The Curse of Dark Root: Part Two (Daughters of Dark Root Book 4) (33 page)

“Maggie-Cat!” I exclaimed.

My familiar looked up at me, the raven squirming beneath his crushing paws. Outside the windows, hundreds of butterflies streamed through the air. Maggie-Cat blinked slowly, then dragged the bird outside, through the tall grass, and into the woods. The butterflies followed. The last image I got was of the curve of my cat’s tail, and soon, even that slipped away.

I caught my breath, then kissed my son. I should have been more prepared. But we were safe, thanks to a cat I thought was lost forever. I wondered if the butterflies sent him, and where he went now that he was gone.

TWENTY-FOUR

Chain of Fools

AS I CLEARED the forest and headed down the road home, I heard the rumble of a vehicle behind me.

“Hey beautiful!” a man’s voice called. Michael’s white van pulled up beside us. “What are you two doing out here?” he asked, looking unusually happy.

“Just killing time,” I said, trying to keep my voice level. I certainly didn’t want Michael to know we’d just been attacked. He would insist on accompanying me everywhere if he knew.

“Care to kill some of that time with me? I’d like to show you something.”

“Uh, sure. After the day I’ve had, I’m up for anything.”

“Anything?” he asked playfully, as I fastened Montana into his car seat. “That’s what I like to hear.”

Michael took us down an old road, thick with undergrowth and shrubbery. “Off-roading,” he said as we hit a rock, and then another rock. His eyes gleamed like he was a little boy sneaking a peek at his birthday presents before it was party time.

“I should have taught you to drive sooner,” I said, as one of our tires spun wildly in the mud. “Then you would have gotten these adolescent behaviors out of your system.”

“These are midlife crisis behaviors,” he said, still grinning.

“Same difference.”

We eventually pulled up onto a neglected stretch of pavement. I had memories of traveling this road with Mother and Merry when I was young. We’d visited a farm that sold Mother herbs for her magick shop. The farmhouse was gone but the old barn still stood, now painted the same shade of yellow as the porch swing at Sister House. The plank roof was new and the windows redone. Some crude landscaping around the building was a small sign of the progress to come.

As we pulled up to the side of the barn, I noticed two separate doors. Above each was a different sign. The one to the left read
Mike’s Martial Arts Academy,
while the one to the right announced
Merry’s Mentionables––Collectibles and Antiques.

I looked at Michael. “What the heck?”

“Mi casa,”
he said, smiling and bobbing his head. “And by the way, thank you for not cursing in front of my son. It is noted and appreciated.”

“Whatever.” I read the signs again. “Do you live here now?”

“I will. Once Montana doesn’t need two doting parents every second of the day, I’ll move into the loft. For now, it’s just my karate studio.”

“Mike’s Martial Arts, huh? Nice to meet you,
Mike
.” I chuckled at the irony. Michael had threatened to excommunicate anyone at Woodhaven who referred to him by his abbreviated name, and here he was tagging a business with it.

“Michael was too formal,” he said, looking slightly wounded by my less than enthusiastic response. “I want people to feel relaxed and welcome here.”

“Before they beat the hell out of each other, you mean?”

“Exactly.” He put on his reading glasses––which were on his face more often than not these days.

“I take it my sister owns the other half?”

“She rents it, for now. But we might work something out.”

“I bet you will.”

He didn’t respond. It was probably better––I’d already used up all my patience for the day.

“Don’t you have anything better to burn your money on?” I asked. “You’re not even a black belt.”

“Actually-”
Mike
opened the dashboard console and produced a scroll. He unwound it before me, like a town crier announcing official news. “As of Thursday, I’m an official black belt. I didn’t want to tell you until I showed you the place. I thought I’d let you make fun of everything in one fell swoop.”

I studied his certificate. It was signed by someone named Seth. “Did you forge this?”

“Maggie!”

I turned it over in my hand. The paper felt thick and authentic, and it bore a watermarked seal. If he forged it, he did a good job. I handed it back and shrugged. “If this is what you want to do with your life, go for it. Although, you could have opened your dojo in another state or even country. I hear Argentina is looking for some quality, Seth-trained karate instructors.”

I got out of the van and spotted Merry through one of the large windows, her pony tail bobbing as she carried a cardboard box in her arms. She was practically glowing.

“I’m not sure I like you working so closely with my sister,” I said, as Michael joined me with Montana in his arms.

“Maggie, don’t be jealous. It squishes your face all up.”

“I’m just concerned for my sister. I’m familiar with your tendency to disappoint women. In a month, you’ll move out and leave her with the mortgage.”

“No mortgage,” he beamed with pride. “Bought and paid for.”

“Oh.” So it was permanent. Michael was staying in Dark Root indefinitely, and Merry would be sharing a workspace with him. Day after day. Year after year. I scowled openly.

Merry saw us and called to me through the door, her cheeks flush with excitement.

I pulled on a smile and stepped into Merry’s Mentionables. The place was only partially stocked, and most of the goods looked familiar.

“Why didn’t I think of selling Mother’s old crap instead of dumping it?” I asked as I gave her a hug.

“You like?” she asked, taking me by the arm and guiding me through her half of the barn. Her eyes sparkled and her aura blazed. I’d never seen her so excited. “My own antique store, Maggie! It’s a dream come true.”

“Yeah,
Mike
filled me in,” I said. “I’m happy for you, Merry.”

“I’m happy for me, too! Now I feel like I have something to show for myself in court.” Her face clouded with worry, but only for a moment. “Look at my antique book collection. Ruth Anne’s gonna freak out!”

She escorted me to a shelf of creepy clowns and dolls, all from the late 1800’s, according to their tags. “Most of these came from Sister House and Harvest Home, but I’ve been getting donations from neighbors, as well. There’s a lot of old stuff in Dark Root! I’ll have a section for Victorian furniture when I can get a truck, and an area for art deco, and a fun retro aisle. This will bring more tourists into town, which is good for all of us!”

Her enthusiasm for bringing people into Dark Root reminded me of Shane, and despite my misgivings, I had to smile. I wasn’t thrilled about this new development but I’d take it out on Michael later.

Michael joined us with Montana, and put a hand on her shoulder. “Little Merry is a breath of fresh air. She has so many ideas. I’m proud of her.”

I looked at his hand touching my sister, wondering if hostile magick ravens also made appearances at karate studios.

I continued my tour of Merry’s shop alone. The spacious room was thick with residual energy from the items within, and I had to take a step outside to catch my breath. I wondered how my sister tolerated it. She probably performed cleansing rituals throughout the day, or sweated it all out with her teas.

Stepping back inside, I turned to Michael. “Show me your dojo,
Mike
. I’d like to see how you squandered our son’s inheritance.”

“You’ll love it!” Merry said. She slipped a black karate top over her sweat pants and tied on a purple belt, then wrapped her hair into a bun on the crown of her head. “I’m advancing. Michael says I’ll make my next belt in a few months if I keep practicing. Would you like to see my
kata
? Michael’s been very encouraging.”

“Oh,
Mike’s
the very best encourager.” I followed them into the adjoining room, separated by unfinished drywall and a door cutout. The barn flooring had been retrofitted with bamboo planking, covered mostly by a large black mat. Mirrors surrounded us, floor to ceiling. I grimaced at seeing the reflection of my derrière from every angle.

My sister walked confidently to the center of the room and bowed formally. She began a sequence of easy movements––her arms sweeping in circles and crisp arcs. Her foot patterns were graceful and fluid, punctuated by precise kicks and thrusts. When she finished, she smiled and bowed again.

I clapped, genuinely impressed by her grace and showmanship. Merry had always been talented, but unlike Eve, she preferred to stay out of the spotlight. “You did a good job training her,” I begrudgingly admitted to Michael.

He smiled proudly as he gave Merry a hug with his free arm. It was a friendly embrace, but I saw something more when their auras overlapped––a merging, of sorts. Michael whispered into her ear and she stood on tiptoe to whisper back. Then, taking Montana and waving goodbye, my sister disappeared into her side of the barn, pulling a curtain shut across the exposed doorway.

“I can’t believe you,” I said, when we were alone. “Leading my sister on like that!” I marched around the room, trying to walk off my irritation. On the third pass, Michael grabbed my arm, pulling me to a stop.

“I am not leading her on,” he said, firmly. “I’m being her friend.”

“Oh, you’re leading her on. She’s looking at you all gooey-faced. Did you use your warlock magick on her?”

“Gooey-faced, huh?” Michael quirked an eyebrow, tightening his grip on my wrist. “Have you ever made that face for me?”

“No! But I’ve seen it.” I narrowed my eyes, trying to wrest my arm free from his grasp without breaking my stare.

His presence made me think things. Good things. Bad things. Things I didn’t want to think about. And now he was bewitching Merry, too.

Enraged, I swung at him with my free hand. Never looking away, he caught my hand in his own.

“I hate you,” I said.

“You do not. You’re just mad and jealous. It would be sexy if you weren’t so dangerous.”

“You better hope I don’t get free,” I said. We were locked in our dance, both physical and mental, neither giving in.

“I love you, Maggie,” he said through clenched teeth as he pulled me into him. “I loved you since the first time I laid eyes on you. I’ll love you forever and there’s nothing you can do about it.” He stared hard at me before releasing my wrists.

I backed away, confused by my feelings.

“You should know I would never sleep with your sister,” he continued. “Even if you hated me.”

“Well, you’ve already been with one of my sisters,” I shot back. He knew I meant Leah.

“That again? Good God, Maggie, do you ever let anything go––my mistakes, old grudges,
Shane?
” He narrowed his eyes and slanted his head.

I pointed my finger, advancing. “Don’t you talk about my feelings for Shane in that condescending way of yours!”

I lunged at him. He sidestepped and I stumbled past him.

“But I’m right, aren’t I?” he accused.

“You of all people shouldn’t lecture me on letting go. You haven’t let go of me, Michael. You’re in my life more now than when we were together.” I shook my head, charging him again. He dodged and I sailed right past.