"I'm glad you didn't," I said. "Come to Leotown with us and help Gabriella rebuild her coven. Be part of something important, Lace."
"You make it sound too good to be true," she said. "Like a fairy tale."
"If, by fairy tale, you mean the kind where monsters keep trying to eat you and Felix makes it sound like we're doing something noble," Maggie said. "Our last go-round had us fighting werewolves and wicked witches. Don't buy his line that you'll be safer in Leotown."
"Help me clean up, would you, Maggie?" I wasn't about to argue with her and Lace needed time to think.
After sweeping up the remnants of my encounter with Max's book, I formed another circle with salt and struck a meditative pose in the center. I'd much rather have been in the forest or on the side of the mountain, but I had two more books to work on and I needed to regenerate.
Some time later, I opened my eyes. From a slit in the curtains I observed the sun, low in the sky. Given the season, I calculated it must be past seven in the evening.
Judy sat on the couch reading and smiled as I acknowledged her and broke my circle.
"I've sent everyone back to the cabin," she said. "Gabriella didn't want to leave you, but I convinced her to look after Lace."
"What of the other two kids?" I asked.
"They're waiting in the shop. You don't have to do this tonight," she said. "We tried the salt bath, but it didn't work - even after a few hours. Cleansing the book looked like it was hard on the girls."
"The curse probably fed on them to protect itself," I said.
"I don't like that it's so strong," she said.
"It really isn't that strong. It's the kid's own power that nurtures it. The curse simply directs them," I said. "There's no way Max is a necromancer. The book perverted whatever purpose he really has."
"Do you think that's the same with Petaluma?" Judy asked, hopefully.
I couldn’t lie to Judy. "No. She rode a corpse that was a thousand miles away. I didn't even know that was possible. She’s taken to necromancy so readily because it's her gift."
"What if the ghrelin was helping her, adding to her power?"
"Could have been, but Luma sent the first corpse from her bedroom. She was warning me to stay away," I said. "Doesn't seem like the sort of thing the ghrelin would have been interested in doing."
"It's going to be hard on Dolly," Judy said. "She's not prepared for a necromancer. Do you think we'll be able to break the book away from her?"
"I do, but Dolly isn't going to like it," I said.
"How so?"
"We can't approach this as breaking her from her gift. She's a smart girl; she'll understand the idea of the curse even though she'll fight against it. She has to know she'll be accepted," I said.
"How?"
"I'll give her one of my books," I said.
Judy's eyes dilated at my suggestion. "But what if …"
"What if she becomes a powerful necromancer? What if she learns things she wouldn't have otherwise known?" I asked. "She wants that knowledge and she's not about to give up her book. Judy, I don't think any of us can successfully take that book without doing serious harm to her. She has to agree, if only subconsciously."
"She'll never agree, that's the compulsion of the curse," Judy argued.
"Luma should be here for this," I said. "Let her see firsthand what these curses are doing. I've talked to her; she understands the danger at some level. We need to show her what it's really doing."
"I'll call Dolly," she said. "Change your shirt. Gabriella left you another one."
I looked down. The poultice had soaked through the shirt and looked disgusting. It was a painful few moments as I pulled the shirt off over my head. I knew better than to expect immediate results and I wondered if what I was seeing was better or worse. From my vantage point, all I could see was bright-red skin beneath stitching thread as I washed my chest with a soapy cloth.
Movement caught my attention through the small window over the sink. The two men who'd confronted us in the alley were climbing into a beat-up pickup truck that had just pulled into a parking spot on the opposite side of the street from the shop.
I pulled the shirt on that Gabriella had purchased for me. A sand colored, button-up, the fabric had a rough texture, although not unpleasant. Not having to pull something over my head was definitely a bonus. The shirt felt quite a bit more expensive than any t-shirt I owned. I hastily applied a larger than usual patch of gauze over each wound and taped them well before buttoning up. I'd love to be able to save the shirt, for once.
A second glance through the window proved that the Eppy Faire boys were intent on keeping watch. They were still sitting across from the shop and I was afraid it was going to be up to me to deal with them.
"I'll be back in a second," I said to Judy as I unlocked the front door. "Lock this behind me."
"What's going on, Felix?" Judy asked.
"Men across the street have been hassling Lace. I'm just going to talk," I said.
"Let me call Aaron."
"Just going to talk." I closed the door behind me.
"You got a problem, Slim?" the tall, red-haired, mouthy man asked, stepping out of the passenger's side of the truck.
I stood a few feet from the truck. "I don't know. Do I?"
He extracted a steel pipe from beneath his seat. "Beat it. This don't concern you."
"That supposed to scare me?" I asked.
"Merl. That's the guy from the tent this morning," the driver said.
"So what?"
"They say he killed Willum."
"That right, boy? You take down Gordon?"
"You guys need to beat it," I said. "We've had enough trouble. Don't need the likes of you sniffing around."
"Hear that, Merl? Slim here thinks we need to beat it," the driver said, egging Merl on.
"She ain't even here. I told you that. Let's get going," Merl said.
"You should listen to Merl. I'd hate to have to do something I'd regret," I said.
The red-haired stranger gave me an assessing look. "Mouth of yours is going to get you in trouble. Lucky you, I've got other matters to attend to."
"Like fixing flats?" I asked.
"What flats?"
"Adoloret," I said as quietly as I could manage and fired a narrow jet of flame into the nearest tire. The driver – not as dumb as he looked – scrabbled over the middle passenger and jumped out through Merl's door. I loosed another bolt of fire into the rear tire, lancing a finger sized hole through it.
"Those," I said. "Let me know if you'd like to play for keeps."
"You don't scare me." The red-haired man stalked around the truck, pulling up his shirt in the front to expose a revolver. He placed his hand on the butt.
I twisted my fingers and cocked the pistol's hammer back. "Don't fuck with my family," I said, holding my hand out as if it were a gun.
"Please don't," he begged, pulling his hand away from the butt of the pistol.
"Can't shoot what I can't see," I said. "Spread the word that Lace Faa is my family now. You come for her, it'll be through me."
"We won't be the last," he said. "Your threats won't mean nothing to the others."
"Fair enough. Now, if you'd like to keep your coin purse intact, I'd suggest you get to walking," I said. "If I see anything more than a tow-truck over here, I won't be quite so pleasant. Understood?"
"Let's go," the driver said, turning his friend back to the sidewalk.
"Deliver the message, Merl," I said.
"Yes, sir," he said sarcastically as the three of them hustled away.
"What was that?" Judy asked sternly as I re-entered the shop. "This isn't some western. That guy had a gun."
"They're looking for Lace," I said. "I had to push 'em."
"But a gun? You need to be careful. Aaron could have run them off," she said.
"When is Dolly getting here?" I asked. She wouldn’t appreciate me telling her that those boys had brought a gun to a wizard’s fight.
"Already here. They came in the back while you were playing cowboy."
"Good. Let's get this done." I nodded at the two mothers. "I'm sorry this is taking so long."
"I don't know," the taller of the two said. "I'm not sure what we're even doing here."
"Yes, you do. You can feel it, sure as you're standing there. And - I'm sorry - what's your name?" I asked, smiling at who I assumed was the woman's pre-teenaged daughter.
"Carla and she's Mia," she answered, indicating the girl a few feet away. "You're not taking my book. I've already told Mom that."
"Well, Carla, I don't plan to take anything. Do you know Petaluma Applebaum?" I asked as Luma slipped through the curtain leading to the back room.
Her eyes were downcast and she refused to make eye contact with the girls who appeared to be of the same age.
Carla shot a glance at her friend. Something I couldn't easily understand was communicated between the two. "You mean freaky Luna-Bomb?" she snickered.
I upped my estimation of her age, definitely a teenager. "Petaluma is my niece," I said. "Calling names isn’t very nice."
"You guys are all freaks," Carla continued. "We finally get something cool in this stupid town and everybody's freaking out. I can't believe you dragged us down to spooky Judy's."
"Stop it!" her mother reprimanded.
"Altum Visu." I was satisfied to hear both girls gasp as my eyes illuminated.
"What's wrong with your eyes?" Mia asked. It wasn't fear that prompted her question as much as intense curiosity.
"I'm a wizard," I said as I took in the auras of the girls and their mothers. Mia and her mother both had a small showing of light blue energy. If they wanted to, I suspected they'd have some limited success with magic along the lines of Wanda and her kitchen witchcraft. Making potions, ointments and that sort of thing would be within their grasp. That is, if they had sufficient training, interest and access.
Carla and her mother were as mundane as people could be. Their auras read like their personalities - nothing bad, but in the magical realm, not particularly interesting. A thin thread of energy flowed from Mia to Carla, however, and I immediately understood the problem. They were linked as friends and sustained each other.
"We'll work with you all at once," I said. "Follow me, but if you pick on my niece again, it'll go badly for you."
"Felix," Judy hissed.
"Sorry. I'm not a witch," I said. "I'm not always nice."
Judy stood her ground. "We don't threaten children."
"Fine," I said. "Be nice or I'll make you fall in love with the school janitor."
"Felix!"
I laughed as the girls both gasped.
"Just kidding," I said. "I'll let your moms deal with discipline. Apparently, I lack the subtlety for it and they're clearly doing a bang-up job."
"Beth, are you sure this is safe?" the smaller of the two mothers asked.
"The books aren't safe, ladies," I said, leading them through the curtain. "I'm mostly harmless. Dolly!" I crossed the room and gently hugged her. "I can't believe you're up and moving."
"What happened to her face?" Carla asked. Dolly's face still bore the scars from a few nights ago.
"Petaluma's book exploded," I said. "You girls really have no idea what you're dealing with."
"What do we have to do?" Beth, the taller mother asked.
"Your girls are linked," I said. "Their magic is reinforcing each another, which is why the salt bath was ineffective. I'm going to separate them spiritually."
"You're not getting our books," Carla argued.
"Trust me," I said. "I'll give them back."
"No you won't." Mia replied. I raised an eyebrow. I might have underestimated that one.
"I will. You’re right, not like they are now, I won't. Petaluma, would you draw a couple of spell circles for me?" I asked.
"How big?" she asked.
"Big enough to stand in," I answered, handing her a cardboard container of salt. She shrugged and did as I asked, careful not to make eye contact with the two girls. "A circle like this is often used for protection. As circles go, this is very simple, which makes it particularly powerful."
"That doesn't make sense," Carla argued.
"If you understand the purpose of a spell circle, it does," I explained, patiently. "It takes more skill and time to construct complex circles and so they fail more often. The only reason I'm explaining this is so you will understand that what I'm doing is about as safe as things get. Now girls, without stepping on the salt, I'd like each of you to stand in one of those circles, please be careful not to scuff Petaluma's line."
"What are you doing?" Beth asked.
"Nothing scary," I said. "Circles are protection. Remember that."
"That's stupid" Carla said. "This doesn't do anything."
"Right," I said. "Petaluma would you get the lights and a couple of candles, if you please."
As Petaluma turned off the lights, Judy moved a heavy pedestal sporting a six-inch diameter candle between the two girls.
"Adoloret." I sent a small globe of flame over to light the wick and was pleased by the look of astonishment both girls threw my way as I revealed more of my magic.
The room took on a much different feeling as the evening’s last rays disappeared from the sky. The candle's flickering light illuminated only the two girls, leaving the rest of us in darkness.
"Girls, I would ask that you place your books outside the protective circles."
"No way," Carla immediately objected. "This is stupid."
"It's okay. We will all stay over here. Your books will be safe."
"I don't like it," the smaller girl spoke up. "It feels like a trick."
"Up to you," I said. "I'd just as soon go home and get a beer."
"Girls! Just do it," Beth growled. "I tell you Judy, I've had just about enough of this."
Judy didn't answer and nodded in agreement.
"Fine," Carla grumped and leaned over, placing her book just outside the circle, as far away from the adults as she could get it. Mia looked at me cautiously and when I made no move toward the book, she followed suit.
"Thank you, girls. I apologize in advance for this next bit," I said.
Mia caught my meaning first and started to lean over to pick up her book.
Fortunately for her, she was too late. I snapped my fingers and incanted "Sphaera!" Twin translucent bubbles popped to life and just as before, the energy of the curse was cut off from its power.
"What is that?" Beth was suddenly concerned and stood up. "My little girl is trapped."
"The girls are safe. They are not the concern," I said. "The book is. Look at it. It's an evil parasite, trying to get back to its host." I had no idea if the fireworks I was seeing were even slightly visible to the mundane.
"I see it," Mia's mother said. "It's like sludge, trying to crawl up the dome - whatever that is - and get to the girls."
"That's why we needed the protection circle." It was an oversimplification, but I liked a good show as much as the next person.
"How do you stop it?" she asked.
"Turns out your little one, Mia, has the big battery and has been fueling all this. Carla is, well, let's say she doesn't have much going on - magically at least. With the girls protected, the books have nothing to feed on, especially when I do this.
"Scutum." I wrapped Carla's book in my shield and crushed down on it with my fist. It fought and sent streaks of putrid tendrils out searching in all directions, but they withered quickly under my assault. I'd like to say it was a heck of a show, but now that I had my sequence down correctly, it turned out to be anti-climactic as I turned both books to dust.
"Just so you know," I said. "They're going to be pissed when they come out of there." Carla was screaming and angrily pounding on the side of her translucent prison.
"Let them go," Beth argued. "You can't hold my baby."
"It's just salt, Beth," I said. "All you need do is run your foot throu
gh it and it'll be gone."
A Dark Place
"You won't trick me like you did Carla and Mia," Petaluma said.
We planned a ritual tonight to separate Petaluma from her own book and I'd asked her to ride up to Judy's with me.
"You saw what the books were doing to them," I said.
"Mom wants me to give up my magic. She says there aren't any good witches who practice necromancy."
"I don't think that's true," I said. "Did you know the FBI employs necros?"
"They do not," Petaluma said, staring out the window. Her voice begged me to disprove her statement.
"They do," I said. "They help find bodies and figure out what happened to them. Lots of things."
"The FBI doesn't know about witches."
"It's a special group," I said. "I'd bet they don't have anyone as strong as you."
"For serious? You think I'm strong?"
"With almost no training, you were more powerful than any of the Dark Folk," I said.
Petaluma smiled. In the reflection on the window, I saw a glimpse of the child I knew before life had become complicated.
"I was looking through the books my mom left behind. You'll never guess what I found," I said.
"What?" She turned away from the window and looked intently at me.
"Take a look," I said. "It's on the back seat."
Petaluma turned, releasing the seatbelt and climbed toward the back. For a moment, she balanced precariously over the bench seat, reaching for the book. It was too much temptation and I accelerated suddenly, causing her to topple back.
"Hey! No fair!" she complained, laughing.
What a beautiful sound. I hadn't heard her laugh since I'd arrived.
"Do you see it?" I asked.
"This?" She held up the narrow, leather bound book I'd brought from home.
"Yup," I said.
She sank to the floor between the two rows of seats. When I glanced back, she was straining in the dark to read the text, carefully flipping through the old pages.
"This was your mother's," she stated. "It's amazing."
"As you know, wizards don't share their texts with anyone," I said. "That text was written over a thousand years ago. It's in Latin."
"There are so many spells in here. I had no idea."
Wicked Folk Page 23