“Whatever darlin’. You believe what you want. I’m just saying, I’ve seen her there. Ask for Ruby and tell her I sent you.”
Colten peeled off a twenty and handed it to her. “Thanks for the tip. What’s your name?”
“Emmy-Lou.” She smacked her gum as she said it.
He grabbed her hand and squeezed, letting part of it turn to stone so she couldn’t pull away, “Emmy-Lou?”
“Oww…what?”
“You’re not setting me up, are you?”
“No!”
“Good.” Colten let go and she stumbled back as she pulled away. Two of the tattoo artists turned to check out the commotion but looked away quickly. People were used to minding their business around here.
33
Midnight Witch
W e had just entered my room when a voice boomed, “Where the hell have you been?”
“Grimm. When did you get back from New Orleans?”
“Almost an hour ago. None of us knew where you were.”
“Colten and I knew,” Zephyr said.
“Colten’s incommunicado and you didn’t answer anyone’s texts, asshole.”
“Huh?”
I looked over his shoulder as Zephyr looked at his phone and found he had twenty texts from Grimm, Demas and Bodhi. Each threatening more severe punishment with each text. Eleutian must have thought the others had it under control.
“Let me shoot off a quick one to let them know we’re calling them.” Zephyr typed away until his phone pinged back.
Grimm walked over to me and touched my cheek, then wrapped his arms around me while Zephyr dialed Demas.
“What. The. Hell.” Bodhi’s voice came over the speaker phone.
“Bodhi, do you mind?” Demas said drily.
“Okay, listen up.” I said, speaking nice and loudly so they could hear me. “I’m fine. Zephyr and I went on a mission and found a couple of things. So, should I fill you in or did you want to scold me like a child?”
“Sorry. What’d you find?” Bodhi asked.
I rolled my eyes but told them about the passage. Zephyr added in about the spiral staircase as well.
“So, this passage took you to the headmistress’ office and it went both directions. The headmistress had a master key plus has secret access to Maggie’s room and really who knows how many others. Is that correct?” Demas asked.
“Yes, but she almost caught us but ran back out almost immediately. There was another threat to her.”
“What if she’s behind the threats to herself?” Bodhi asked.
“Her reaction seemed genuine,” Zephyr said.
“Blackmail,” Eleutian offered.
“Oh! That could be,” I said, gaining steam with the idea. “That could explain why she didn’t report the threats—because she’s being blackmailed about murdering Maggie.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready to give up on the clique being the murderers, especially after the stunt they pulled today.” Bodhi added as something crashed on their end. “But if they aren’t, I could see them blackmailing the headmistress in an effort to control her.”
“Interestingly enough, I’ve come across a personnel file for a Colin Barnabus who happens to be a Bayou Loup Garou and works as a lab tech for the society. His step-sister is Barbara Barnabus.” Eleutian spoke up again.
“Son of a bitch!” Demas said. “It looks like we have new leads to follow up on down here. Grimm, take Evie back to the island. Zephyr, I’d like you to keep your ear to the ground at the school for now. You work on the recorder content and phone there. We’ll reconnect soon.”
“Wait! Have you found anything on Grand-mère?” I asked.
“No, Colten’s working on it,” Demas answered.
“Do you think our new housekeeper could have been bribed by her?”
“That better not be the case. She did talk about how important family was to her. Grand-mère might have conned her into it. Although, I made sure she understood that punishment would be severe if she broke any of our terms,” Zephyr answered.
***
Grimm and I traveled through the portal to our island home. The scent hit me as soon as we arrived—freshly baked bread and peanut butter. I closed my eyes and followed my nose. It led me to the last door on the second floor: Ms. Lane’s bedroom. What had Grand-mère been doing in the new housekeeper’s room? Were they working together?
“Grimm, can you sense where Ms. Lane is?” I watched him close his eyes and knew he was throwing out his spidey senses—at least, that’s how he’d described them to me. Like a giant web, that movement pinged off of and traveled back to him, giving him the location.
“Her room is empty.”
I turned the handle and we crept inside. The room was small and clean, with a single bed and a chest of drawers.
My gaze landed on the top of the wardrobe.
“What are you looking for?”
“I don’t know. Evidence that she’s working with Grand-mère. Lotions and potions? Spell books? A list of black magic incantations?” I stood on tiptoe and brought down a battered leather case, “Bingo,” I set it on the floor and knelt beside it.
It had a brass lock on it but where was the key? I let my senses loose and picked up on Grand-mère’s scent. It led me to the windowsill where a key had been wedged under the sill. I used it to open the case. Inside was a host of magical paraphernalia: tiny glass jars of herbs, knives, and smudge sticks. What surprised me most of all was the amount of theatrical level make-up: Glue, false beauty spots and moustaches, powder in all colors, paintbrushes, a set of false teeth. There was even soft wax for modeling noses and other features and. In the bottom of the case were two wigs.
“What would Ms. Lane need stage makeup for?”
Oh my God!
“What are you doing in my room?”
Grimm and I both jumped at the sound of the cold voice behind us. We spun around and saw Grand-mère standing in the doorway. She was in what I could only assume was her housekeeper’s disguise. She’d done a good job between the prosthetics and the glamour.
Ms. Lane wasn’t just working with Grand-mère. She was Grand-mère.
She raised her hands in our direction and shouted, “Freeze!”
Ice shot from her hands and encased Grimm.
Then she hurried inside, closing the door behind her. “I’m not going to hurt either of you. I just need you to listen to my side of things before you have me arrested by the council.” She pulled a book from under her mattress and flipped it open. Next thing I knew she was waving an old-school wand and the air crackled with magic.
“What are you doing?” I shouted over the rumble that was filling my ears. She was shifting realms and tearing a hole in the fabric. The room suddenly smelled clean, like we’d just had a heavy thunderstorm. “What is that smell?”
“Ozone, dear. You’ll get used to it.”
“You’re opening a portal, aren’t you?”
Grand-mère hissed, “Come on. I need to take you somewhere where I can safely explain everything.” She crossed the floor before I could even think about what to do and almost pulled my arm out of its socket as she dragged me to the closet where the portal had appeared.
“Grand-mère, wait!” I protested as I was propelled along.
She was having none of it. The determined set of her chin was a familiar sight, so I began to counter spell. There was no way I was going down without a fight.
Next thing I knew I was also encased in ice. My head was frozen in place but I could see Grimm from the corner of my eye.
“Don’t be afraid,” Grand-mère said. She gave me a sharp nod. “I’ll have you back in no time. “I just need a moment alone with you.”
She walked over to me and pushed me through the portal. The last thing I saw was a look of fear on Grimm’s face.
34
The Gargoyle
C olten’s eyes adjusted to the dark, seedy lighting of Pixie Hollow faster than his other senses could adjust to th
e ear-bleed sound of the music. The place was packed—hot, sticky and it reeked of alcohol and sweat. Nothing he wasn’t used to. He waded through tables to order a drink—he’d surely need one. He was about to ask the older redhead behind the bar if she was Ruby, when a flash of red brilliance from the stage caught his eye. He turned, and studied the woman with ruby-encrusted horns. They were long and curled, and nearly as impressive as her breasts, which were barely covered by a leather bikini. Colten's eyes stayed fixed on the dancer as she slid in a circular fashion around a pole, red faerie dust flying from her finger tips in a sensual display of strength and flexibility.
The music finished and she stepped off the stage, shrugging on a red, see-through silk robe.
He waited for her to come to the bar for a drink before introducing himself.
“I’m looking for a friend—Zoe Delphine,” he said. “Emmy-Lou said you might be able to help me. You—”
“Delphine, huh? The Wily Witch of New Orleans,” the woman said, cutting off Colten's words. “Sure. I know her. She usually stops by once a week, but she didn't show today.”
“May I ask why she comes here?” Colten asked. He smiled, hoping Ruby was not immune to his charm.
The red-horned fairy leaned close, a little too close. Her left bosom rested on his muscled forearm. Fairies loved to push the envelope. Colten remained still, even stopping himself from reacting when she reached down and fondled him between his legs.
“I think the better question is, why are you here, honey?” She brushed her hair back from her face and touched Colten's arm, looking directly into his eyes. “Why don’t we go somewhere private to discuss?”
Not a good idea, Colten thought, but he followed along anyway. Ruby didn’t look like the type to take no for an answer—not if he wanted to find Grand-mère, anyway.
Ruby led him through the main area of the club. There was a new dancer on stage—a fire breathing shifter doing tricks with candles. Colten shuddered thinking he wouldn’t want his junk so close to the open flame, then again, he wasn’t part dragon. They passed by a demon bouncer who glared as they entered the back where, apparently, certain fetishes were being met. Directly in front of them was another member of the Fae. She had three men tied up. She moved between them, taking turns spanking them with her leather whip. Every stroke was deliberate and two of the men looked to be in ecstasy. The third was clearly barely coping with the pain. Yet when Colten offered to free him, he shook his head and smiled impishly.
“She’s not hurting them,” Ruby clarified. “As a matter of fact, Mistress Hellion would argue the opposite.”
The Mistress cracked her whip in Colten’s direction but instead of flinching, he reached out a hand and grabbed it, yanking the leather-bound vixen forward so hard and fast she stumbled in her heels. “Nice catch,” She giggled as he helped her up.
Colten nodded and turned back to Ruby, who was frowning.
“Endorphins bind to opiate receptors to naturally relieve pain,” she continued, “she’s just forcing the endorphins out to bring them a pleasure release.”
“I know the theories, thanks.”
Ruby chuckled, “Well, then why do you look so uncomfortable. Are you vanilla, Mr. Ryu? You didn’t really strike me that way earlier.”
Colten cleared his throat. “How did you know my name?”
“I’m Fae, remember? We’re telepathic. Now answer my question.”
“No, I’m not vanilla.”
“So, then, why are you squirming.”
Colten knew there was only one way to shut her up. He had to meet her boldness. So, he pulled back his shoulders and puffed out his chest. “Maybe I’m just turned on, but you already know that, don’t you, Ruby? Anyway, I’m on a mission.”
Ruby smiled and blushed. “Well then, let’s get on with it, shall we?”
***
Pixie Hollow had been interesting—to say the least. After outmaneuvering Ruby at every turn, he’d managed at last to find out that Grand-mère was involved with the Redrum Rebels. She was working magic for them and apparently on the hit list of the Royal Court of Fae. Unfortunately, that was the extent of the news. If it hadn’t been for Evie, he was sure he could have found out a lot more, but his days of being a honey pot were over.
So, he’d traded cash for the intel and been on his way. Which is why he now found himself outside the local motorcycle bar, back in New York. It was cozy, little and close to the Academy in case of emergency and, as a bonus, they served good whisky. He found the throbbing bass of the jukebox and the vivacious hum of the crowd strangely comforting, and the occasional brawls beat being lassoed with a leather whip. He’d come full circle, and this was his last stop.
35
Midnight Witch
I must have hit the stone floor when I fell through the portal because when I opened my eyes, the ice block was cracked around me and my head throbbed something fierce. Grand-mère was kneeling beside me, holding my hand and chanting. I screwed my eyes shut and willed the pain and noise to go away. The chanting continued.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Oh, thank the heavens, child. With your magic fighting mine, I misaligned that landing and we came in through the roof. I was worried I’d knocked you senseless. “Open your eyes, Evangeline, and look at me.” A feather-light touch of healing magic brushed my cheek, followed by her soft chuckle. “There. Is that better?”
My head stopped throbbing altogether and my senses returned. “Wait a minute…. what the…”
“Hush, child. I’ll explain everything. I just needed to get you off the radar to buy me time. Now, drink this.”
Wary of the last time Grand-mère had knocked me out with tea, I shook my head no.
“Oh, Evangeline. Don’t be so silly. Why would I wake you only to render you unconscious?”
I grimaced. She had a point. I took the tea, sniffing it carefully first. I’d learned the tell-tale signs of poisons—well most of them. Some were untraceable. Not much I could do about that. But I didn’t think that Grand-mère wanted to kill me.
“Take me back!”
“I’ll do no such thing. You’re still recovering. You need a minute.”
“Where’s Grimm?”
“I couldn’t risk bringing him. He should be melting as we speak and then I’m sure he’ll be off to tattle on me to the rest of your bodyguards.”
My eyes adjusted to the dim light. A double bed with a canopy, a small table and a single chair came into focus.
“Where are we?” I asked, tipping my head back to take in the thickly plastered, coffered ceiling.
“You found my new lair, so I had to move again. This is my new temporary home. You like it?”
I shrugged. “What’s going on, Grand-mère? What do you have to do with all of this? Did you kill Maggie?”
“No, Mon Ange. Of course, I didn’t. Maggie is a beautiful soul. She’s become like another granddaughter to me.”
I couldn’t help but tilt my head. Why was Grand-mère talking about Maggie like she was still alive?
She laughed. “I know what you’re thinking. You think I’m crazy. I have so much to explain to you and I don’t even know where to start.”
“Well, how about with Maggie?”
She smirked. “I suppose you want to know how I know her. Fair enough. I’ll tell you.” She put her hands behind her back and began to walk up and down in front of me. “I met her at the coffee shop near your school. I was worried about you and I knew I couldn’t approach you directly. I’d been doing my best to watch over you from afar but it was tough with your posse always around.”
“My posse?”
“Anyway, I slowly started making conversation with your friend. I knew her family, you see. We talked about the passing of her sister.”
“Her sister—that’s who was in those pictures.”
“Yes. Chloe Howl was one-year older than her sister Magnolia.”
“They looked like twins.”
�
��They did, yes. Razor was very proud of Chloe – even though she was female, he had plans for her to lead the pack after him but she was killed in May. Razor hired me to do a stasis spell on her because he couldn’t bear to let her go.”
“A stasis spell?” I racked my brain to remember what that was. “So, you basically froze her so she wouldn’t decay. Since when do you work with shifters, Grand-mère?”
“Since your mother drove me underground, dear. I take work and allies where I can get them.”
“What do you mean, she drove you underground?”
“I’ll get to that, child. Have patience with me. Anyway, I told Maggie I was your grandmother but explained that your mom wouldn’t let me near you. It took a lot of convincing but eventually I got her to trust me. We grew close and she told me about the Fate Clique—how they were torturing her and you.
“Then one day Maggie came in with her sister’s diary. She’d had enough after reading that those awful girls had tortured her sister, too. She needed help, so we devised a plan. I spelled one of her father’s werewolves, Remy, to help get her sister’s corpse back to the school. It was amazingly easy to do, and the rest is history.”
“What are you telling me? My friend, Maggie… is…is…”
“Alive.”
Grand-mère nodded her head. “That body you found that you thought was Maggie was really her dead sister, Chloe.”
“No. Impossible.” I shook my head, “That makes no sense. That body smelled. It was decaying. She wasn’t under a stasis spell.”
Grand-mère nodded. “I know. Unfortunately, the spell was broken the minute we moved her from pack territory.”
I climbed to my feet and began to pace. “Where is Maggie, then? I want to see her. I want to speak with her right away.”
“Oh, no, mon ange. That would be most unsafe. Maggie is hiding in werewolf territory, and witches are most unwelcome there.”
I grabbed onto her elbow and steered her towards her spell book, “Well, you can take me.”
Sticks & Stones Spell Werewolf Bones: A Why Choose Academy Romance Page 18