Wicked by Any Other Name (23 page)

She was surprised when the ball had her turn around and face a large tree. A soft hum from the sphere instructed her to step forward.

“But where are the doors?” she asked, walking until her nose touched the rough bark. “
Ahhhhh!
” Her next step took her literally into the tree, and she found herself falling downward into an abyss.

In what seemed like hours and was probably only minutes, Stasi hit bottom. An “oomph!” escaped her lips as she fell on her rump and rolled to one side.

“Damn it!”

“You're not very graceful, are you?”

Stasi slowly climbed to her feet and rubbed her injured posterior.

If she wasn't mistaken, the griffin doorknocker was grinning.

“That first step is a dilly.”

The griffin rolled his eyes. “If I had a bar of gold for every time I heard that. Enter, witchling.” The doors slowly swung open.

Stasi wasn't surprised to find The Librarian seated behind the counter with scrolls about him, scratching away with his plumed quill pen.

“You are a stubborn one, young Anastasia,” he said in his prim voice as he looked up. His faded eyes were keen as he studied her.

“The answer is here,” she insisted.

“And what makes you think that?” He set his quill pen down by the parchment he'd been writing on.

“Because The Library knows everything. It holds knowledge of the ages, whether the past or the future. It knows what is harming our land and frightening the mortals,” she told him. Her voice rose. “Maybe you don't like us witches or the mortals, but they're innocents and you're bound by your code to help them. So damn it, we need help!”

The Librarian raised an eyebrow and a corner of his mouth twitched… just a little, but enough to let her know it wasn't a frown. “Now you sound more like Griet.”

Stasi wasn't sure what was more frightening. That The Librarian had actually attempted a smile or that he hadn't blasted her out of the realm the moment she shouted at him.

She knew one thing. She wasn't going to back down.

“Will you help me?” She deliberately didn't tack on a please. She'd already yelled at him and she knew he wouldn't easily forget that transgression.

He slipped off his wire-rimmed spectacles and polished them with a snowy handkerchief. “All of you witchlings are the same. You expect your answers to be found in scrolls or books, when they just might be found within yourself. Fear is a strong emotion, young Anastasia. It can only be conquered by an equally strong emotion. Once you realize what that emotion is, you will find a way to save the people of your town. You have already tapped into your inner strength. You just need to use all that is within you.” He tucked his handkerchief away and set his spectacles back on his nose.

“That's it? No wonder Jazz says you suck!” She'd already crossed one line, so another wasn't going to make much difference now.
Hic!
She slapped her hands over her mouth, but it was too late. The damning bubble was already floating before her eyes.

His already thin mouth narrowed even more. “Perhaps you need to conquer the past so that you may heal the present.”

She opened her mouth, hoping she wouldn't hiccup again, but the elderly wizard had clearly had enough of her questions… and her. He flicked his fingers at her.

“Be gone.”

Stasi's eyes widened as she was swept backwards through the doors, which neatly closed after her and
whooshed
her back up the way she came. The sense of going in reverse sent her stomach into overdrive as she was tossed out of the tree and once again landed on her butt.

“I am never defending you again, you pompous ass,” she muttered, limping back to the building.

Trev had no trouble finding the house, because the front yard was filled with people carrying flashlights, the rounded lights bobbing up and down as they moved about. When a man turned and saw him walking up the road, he shouted Carrie's name and waved his arms.

Carrie flew out of the house and almost bowled Trev over as she tried to grab Kenny. The boy broke into tearful howls the minute he saw his mother and reached out with his arms. Trev immediately handed him over.

Others called out to alert the others the search could be called off, that Kenny was home.

“Where was he?” she asked, cradling her son protectively against her breasts.

“He was out by the lake.”

“I didn't go out by myself, honest, Mom!” Kenny cried, burying his face against her neck. “I went to bed and when I woke up I was outside.”

Carrie's usually faded eyes blazed to brilliance as she stared at her attorney. “
She
did this,” she spat out the words. “She took my son to scare the hell out of me. She endangered his life just because she thought she could. Now do you see what a monster she is?”

“Carrie.” Reed Palmer walked up and laid a hand on her shoulder. “Be grateful Kenny is back. That's the important thing here. If, indeed, it was Stasi who was behind this kidnapping, then the authorities can deal with it.”

Trev studied the man, whose tone and expression seemed full of concern for Carrie, but he caught a hint of something else. He had been around town long enough to hear the gossip that Reed had pursued Stasi, but she had always politely turned him down.

Who says a scorned man can't feel just as much wrath as a scorned woman?

“Stasi had nothing to do with this,” he stated.

“She's bewitched you,” Carrie sneered. “She's used her black magic to twist your thoughts.”

Trev had never before experienced fury like that which rose up in him now, but that didn't stop him from embracing it and using it to his advantage.

He tapped into that internal storm and brought up power that sent the nearby trees swaying, the branches touching the ground even though there was no wind, and the air temperature dropping an additional twenty degrees.

“Why is it no one sees the darkness in
your
heart, Carrie?” he asked in a low voice that throbbed with that same energy. “You're so eager to blame others for your problems without looking inside. If you're that anxious to besmirch a woman's good name, you'll have to do it without me.” He turned away, but Reed made a mistake and muttered a curse as he grabbed his shoulder. Trev spun back around and without lifting a finger flung the man onto the ground. “This is none of your affair, Palmer,” Trev growled.

Carrie still hung on to her son so tightly he whined he couldn't breathe and struggled to get down. “You can't just drop my case. You have to see it through.”

“You're in my playground now, Carrie.” Trev pointed his forefinger at her, but he made sure not a lick of power was released, although it would happen if need be. “You know
nothing
about wizard's law.
Nothing
of how we conduct ourselves. No matter how much research you claim to have done about us, you know a bare fraction of how we work. When a client is deliberately harming their opponent, the attorney can make the choice to drop the case and no other attorney will take it on. We do not allow anyone, even our own kind, to harm others. You're out for vengeance, not justice.”

“I want her to pay for driving my husband away!” This time she allowed her son to slide down her body. He ran off to the yard, where one of the women caught him up in her arms and carried him into the house. The others stood by watching the drama unfolding before them.

Trev advanced on her. “Do you really want someone to pay for your husband leaving you for another woman?” he asked fiercely. “Then why not the woman he's living with now? The woman he intends to marry once your divorce is final. Why didn't you go after her? Many would consider
her
the reason behind the death of your marriage, not Stasi.” He intentionally ignored the fact that Stasi had tampered with the sachet she'd tucked into Carrie's purchase that day. He now knew that Stasi wasn't looking to drive a wedge in Carrie's marriage. She only wanted what was right. And it was right for Kevin Anderson to leave his wife for a woman who truly cared for him.

Carrie kept a wary eye on his pointing finger and remained a safe distance away, as if she thought he might harm her. He laughed and let her think it. Of course he could easily take them all down if necessary. The temptation was there, but he refused to give in to it. He wouldn't lower himself to their level.

“You saw the sachet she put in my bag. You said it wasn't like the others I had.”

Trev stared at her and saw the steely determination on her face, the malice in her eyes that turned her features ugly because of the hate that had built up inside her. She wasn't going to back down. She'd put too much energy into besmirching Stasi's name, and she wouldn't retreat when she felt she was winning.

“You're not telling the whole story, counselor.” Reed raised his voice so the others would hear. “Sometimes it isn't just magic that bewitches a man, but the woman herself. You can't deny you've been fucking her, can you?”

This time Trev did release enough power to push the other man back a few steps. “Perhaps you should worry about baking your breads, cakes, muffins, and cookies, baker.”

“This is my home. Like the others, I don't want to see chaos here.” Reed moved back to stand with Carrie, and others gathered from the yard to make a protective group behind her. “For some reason Stasi and Blair have started creating turmoil. All you have to do is look around. We have no power other than our fireplaces and gas stoves. The roads are blocked so no one can get in or out and the snow keeps on falling. We can't allow this to happen. Even you would have to agree they should pay for their crimes.”

“And what crimes are those, Palmer?” Trev shot back. “That they love this town? That they've helped so many of you over the years? Who's been there when you've needed help with a sick child? Or caring for an elderly relative when you needed a break? When the town hit hard times during the Depression, they were up here to do what they could, so the town wouldn't die as so many others did. Did you think I wouldn't discover these things? But it seems many of you choose to forget them.”

A few looked away shame-faced, but most were too caught up by the hatred in the air. That was when Trev knew he could talk until his face was literally blue and he wouldn't be able to change their minds. He'd argued landmark cases in Wizards' Court and won. He had persuaded the most skeptical of judges that his client was in the right.

And now, when the case had turned 180 degrees, he couldn't do anything. He shook his head and turned away. He was done with Carrie. Done with them.

“Those wicked witches are leaving this town one way or another,” Carrie called after him.

“Your retainer will be returned as soon as possible,” he told her. “And papers will be filed in Wizards' Court that the case is dropped.”

“You can't do that!” By now Carrie's face was a revolting shade of purple.

He turned back. “But I can. Your case was based on retaliation, not merit. If I don't file the papers, the court will drop it anyway.” He looked at the group behind Carrie. “You're all fools.” He walked away, intent on getting the bitter taste out of his mouth.

“You're the fool, Barnes,” Reed called after him. “You're letting a woman lead you around by your dick.”

Trev always prided himself on not allowing someone to push his buttons, but the man's comment was too much for him. He spun around and sent a shot toward Reed's feet. He jumped back before the toes of his boots were singed. The look he gave Trev told him he'd made a mistake. Trev smiled to let him know there was no mistake.

Trev walked away hearing the angry murmurs among the people. In hindsight, he feared he had made more trouble on Stasi's behalf, but as he told Stasi, he didn't like bullies. One bully was bad enough. A town full of them was dangerous.

***

“Didn't I tell you he was a prissy egotist?” Jazz could be heard saying as Trev let himself in through the back door.

“I told him he sucked,” Stasi muttered.

“I'm so proud of you!” Jazz crowed.

“Boy, you'll never get any special treatment from him after that,” Blair pointed out.

Trev followed the voices and walked into the family room. Candles burned everywhere, giving the room a homey look. The three witches were sprawled in various chairs, and the Border collie lay on the floor next to Bogie, who kept a suspicious eye on the black and white canine. Irma was settled in a rocking chair with Sirius lying at her feet. Fluff and Puff were off in a corner arguing over a Milk Bone. The collie lifted his head and greeted Trev with a soft
woof!,
his tongue lolling to one side. Trev chuckled and scratched the dog's head before heading straight for Stasi. He was surprised to see she looked rumpled and even out of sorts. But that didn't stop him from pulling her to her feet and hungrily kissing her.

“
I
need someone like that,” Blair grumbled.

Her wish was granted as she was pushed backward in her chair and the collie got up and bounded over to her. He kept his paws on her shoulders as he covered her face with kisses. No amount of batting at him deterred him from his task. When he finished, he moved back to sit on his haunches and bark at her.

“The one who wants to be my boyfriend is a dog… literally,” Blair moaned, picking up a napkin from the coffee table and wiping her face free of dog slobber.

“Stop complaining about your lack of a sex life and do something about it,” Jazz said lazily. “I'd rather hear Stasi's story. It's a lot more satisfying. Of course, now we have to wait until Trev lets her up for air.”

And wait they did, until Trev stepped back. His chest rose and fell heavily while Stasi looked starry-eyed. There was no need of hearts now as they looked at each other.

“What was that for?” she asked between swollen lips.

“My retainer, in case Carrie finds another way to pursue her case,” he replied. “I took myself off the case. Jazz, let that lawyer you hired know Stasi already has someone fighting for her.”

Three witches and one ghost all displayed dropped jaws.

“You did this for me?” Stasi stammered.

“Congratulations, you finally got a brain,” Jazz chimed in.

“It's about time,” Blair muttered.

“How romantic.” Irma looked teary-eyed.

“What have you done, Trev?” Stasi whispered, gripping his arms. “Carrie's already vindictive toward me. Her anger transferred to you too will make matters worse.”

“No, she'll learn that she can't use the wizard's legal system for her own twisted ends.” He pulled off his jacket and tossed it on the couch. Stasi smiled and picked it up, hanging it on the coat rack.

Blair hopped up and came back with coffee.

“What happened?” Stasi asked, sitting down with him as he drank the hot brew.

Trev began with his arrival at Carrie's house and told everything up to his exit from there. With each word he spoke, Stasi's fingers twisted nervously.

“It's like Old Salem Village,” she whispered. “It only took a tiny few to begin the whispers and the paranoia. Now it's here. The return of the past.”

“This isn't like that time,” he assured her, putting his cup down so he could put his arms around her. He kissed the top of her hair, inhaling the soft scent of lilacs and spring flowers that he knew he would always associate with her. “No matter what, people don't have the old superstitions they suffered back then.”

“It doesn't matter. Fear spans time. Even The Librarian said it would come from the past.”

Trev looked at her sharply. “You saw him again?”

She nodded. “I fell through a tree.”

“Just like
Alice in Wonderland,
” Blair said.

“It was a long drop, too.” Stasi unconsciously rubbed her bottom as she remembered the shock of falling onto it. “The Librarian said I have to use the past to heal the present. Then I told him that Jazz was right, he sucked. The next thing I knew I was thrown out of there and back up out of the tree.”

“You told my uncle he sucked?” Instead of showing shock, Trev threw his head back and laughed. “No one has ever said anything like that to him before. Most visitors show him more awe than scorn—with the exception of Jazz, of course.”

“He's mean,” she complained. “He likes to give us puzzles instead of answers, or at least a direction in which to search for our own conclusions. Plus I didn't technically say he sucked. I just said that Jazz was right in saying he sucked.”

“It's always blamed on me,” Jazz said with a long-suffering sigh.

“Something tells me my next family reunion will be interesting.” Trev hugged her against him. “My mother will enjoy this story. And you,” he whispered in her ear bringing a blush to her cheeks.

The collie got up and wandered to the back door, scratching at the wood. Blair hopped up and let him out and at the same time let Nick in.

“You stirred up quite a hornet's nest out there, wizard,” Nick greeted Trev. Snowflakes lingered on the vampire's dark hair as he shrugged off his heavy coat. While he was impervious to extreme temperatures, he preferred to blend in every way he could. His pale skin didn't look out of place on dark winter days, although his skin never got red or chapped from the bitter cold.

“You were out there when it all went down?”

“I not only heard it all, but I played spy for a while after you left. They were too caught up in the moment to even notice me.” As a vampire, Nick could move among others without being noticed if he so chose. His additional training as a former Protectorate enforcer enhanced that ability. “For a while it sounded as if Reed was the wronged one, even more than Carrie.” He shot Stasi a wry glance.