Wizard in a Witchy World (4 page)

"Why did you murder Victoria?" she asked.

"Mrs. Barrios?” I asked, furrowing my brow. "I didn't."

"You were there. You admit to using your evil enchantment at her home. Do not lie to me. Who was your accomplice?"

"What evil enchantment?"

"This," Red said thrusting forward the willow switch I'd used as a seer's glass.

"No good deed," I muttered under my breath.

"What is that?" The old woman snapped.

"Knock it off," I said. "Here's how we're going to do this. When I drop my circle, you get to make a choice. You can keep coming at me and we'll see what's at the end of that road or we can sit down and talk like rational people."

"
Finis
." As with most of the incantations I knew, Latin was the primary language. The power didn’t come from the words, but from my ability to channel the correct magic. Using a second language was simply a helpful focusing mechanism.

The older witch's face showed her internal struggle as the spell circle dropped. If someone were going to make a move, it would be her, so I prepared for a new round of hostilities. In the end, however, she relaxed and the other women followed her lead.

I sighed. "It feels like we're off to a bad start. Perhaps we should try again." I held my hand out to the matriarch.

She paused and then reached out her hand, slipping it past mine to grab my wrist. It was an intimate gesture that allowed her to read my blood – but it also allowed me the same access.

"Tell me, Felix Slade. Did you participate in killing Victoria Barrios?" she asked, not letting go.

"No."

"Why were you at her house when she died?" She was probing for more than the truth and I suddenly felt naked.

"Really? A lie detector test?"

"Tell me."

The old girl had some bite to her words. Her magic pushed at me, but wasn't enough to compel my answer. I stayed relaxed. I had no reason to fight her questioning.

"I was tracking a werewolf that followed Red to Mrs. Barrios' house earlier that evening."

"He tells the truth," she said.

"And…" I said.

She looked at me confused. "And what?"

"This is where you apologize for busting up my house and assaulting me," I said.

"You are right, Mr. Slade," she said, dropping my hand. "On behalf of the sisters of Whyte Wood Coven, I humbly ask your forgiveness."

"I'm going to need a new door," I said.

"Kelli?" she asked.

"I'll call Andy," a red-haired witch in her early thirties offered.

"Mr. Slade, how do you know it was a werewolf following Gabriella?"

"Gabriella, is it?" I asked, lifting my eyebrows at Red.

"The werewolf, Mr. Slade," the older witch pushed.

"Trust me. Shaggy is a werewolf. Now, you tell me why he was tracking Red there and why he would murder your High Priestess?"

One of the other witches gasped with a sharp intake of air.

"How do you know Victoria Barrios was our High Priestess?"

"I didn't, until you confirmed it. And now, you aren’t answering my questions. Why was that werewolf tracking Red?"

"My name is Gabriella," Red said.

"Stay out of this, Mr. Slade. There are things at work here beyond your understanding," the older witch said. She turned and walked over the broken front door and out into the storm. Wordlessly, the other witches turned and followed her.

"Yeah. That's not creepy," I said as Gabriella, last in line, disappeared through the doorway.

Half a second later, she stuck her head back in the opening. "Owe you coffee?"

"Uh, sure. Anytime."

"Tomorrow morning? Howling Hounds?"

"Can we make it eleven o’clock? I've errands," I said.

"Sure. I don't get up most days until then, anyway." With that, she ducked back out into the rain.

My first order of business was to stop the rain and everyone else from coming into my tiny apartment. The witches had really done a number on the front door, making me wonder what kind of stuff they ran into to have developed so much offensive capability. My experience with Judy and the girls had been completely different. They'd been all love and light, a lot more likely to drop their clothes and run naked through a moonlit forest than bust down a wizard's front door.

The rain was lessening and it was still early in the afternoon. I grabbed my wallet, walked down the stairs and hurried out to the truck. Even if I had the spell components, I still couldn’t cast a protection enchantment without a door to cast it on. My gathering trip had been planned for tomorrow morning and that would be my first chance to gather the components I needed. Securing the apartment for the next twenty-four hours would require a more mundane approach. That decided, it was time for a trip to the hardware store.

Thirty dollars later, with a new hammer, staples and thick plastic sheeting in hand, I was ready to at least cover my front entrance. The rain had stopped and I rolled down the windows of my old pickup. I loved how the air smelled after a rain.

The sound of a motorcycle echoing against the buildings caught my attention and I swung my head around, looking for its source. Ordinarily, it wouldn't be cause for alarm, but my sixth sense screeched a warning, so I turned down a side street. It wasn't until I'd taken the next turn that I caught a glimpse of a biker. While she bore a certain resemblance to Shaggy, her gender was a dead giveaway that I was just being jumpy. I looped back around and headed home.

As soon as I pulled into the gravel drive and turned off the truck, I saw Mrs. Willoughby sitting on her small back porch. I walked up to the house, plastic wrap under my arm, and prepared for the worst.

"Problems, dear?" she asked.

"Yes, sorry, Mrs. Willoughby. I broke the door, but I'll fix it," I spoke just short of yelling so she'd hear me.

"You're handy, just like my Carl. I know you'll fix it. You're a responsible young man. No, you had a visitor while you were out. She told me to give you this." She held out an envelope.

"What did she look like?"

"Tall for a woman," she said. "Not very friendly. But I'm afraid my eyes aren't very good."

"I'm sorry you had to deal with that. If she comes by again, just stay inside." I placed the envelope in my front pocket.

Mrs. Willoughby gave me her best motherly smile. "You be careful, Felix. She felt dangerous."

"I will, Mrs. Willoughby, and thank you," I said and excused myself.

Forty minutes into hanging the plastic sheeting, a workman's pickup truck drove in and a middle-aged man hopped out. He had bright red hair and a good start on a potbelly.

"Felix Slade?" he asked when he reached the bottom of the stairs.

"I am," I said walking down to him.

"My wife, Kelli, asked me to take a look at your door. Said you'd had trouble with the storm."

"Right. Sure did. I wasn't expecting you so soon," I said.

"Things are slow today and she wanted me to come over right away," he said. "That it?" He nodded up the stairs.

"Sure is." I wanted to look around to see if there was another empty doorway, but I thought that might be rude.

"I’m assuming you want it done right? By that, I mean you want to match the style of the rest of the house?” he asked as he followed me back up the stairs.

"Aren’t all doors pretty much the same?"

"Nah, these old houses have a style all to themselves. I might be able to fix the old door, though," he said.

"I don't think so. It was pretty damaged." I held the plastic sheeting aside so he could get in.

It only took one glance on his part. "What in the world? Did you take a lightning strike or something?"

"Something like that," I said.

"Crazy storm. I'll just need to take some measurements. Looks like I'll be able to fix the jamb alright, though. It’ll be an easy repair," he said.

"When do you think you can get a new door?"

"There are a few places close by that collect and sell old doors. I’ll head over there right now. If I get lucky, I'll find one and be back in an hour. So … you know Kelli from the store, then?"

It's not like I'm much of a mind reader, but I do get feelings from people. Some are more closed off than others. Andy, not so much. He was insecure and wanted to make sure I wasn't a threat to his marriage.

"Bookstore. We share the same interests." I gestured to my stacks of books. It was an easy guess that a witch would have piles of books. "Not sure how it came up, but I mentioned the storm damage and she thought of you. She never mentioned her store, though. Where'd you say she works?" I applied a small amount of mental pressure, not wanting him to become distracted.

"Twisted Tallow. She's the day manager," Andy said. "It's one of those … you know … specialty stores."

I smiled. I did know what he was talking about, but I'd had a hard day and couldn't let the opportunity pass. I whispered back, "Sex toys?"

"Nooo," Andy answered, scandalized. "Witchcraft, Voodoo, that sort of thing."

"Ohhh," I said, feigning sudden understanding. "That must be interesting."

"Bunch of hocus pocus if you ask me," he said. "Anyway, I've got what I need. I’ll find a door, even if I have to cut one down a bit."

"Sounds good, Andy. Feel free to finish it up even if I'm not here." I watched his retreat down the stairs.

Back in the apartment, I pulled a beer from the refrigerator. It fizzed up and I had to hold it over the sink. After wiping it down, I sat on the couch, fully intending to close my eyes. The sound of the forgotten envelope folding in my pocket reminded me of its presence and I pulled it out.

Dear Mr. Slade,

Please let this letter serve as notification to you that you are hereby required to register with the Greater Leotown Witches' Council within sixty days of your arrival in Leotown, or by the end of the second lunar cycle, whichever comes later. You may complete your registration by dropping by our offices at 1100 Jackson Street between the hours of 12:00pm and 4:00pm weekdays.

Sincerely,

Magister Liise Straightrod, Esq.

As soon as my eyes finished reading her name, the paper turned to ash in my hands. It was a good thing I had a strong memory.

Well crap. I'd been in Leotown for forty-five days. We were two days from a full moon, which gave me roughly two weeks to the end of my second lunar cycle. I shook my head. I wasn't ready to deal with a Witches' Council and really didn't have the first clue as to what sort of power they might have in the region.

My initial instinct was to pack my stuff into the back of my truck and move on. In less than two days, I'd been attacked by a lycan and a coven of witches, been at the scene of a murder and held by the police, had my apartment inspected and my door blown in and now a Witches' Council wanted to know all about me. It wasn't a great start to my new life. I just knew I was going to look back to this moment and kick myself for passing up the smart choice. The thing was, I'd seen the future and Red needed my help.

***

I pulled to a stop in the parking lot of the recreation area that ran for several miles along the river. To the west was Leotown and to the east was miles of undeveloped forest that eventually gave way to a farmer's fields.

Perhaps the most valuable skill Judy Babcock taught me was how to harvest spell components. The simple enchantment,
lutum ubertatis
, caused significant plants and wildlife to become illuminated in the moon's wan light. As a rule, Judy and crew avoided the actual full moon, not because it was a bad time to harvest, but because of the off-chance of an encounter with lycan. They also preferred to gather in the nude, but I'd found I could successfully skip that part.

Clipping the truck keys into the pocket of my favorite leather backpack, I swung it over my shoulder while loping through the thick grass. The only reagent I needed for the harvesting spell was good old-fashion mud, the stickier the better. I'd found the best results occurred when I gathered it from a moving natural water source.

At the tree-line next to the parking lot, I waited for my eyes to adjust to the dark. It was a new forest for me and I listened with interest, immersing myself in its particular chorus. The cicadas had quieted down, but the frogs were in full voice. I even heard a few hoots from a friendly owl. I stood motionless for longer than was necessary, caught up in the enjoyment of being wrapped in nature's embrace. I hated to break the rhythm by moving.

Finally, I set out. I had a basic idea where the river was and carefully made my way toward it. There was probably a path from the parking lot that would lead to the river's edge, but I preferred to engage nature on her terms and allowed the forest to guide me. So sue me, I'm a tree hugger.

The sound of the river was unmistakable as I joined with a small game trail. Stealth wasn’t my strong suit and I knew I'd already scared off all of the animals which would ordinarily use the trail. The moon's reflection on the river's surface filtering through the thinning trees was my first strong indication that I'd arrived. I pulled off my shoes and socks and set them down on the bank next to my pack. I hated wet socks, but didn't mind mud between my toes.

I slipped and slid down the bank, grabbing exposed roots and digging my toes into the cold mud. At the bottom, I turned and looked across the river to the blinking lights of Leotown. What a great night.

I reached into the water and drug my closed fingers through the loose mud, shaking out excess water. I calmed my mind and closed my eyes, swirling mud from brow to chin on both sides, chanting
lutum ubertatis
over and over again. I pulled a pocket knife from my belt and sliced into my finger, drawing blood and mixing it with the mud on my face. As the enchantment activated, power surged through the muddy bank, tingling as it traveled through my body, finally exiting through my eyes.

The river bank lit up in a display of spectacular colors; the trees glowing with a blue hue, their leaves a lighter shade, each different plant species a slightly different color. This forest was as rich an environment as I'd ever seen, I wished Judy was here to share it with me. A mother raccoon and her babies had slipped down to the water's edge and were quietly sifting through the washed-up debris.

"Hello, Mrs. Raccoon," I said. She looked up, startled to see me so close to her family. While under the effect of the
lutum ubertatis
, I gained a small amount of dominion over lesser beasts. Since I needed nail clippings, it felt like a perfect opportunity. "Would you mind if I trimmed your nails? I promise to go easy on you, with no harm to your kits."

She had little choice, but I hoped my words would comfort her, if only by my tone of voice. As she lay down next to me on the bank, her children regarded me, no doubt their mother's behavior confusing. I'd harvested plenty of nails from small animals and went to work, quickly clipping the ends of her nails into a small plastic pouch. Once gathered, I reached up to the top of the bank and pulled an apple from my pack, cutting slices from it and leaving them next to her. Judy had been insistent that to take something created a moral imbalance unless we left something of greater value. Personally, I just liked the idea that her kits would eat well because we'd crossed paths.

I clambered up the bank, dropped the bag of nail clippings into my pack and pulled my socks and shoes on, smiling. Only twenty minutes in and I'd already found a raccoon. Roots, herbs and vines all glowed in front of me on the game trail. By bringing to mind the items I needed, the visual clutter faded away.

It was after four thirty in the morning when I finally finished, the sun still hours from making its presence known. My pack was full and I'd even partially filled the emergency pillow case I'd brought along. I was whistling when I exited the trees on the north side of the parking lot. The
lutum ubertatis
was fading as I stepped onto the mown grass.

My first indication of another presence was the ticking of a cooling engine. I'd been parked for too long for it to be my Ford and was able to just make out the top of another vehicle on the far side of my truck. I was a difficult person to spook, but this was trouble.

I decided on the direct approach. I didn’t want to make more out of the situation than necessary, quickly stepping over the chain that hung between low posts, separating gravel from grass. Before I could jump in the passenger side and leave, a large, human form rounded the front of my truck. With ten feet separating us, I pulled up short, the darkness still obscuring details. The air hung heavily with a musty scent.

"I'll have you move away from my truck. I've no quarrel with you," I said.

The form grew in front of me, cloth ripping. It was female - definitely female - of a species I didn't recognize. I knew this because she had taken several steps forward, pulled a ruined shirt from her torso and discarded it on the ground. Seven feet tall, heavily muscled and strange gray skin. Her brow was heavy and her ears were long and pointed. She was both terrifying and beautiful. "This area is claimed. You have no right to these woods," she growled at me.