Cast Away

by Annabel Chase

  The mayor scowled as she passed by me. “This is your fault, Emma Hart. Don’t think for one second I will ever forget it.”

  My stomach churned. A mortal enemy. That was all I needed in Spellbound.

  I felt a supportive hand on my shoulder. “Pay her no heed,” Lord Gilder said. “She’ll be stripped of her powers at the very least.”

  “They’ll take away her wand, even if she doesn’t serve prison time?” I asked.

  “Most likely,” he replied. He pinched my shoulder once before letting go. “You should go home and rest, Emma. I believe you still have a case to finish.”

  Poor Buck. His fate was still hanging in the balance. And presumably Astrid was so preoccupied with the Knightsbridge family that she’d stopped the investigation into Walter’s murder too. What a mess I’d created. I had to do everything in my power to clean it up.

  “Thanks, I think I will.” The prospect of sleeping in my own bed was very comforting. I took a step and paused, realizing that I’d hitched a ride with Astrid. “Would you mind giving me a lift home?” I was too tired to walk.

  Lord Gilder displayed his fangs. “It would be my pleasure, sorceress.”

  Chapter 23

  The next day I was determined to step back into my life and return to normal, whatever that was. I sent Sedgwick with a message early in the morning and then showed up at the office, ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work.

  A latte from Brew-Ha-Ha waited on my desk when I arrived. I wrapped my hand around the cup. Still warm.

  “Thanks, Althea,” I called and heard a muffled reply from the room next door.

  I opened Buck’s file and began to read. I’d only made it halfway down the page when I heard a melodic voice outside the office door. Although I didn’t recognize the song, I recognized the deep, throaty sound of the siren.

  “Hi Alison,” I said, as the door cracked open. “Thank you for coming."

  The siren breezed into the room and drifted into the chair in front of my desk. “I got your message. Your owl has a real attitude, you know?”

  “I do know.” And was amazed that he could convey this attitude to Alison without words.

  “Nice to be in this office again.” Alison glanced around the room. “You haven’t made too many changes, have you?”

  “I forget you used to spend time here.”

  “Only if I wanted to see my workaholic fiancé.” Alison was referring to her romantic relationship with Gareth. "How's my old flame? Still flickering?"

  "He's great, actually. You should come by during the next séance and say hi."

  She smiled. "I would like that very much. I do miss him."

  "He'd be thrilled to talk to you again. I think he gets lonely, although he doesn't admit it."

  She suppressed a smile. "That's the Scottish side of him. Repression." Her expression shifted to one of concern. “By the gods, he would have been lonely if you’d gone off to live with the Grey sisters or Raisa. I’m glad you came back.”

  “Between you and me, I wouldn’t have lasted long in that cave. I like modern amenities too much.”

  “You’re preaching to the converted.” Alison eyed me carefully. “I take it you didn’t ask me here to talk about the perils of cave life, though.”

  “Nope. I asked you here today to talk about the case against Buck."

  Alison grimaced. “Ugh. Don’t remind me about that. What do you want from me? You know as well as I do that I can't drop the charges since I'm not the one who brings them. It's the town."

  "Oh, I know that," I said. "But you’re also the prosecution's only witness. Without your testimony, they don't really have a case."

  Alison cocked her head. "And why wouldn't they have my testimony? He peed all over my lawn and saw me half naked."

  "And you saw him fully naked," I said.

  Alison nodded emphatically. “Exactly. That’s sexual harassment."

  "You do realize that he only shifted back to human form because you startled him? He wasn’t intending to flash you.“

  "It doesn't matter," Alison said firmly. "He broke the rules. He should be punished."

  I sighed. This was going to be more difficult than I hoped.

  "Do you know why he was drawn to your yard in the first place?” I asked.

  "I've got a bed of peonies along the border. The werewolves seem to like the smell."

  "Not peonies. He heard you singing through the open window. You were singing, weren't you?"

  A dreamy smile touched her lips. "I'm always singing. It's my favorite thing to do and I'm damn good at it."

  She’d get no argument from me. I'd heard her voice enough times to know that she was amazing.

  "Buck heard your voice all the way from the forest. Before he even knew what he was doing, he found himself standing on your lawn listening to you. At that point he was desperate to pee, but he was unwilling to return to the woods while you were still singing." Some sirens led sailors to their watery graves with their voices. Alison led a werewolf to piss on her peonies.

  "It was really because of my voice?" she queried. "I figured he was just a pervert."

  I laughed. "I can't promise that he isn't that too. But he definitely was drawn to your yard because of your wonderful singing voice.” I paused. “He also thinks you’re very pretty."

  Alison crossed her arms and glared at me. "Now you're just trying to butter me up so I agree not to testify."

  I held up my hands, showing my palms. "I swear, Alison. I'm being one hundred percent honest. He doesn't even know I'm telling you this. He would probably be mortified. He likes to swagger and posture.“

  Alison chewed on a hangnail. "He is kind of cute, isn't he? I haven't had a date in a long time."

  "I'm not saying you need to go out with him," I said. "But I think the shifters are working on getting these ordinances modified. They’re not happy about the situation. I think if we could get the case against Buck dropped, it would go a long way toward soothing frayed nerves in the community."

  "Who knew peeing on my lawn would get political?" Alison said with a hint of amusement. She stopped for a beat. "Okay, I'll tell Rochester that I won't testify. That I didn't see anything."

  "Be careful how you frame it," I said. "The prosecution can coerce you to testify if they’re determined to try this case." Although I doubted Rochester would. He was on my side when it came to modifying the excessive rules and regulations in Spellbound.

  "So do me a favor," Alison said. "When's your next meeting with your client?"

  “This afternoon, if my plan comes to fruition,” I said.

  "Tell him to knock on my door and say hi one of these days. He knows where I live." She stood and winked at me. "Thanks for the tip, Emma. You sure do know how to make a girl feel good."

  "Pandora's got nothing on me," I said.

  "If you ever get tired of this lawyering gig, you could always have a career in matchmaking."

  "I love a good happily ever after," I said.

  “Seems to me that you got one of your own,” Alison replied.

  “I did, didn’t I?” The whole thing still seemed surreal. “I feel like the luckiest person in the world.”

  “Not a bad feeling, is it?” Alison said as she left the office.

  No, it wasn’t. Not at all.

  Later in the afternoon I sat in Rochester’s office, trying not to laugh at the mug on his desk. It had a picture of a kitten tangled up in a ball of yarn. It was so cute and out of character for the serious and intelligent wizard that I wondered whether someone gave the mug to him as a joke.

  “You seem distracted, Emma,” Rochester said. “You’re not still worried about recent events, are you?”

  I snapped to attention. “Oh no. Well, I’m a natural worrywart, but I’m focused on my client’s case.”

  “Is he in the reception area?” Rochester asked.

  “Yes, flirting madly with your assistant.”

  “More like she’s flirting with him. Kik
i can’t seem to help herself.”

  “That’s a relief because I’ve been trying to set him up with Alison.”

  Rochester’s eyes narrowed. “The siren whose lawn he peed on?”

  Oops.

  “Um, well…”

  He tapped his fingers on the desk and regarded me carefully. “Is that the real reason she declined to testify? I was surprised to get her message earlier today.”

  I widened my eyes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  He made a noise at the back of his throat and consulted the file in front of him. “Buck doesn’t have any priors.”

  “No. Clean record. Reasonably well-liked in the community. The shifters have taken his arrest personally.”

  Rochester’s brow furrowed. “I noticed. It’s bad for community spirit, especially given the mayor’s removal. We need to proceed with caution.”

  “I may have caused a few waves, too,” I said. “Spellbound needs a period of calm.”

  Rochester drummed his fingers more quickly. “Without a witness, it will be hard to prove anything.”

  “True.” I hesitated. “Do you want me to call in my client? Any questions you want to ask?”

  Rochester cocked his head. “To be honest, Emma. I’m amazed you’re sitting here right now. You must be mentally and emotionally exhausted.”

  I smoothed the front of my shirt. “I’m doing well. Thanks for asking.”

  “You don’t want to take any time off from work?” he queried. “Maybe a vacation?”

  “To where? Curse Cliff? Swan Lake? I’ve seen enough of both places recently.”

  He chuckled. “Yes, vacations spots are a little hard to come by in Spellbound.”

  “I’ll be fine, Rochester. I appreciate your concern. I’ve had wonderful offers of support from friends. Lady Weatherby wants to keep me at the academy. I think coming to the office is good for me. Keeps me from spending too much time in my own head.”

  He nodded. “A dangerous place for anyone to dwell for too long, I think.”

  “You’re a sensible guy, Rochester. Has anyone ever told you that?”

  He straightened his tie. “You don’t become a town prosecutor without a healthy dose of sensibility.”

  A thought occurred to me. “Have you ever considered running for mayor?”

  “Mayor?” He seemed taken aback. “Me?”

  “Why not you?”

  His brow lifted as he absorbed the question. “I’d have to give it some thought, but my instinct would be no. I like being a lawyer. Running a town wouldn’t be the same.”

  “Someone’s going to have to step into Mayor Knightsbridge’s shoes,” I said.

  “I think your friend Lucy is a good bet,” he replied. “Everyone was happy with her performance during the youth spell crisis. We’ll see how she performs as interim mayor.”

  “Lucy would be great,” I agreed.

  “As interesting as this conversation is, I suppose we shouldn’t leave your client waiting,” Rochester said.

  I’d nearly forgotten about Buck. “Yes, of course. I’ll get him.” I hustled to the door and whistled for Buck to come in.

  “Very professional,” Rochester said with an amused smirk.

  “He responds well to that sort of thing,” I said.

  “Whistling at him like a dog?” Rochester queried. “I should think he’d be offended.”

  Buck appeared in the doorway, anxiously twisting the edge of his shirt. “You got questions for me?”

  “Have a seat, Mr. Testani,” Rochester said.

  “I’d rather stand if that’s okay,” Buck said. “I’ve been sitting for a while and my butt cheeks are numb.”

  “Very well.” Rochester fixed Buck with his serious lawyer face. “It’s my understanding that no one saw you relieve yourself on Alison’s property.”

  “Uh, that’s right,” he said, shooting an uncertain look in my direction. “No one could have seen me because I didn’t do it.”

  “Fine. Let’s all agree that you relieved yourself in the forest before you reached the property line.” Rochester smiled at me. “Satisfied?”

  Buck glanced from Rochester to me. “That’s it?”

  “Not quite,” I said. “Someone accidentally trampled Alison’s peonies a couple of weeks ago. It might be worth stopping by the garden center and bringing her new ones. I think she’d like that.”

  Buck appeared surprised. “You think she’d like it if I brought them to her?”

  I inclined my head. “Only one way to find out. Just make sure to use the restroom before you get there.”

  “Hardy har,” he said. “That’s funny, Miss Hart, especially since I would never use anything but a restroom. I’m a classy guy.” He gave me an exaggerated wink and I heard Rochester strangle a laugh.

  “I’m glad that’s settled,” Rochester said. “Now if you’ll both excuse me, I have another meeting and I imagine Miss Hart is anxious to get home where a special someone might be waiting for her.”

  Truer words were never spoken.

  Chapter 24

  Lady Weatherby’s dark eyes bore into mine. "There is no room for laziness in this classroom. Your power is too volatile, Miss Hart. Too dark."

  We were alone in the classroom at the academy. My first of many private lessons with the head of the coven.

  “Why does everyone assume that?” I asked. “That’s not been my experience. I don't feel like this is negative energy in any way.” In fact, it seemed exactly the opposite.

  "Do not underestimate the power of dark magic," Lady Weatherby said. "It has a mind of its own. It can disguise itself. Fool an innocent." I felt the missing words at the end of her sentence. Like you.

  "I'm not here to argue with you," I said. "I'm here to learn how to control the magic." So that the entire town didn’t cower in my presence. "Tell me what to do and I'll do it."

  Lady Weatherby’s mouth quirked. "Very well then. Why don't we try a manifestation spell?"

  "What's that?"

  "A basic sorceress trick," Lady Weatherby explained. “It allows you to create something out of nothing."

  "You mean like imagining my quill from home and bringing it here? But we learned that in remedial witch class."

  Lady Weatherby shook her head and her headdress shifted slightly. "No, I'm not talking about an existing item within the town limits. I'm talking about anything."

  “Anything?" I echoed. "Like an ugly yellow Hummer? Or a machine gun? Anything from the human world?"

  "I believe starting small is the best way to learn," Lady Weatherby said. "We must be careful not to let the magic overtake you."

  “So how do I do it? Do I just imagine it and hold out my hands?"

  "You focus your will, same as in witchcraft. You draw from the magic deep inside yourself and envision the very thing you intend to pull here."

  I knew exactly what I wanted to pull here. Excitement grew within me. Sorceress powers were amazing. So much better than remedial witchcraft, not that I’d admit it to my friends.

  “Will you give Millie extra credit for mastering the invisibility and visibility spells?” I asked.

  “Extra credit will not help her achieve the next level,” Lady Weatherby replied. “And she’s fortunate that you were unharmed. To be perfectly honest, I am still tempted to punish her for her arrogance.”

  “Please don’t do that,” I begged. “She did it to help me. You don’t want to discourage her from helping others.”

  “Millie helps herself first,” Lady Weatherby replied. Then added quietly, “That is one of the crucial differences between the two of you.” She clapped her hands together. “Enough talk of Millie. Now close your eyes and focus.”

  I did as instructed. I pictured the owl, its familiar feathers. Its intelligent eyes. I held out my hands and focused my will.

  What the hell? a familiar voice squawked.

  My eyes flew open and I was shocked to see Sedgwick in my hands. He struggled against m
e and flew to the nearest perch.

  What are you trying to do—kill me? I was mid-flight and now suddenly I'm here.

  "I'm sorry, Sedgwick. It was an accident. I wasn't trying to summon you. I was trying to do a manifestation spell."

  Well, try harder. You suck.

  "Gee, thanks for the encouragement."

  Do me a favor and open a window so I can get out of here unscathed, Sedgwick said.

  I crossed the room and pushed up the nearest window, giving him plenty of room to fly through.

  "I'm sorry. I'll try not to do it again." Poor Sedgwick. Wrong place and wrong time.

  "I take it that was not your intention," Lady Weatherby said, assessing me.

  "No, in fact…" Wrong place and wrong time. A spell gone awry. My eyes widened.

  "Miss Hart, are you all right?"

  My mouth dropped open. "I know what happened to Walter Rivers. I need to get to Astrid’s office now."

  "But our lesson," Lady Weatherby said. "It is important to make progress."

  “But it's even more important to catch Walter’s killer. He deserves closure and so do his loved ones." His multiple loved ones. I raced out the door before Lady Weatherby could stop me. We’d have to finish our lesson another time.

  Luckily, Astrid was in her office when I arrived. I explained my theory and Astrid listened with her usual open mind.

  "Let's go pick her up," Astrid said. "I know where she lives."

  "What about Britta?" I asked. “Is she around?"

  Astrid shook her head. "She's on meter maid duty today."

  "Why? What did she do?"

  Astrid smiled. "Actually, she requested it. She finds it calming. She seems to be all about an even keel these days.”

  No doubt harp therapy played in role in that.

  "I'll go with you then,” I said. “You might need backup."

  "Suit yourself," Astrid said. "You know I always like your company."

  We took the Sheriff's jalopy and drove to the southwest corner of town. A neighborhood called Oberon Hills.

  “There she is now," I said. The fairy was on her front lawn, using her wand to try to keep a rubber ball in the air. It repeatedly dropped to the ground and then she'd attempt to raise it again. She couldn't seem to keep the ball airborne.