Casting Curses

  I clinked my mug against his. “Amen to that. Thank you, guys, for hanging out. It makes me feel better having you here.”

  “We’re family. Family of choice is stronger than blood.” Sandy blew me a kiss from across the table. “Speaking of blood, when does Gregory get in?”

  I checked my texts. Nothing. Then I checked my email. There was a note from him that he would be here around four p.m. He was renting a car at the airport and would drive up. Luckily, the city had found an alternative dock for the ferry and it was back in action.

  “I’m due at Auntie Tautau’s at noon. I’m not sure what to do until then. Is Franny still stuck in the picture?” I felt a little guilty for not checking on her when I first got up. But there were so many things going on that it was hard to remember everything.

  Kelson nodded. “Yeah, she’s still in there. Etum hasn’t managed to follow her in there, at least as far as I can tell. I’m wondering if he can.”

  “Hopefully, we won’t find out.” My phone dinged and I took a look. There was a text from Garret.

  i’m sorry i didn’t get back to you yesterday. it took me longer than i expected to find the roots i needed. check on your porch—i left it in a bag on the porch swing before i took off for the airport.

  As Kelson set breakfast on the table, I hurried out front. Sure enough, there was a paper bag sitting on the porch swing. Inside was an intricately woven charm about the size of a dinner plate. The note enclosed said to hang it on the front door. My fingers itched and burned just touching it, reminding me that magic and I weren’t getting along too well right then.

  Not one to waste time, I hung it on a nail beneath to the autumn wreath by the front door. As I did so, a quiet hush flowed around me, caught on the wind, and a sense of peace settled in my heart. Hoping for the best, I entered the house. I closed my eyes and reached out, trying not to immerse myself in the magic. I could still sense the dark shadow, but it felt like Etum was behind a barrier of sorts. I didn’t know if he could break through, but I felt like I had a little breathing room.

  As I entered the kitchen, breakfast was being served on the table. Bowls of oatmeal thick with raisins and brown sugar were on the table, along with the jug of cream. I licked my lips and sat down, drowning the cereal. I loved oatmeal, but we didn’t often have it because we were always on the run. A plate of sticky buns sat in the center of the table. I glanced up at Kelson, questioning.

  She gave me a sad smile. “No, Aegis didn’t make them. In fact, we’ve gone through all of the goodies in the freezer. But I thought I’d pick them up at the store this morning. Mornings just don’t feel right without some sort of muffin or pastry on the table.”

  I nodded, my heart sinking. Aegis had come to be such an integral part of my life in the year we had been together. I couldn’t imagine not being with him. Having to keep him unconscious for safety’s sake shook my confidence in the future. Sandy noticed my expression, and she leaned over and wrapped her hand around mine.

  “It will be okay. I promise you, everything will be all right.”

  “But we don’t know that. We have no clue how to deal with this.” Then, trying to muster my spirits, I added, “At least I get to talk to Lilis today. If anybody can help, she should be able to.”

  “Eat your breakfast,” Max said. “You need your strength to deal with this.”

  We were just about finished when Leonard and his men pulled up. They were back to work on the roof.

  I slipped into my jacket and headed outside to talk to them. Lanyear landed on my shoulder. I was worried about how the curse might be affecting him, but so far he seemed to be okay. As I stepped into the back yard, the owl flew up, circled around and took off to go hunting.

  I waited until they were next to the house with their gear. “Hey, Leonard!”

  He set down his tool box and placed the ladder he was carrying against the side of the house.

  “Hey, Maddy. We’re back to finish the patching. My men took a look at the entire roof, and it does look like you need a new one, but it can wait until spring. I know the holiday season is coming up, and that’s got to be a busy time for you.”

  I nodded. “Good. Yeah, as soon as I can get this curse lifted, I need to start booking people. We’ll be busy through Thanksgiving and into the beginning of the year. I’m glad to hear it can wait. When you finish today, if I’m not around to pay you, ask Kelson. She can cut you a check for the patch. Again, I’m sorry about Trey. I never envisioned anything like this happening.”

  “It wasn’t your fault. I just hope you can take care of this and get it off of your back. How are you doing?” While werewolves didn’t like magic very much, Leonard had always been friendly to me.

  I gave him a faint smile. “As well as can be expected. I’m hoping to have some answers after today. Anyway, I got things to do, so I’ll leave you to your work.”

  As the Alpha-Pack switched into full gear, I headed toward the back acreage of my home. Lanyear was overhead, gliding down to greet me. And then, I was seeing myself, from the air. It was exhilarating, soaring and gliding on the breeze, as I felt my mind touch Lanyear’s. It was as though I was seeing out of his eyes, and he could sense my joy. He swooped and turned and glided, taking me with him, before settling in one of the fir trees near the trail.

  I blinked, shaking my head. That was the first time that it happened, and for a moment I was terrified, wondering if it would set off a reaction, but it didn’t seem to. I wasn’t exactly certain who had instigated it—whether it was Lanyear, or some part of my subconscious—but whatever it was, the experience was beautiful and calmed my fears. I raised my hand to the owl as I headed into the woods.

  The day was crisp and clear, the pale sun rising. We were due for rain by afternoon, but for now I thrust my hands in my pockets to keep them warm and perched myself on the stump of the tree trunk. There was something different in the air. The faint scent of ozone crackled down, making me think of snow. I glanced up at the sky again, searching for clouds. They were there on the edge, coming in slowly, with a silver glint to them. My breath formed in puffs in front of my mouth, and my nose began to tingle from the chill.

  Lanyear swept by, in hunting mode, and I didn’t bother him. He was beautiful, and it still amazed me how Arianrhod had sent him to me. We were still working out our relationship and I hadn’t the faintest idea of what it would become, but for now that was perfectly fine. I still wasn’t even sure of my own place in the world. I was finding my way as High Priestess, day by day and month by month. Since moving to Bedlam, I had become exceedingly aware of how true the old saying was that everything happened in its own time.

  I was trying not to think about Aegis locked in his coffin, or about Trey, now dead and gone, or even the fact that I couldn’t use my magic. I cleared my head as much as I could, letting the chill of the day and the quiet rustle of the woods soothe me.

  After a while I realized that the tension had eased up in my muscles. I pulled out my phone and glanced at the time. Another hour and a half until I was supposed to meet Lilis. Deciding that I could use a little retail therapy, I stood and headed back to the house to see if Sandy wanted to go shopping with me.

  Sandy declined. She was on her laptop, taking care of business concerns with her restaurants. “I would love to go, but I have three hundred and fifty-two emails waiting. Max and I will probably have to head home tonight, but we’ll stay here until you get back to keep an eye on things.” She blew me a kiss.

  I grabbed my purse, returned her kiss, and headed out.

  MOST OF BEDLAM seemed to have recovered its power and the roads had been cleared. As I navigated my way through the downtown area, I saw an open parking spot across from McGee’s Apothecary and snagged it. I was the queen of parallel parking.

  Andy McGee—the owner—was out, and so was his daughter Beth. But the new clerk looked familiar, and I introduced myself to her.

  “I’m Maddy. Maudlin Gallow
glass. I’m a regular customer. You new here?” I leaned against the counter, smiling.

  She burst into a bright grin. “Mad Maudlin! It’s really you? They told me you shopped here, but I didn’t think I get to meet you.” She thrust out her hand. Taken aback, I accepted the rather enthusiastic handshake.

  By now I was used to people recognizing me, whether it was for running the coven or because of my past. But it still felt odd and awkward to realize I had my own set of fandom.

  “Yes, it’s me. And you are?”

  “Oh! I’m sorry. I’m Penelope Johnson, Andy’s niece.”

  “Well, Penelope, I need three ounces of valerian root, and three ounces of chamomile.” I knew that I didn’t dare buy Andy’s special teas since they were infused with magical energy, but I could brew my own soothing mixture with just the plain herbs.

  She scurried to gather my purchases as I glanced around the shop. There were a number of things that I could use, but I was afraid to buy them or even touch them. I paid for the herbs, said good-bye, and left.

  Downtown Bedlam was a beautiful place. It had all the charm of a quaint village, but with a number of modern conveniences. In the center of town was Turnwheel Park, right next to the town square, where the Moonrise Coven led the quarter day events. Turnwheel Park was also used for the winter carnival and the autumn fair. The farmers market had a permanent spot as well. The week before Thanksgiving, city workers would hang the lights for Winter Solstice and put up decorations. And during Thanksgiving itself, Bedlam always held a massive community dinner for those who had no place to go, or who simply wanted to take part in a communitywide celebration. It was a potluck, although the town supplied the turkey and mashed potatoes.

  As I walked along the sidewalk, watching people bustle by on their way to work or to the shops, I realized how much I had come to love this town. And how much it had become a part of me. I stopped in at Dugan’s Donuts, a retro coffee shop, and ordered a double mocha, a maple bar, and a chocolate glazed cream doughnut. As I settled into a booth by the window, a familiar voice caught my attention. I glanced up to see Delia Walters standing there.

  Delia was Bedlam’s sheriff. She had taken over in 1998, when her grandfather died. Her grandfather had taken over from her father, who was killed under mysterious circumstances in 1980. Delia was as upstanding as they came, a fair and just woman. Even though she was a werewolf, she didn’t shy away from hanging out with the witches of Bedlam.

  “Hey Maddy, I haven’t heard from you lately. Can I sit down?” She was carrying a cup of coffee and a piece of pie.

  I motioned for her to take a seat. “Things have been a little crazy since the storm. Well, more than a little crazy.”

  She laughed, shaking her strawberry blond shag. Her eyes were a bright blue and she was a sturdy, athletic woman. “You can say that again. I swear, the next time we have a storm like that, somebody else can take over answering calls. You would not believe how many people called into the sheriff’s office for things that we can do nothing about. It pissed me off.”

  “I bet!” As I bit into my cream-filled doughnut, I began to tell her what had happened. “Have you ever heard of Lilis Spencer?”

  She frowned, thinking as she sipped her coffee. “I don’t think so. Who was she?”

  “She owned my house in the 1920s. And I think she’s the reason that I now have a cursed Sumerian sorcerer running around as a shadow form, causing havoc.”

  She snorted her coffee out her nose. “Oh, this I have to hear.”

  I told her everything, between eating my doughnuts and drinking my mocha. When I finished, Delia sat back in the booth, staring at me incredulously.

  “You know, I used to think Ralph Greyhoof got himself in more damned trouble than anybody on this island. I think I can now quite comfortably give you the honor of being named the Queen of Mayhem.”

  I stuck my tongue out at her. “Please do not tell me you’re actually comparing me to Ralph.”

  “You have to admit, since you moved to Bedlam, you’ve been in one jam after another.”

  “Yeah, and I didn’t start any of them.”

  She grinned, finishing the last bite of her pie. “That’s all I’m going to say on the subject. I have to go, but let me know how everything’s going,” she said, finishing on a serious note.

  She tossed a ten-dollar bill on the table and headed out toward the patrol car. I glanced at the sky. The clouds were beginning to sock in. I added fifteen dollars to hers, and set all of the money on both of our checks. Then, gathering my herbs and my purse, I headed outside.

  I still had forty-five minutes until I needed to be at Auntie Tautau’s, so I dropped into the French Pair, a lingerie shop that stocked my favorite bras. They were one of the few places that carried my bra cup size. The clerk waved at me as I came in.

  “I ordered a red gingham bra and panty set about three weeks ago. Has it come in yet?”

  She went to look and came back with a box. I examined the lingerie, nodding. “This is what I wanted. Please wrap it up and also, I’ll take one of those.” I pointed to a Santa teddy in stretch burgundy velvet, with white trim and a black belt. I decided that once he was back to his usual self, Aegis deserved a naughty Santa’s helper. Paying for the lingerie, I headed back to my car.

  AUNTIE TAUTAU WAS waiting at the door when I arrived at her cottage.

  “Is Lilis here yet?” I was nervous, hoping she hadn’t backed out.

  But Auntie Tautau gave me a broad smile, her eyes twinkling. “She’s here. Come on in.”

  She led me into the living room. There, sitting on the sofa, was one of the most striking women I’d ever seen. As I entered the room she rose, and I was struck by how tall she was. She must have been almost six feet tall, and she had long raven black hair, the color of my own. But her bangs were cut straight across and her hair was smooth and shining, as sleek as mine was wavy. Her eyes were pale brown, and she was well proportioned, looking sturdy and yet with an hourglass figure. She was wearing a long gray robe over a white dress.

  “Maudlin Gallowglass? I’m Lilis Spencer. Auntie Tautau tells me you are looking for me.”

  I let out a sigh of relief. “I’m so glad you’re here. I need to talk to you about my house. I bought the house you lived in. The other day, a storm brought a tree down on it, and it destroyed part of the roof. I found your secret room and unfortunately the urn broke and now we have a freakshow sorcerer running around, causing trouble.” I sat down on the sofa next to her.

  She gasped and slowly buckled, landing on the sofa beside me. Her face was pale.

  “I had hoped no one would ever find that room. I meant to dismantle everything before I had to leave, but then things snowballed and I had to run. The best I could do was to have a wall built across the door.”

  “So you know what was in that urn?”

  She pressed her lips together, nodding.

  “Unfortunately, my household is now under a curse, thanks to you. I need to know everything about Etum, about the curse, and how I can break it. I’ve developed an allergy to magic because of this. My boyfriend is locked in a coffin to keep him from going crazy. My house ghost—who was there when you were there too—is trapped inside of a painting.” The words came out sharper than I intended. I realized that the tension hadn’t disappeared, I had just pushed it away for a while.

  Lilis glanced over at Auntie Tautau, who just stared at her. She turned back to me.

  “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I suppose I owe you the truth.”

  “The more I know about this, the better I’ll be able to handle it.”

  She shifted her shoulders, then settled back. “Auntie Tautau, can we have some tea?”

  Auntie Tautau rose and silently exited into the kitchen. Lilis watched her go.

  “All right. The truth. I don’t know if it will help you, but I certainly hope so. What do you know about me?”

  “T
hat you were an archaeologist who worked on a site in Kish, and that you have English and Assyrian blood lines.” I didn’t add, and you left me a mess to deal with, because I had already made that abundantly clear.

  “Yes, that’s all true. My father got me interested in archaeology. My mother has ties back to Sumer. I was doing some research into her family tree when I noticed that there was a gap. A relative from long ago had been expunged from every document I could find. I couldn’t help but wonder why. The name had been marked out in every single family document. So I did some digging and I found out that the person who had been cut out of our history was a man named Etum.”

  “Etum was your ancestor?”

  She nodded. “Unfortunately. But I couldn’t find out what he had done wrong. I asked my mother and she wouldn’t talk about him—she said it was bad luck to even speak his name and to leave it alone. But I couldn’t get the thought out of my head that maybe he had been wrongly accused of something. I don’t know why that kept hammering at me, but it did. I was already interested in archaeology and when they started to make inroads into excavations in the mid-1800s, I began to study on my own. Finally, in early 1912, I was offered the chance to go to work for one of the most preeminent archaeologists from France. I assume you read about him?”

  I nodded. “A bit. I read that you helped out on his excavation of Kish.”

  “I wish to hell I’d never taken that offer. But something drew me to it. I loved the work, but it felt as though I had being summoned. I was absolutely ecstatic to go on the excavation. My mother didn’t want me to. Neither did my father. They both forbade me to go, but I didn’t listen.”

  “You were being summoned, weren’t you?” I was beginning to get an inkling of what had happened.

  She let out a long sigh. “Yes, but I didn’t realize it.”

  “What happened?”