Secret Of The Rose (Legacy Of Magick Series, Book 2) (22 page)

“Hey, Duncan. I might need your help in a minute,” Ivy said.

“Back to work.” Duncan winked at me, turning his attention to the trick-or-treaters. A large group of young teens was loudly critiquing the front yard display while they shuffled up the path to the manor.

Beside me, I felt Ivy tense up. Before I could even comment on her reaction, one teen shoved another, and that kid shoved right back. Shouting started between the kids in the group. Someone kicked a pumpkin, and next, a ‘tombstone’ toppled over.

“I don’t think so,” Duncan said— and he was gone. He had been standing on the porch one second, and then he suddenly appeared in the middle of the group of teens.

I blinked in astonishment. I hadn’t even seen him move.

“Did you see that?” Ivy let out a delighted cackle. “I’ve never seen someone cloak their movements so smoothly before. That was awesome!”

Cloak their movements. His mother could do that too...
I tried not to feel uneasy about what I’d witnessed— every time I thought I was figuring out magick, something new popped up.

“Come on.” Ivy grabbed my hand, and we hurried down the steps to Duncan.

I couldn’t hear what he’d said to the teens, but they’d all stopped in their tracks and listened respectfully to him. By the time we got to the group, the young teens had all apologized and were straightening up the display.

Ivy passed out candy to them, which they all accepted politely. With no other issues, the kids went back down the path, past Holly at the gate, and out to the sidewalk.

“Trouble?” Holly strolled up to us.

“A minor skirmish,” Ivy laughed. “Duncan straightened it out.”

I righted the pumpkin that had been knocked over and pulled off the lid. Melted wax pooled inside the jack-o’-lantern. The votive candle inside its holder had been snuffed, so I pulled the candle and holder out.

“Here, let me,” Duncan offered and took it from me.

“I’ll go get the lighter.” I started to take a step towards the front porch where we had extra candles and a lighter for the jack-o’-lanterns.

“Nope. I got this.” Duncan plucked the candle out of the glass holder and held it up to eye level. He narrowed his eyes a bit, and I managed not to jump back when the candle flared to life.

“Cool,” Ivy and Holly said in unison.

“Whoa,” I managed.

Duncan placed the burning candle back inside the glass holder. He casually set it back in place. He stood brushing off his hands and burst out laughing. “The look on your face... I told you, I have a small connection to the element of fire, as well.”

“So you did,” I managed. Holly and Ivy simply grinned at him and took up positions for the next round of kids.

I studied him as he went and straightened out some of the props in the front yard. In the past few moments, I’d witnessed Duncan calling on the element of air. He’d cloaked his movements so well that he seemed to reappear somewhere else in the blink of an eye. And now, he’d lit a candle with the power of his magick.
What was a magician with those kinds of skills doing with a new, bumbling Witch like me?

“I heard that.” Duncan walked over to me and slung his arm around my waist.

I really had to remind myself to watch my thoughts around him. That was twice he’d
overheard
them. But it did make me wonder why someone with those kinds of talents was wasting his time with me.

“Stop it.” He gave my waist a gentle squeeze as we returned to the front porch. “You think too little of yourself and worry way too much.”

“You’ve never done magick like that in front of me before,” I pointed out.

Duncan ran a hand down the back of my hair. “I was waiting for you to be more comfortable with your own magick.”

“You caught me off guard, that’s all.”

“Well, now you know, so relax and enjoy the evening.”

I made a conscious effort to stop worrying and enjoy the evening. I had to laugh as a little pirate and a killer clown came racing up the path for candy. Here I’d figured that the Samhain ritual with the coven later tonight would be the big magickal ‘treat’ for the evening. Looks like the best show was, in fact, out here with Duncan.

Halloween was turning out to be a most illuminating night.

***    

When Duncan and I entered City Hall the following evening, arm in arm as Morticia and Gomez Addams, the Halloween Masquerade was in full swing. Privately, I had wondered if we were over dressed. The costumes Marie had created for us were amazing, but I’d never seen adults go all out for a masquerade before. My hair felt stiff with all of the black hairspray, but it looked the part and hung straight down my back. Ivy had painted a Gomez style mustache on Duncan who had slicked his blonde hair back with gel.

Once we entered the ballroom, I took a good look at the revelers and realized that William’s Ford took their Halloween Ball very, very seriously. I saw everything from tuxes and Venetian style masks on the men to elaborate ball gowns and glittering masks on sticks for the ladies. There were lots of upscale costumes ranging from glamorous to ghoulish. It was incredible. I smiled and gave Duncan’s arm a squeeze. “Oh god, this is
amazing
!”

We had only entered the room when a photographer stopped us to pose for a picture. We posed, and I blinked the flashbulbs away. Holly and Ivy, a.k.a. Wicked Witch and Good Witch, joined us a moment later. Each of the girls were sporting a neon yellow wrist band which marked them as minors. Adults were given an orange and black wrist band. I’d been informed by the girls that the age limit for the event was seventeen and up. So this was Holly and Ivy’s first year at the Halloween Ball, as well.

The photographer snapped pictures of the girls too. And they really got into it, doing various poses, smiles and sneers for him. Duncan and I waited while Cher’s “Dark Lady” blasted through the DJ’s speakers. An impressive light show spun in patterns of light across the room. Once the girls were done, we shuffled forward through the crowd and over towards the table reserved for us.

As we worked our way across the room, I thought I saw many people I knew from the museum and from the coven. At least, I was pretty sure I knew them. The costumes and masks the attendees wore were incredible. On each round table, a real pumpkin was centered. Fresh flowers in oranges, purples, and crimson, were beautifully arranged inside. Little candles flickered around the arrangements. Black and orange crepe paper streamers and white spider webs dripped from the ceiling of the ballroom. Various artificial tombstones lined the walls, and there was a crypt set up around the DJ’s stand.

Holly and Ivy saw some of their friends and stopped to chat. I caught a glimpse of Ivy’s boyfriend, Eric. He was dressed as a Victorian-era vampire. My lips twitched. No wonder Ivy liked him. I waved to a dazzling Cypress, who wore a strapless neon green gown with shimmering fairy wings, a crown of ivy leaves, and body glitter across her shoulders. We found our reserved table, and I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw Lexie and Bran who were dressed as Alice and the Mad Hatter— Tim Burton style.

Lexie grinned up at us. “You guys look wonderful!”

“Let me see that dress!” I demanded as Lexie stood up and showed off her tea length blue and black dress. With her hair down and loose, she resembled a Victorian Alice. Bran wore a version of the Mad Hatter’s crazy suit, oversized tie and top hat. His face was pale, his red hair stuck out a bit from under the big hat. I had to give it to him, I’d never have expected him to loosen up enough to have gone all out with his costume. “You look good Bran,” I said.

“So do you two.” Bran nodded.

I suppose that was his way of being nice.
The pompous ass.
As I was the more mature and evolved individual, I smiled in reply and let his ‘less than sincere’ comment go without any verbal retaliation.

A woman walked towards our table wearing a white, off the shoulder style blouse. A crimson shawl was cinched around the waist of her snowy peasant style skirt, and a red and white striped scarf was tied around her thick braided hair. As she approached, I saw tattoos running from her wrists to her collarbones. “Marie!” I finally recognized her.

Duncan gave a wolf whistle as she approached. “Don’t tell me... Marie Laveau the Voodoo Queen?”

Marie laughed, her golden hoop earrings brushed her shoulders. “Of course,
cher
.”

“Has anyone seen Gwen and Aunt Faye?” I asked. Lexie turned and pointed. I saw Gwen in a long red and black gown, with Great Aunt Faye— who was rocking a black and gold column style sequined gown. Her silver hair was twisted up and back in an elegant chignon.

Marie set her bag down at the table and glanced over at Aunt Faye. “You gotta hand it to her. The old girl’s got style.”

Great Aunt Faye walked up to the table with all of the attitude of a model working a catwalk. Duncan held out a chair for her, and she gracefully took her seat. Gwen followed behind, holding a sequined red mask on a ribbon trimmed stick.

“I’d like a gin and tonic,” Aunt Faye announced. She looked pointedly at Duncan and me.

Which is how we found ourselves in a long line waiting at the bar, shortly thereafter. I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to find Zack and Theo from Gwen’s coven.

“Hello gorgeous!” Dressed in a white toga, Zach gave me an exuberant hug.

I hugged him in return. “Don’t tell me, let me guess.” I studied their costumes. Gilded laurel leaves were in a crown around Zach’s blonde hair. A golden cloak hung at the back of his toga. Theo wore a toga as well, but a grapevine crown with tiny grapes rested in his dark hair. I smiled at his purple cloak. “Apollo and Dionysus?”

“Yes! And give us a turn, Morticia!” Zach said.

I did my best at attempting a runway turn and almost pulled it off. Almost. I grabbed at Duncan’s jacket sleeve when I wobbled.

“Steady.” Theo reached out to me as I righted myself.

“Thanks, Theo.” I gave his supporting hand a squeeze. Note to self:
No more quick spins in the costume!

Zach straightened the lapel of Duncan’s smoking jacket, then stepped back. “There, that’s better. You are rocking that costume, Gomez.”

The music changed to Rob Zombie’s “Living Dead Girl”, and it took everything I had to stand still in line. I could see Eric and Ivy, Holly and Cypress, and a few other couples out on the dance floor.

Duncan gave me a gentle elbow nudge. “Go on. I know you want to dance.”

“I
love
this song.” I grinned at him.

Theo grabbed my hand. “Let’s hit it, Morticia.”

“God. Do you dare?” I asked.

“I’ll live on the edge,” Theo said.

I laughed in delight. Theo was normally quiet when I was around him. Happily, I let him lead me out of line and towards the dance floor. We worked our way over to Holly and Ivy, who let out a cheer when we’d joined them... and I didn’t worry about being clumsy anymore. I just followed the music and danced.

Theo had some impressive moves, but it didn’t intimidate me. Dancing always made me feel like I was someone else. A more coordinated and cool someone else. Apparently, the song had inspired other dancers as the floor went from less than a dozen dancers— to crowded with people— in a heart beat.

By the next song, Zach and Marie had joined us on the dance floor. Violet O’Connell, from the flower shop, shimmied up wearing a purple and black, sexy Witch costume. I danced a few more songs, and then made my way back to the table and to Duncan. He was having a conversation with Aunt Faye and Cora O’Connell, Violet’s mom. Cora was dressed in a white flowing gown with white sprayed hair and gray face paint.

Cora stood up to give me a hug and an air kiss. “Enjoying the Masquerade, Morticia?”

I carefully hugged her back, staying clear of the makeup. “Ooh, Victorian ghost?” I asked.

“Ooooooooh,” she let out a ghostly wail.

Duncan handed me my drink. I sipped at my wine, noting how it all felt very surreal surrounded by the music, the party-goers and the real life Witches in various costumes.

“Did the floral centerpieces come from your shop?” I asked Cora as I ran my hand over the long trailing red flowers that reminded me of fuzzy caterpillars.

“They did,” she said. “That trailing flower is called amaranth or ‘love lies bleeding’.”

My stomach lurched, and I pulled my hand away from the flower. Standing there in a crowded ballroom I got a precognitive flash;
Long stemmed, white roses arranged in a pentagram on a polished wooden surface.
Carefully I set my wine down. I smiled at Cora and did my best not to let my unease show on my face.

What is it?
I heard Duncan’s voice clearly in my mind. I glanced over at him and smiled, determined not to let anything spoil the night. A Marilyn Manson song began to play, and I grabbed Duncan’s hand. “I’m going to steal him from you, Aunt Faye.”

She waved us away. “Go on, have fun.”

“I’m not much of a dancer,” he said.

“Hello, have we met?” I called over my shoulder as we worked our way to the dance floor. “I’m lucky not to have
injured
anyone out there.”

Duncan pulled up beside me. “You had some pretty good moves. I watched you while you danced.”

I leaned close to his ear so he could hear me over the music. “I took some belly dance classes a couple years ago with my roommate in college.”

Duncan stopped and raised his eyebrows at me. “Well, well. Aren’t you a surprise.”

I laughed at the look on his face and tugged him forward to an open spot on the dance floor. Over the music I said, “I took the classes to help improve my coordination. Learning some moves for the dance floor was a nice side effect.”

Duncan threw back his head and laughed.

As if by magick, the next song was slower— Sinatra’s “Witchcraft”. Duncan took me in his arms, and we slow danced to the classic song. Many of the younger people left the floor, and the older crowd took over. I watched Bran and Lexie dancing, and it struck me as charming. I saw a flash of red and black sequins, and Gwen and a gentleman danced past us. They were doing the foxtrot, old school style. They were pretty good. The man she danced with wore a tux, a long cape, and a
Phantom of the Opera
style mask that hid his face. I wondered who he was, but Gwen was smiling, so I shrugged it off and turned my attention back to Duncan.