She grabbed his hand as he dipped a spoon into what he thought were scrambled eggs.
"No, dear," she said. "You don't want to eat those."
"I don't?"
She shook her head.
"Not unless you want to hear everything around you for four houses."
"You make magic while making breakfast?"
"Of course. Except when I'm doing something really intense. I use the cauldron downstairs for that."
Kevin laughed as the pair sat at the table. Martha poured them both a glass of orange juice, which he cautiously smelled.
"It's just orange juice."
"I know, I know."
He took a deep breath, enjoying his food. His new reality was starting to settle in. He took in the space around them, trying to imagine making potions at Martha's stove.
His group would move on without him. He knew it happened all the time. A couple got together, would integrate their friends, but eventually, that couple would break up, and the chemistry of the group would change. Someone had to go. He just didn't know how many times that scenario involved magic.
"I'm so excited," Martha said, taking a bite of bacon. "We'll actually be able to talk shop. Have you come up with any interesting magical recipes?"
Kevin tried not to smile.
"Oh, a few."
"Great. You'll have to tell me all about them. Witches don't spend much time together, but when we do, we can sometimes feed off each other. Parts of spells will come within the group, and someone else will finish. That's how your parents came up with magic so quickly, some of it very unique."
He raised an eyebrow as he looked up from his plate.
"I…never knew that."
"I'm sorry," she said, her tone full of regret. "I've still got more to teach you. But I know you've been busy. With getting out of school, girls, whatever you young people do." She smiled. "I spend quite a bit of time at the store, but we'll be able to cook up some fun stuff together."
"Wait." Kevin held up his hand. "The store?"
Her eyes lit up.
"I never told you? I bought a store! Just a little corner convenience store. Sammy makes the best Italian cold-cut you could ever ask for. We do pretty well for ourselves, if I say so myself."
"So, then who runs the library?"
"I still do that, some days, when I'm needed. Carol works on Mondays and Wednesdays. And then there's that fellow, I can't remember his name. Good looking, though."
"Wow," Kevin said. "I am very out of touch."
"Yes, you are," Martha said, laughing. "You have to stop chasing all those girls and check in every now and then. I told your parents I'd look after you."
"Hey, I'm alive." He took an exaggerated bite of a pancake. "So, you've definitely done something right. Despite everything, I'm here and okay."
She narrowed her gaze.
"Despite everything?" she repeated. "And what exactly is everything? What have you been up to?"
"You know, I've never seen the upstairs," he said, avoiding the question entirely. "Is that where I'll be sleeping?"
Martha knowingly shook her head. Kevin knew he'd be questioned again later, but she was willing to let it go for now.
"I don't have a guest room," she said. "Not in this old house. I'm afraid you'll be sleeping downstairs. Is that okay?"
"Oh, more than okay. There's where I sleep at my house. Nothing wrong at all with a basement."
"Well, just wait until you see this one. You want to get your things?"
Kevin pushed his plate away. He was more than full.
"Sure."
The witches left the house and approached the rental car. Kevin took in the neighborhood, knowing he was going to be seeing the families nearby for a while. Martha waved at a mother playing with two children a few houses down. A man delivering a package stopped to chat with a woman enjoying a morning run. The people were warm, nice. Maybe he'd make a new friend or two.
He just had to be careful with how close he got. He always had to be careful. What happened to Leese couldn't happen to anyone else.
A woman standing across the street caught his attention. She spoke on a phone wildly, her hands waving about. Pacing in a small area, a couple walking by had to step off the sidewalk to avoid her. The boyfriend turned to get another look, drawing a glare from the girlfriend. Kevin understood why he'd take the risk. The animated woman was attractive. Jeans that hugged her figure, a turquoise shirt that was a bit too short, showing off her navel.
It wasn't just her looks that struck him.
She was somehow familiar.
"Why don't you go over there and say hi," Martha said. "Maybe get her number. Or her Facebook name. Or maybe her Tinder name? How do you young people date now?"
"Well, if you're me, you get really lucky and meet the girl of your dreams at someone's wedding."
"Look, living in the past isn't helping. Do you need me to be your wingman?"
He wrinkled his nose at her, trying not to laugh. Hearing Martha use the phrase wingman was almost too much.
"She's a little too old for me."
Martha put her hands on her hips, a scowl on her face.
"Your definition of old will change sooner than you think."
"I don't mean you are old, even though you're older than her. She's probably like thirty."
"And thirty is old?"
"No. I mean…." Kevin was aware of the size of the hole he was digging. "I'm not just looking at her because she's hot."
"Is that so?" Martha asked sarcastically, grabbing one of his bags.
"Yeah. I thought I might know her. Does she live around here?"
It was Martha's turn to stare. She squinted into the morning sun as she studied the young woman. The woman noticed, and offered a confused smile and a wave as she continued to argue on the phone. Kevin stuck his head into the trunk, pretending to search for more bags, to avoid the awkwardness.
"No," Martha said. "I haven't seen her before. Listen, if you want to bring a lady down to the basement—"
"Stop," Kevin said, clenching his eyes shut. He couldn't help but laugh at Martha. She wasn't afraid to say anything. "Don't worry, there will be no ladies."
She nodded.
"Especially after you see what it's like down there. Let's go."
Kevin followed Martha back to the house, to a door in the hallway near the kitchen. He'd passed it so many times, and never realized it was there. It blended in perfectly. There was no knob. There was only a metal latch she pulled out and looped a finger through. A musty smell greeted them as she pulled it open. They descended the stairs in near darkness until reaching the bottom. She flipped a switch on the wall, throwing a soft glow across the basement.
He nearly dropped the bags he carried. His stare could only go one place first.
There was a cauldron in the middle of the basement.
The metal pot was suspended a few inches from the ground by supporting legs. It wasn't large, maybe two feet in diameter. It hovered over a fire-pit, constructed in the concrete floor. Protective brick circled the cauldron, with old charred wood in the fire-pit.
Then he noticed the shelves. They put everything Kevin had to shame.
The shelves were old and several needed to be replaced. One looked like it would tip over at any moment. But they took up two of the outside walls, nearly wrapping around the entire basement. He knew he was staring at years of work and effort, collecting and gathering. Potions, raw ingredients, empty jars and vials. One shelf contained nothing but old books.
"Holy shit," Kevin said. "I thought you were joking when you said you had a cauldron."
"I don't use it much," Martha said, beaming. "But it makes me feel…I don't know, more connected. To being a witch. Whenever I feel lonely, I'll cook up a recipe down here. It reminds me of where we came from."
He ran a hand along the cool, rough surface.
"You feel lonely?"
For a moment, the energetic, eccentric old lady was gone. Her ey
es reflected a lifetime of experiences Kevin couldn't even imagine. He'd battled a host of supernatural beings, fought alongside amazing people with incredible powers.
He wondered what Martha had done.
"Don't we all, sometimes?" She gestured around her. "What do you think?"
Kevin admired the basement, still trying to take it all in.
"It's awesome."
"Thank you. Every witch needs a workshop."
Inspiration struck. The rush of adrenaline was strong, like he'd discovered new magic. He knew what he had to do, and a picture formed in his head. A list followed a moment later, of items to gather, people to call.
"Anyway," Martha said, interrupting his thoughts. She pointed to an old couch against the wall. He didn't even see it until then. "This is where you'll be sleeping." Her tone took on embarrassment. "I'll get you a pillow and blanket, of course. Sorry. It's been a long time since I've had company stay over."
Kevin wasn't deterred. He regarded the magic around him, the atmosphere. A small table for his laptop was all he'd need. He gently sat in the middle of the couch, testing its softness.
"This is perfect."
Martha smiled and sat next to him.
"Is it that bad?"
He glanced at her, confused.
"Huh?"
"No one would want to sleep down here. What are you running from?"
He took a deep breath. His original plan was a lie mixed with truth. He had the story already made up. A breakup with his girlfriend, a fight with his sister. A desire to get away from everything. The story was simple enough, believable.
"Have you ever been married?" he asked. "What about family? People you cared about."
Her posture stiffened at the sudden questioning.
"Not really," she said. "Believe it or not, I was probably closer to your parents than anyone else. Some people around town I say hi to. And I play bingo every Wednesday night. But that's about it."
Kevin was surprised at how appealing that sounded. A simple life. Not being chased, using magic to survive. No loved ones getting hurt.
Thoughts came of Leese. He already missed her.
"Witch-hunters came after me," he said.
"Again?" Martha said, scowling. "I still remember the last time they tore up my house."
"Yeah. They've gone from tearing up houses to kidnapping my girlfriend. Or…ex-girlfriend."
"Oh, God!" She covered her mouth. "Is she okay?"
"She's fine. But…I can't let this keep happening. So, I'm hiding out. All my friends can move on, and I can slowly disappear."
Martha nodded.
"Our life can be lonely," she said. "Not many can relate to us. The regular people that know about us, hate us. The vampires and werewolves out there, the same thing."
He saw an opportunity to get another perspective, different from Victoria and Kristin.
"Then you think I'm doing the right thing?"
She shrugged.
"It doesn't matter what I think. What do you think?"
"I think I miss Leese," he said, sighing. "And I also think she's better off without me."
"Maybe she is. Don't worry, you'll meet someone else," she said, waving away his concern. "And by the time you do, no one will be after you."
"You make it sound so easy."
"Life doesn't have to be hard." She gave him a frown. "Don't be so down in the dumps. How old are you? Nineteen?"
"I'll be twenty-one in a few months."
"Ah, then you can't get drunk yet. But relax! Life is good! We're going to have fun, and cook food, and make magic, and pet cats. What could be better than that?"
Her enthusiasm drew out a laugh. His gaze fell on the cauldron. He would have been lying if he said he didn't want to try it.
"Could I use that once or twice?"
"Of course. You never know what the cauldron might inspire. Who knows what project you'll get into?"
Kevin's eyes drifted across Martha's workshop.
"Actually, I have a pretty good idea."
CHAPTER 7
Leese let out a sigh as the door to the vet's office closed behind her. Another day of work had come and gone. The sun was out, the breeze was refreshing. It was a beautiful day, unseasonably warm for winter. That was weather in Maryland. Every day was a new adventure in picking out clothes.
The surprisingly pleasant weather did little for her mood.
Her scrubs still reeked of vomit from Mr. Noonan's dog. Mrs. Balor brought in her cat, again, without a carrier. Also once again, the cat leaped from her arms when a dog arrived with a broken leg. It was like Leese was stuck in a time loop. Luckily, no one was hurt during the fight, except for Leese. A few more scratches on her arm to add to the collection.
She couldn't wait to get home and take a long, hot shower.
The only person in the parking lot was Ms. Diggs, who walked with her dog, Thunder. Leese remembered Thunder was due for a checkup after being spayed. She was grateful she was heading home. Thunder was a sweet dog, but so very strong.
"Hi, Ms. Diggs," Leese said, flashing a smile.
Ms. Diggs struggled to say hello and hold Thunder back at the same time. The small, middle-aged woman nearly fell when Thunder lunged forward. Leese knelt and hugged Thunder as she nearly bowled her over. The dog licked her across the face until Leese felt like she was drowning.
"Hi, Alicia," Ms. Diggs said. "I'm sorry. Thunder! Behave."
Leese laughed to herself at the command. Thunder did what Thunder wanted, and now, that was showering her favorite veterinary technician with love.
"She's just fine," Leese said, rising to her feet. She played with Thunder. "Such a good little dog."
Ms. Diggs rolled her eyes.
"Good and little. I don't think so."
Leese smiled and gave Thunder one more pat on the head before heading toward her car. She heard Thunder drag her owner into the vet's office.
She had one hand on the car door handle when movement to the right caught her attention.
Turning her head, almost too fast, she watched as a man made his way down the sidewalk. She wasn't sure what it was about him that set her on edge. He wore a light coat, kept his head low, his hands in his pockets. He glanced her way, and Leese stiffened. She didn't move an inch as she stared. Only her neck obeyed her, turning slightly to track his movements. He looked at her a second, then a third time. The hair on the back of her neck stood up. Leese tried to form a plan of action. She was alone, but there was an office full of people behind her. She could run. She could climb in her car and drive away, maybe even run him down if she had to.
The man kept on his path. It was only when he glanced behind him to peek at Leese for the fourth time did she realize the truth. The man was exactly what he seemed to be. He was simply walking from one destination to another. He had no interest in Leese, besides either staring at her disgusting scrubs or eyeing her figure.
Leese didn't realize she'd been holding her breath until she let it out. Her hand trembled at her side. Climbing into her car, she wrestled with emotions. Relief, fear, anxiety. A tear ran down her cheek, and that led to anger. She slammed her fist on the dashboard.
She barely remembered the incident. The two men approached and threw something on her. She remembered the cold liquid, wet hair, parts of the struggle. Kicking someone in the face. The trunk of a car.
Then nothing, until she woke up in the hospital.
Amazingly, she'd been through worse in her life. She'd nearly been date-raped. Wild vampires almost killed her during an Orioles game. Armed men assaulted Victoria's mansion trying to get to Cindy and her.
But the kidnapping she couldn't remember had affected her, more than she would have thought. She woke up in the middle of the night, the sheets soaked with sweat. She jumped when Dr. Lyons touched her shoulder. She stared at people as they walked down the street.
Almost by reflex, she reached for her phone. Whenever she needed to calm down after a rough day, she'd talk to Kevin.
Somehow, without even trying, he always managed to get a laugh out of her. It was odd, as he wasn't that funny.
Her hand stayed, and her heart ached. Beyond her kidnapping, that was something else she had to adjust to.
Kevin had broken up with her. Leese was single.
Another flash of anger, and she reached for the radio. She changed her mind, deciding against music. She didn't want any distractions when she drove.
No one was going to kidnap her ever again.
The drive home was routine. Leese navigated without thinking, winding through the streets, until she approached the entrance to her apartment complex. She didn't turn right at the light, as she normally did. Instead, she drove straight, adding another ten minutes to her drive. Tracy wasn't home, and she didn't feel like spending the evening alone, moping.
She wanted to talk to Kevin, but that wasn't an option.
Luckily, Leese had a solid support system to fall back on.
She parked in her usual spot in front of her brother's house. Her eyes darted back and forth as she approached the front door. There was no one watching her, no one hiding in the bushes, as far as she could see. She gripped the knob and turned it, but stopped shy of opening the door. Peering behind her, she glanced to make sure Alex's truck was gone. No one was happier than her when Alex and Cindy got married. They were an interracial, inter-species couple that made it work. But she longed for the days of visiting without having to be cautious. The sight and sounds of her brother and sister-in-law on the couch, his wings wrapped around her, was something she would never forget.
"Hello?" she said, carefully cracking open the door. Even though Alex wasn't home, there was nothing wrong playing it safe. "No one's naked in here, right?"
She saw a flash of a black dress. Leese opened the door to see Cindy pacing in the living room. Papers and folders were spread across the couch. A laptop sat on the coffee table, with another tablet propped up next to it. Cindy still wore her business casual from the accounting firm. Leese knew she turned heads when they went out, but was always jealous of Cindy. Her sister-in-law looked amazing in anything.
Cindy waved her inside while holding a phone to her ear. She bumped into the coffee table with her shin, nearly sending the tablet to the carpet. Leese barely reacted in time, saving the piece of technology. Usually, it was the other way around, Leese being the clumsy one. Cindy continued to speak while rubbing her leg.
Damned and Cursed (Book 9): Witch Trial Page 8