A Witch Too Late

by Paula Lester

  “Echo, I owe you big time,” Cas said.

  “Keep supplying the chicken, Ms. Lorne, and we’ll call it even.” Echo rubbed his head on Cas’ leg, and she smiled down at him.

  They waited for about twenty minutes. The sirens all sat down, and they let Cas sit too, after repeated warnings about turning her into an amphibian. Echo took the opportunity to give himself a bath, and Cas wondered where he’d been the night before and what he’d gotten into.

  Finally, Dustin opened the chamber door and held it for a tall, gorgeous woman with dark skin, dark eyes, and fluttering purple clothing that sparkled as she walked. It looked sheer, but there were multiple layers, so it was impossible to see through it. Stunning dreadlocks entwined with lavender ribbon reached her lower back, and she had a larger piece of ribbon tied around her head as a headband with long tails. Gigantic silver hoop earrings hung from her ears, and several rings adorned each hand. All the jewelry added sparkle when she moved.

  All four sirens stood when she entered. She smiled and waved them back down with a delicate hand. “Peace and blessings to all.”

  The sirens replied in kind. An intense warm feeling spread over Cas’ skin. It was soothing and calm, and she had no doubt it came from the beautiful woman. Was this what immense power felt like?

  After a moment, the woman turned her attention to Cas. “Is this her?” she asked.

  “Yes,” Valencia affirmed. “She blossomed two days ago when someone sent what we think was a perpetuity stone. Unfortunately, we still haven’t found it. But she has zero self-control. We need something to quench her power while we investigate some matters. We thought a witch of your skill could be of help.”

  Tempeste stepped toward Cas. She extended a hand, palm out, and Cas braced for the creepy feeling of being watched by hundreds of eyes she’d experienced when Lavania had used the same gesture. After a minute, she relaxed. Nothing strange happened. Instead she was overcome with the sensation of being wrapped in the arms of a loved one.

  Tempeste cocked her head, and her perfectly shaped eyebrows rose a few millimeters. “She is strong,” she acknowledged. “Among the strongest I’ve encountered.”

  “Can you bind her?” Valencia asked.

  “Yes, of course.” Tempeste twisted her hands and fingers in a more complicated pattern than Cas had yet seen a witch perform. Once again, all the sensory input coming from the room felt muted, as it had when she’d put the dousing amulet on.

  “There. It’s done.” Tempeste turned her back on Cas and addressed the council. “I hope you figure out who killed poor Lavania—it’s a terrible thing to lose such a strong woman.” She bowed her head. “Peace to you all. I must take my leave now.”

  Valencia jumped in her seat, but Shiloh wasn’t fazed. “Thank you for your help. We hope to see you at the festivities.” Shiloh smiled at the other woman, who smiled back and exited the room.

  The minute the door closed behind Tempeste, Valencia snapped, “Dustin told her about Lavania’s death after I ordered him not to.”

  “It’s a small town. The sheriff might’ve told twenty people on his way back to his office. Who knows how she found out?” Stu said.

  “Lavania’s death creates a problem for all of us—” Valencia started but silenced when Stu put up a hand.

  “Later.” He tipped his head toward Cas, Graham, and Echo. “Those are matters to discuss among the sirens.”

  Albert snored so loud he woke himself up. He sputtered and looked around for a moment. His eyes settled on Cas. “Well, you’re bound, aren’t you? So you can go. We have enough to do around here today. Now we have to deal with poor Lavania—make arrangements.”

  “That’s already done, sir,” Dustin said as he re-entered the room. “The coroner will be coming, and the funeral home has also been notified. I know how much this unpleasantness has disturbed everyone. I’ve arranged for breakfast to be served in the dining hall and pushed the first several appointments to later this morning.”

  “Ah. That’s good. Well, there will be time for a morning nap.” Albert used his cane to hoist himself out of the chair. “Check in with those peacekeepers about the stone, will you, my boy? Bring a plate to my private office.”

  Dustin nodded his assent and left with Albert. The other sirens filed out after them.

  Cas flopped into a chair and turned to Graham. “I don’t have a good feeling about that sheriff doing much of an investigation into Lavania’s murder,” she said. “And the council doesn’t seem to know where to go next, either. Am I supposed to wait around my house for them to decide I did it after all and either throw me into jail or kill me with a spell?”

  Graham sat down as well. “Staying out of the way is smart. I can follow up with the sheriff. He’s a good guy as long as you remind him that he is.”

  “Oh, so I should stake my life on him?” Cas said and rubbed her temples. “Ever since this whole magic thing started, I’ve been putting my life into someone else’s hands or hoping someone would come and save me.”

  “Well, technically, we did come to the rescue.” Echo jumped onto the chair next to Cas.

  “Thank you for that reminder, cat.”

  “No problem,” Echo answered and turned his green-gold eyes on her.

  “I don’t understand half of the things going on. But I’m not waiting around to get blamed for a murder. I’m going to have to do some digging myself,” Cas said.

  Graham shifted in his seat to face her. “Now, Cascade. You just finished saying you don’t understand half of the things going on. The supernatural world is dangerous. Don‘t tamper with things that might bite.”

  He was right. Cas’ leg bounced as her mind ran through dozens of consequences of playing with fire. Lavania had been murdered, after all. Did she really want to get involved with a supernatural killer?

  Cas shook her head. “I’m not going to sit around and wait.” She thought about her ex-husband and how much time she’d wasted hoping and praying he’d transform back into her personal hero. “I’ll ask around and give a few leads to the sheriff or even the council if I have to. That’s it. And you’re right. I don’t understand this world. I could use a guide. Will you help?”

  Graham met her with a stare. He smirked but said, “I’ll do what I can. But if I say something is too dangerous, you have to listen. No more incidents like when you took off the amulet.”

  Cas agreed, and they shook hands. “Echo, what about you? I know you have to report back to the council.”

  Echo got to all fours and stretched. “The council doesn’t need to know everything, and I have nothing else to do at the moment anyway. I’ll assist.”

  They filed into the hallway. “Now we just have to figure out where to dig first,” Cas said.

  “I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation, and I might have an idea.” Dustin waited for them in the hallway. He spoke in a hushed tone and moved closer so they could hear him. “The Archsiren did have some enemies.”

  He looked around and said in a low rush, “If I were you, I’d go to the newspaper offices and talk to the editor.” Once the words were out of his mouth, he turned around and went straight to his office without a glance back.

  “Well, now we have a place to start,” Cas said as she straightened her spine and tried to look brave. “Let’s go.”

  Chapter 10

  After a quick stop back home to change out of her pjs, Cas, Graham, and Echo took the courser to the offices of the Crystal Springs Gazette. On the outside, it looked like any normal office. They entered the front doors, and everything looked typical there too. A receptionist sat in the corner. He looked up when they entered.

  The nameplate on his desk identified him as Todd. He flashed an amiable smile from a plain but pleasant face. “How can I help you?”

  “We’d like to see the editor please,” Graham answered.

  “Ms. Crossings has a break between appointments right now. I’ll see if she’s available. Who may I say is inquiring?”r />
  “Graham Noble and Cascade Lorne.”

  “Ahem.”

  Cascade started, peered down, and then corrected. “Oh, and Echo the cat.”

  “One moment, please.” The young man crossed the room and entered a door on the other side.

  “Ms. Crossings? As in Juniper?” Cas wondered.

  “Yes. She’s been the editor for a number of years. The town likes her,” Graham answered.

  “She was my Blossom Greeter,” Cas explained.

  “She’s a nice lady. I don’t think she needs the greeter job for the money, but she really enjoys meeting newsprings and welcoming them into the community.”

  Todd reappeared. “Ms. Crossings is happy to see you now,” he announced. “You can go right in.” He gestured toward the door he’d entered before and sat back down to answer a ringing phone at his desk.

  Graham and Cas entered Juniper’s office, and Echo trailed in behind them. Juniper sat at a behemoth of a desk covered with stacks of papers. She scribbled in a notebook as her wild mass of curls bounced. The red glasses slipped down her nose, and she shoved them back up with an irritated jerk.

  They waited for her to finish and acknowledge them.

  Finally, Juniper sighed and pushed the notebook away. She peered at them over the rims of her glasses. “Oh, Ms. Lorne! It’s nice to see you. How are you doing?” She reached both hands out to Cas.

  Cas leaned over the desk, took Juniper’s hands, and squeezed. “I’ve been better,” she admitted. “Things have happened and I’m in the middle of it, unfortunately.”

  “Do you mean Lavania’s death?”

  Cas scratched at her cheek, feeling confused, and glanced back at Graham, uncomfortable. “You know about that?”

  “It’s a small town, dear. Word spreads quickly. Plus, Sheriff Lloyd has a mouth like a sieve when it comes to witch business.”

  “I see,” Cas said. “So far, I’m a suspect in the Archsiren’s murder.”

  Juniper clucked her tongue. “Terrible business! I’ve sent someone to the High Court to cover it. Such a shame. How did you get caught up in it, dear?”

  “Someone kidnapped me from my home and left me, unconscious, in the council chamber with Lavania. I assume it was the real killer.”

  Juniper’s eyes and mouth both widened. “That’s terrible! Of course,” she said as she pulled her hands slowly away from Cas, “I have to be impartial. If you’re a suspect, I can’t treat you differently than any other suspect. We’ll report this story fairly.”

  “I understand. I’m just trying to learn everything I can about Lavania and any enemies she might have had?” Cas inflected her voice to make it a question.

  “Oh, well, I wouldn’t know about anything like that.” Juniper peered down at her desk and shuffled papers around. “I mean, I might, but I can’t engage in gossip. Especially with murder suspects.”

  “Of course not,” Graham said.

  Cas shot him a “what do you mean” look, and he winked.

  He continued, “You’re a fair and honest editor. That’s why the people here love you. And you know everything about everyone. I bet you could help the sheriff’s department with a lot of their mysteries.”

  Juniper stopped her nervous shuffling and glanced at Graham. “Why, I don’t know about that, but I do know a lot of things . . .” Her eyes shifted sideways, landed on a pile of newspapers perched on the corner of the desk, and shifted back to Graham. He continued to smile. Cas, suspecting he was playing at some game, forced a matching expression onto her own face.

  Thirty seconds passed in silence. Juniper broke it when she nodded and moved to the pile of papers. She rifled through them for a minute before pulling one out in triumph. “I don’t know anything about what you asked me before. But I thought you might enjoy this article. It won an award.”

  Cas glanced down at the newspaper clipping. A picture of a crumbled, charred building accompanied a paragraph of text.

  “I have a lot to do today, but thanks for visiting,” Juniper said, ushering them out of her office.

  “Thank you for taking the time to talk with us,” Cas said, and they moved back into the lobby. Juniper closed her door after them. Cas looked at the clipping again, eager to read the story, but a loud voice caught her attention.

  “I want my money back for those ads right now!” The speaker was a huge man who, at first glance, resembled a hairy boulder. His head, neck, and face were covered in shaggy black hair, complete with a long beard and matching mustache. A carpet of hair lined his arms too. He had thick, heavy facial features and stood at least seven feet tall.

  “Mr. Barns, I’m sorry to hear that the council declined your permit for the music festival, but I will have to go through the appropriate channels to find out if we can refund you for the ads you purchased from us. If you could fill this out for me, I’ll send it to the right department, and you should hear from them in a few days.” Todd handed a sheet of paper to the giant man, who snatched it but made no move to comply further.

  “T’wasn’t the council that declined my permit,” he boomed. “T’was only Lavania. She had some beef against me, and she cost me more money than you’ll make all year. But I won’t have to worry about her when I apply for next year’s permit.” Mr. Barns grinned, revealing that he was missing quite a few teeth.

  “Bear! You shouldn’t speak ill of the dead, dear!” A woman Cas hadn’t seen stood up from a chair at the edge of the room. “Just fill out the paper and let’s go, honey.” She was about half the huge man’s size, and she had to stand on her tiptoes to put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

  Bear Barns looked down at the woman, and his features softened. He snatched a pen from a cup on Todd’s desk and bent over to fill out the paper. The woman smiled at him like you would expect a teacher to smile at a mischievous but delightful child.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Barns.” Todd’s voice held relief.

  “We should go.” Graham put a hand on Cas’ elbow and moved her toward the front door of the newspaper office.

  When they were out on the sidewalk, they found a bench and sat down to read the clipping Juniper had given them.

  The House of Charms in Crystal Springs burned to the ground early this morning, in the absence of witnesses. The owner, Sapphire Caprice, arrived on the scene after the fire department had managed to douse the flames. Quite distraught, she didn’t wish to answer this reporter’s questions. As a crowd converged, murmurs of a feud between Ms. Caprice and the Archsiren Lavania were heard. Accusations of infidelity on the part of Lavania’s husband, encouraged by a charm sold by Ms. Caprice, were bandied about. However, no one would agree to be quoted for this article. It’s unclear at this time whether the House of Charms was insured or may be rebuilt.

  “It wasn’t insured and won’t be rebuilt—at least anytime soon,” Echo said. “Sapphire was left with nothing, and she had to take work with someone we know.”

  Cas was puzzled. “Who?”

  “Tallulah North,” Graham and Echo answered at the same time.

  “My half-sister? How strange. Maybe we could find her and ask her some questions.”

  “Tallulah has an event at the Convention Center today. I saw an advertisement for it on TV yesterday,” Graham said. “Sapphire will be there, for sure, helping out.”

  Cas stood up. “I’m game,” she said and grimaced. “Even though I might have to talk to Tallulah.”

  They took a courser to the Crystal Springs Convention Center. When their feet hit the carpet as the bubble contraption disappeared, they stood in a room about four times the size of a regular broom closet. The walls were lined with shelves that held office and cleaning supplies. “Grab something to take out with you to look inconspicuous,” Echo told Cas. “There are bound to be lots of humans milling about. I’m going to blend in with the scenery, but don’t worry, I’ll stay close.”

  Cas looked around and decided to take a stapler and some markers. Graham chose a box of pencils. But before they
could leave the closet, the door opened, and a woman jumped in. She slammed the door shut and leaned her head back against it. The woman’s chest rose and fell, and she closed her eyes.

  After a moment, she opened her eyes and straightened up. “I’m sorry to intercede, but I’m trying to meet everyone who arrives by courser and let them know what’s going on out there,” she said, somewhat out of breath. She was in her mid-thirties and had dark brown hair pulled up in a high pony-tail. Her pink skirt, cream dress shirt, and matching pink jacket appeared custom-tailored. A string of pearls was the perfect match for the cream-colored heels on her feet.

  “Oh, hello, Graham. Good to see you. Uh... before you go out there, you should know that there’s been some sort of—mix-up.” The woman’s cheek muscles clenched on the last word, and her hand went to her temple. “I don’t know what happened, but two events were scheduled for the same afternoon.” She stopped speaking and swallowed hard.

  “So it’s busy out there? No worries, Gretchen. Thanks for warning us though.” Graham stepped forward to move around the pink-clad woman and open the door, but she laid a hand on his arm.

  “It’s not just any two events. It’s one human conference and one magical community event. We never schedule those over each other. It’s been a massive headache to keep the humans from noticing all the sprites and brownies.”

  The way Gretchen continued to rub at her head, Cas thought the headache must be literal as well as figurative. “Sprites and brownies?” she asked.

  “Yes. And pixies, fairies, elves, and gnomes. Plus some other small creatures I don’t know the names of. Somehow the annual conference of the Association of Diminutive Supernatural Beings was scheduled alongside Ms. Tallulah North’s "Get to the Top, No Matter What” talk. And, of course, the ADSB attendees can’t contain themselves when humans are around.”

  “They’re playing pranks on people?” Graham chuckled. Gretchen glared at him, and he forced a sympathetic look onto his face.

  “Yes. Yes, they are. It’s all my staff can do to subdue their constant mayhem and keep the humans happy. We have to blame all their mischief on our building or employees, of course, so it’s really making us look bad.”