Evil Spark (16 page)

"You okay?" shouted Kate above the din of the roomful of witches, constantly on the move, totally doing my head in.

I smiled weakly. "Suppose so. I just want her back, being her usual self."

"She will be, don't worry. Why do you think I made the call to Eleanor here? She'll sort out the potion to make her well and that will be that."

"I hope so." I stared at Eleanor at the stove, stirring a pot of something noxious, then at Grandma, sat beside me, smiling away. Oblivious.

As I drove Grandma home, Kate had taken my phone and made a call to Eleanor. She, and way too many other witches, were waiting when we arrived. There hadn't been a minute's peace since. They asked me repeatedly what Govan had said she'd been given, bickering among themselves about why on earth Grandma would have drunk it. I had no answer, just recounted what I'd been told.

None of them were happy about Govan getting away. The dead girl's mother was distraught, I was told, and they would have their vengeance one way or another. I told them I would deal with it, warned them not to interfere. There was still a lot going on. Rikka was still missing for a start, and anyway, the vampires had Govan.

Witches are a funny lot. Many of them hate vampires, but they hate a lot of things, yet not a one of them blamed Kate or even gave her a cross look. They may often be grumpy and crotchety, insist on looking like sweet old ladies as soon as they are of the appropriate age, but they are extremely intelligent and know more about the Hidden world than anyone else, including wizards or mages.

They are specialists, not only of potions, but of the mind. Their magic is based more on human psychology than any external factors, although they can cast some seriously nasty spells on you if you dare cross them.

"You absolutely sure it was a potion of contentment?" shouted Eleanor, looking over her shoulder while still stirring the pot.

"I told you already. Yes. That's what the kid said, anyway."

"Okay then, I think it's ready." Eleanor picked up a mug and ladled the steaming liquid in. She carried it over with two hands, like a gift from a favorite god, careful not to spill a drop. The room went silent. Everyone stared at Grandma, then at the potion.

"Are you sure this will work?" I asked. "What if it doesn't?"

Every witch in the room apart from Grandma scowled at me. "Are you saying I'm a bad witch?" said Eleanor, getting right up in my face so I could see the hairs on the ubiquitous mole. "That I can't make a simple potion to counteract a contentment concoction? Who made it, anyway? That's what I want to know."

I hadn't thought of that, but it was something I wanted to know too. "No, of course not," I protested. "I just want her back. I want her to be Grandma again."

"She will be." Eleanor placed the mug in front of Grandma. She looked up at us with smiling eyes, unfocused but happy. Grandma turned to me and I nodded.

It was like a small part of her understood what was needed. She turned her attention to the frothy green liquid and raised it to her lips.

Everyone leaned forward, a collective holding of the breath while Grandma took the first sip. "Tastes bitter, Eleanor. You should add sugar."

I breathed a sigh of relief. Grandma stared around the room, and said, "What? Why are you lot staring at me like I'm some kind of frog in a hat? Faz, what are you crying for? Are you all right? And what have you done to your hair? Grow it back this instant."

"Yes, Grandma. Right away." I grabbed her and hugged her tight, spilling tea all over the table. She tutted, but smiled at me. She was back, but not quite. Her focus drifted again.

"Get out the way, you stupid boy. She has to drink at least half a cup for her to return to us properly." Man, these witches have serious attitude.

I sat back down. Kate put her hand in mine and we watched as Grandma sipped the potion. Without warning, it was like something snapped.

She jumped up, eyes blazing, magic bouncing off her like the sun off a mirror. "I'm going to kill that man then clean my toilet with his head. And that's just for starters. Where are my shoes?"

"I think she's feeling better," said Kate, smiling.

"I think you could be right."

"Eleanor Winright, if you have been poking about in my garden and messing up my kitchen then there will be hell to pay." Grandma gave her the evil eye and Eleanor backed away. Grandma was definitely herself again.

"I just made you better," said Eleanor. "I gave you my best reversal potion. You should thank me."

"Thank you? What else would you have done? Given me something to make it worse?" Grandma got to her feet, scowled at my hair, and smiled adoringly at Kate. "Right you lot, out you go. I have things to talk about with young Faz and Kate here."

They protested, insisting they needed to know what happened so they could plan their revenge. Then they started whispering about the vampires having Govan as they didn't want to upset Kate. But a witch's whisper is about as subtle as Intus with a red and blue sock in each hand whilst perched on the laundry basket. Grandma would hear none of it.

With a promise she would see them later, and they would have their revenge, she ushered them out the front door. Sighing and tutting, Grandma came back into the kitchen.

"Now then, first order of business, let's go kill the seer."

"Whoa, hold on, Grandma. You've been gone for days, under a spell because you drank a potion. I think you have some explaining to do." I said.

"Oh, you do, do you?" Grandma fixed me with her best stare and I wilted under the power of it. Nothing to do with magic, just Grandma being Grandma.

"Yes, I do," I mumbled.

"He's right, Grandma. We've been terribly worried. Everyone's been running around for days trying to find you. What happened?" asked Kate. "You need to tell us so we know what's going on."

Grandma softened at Kate's words and sat back down, scowling at the spilled potion on the table. Kate cleaned it up and then she was satisfied.

"Stanley came around with this nice young boy, cat shifter vampire, which is unusual, and said he wanted to have a chat. Next thing I know the kid's tucking into poor Matilda and I'm..."

"What? What happened? That's not like you to let a vampire you don't know in. How did Stanley get the better of you, Grandma?" Nobody pulls one over on Grandma. She's ancient and stronger than any mage I have ever met.

"I, er, um..."

Now I was really worried. One thing Grandma is never, is lost for words. It's always the opposite—you can't shut her up. Oh, not that I'd ever want to, of course.

"What? Come on, Grandma. I've been sick with worry and you don't know the half of it yet. What is going on? What happened?"

"Fine, but you asked. Stanley said he'd got his hands on a powerful, er, um..." Grandma looked around the room shiftily. What on earth was happening? "He gave me a love potion, all right? There, I've said it. He told me to close my eyes. Stanley gave me a potion and I thought we were going to, you know, get intimate once we got rid of the young ones."

"Grandma!"

"I am a woman, Faz. Women have needs. It's been over a hundred years. I'm getting withdrawal symptoms."

"Grandma! No more, please."

"You asked," she said with a wicked smile.

"Okay, what then?"

"It went blurry really quick. I trusted him, Faz, didn't think he would slip me anything untoward. He's always been such a gentleman. I had my eyes closed while he was talking. I felt the potion touch my lips as he poured a drop and I knew in an instant he'd fooled me. But it was strong, and I didn't care. Even as he poured more down my throat, I was happy. Damn spells."

"You liked and trusted him," said Kate, understanding.

Grandma nodded, clearly ashamed. "I'm a very old woman, I should have known better."

"It's better than never letting anyone close." Kate looked at me like she wasn't just talking to Grandma.

"Well, I knew he'd made a fool out of me. I just sat there, not caring. But I seem to remember hearing Matilda and Govan in the kitchen chatting away, and then the screams started. Next thing I knew I was sipping that foul potion made by Eleanor and here we are." She seemed quite perky, but I couldn't picture her wanting to, you know, do
it
. She's always just looked like Grandma same as she always has. I didn't want to think of her having needs. Ugh, freaks me out!

"What else has been happening? You said there was more to tell me."

"Rikka's gone. Taken. I thought it might have had something to do with you going missing for a while, but maybe not."

"No, this was just Stanley. It's the damn seer in him. He was muttering about having to do it to me as he'd already seen it happen and all that nonsense. I was pretty unfocused by then though. That was one powerful potion he gave me."

"Where would he have got it from?" asked Kate.

"Oh, could be anywhere." Grandma waved the question away. "He could have had it for years. Potions are best used when just prepared, but if you're planning ahead then you can make them that last for centuries. I'm a silly old woman. Can't believe I fell for the oldest trick in the book."

"I'm just glad you're back," I said. "But now I have to go." Grandma was lying, I knew it. Potions like that don't last for years, they last a day or two, tops. I said nothing, sure she had her reasons, or maybe just still slightly confused.

"Faz, you can't. She's been through a lot. You need to be here."

"I will be, as soon as I deal with Stanley." I looked at Grandma. She didn't seem surprised, or concerned.

"I'm coming too," said Grandma. She didn't want to. No, it wasn't that. She knew she wouldn't be going with me. She was acting strange, but it was to be expected.

"No, you are not. You stay here with Kate, if that's okay?" Kate nodded, but got up and took me by the arm out into the hall. "Be back in a moment, Grandma," she shouted.

"I'm sorry I left last night, Faz. I had a feeling about something and went to find out."

"Okay," I said warily, whispering too. "See who? Find out what?"

"Taavi. He said you'd been to visit him. I found him in the city center, with this awful really old vampire."

"Yrjo," I said.

Kate nodded. "Taavi didn't do it, Faz. He had nothing to do with Rikka, but that other guy creeps me out. I think there is something going on there."

"You think Taavi took Govan, felt it through the vampire grapevine, or however it works, and came to get him before I dealt with him?"

"You wouldn't have, would you?" Kate looked shocked.

"Kate, he killed a trainee witch. If I don't deal with him then they will, and my way is a lot cleaner, and quicker. Plum said she would do it last night, but—"

"Plum! You were with her?"

"Um, yeah. I called her after I couldn't get hold of you. I needed to be sure Govan was a shifter and a vampire, so asked her a few questions about things."

"Oh, right." I knew she was jealous, but what could I say? Yes, Plum has the most perfect of bottoms, and I want to lick it, but I promise I won't as I like your bum more? I may be useless with women, but I'm not that useless. I kept quiet about bums. Anyone's bum.

"Okay, I'm going to pay Stanley a visit. Then we can think about Rikka and find out who has Govan. You okay to sit with Grandma for a while?"

"Of course. And, Faz?"

"Yeah?"

"About last night. Let's not make it a habit."

My world crumbled. One minute I was buoyed after finding Grandma, now Kate was giving me the old heave-ho. "Okay. Bye."

"Wait! You muppet. I meant let's not make a habit of going to bed and falling asleep so quickly. Idiot." Kate reached around and squeezed my bum then gave me a kiss so sweet I got a sugar high. She stepped back, eyes more sparkly than mine in the throes of magic use.

"Yum. Yeah, I'm an idiot. When this is all over I'm going to give you the—"

"Faz, what are you two whispering about?" Grandma was stood in the hall, hands on hips, in a pose so familiar I ran to her, hugged her tight and lifted her off her feet.

"Put me down, you soft lump. And sort that hair out."

"Yes, Grandma, will do. Be back soon. See you later," I said to Kate, smiling. I think I may have done that thing where you point your finger like a gun and make that click-click sound with your mouth.

Yes, I know. Total muppet.

I whistled as I walked down the path from Grandma's. All I had to do now was kill Stanley, find Govan, deal with him before the witches went on the rampage, find Rikka, rescue him, deal with whoever took him then come back, have a cup of tea with Grandma, and take Kate somewhere I could ravage her for a few centuries.

The sun had gone. The air was cool, the sky gray and overcast. Rain threatened.

Things were looking up. It was as if life was slowly getting back to normal.

You know, for us.

At the Morgue

Someone had beaten me to it. The morgue was like a scene from whatever the current bloodbath movie is—I never seem to find the time to watch movies. Stanley was dressed in his usual pristine suit and tie, hair slicked back, white apron on, although it was hard to tell as they were stained as dark as his seer soul. Thick blood still seeped from a tattered mess at his neck, red as a gnome's hat.

I didn't feel sorry for him in the least. Stanley had overstepped boundaries all Hidden knew to abide by. I was just surprised they'd allowed him to get off so lightly.

This was why I'd wanted to get out of Grandma's. With the vampires having taken Govan it was obvious they would be out for revenge just as deadly as mine planned on being, but they'd got to him first. What amazed me was they hadn't taken him with them. Maybe they wanted me to know, to make amends of a sort. A gift? Here's the one that took your family, now leave ours alone?

Stanley was splayed out on the white tiled floor, surrounded by a pool of darkening blood. His neck gurgled and blood bubbled in his mouth as he stared at me, smiling. He wouldn't last long, but I had to know.

"Why, Stanley? Why did you do it?" I hoped for a different answer, but I got exactly what I expected.