Storm a-Brewin' Page 12

  He perked up. “Really?”

  “Yep.”

  It was a lie. Ted was the one responsible for helping Donovan and I realize it was an archetype behind the chaos. But, you know, Oliver helped me rule out some other possibilities before that, so I’d give my tutor partial credit.

  He narrowed his eyes at me, a question forming behind them. “And how exactly did you end up handling it?”

  “Ooh, um … I can’t tell you. Sorry.”

  “Please, I know you formed a circle. That would be the only way for a witch to stand a chance against something as powerful as an archetype. I’m just curious about the specifics.”

  Was he …?

  I felt a hot flow of betrayal rise up in my chest. “It’s the reward, isn’t it? You’re trying to figure out who the North Wind is so you can get the reward money.”

  “Oh come off it,” said Ruby from the corner. Then, to Oliver, “Don’t listen to her, dear. She seems to think everyone cares two hoots about the circle, but you don’t, right?”

  “No,” said Oliver, and it sounded honest enough. “I’m only curious because I never get the hands-on experience like you do. I’m always reading about it in books, which isn’t the same thing. Besides,” he added, “I don’t need any reward money and it’s obvious that Landon is the North Wind.”

  I was such a jerk. “I’m sorry, Oliver. I—”

  “Don’t worry about it. You’re right to be defensive. It was all anyone talked about at the last Coven meeting. Not officially, of course, but in small groups. Everyone’s nervous about there being a complete circle in Eastwind composed entirely of witches who never attend the meetings and therefore have no clear loyalty to their fellow witches.”

  Ruby bookmarked her place and cleared her throat as she rose. “Why don’t you wrap it up early, Oliver? I’m sure Chloe wouldn’t mind a little extra time with you.”

  “Zoe,” he corrected automatically. “Yeah, you’re probably right. She’s been working long days at the sanctuary, and she’s started talking to me in the baby voice she uses on the animals. She could probably use a break.”

  Ruby nodded. “Take the poor girl out on a proper date then. Live a little.”

  He grinned widely at the prospect. “Will do.”

  Once he’d gathered up his things and headed out into the pouring rain, Ruby set to making tea, and I guessed Oliver’s early departure didn’t mean I would be granted a little free time before my lessons with Ruby began.

  There wasn’t much we could do in the way of astrology, though. The textbooks were in an ancient language Ruby only partly understood, and she’d grown tired of explaining the bits and pieces to me. And until the rain let up, there was no stargazing to be had.

  We did have some charts she’d asked Ezra to whip up for us, as that sort of thing fell under his purview at Ezra’s Magical Outfitters. Of course, hardly anyone ever requested star charts, since very few creatures cared about that sort of thing or had the ability to interpret them even if they did care, so he’d had to make up new ones for the next few months once she’d put in the request.

  And, of course, since it was Ruby asking, Ezra got on it immediately.

  “Oliver has a point, you know,” she said, setting down the kettle and two cups on the table before taking a seat.

  “About what?”

  “He’s totally out of his depth. It’s like a literature professor trying to teach quantum physics. He’s smart and educated, but his knowledge and experience is completely wrong for the job.”

  “Does this have to do with what you mentioned before about the earth magic versus spirit magic?” I asked.

  She poured the kettle. “Indeed. It might seem like all magic is the same, but it’s not. Not by a long shot. If there’s a higher power at work, she has a good reason for making so few Fifth Winds.”

  “You mean outside of the fact that it requires us to die in pretty horrible ways in our past lives on top of dying in our current life to cross over?”

  “Well, yes, that too. But more because spirit magic and earth magic are like oil and water. Our very existence disturbs the earth’s normal ebb and flow. You see, our domain isn’t the earth at all. If you haven’t noticed, we’re a bit like aliens here.”

  I sighed. “I’ve noticed. But I still feel like I belong here more than I did back in Texas.”

  “That’s because you do. Just because you don’t fit in doesn’t mean you don’t belong. We’re like a natural disaster—dangerous but necessary for continued change and regrowth. We’re the earthquake that creates new tropical islands, the forest fire that clears way for new plants, the tsunami that reclaims the shoreline from miles of ugly resorts, the hurricane that reminds people how few things they need and how much they need each other.

  “Fifth Winds disrupt, we remind some of those who’ve gotten too big for their britches that there are still forces they can’t control. Some people can accept that, but many more never will.

  “Our powers of the spirit come from the stars. You can feel it when you look up, can’t you?”

  I nodded.

  “And you could feel it back in Texas, before you knew what you were destined to become.”

  I nodded again.

  “You’re not the only one. Everyone can feel that yearning, that restless pull when they look up at the night sky. It’s a feeling of powerlessness. For some people, that lightens their burden, and for others, it terrifies them. You know what decides who feels what?”

  “Not a clue.”

  “It’s the person’s definition of power. Those who seek power over others to feel powerful themselves don’t enjoy looking at the stars. And you, Nora, are the stars.”

  I paused to think about it, taking a small sip of my tea. “That’s why the high priestess and mayor don’t like me?”

  “I would venture so. It might also be because you’re younger and prettier, but who’s to say?”

  “Earth magic,” I began, trying to form a proper question in my mind. I failed.

  But lucky for me, Ruby didn’t need a proper question to continue on in her abnormally talkative mood. “Those with earth magic are at peace here. They have home-field advantage, you might say. While your power lies beyond the physical realm and out in the emptiness between the distant planets, on the whole, your magic is exponentially stronger, if you can reach out and access it. And that’s the trick, there. You haven’t even begun to access it, and once you do, well, Eastwind could fall completely under your control, if you wanted it.”

  “But I don’t want Eastwind under my control!” I said, alarmed. “That sounds awful.”

  Ruby laughed. “I thought so, too, which is why you see me in this old house, doing little more than making tea, reading books, and trying to keep you from getting yourself killed. And it’s why I’m not afraid of you discovering your powers to the full extent. And yet, to people who only see power in terms of how much control they have over others, your denial will never seem credible. Once you stop trying to control other people, then you have to start learning to control yourself, and that’s a much harder skill to master, though more rewarding and there are usually less pointless meetings involved in it.”

  “Hmm … so I guess the fact that Esperia saw my textbook at Medium Rare the other day and knows I’m studying astronomy probably isn’t a great thing for my continued happiness in town, huh?”

  She sipped her tea and stood. “Probably not. But if she didn’t think we’d get there in our lessons, she was a bigger fool than I’ve always thought, and let me tell you, she’s a pretty big fool.” She stretched and groaned. “I think that’s enough for tonight, don’t you? I only have forty pages left of an incredibly good mystery book, and I’d like to finish it up before bed, if you don’t mind.”

  “Nope. Don’t mind one bit.”

  She grinned warmly at me. “Good. I’ll get to it, and you get on with whatever dangerous plans you’ve set for tonight.”

  I nearly spit out my tea. �
��What?”

  She didn’t turn around on her way to her comfy chair. “I don’t need to see the night’s sky to read the stars. I’ve seen all the signs before. Lived them too.” She set her tea onto the side table, grabbed the blanket draped over the back of the chair, slinging it around her shoulders like a cape, and settled onto the cushion with an indulgent moan.

  “Don’t tell Tanner, please,” I said.

  She chuckled. “I won’t have to. If it’s half as risky as I think it is, he’ll end up there. I believe he’s on duty right now, yes?”

  I glared at her for the insinuation that my plan would spin so far out of control that I would need to call the police.

  “Come on, Grim,” I said, grabbing my coat.

  “Nope.”

  “Grim!” I said sharply.

  “Not a chance. You’re going to the Bouquets’. There’s something seriously messed up going on with them. I won’t be a party to your death.”

  “But you love death,” I whined. “It could be fun.”

  “Okay, so it’s not about the death.”

  “Then what’s it about?”

  He seemed reluctant to answer.

  “Grim, what’s it about?”

  He whimpered softly then said, “The meatballs hurt my stomach. I think I ate them too fast.”

  “Oh, for fang’s sake.”

  “What?! I wouldn’t have done it if you hadn’t waited so long to eat lunch and taken so long to give me my plate.”

  I grabbed my umbrella from the stand. “You really are the pinnacle of personal responsibility, Grim.”

  “Thank you.”

  “And reliability. So glad you have my back.”

  I opened the door, and as I stepped out onto the porch, Ruby called, “Try not to get yourself killed, mmkay?”

  Chapter Eighteen

  The streetlights did little good in the downpour, and I had to wait for my eyes to adjust before setting out. What was usually a ten-minute walk would take a little longer, since my progress was slow, but I didn’t mind. I still had a lot to think over. Not what Ruby had said, so much, although that did require much more consideration at a later date when I wasn’t about to go snoop on a couple who hated me for who I was.

  The thoughts that swirled around my brain were all about Hyacinth and James. Could they be working with someone who could possess people? Were they themselves possessed?

  No, Hyacinth didn’t need to be possessed to consider moving to a more up-scale neighborhood to get away from what she would consider the riffraff. And she didn’t need to be possessed to suddenly stop coming to Medium Rare because it was witch owned.

  But what about the spying?

  Not mine into her living room, but hers. I hadn’t forgotten about her watching Ruby, Grim and me from the dark when we were out by Rainbow Falls. Assuming, of course, it was her and not some other elf that happened to look like her.

  No, it had to be her. She lived in Erin Park now, so it wouldn’t have been much of a walk. Maybe she saw us on the way there and wondered if we’d lead her straight to the answer of who the unknown North Wind was.

  And then there was her dancing with Ansel, which was, for the most part, the catalyst for me paying them a visit. I needed to figure out if she’d heard anything from him so I could put Jane’s mind at ease … or at least give her his location so she could hunt him down and chew his hide out for going missing for so long.

  But was that really the catalyst, or was I just lying to myself? Doing it on Jane’s behalf, rather than to satisfy my own disreputable urge to snoop, seemed more noble. So I’d go with that.

  Yep. I was walking through a town of dangerous creatures alone at night in the rain to knock on the door of people who didn’t care for me because I wanted to help my friend.

  Not because I was a snoop.

  Nope, not that at all.

  And then there was the oddity of Tanner saying he’d seen me over there the night before. And I definitely deserved an explanation for James following me through the rain. After all, that’s a super stalkerish thing to do to someone. I’d given him good service at Medium Rare—he owed it to me to not be a total creep. Or at least provide a logical explanation for why he came off as one.

  “You’re right.” The voice made me jump, as I was totally lost in thought and wasn’t aware anyone else was nearby.

  Perdita floated along next to me as I turned a corner and passed the stone sign for Erin Park.

  “I’m right?”

  “Yes. You’ve been right all along. It’s not my fault Keith murdered me. I just wanted to come by and thank you before heading on to whatever’s next.”

  “Oh, well … good. I’m glad to have helped.” Moments like this made all the annoyances of the job worth it. The knowledge that I was making a difference was sometimes all the payment I needed.

  “You know,” she said in a deep, thoughtful tone, “it feels good to let go of that responsibility. After all, just because I got sick of him stealing the bedsheets night after night and stabbed him seven times for it doesn’t mean I made him take the knife from me and murder me with it.”

  I stopped in my tracks, my jaw hanging open. “Come again?”

  “He could have simply taken the stabbing like a man. Goodness knows he deserved it.”

  “No,” I said, wondering if I could adequately express how horrified I felt. “I don’t think he did deserve to be stabbed for that.”

  She waved it off. “Shows what you know. Anyway, thank you so much for helping me.”

  “I take it back!” I said. “It was your fault!”

  She laughed. “Is this a test? This is, isn’t it? I guess I pass then, because nothing you say can convince me that a modicum of guilt for my death falls on my shoulders. Holy spell, that feels amazing to say! You’re a miracle worker, Nora!” She opened her arms wide and turned her face to the sky. “Sweet bliss! Come take me! I’m ready.”

  And to my utter shock, she slowly faded away.

  I stood very still for a moment, staring at the space she’d just occupied while the rain pounded my umbrella.

  Perdita was actually a terrible person. She’d tried to murder her lover, and he’d reacted in self-defense.

  While I was glad to be rid of her, I didn’t know exactly how to feel about having helped her move on.

  Another thought occurred to me as the Bouquets’ house came into view down the road: maybe, given that she turned out to be a horrible monster and clearly harbored some insane ideas, she had been possessing people.

  Her bias against werewolves could be motive for possessing Efarine and launching a silver attack. Her frustration with me for telling her what she didn’t want to hear might be motivation for possessing Ansel and causing him to complete that witch snare while we were in the booth. And with as much as she had followed me around, she could have known that I take my staurolite amulet off to sleep sometimes and waited for her chance to strike and possess me.

  It would require a little more thought, and there wasn’t much to do about it now that she’d moved on, so I decided to table the notion until after my visit with the Bouquets. There was no telling what I might glean from them that could help me confirm or disprove that brewing theory.

  The blinds were drawn on the front window of their house, but I could see the lights were still on. I shook out my umbrella, leaned it against the side of the small overhang in front of their door, and knocked.

  Distinct sounds of movement preceded the door opening a crack, just far enough for me to see Hyacinth’s face peeking through. “Yes?” she said.

  Oh wow. For some reason, I’d expected her to at least pretend she was pleasantly surprised. After all, Hyacinth cared more about hollow manners than anyone I’d met in Eastwind. But here she was acting like she didn’t even know me. “Hi. I, um.”

  Swirls. I hadn’t thought about what I’d say when I got there. “Hi, your husband followed me home the other day, and I just wanted to see what the hellhound that wa
s all about”? Or maybe, “Hi, I think you’re having an affair with my best friend’s husband, so … could you not?”

  “Who is it?” called James from behind her. When she opened the door a bit wider, he appeared from around the entryway wall. He was wearing khaki pants, a tan long-sleeve shirt with a red and yellow knit vest over it. Usual Jameswear, unlike the gaudy yellow raincoat I’d seen him in before.

  “Nora!” he said warmly, “what are you doing here?” He pushed Hyacinth gently to the side so he could open the door further. “Come on in. It’s a mess out there.”

  Hyacinth didn’t look so sure about inviting in the unexpected guest, but she uncharacteristically cowed to his suggestion. Usually, she was the one ordering him around, but perhaps that was just their dynamic out in public, and things were much different at home.

  She wore a long blue-patterned dress that flowed to her ankles and extended down her arms to her wrists. On it was a mishmash of tiny dark objects that I had to look closer at to realize they were black cats in various poses.

  My eyes had locked onto one of them with its back arched when James said, “I was just making some tea after dinner. I’m happy to make you a cup.”

  He held out his arm, directing me to the living room I’d only glimpsed from the street, and I followed Hyacinth in while he made a detour to the kitchen.

  For perhaps the first time in her life, Hyacinth wasn’t in the mood to talk. Despite sitting in an armchair only a few feet from the one I chose, she didn’t bother saying a word. Not even a “hello, how are you?” or a gloating comment about Medium Rare failing inspection twice.

  Anything would have been better than the dead silence cut only by the tick of the clock on the wall.

  The sound drew my attention and I remembered what Efarine Moulton had said about the clocks in Eastwind. “That’s a mechanical one, I guess?” Since Hyacinth was an elf, and they were so prideful about their clockmaking abilities, it seemed like a pretty solid guess, but more importantly, it was a conversation starter that allowed Hyacinth room to brag about her heritage. No way she would pass up an opportunity like that.