A Drop in the Potion

by Constance Barker

I refilled my teacup three times, as I went through book after book. What I really missed were indexes. None of the old texts came with an index in the back. That would make things too easy. And while I found meadowsweet and horehound in various combinations, I didn’t find the combination I wanted.

  At various times during the night, I told myself to go to bed, to give up my crazy search and get some rest. It was an impossible quest. I was stupid to keep going. Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to stop. Once, I walked to the window and watched the snow fall. The flakes looked soft and inviting, calling to me. If I walked out, I might find a nice, cold bed. Instead, I turned back to the books. Where had I read that recipe before? Lily croaked at me.

  “Too bad you can't talk,” I said tossing her some food.

  I had looked through perhaps half the books before I glanced at the clock and discovered I had time for one more book. I looked at the shelves and didn’t like the odds of choosing the right book. Still, I had some time and a very sore back. So, I closed my eyes and asked for silent help from my grandmother, who I always felt looked over me. Not in any real sense. It was more like a wish. Then, I opened my eyes and picked up the first book I touched.

  I opened the book in the middle. I chose the second half and split it in two. Then, I picked the far half and started to page through the old, yellowed pages. Three pages later, I found what I was looking for.

  Meadowsweet, horehound, all the ingredients were there. I wanted to shout and do a little dance. I might have, had I not been so tired. But the ingredients I flagged were not the only things needed for the concoction. Three hairs from the tail of a white wolf, and the tears of a seventh son were also needed. Once those items were added, the potion could be used against...vampires. It would incapacitate a vampire and burn its skin.

  I was shocked. Misty Glass knew magic? She was trying to harm vampires? And why did she throw the potion on the Gallaghers? I didn’t know everything, but I knew enough to warn the Gallaghers. They needed to know about Misty.

  I managed to pedal my bike to Happy Blendings without pitching over and getting wet. That seemed a good sign. As soon as I walked inside, David arrived with his morning dream. And for once, his smoothie tasted good. The texture needed some work, but it wasn’t at all bad.

  “Close,” I told him. “Very close. Needs to be a shade smoother. But you’re on the right track.”

  He punched the air. “Yesssssssss!”

  I would have stayed and helped, but the potion scared me more than I wanted to admit. I called the Gallaghers, and without getting into details, convinced them to meet me at the police station. I promised to tell them everything, once we had Misty Glass in the interrogation room.

  I reached the station before Ada and Ethan. I paced until they came through the door. They looked as cold as the snow in the streets.

  “What is it?” Ada asked.

  “Yesterday, when she threw the potion on you, I thought I smelled some rather strange ingredients. Well, I looked it up, and it’s a potion that's supposed to incapacitate and burn...vampires.”

  “What?” Ethan said. “You’re kidding.”

  “I’m not. I think she must practice magic, which makes her dangerous.”

  “Come on,” Ada said. “Let’s go get our wannabe witch.”

  I followed the Gallaghers down the line of cells, all the way to the end, where they stopped and stared.

  I joined them.

  The cell was empty.

  Chapter 14

  For a moment, no one spoke. Then, Ethan ran off.

  “Where is he going?” I asked.

  “To find the overnight guard,” Ada said. “Misty Glass didn’t just vanish. Let’s go.”

  Ethan found the night guard barricaded inside a janitor’s closet. Once freed, the guard confessed that he had unlocked the cell door in order to quiet Misty, who was chanting. When he turned his back, she grabbed his weapon and marched him to the janitor’s closet. He let her, knowing that she didn’t know the combination that would allow her to go out the front door. But he knew she had fooled him when he heard the alarm that sounded when the rear door was opened. Misty was gone. It was that simple.

  Ethan led us around the building. In the back, we found faint footsteps leading away from the building. But the overnight snow had mostly filled in the footsteps. There was no way we could track her through the woods.

  “Damn,” Ethan said. “She got away.”

  “Not necessarily,” I said.

  “We can’t track through the snow,” Ada said.

  “Not her, but you can track me.”

  “Track you?” Ada said. “What are you talking about?”

  “I have a wildform,” I said. “I don’t have time to explain it all. Just say that I’m going to transform into a fox.”

  “A fox?” Ethan asked.

  I nodded. “As a fox, I’ll be able to track Misty. And since I’ll leave tracks, you can follow me. In theory, it will take us right to her.”

  “In theory?” Ada asked.

  “Well, things happen a little differently in wildform. It takes a lot of magical energy to transform back and forth. So, you have to promise to follow along quickly.”

  “We promise,” Ethan assured.

  I closed my eyes for a second and called upon my magical power. The long night had weakened me, but I was sure I could make the transformation into the fox. The change back would be the question.

  The transformation was a feeling of vertigo combined with a bit of pain as my body changed and shrank. In a moment, I was no longer Sam. I was a small, quick fox. I looked up at Ethan and Ada, who gaped at me. They had seen Lily change into a frog, but at that time, they had been a bit subdued. So, my change almost baffled them. I would have jumped around and assured them I was just fine, but time was against me. I jumped over the first little drift of snow and sniffed. I had the scent, Misty’s scent. I didn’t hesitate. I was off.

  In a way, wildform was incredibly freeing. As a fox, I didn’t have all the cares and problems that came with running Happy Blendings in the small town of Goodsprings. The sun was warming. The snow was fun to run through. Misty’s scent was strong. I was certain the detectives were behind me. I kept going, hoping that Misty wasn’t too far ahead.

  While I followed Misty, I wished Mara or Tessa, in wildform, were with me. A barn swallow or a butterfly would be welcome company. While I was clever and quick, I was not without predators. There were creatures that would eat me if they could. But the coyotes were in their dens during the day. That was good. I ran after the scent.

  Misty was more than a little bit ahead. I stopped chasing and started tracking, walking instead of running. This was turning into a slog. There was a moment when I thought I had taken on too much. I was nearing my limits. I walked to the top of a hill, and the trail ended, right at the bottom step of the stairs that led to the top of an old fire tower. I walked a large circle around the tower, sniffing for Misty’s scent. I didn’t find it.

  Misty was in the fire tower.

  I moved past the tower, which was just off Lake Windermere. Across a short stretch of water stood Windermere Manor. I couldn’t quite put it together. I sat and stared, wondering. Was Misty watching the manor? Why? Amelia was dead. The new owner, Mr. Bluth...

  Mr. Bluth.

  That was when I put it together. Misty had used a potion she thought would harm vampires. Mr. Bluth was a vampire. Misty was stalking Mr. Bluth. But why Linda Downs. Yes she was a real downer, but why kill her?

  Ethan and Ada arrived, and I dashed to them, doing a little dance and yipping at the stairs. They were more than bright enough to figure out what I meant. Lassie had nothing on me.

  “MISTY GLASS,” Ethan yelled up. “IT’S THE POLICE! COME DOWN!”

  They received no answer.

  “YOU CAN’T ESCAPE! COME DOWN NOW! DON’T MAKE US COME UP AFTER YOU.”

  After a few moments, we heard Misty call down.

  “I’M COMING. I’M COMING.”<
br />
  I moved away, as I was no longer needed. But I didn’t transform back into my human form. I didn’t want Misty to know I could do it.

  The Gallaghers moved back a few steps and waited as Misty descended. And as soon as her feet hit the ground, she started talking.

  “It’s not me you want,” she said. “It’s that old vampire across the lake.”

  “Turn around,” Ethan said. “You’re under arrest.”

  I watched as Misty started to turn. Ethan stepped forward and slipped in the wet snow. I supposed he was tired, because even as he went down, Misty turned back and hit Ethan in the face. Ethan went down, and Misty whirled on Ada. Misty banged into Ada, sending her to the ground. That was when she went after Ada’s weapon.

  Misty was tougher than I thought, and she was about to be armed. I couldn’t let that happen. Since I was small and quiet, I was overlooked. I made two hops and a jump and latched onto Misty’s arm. My small teeth and mouth couldn’t do much damage, but it was enough. It didn’t take much for Misty to shake me off her arm. But it was enough for Ethan to get up and pull his weapon.

  “Don’t move,” Ethan warned. “Not one muscle.”

  Misty froze. I hopped away, unhurt.

  “On your knees,” Ada said.

  Misty fell to her knees. I watched as Ethan and Ada cuffed and marched Misty away from the tower. I did a little dance. If anyone were watching, they would have seen a crazy fox hopping about like a maniac.

  As I transformed back to my human form, I followed Ethan, Ada, and Misty who were walking around the lake. With any luck, a police car would greet us all. With any luck, we would discover who murdered Linda Downs.

  Chapter 15

  Mara and Tessa joined me at the one-way glass. On the other side, Misty, still cuffed, sat at the table.

  “Where have you been?” Tessa asked.

  “Don’t ask,” I answer. I was still tired from the transformation.

  “What has Misty done?” Mara asked.

  “She killed Linda Downs,” I said.

  “You know that?” Mara asked.

  “Not in every detail, but I’m pretty sure.”

  “Then, tell us,” Tessa said.

  “Listen to her,” I said. “I think Ada and Ethan will get her to confess.”

  “Ethan will,” Tessa said. “He’s talented.”

  Hmm...Tessa sure was tossing the compliments Ethan's way. Perhaps she was reconsidering her decision not to date him.

  As we watched, Ethan and Ada entered the interrogation room and dropped two sharpened, wooden stakes, half a dozen crucifixes, and several rings of garlic on the table.

  “She’s pissed,” Tessa said.

  “What is all that stuff?” Mara asked.

  “Misty’s vampire hunter equipment,” I said.

  “She hunts vampires?” Mara asked.

  “She does,” I said. “That fluid she tossed on the Gallaghers was actually a potion reputed to cause harm to vampires.”

  “Is she any good?” Tessa asked.

  “Don't think so,” I said. “She was after Mr. Bluth.”

  “Alright,” Ethan said. “It seems obvious that you don’t like vampires. When did you start after Mr. Bluth?”

  “He’s a vampire,” Misty said. “He deserves to die.”

  “But Linda Downs didn’t deserve to die. Why did you kill her?”

  “I didn’t. Bluth did.”

  “Let’s not quibble,” Ada said. “We know how you did it.”

  “Alright, Sam, how did she do it?” Mara asked.

  “You have to remember that Linda Downs was sick,” I said. “She went to the clinic for help.”

  “We know Linda Downs was at the clinic, and you treated her,” Ethan said.

  “You’re good, Sam. You’re good,” Tessa said.

  “What if I did?” Misty asked. “That doesn’t mean anything.”

  “It’s only a matter of time before we discover the drug you gave her,” Ada added.

  Misty said nothing.

  “Here’s what I think,” I said. “Misty gave Linda Downs some sort of drug for sleep. Feeling bad, Linda takes the pill and lies down. But the drug actually slows down her heart so much that it’s difficult to detect. We simply didn’t take the time.”

  “So, we raised the alarm,” Tessa said.

  “Exactly.”

  “And the nurses came,” Mara added.

  “Misty examined Linda, while Tanya herded us away, and Helen went for towels.”

  “But how did Misty kill Linda?”

  In the interrogation room, Ethan dropped a two-pronged stiletto knife on the table.

  “Found that hidden in the fire station,” Ethan said.

  “Voila,” I said. “The murder weapon.”

  “Oh, my word,” Mara said. “She killed Linda right in front of us by stabbing her with the stiletto knife.”

  “Yes,” I said. “Misty thought if she couldn't get close to Mr. Bluth to off him because of Hughes, then she'd expose him by killing Linda with the stiletto knife. She had half the town believing the vampire story too.”

  “But why was she after vampires?” Tessa asked. “What did they ever do to her?”

  “Not sure about that,” I remarked. “Could have been an old family grudge...who knows.”

  “Sister, you’re good,” Tessa said. “Very good.”

  “And hungry,” I said. “Who’s buying?”

  Tessa laughed. “I guess I am. Come on.”

  I stopped by Happy Blendings after my meal. David took one look at me and sent me packing. I had to admit that I was bone tired, so I rode my bike home. My eyelids drooped, and I almost missed the envelope on the doorstep. That telltale black envelope but with red and green ribbons this time. Inside my house, I opened the envelope.

  Holiday Greetings,

  You are cordially invited to a Midwinter Ball at Windermere Manor, Friday, from 7 to 10 PM. Please no gifts. Your attendance will be gift enough. No need to RSVP. Simply grace us with your presence.

  Mr. Bluth

  I laughed. Mr. Bluth was wasting no time. He was out to charm the town, and he was doing a good job. I left the envelope on the table and went to bed. Being a fox had drained me.

  The monthly meeting of the coven was held behind the locked doors of Happy Blendings. Tessa brought a wonderful meal of hearty stew that was piping hot, not a difficult trick for a fire witch. The rye bread that accompanied the stew tasted like heaven. All the witches sat around the table—Allie and Genevive (recovered), Tessa, Mara, and me.

  “All right,” Tessa said, in her usual take-charge manner. “What are we going to do about the snow?”

  “We’re going to stop it,” I said. “It’s becoming a bit ridiculous.”

  Genevive blushed, and I knew she felt more than a little bit responsible.

  “But not before Mr. Bluth’s winter ball,” Mara said. “The snow is perfect for that.”

  “We can’t melt it before the ball,” Allie said. “That would be just wrong.”

  “I agree,” I said. “But we have to plan now, if we’re going to fix the problem after the ball.”

  “I’ve been online,” Genevive said. “But nothing seems to work.”

  “I know a water witch in Paris,” Tessa said. “I’ll contact her. She’s quite good.”

  “I’ll do more research,” Mara said. “I would call up some wind, but no one likes snow drifts.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” I said. “My goodness, this is good stew.”

  Everyone laughed.

  I had never seen Windermere Manor so colorful and inviting. Tessa, Mara, Allie, Genevive, and I paused outside to marvel at a house covered with lights and holly. Before we entered, we took a tour of the gardens, where ice sculptures of sleighs and Santas sparkled like diamonds. For the first time ever, I saw people skating on the lake. While they stayed closed to shore, they were still out there.

  “They’re going to drown,” Tessa said. “The ice isn’t that thic
k.”

  “I’m not so sure,” I said, remembering the Otter King. “I’m guessing someone is watching out for them.”

  “This is lovely,” Mara said. “It’s even better than the open house.”

  “We’re hungry,” Allie and Genevive said together.

  “Go in,” Tessa said. “And I understand. The flu weakened you.”

  We watched the girls head inside, and I looked out over the dark lake. I thought that the activity probably bothered the Otter King, but he was a calm creature, to my way of thinking.

  “Let’s go in,” Tessa said. “I want to find Ethan.”

  “So, it’s Ethan now?” Mara asked. “You’re on a first-name basis again?”

  “I never stopped,” Tessa said and headed for the door.

  “Methinks, she doth protest too much,” Mara said.

  “I don’t try to keep up,” I said.

  Inside the manor, we wandered for a bit, totally blown away by the holiday décor. If I thought the open house was a wow, this display was a wow-wow-wow. Decorated trees and wreaths, tables of cookies and candy, bright, fragrant candles all about. A small orchestra in the ballroom, Mr. Bluth had transformed the manor into a party house, a tasteful party house.

  I managed to remove the spells I had put on the busts and statue. While they were more than willing to name the people they saw, I no longer needed the information. The murder had been solved.

  We found the Gallaghers in the library. Ethan smiled broadly at Tessa, and I wondered if they had indeed managed to move a bit closer to each other. Of course, that was probably just my imagination. I wanted everyone I knew to find their bit of happiness.

  “We’re going to Florida,” Ada announced.

  “A nice change from this infernal snow,” Tessa said.

  “We came here to escape the snow,” Ethan said. “And what do we get? A nightly blizzard.”

  “More than that,” Ada added. “We have some questions for our parents.”

  We all knew that the Gallaghers were dhampirs, half-vampires. At least, we were pretty certain about that. So, we understood their need to know more.

  Chatting with the Gallaghers ended when Mr. Bluth arrived. He was resplendent in red and green, his height and ramrod-straight back gave him a regal air.