by Rose Pressey
“I was just wondering if you remember selling a bottle of the facial potion to the woman.”
“What does she look like?”
I paused and then said, “I don’t know… she was wearing the cloak.”
“And you want to know if I sold a potion bottle to a woman wearing a cloak?”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
"The woman you told me about in the café?” Annabelle asked.
"Yes, I’m sure you don’t remember.”
“Sorry, sweetie, I just don’t remember.”
“That’s what I figured, but I had to ask anyway,” I said.
“Sorry I couldn’t help more,” Annabelle said.
“It’s okay. I’ll just have to think of another way to find her. There’s always witchcraft. Maybe that would pull her out, although she probably has her defenses up, so it’ll be a little trickier.”
“If anyone can do it I know you can,” Annabelle said.
“I appreciate the confidence,” I said.
“Are you sure you didn’t get a good look at her?”
“No, both times I only saw the back of her.”
“That’s good, I mean, that’s bad,” Annabelle said.
Her mix up of words caught me off guard, but I suppose she’d just gotten tongue tied.
“I’ll definitely call you if she comes in the shop,” Annabelle added.
“She’s on my most wanted list.” I laughed.
“What about your guests? How’s it going?”
“You mean Cora or Arthur?”
“Both, I guess.”
“I’m not sure.”
“Just be safe,” she said.
“Always,” I said.
After clicking off the call, I turned to Nicolas. He was asleep in the middle of the bed. Should I wake him? Maybe I should just let him sleep. My thoughts immediately went back to the potion bottle. I couldn’t figure out how the bottle had ended up on the sidewalk if the mystery woman hadn’t dropped it. Why wouldn’t Annabelle tell me where she was? That was strange. I hoped it wasn’t something bad. She would probably try to keep that info from me so that I wouldn’t worry.
***
A strange noise woke me from a deep sleep. The sun was just starting to come up. When I glanced over at the clock I saw that it was already six. I hadn’t meant to sleep that long. I needed to get up and start preparing for the day. I still hadn’t decided what to do about Arthur, but right now I needed to figure out where the strange noise was coming from.
Nicolas stirred. “Did you hear that?”
I slipped out of bed. “I don’t know what it was.”I had learned not to ignore noises anymore.
Nicolas climbed out of bed. He wore blue striped pajama bottoms. After he slipped a t-shirt over his head, we both stepped out into the foyer. I paused and listened for the noise. The banging sounded again.
“I think it might be the bat again,” I said.
“I’ll go check it out.” Nicolas started down the hallway to go up to the third floor.
“I’m coming with you,” I said as I followed behind him.
If that bat was in there again, then I was calling somebody to figure out how it was getting in. I needed to find the source of its entry.
We reached the attic door and I said, “Be careful. That thing is vicious.”
Nicolas pushed the door open. The thing was over in the corner just like last time. As if aware of our presence, it left the beam and then flapped around and around at the top of the ceiling. I couldn’t believe that the bat was in the attic again. Furthermore, I didn’t understand how that little noise would catch my attention all the way on the second floor in my bedroom. I had a suspicion that something else was going on in the manor.
“What will we do with it?” I asked.
Nicolas closed the door. “I’ll have to think of a way to get it out.”
“We need a bat trap.”
Just then the doorbell rang. We exchanged a look.
“Are you expecting someone?” he asked.
“No, unless it’s another guest,” I said.
I wasn’t so sure this was another legitimate guest and if I should even take anyone. We headed down the stairs toward the front door. My anxiety was at an all-time high. It was no wonder with everything that was going on around here. I looked out the window. A woman was standing at the door.
“It’s a woman,” I whispered.
“You don’t know her?” Nicolas asked.
I shook my head. “No, I guess it’s a new guest. I should open the door.”
I opened the door and Nicolas hid behind me. It would probably scare the woman, wondering why we were both answering the door.
She had shoulder-length blonde hair and she wore a navy blue skirt and white blouse. She was probably in her mid-thirties.
“I’m sorry if I disturbed you,” she said. “I didn’t expect to get here this early.”
“That’s okay.” I said hesitantly.
“Let me introduce myself. I’m Mandy Seymour. I’m here from New Orleans. I came to invite you to an event.” She looked from Nicolas back to me.
She’d driven all the way from New Orleans to invite me somewhere? Why couldn’t she just call?
“Adrienne Ryan is hosting a party for all the witches. She wants you to be the guest of honor.”
“Wait, the movie star?” I asked. To say that I was suspicious would be an understatement. Why would Adrienne Ryan invite me?
Mandy handed me the pretty envelope with the cream paper in the gold script on the front. “I do hope you’ll attend.” She looked at Nicolas. “Please bring a friend.”
“Why is Adrienne throwing this party?” I asked.
Mandy quirked an eyebrow. “Oh, you didn’t hear?”
“Apparently not.” I had no clue what she was talking about. Nicolas and I exchanged a confused look.
Mandy smiled. “She recently discovered that she’s a witch and has magical powers.”
“I had no idea.”
“Adrienne would like to be included in the New Orleans Coven, since she’s recently made New Orleans her home away from home.”
“I would think that she would be involved with the Hollywood Coven.”
Nicolas laughed. The woman didn’t seem to get my joke, she just stared at me. She waved her hand. “Well, I hope you’ll think about it.”
I smiled. “Thanks, I will.” I closed the door and then said, “Should I go?”
Nicolas said, “Do you want to go?”
“Yeah, I guess I’m kind of curious to see what this is all about.” I picked at the edge of my shirt.
“So now you’re hobnobbing with celebrities?” He laughed.
“I’m not sure I would call it that. I’m curious though.”
I opened the envelope to see when this party would occur. In two days. That wasn’t much of an advance notice.
Chapter 24
The next morning, I waited in the kitchen for my guests, but no one showed up. I checked the rooms, and they were still occupied. No one wanted my breakfast, I guessed. Or they didn’t want to be around me. So I decided to go into town to get some coffee and head over to my mother’s shop. I was anxious to tell my mother about my invitation to the party. She would be shocked and Annabelle would want to know what I was going to wear.
Of course, I had no idea. Now that my magic was so much better maybe I could even make something to wear.
I got in the car and drove to downtown. I parked between the coffee shop and my mother’s place so that I could walk to both. There was only one other person in the coffee shop this morning, which seemed a bit odd. I placed my order and waited over by the window for my coffee. I thought I saw Cora, but in a flash the person was gone. I was probably just imagining things. I grabbed my order and headed for the door. As I stepped out, the man who was waiting for his order stopped me.
“You dropped something,” he said as he handed me the little piece of paper.
I looked at him
, a little confused, but took it from him. The paper was a lottery ticket.
“This isn’t mine,” I said, shoving it toward him.
He shrugged and said, “It’s not mine.” Then he walked away.
I looked over to the employee and asked, “Did you drop this?”
He gave me an irritated look and said, “No.”
No one wanted to claim ownership, so I just shoved it in my pocket and headed toward Bewitching Bath and Potions. There was a customer walking out as I reached my mother’s. Once I stepped in, my mother and Annabelle looked up. There were no customers at the moment. Annabelle was stocking shelves and my mother was behind the counter.
“Good morning. I didn’t expect to see you here.” My mother waved, the bangles on her wrist jingling with the movement.
“Apparently, my guests don’t want my breakfast.” I slumped my shoulders and sighed.
“That’s odd. I thought everyone loves your cooking now.”
I took a drink of coffee and then said, “I don’t think it has anything to do with the food. That’s okay though. I’m glad I got to come by here anyway.”
She looked at me with a huge frown and said, “I’m glad too.”
“I have something I want to tell you.”
She clasped her hands together. “Please let it be that you’re getting married. You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”
I stared at her. “No to both of those questions.”
Annabelle chuckled from over my shoulder.
I traced the edge of the countertop with my finger. “I’ve been invited to a celebrity party in New Orleans.”
“Really? Who is it?” my mother asked excitedly.
“You know that Adrienne Ryan recently said she’s a witch and she wants to join a coven. She spends most of her time in New Orleans, so I suppose it’s a good match that she wants to join the coven there.”
“Look at you, mingling with celebrities now,” my mother gushed. “The paparazzi will be after you soon.”
“What are you going to wear?” Annabelle asked.
“Well, I’ll just have to design something,” I said.
“Good thing your magic has improved. I’d hate to see what that dress would look like if it wasn’t.” My mother shivered at the thought.
I set my cup on the counter. “Oh, there was one thing strange that happened.”
“Just one thing?” she said with a smirk.
“Well, one thing between here and the coffee shop.” I pulled out the ticket from my pocket and handed it to my mother. “The man said I just dropped it out of my pocket, but it’s not mine. He was the only other person in the shop. I didn’t notice anyone and he said it wasn’t his so I just stuck it in my pocket.”
My mother took it from my outstretched hand. “It’s a lottery ticket,” she said.
“I know, but it’s not mine. I didn’t buy it.”
“Oh, maybe it’s a winner,” Annabelle said, as she looked over my mother’s shoulder.
“I have the paper, so we can check the numbers,” my mother said excitedly.
“I hate to burst your bubble, but there’s no way this is going to be a winner.”
I was suspicious of why I had this ticket. It was almost as if I would find it. But then again, I hadn’t found it… maybe it had found me. The man had seemed intent on me taking it.
My mother pulled out today’s paper and turned to the page with the lottery numbers. She placed the ticket beside the paper and started scanning the numbers. She paused and her eyes grew even wider. “You won! Ten thousand dollars. You won!”
“I can’t believe you actually won,” Annabelle said.
“Stop playing games,” I said and took another sip of my coffee.
My mother pushed the paper toward me. “I’m not playing games. It’s your mother you’re talking about.”
True, my mother never played games like that.
I almost spilled my coffee when I realized she was telling the truth. I couldn’t believe what had happened.
“I have to find the owner,” I said.
“I think you are the owner now,” Annabelle said with a smile.
“How can I be the owner when I didn’t buy it?” I said.
“Finders keepers,” my mother said.
“I suppose I can contact the officials and tell them I found it. Maybe they can track down the person who bought it.”
“Maybe.” A lack of confidence filled my mother’s voice. She tapped her fingers against the counter. “So much has changed lately. When you got your magic it was the worst anyone had ever seen. Now you can’t do anything wrong and things are just falling at your feet.”
“Like lottery tickets,” Annabelle said.
“And invitations to celebrity parties,” my mother added.
I stuffed the ticket back into my pocket. “It’s just one lottery ticket and one party.”
She pointed her wand at me. “One for now.”
I picked up my cup of coffee and took another drink. “I think it’s time for me to leave.”
“Are you just going to leave that ticket in your pocket like that? What if you lose it?” my mother asked.
Annabelle nodded. I thought working around my mother was having an effect on Annabelle. They were beginning to act too much alike.
“I promise I won’t lose it,” I said as I turned and walked toward the door.
When I reached the door, I turned to face Annabelle and my mother. “Did you all find any clues about the cloaked woman?”
Annabelle shifted her attention away from me. My mother’s smile faded and was replaced by a grimace.
“Sorry, honey, I think it’s hopeless. Maybe you’ll see her again,” my mother said.
I sighed. “Yeah… maybe.”
“Let me know when you’re going to cash that thing in,” Annabelle called out.
I waved over my shoulder.
“Oh wait.” Annabelle rushed over. “I forgot I have the earrings I borrowed from you in my car. I’ll go out with you and get them.”
Annabelle and I walked the short distance to her car parked along the street. I stood on the sidewalk as she opened the door and grabbed the earrings from the center console. When I glanced into the back seat of Annabelle’s car, I spotted something unusual. It looked exactly like the red velvet cloak I’d seen the woman wearing.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“What’s what?” She handed me the pearl earrings.
“That thing that looks like the cloak I saw the woman wearing.” I pointed.
Annabelle’s eyes widened. “I don’t know how it got there. You have to believe me.”
“Calm down. It’s okay.” I reached in the car and pulled it out. “We just have to figure out how it got here.”
“So you believe me?”’ Annabelle sounded as if she might cry at any second.
“Of course I do.”
“Are you sure that’s what it is?” Annabelle asked.
I examined the cloak, but couldn’t find any clue as to who might be the owner. “I’ll take it with me.”
Annabelle’s hands were shaking. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. You didn’t do this. I think someone is just playing games with us.” I hugged her.
“Yeah, that’s probably it.”
I scanned the area to see if anyone was around or watching us. “Was Arthur in your car at any time?”
“I know you’re suspicious, but he’s a nice guy. I really don’t think he would do anything bad,” Annabelle said.
“Listen, I have to go, but I’ll let you know what I find out.”
“I’d better get back to helping your mom,” Annabelle said.
I clutched the cloak under my arm and left Annabelle on the sidewalk. For a split second I had wondered if Annabelle was guilty of something. I had to push those thoughts out of my mind though. We had been friends for far too long for her to do anything like that to me. But still… I had to find out how it had gotten there.
I felt eyes on me as I walked. When I glanced over, there was a man standing by one of the shop doors. He was watching me. He smiled and waved so I returned the gesture.
Liam didn’t answer, so I left him a message.
“Excuse me,” the man called out as I walked toward my car.
I glanced over my shoulder, but didn’t stop walking. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry if I scared you with my staring, but aren’t you Halloween LaVeau?”
“Yes, I’m Hallie.”
“You’re even prettier than I imagined.” A wide smile spread across his face.
Okay, what was this guy up to? Using a cheesy pick-up line on me like that. I reached my car. “Thank you.”
“My name is Phillip Merritt.” He sounded nervous.
“Nice to meet you,” I said as I glanced over at my car. I hoped he would take the hint.
He shuffled his feet. “I hope it’s not too bold of me, but I was wondering if you would like to have dinner?”
I quirked an eyebrow. “Do you usually ask women you don’t know out to dinner?”
Until becoming the leader, I would never have been so suspicious. Perhaps that was because no one had ever noticed me for anything other than bad witchcraft.
“Well, technically, I do know you.”
“And I don’t know you,” I said. “How do you know me?”
“I’m a member of the Enchantment Pointe Coven.”
“I don’t remember seeing you at any of the meetings,” I said.
He handed me his card. “Call me if you change your mind.”
I read the card. An insurance salesman who practices witchcraft. He walked away, but he kept peering over his shoulder and smiling at me every few seconds. I couldn’t help but notice that other people were watching me too. They were smiling and waving. I had never had this kind of attention before. Did I have a sign on my back? I hurried into my car, placed the cloak on the passenger seat, and shoved the key into the ignition.
“I thought you never would get here.”