Charmed and Dangerous: An Appalachian Magic Novel (Appalachian Magic Series Book 1) (19 page)

“Mabel, are you still with me?”

“H-E-R-E.”

“Tell me who dies.”

“N-O.”

“Please, Mabel.” She couldn’t believe she was pleading with a spirit. “Maybe I can stop it from happening.”

“N-E-C-E-S-S-A-R-Y A-C-C-E-P-T.”

“No! No one should die because of me.”

“N-O-T B-E-C-A-U-S-E Y-O-U.”

Anger washed her gut. “It
is
my fault. I should never have come home. The best thing I can do is go away again.”

Even though she didn’t ask a question, the planchette moved.

“D-I-S-M-A-L-S W-I-T-C-H-E-S C-A-V-E-R-N.”

What? “Mabel, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve never heard of this Witches’ Cavern. I just want to know who dies.”

The planchette didn’t move.

She sighed in frustration. “Okay. If it’s not my fault, then will you at least tell me whose fault it is?”

The planchette moved so slow it seemed to take hours to spell out one word. Mabel clearly was reluctant to give details.

“F-A-T-H-E-R.”

“Lucas.” She spat out the word. “It’s always him. I wish I had never found out he was still alive.”

All four candles flickered and two died out. A whiff of decay crept through the sage smoke screen. It took all her nerve not to run screaming from the room.

“Mabel, are you still with me?” A tinkling laugh erupted, like the faint echo of a bell. She kept her trembling fingers locked on the planchette.

“N-O M-A-B-E-L H-E-R-E.”

Friendly or no, another spirit had taken Mabel’s place. Maybe this one would answer her question. “Who dies?”

“Y-O-U W-I-L-L D-I-E.”

The melodic laughter grew louder and closer.

Her hands involuntarily jerked back from the Ouija board. “You cannot enter my magic circle. By the elemental powers of earth, wind, air and water, I command you to leave this house and never return.”

Utter silence. The rotting smell evaporated, and the two extinguished candles sputtered and glowed again. Callie took down the magic circle, more confused now than when she started.

J
ames tried to forget her
.

Callie thought she was protecting him from Lucas, but breaking up with him was the best thing she could do for herself. It was better this way. He would stick around and protect her during her birthday initiation, but after that, he was moving on.

Theodora was still Theodora. Meaning, she wouldn’t give up. Actually, the more he resisted, the more her ego rejected defeat. Theodora found a B&B and kept playing librarian, enjoying the young men’s attention. It was positively maddening. At least Dad had thrown up his hands in defeat.

“If you insist on being a fool, there’s nothing I can do about it,” he said. “You know what I think of witches.”

But eventually, Carter, being Carter, couldn’t help running interference.

“Son, I know you don’t like me getting in your business, but—”

“C’mon,” James groaned, holding up his hand. “Last time you tried to help, you planted Theodora on our doorstep. Now I can’t get rid of her. She’s driving me nuts.”

Carter flushed. “I brought her here for another reason, as well.”

He froze. “What other reason could there be?”

Carter regarded him, brows knitted. “Remember when I went to visit friends? It was about the time Sin got sick.”

“Right, you were gone a long time.” James gave him a hard stare. “And Sin was poisoned, deliberately.”

“I agree. I think it was a message to you.”

“What do you mean?” he asked sharply.

“We’ve both noticed strange things going on. You had that encounter with an immortal in the woods, and we’ve both felt menacing presences in the area, much more than normal. When you told me Callie’s father was immortal and that he was trying to get his daughter to come work for him, I started to worry.”

James nodded. “Because you know I’ll protect Callie.”

“I think Lucas wants you out of her life before there’s a showdown. Poisoning Sin was the start of a campaign to intimidate you into forgetting her. I told you the truth. I did visit friends, but it was more of a reconnoiter mission to see if they’d observed any unusual immortal activity.”

“And?”

“Everyone was uneasy. A couple of families even moved away.”

James was startled. “I’m used to being isolated and fighting our own battles. I never would have thought to check with others. And actually . . . I even suspected
you
hurt Sin.”

Carter frowned. “Why?”

“Because that morning, you said Callie was
nothing but poison
. I thought maybe you hurt Sin, hoping I would blame her.”

Carter sighed. “Must you insist in protecting that witch?”

James’s voice rose. “For the last time, yes. Leaving isn’t an option. But if
you
want to leave Piedmont, go ahead.” He’d never been so angry with his Dad. “Maybe it’s time we parted ways.”

His words echoed in the silence, and Carter blanched. “I’d rather stay and protect you.”

“I can protect myself,” James said stiffly. “If you stay, it’s on the condition you stop calling Callie a witch and stop interfering in my life.”

Carter’s eyes widened, and James saw his pride was wounded. Too bad. He’d always be grateful for all Dad had taught him when he first become immortal. Hell, he’d even saved his life in the fight with Lucas. But enough was enough. When it came to Callie, his conditions were nonnegotiable.

“Agreed,” Carter said. “But I’ve got to come clean on something.” He sighed heavily. “I met with Connors and got him to hire Theodora. We both thought it would break up you and Callie. In exchange, Connors promised they would leave you alone.”

He was incredulous. “And you believed him?”

“I hoped they’d move on once they got what they wanted. With you out of the way, it would be easier for Lucas to kidnap Callie at her ritual and—”

“
Kidnap
her?” James was on his feet, his worst fears confirmed.

“He didn’t actually use the word
kidnap
, but I have the impression they’ll stop at nothing for Callie’s power.”

“How could you think I’d allow Callie to be handed over to Lucas against her will?”

“I see now that I was wrong.” He placed his hands on James’s shoulders. “Forgive me. I promise from here on out we’ll work together and defeat Lucas.”

It was the first time he’d ever heard his dad apologize, and he knew the effort it required for him to humble himself. And he needed Carter now more than ever.

James nodded. “Guess we’ve got a fight on our hands.”

Carter rubbed his hands together. “Better start gathering allies and drawing up battle plans.”

“I know just the person who can help us.”

The defeated immortal Andrew Scott had vowed to help him if he needed. Time to call in that favor.

D
ismals witches cavern
.
Over half a million hits. It was a real place, and it was in . . . Alabama.

Callie clicked on the first hit—a video.

A green, primordial forest appeared, surrounded by towering boulders. The canyon was once a hideout for famous outlaws like Vice President Aaron Burr after killing Treasurer Alexander Hamilton in a duel. Jesse James vanished among the rock crevices to escape capture by authorities, and Federal forces imprisoned the Chickasaw people there before marching them down the Trail of Tears.

“Come here, Grendel. Look at this.” The tabby obligingly jumped on her keyboard and rubbed against the monitor. She stroked his ginger-colored fur. “I’m going to leave and not come back until my birthday’s over. Maybe if I’m gone, the whole disaster won’t happen.”

Bored, Grendel meowed and jumped atop the printer, waiting to pounce on paper.

“Wish you could come, but you’d hate that long car ride, wouldn’t you, baby?”

Frustrated at the lack of print production, Grendel took a flying leap off her desk.

The canyon was in northwest Alabama near the Sipsey Wilderness, about a three-hour drive from Piedmont. Cabins were available for rent, but because it was privately owned, the price was a little steep for her budget.

The computer beeped, signaling an e-mail. She minimized the webpage and checked her inbox. There was a message from [email protected]. No subject line. Heart pounding, she clicked.

A full-screen photo exploded on the monitor. James and Theodora sunning on the beach in a passionate, sandy embrace. A techno-colored nightmare. She scrolled down the page. Another picture showed James, Theodora, and Carter with their arms wrapped around each other, grinning companionably. In the last photo, James and Theodora held hands before a giant water fountain. She zoomed in on the hotel in the background—the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

At the end, a single line of text read:
Go fly off on your broomstick, witch.

Jealousy exploded like a green, burning poison. Exactly what Theodora intended, no doubt. All the more reason to get out of Piedmont.

She composed a brief two-liner:
If you’re immortal like you say, then you shouldn’t be so worried about me. You had to wait your turn with James. Because baby, all you’re good for is my sloppy seconds.

Callie hit send and forced herself back to planning the getaway. Her immediate, largest obstacle was coming up with the cash.

She leaned back at her desk, still brooding over the photos, and eyed the closet. Dare she? She yanked open the door and pulled out her father’s Book of Shadows, covered under a stack of board games. She rifled through pages of arcane ingredients and black spells: binding enemies, temporary paralysis, glamorizing opponents. Glamorizing? She paused, fingers tracing Lucas’s handwritten instructions.

Oh yeah, just the thing for Theodora. Maybe have her entire body erupt in oozing sores, or gain a hundred pounds of jiggly fat.

Oh, hell. What was she doing?

Callie slammed the book shut and threw it back in the closet so hard its spine snapped.

I will
not
be like my father.

J
ames pulled
into the Kudzu Cottage B&B. This wouldn’t be fun—and was possibly even cruel—but it was necessary. He picked up the dozen yellow roses with a sigh.

Theodora waited at the door. “James! You look so handsome.” She wound her arms around his neck, beaming, eyes blazing in triumph.

He extended the roses. “For you.”

She wore an elegant, short black dress that was provocative without being over-the-top for a small, Southern town. Her ebony hair was loose, the shiny tresses falling in subtle waves around bare shoulders.

“Yellow’s my favorite. You remembered.” She pressed her lips against his.

No passion or magic on his side. All he could think of was his first meeting with Callie on Lavender Mountain and the indigo blaze from St. Elmo’s fire.

He made himself respond with a credible show of enthusiasm then stepped back from the doorway. “We seem to have an audience,” he said with the right tinge of regret in his voice. “Don’t you have to maintain a respectable reputation working as a school librarian?”

“Connors has no problem with my reputation.” She stared at a prying group of women.

The B&B proprietor and her gaggle of lady friends sat around a table under the shaded carport, drinking frozen concoctions and playing cards. The women stared back in unashamed amusement. One of the ladies, in a faded floral print dress and a floppy pink hat, even turned her metal folding chair completely around for a better view.

“It’s the old biddies’ gin rummy night,” Theodora said in disgust. “They’re probably already half-sloshed.” She grinned. “Why don’t we really give them something to talk about,” she suggested in a husky voice.

“Maybe later.” He disentangled himself. “We’ve got reservations for seven o’clock.”

Theodora shrugged, and they walked out to his black BMW convertible. “Sorry ladies,” she called out to their audience. “Show’s over. We’ll be back later for the peep show, if you’re not passed out drunk by then.”

He was embarrassed and amused at the same time. Theodora hadn’t changed. She couldn’t care less what others thought as long as she was having a good time.

Their talk was light on the drive; it almost seemed like old times when they’d seen each other exclusively for a couple of years. At least, he’d
thought
it was an exclusive relationship. For the first time, he was glad he’d caught her in bed with his friend. If he’d married Theodora, he would never have met Callie.

He pulled into a gravel parking lot, crowded with pickup trucks and Bondo-spackled cars. Theodora looked first at the slightly decrepit cement block building then faced him, brows raised.

“
This
is where you made a reservation?”

“Yep, Lulu’s Fish Camp. Best fried catfish in Alabama.” The tires of his BMW scrunched on the gravel as he brought the car to a halt. He went around and opened her door. His pricey car stood out like a neon-lit sign, but he couldn’t resist the opportunity to drive it. James and Carter agreed cruising in the BMW around Piedmont called too much attention, so he reserved the pleasure of driving it only for out-of-town trips.

Theodora visibly gathered herself, picked up her purse, and plastered on a smile. A gang of motorcycle riders pulled in beside them. She surveyed the leather chaps and tattooed bikers. “I’m a bit overdressed. Next time let me know ahead where we’re going.” Her tone was as cool and bracing as mountain water in winter.

His plan was working already.

Once they were seated and presented the slightly greasy menu, Theodora studied it with growing annoyance. “Everything here is fried, even the pickles and green beans.”

“That’s what makes it so good.”

“I can’t believe it,” she said, lowering the menu. “Even the desserts are fried. Fried cheesecake or fried Oreos with ice cream.”

He fought to keep a straight face. Callie would have ordered both desserts and eaten every bite. “Which one are you getting? If you want, we can order one of each and share.”

Theodora jerked the menu back up and continued frowning at the selections.

“Can I help ya’, ma’am?” Their waitress, who looked to be in her early thirties, was a bit frumpy with an apron splattered in grease and hair limp from heat.

“I want the shrimp plate, but don’t fry the shrimp. Just broil it without butter.”

The waitress, Tessie according to her badge, raised an eyebrow but wrote it down. Tessie looked at James for his order, but Theodora spoke up again.

“And I want to change the sides. Instead of French fries I want a baked potato, and—”

“Ya’ want sour cream and butter ‘n cheese on it?”

“Is the sour cream low-fat?”

“No, darlin’.” Tessie’s smile was a bit strained.

Theodora heaved a dissatisfied sigh. “Then just a pat of butter on the side. For my other vegetable, I want to substitute a salad for the fried corn. Do you have any low-fat dressing?” she asked without much optimism.

Tessie shook her head, not bothering to look up from her order pad.

“Then ask the chef to mix together some oil and vinaigrette for me.” Theodora handed Tessie the menu without looking at her.

Tessie ignored her outstretched hand, leaving Theodora awkwardly dangling the menu.

James smiled and tried to put some extra warmth in his voice to break the frost in the air. “I’ll have the fried catfish with French fries and fried pickles. You can bring us both iced tea, sweet for me and unsweet for my date.” He took Theodora’s menu, added his to it, and gave them to Tessie.

Theodora was annoyed but trying to hide it. This was going to be even easier than he’d imagined.

“I’m glad you called.” She put on her game face. “What made you finally decide to give us another chance?”

He spoke the rehearsed words. “Since Callie and I split, I’ve been thinking back on what we had. The first couple of years were good, but near the end, I knew something was wrong. You’d be warm one week and cold the next.” So far he’d told the truth.

“I’m sorry. Can’t you forget the bad and let’s move on?” She reached for his hand across the table. I promise—”

Two iced teas sloshed on the table. “Sugar’s on the table if ya’ need some,” Tessie said, ignoring Theodora.

“Do you have any Sweet-n-Low?”

Tessie pulled out a couple of slightly damp pink packets from her apron and plunked them down.

James sipped his tea. Now came the hard part. He had to act as if he really wanted this two-timer back in his life.

He grasped her hand. “If you promise to change, I’m willing to try again.”

The triumphant gleam in her eyes returned. Good. She bought it.

“You won’t be sorry,” she said in a husky voice, rubbing a finger on her lips suggestively.

“No doubt.” He returned what he hoped passed for a smoldering look. “But things will be a bit different this time around.”

Her smile lost a bit of its brilliance. “How so?”

“For starters, let’s talk about where we’ll live. Dad and I came to Piedmont with the intention of staying at least six years. I’ve been taking a much-needed break from my management consulting career. You know how bored I get every century or so. I’d like to do something new, something I’ve never done before.”

“You’re always trying to reinvent yourself.” Theodora looked puzzled. “I’ve never felt the need myself. I’m perfectly happy being me and living off the interest on my capital investments.”

“Doesn’t that ever bore you?” He was honestly curious. Forever was a long time to do the same thing repeatedly.

She shrugged. “Not at all.”

Maybe if Theodora actually applied herself at something, she wouldn’t feel the need to sleep around with his friends for kicks. But he couldn’t say that. He took another long sip of tea to swallow those words.

“What exciting, new thing do you want to try now?” she asked, as if humoring a child.

“I want to teach elementary school.” He couldn’t help smiling at the appalled look on her face.

“There’s no money in
that
,” she pointed out. “It sounds dreadful. Babysitting a bunch of little kids all day long? The very idea makes my head hurt.”

“You’ve never liked kids too much, have you?”

“They’re alien creatures to me. It’s been so long since I was one, I don’t remember what it was like or how their minds work.”

“Me either. That’s why I want to teach.”

“But why stay in this boring dump of a town? You can teach anywhere.”

“My plan is to transfer to nearby Jacksonville State. They have a good elementary education program. And you know Carter loves this area.”

“So what?” She hesitated a heartbeat. “You’re over one hundred and fifty years old. You don’t need a father.”

Theodora would never understand what it meant to have a family or life-long friendships.

“I like living with him. At least until I get married and have children of my own.”

She almost dropped her glass. “Immortals can’t have kids.”

“That we know of,” he corrected. “It’s possible maybe we can someday with all the genetic mutations happening.” Time to move in for the kill. “And there’s always adoption.”

Theodora’s hand, which had been stirring the tea, froze. She looked at him with dawning understanding. “So we live here for years while you get a teaching degree.”

“Right. And if we get married, I want to adopt.” That ought to scare her right out of Alabama for good.

“I hope y’all are hungry.” Tessie arrived with their food. “Can I get y’all anything else?”

He smiled. “No, I think we’re good.” He dug into the fried catfish with relish. He’d bet half his stock portfolio that Theodora packed her clothes tonight and took the first plane out of Atlanta in the morning.

C
allie loaded
her packed bags in the car. Only two days until her birthday. Guilt, and more than a little case of nerves, had gnawed at her for the last three weeks. She wanted everything to be over.

Back in the house, she called for her shadow. “Grendel?”

That cat kept her awake every night, but when she wanted him, he was nowhere around. “Kitty?” She looked in his usual hideouts, the laundry basket and the porch rug. Not there.

Finally, she found him curled up on her bedroom pillow fast asleep. Figured. She rubbed behind his ears. Grendel opened one eye to see who’d disturbed him before falling back asleep, purring softly.

“I’ll miss you, sweetie.” Stupid to think she had to say goodbye to a cat, but she couldn’t leave otherwise.

She straightened and looked around the bedroom. Would everything be different when she returned? She touched her amber pendant for courage. If there was a chance leaving could stop the battle and death, she had to do it. If Lucas found her, at least she’d be alone, and no one else would get hurt.

She taped a note on the refrigerator.