Family Feud: The Witching Hour Series Book 5

by Joanna Mazurkiewicz

  The water felt nice. My body needed some kind of power release. Kate was already asleep when I was done. I set my magical body clock to wake me up at three and laid down waiting, trying not to think about that night when I was so drugged that Jasper took advantage of me.

  He wasn't here right now, I reminded myself. He was back in London, miles away and I didn't need to worry about him. I fell asleep convinced that in several hours I was going to have all the answers.

  My eyes were closed, and I was drifting, but soon I found myself in a room full of people. My father was standing next to me, smiling. It took me a long moment to realise that I was in the church.

  "Hon, you look stunning, absolutely stunning," Dad whispered. He was wearing a shiny new suit and a red tie. I looked at myself, realising I had a wedding dress on, and I was holding a bouquet of flowers. I swallowed hard, because then it hit me. I was getting married; this was my wedding.

  Dad wrapped his arm around mine, and the music started playing. It was some old-fashioned song that I didn't recognise. Not something I would have chosen. It was a large church, and somewhere in front near the priest, stood was my future husband. I was hoping I was getting married to Nathaniel.

  "That elf out there is very powerful. You finally made the right decision, Julia," Dad said to me as we were walking down the aisle. My future husband had his back to me, but even from a distance I could see that I wasn't getting married to my half vampire, but some old elf.

  "Dad, listen to me. I don't think I can do this," I said to him, stopping mid-aisle. He frowned, looking at me like I was crazy.

  "Don't be nervous," he said. "Your grandma chose the best person for you to spend the rest of your life with. You don't want her to be disappointed."

  "Grandma is dead," I told him. Then, we weren’t far away anymore, and I was standing face-to-face with my future husband.

  "Julia, hey, Julia, wake up."

  Someone slapped me, and I opened my eyes to see Kate’s face in front of me. Slowly things began coming back to me—last night, packing quickly and this morning when I arrived at the B&B.

  "What happened?" I breathed out, lifting myself off the bed. Kate looked a bit pale.

  "You were screaming, I don't know. You must have had a bad dream," she explained.

  I nodded, all of a sudden remembering bits and pieces from the dream. The church…yeah, I was dreaming about my own wedding and I must have woken up when I saw the person I was just about to marry. I couldn't remember his face now, but I was certain it wasn't Nathaniel.

  "Yes, it was a dream. My wedding. I was marrying an elf and my grandmother was there," I explained, brushing my hair away from my face.

  "Julia, you’ve been under so much stress, with so much going on. I wouldn't worry about a bad dream," Kate said. "We need to get ready, have some food and then get on with the festival."

  "No, it was strange. For sure, it wasn't Nathaniel I was about to marry, but someone else. I can't remember his face. I was terrified."

  Kate chewed her lip for a bit but didn't say another word. I knew what she was thinking: I didn't want to let go of Nathaniel. She was right. I wasn't ready for it to be over.

  We didn't discuss it further and went downstairs to meet with Kelsie and Michael. They were happily eating a sandwich.

  "We’ll be leaving in a minute,” Michael said. “I thought about taking an identity potion, but I don't think that’ll be necessary."

  "And why won't it be necessary?" I asked.

  "Because we need to bring attention to ourselves. That way, the word around camp will spread and the wizard will know we’re looking for him."

  I continued eating, but I didn't understand his logic.

  "So, let me get this straight, you want us to show up at the festival, acting like we should be there in the first place?" Kate repeated.

  "There’s a bit more to it. He needs to know you’re looking for him and that you have something valuable to offer in exchange."

  Chapter 13

  Festival trip.

  I glanced at Kate, wondering what she thought about Michael’s plan, but her face was giving nothing away. A few hours’ sleep should have cleared my mind a little, but now I doubted that the wizard was just going to tell me why my grandmother had decided to meet him.

  "I don't like the sound of that. Kelsie, what the hell is he talking about?" Kate asked, looking at Michael.

  We all knew this whole thing could be dangerous, but I was surprised to see Kate so disturbed. Kelsie was quiet, looking more serious than usual. Maybe this was the only way. My grandmother's friends weren't talking, and I wasn't getting anywhere with Tron. The mystery wizard was my only clue.

  “He's wanted by the police; his potions are some of the best."

  "And what is it that you’re proposing? That I give him what exactly in exchange for information?" I asked, wondering if I had anything valuable with me. The necklace from my grandmother was pricey, but I didn't think Michael wanted me to bargain with any material things. His gold eyes were alert, moving around the restaurant, looking at other humans who were eating near us. His aura was strong and brave. There was no doubt he wanted to help.

  "His potions are very rare, lethal and illegal. He’s the best at what he does, and as far as I know, he doesn’t do business with just anyone. Many wizards don't mix with other breeds, especially in places like this. We won't be welcome there, but I’ve been assured that no one should behave aggressively. There was a rumour that the wizard worked for Gordon Lancaster a few years ago."

  I flinched hearing that name. I knew that motherfucker, Lancaster. He was Jasper’s buddy and I still had nightmares after the things I had to do to one of the half vampires who he’d held hostage in order to get information from him about the white witch.

  "Fine, just tell me what the plan is. Obviously, you must have one since we’re all here," I said, pushing away the thoughts about Lancaster. I made a mistake trusting Jasper last year, but this time I had friends close to me.

  "We’ll fake an argument in front of other wizards. It’ll be a simple thing: all four of us disagree about the purpose of the potions we’re purchasing. Word around the camp will spread."

  "And why would he be interested in our argument?" I asked.

  "I’ll try to talk you out of seeing him. After that, I'm certain he’ll approach us, possibly because he hasn't had much luck lately, from what I’ve heard."

  I nodded, knowing my friends were going to be involved, too. It was a risk, but I was lucky to be surrounded by people who were loyal to me.

  Michael started talking about the festival. It was the best place, where all the wizards could network with others. Some of the potions were illegal; that’s why the place and the time was different every year. Michael laid out his point of view and we talked it over. Kate was a witch, so she knew more than we did. Wizards formed the Festival of Potions because they were against the rules set up by the council.

  My grandma was known for being old fashioned. She didn't normally associate with any other creatures besides fairies, and I couldn't understand why she needed a wizard’s help. Meanwhile, my energy was growing, and the excess magic was moving things around on the tables. The B&B was run by humans, so I needed to be more careful, but my magic was nearly out of control.

  Kate and Michael agreed that we needed to arrive at the festival on foot. Luckily, I’d packed some jeans and trainers, as did Kate. We paid for our meals and left the B&B several minutes later.

  Michael and Kelsie shifted into wolves to locate the scent that would lead us to the festival. They stripped off their clothes first and turned into massive furry animals. I felt a little safer knowing Kelsie and Michael were right in front of us. We started walking through the forest, surrounded by thick-trunked, majestically tall trees. The birds were twittering and squawking above us, and the smell of flowers and moss and that deep musky scent of earth filled me with new stronger energy. My shoes got soaked pretty much straight away, but I ign
ored the discomfort, knowing the hike was necessary. It was the beginning of March and the weather was still gloomy. It had been raining last night, which made this late afternoon walk difficult over the soft ground.

  "Kate, listen, I want you to know that you can back out anytime. Last year when you were in the hospital, I promised myself that I would never put you in any more danger. I know this situation is different, but you shouldn't be doing it just because you think you owe me something."

  "Julia, just shut up and let me decide for myself. I'm doing this because we’re friends, not because I owe you. Someone has to keep an eye on you, especially now when your magic is so unbalanced."

  I smiled to myself, knowing Kate was right. I wasn't getting any better with my spells, and these days Tron’s lessons seemed useless. Besides, I would never underestimate Kate as a paranormal. After all, she was a very powerful and skilled witch.

  The walk through the thick wild forest was long and exhausting. It seemed to me that we walked for hours. A few moments later, when I was just about to ask Kate if we could stop, I heard music, smelled meat cooking and the sweet smell of burnt sugar—typical fair food—coming from nearby. My magic began vibrating through me instantly, and Kate used her wand to dry my off shoes. She must have known I was slowing her down. I felt a sudden strong current of energy connecting deep inside me, enjoying the moment for a few seconds.

  Michael and Kelsie quickly shifted back into their human forms. I looked away whenever they paraded naked in front of me, but I still heard Kate discussing what we were going to do next. Kate used her magic to create some clothes for them, much to my relief.

  "We need to make sure that we stay together,” Michael said. “Julia, please keep close to Kate and don't accept any food or drink from anyone."

  I didn't really know if he was serious, but once we walked into the large open field, everything had pretty much cleared itself up. Paranormals had set tents up across the long path, small stores selling all sorts of goods—what looked like completed potions and ingredients to make your own, large copper-bottomed pans and scales of varying sizes along with a myriad of other products. The entire place was pretty crowded. Many wizards continued walking up and down the path, wearing long black cloaks seemingly hiding their identity; no one was truly identifiable. I spotted a few witches, but most were wizards. I noticed some standing outside their tents inviting people inside.

  I thought we blended into the crowd easily enough, but then Michael changed his mind about our physical appearances. Paranormals were staring at us, quite openly.

  This setup was completely different from the Sabbath I’d gone to with Kate and her family. As we were moving deeper into the camp, more snickers and whispers followed. I saw people with various flasks and bottles, heard some explosions, smelled burning wood and plastic and possibly hair. I saw wizards gathering in groups by the tents discussing whatever the hot subject was amongst themselves.

  My fingers were charged with electric currents, and my energy crept down my arms, lifting the hair on my arms and neck. This place became more crowded the closer we walked towards the main camp. The air was alive with various spells, and the smell of wildflowers was overpowering. A few older wizards with thick white beards were trying to attract people passing by, shouting in a language that I didn't understand.

  "Pretty elf, smart elf. Why don't you try my mixture of sage and rat urine? It's an excellent potion that will heal any broken heart," a creepy voice said behind me. I turned around abruptly and saw a black wizard. He was shaking a flask filled with thick red liquid that looked a lot like blood.

  "No, thank you. I think I'm fine," I mumbled and then felt like someone pushed me. I stumbled over my feet but managed to steady myself, touching my three friends. Kate was holding my hand and dragging me away towards the other side of the camp. Her purple hair was flowing in the air. Michael and Kelsie were right in front of her, but this place was so crowded I couldn't see past her bright hair.

  I felt a little dizzy. It was probably all the smells and spices. The spells were getting stronger and I was scared that I was going to burn Kate; my left hand was covered in flames. My stomach was in knots. I felt flushed and then cold. I wanted to tell Kate to stop, but she was walking so fast. The buzzing in my ears increased, and Kate wasn't listening when I shouted after her.

  She finally stopped; I leaned down, breathing hard. My pulse racing away; I rubbed the nape of my neck, feeling the heat burning from my skin. When I finally looked around I realised that I was still in the camp, but there were only a few tents scattered around.

  I blinked rapidly, wondering what was going on and why Michael had brought me here.

  "Kate?" I shouted, realising that the woman with the purple hair wasn't my friend Kate, but a complete stranger. She giggled, waved to me to follow her and then vanished inside a shabby-looking tent. I knew this was some kind of trick. I had been walking behind Kate the whole time; there was no way I could have lost her.

  A few dodgy wizards glared at me with unfriendly stares. I didn't have much of a choice. I could wander off, try to find my friends, or follow the stranger to the tent. I was calculating all my options, when the same woman appeared right in front of me. She was average looking, with a long nose and wide lips, but she wore a pink cashmere cape. I was sure I had never seen her before. There were two possibilities: I could either run or try to convince her to show me the way back to the main camp. The problem was, that after a long hike I was too knackered to even consider turning around, looking for my friends.

  "Who are you and what do you want from me?" I asked her, getting straight to the point. The scent of pine, burning paper and whiskey infused the air. It was a strange day. The ground was filled with various magical energies and impressive powerful magic.

  "The wizard is waiting. Come, the word has been spoken," she said.

  "What? Who is he? I'm sorry, but my friends are probably worried about me. I should get back," I said, smiling. Being friendly didn't cost me anything. She took a step towards me and I flinched, noticing her long magic wand.

  Suddenly, her power slammed into me and I lost my breath for a moment or two.

  "Come, sister, this is urgent. We can't waste any more time," she said, grabbing my hand again. Her skin was cold, and a rush of energy made me hungry for more.

  My sparks died as soon as I went inside the tent. I felt lightheaded, my skin was painfully sensitive, and my eyes started to water. The darkness obscured my vision for a moment, but I finally snapped out of that submissive mind set, realising she must have put a spell on me because someone had asked her to bring me here.

  Inside, I was blinded by red, purple and orange colours. There were various rugs covering the floor of different shapes and sizes. Whoever owned the tent, must have charmed it, because the space was enormous. There was a long table situated in the middle, filled with various flasks, containers, animals in cages and books. My jaw dropped, because I had never seen anything like it.

  "What am I doing here?" I asked the girl, who now looked really happy.

  "You wanted to see Anthony, the wizard. He asked me to bring you here. I'm Linda, his partner. Would you like something to drink? You seem stressed. Someone has passed in your family recently, right?"

  I looked at her in disbelief, wondering how the hell she knew that.

  "Where are my friends and how do I know he’s the wizard I'm looking for?"

  "There is only one master of potion, and your friends are safe, so don't worry. I don't understand why you are confused. You wanted to see him."

  I decided to just go with it, whatever. She was obviously crazy. I wasn't going to run but was reluctant to believe that Anthony would send for me. According to Michael, he wasn't very trustworthy. This whole thing seemed too easy. She had used black magic in order to separate me from the girls and Michael.

  Then another person appeared in the tent, and this time it was a man. He couldn't have been any more than twenty. He was definitely
a wizard, matching the description of the one who was seen with my grandmother. I started to giggle at the absurdity that this spotty kid, just past puberty, was the powerful master of potion. My heart skipped a beat and tingles of soft silky magic slid through my body, caressing me. I felt drunk with it. It was a seduction of power ignited by his light.

  I could smell my grandma’s scent—she always wore jasmine perfume—but it couldn't be her. She was dead. Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision. The girl touched my shoulder and then vanished. The wizard just stood there, looking at me strangely, with warmth and acknowledgement. He had dark blond hair, smooth skin and small grey eyes.

  "You have been looking for me?"

  "My grandma was Barbra Taylor. She was found dead in her house a few weeks ago. Other paranormals told me she was seen with you a few times," I said, aware that my voice vibrated thickly with emotion.

  "She asked for a potion. She seemed very desperate," he replied, sounding bored and uninterested. He gestured to a small chair. I was tired, my legs ached, and my magic was draining me, so I sat down.

  "Potion? I don't understand. None of this makes much sense. My grandmother was an excellent elf and she could prepare any potion herself. Why would she need your help?"

  The wizard stared at me for a really long time without saying a word. My head started to become fuzzy, cloudy, and I felt his power deep in my bones. He was connecting with me for some reason.

  "She needed a deadly potion, a dragonfly," he explained quietly, darting his eyes away from me.

  I knew the potion Anthony was talking about. It was one of the rarest, most difficult potions to create. Dragonfly had only one purpose: it killed instantly and there was no antidote. Maybe I didn't know my grandmother at all. Maybe she truly wanted to have more power. Maybe she craved the power of black magic. But why?