoy organic vegan food so much.” Maddie heard Autumn’s voice in the great room.

  “It sounds like her talk is ending,” Maddie commented.

  “Then I guess we better go in. Maybe they’ll want some more coffee – or health balls.” Suzanne shoved her phone snugly into her pocket.

  ***

  Suzanne had been right, Maddie thought as she helped her friend prepare dinner that evening. Autumn had requested more refreshments. After that, there was another special breathing session that she and Suzanne – and Trixie – excused themselves from.

  Detective Edgewater had phoned a few minutes ago. Autumn had taken the call, and had gathered them around to give them the update. The initial report was that Hailey had been smothered. Detective Edgewater might want to come back tomorrow morning to question them again, so they were to stay here until after lunch tomorrow. But apparently Claudine and Ramon were no longer considered suspects.

  “I’m so glad Ramon’s been cleared.” Suzanne smiled as she prepped the salad.

  “Me too,” Maddie replied. “And since Detective Edgewater doesn’t think Claudine is the killer, it means it was either an intruder or someone in the house.”

  They looked at each other and shivered.

  “I can’t wait for the full moon tonight.” Suzanne changed the subject as she ladled the quinoa they’d just cooked into a large bowl.

  “Mrrow!” Trixie sat on a kitchen stool, watching them.

  Maddie wasn’t sure if she was looking forward to perusing Wytchcraft for the Chosen tonight, or if she was a little nervous. Would she find out if Trixie was meant to be with her – forever?

  “We’d better get through dinner first,” Maddie said wryly. “Have you made a plate for the deputy?”

  “Yep.” Suzanne nodded. “I’ll take it up to him.” She dumped a big spoonful of quinoa onto the colorful veggie plate and then left the kitchen. “Hope he likes it!”

  A few minutes later, she returned.

  “He said this is exactly the sort of stuff he eats at home.” Suzanne sounded surprised.

  “Maybe he and Autumn should get together and swap recipes,” Maddie suggested with a smile.

  Suzanne giggled.

  In the dining room they handed around the plates of salad.

  “Wonderful,” Autumn enthused. “Everyone, you must try the quinoa.”

  Edith nodded, helping herself to a small spoonful. Brenda and Linda followed, a tad reluctantly, Maddie thought.

  “Not bad.” Linda sounded surprised.

  “You’re right.” Brenda smiled at her and helped herself to some more.

  “It’s all about keeping your mind and channels open to positivity, and healthy food,” Autumn told them earnestly.

  “Is Jenna coming down?” Maddie asked, eyeing the empty chair at the table.

  Just then, Jenna trudged into the dining room.

  “Jenna, dear!” Autumn rose and hugged the soccer mom. “I’m so glad you felt well enough to join us.”

  “I thought it was important to try.” Jenna gave them a wan smile.

  “Of course, of course.” Autumn helped Jenna into her chair and explained the meal to her.

  Jenna tentatively forked up some salad and quinoa and popped it in her mouth. Maddie was encouraged when she repeated the motion.

  “I thought we could play some card games tonight, for a bit of nostalgic fun,” Autumn proposed once Maddie and Suzanne brought in dessert – coconut yogurt mixed with blueberries and raspberries.

  “I completely understand if you don’t think it’s fitting, Jenna.” She looked at the soccer mom in concern.

  “No, it’s fine.” Jenna smiled weakly. “Hailey used to like playing cards.”

  “Has the electricity come back on?” Linda asked. “How are we going to see once it gets dark?” She looked out of the dining room window at the murky sky. “Not that it’s bright and sunny right now.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that.” Autumn looked downcast for a moment.

  Maddie hated to see the group leader distressed. “I’ll try the light switch.” She jumped up from her seat and flicked the switch, holding her breath. Warm yellow light shone on the table.

  “That’s a relief,” Autumn murmured, her shoulders relaxing.

  The attendees gave a little cheer, the energy in the room becoming more animated.

  After Maddie and Suzanne did the dishes, collecting the empty plate from the deputy, they joined the others in the great room.

  Autumn drew the curtains, so the room was cozy with soft lighting. However, this meant that Maddie couldn’t look out the window to check if the full moon had appeared.

  The rain had let up a little, and there hadn’t been any thunder or lightning for a while, but it still seemed miserable outside. She was glad she, Trixie, and Suzanne were inside, even if it meant they were playing a game of cards with a murderer.

  They started off with Gin Rummy, and then decided to try charad
es. Maddie noticed Jenna seemed to be in a more cheerful mood, her pale cheeks flushing a little with enjoyment.

  Trixie joined in with Maddie and Suzanne when it was their turn to act out a scenario. Everyone applauded when they finished. Jenna eventually guessed Trixie was a trick rider in a circus, as the Persian stood on Maddie’s back while Maddie crawled around in a circle, with Suzanne twirling an imaginary mustache and doffing a pretend top hat as the ringleader.

  “I’ve certainly enjoyed tonight,” Autumn announced. Her expression dimmed. “Although I do feel guilty about that when poor Hailey …”

  “Don’t.” Jenna shook her head. “She wouldn’t have wanted us to sit around feeling sorry for ourselves – and her. She would have wanted us to enjoy ourselves – she did, at every opportunity.”

  Was there a hint of bitterness in Jenna’s tone?

  “Thank you, dear.” Autumn patted Jenna’s shoulder. “I propose we go to bed now. Surely things will look brighter in the morning.” She glanced at the curtains covering the windows.

  Autumn’s phone rang. Everyone turned to look at the group leader.

  “I thought I’d turned it off after receiving the update from Detective Edgewater.” She frowned, reaching into her bag. “Please excuse me, everyone. I’ll take this call and go to bed. I believe the deputy will be sleeping down here once everyone’s turned in. Don’t forget to lock your doors.” She hurried out of the room.

  “I wonder what that’s all about,” Brenda remarked.

  “Yeah.” Jenna nodded. “When Hailey and I signed up for this retreat, it said no cell phones to be turned on during the sessions.”

  “Yet Autumn’s phone has been on all the time, it seems,” Linda added.

  Trixie padded to the doorway. “Mrrow?” She cast a glance over her shoulder at Maddie and Suzanne.

  “We’ll see you tomorrow,” Maddie told the other women. “I think Trixie wants to go to bed now.” She couldn’t tell the other ladies that she thought Trixie wanted to look at Wytchcraft for the Chosen.

  “Give your pretty cat a pat from me.” Brenda smiled at the Persian. “I can’t wait to go home tomorrow and start looking for a cat of my own.”

  “Mrrow!” Trixie sounded as if she approved of the idea. She sauntered toward the staircase.

  Maddie and Suzanne followed the cat up the stairs, stopping at the top. The hallway was in darkness.

  “I better put the light on.” Suzanne flicked the switch.

  Nothing.

  “Let me try.” Maddie turned the light switch on.

  Darkness.

  “But the lights are working downstairs.” Suzanne wore a perplexed frown.

  “Maybe the bulb has blown,” Maddie suggested. “If the light was left on last night before the black out, it could have blown when the power cut out.”

  Suzanne dug out her phone and shone the flashlight at the old-fashioned light fitting. “The bulb is still in there – I bet you’re right. We better warn the others.”

  Maddie called down to the great room, cautioning them about the dark hallway upstairs.

  “Autumn didn’t say anything.” Suzanne’s gaze flickered toward the group leader’s bedroom.

  “Maybe she was so pre-occupied she didn’t notice,” Maddie suggested.

  “Mrrow!”

  “That must be it then.” Suzanne smiled at Trixie.

  “But where’s the deputy?” Maddie scanned the hall. The chair outside Hailey’s bedroom was empty.

  “The bathroom?” Suzanne suggested. “Or maybe he’s getting a glass of water or something?”

  A murmur of voices floating up from the great room seemed to underscore Suzanne’s words. A male voice Maddie recognized as the deputy’s was mixed in with the female voices of the attendees.

  “That solves that mystery,” Maddie said in relief.

  “I’m glad Autumn gave everyone the keys to their room,” Suzanne said as they entered their sleeping quarters and closed the door. She brandished the old-fashioned metal key and stuck it into the keyhole. There was an audible click as the door locked.

  “Me too,” Maddie agreed.

  “Mrrow.” Trixie jumped up on Maddie’s bed and patted the bedcover. Maddie interpreted that to mean, It’s time to look at Wytchcraft for the Chosen because the full moon is here.

  “Okay,” Maddie answered her familiar. She opened the armoire and hauled out her bag, digging deep. Maddie lifted out a sweater wrapped bundle.

  “Yay!” Suzanne crossed to the window and looked out. They hadn’t closed their bedroom curtain yet. The full moon hung in the sky, fat and golden.

  “I’m sure it’s time, Maddie.” Suzanne sank onto the bed, her eyes alight with expectation.

  Maddie unwrapped the book and set it between them. Trixie jumped into her lap, placing a paw on the ancient cover.

  “All right,” Maddie whispered to her familiar. She opened the book, being careful with the age-spotted pages. It looked like it was at least two hundred years old and Maddie had always been careful with it.

  Maddie turned past the Escape Your Enemy spell, the Tell the Truth spell, and the Move an Object spell. She’d been able to cast those spells recently. Usually, when she, Trixie, and Suzanne paged through the book on the night of a full moon, one spell in particular grabbed her attention. Somehow, she just knew that she would be able to perform that spell.

  But tonight, a new spell wasn’t what she was searching for. Maybe it was silly, but she wanted confirmation that she and Trixie were meant to stay together.

  And then she saw it.

  How to determine if your familiar stays with you.

  She’d been through this book numerous times over the last twenty years, and couldn’t remember seeing that page before. But since she turned twenty-seven, the age when a witch was supposed to come into her full powers according to the book, this didn’t seem so unusual. There had been other times that she hadn’t remembered seeing a certain spell before in the book, and that spell had become crucial to protecting herself from a killer.

  Suzanne tapped the page.

  “This is what you should read.” Her voice was hushed.

  “I know,” Maddie whispered back. She looked down at Trixie. Her familiar’s ears were pricked and her turquoise eyes shone.

  On the night of a full moon, close this book and place it on the ground. Turn around three times widdershins with your eyes closed. Ask three times: Will my familiar stay with me? Open your eyes. If the book opens at this page, it means your familiar is destined to stay with you forever. If this book is closed, it means that once you no longer have a particular need for your familiar, he or she will find a new witch to serve.

  Maddie’s heart sped up. Was she brave enough to try it? What if the book stayed closed after she recited the words? Could she bear to know that one day she and Trixie would be parted?

  “I think you should do it,” Suzanne murmured. “I know you’ve been worried about this all day.”

  “I was trying not to let it show,” Maddie said wryly.

  “I know.” Suzanne reached out and touched her arm. “But I’ve known you since middle school.”

  “I’ll do it,” Maddie said firmly. She had to know.

  Suzanne whipped out her phone. “I’ll check which direction widdershins is in.”

  “Good idea.” Maddie thought it was counterclockwise, but it was important to be accurate, especially with witchcraft.

  “Got a signal,” Suzanne crowed. She punched some buttons on her phone. “Widdershins is counterclockwise.”

  “Thanks,” Maddie replied, glad she was correct. Maybe she should write a note in the book, in case she ever wanted to double check. But right now, she just wanted to get this spell over with.

  “Trix,” she whispered.

  “Mrrow.” Trixie’s tone was soft as she patted Maddie’s arm. She hopped off Maddie’s lap.

  Maddie grabbed the heavy book and walked over to the window. There was more space between Suzanne’s be
d and the wall than anywhere else in the room.

  Maddie memorized the words, then closed the old book and placed it on the floor. She shut her eyes, her heart thudding, and turned around counterclockwise three times. Each time she murmured the words: “Will my familiar stay with me?”

  After the third utterance, she slowly opened her eyes, afraid as to what she would see.

  Suzanne’s gasp filled the room.

  The book was open at the page: How to determine if your familiar stays with you.

  “Yes!” Suzanne jumped up and down.

  “Shouldn’t I be doing that?” Maddie grinned, hugging her friend. A weight she didn’t even know she’d been carrying fell off her shoulders. She and Trixie would be together – forever!

  “Mrrow!” Trixie jumped from Maddie’s bed to Suzanne’s and then into Maddie’s arms.

  “Oh, Trix. I cast a spell in the book and its says you’ll always be my familiar.” She looked into her familiar’s knowing eyes. “But you already know that, don’t you?” She couldn’t stop smiling.

  Trixie lifted her paw and gently patted Maddie’s cheek, as if she’d known all along there had been nothing to worry about.

  “Mrrow,” she said in approval.

  “Do you want to look at the book, Trixie?” Suzanne asked. She turned to Maddie. “Do you think it’s okay if I pick up the book?”

  “I think it will be all right.” Maddie didn’t have a bad feeling about it – and Suzanne had handled the book previously.

  Suzanne carried the tome over to the bed.

  “I know it’s usually one new spell per full moon, but do you think checking that Trixie will be your familiar forever—” she grinned at both of them “—counts as a spell?”

  Trixie’s ears pricked up at the mention of “spell”. She wriggled in Maddie’s arms, until Maddie joined Suzanne on the bed.

  “Okay.” Maddie opened the book. Trixie settled in her lap.

  “I bet there is a spell in here to do the dishes.” Suzanne giggled. “No matter what Trixie thinks about it.”

  “Maybe we’ll find it tonight,” Maddie said optimistically. All the cleanup she and Suzanne had done so far this weekend made her glad she only had dishes for herself and Trixie to take care of at home.

  They paged through the book, scanning glamour spells, love spells, and the Coffee Vision spell Maddie had mastered when she was seven.