“Two breaches on the same day is unusual. Some of the younger magic users like to test their abilities on the border, but the magical signatures left behind indicate strong magic.”
“And from different sources.”
“We could have a duo working together,” said Gabriel. “Two different magic users crossing the border in one day and these red bloods being discovered. There’s something strange going on.”
Jacob clapped Gabriel on the back. “You’ll figure it out.”
He nodded. “At least the breaches are repaired. No one can slip across. And I’ve stationed patrols at the site since it’s of so much interest. Maybe we’ll get lucky and they’ll try to get through again. We can catch them in the act.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Jacob checked his watch. “I’ve started the first batch of tests, but I need to get going. Taking Gwen on a romantic date this evening.”
“You seem keen on this one.”
“It’s early days, but we’re getting along great.” Jacob grinned. “How about you and Bryony Thornheart? Had any success yet?”
“She remains distantly polite towards me. Can’t break through her barriers. It doesn’t help that her sister, Ivy, is always suggesting I’m getting in the way and bothering them.”
Jacob grimaced. “Ivy Thornheart is one to watch out for. With a demon as a father, she’s never going to be the sweetest person to be around.”
“You know that for a fact?” Gabriel shut the door of the interview room, leaving the red blood to his slumber, and walked with Jacob along the clean white corridor. “I’ve heard rumors about their father. Bryony isn't the offspring of a demon as well is she?”
Jacob laughed. “She couldn’t be farther from that. I don’t know all the facts; the family are secretive about their past. But I heard Ivy’s father is a demon and Bryony’s father is an angel. Neither stayed with Adeline after she conceived. I don’t know if that was her choice or theirs. She raised the girls with her sisters in the house they live in today.”
“It would explain why the sisters look so different.” Gabriel raised his eyebrows as another thought struck him. Could that be the reason he was so drawn to Bryony? Did they share a common ancestry with an angel?
“Don’t give up on Bryony if you like her,” said Jacob. “Bryony is a good one. She could be feeling loyal to her sister and not want to start dating until Ivy’s happy. Although it will take someone extraordinary to tame Ivy and put a smile on her face.”
“It could be that,” said Gabriel.
“Got to go,” said Jacob. “I’ll catch up with you when I’ve got more news about the magic the red bloods are under.”
Gabriel raised a hand as Jacob hurried away. Bryony as an angel? Yes, he could imagine that. He shook his head at his own foolish thoughts. He was going soft. Time to stop thinking about the woman he couldn’t have and figure out who breached the barriers between their worlds.
Chapter 9
“Kiss me!” Ivy grabbed hold of Agatha’s arm and yanked her closer.
“I don’t want to.” Agatha tried to back away from Ivy but her vice-like grip remained solid.
Bryony and Ivy had been testing different ways to break the curse on Agatha and the red blood all afternoon. So far, nothing had worked.
“I’ve tried this spell on you, now we need to see if it's effective. We’ll only know that if you kiss me.” Ivy took a menacing step towards Agatha.
“What if I harm you?”
Ivy smirked. “You couldn’t harm me.”
“Maybe we should let the spell develop,” said Bryony, who stood behind the counter in the store. “It needs time to mature before it reaches full strength. There’s no point in trying too soon.”
“The Goddess save me. Just kiss me!” Ivy grabbed hold of Agatha’s dress collar and dragged her towards her. “Don’t think I’m enjoying this.”
“It might not work because you’re a girl.” Agatha squirmed under Ivy’s hold but couldn’t get free.
“There’s only one way to find out.” Ivy planted a big kiss on Agatha’s lips.
Bryony leaned forward across the counter. “Well, what’s happening?”
Ivy shoved Agatha away. She wiped her hand across her mouth several times. “You taste... revolting. As if you’ve licked the contents of a full ashtray.” She smacked her lips together. “And there’s a hideous aftertaste of rotting socks.”
“That’s what I taste like when somebody kisses me?” Agatha’s hand flew to her mouth.
“I’m going to be sick.” Ivy gagged and grabbed a large glass of water from the table, downing half of it and rubbing her hand over her mouth several more times.
“The spell didn’t work,” said Bryony with a sigh. “We’ve tried dozens of combinations to break the curse. We need to find out who did this to Agatha. Then we can discover how to reverse it. It could take months otherwise.”
“I don’t want to spend months tasting like cigarette ends and mangy socks.” Agatha dropped her hand from her mouth.
“Maybe your mother will help us tonight,” said Bryony. “See what she can tell us about any curses she inflicted upon you.”
“I can’t believe it’s her,” said Agatha glumly. “She can’t really want me to stay at home with her for the rest of my life, taking care of her needs and being miserable as a result.”
“Parents can mess up their kids,” said Ivy.
“Your parents are lovely, though,” said Agatha. “Although your Auntie Lilith scares me a bit.”
“They’re all weird in their own ways,” said Ivy. “Come on, let’s go and see what we can scrounge for dinner off your mom and force a confession out of her about this dumb curse.”
“Don’t hurt her,” said Agatha. “If she has done this to me, I’m sure she’s sorry.”
“She’s got dragon blood in her. She can take care of herself,” said Ivy.
“We won’t hurt your mom,” said Bryony gently. “We just want to talk to her.”
The girls shut the shop, Spike following them out and Sweetie staying behind to guard the store. They walked through the cool early evening breeze, the sun already dipping behind the row of small thatched cottages they walked past.
Bryony paused for a second and looked down. “Better give these little guys a hand.” She plucked up half a dozen snails who were resolutely making their way across the road and deposited them underneath a bush on the other side.
“Let me grab dessert from the bakery,” said Agatha. “My cousin’s tarts are amazing. It might put a smile on Mom’s face.” The bakery, Fairy Delights and Magic Muffins, had been in the Graytooth family for years, and Agatha was right, their food was outstandingly good.
Bryony and Ivy waited outside the store as Agatha went in.
“Mavis Graytooth is a recluse,” said Bryony. “She might not welcome us into her house.”
“We have to welcome her into the store, even though all she does is complain,” said Ivy. “Besides, she won’t have a choice if she’s the one who’s inflicted this curse on her own daughter. I’m determined to figure out what it is. Otherwise, we’ll never get rid of Agatha and her bleating about not being able to find a man to kiss.”
“You’d be the same if the man you loved wasn’t able to kiss you.”
“I don’t love any man.” Ivy raised her carefully groomed eyebrows at her sister. “And neither do you, do you?”
“If I ever was fond enough of anybody to cause me concern, I’d let you know,” said Bryony. “Then you could run him out of town so I’d never see him again. I know the risks we face if either of us falls in love.” She picked at a loose piece of paint on the outside of the bakery store window.
Ivy sighed at the lovelorn expression on her sister’s face. “Is it time I did something about Gabriel? You can’t pretend you don’t like him for much longer. And he doesn’t seem to be giving up on you.”
“No, don’t get rid of Gabriel. He means well, and I think he’s on the verge of acce
pting I’m never going to date him,” said Bryony. “I don’t want you to frighten him off like you’ve done the others.”
“The others needed scaring off,” said Ivy. “That idiot with the muscles and the long hair was nothing but trouble. You even said yourself he was getting on your nerves at the end. And nobody irritates you.”
“You do sometimes,” said Bryony.
Ivy grinned at her. “I’m allowed to because we’re related.”
Agatha emerged from the bakery with two large wrapped pies in her hands. “Okay, let’s go and see my mom.”
Five minutes later, Agatha, Bryony, and Ivy arrived outside the front of a stone built cottage, with small lead lined windows and an uneven looking tiled roof. The front garden needed a good tidy and the paint on the front door was flaking off.
“Sorry about the state of the place,” said Agatha as she walked up the garden path. “I keep telling Mom she needs to spend some money on fixing things, but she’s always saving for what she calls a rainy day. The roof will have to fall down on her before she decides to do anything about it.”
“It could be lovely here,” said Bryony.
“Yes, it could be.” Agatha pushed the front door open. “The inside isn’t much better.”
“Stay here,” Ivy said to Spike. “Don’t want you annoying the dragon lady.”
Spike grumbled at her as he positioned himself by the front door.
Ivy walked in behind Bryony and the scent of mothballs and damp washing filled her nose. The walls were a faded grey color, and she couldn’t decide if they had once been white and were simply dirty or if this was the owner's color of choice. The carpet underfoot was threadbare in places, and as Ivy streaked her finger along a cabinet, she collected a pile of dust.
“Mom, I’m home,” called Agatha. “And I brought some guests for dinner. And some pie.”
There was the sound of a pot clattering in the kitchen and Agatha gestured for them to follow her.
“Guests! I haven’t invited anybody. And that includes you.” The shrill voice of Mavis drifted out of the kitchen.
“You always say I can come to dinner whenever I like. And these are my friends, Bryony and Ivy Thornheart,” said Agatha. She glanced at the girls before pushing open the kitchen door and walking through. “I thought it would be nice to have some company.”
“I’ve got nothing to give them,” said Mavis. “I only made enough for myself. Didn’t know you were coming. Soup, bread, and salad just as always.”
“I’m not very hungry, Mrs. Graytooth,” said Bryony, standing in the open doorway. “We’d be happy with whatever you can provide.”
Mavis Graytooth’s head appeared around the pantry door, her jet black irises had a small ring of red around them, indicating her dragon ancestry. “You’ll have to make do with a cup of tea and a slice of bread.”
“That will be lovely,” said Bryony.
“Sounds great,” muttered Ivy.
“So, what are the Thornheart girls doing with my Agatha?” Mavis emerged from the pantry, glaring at Bryony and Ivy. She was wearing a knee length black dress and faded flower covered apron. Despite the fact she claimed to eat so little for dinner, she had a stout figure. Her skin had a faint green mottle to it. It was another remnant from her dragon ancestry.
“Mom, there’s no need to interrogate them.” Agatha placed the two pies onto the scratched wooden island in the center of the kitchen. “I thought it would be nice to have some company to dinner for a change.”
“Your company is good enough, when you bother to show up.” Mavis ripped the packaging from the pies and sniffed them both. “I’d have preferred rhubarb not apple. But I suppose these will do.” She shot another glare at Ivy and Bryony.
“Let’s go through to the dining room and leave Mom to finish making dinner.” Agatha ushered them out of the kitchen and shut the door behind her. She led them back along the hallway and into a dusty room at the front of the house. The wallpaper was a faded beige colored rose pattern and the walls were covered in pictures of proud looking dragons.
Bryony walked over to one of the pictures. A striking large red and black dragon peered back at her. “This must be one of your ancestors.”
“Yes, a distant great uncle.” Agatha pulled chairs out from the table before setting it for four with coasters, knives and forks.
“Do you still retain much dragon power from your ancestors?” asked Bryony.
“Not much,” said Agatha. “It weakens every time a new generation is born. We dilute the blood so the powers lessen along with it. No more pure blood dragons left to breed with. Well, none that I know of. Mom thinks dragons still exist, but I’m not so sure.”
“How about your mom?” asked Ivy. “She looks like she’s got some ability in her.”
“Not as much as she used to,” said Agatha. “She told me her powers fade the older she gets. But she’s still got a temper on her, so be careful when you’re questioning her about this curse.”
The door opened and Mavis walked through, a large bowl of salad in one hand and a plate of sliced bread in the other. “Agatha, get the bowls and the soup from the kitchen.”
“Yes, Mom.” Agatha dashed out of the room.
“You may as well sit down, girls.” Agatha placed the bread and salad on the table. “But it’s not much. That silly child of mine should have told me she was bringing guests to dinner. I didn’t even expect her to be here.”
“It’s not a problem.” Bryony sat down and Ivy took the seat opposite her. “And bread and salad will be fine.”
“It will have to be.” Mavis stared at the door.
“You have a lovely home,” said Bryony.
“It does me,” said Mavis.
“Do you live here on your own?” asked Bryony.
“I do now,” said Mavis. “Ever since Agatha abandoned me, it’s just me and the house ghosts.”
“You have ghosts?” Ivy raised her eyebrows in interest.
“It’s either that or the loose pipes in the basement,” said Mavis with a snort. She banged her hands on the table. “Where is that useless girl?”
“I’m right here, Mom.” Agatha dashed through the door, soup and bowls in her hands.
“Serve us,” said Mavis. “Or the soup will be too cold to eat.”
Agatha hurried around the table, setting out bowls and ladling soup into them.
Ivy eyed the lumpy green soup in front of her with suspicion. “What’s in this?”
“It’s spinach, potato, and turnip,” said Agatha. “I make soup at least once a week with the leftover vegetables that are on the turn.”
“Sounds delicious.” Ivy slid her spoon into the soup and sat back.
“May I ask about your husband?” Bryony salted her bowl of soup. “Does he no longer live here?”
Mavis slurped loudly on a large spoonful of soup. “He’s dead.”
“I am sorry to hear that,” said Bryony.
“We don’t talk about him,” said Mavis.
“Mom, that’s not exactly fair—”
“No, we do not mention that man’s name in this house,” said Mavis. “He did nothing but bring us misery and trouble. Better that he is dead.”
Bryony looked at her sister and grimaced. “I can see from all the pictures in this room you’re proud of your ancestors. It looks like you’ve come from a large and powerful family.”
“There aren’t many of us left,” said Mavis. “Old age kills off some of us and insanity the rest. Then, of course, you have the idiots who think capturing someone with dragon blood will mean fortune comes their way.”
Bryony knew dragon kidnapping happened on occasion. Pure dragon blood was powerful; a single drop gave an individual super strength and the ability to sniff out gold and jewels.
“Are your family any good with curses?” Ivy stared at her untouched soup.
“Curses you say?” Mavis shot her a narrowed eyed glare. “Dragons don’t have much time for curses. We have other abil
ities that are better regarded and more effective.”
“A curse can be a valuable tool in a supernatural’s arsenal,” said Ivy.
“I’ll leave those kinds of things to you girls,” said Mavis. “I imagine you sell a lot of curses in your store.”
“Not so many,” said Bryony. “Curses aren’t the kind of magic we supply.”
“Unless they pay us well enough,” muttered Ivy.
“No, we don’t deal in curses.” Bryony frowned at Ivy. “There’s always a way to rectify a problem without having to cause another individual misery.”
“Curses have their place,” said Mavis. “There are a few people around this village I wouldn’t mind cursing.”
“Anybody we know?” Ivy looked over at Agatha.
“None of your business. And I’ll get round to it when I have time,” said Mavis. “For now, I keep out of my tormentors’ way. I prefer a quiet life now I’m getting older.” She slurped up the last of her soup and wiped a chunk of bread around the inside of the bowl.
“It must be nice having Agatha living so near to you,” said Bryony.
“I preferred it when she lived here,” said Mavis. “There’s so much that needs to be done. But with Agatha gallivanting around Old Sarum with any man who catches her eye, it means she’s forgotten all about her poor mother.”
“I do not gallivant,” murmured Agatha.
“I see what you do, and I hear the gossip,” said Mavis. “You are not being discreet with your men friends.”
Agatha blushed a deep scarlet and hung her head. “I’m always here if you need me. You’re much more capable than you believe you are.”
“I’m old and frail. I need you here.”
“I’m ten minutes away on foot,” said Agatha.
“Which means you’re ten minutes too far when I take a fall and can’t get up,” said Mavis. “If you were here looking after me all the time, I wouldn’t worry so much.”
“It’s nice, though, to think of Agatha having a life of her own,” said Bryony. “You must want her to find a man to settle down with and have a family of her own. If she lived here, that might be tricky.”
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