I nudged him, but no amount of bumping and purring would make him understand that he had to pucker up to save her. They had always been on their own schedule when it came to romance, and that fact remained true, even now.
“It was, uh, it was Bianca Chokecherry,” Amelia said, then fell quiet. Clearly, she wasn’t willing to out Penelope as a witch, even to her one true love. Granted, Amelia had no idea that Dr. Luke was Penelope’s one true love.
Wait a second.
What? Lola asked, sitting at my side. I could feel the fear from her. She didn’t want to lose a second owner, a second mistress. What would happen to the animals without Penelope around to protect them?
Pen groaned and turned her head.
Amelia saw the page in the book about breaking a spell with love’s true kiss. I just might be able to – I hurried forward and nudged Amelia, she looked down at me and frowned.
I nudged her again.
She clicked her tongue this time.
I ran to Penelope, batted her on the head, then moved to Dr. Luke and batted him on the arm. Then I repeated the motion. Again, and again as the two of them watched in consternation.
“What’s he doing?” Dr. Luke asked. “Maybe the trauma has caused him to go mad. I wish I had a sedative with me.”
“I have no idea,” Amelia replied, scratching her forehead. “Tali, stop it. Penelope’s sick. This isn’t the time for games.”
Humans can be so thick sometimes. I didn’t stop going through the motions, patting Pen, then Dr. Luke and glancing up at Amelia to see if she understood. Help me out here, will you, babe?
Anything for you, Tali. Lola hurried over and mimicked my actions, exactly in time. Pat, pat, look. Pat, pat, look.
“What the hell?” Dr. Luke’s eyes went round, but he didn’t move out of reach of our gentle pats. “Did Bianca slip them a mickey? They’ve lost it.”
Amelia gasped.
Oh, I think she got it. I looked at her and felt nothing but triumph.
Amelia nodded at me, as if she understood my meaning, then looked directly at Dr. Luke. “Well, this is kind of awkward.”
I nudged Lola so she’d stop doing the ‘love’s true kiss’ dance.
You can dance for me later, doll. When we’re alone. I like the way your tail gyrates.
You’re on.
“What is?” Dr. Luke said, watching Lola and I retreat a short way to enjoy the show.
Penelope’s eyelids flickered open and she looked up at him with a soft smile. Dr. Luke returned it.
“Remember Sleeping Beauty? You have to kiss her, I think,” Amelia said. “It’s the only thing that will, uh. Okay, you have to kiss her and that’s it. Please, just try.”
“What?!” Dr. Luke gulped and licked his lips. “Not without her permission.”
“Kiss her,” Amelia insisted, glancing at Lola and me. “Kiss her now.”
“I’m not going to kiss her. I mean, I’ve thought about it and I really want to, but not now. Not like this. She’s sick, I don’t want to make it worse.” Dr. Luke’s words came out in stutters.
“If you don’t kiss her, she’ll die.”
“That’s crazy,” he replied.
Penelope’s wan hand lifted, achingly slow, and rested on Dr. Luke’s cheek. The only strength she had left had gone into that gesture and the small smile on her lips. “Kiss me, Luke.”
That was all the permission Dr. Lucas Collier needed.
PDA incoming. I warned Lola.
Dr. Luke bent slowly and placed his lips on Penelope’s. He kissed her with true tenderness and emotion, gripping her to his chest and stroking one hand down her cheek and then up into her hair.
They parted and Penelope sucked in a shallow gasp. “Oh, Luke,” she said, and her eyes brightened, as if she’d never seen him before.
There was an audible crack, then a pop, and the room flooded with wind again. This time it was white and blue energy swirling in circles. It streamed through the window, the door, hell, even through the cracks in the floorboards.
Whatever Lucinda had taken, came rushing right back.
It entered Penelope’s body in filaments of light, gushing into her and invigorating her skin. Blush returned to her complexion, her eyes were glassy and bright, her hair even more lustrous than usual.
Dr. Luke stared, shaking his head and caught up in the wonder of the energy swirling around him.
Finally. A weight lifted off my shoulders. The curse lifted off Penelope’s. My task was done. My mistress was happy and her true powers had returned. Never again would I have to help her solve a mysterious case of failed love spells. My remaining lives were safe. Now, I could get back to lapping coffee grounds and courting my girlfriend.
But what about Lucinda, Tali? Isn’t she still out there? She’s going to come looking for revenge along with her evil spawn.
Save those questions for another time, lover. Let’s focus on celebrating now.
Penelope rose from the floor, brushing off her blouse and jeans. Amelia stayed where she was, still weak from the entrapment in the mansion.
And Dr. Luke, well, he was glued to the spot, staring up at Pen, his expression a mixture of wonderment and adoration.
“Okay, what just happened?” he asked.
Penelope shared a glance with Amelia, then cracked up laughing. “That,” she said, “is a very long story.”
Dr. Luke stood and walked to the woman he loved. “And I’ve got all the time in the world.”
Chapter 16
The whole gang was gathered in Penelope’s front garden, without Casper the hyperactive goat, of course. I think he was in a business meeting with the owner of YouTube to see if he could parkour his way into America’s heart via a Facebook viral video. I have no idea what is wrong with the citizens of your fine country and their latest goat obsession.
I purred and licked my paw, then washed behind my ears. Usually, I let Lola do this for me, but I figured I’d become too complacent in my old age if I didn’t at least try to clean myself once in a while.
You’re getting chubby, Talisman. You’d better be careful. Some tom cat will come along and steal that lovely white feline from your side. Sage was perched on the roof of the porch, sunning himself.
I’ll never leave, Tali, you feathered fiend. Even if he’s as big as a house. Lola licked her paws at my side and shot Sage a sly look.
Lola had been hanging around me so long, she’d picked up on my arsenal of owl insults. I really dig that girl. Sage had probably picked up a pound of muscle from all his flying over the past month. Oh yes, he’d made good on that promise to follow Damien Chokecherry around. The only time the hunter ever got a break, was at night when Sage decided he wanted to hunt mice instead.
Or when he took a cat nap.
Bird nap.
Quiet down, feathers, I’m trying to internalize.
Penelope stood close by, glowing in the morning light, with Dr. Luke’s arms around her waist. It was a Sunday and the clinic was closed for the day. Dr. Luke had been surprisingly accepting of Penelope’s powers and her inheritance, but then again, what choice did he have? Nothing got in the way of love’s timeless bond.
She was his soul mate. They were pretty much bound together now.
“It’s a beautiful day,” Penelope said, with a satisfied sigh.
“Not as beautiful as you,” Dr. Luke replied.
She giggled and swatted at him, then fell into another of his kisses. Lola and I had taken to sleeping on the couch downstairs, thanks to these two lovebirds. If my eyes witnessed anything between the two of them, I might turn to stone.
The front gate to Penelope’s property creaked open and Amelia and Eldris appeared, walking hand-in-hand. Amelia waved merrily. The scars from her encounter with Bianca had faded at last, and whatever mental ones there’d been from the abduction had been erased by Eldris’ caring touch.
Love is truly in the air. I winked at Lola. She purred back.
Yes, it makes you want to g
ag, doesn’t it? Sage was still the same old, bitter owl from the beginning. With a few quirks added.
“Hey! I hoped you’d come over this morning,” Penelope said, grinning at her bestie. “What’s that?”
Eldris plucked the newspaper from Amelia’s hand and held it out, proudly. “I present to you, Miss Amelia Foley’s thorough exposé on Damien Chokecherry, the poacher.”
Sage perked up, ruffled his feathers. Now, there’s a bit of paper I’d gladly read instead of shit on.
Dr. Luke took it from Eldris and studied the paper, carefully. “This is fantastic.”
Penelope beamed at his side, reading along with him and resting against his chest.
“Yeah, it wasn’t hard to find evidence at all. I’ve spoken to the local environmental society and they’re taking Damien’s case even higher. He’ll never be able to hunt in Shadowcreek or anywhere else, ever again. Not by gun or arrow or even his bare hands. He’s done.” Amelia clapped her hands.
I would’ve kissed her if she wasn’t human and I wasn’t fully committed to the white beauty at my side. Well, maybe a leg twirl.
Without Damien Chokecherry haunting the forest and scaring the locals, all the animals – Fawn and her father, Stag, included – would be able to live in peace. No more fear or dark rituals.
“I’ve got to say, I’m glad Damien got what he deserved,” Dr. Luke said, nodding and pursing his lips. “I never trusted that guy. Not for a hot minute.”
“And you had good reason not to,” Amelia replied, then shut her mouth tight. Eldris definitely wasn’t in on Penelope’s secret, and it was a good thing too. He’d probably faint if he found out.
Fainting, hmm, that reminds me. It’s time for me to get back on the hunt. Sage took off, hooted and swept off over the town. Oh, Damieeeeen. Leave Arizona and you might yet draw another clear breath.
I couldn’t summon a whit of sympathy for Mr. Chokecherry.
There was another creak and a bang, and the group turned to the entrance again.
Elias Stout came marching up the path, frowning heavily. He looked from Penelope to Amelia, and then to Eldris. His upper lip curled the minute he saw the ‘other man.’
Please, God. No nerd fisticuffs today of all days. It was like Steve Urkel meets the Big Bang Theory.
“Elias,” Penelope said, voice strain-free, though Dr. Luke had pulled her closer to his side. “To what do we owe the pleasure?”
“I’ve, uh, I’ve come to say my goodbyes, Penelope.” Elias tucked his hands behind his back and elevated himself onto tiptoes for a second, then dropped back down. “And to, uh, look, I, uh –”
“Is there an end to any of these sentences?” Eldris asked.
Elias straightened and sneered. “I wanted to say I’m sorry for accusing you of things. I sincerely apologize.”
Elias Stout had turned an about face after the destruction of his one good camera. Finding out that Amelia and Eldris were dating had been an even bigger blow. The grapevine of animals and pets told me that he’d been planning a hasty escape to avoid embarrassment for quite some time.
Penelope stared at him in utter shock. None of us had expected an apology from Mr. Stout.
“I, well, thank you, Elias. That’s quite all right,” she said, at last.
Amelia looked on him with pity, and he didn’t miss that look or its meaning.
“Right,” he said. He turned and hurried back down the path, still as greasy and weird as ever.
Two attorneys were walking out of a bar and a beautiful young lady walks by. One attorney turns to his associate and comments "Boy, I would like to screw her! The other attorney thinks for a second, scratches his head and asks, "Out of what?"
Nicely done, doll!
Bada bing!
The group watched him leave in silence.
“Weird,” Amelia said, at last.
“That about sums it up,” Eldris replied.
“Come on, guys, let’s get inside and have some of that coffee and cake.” Penelope turned, then looked down at me. “And some double cream for the cats.”
The world was right again.
Epilogue
How do you know she’ll be there? My feet padded through the foliage as we ran through the forest.
It was tough keeping up with Dagda, still spry in her old age. “Where else would she be, feline? She’s my age, if not older. It’s not like she’ll go wandering around town any time soon.”
Sage flew low above our heads, taking a break from his Damien hunting for the night. She wasn’t there the last time.
“Oh, she was probably hiding out in another dimension, sucking on Penelope’s magic juices to keep her there. But now,” Dagda said, then paused to cackle and rub her hands together, even as we hurried toward the mansion, “now, she’s got none of Penelope’s magic to keep her strong.”
And we’re just going to go in there, claws bared?
I quickened my stride, the initial nerves turning to a bubbling excitement low in my belly, which had nothing to do with the double cream from earlier.
“Our claws don’t need to be out, and neither do our broomsticks,” Dagda replied. “The Chokecherry family has always been notoriously weak in their magic. I believe it’s got something to do with inbreeding.”
That’s disgusting. Sage swooped down in affront. I couldn’t help but agree.
“Well, it’s just a theory, anyway. The fact remains they’ve always been weak and Lucinda’s included in that. That’s why she needed the curse in the first place. Gathering power from each successive DeLacroix and down to dearest Penelope.”
And now that Penelope’s broken the curse… I flashed my kitty grin in the dark.
“That’s right. Without the magic, she’s nothing but a shell. A weak imitation of an effective witch.”
We burst from the forest, sending leaves flying in every direction. The mansion loomed overhead, darkened except for a window on the first floor. And the light there wasn’t of the flickering quality this time. No, this looked like straight electricity. Maybe a lamp.
The magic is gone.
Thank you, Captain Birdvious.
I’d rather be Captain Birdvious, than Private Licker. My friend’s beak glinted in the moonlight.
The sky was inky black and highlighted by millions of sparkling stars. The moon was gibbous and hung low.
Dagda led the way through the front garden of the mansion, over the crippled weeds and the overgrown flowerbeds. The house would’ve been lovely had it been properly cared for. Another crime the Chokecherry family was responsible for. Neglect.
We strode up the front stairs, Dagda regaining her old lady hobble now that she’d slowed down, and stopped in front of the grand oak front door. The old witch didn’t bother using the ornate brass gargoyle knocker; she simply pointed and it banged open before us.
That’s a neat trick. I wish I could do that at home with the pantry door.
You’re already packing on the poundage, Idle Paws.
Bite me. I thought you were going to torment Damien.
Dagda Cerridwyn looked down at me, then tapped the side of her nose. “You animals have no idea.”
We followed her into the darkened hall and walked toward the source of light. Well, we walked, Sage flapped around above us.
If you had yellow forks for feet, you’d prefer flying too.
Shush you, we’ve got business to attend to. I laughed on the inside, hurrying to catch up with Dagda.
We entered a rundown kitchen. The old wooden table stretched across it, covered in a thin layer of dust, except where someone had set down a portable electric lamp. A bundle of rags had been dumped on one of the chairs beside the table, and a window on the other side of the room was cracked.
A cold wind whistled through, chasing the steam rising from a cup of black tea on one of the counters.
“Dagda,” the bundle of rags said.
“And hello to you, Lucinda. It’s been a while. The last time we spoke, you were on
the run to another dimension. I’ve still got the scar,” Dagda said, then pushed the tea further from the rag bundle.
That’s not a bundle of rags. That’s her! That’s the witch. Sage landed on the back of another chair and tilted forward to watch.
I stayed where I was. No way was I about to get my rear end dusty on that nasty table.
“You bring your runty pets with you to help you finish the job?” The rags finally unfurled, revealing the wrinkled face within. Lucinda looked like someone’s old Aunt Margaret. She had liver spots. She had tufty, white hair. But those eyes, those grey eyes, were steely with hatred and intelligence.
“Finish the job?” Dagda threw her head back and cackled. “Oh my, I’m not going to finish anything.”
Lucinda Chokecherry sniffed and rubbed at the end of her nose with the back of her fist. “Then what do you want?”
“I’ve come to escort you to your trial.”
“What?”
“The council has already tried and sentenced your evil daughter, Bianca Chokecherry. She’s been cut off from magic. I can only hope you will meet the same fate.” Dagda scratched her wart. “Then again, it will probably be worse than that for you. I know we haven’t burned anyone at the stake since Salem, but …”
“I won’t go anywhere with you,” Lucinda snapped, drawing herself up in semblance of straightness.
“You don’t have a choice,” Dagda said. She snapped her fingers and a section of rope appeared out of thin air. And none of that twine hemp crap. This was the real deal. The rope wrapped around Lucinda and tied her up tight.
Another click from Cerridwyn’s fingers and Lucinda rose into the air and hovered. A floating lump of righteous indignation.
“What are you doing?!”
“Lucinda Chokecherry, you have been accused of the murder of Arwen Silverchime by aiding and abetting Sanguine Chokecherry. Your ownership of her home has been revoked, and you are called before the coven elders to meet your fate.” Dagda walked for the door and we hurried to follow.
Lucinda floated along behind us, howling curses.
We strode down the front stairs and out into the garden. Lucinda passed above the grass, and the garden responded, growing and flourishing. The weeds retracted, the house seemed to come to life with her passing spirit.
Fur Magic Boxed Set: Talisman, Sage, Fawn, Lola: Paranormal Romantic Comedy Page 26