When I was done, I slipped out of the bramble field, once again thanking the blackberry deva for its help. Heading back to my house, I looked up and saw an older woman standing on the porch of one of the faded houses along Castle Avenue. She looked to be about eighty, though that wasn’t saying much. A shifter who looked eighty could easily be three or four hundred years old. The woman was watching me carefully. I paused as she started down the staircase.
“Hello,” she said, strolling toward the sidewalk.
“Hello,” I answered, stopping by her front gate. “I’m January Jaxson. I live about seven houses down the street—Fern Street, that is.”
“My name is Alicia King.” She paused, taking a breath as she reached the other side of the gate. “You remind me of someone…”
“My mother and father lived down the street. They died last year.” I had kept my last name when I married, hyphenating it. The minute our divorce was final, I had dumped Ellison’s last name, grateful to be rid of it.
“Of course—you’re Althea Jaxson’s daughter.” A light sparkled in her eyes.
I nodded. “Yes, actually, I am. My aunt Teran still lives in town. I don’t know if you ever met her.”
“Teran… What’s her last name?”
“Karns.” I was still trying to place the older woman. I wasn’t sure if I remembered her from my childhood, or if she just seemed familiar.
“Of course, Teran Karns. She teaches community classes on gardening, doesn’t she? I took one of her courses two years ago. And your mother used to belong to the guild. You should look into joining, too, if you’ve a mind to.” She held out her hand and I shook it. “Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?”
“I’m not much of a tea drinker, but I’d love some ice water.” I had learned long ago that it was useful to have neighborhood allies, and Alicia seemed pleasant enough.
She opened the gate and I entered her yard. The lawn was thriving, green and lush, though her house was weathered around the edges. It needed a good paint job, and the windows looked streaked, but the walkway was free of weeds and the mums to either side had been lovingly tended. They were a riot of burgundy, rust, orange, and butterscotch, huge and spilling over to the sidewalk, but trimmed back enough so that they didn’t impede walking.
The rest of the yard was as well cared for. The rose bushes were trimmed back, the Chinese lanterns were ablaze, spreading beneath one tree, and an herb garden surrounded by marigolds was still flush with plants. I could smell the mint from here.
“Your yard is gorgeous,” I said, glancing around as she led me up on the porch.
The screen door squeaked when she opened it, and she ushered me into a tiny cubicle of a living room. The room was tidy. The floor was clean, the throws on the sofa were folded neatly, and while there were some pretty knickknacks scattered around, none of them were dusty, and there weren’t enough to make it feel claustrophobic.
“Have a seat, dear. I’ll get you some water. Or would you prefer lemonade?”
“Lemonade would be wonderful, thank you.” I settled down on the sofa, sussing out the feel of the room. There was a gentleness here, but it was a thin veneer over strength. Whatever magical powers Alicia had, they were strong, but tempered with what felt like common sense and grace.
She bustled out of the room as a puffy ball of fluff came waddling my way. At first I wasn’t sure if it was a dog or some other odd creature, but then it sniffed my leg and let out a very loud yap, then wiggled its butt and panted at me.
“Well, hello…” I paused, not sure what to call it. “You. Dog.”
“Her name is Vivi, and she’s overdue for her grooming. She just turns into a pile of fluff if I don’t get her down to the groomers once every two weeks, and it’s been a month.” Alicia carried in a tray with a pitcher of lemonade, two glasses, and a plate of cookies on it. “Are you allergic to peanuts? I brought out peanut butter cookies without even thinking about it.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “No, and I’m very grateful that I’m not. They look delicious.” I accepted the glass from her and took a cookie, settling back with my paper bag by my side. I didn’t want to chance the moppet getting in the bag and poking her eye out or eating my toadstools. “So, you knew my mother?”
“Oh yes,” Alicia said. “As I mentioned, we were in a magical guild together—the Moonshadow Bay Guild of Spell Spinners. I’m so sorry about her and your father. We all were.”
I worried my lip. I was just recently been able to talk about them without bursting into tears. “Thank you. I miss them so much.”
“Your mother adored you. I remember she used to tell us all about your success with the magazine you started, and how thrilled she was. She also shared some of the articles you wrote with us. I hope you don’t mind. She’d bring them to the meetings and pass them around.” Coming from Alicia, that sounded like strong praise.
“I’m glad she did. It makes me feel like I made her proud. My mother never let me want for praise, but I had to earn it.” I realized that my mother had never really said a disparaging word to me—about anything. Oh, she had yelled at me when I made a misstep, but she was wonderful about acknowledging the things I succeeded at.
Alicia gave me a kindly smile. “Would you be interested in joining the guild? I can tell you inherited a lot of your mother’s powers.”
“My father’s too,” I added without thinking. I really needed to talk to Rowan about our relationship. Now that I knew she was my grandmother, I wanted to be free to mention it. Even though she could be scary and stubborn, I really liked Rowan.
“I’m afraid I didn’t get to know him very well,” Alicia said. “Anyway, if you’re interested in the guild, I’d be glad to take you in as a guest so you can get a feel for our circle. We talk all things magical, hold community events, do a lot of charity drives…things of that nature.”
She had piqued my curiosity, so I gave her my number and then headed out, after thanking her for the lemonade and cookies. The meeting had been brief, but it felt important, and I had learned to trust my instincts.
Killian texted me as I got home. go ahead and eat without me. an emergency case just came in—a golden retriever was hit by a car and needs emergency surgery. it may take me all evening—there was a lot of damage, but i think i can pull her through. i’ll text if i’m going to be really late.
don’t worry about it—take the time you need. i have to make some wards tonight anyway, so i’ll probably head straight to bed afterward. i managed to get most of the unpacking done. everything’s good.
I added a kiss emoji and then set my phone on the dining room table—which was now where the door used to be. I was still getting used to coming in on the other side of the living room, but the more I thought about it, the more I liked the layout. And a coat rack took the place of the closet that had been there.
I set the paper bag on the table next to my phone, then wandered into the kitchen.
I stopped.
Every cupboard door and drawer was open. I eased my way into the kitchen. I hadn’t left it this way, and no earthquake could account for it. The house had been locked up tight, and the cats sure couldn’t open up the cupboards.
“Is anybody here?” I paused, first thinking someone was playing a joke on me.
But then I remembered the box being pushed off the counter the night before. Had I somehow attracted a poltergeist? It seemed unlikely, considering how strong I kept my wards, but the possibility was there. I retrieved my phone and took several pictures of the kitchen.
As I stood there, I heard a faint mew coming from the hall bath. I darted out of the kitchen and down the hall, skidding to a halt by the bathroom door. I peeked in and saw Xi and Klaus huddled together, in the tub, behind the shower curtain. They looked up at me, and I could feel the fear coming off of Xi in waves.
“Oh baby, I’m sorry—”
A crash in the kitchen cut me short. I shut the bathroom door behind me to keep them in there, and r
aced back to the kitchen. Every drawer and door was shut again. Once again, I took a few pictures before standing in the center of the room.
“Whoever you are, knock it off, you asshole.” Hands on my hips, I glared around the room. “Get the hell out of my house before I blast you a good one.”
As if in answer, the toaster on the counter started to slide across the counter. I still had my phone in hand, so I hit the video button and took footage as the toaster continued its journey till it toppled over the edge to the floor. Great. Just what I needed.
“I’ll be back, and you’d better be gone, or I swear, I’ll chase your ghostly ass into oblivion.” With my threat ringing in my ears, I gathered the cat carriers. Less than twenty minutes later, I had Xi and Klaus safely tucked away back at Killian’s house. He kept a litter box there for them and I filled it, set out their food, then headed back to my house.
the cats are back at your house. will explain later, I texted, not expecting to hear back from him for a while, given he was probably in the middle of surgery by now.
Once I reentered my house, I stomped back into the kitchen, still irritated. I picked up the toaster and glanced around, looking for more signs of mayhem, but everything seemed quiet. I decided to take a jaunt through the house to see if anything else was out of place. But nothing else seemed amiss, so I headed back downstairs.
I flipped on the espresso machine. I probably didn’t need coffee but I wanted it. As I waited for it to heat up, I opened the fridge and peeked in. There was nothing that looked good, so I decided to go out to eat. On the way, I could think about my little poltergeist problem. I turned the machine off—I’d buy coffee while I was out, too—and, gathering my purse and jacket, I headed to my car, easing out into the street before I took off for Lucky’s Diner.
Chapter Four
Lucky’s Diner was one of those retro diners that had a 1950s feel, but was updated to the modern era. The food was plentiful and good, and the music in the digital jukebox was a mix of oldies and new tunes provided by Soundbox, a music app. The waiters and waitresses wore clothing that was styled for comfort, black swing skirts and trousers with white shirts. Across the back of the shirts, LUCKY’S was printed in green letters, with a shamrock in place of the apostrophe.
I settled into one of the booths. While I was waiting for a waitress, I put in a text to my aunt. i seem to have picked up a poltergeist, I said.
Within seconds, she texted me back. you need help?
yeah, but i’m down at lucky’s right now. if you could meet me at the house in an hour?
will do. by then I should be done with the curriculum i’m creating for my next gardening class. see you then.
I set my phone down as the waitress appeared.
“Hey Dita, how are you?”
Dita Jones—named for Dita von Teese—was a college student whose father had run off. Her mother was a lounge singer out at Freddy’s Jam, a nightclub on the edge of town. Going by the stage name of Flourish, Ona Jones also worked as the bartender for the club when she wasn’t performing. She had dropped out of high school to have Dita—Ona had been in my class when I was a junior—but she was savvy enough that even without her high school diploma, Ona had managed to buy a small house on the outside of town. Now, she was in the process of buying the diner from the owner.
“Hi, Ms. Jaxson.” Dita had been brought up to use “ma’am” and “sir,” and to call adults by their surnames rather than their first names. Even though she was now an adult, she continued the practice.
“How’s school? You’re in your senior year, aren’t you? At WWU?”
WWU, short for Western Washington University, was a college close by in Bellingham, with a range of available degrees. I had gone there, and that was where I’d met Ellison.
A smile spread over her face. “Yeah, I graduate with my BS in biochemistry next June. I’m set to graduate with honors, if I manage to keep my grades up this year.”
“Are you going on for your master’s?”
Again, she nodded. “I’ve applied for the biology grad program. I want to focus on molecular biology.” She glanced up as another person entered the diner. She poised her pencil over her pad. “So, what can I get you?”
I glanced at the menu again. “Fried chicken, mashed potatoes. A chocolate milkshake.”
She wrote my order down and then headed off to other tables. I settled back in the booth, waiting for my food to arrive.
* * *
By the time I reached the house, Teran was there. Her truck was parked out front, and I headed inside, figuring she was waiting for me. I was right. She was in the living room, watching TV.
Aunt Teran was an enigma. She was a strong, active sixty-eight years old. Most recently she had been sporting blue hair—mermaid hair, actually. A few weeks back she had gotten tired of the upkeep, so she dyed it all a lavender-silver, and now it swung in a braid that reached her ass, a gorgeous hematite color. Aunt Teran was gun-shy about marriage, but she still dated. She wore retro granny glasses and tie-dye shirts with either jeans or long gauze skirts. Tonight, she was wearing jeans and a blouse, a burgundy pattern with autumn leaves printed on the cream-colored material.
As I entered the room, she jumped, dropping the remote.
“You spooked me, girl.”
“Sorry. Killian’s wrapped up tonight with an emergency surgery. I took the cats back to his place, then headed out for a bite to eat.” I shrugged off my jacket. “Has anything happened?”
Teran frowned, her lips twisting. “Yeah, you might say that. Whatever visitor you have going on here tried to scare me. I walked into the bathroom and glanced in the mirror and saw a skull staring back at me. And then, when I reached to open the door, the handle wouldn’t turn. I was trapped in your hall bath for ten minutes before it let me out.”
“Fuck. This is the last thing I need,” I said, sitting down on the sofa beside her. “I wonder if the renovations stirred up anything.”
“That’s very possible. They took down several walls, didn’t they?”
I nodded. “Yes, they did, and that reminds me—they found a door in the library that Mom and Dad drywalled over. I assume it’s a closet. Actually, I don’t even know if it’s an actual closet. When I finally remembered it, I realized that they never let me in there. They told me that it was a storage space filled with spiders. The door was always locked, so I never saw inside.”
Teran frowned. “I don’t remember it. Where is it?”
“In the library.” I led her in and pointed to the door. “I remember it being there when I was a kid, though I had forgotten about it until the contractors found it. They had to take care of some of the wiring in here, and that’s how they ran across it.”
Teran examined it. “The lock isn’t standard. You’ll need a locksmith if you can’t find the key. I wonder if the key’s around here anywhere?”
I stared at the door for a moment. “Let me go look. I have Mom’s and Dad’s keys in my armoire. I’ll be right back.”
Hurriedly, I headed upstairs and pulled open the drawer to my jewelry armoire. My mother’s good jewelry was locked away with my own, but some of her costume choices hadn’t been my taste. But I didn’t want to give them away.
I sorted through the tangle until I found their key rings. I had taken the housekeys off, but the rest of them were a mystery to me. Now, I carried them down to the library. “Here’s what I found.” I showed Teran the keys.
“Well, we might as well start going through them.” She stared at my father’s key ring, which had almost fifteen keys on it. As she began trying each one, I stood back, watching. A weird prickling at the back of my neck troubled me. I shifted, twisting my head, trying to stop the sensation.
“What’s wrong?” Teran asked, pausing, looking up from the keys in her hand.
“I don’t know, but the moment you started trying to find the key it was like something started poking at the back of my neck. I feel prickly.” I paused, sensing that Esmar
a was near.
Can you tell me what’s going on?
After a pause, Esmara said, If you open that door, your life will change forever—
But it was too late. Teran had fit another key in the lock and this one worked. Even as Esmara was warning me, Teran swung the door open.
A rush of stagnant air blew past, almost as though it had a life of its own. I shivered as a laugh followed the breeze. “Crap. Did you feel that?”
Teran nodded. “I’m not sure what’s going on.”
“Esmara just told me that if we open the door, life won’t ever be the same.” I stared at the darkened room. It was more than a closet, that I could tell, but not terribly big. But it was so dark that I couldn’t see just how much space it took up.
“Do you want me to shut the door and lock it up again?” Teran asked.
I thought about it. Whatever was hidden in this room had been set loose. It had already been woken up, I thought. When the workmen found the door behind the wall, it must have started the process.
“I don’t know what we’re facing, but if there’s some secret here, I want to know about it. Better forewarned.” I glanced over at my aunt. “Is there a light inside the room?”
She brought out her phone and aimed the light toward the inner walls. There was a light switch, and as she flipped it, a bare bulb flickered to life, illuminating the storage space. It wasn’t small enough to be a closet, nor big enough to be just a regular room. The room was narrow and long, and made me think of an attic crawl space. The light showed a few pieces of furniture—what looked like spare chairs to my parents’ dining room set. It also had a couple coffee tables, and two large trunks.
As Teran and I stepped through the door I paused. A sound behind me set me on alert.
I whirled just in time to see the door swinging shut, and I managed to catch it before it slammed closed. Whatever was trying to shut it was strong and I fought, trying to force it open again. Teran jumped in and, together, we managed to pull the door back open. I held it while she dragged one of the tables over to set in front of it. But I didn’t trust whatever had been trying to close the door. If it could exert that much force, it could move the table.
Harvest Web: A Moonshadow Bay Novel, Book 4 Page 4