Witch out of Luck Read online

  Annabel looked at the water for a moment, then turned and ducked back into the woods. The gargoyles couldn’t fly in there, and besides, their attention was on the water. If I flew faster than she walked, maybe I could see if she’d left any clues at her cottage. Like who'd been helping her with her newly discovered powers. Something was definitely fishy there, but I was living proof that someone could develop magical skills as an adult. Maybe I should just ask her outright and hope she didn’t bite my head off for it.

  I flew into the woods, then halted behind a tree, glad of my invisible state. Annabel had stopped walking to speak to two elves—Bramble and Twig. While they spoke too quietly for me to hear, her body language showed agitation. I flew closer, moving as silently as possible. Before I caught up, they parted, Annabel taking the path back towards her house. The elves, meanwhile, headed down a slope leading deeper into the woods.

  I remained still, mentally flipping a coin, then followed the elves down the slope. Before they reached the bottom, they turned around, narrowing their eyes.

  “Who’s there?” Twig demanded.

  Ah. They knew glamour, and something had given me away. Hoping Annabel was too far away to hear, I landed in front of them, turning visible.

  “Blair Wilkes,” Bramble said. “Come to tell the king about your progress?”

  “Not yet,” I said. “What were you talking to Annabel about?”

  “None of your concern, human.”

  I resisted the impulse to roll my eyes. “Isn’t her ex-boyfriend the person I’m meant to be defending from a potential murder accusation? Assuming they actually catch him.” Steve would never think to look behind the falls, but at some point my lies would catch up with me.

  “Are you considering betraying our king, Blair Wilkes?” asked Bramble.

  “I can't prove Bracken is innocent if he doesn't act it,” I told them. “You know he was firing off magical lightning bolts at the exact time the second victim fell off her broom, right?”

  I didn’t add that he’d also thrown up on his shoes and passed out in front of Nathan’s family. Not to mention his invisibility trick. At this point, I just wanted to know if he was guilty. The rest could wait.

  “The second death was undoubtedly an accident,” Twig growled. “The first was murder, but not by him.”

  “I'd be happy to defend him if he cooperated with me,” I said. “He can't even remember if he hit Laurie’s broomstick or not. How am I supposed to defend someone who doesn’t remember if they’re innocent?”

  “He did not murder anyone,” he said stubbornly.

  True… or so he believed. “Has he said anything coherent to either of you?” I asked. “You’re more likely to be able to get through to him than I am. You must know that.”

  “He has said nothing,” Bramble growled. “I’d advise you to hurry and keep your word, Blair.”

  And in a blink, both elves were gone. Worse, I’d lost track of Annabel, and I hadn’t checked the time since before I’d glamoured myself.

  Oh, no.

  By the time I got to work, nine o’clock had long passed by. As I slipped into the office, Rob greeted me with his big ridiculous werewolf smile. “Hey, Blair. Rough night?”

  I’d thought I looked more windswept than hungover. “No, I slept through my alarm.”

  Anyone who knew about Sky’s existence would know that for a blatant lie. That cat was the most effective alarm clock I’d ever had. Still, I’d rather be chastened for drinking on a weekday than hiding information on a potential murder suspect from the police.

  I hadn’t even made it to the coffee machine when Veronica came into the office. “Blair, a word, please.”

  I left the coffee machine and padded after the boss to her office behind the reception area.

  Veronica’s office changed its decor depending on her mood. Today, it was set out like a beach, complete with deck chairs instead of regular office chairs.

  “Sorry I’m late again,” I said, sitting in the deck chair. It was a little disconcerting looking up at the boss from a half-lying position, so I perched on the end instead. “I had a rough weekend. I was by the lake when Laurie—the High Flier—fell in and drowned.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” she said, bushing sand off her desk. “Terrible tragedy. Those High Fliers take too many risks. Of course, broomsticks carry their own hazards… I apologise. You’re learning to ride one yourself, Madame Grey tells me.”

  “Yeah, I am,” I said. “It’s not going great. Maybe now’s not the best time to learn, but I have to fulfil one ‘other’ witch skill to pass my Grade Three witch exams.”

  “I suppose it’s never a bad idea to have an escape strategy,” she said. “From those hunters, for instance.”

  Oh. She must have heard about Nathan’s family. “I don't know, I think I prefer using the Seven Millimetre Boots.”

  “Did you know those boots have an expiry date?” she asked. “Like all spells, they decay with time.”

  “I didn’t know that,” I said. “Uh, I’m sorry for being late for work, anyway. I know I haven’t been on top of things lately.”

  She waved a hand. “You found our fourth team member. That’s taken a huge weight off our schedules. And when you’ve mastered a broomstick, even more opportunities will open to you.”

  I doubt it. When I was done with the exam, I’d never touch a broom again. What with the chaotic weekend I’d had, I’d forgotten my broom classes altogether. But summer was ticking away, and if I didn’t pass my exam by the time the holidays finished, I might end up stuck at the grade of a six-year-old forever.

  When the workday finished, I headed to my flying lesson. After the events of the weekend, the last thing I wanted was to take to the skies, but Veronica’s words had reminded me how little time I had left before my exam.

  “I can do this,” I muttered to myself as I walked to the witch’s headquarters. “I can—”

  The door swung open and I jumped back to avoid being hit in the face. Helen came out, carrying two broomsticks. “Sorry, Blair. Didn’t see you there.”

  “Is today’s lesson somewhere else?” I asked, eyeing the broomsticks. Please not a public setting. Or the academy.

  “Oh, I’ve had to cancel the class,” Helen said. “We’re testing all the covens’ broomsticks for jinxes down at the lake. Want to help?”

  “Jinxes?” I echoed. “I thought you can’t put a spell on a broomstick.”

  “You can, but not easily,” said Helen. “Usually it’s done before the broom is even in the air. We want to cover all bases.

  “You think someone did that to Laurie’s broom?”

  It seemed unlikely. The sabotage, if that’s what it was, had most likely taken place at the lake, not beforehand. Still, I’d been waiting for a chance to speak to Bracken. Maybe I’d get to visit him while the others were testing the brooms for jinxes.

  When we reached the lakeside, it was to find that Helen and several other witches had laid out dozens of broomsticks on the grass.

  “It’s a simple anti-jinx spell.” Helen held out her wand over the nearest broom and waved it. A flash of light went off, and the broom rolled over on the spot. “Want to try?”

  “Sure.” I moved to the next broom, drawing my wand. Helen ducked as glitter shot from the wand’s end.

  “Ah.” I dropped my head, flushing. “Sorry. I haven’t done that for a while.”

  Being close to the lake again set my nerves on edge. I was certain we were wasting our time testing the brooms for sabotage when the killer had more likely been in, or near, the lake itself. The High Fliers fell off their brooms all the time and were fine.

  I copied Helen’s spell, but my mind was elsewhere. I still had the memory potion, and it felt like Bracken was our only chance to get to the truth. On the other hand, there was also Annabel to consider. What had she and the elves been discussing? She might not like me, but if Bracken wasn’t available to talk to, she might be easier to convince.

/>   In the end, the gargoyles made up my mind for me. Before we’d finished testing the first set of brooms, a flock of them appeared overhead. I didn’t know what they were looking for, but I’d bet Bracken had glamoured himself invisible at the sight of them. I helped Helen carry armfuls of broomsticks back and forth from the witches’ place far past my allotted lesson time, but after an hour and a half, the gargoyles were still flying above the lake.

  After our third trip back, my patience was growing thin. Seeing the others had the rest of the broomsticks in hand, I went into the forest to avoid Helen roping me into helping with anything else. Then I turned invisible and flew down the path towards Annabel’s house. I didn’t think she’d be pleased if I admitted I’d seen her talking to the elves before, but I was curious about what they’d said. Had they been discussing Bracken’s reaction to their breakup? Maybe if she helped him, I wouldn’t have to trick him into answering my questions. Thanks to the elf’s disappearing act, she wasn’t known to be linked to the suspects, so the gargoyles ought to leave her alone.

  When I knocked, Annabel opened the door, scowling at me. “What do you mean by tattling on me to my grandmother?”

  Oh. Ava must have told her. “I didn't know you hadn't already spoken to her about developing the seeing ability. I thought, I don’t know, that you’d want guidance.”

  “Can you imagine her trying to teach me?” She shook her head. “She can't tell her left hand from her right one.”

  “Why not tell her, though?” I asked. “Even if she couldn’t teach you, she could offer advice, right?”

  “Have you ever heard a word of her advice?” she said. “No, I didn’t tell her. She had enough of an issue with me dating Bracken. I didn’t need to hear her gloating.”

  “Sorry,” I said. “But you loved him, right?”

  “Of course.” She choked on the words. “Of course I do. But I got never-ending crap from everyone else.”

  “Did he seem bothered, though?” I asked. “If it didn’t bother him that people were judgemental of the two of you, then he wouldn’t have had reason to end it, would he?”

  “I’m never going to know that now, am I?” She sniffed. “I wrecked things. If my grandmother hadn't given me that blasted crystal ball to begin with…”

  I blinked. “She gave it to you?”

  She dabbed her eyes. “There was a leak in the attic the other week, so I went up there to check it out and found her old crystal ball. I’d forgotten I put it up there, to be honest. It’s been in the family for generations. Anyway, I looked into it, and… and I saw us breaking it off.”

  Her words rang true, but that couldn’t be all there was to it. Still, whatever she’d seen in the crystal ball was her own business, after all.

  “He still seems pretty torn up about the whole thing,” I said to her. “I think he'd be willing to give another shot.”

  She flinched. “Don't say that. It's too late. It's over.”

  “Only if you both want it to be.”

  Be quiet, Blair. I was hardly qualified to give anyone relationship advice, considering what a monumental mess of things I'd made of my meeting with Nathan’s family—both times. But I still couldn’t help wondering if there’d been more to the breakup than a simple vision.

  Annabel sighed. “Why am I even talking to you, Blair? You really stirred my grandmother up. She won’t stop talking about you.”

  “I didn’t mean to butt in. It’s just that Bracken was by the lake when Laurie drowned, and he’s too addled to have seen what happened. But he might be the only witness.”

  “Laurie?” she echoed. “Who?”

  “A High Flier,” I said. “Have you seen him since then?”

  “What do you think?” She ended on a sob and closed the door. I waited, but she didn’t open it again.

  So much for that. I backed away and my foot caught on a piece of paper wedged under the doorstep. The flier said, Violet Layne, fortune-teller.

  A fortune-teller? I’d thought Ava was the town’s only living seer. Had Annabel met with this Violet Lane?

  Maybe she might offer an insight into the sight that old Ava couldn’t. I slipped the flier into my pocket and left the cottage behind.

  “A new seer?” Alissa asked, reading the leaflet. “Never heard of her. I don’t know if Ava has either, but she’s been acting out today.”

  I petted Sky, who’d sprawled out next to me on the sofa. It was amazing how such a small cat could take up so much space. “I hope I didn’t upset her by telling her about Annabel’s and Bracken’s breakup.”

  “It might get her prepared for Bracken’s eventual arrest,” she said. “Did you give him the potion?”

  “Nope.” I heaved a sigh. “Helen had me carrying broomsticks around for over an hour and then the gargoyles showed up. The High Fliers asked to have all their brooms tested for jinxes, because they think someone might have damaged Laurie’s broom. I can’t tell them otherwise without admitting I saw that pesky elf glamour himself invisible.”

  “But you're sure he didn't do it?”

  “Nope, unfortunately.” I took the flier back from her. “The issue isn’t with the brooms, it’s with whoever was nearby when she was flying. I spoke to the same siren who knew Terrence again, but she claims she never uses her siren’s song ability because she can’t sing in tune. And of course there's Bracken, but I think he needs to sober up or take that potion before he’ll tell us anything useful.”

  “Which means dodging the gargoyles.” She nodded. “I’m surprised they haven’t found him yet, but I bet they never thought to check behind the falls. Did Helen find anything wrong with the brooms?”

  “Nope,” I said. “It was a waste of time. I heard those brooms are pretty much impervious to magic anyway, but I don’t know if elf magic is an exception. Elves and fairies aren’t exactly the same. I guess I could borrow a broomstick and see if I can use magic on it, but I can’t shoot magic lightning, and I’m good at making brooms fall out of the air without the need for magic.”

  “Ha,” said Alissa. “Don’t give up on the potion too soon, though. It expires within a month.”

  “Good to know,” I said. “Is it too late to visit the seer, do you think?”

  “The flier says she’s open from noon until midnight. Because the moonlight helps her visions, apparently.” She gave an eye-roll. “Sounds like another Ava, to be honest.”

  “It’s worth a shot,” I said.

  11

  Violet Layne occupied the once empty shop next to the Enchantment Emporium, the best-known store of miscellaneous objects in the town. The seer’s place, however, looked empty, with no visible traces of any inhabitants behind the dusty glass window. But the crooked sign above the door claiming this place belonged to ‘Violet Layne, Seer Extraordinaire’ matched the elaborate flourish on the leaflet I’d found at Annabel’s place.

  I opened the door, to the sound of a tinkling bell.

  A woman of around Rita’s age sat behind a desk, her long dark curly hair bouncing past her shoulders. She had medium brown skin, dark eyes, and wore a long black robe like a scholar. In front of her was a giant crystal ball, bigger than my head. Its planes reflected the small, dusty room back at me. Just in case there was any ambiguity that I’d walked into a seer’s shop. Maybe this was a mistake. I was too tired and grumpy to pretend to be interested in fortune-telling.

  She followed my line of sight. “You'd be surprised how often people forget what they came in for. I think it's the crystal ball that confuses them.”

  “Why? If you see a crystal ball, you don't immediately think you're walking into a bank. Not in my experience, anyway.”

  “You never know,” she said. “A lot of people don’t want to see what lies ahead.”

  “I would assume they do if they walk into a shop with a giant sign saying ‘Seer Extraordinaire’ above the door.”

  I wondered if I’d gone too far, but she laughed. “I don’t need to see to know you’re a piece of work,
Blair Wilkes. I did wonder if you’d be paying me a visit.”

  “Do you say that to every customer or just the ones whose names you know?”

  “I saw you in here, Blair.” She waved a hand at the crystal ball. “Besides, there’s nobody in town who doesn’t know who you are.”

  “Aren’t you new in town?” I said. “I mean, the vampires said there weren’t any practising seers in Fairy Falls a few weeks ago. And this shop was empty the last time I came here.”

  “Vampires.” She wrinkled her brow. “Unpleasant creatures. Did you know they can’t be seen in crystal balls at all?”

  “Really?” My gaze flicked to the glass. “You do fortune-telling for people? Is it as popular here as it is in the normal world?”

  Violet Layne wasn't what I'd expected. I’d thought she’d be a little like Ava but with less of the unpredictability factor. Then again, the vampires already had the role of ‘cryptic and annoying mysterious elder’ filled. She wasn't a mind-reader, but there was a little similarity there, except she could peek into my future rather than my deepest thoughts. Assuming I believed her visions were real.

  “Oh, yes, I read people’s fortunes,” she said. “Yes, it always bewildered me, the normals’ fascination with knowing what lies ahead and what is to come. They’re not so different from us, Blair. I suppose it’s easier to feel prepared for the future if you believe you know how it will play out.”

  “So you’re saying—it’s not real?” I asked. “I mean, it doesn’t necessarily have to play out the way you think it does?”

  “The future is rarely so straightforward,” Violet said. “The sight arrives in ambiguous glimpses if at all.”

  “That doesn’t sound like a reliable way to make a living either,” I said before I could stop myself. “Unless you don’t tell all your customers, well, it might come true, might not, who knows?”