A Witch's Path Page 2

  "Messy."

  "Yup, it was lots of fun. I got him out of the house, but he still has 'Thief' on his hand." She set the doorknob in front of me on the work bench and placed the other two off to the side. "I think you'll have the most luck if you start with the doorknob, but you can examine them and decide for yourself."

  I nodded, my attention focused on the items on the table. The doorknob was the focal point for the spells on all three items. It determined if an individual was the owner of the house or an intruder, though I wasn't sure how it made that decision.

  After moving the other pieces to the side, I started working on both parts of the door knob. I carefully found the threads connecting the knob to the other pieces. With a delicate application of power, I sliced those spells away from the main spell on the doorknob. First, I attempted to unwind the spells, but they kept recasting themselves. After attempting three different ways to dismantle the spells, I pulled them apart with brute force.

  Moving the knob out of the way, I started on the other two pieces. Without the spell from the knob controlling them, their enchantments were simple and easy to dismiss. Slowly, I left the light trance I'd been in, stretching as I came back to reality.

  Bethany looked at me expectantly. I held up a finger, grabbed my water bottle, and gulped down half of it before addressing her. "They're ordinary household junk now. You were right about the knob being the focus. I can work on these, but I'm not sure that it's necessary for you to be here for all of them, unless your boss wants you to watch."

  "He wanted me to bring things down and observe you for a little while. I told him it wasn't a lack of education, but power. I can't do what you did. Anyway, he wants to keep the original agreement. If you can work on things here for a reduced rate, he's happy."

  "I'm more than happy with that arrangement." Having work to do here would reduce my down time, and help me make money between cases.

  "Good, because I have a lot of items for you. Most of them are from the old codger who left me with mountains of junk. Some of the items have my notes attached. Oh, anything with a red tag is dangerous."

  "I can work with that. What else do you want me to work on right now? Can you see what I'm doing when I unmake these spells?"

  "Can I see it? Yes, and I can follow most of what you're doing, but I don't have the power or finesse to do what you did with the door set." She pulled another item out of the box, a lampshade. "A middle aged man who was evicted from his home had this. As it turns out, he only left the lamp on when he wasn't home. If you went in the house when the lamp was on, the shade cast an illusion on you. Several of our officers were there to move his belongings, and were stuck in a black maze. I got them out by unplugging the lamp, and putting a containment spell on the lampshade, but I wasn't able to undo the magic."

  Taking the blue stripped shade from her, I prodded the spell, trying to see how it was constructed. After setting the lampshade on the work bench, I pulled a large plastic bag out of a drawer. It looked ordinary, but it was a recent innovation of mine. The bag was spelled to contain and dampen any magical event inside, but wouldn't block magic working from the outside on the bag's contents. I shoved the lampshade in the bag and funneled more power into the spell than it could handle. The spell dissolved in a flash of sparks, leaving a slightly charred lampshade behind.

  "The shade only worked when the light was on because it required a constant input of energy, in this case heat would do the trick. When you unplugged it, you removed the energy source, terminating the continuation of the spell. The difficult part was getting in the house and disconnecting the lamp, right?"

  She thought for a moment. "You're right. A little push and the guys snapped out of it as soon as the lamp was off, though disconnecting the lamp wasn't the easiest thing I've ever done."

  "We should sit down over a drink one day and share war stories. I'd love to know how you managed to rescue them."

  "Sure. I don't have many opportunities for shop talk."

  "I know the feeling, there aren't many of us in this line of work. Do you want to bring more boxes up? I can neutralize a few more items before you leave."

  "Sure, I'll be right back." Bethany was out the door before I could say anything else. Grateful for the rest, I sat and sipped the water. Disenchanting always sounded easy in theory; the reality was exhausting.

  *******

  There was a knock on the door and I quickly answered it. "Hi Landa, what's going on?"

  "I found this under the front door this morning." Landa handed me an envelope with my name on it. The paper was soft, heavy, and expensive. Paper like this wasn't cheap.

  Landa watched me open the letter.

  Michelle,

  I know you don't want to hear from me, but I needed to tell you a few things. I do like you and I enjoyed our date. When I called you, I wanted to have a fun evening with an interesting woman.

  When I told my friends about you, I mentioned the spells you did to save the mermaid. Word passed to important ears, and my clan realized your power and potential. They had me set the tracking spell on you because they wanted to learn more about you.

  Please talk to me. You are unique. Neither I, nor my clan would do anything to hurt you. They would like to offer you a place with us.

  You are welcome here. They know how talented you are and don't care about your clan-less state, or how you ended up that way. They see a talented witch, and would like you to be part of their family.

  If you don't wish to be a member of my clan, the elders will relent. I'm sorry I let the clan's will hurt you, and our relationship. I would like to see you again.

  With deep regrets,

  Andrew

  "What is it, child?" Landa asked.

  I reread the letter, trying to wrap my head around it. He liked me, but had spelled me at his clan's request, a clan that wanted me to join their ranks, but would leave me alone if that was my heart's desire. It felt off, strange. There were too many contradictions for this to sit well with me.

  "It's a letter from Andrew, the wizard I had coffee with in Ellijay. He wants me to consider being part of his clan and wants to see me again."

  Landa hummed. "What do you think about his offer?"

  I laughed. "I think he got caught putting a spell on me, and now he's trying to get back in my good graces. I'm not sure what they want, but they aren't getting it from me, and any guy dumb enough to think he can get away with spelling me doesn't deserve another chance."

  "Take some time to think it over. There may be truth in his words, and an ally is better than an enemy."

  "An ally I can't trust isn't very useful."

  She glared at me; clearly wanting me to see her point and not argue.

  I nodded, "I'll try not to do anything rash."

  "That's a good girl." Landa patted my hand before leaving.

  When her footsteps had faded, I poked my head out the door. The hallway was empty. Satisfied that I was alone, I focused on the letter resting in my hand. It popped an inch in the air when a shield bubble formed around it, forcing it away from my hand. A word muttered under my breath and the letter engulfed in pink flames.

  I smiled. He'd sent the letter because he felt me destroy the tracking spell. It didn't take a smart man to know better than to confront the woman he'd wronged. Though, few smart men would try to spell a better witch.

  A quick flair of magic assured me I was free of spells.

  True motivations aside, Andrew and his clan were a problem I didn't need, and one that should go away with this letter. If I didn't contact him, he would assume his plea had fallen on deaf ears. Though Landa wouldn't be pleased if she discovered this fit of temper, I was taking her advice. I knew how to contact him; if I changed my mind it would be as easy as picking up the phone.

  When the flames ran out of fuel, I set the shield bubble in the trash and dissolved the spell. Ash dusted the banana peel and sandwich wrapper.

  Elron

  I cradled the wilted fl
ower in my hand as I cut it off the stalk. The Fairy Rose pulled away from the pruning shears. I gently stroked a pale blue leaf. "Shh. I know it pinches, but the flowers are past their prime. You will make more in the spring."

  The baby blue leaf curled around my hand, and the vine held still while I nipped off the last bloom.

  "It's lovely."

  I looked up, surprised to see my boss here so early in the morning. "Good morning, Brandon. The Fairy Rose is coming along."

  Brandon smiled. "I can see the progress. I tried to prune this beauty and ended up with ten thorns in my arm. May I?"

  "Of course. She will behave now." The rose was one of the plants I'd had a heart to heart with, explaining to them that the people here wanted to admire them. Most of the plants had understood, but I was still working with the Pink Azalea and the Lace Flower.

  He gently rubbed a leaf between two fingers and the plant shivered, thrusting another leaf under his hand. Brandon petted the plant until it stopped pushing leaves into his hands.

  "You've done amazing things. A month ago I had people running out of these greenhouses because the plants were unmanageable and the department head wanted to scrap the project. He said it was impossible to keep this many magical plants in one area. Now, the university is in love with the magical garden, and I haven't heard about the Lace Flower attacking anyone since you arrived."

  "Thank you, but please stay away from the Lace Flower. I moved it behind a few plants to make it more difficult for it to cause problems." The Lace Flower was vexing. Thus far it had been reluctant to talk to me, but we had reached an uneasy truce. It would be less aggressive if left alone, so I moved it behind two large ferns, shielding it from casual approach.

  "You've done a great job managing the untamable. Do you have a few minutes to talk?" Brandon motioned to my office.

  "Yes." I set down the shears, and gave the Fairy Rose one last pat before following Brandon.

  I pushed the door shut behind me and turned to see him leaning against my desk, ankles crossed, and hands resting on the wood. Leaning against the door, I watched Brandon study me.

  "Where do you see this garden in a few years?" Brandon asked.

  "I hadn't thought about it that way. Ideally, the four teaching greenhouses would be complete, and I'd be devoting more attention to the research greenhouse. Did you have something in mind?"

  "Yes. After seeing what you've been able to accomplish in the short time you've been here, the university and I feel that we underestimated the feasibility of bigger projects. We want to develop an extensive magical garden for teaching and scientific exploration, with a section open to the public. Right now we have common magical plants, ones that are readily available and relatively easy to cultivate. I know this isn't what you were hired for, but would you consider the additional responsibilities?"

  I sighed. "You are offering me a fantastic opportunity. However, as I said during my interview, I don't know how long I will be able to stay."

  Brandon frowned. "Yes, you mentioned something about a calling?"

  Pulling a chair over, I sat down. "Yes," I said. He made the Call sound simple, but he was human and couldn't understand. I was one of the elves who were pulled, by a tugging at our souls, to follow a different path. The called often played a vital role in events that changed the course of history, but we were destined to walk a dangerous path, one few traversed without dying. It was unpredictable as well. My Call was satisfied to have me living at Landa's Lodge and working at the university, but that could change at any moment.

  "We discussed it during your interview, but I didn't realize it was still an issue."

  Humans. I shook my head, "Brandon, we discussed this. I am happy to be here until I'm drawn elsewhere."

  Brandon tipped his head back and rubbed his temple. "I have someone else in mind for the political and paper pushing side of the job. I want you to work with the plants. You would need to work with a few students because the garden will need more daily care than you can provide, and it needs to be usable for academics and research. I also want you to track down the new additions."

  I shifted in my seat. "When I was hired, it was with the understanding that the greenhouses were for university use. You agreed that I could have some time to get things under control. Most of the plants are settled in, and having help would allow me to focus on the stubborn individuals. I can start working with the students next week. "

  "Yes, that's all true," he waved his hand in the air, "and as happy as I am to hear you say the garden is ready for other people, that isn't my point. I want you to track down and retrieve new additions to the garden. Before you protest, the school would consider travel and time away as part of your job if you brought us new specimens."

  I chose my words carefully, "You mean I can come and go as I like, as long as the garden is cared for when I'm away and I bring back unique additions?"

  "Yes, and unless you are gone for more than two months, with or without a sample, you will receive your full pay and benefits," Brandon said.

  "That is a fine offer." My mind raced, trying to find the flaws.

  "I thought it would be a way for you to continue to work here, while giving you the time to explore your Call." He smiled, knowing the offer was too good to refuse.

  "You certainly know how to tempt a man. I accept the additional duties." How could I refuse? Brandon was offering me the opportunity to be part of a grand project, one that could help preserve endangered species, while giving me the flexibility to follow the Call.

  "You'll do it?"

  "Yes."

  "Fantastic. I wouldn't have anyone but you retrieving the new additions. I'll bring the official paperwork over tomorrow." Brandon came over and offered me his hand. I stood up and accepted the handshake.

  "Thank you for understanding the needs of an old elf," I said.

  "No, Elron, thank you for taming this mess of magical plants," Brandon replied. He was out the door as quickly as he'd appeared, leaving me with plenty to ponder.

  Michelle

  Dinner at the pizzeria with the girls was the highlight of my week. This evening, I was the slow duck; Amber and Tiffany were sitting in the corner booth, chatting.

  "Hi, girls. What'd I miss?" I slid on to the end of the seat, gratefully grabbing the water they'd ordered for me.

  "Nothing, we were joking about Mark's last romantic gesture," Tiffany said. She was a private investigator, meaning she mostly followed around cheating spouses. Her burgundy pixie haircut contrasted beautifully with her olive skin and brown eyes.

  "What did he do?" I asked.

  Amber giggled. "He tried to take me to an exotic restaurant that served peacock."

  "No, way!"

  "Yah, I told him I was opposed to eating exotic animals."

  "You still haven't told him you're a werepeahen?" I asked. Amber shifted into a peahen, the female version of a peacock.

  "No, I want to get to know him better before I tell him about that part of my life." She squirmed in her seat. "Besides, now isn't a good time to introduce a human to that side of me."

  "Is Adder making more trouble?" Tiffany asked.

  I gave her a funny look.

  "What? I know I'm the worst type of human. I don't care what happens in the other communities as long as it doesn't affect me, but I have ears. That wolf is bad news, and he's looking to make as much trouble as he can. I don't think he cares if he causes problems for the wolves, all the shifters, or the entire region."

  "From what I've heard, you're right." There wasn't much more I could say. It was surprising to hear Tiffany admit her faults when it came to racial relations.

  "Well, I don't think he's made any more trouble, but he isn't letting anyone rest easily. By law, he's forbidden to interfere with other shifters, but the rumors say he isn't going to respect the laws. His dad, Simon, the pack alpha, should've punished Adder when this behavior started, but he has a blind spot where his son is concerned. I think he's finally realized how
badly his son is behaving. Simon needs to put him down, but it's his son, and the situation wouldn't have gotten this bad if Simon had been doing his job from the start." By the time she finished, Amber looked paler than usual.

  I gave her a one-armed hug, the best I could do at the table. Amber had more to fear than most because she shifted into a prey animal, and there weren't many werepeacocks in the area.

  "Don't worry about it. Before Adder could cause trouble he'd have to be the alpha. I don't see him killing his father, so everyone is safe for now," I said.

  Amber relaxed, "True, and I wish Simon a long and healthy life."

  "A toast then, to Simon's long and healthy life," Tiffany said, raising her glass.

  "Here, here," I tapped glasses with her.

  Amber smiled, and tapped both of our glasses. "To Simon's long life."

  After our toast the waiter, a shy teenage boy with glasses, came to our table. "Are you ready to order?"

  We nodded, having perused the menu so many times we could order from memory.

  Tiffany ordered first, "Could I get a medium spinach, broccoli, and feta white pizza?"

  The kid nodded, scribbling on his pad. When he looked up again Amber ordered. "I'd like the veggie calzone."

  "Could I get a pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushroom and onion calzone?" I asked.

  The waiter nodded, repeated our orders back to us, and inquired if we wanted anything else, which we didn't, before leaving.

  "Enough depressing chit-chat. How are you and Mark doing, other than the peacock issue?" I said.

  "Good. It's hard to say how it's going because we've only been dating for a month, but I like it so far." Amber finished with a smile.

  "Awesome. Tiffany, what's new with you?" I asked.

  "Eh, not much. I have more faith in the sanctity of marriage."