by Joyce
Olivia came out of the bracelet while we were in the bubble. “Oh, girls—and Brian—this is such a mess. I don’t know if a discovery spell is a good idea or not.”
“It could be exactly what Hedyle was trying to goad you into doing, Molly,” Elsie warned. “Maybe she knew she couldn’t do it herself but you’d try it.”
“I don’t see where we have any choice,” I told her. “It sounded like muttering to me when Makaleigh died, but I guess I owe it to her to find out.”
“Why?” Olivia demanded. “She only talked about changing things. We really don’t even know if she meant any of it.”
“I was still the last person she spoke to,” I reminded her. “I don’t want to do this either, but I think we should.”
“Let’s get on with it,” Brian said. “If what she had to say doesn’t amount to the name of the killer, we’re going to need those other fingerprints. We don’t have time to waste. Ready, Molly?”
I nodded and closed my eyes, standing between them while they joined hands around me. As far as I knew, there were no other deep, dark secrets in me. My friends knew everything. I had to trust that it would be okay. I let myself relax and lean on the affection and faith we shared. They wouldn’t hurt me and would guard my secrets with their lives, as I would theirs. This was the nature of a coven and why it was important for the right people to belong to one another.
Brian began the spell, stronger and more confident in his magic than Dorothy or Elsie. They joined in, holding hands, eyes closed. I could feel their magic building. There was a protective nature to it that wouldn’t have been there if Hedyle had done the discovery spell. I was glad that I had resisted.
I was in the pink parlor again. Everything looked as it had when we’d found Makaleigh. Olivia called us over behind the pink sofa, and I reached Makaleigh before Dorothy, Brian or Elsie. I heard a voice murmuring close to my ear—Makaleigh. She was beside me on the floor, her life energy draining away as she fought to say one last thing.
She kept repeating the same words, trying to tell me something important, but it made no sense to me. Was she speaking in another language? If so, I couldn’t interpret it. She was saying the same words over and over. Three words that I couldn’t understand. She was desperate to tell me. Her eyes focused on me, and her hand grasped mine tightly.
Aba. Mho. Ord.
I was repeating the words again and again as I opened my eyes, coming out of the discovery spell. Nothing seemed real, as though I had just stepped out of a dream world and was having trouble finding my way back into the real one.
Brian, Dorothy and Elsie were all staring expectantly at me. They weren’t moving. I wasn’t sure they were breathing. I reached to touch Elsie’s arm but found I couldn’t move either. My amulet was glowing brightly. I wasn’t sure if this was a backlash from its magic or something else.
“A discovery spell?” the Bone Man harshly laughed. He was inside the bubble with us. How was that even possible? “You should know better than to let someone invade your inner secrets. Do they teach witches nothing these days?”
“You can’t be here,” I told him. “No one can break through the sanctity of the protective bubble.”
“No witch,” he agreed with a smirk to his red lips. “I, however, am not a witch, as you well know. There is more at stake here than protecting your husband and son. You are privy to a few of my secrets as well, Molly. Did you think of that before you allowed your friends to rummage in your head?” He tapped my forehead sharply with his bony finger. “I think not.”
“I told them everything the last time I left Oak Island,” I confessed. “They’re my friends, and my coven. I would trust them with anything, including your secrets.”
“I see.” He grinned horribly, showing rotted teeth. “I do not. I have given you the words you seek. Do not try this again. I know you have other plans for your life, but I could put them on hold so you could spend the rest of your time on Oak Island with me.”
“You can’t just pop in and out of my life whenever you feel like it, because I know who you really are!”
He tipped his ragged hat to me. “Never make a deal with the Bone Man if you don’t intend to keep your part of the bargain!”
He was gone before I could ask about the meaning of the words. I assumed he knew but wouldn’t just share unless I made another deal with him. That wasn’t going to happen. He already had access to more of my life than I was happy with.
An instant later, we could all move. Brian, Elsie and Dorothy were still chanting the discovery spell.
“I know what she said,” I told them, startling all of us.
“What?” Dorothy demanded. “Was it the killer’s name?”
“I don’t know.” I repeated the three words that were racing through my brain aloud again.
“Maybe it’s the killer’s name in code,” Elsie suggested. “Who brought their secret decoder book?”
The protective bubble slowly dissipated around us.
“I don’t understand,” Brian said. “What do those words mean? What’s the big secret?”
“That’s what I thought too,” I agreed. “I remember hearing Makaleigh say those words now, but I don’t know what they mean.”
“They must be something important,” Dorothy said. “Why else would Hedyle be so anxious to get them from Molly?”
We all agreed on that, except Olivia. “Gibberish,” she declared. “A wild-goose chase.”
“Maybe you should write the words down anyway so you don’t forget,” Elsie suggested. “Maybe it’s one of those things where the time isn’t right yet but when it is, you’ll need the words.”
“It could be anything,” Olivia said. “And it doesn’t sound like it’s gonna get us out of here any faster. We still don’t know who killed Makaleigh.”
“Until we can figure out how to decipher the words, I suggest we get those other fingerprints.” Brian watched as Dorothy wrote down the words. “Maybe we should keep them with us in case someone gets in here while we’re gone. We may not know what the words mean, but I’ll bet Hedyle does.”
I agreed with him, shaking my head to clear a faint buzzing sound in my ears.
“Are you okay after the spell, Molly?” Elsie asked. “You look kind of pale.”
“Like you’ve seen a ghost.” Olivia laughed.
She didn’t realize how close she’d come to the truth. I might have needed the Bone Man’s help when the witchfinder was ready to torture me, but even that was debatable. I didn’t need him in the enchanted bubble. It seemed he was entwined in my life now and there was no way to get him out. His magic was stronger and not part of our witchcraft. I had no idea how to get rid of him.
Not a pleasant thought.
Abdon was waiting in the hall, about to knock on the door, as we were getting ready to walk out. Dorothy almost walked into him and apologized before she got quickly out of the way.
“Good. I was hoping to find you all together.” His keen eyes fell on us with much the same impact as the witchfinder’s needle. “I’d like a word with you. It seems, for better or worse, that you are Brian’s coven now. I don’t pretend to like it, but he needs you to stand behind him.”
“Grandfather—” Brian’s voice was dry and embarrassed.
“No. I won’t be silenced about this. It is an opportunity that may not come again,” Abdon said to him. “Brian needs you to encourage him to take Makaleigh’s place on the council, ladies. Think of the advantage and prestige to your coven and your magic. Consider what a remarkable addition he would make to the council as my heir. I urge you to discuss this with him and help him make the right choice.”
“What about Schadt?” Elsie asked daringly.
“What about him?” Abdon responded impatiently.
“Why isn’t he taking Makaleigh’s place?” Dorothy added. “He’s older and a membe
r of your family. He’d like to be on the council. Brian isn’t interested. Have you asked Schadt?”
“It’s curious why you wouldn’t want your only son to take your place on the Grand Council.” I put in my two cents’ worth. “Why would you pass him over to take Brian? How does he feel about it?”
Abdon’s blunt features twisted his mouth into a snarl. “There is no question of what is going to happen. I only asked for your help because I thought you were Brian’s friends. I suppose I was mistaken. But make no mistake—with or without your support, my grandson will be on the Council of Witches at my side by the time the doors open to the castle.”
With a last sneer, he left us. We were glad to see him go—Brian was relieved.
“He really wants to see you on the council, doesn’t he?” Dorothy said. “I don’t know if he’s going to take no for an answer. Are you sure you want to go against him?”
For a moment there was a sneer on Brian’s face that resembled his grandfather’s. “He’s going to have to live with my answer. I’m not interested in being part of the council. I have never been interested. Come on. Let’s see if we can find Makaleigh’s killer before the doors open. Because I’m ready to go home. Aren’t you?”
CHAPTER 19
I was hot on the trail of Rhianna’s fingerprints. She flitted around the castle like a moth, going from group to group, drinking and eating. Each time I thought I had her, I was wrong.
Hedyle was in several of those groups. I avoided her, though I felt her gaze on me. Should I tell her that I knew the last three words Makaleigh had spoken?
But what if Hedyle was the killer?
None of the other council members had approached me about trying to decipher what Makaleigh had said. I carefully watched Hedyle. She looked so innocent. It was difficult to imagine her plunging a large knife into a woman she’d known for hundreds of years.
Yet I couldn’t imagine who else could have been strong enough to kill Makaleigh. There was also the part about her half threatening to force me to tell her the words she wanted to know. That didn’t make me feel gracious toward her at all.
I kept the words to myself. They swam through my head as I tried to decipher them and learn their meaning. I agreed with Hedyle that Makaleigh wouldn’t have wasted her last breath telling me those three words unless they had some meaning. It was maddening knowing that our release could be immediate if we could just figure out what Makaleigh was talking about.
The Bone Man might have known what they meant. It was just as likely that he didn’t. As he was so fond of reminding me, his magic was different than ours. He saw things we couldn’t see, but I was convinced he felt the same way about us, despite his words to the contrary.
Rhianna was leaving the scene of another quick snack stop—this time caviar and smoked salmon. No knife or fork, but I was sure her fingertips had touched the silver plate she ate from. All I had to do was get there before the fleet-footed servants came to take it away.
“I think you’ve got her now.” Elsie was standing beside me.
“Sorry. I was lost in thought.” I was startled when she spoke to me. “Maybe you could distract the servant while I grab the plate.”
“I believe I could do that.” She nodded. “Molly, I know I’ve been hard on you about the amulet. With it connected to the Bone Man, it makes me nervous. I know we’re all looking for something that will keep us going. I guess this is it for you. I don’t want you to think that I love you any less for it. It just scares me sometimes.”
“I feel the same way about you and Larry.” I kept my eyes on Rhianna. “Since you got together with him, you’ve been like a different person.”
A thin red brow arched. “I hope you mean that in a good way.”
“I do. He’s given you back your old spark. I like it.”
“Thanks. You know I never loved Bill. Back then, it was a good thing to marry someone without magic, remember? The council thought it was good then. Not like now when they want all the witches to only marry witches. I always wondered what changed.” She shrugged. “Anyway, my mother pushed hard for me to marry him. I was just a dumb kid. What did I know?”
“I don’t remember a lot about your mother, but I remember she was really strong-willed. When she said you were going to eat cheese toast, you were going to eat cheese toast.”
Elsie laughed. “You’re still talking about that time you spent the night when Abby was born, aren’t you? You didn’t have to eat the cheese toast.”
“I was afraid not to eat it.”
“I understand what you’re saying. I guess that’s what I mean. She was strong-willed.” She sighed. “It still hurt when Bill cheated on me, but not as much as if I had loved him. With Larry, it’s different. I love him to pieces. If he cheated on me, someone would be sorry. I’m not a fire witch for nothing!”
“I know.” I hugged her yet continued watching Rhianna wolf down salmon. “And I think it’s that happiness that has given you that extra sparkle—and magic.”
She blushed. “I think so too. And I want you to be the first to know that I accepted his marriage proposal. I don’t want this one to get away.”
“You’re going to marry Larry?” Tears spilled from my eyes. “That’s so wonderful. When?”
“I don’t know yet. We’re supposed to talk about it when he gets back this month. I don’t have a ring yet.” She showed me her bare finger. “But I’m already the happiest woman in the world.”
“And I’m so happy for you.”
“Don’t tell anyone else. I’m afraid it will jinx it.” She pointed toward the group. “I think she’s finally done eating. How does she stay so thin eating like that? You get the plate. I’ve got the servant.”
Elsie “accidentally” tipped over several glasses of champagne that had already been poured. Rhianna set down her plate to see what was going on, and I snatched it. I hoped she didn’t want to use it again.
At the moment I laid my hand on the plate, the spell from Madam Tunis was over. Those of us who’d purchased magic one-night clothes for the party from her saw them disappear and become the clothes we’d worn to her shop. I was surprised how many witches had taken advantage of that opportunity. Probably half the witches in the room were now dressed in plain jeans and sweat suits instead of glitter and lace.
“Oh well.” One pretty young witch laughed. “I guess you can see what I wore shopping.”
She was beautiful and completely naked. Evidently she hadn’t worn any clothes before the spell.
If I’d been worried about the transition for me, I didn’t need to be. She drew all the attention to herself from everyone around the room. I carefully hid the silver plate behind my back as I hurried away. Elsie came quickly behind me.
“Stop!” The servant who should’ve been engaged by the naked witch shouted and pointed. “Stop! Thief! That woman is stealing a silver plate. Security!”
It suddenly occurred to me that he was yelling about me. I faltered, thinking I should explain myself, but Elsie pushed me forward, urging me toward the kitchen, before she stopped to confront the servant.
“Oh, all right,” she confessed loudly. “I wasn’t stealing them, just taking a look at the style.” She took a handful of silverware from her bag and put it on the buffet table. I’m sure we can discuss this like rational adults.”
I kept going. Elsie was right—there was no point in both of us being called thieves. I realized she’d put one fork in my pocket. It had to be the important one, Arleigh Burke’s fork.
Two security guards had her arms. Someone was walking rapidly toward them. I didn’t stop to see who it was.
Brian and Dorothy were absent from the kitchen, but a large group of staff was there preparing more food and drink. I went into our tiny corner area where the box and superglue still waited. With Arleigh’s and Rhianna’s prints, that left only three council me
mbers uninvestigated. I hoped one of them was the killer—I really didn’t want to face Hedyle again.
But I was disappointed to find that those prints didn’t match the ones on the knife either. Dorothy brought Bairne’s, and Brian got Joshua’s. None of them matched.
“That only leaves Hedyle,” Brian said. “We’ve still got about twelve hours until the spell is gone. We have to get her prints.”
“Or we could just assume she’s guilty, since the rest of the council is clear,” Dorothy suggested. “I mean, let’s face it—only other council members had a reason to kill her, right?”
“That’s assuming someone couldn’t figure out how to stop her from trying to change the rules,” I added. “It could be about something else.”
“Like someone who thought he or she would be nominated for the council after Makaleigh’s death,” Brian said. “I’m the front-runner, mostly because my grandfather wants a Fuller on the council.”
“But not your father?” Dorothy shook her head. “Why not? Pardon me, but he seems the type, if you know what I mean? No offense. Your family has a political bent to it.”
I knew what she meant. “Who else would like to be on the council?”
Brian grinned. “It would be easier to ask who didn’t want to be on the council. I could be the only one on that list.”
“Not the only one,” I disagreed. “None of us want to be on the council either.”
“Yep. Good thing they won’t ask us,” Dorothy said.
“I should go check on Elsie.” I tried to see through the crowd that had formed around Elsie and the servant. “I’m sure she can talk herself out of this whole theft thing, but just in case.”
“Let me take care of it,” Brian offered. “Elsie and I will meet you upstairs. The five of us need to think this through.”
Dorothy giggled. “That’s one reason I love you. You always include my mother, even if she is a ghost.”
Brian kissed her. “Of course I do. But we have to take this seriously. There’s still a killer in the castle for at least another twelve hours. It seems like we might need a miracle to find him.”