A Witch's Path (6 page)

The knowledge flowed in faster than I could process it.

"Slowly," I told the forest spirit.
 

It obliged, and the onslaught slowed to the pace of a gentle rain. The images clarified, and I could see myself asking the forest to keep her safe, the moment when Michelle had been defenseless, the forest forcing the seeds to grow, and the forest using the magic in her blood to fuel the protective barrier.
 

The forest moved to the man who had written on the lodge. Feeling his presence hadn't been enough, as the forest hadn't been able to identify his position and had been unwilling to capture him at the expense of innocents. Some shifters were out for a stroll, and a family of unicorns was nearby with their fragile offspring.

I soothed the forest. It had done all it could, and had saved her when she was in the rock field. Once the forest had calmed, I inquired as to it's willingness to prevent others from frightening and harming Michelle.
 

It quickly agreed, and I helped it understand the types of threats it should look for in the future. The forest absorbed the knowledge quickly, and the trees whispered their thanks.
 

Thanking the forest, I got up to leave. My calling knocked me to my knees as the forest deafened with calls for my return. I quieted the forest, and dampened the call enough for me to comprehend the questions. The call was adamant that I was needed in the woods; I had work to be done here. The forest spirit was equally determined to show me something.
 

After some time, the three of us came to an agreement. While both my call and the forest demanded that I give them their time, they were willing to be patient for a few days. After that they would drag me back, willing or not.
 

I may not be a wise elf, but I was a prudent one. I would return of my own volition.
 

There was a quick rap at the door before it swung open and Dad walked through.
 

"Hi, Dad," I said. "It's good to see you." It was, but he had come into my life recently, and we were still getting used to being around each other. I figured he volunteered to help me with the class as a way to get to know me.
 

"It's good to see you, Michelle." He smiled at me, and smoothed his hands down the side of his jeans. The green button-down shirt had fresh creases, and his black hair was neatly combed.
 

I was closing the door behind him, when he said, "Cou-could I get a hug?"

"Um," I turned, and saw his stiff posture, and furrowed brow. "Sure."

He opened his arms and I stepped forward. With my head resting on his shoulder and his cheek pressed against my hair, I could feel the tension slide out of me. Seconds later, he pulled back. "Thank you, that brightened my day."

I smiled, "It brightened my day too."

Dad cleared his throat, "I know we need to look over the materials for the class, but your mother said you wanted to talk with me about something?"

"Oh that, yes. Do you want some tea?"

"Sure, could I get something herbal or low caffeine?" He asked.
 

"How does a rooibos and lavender sound?" I hurried into the kitchen, filled the kettle, and put it on the stove.

"Delicious." He watched me set out the mugs, pull out the jar of tea, and fill two strainers as the water came to a boil. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

"Hold on, the tea is almost ready." I shoved a tea bag in each mug and poured the boiling water. "Let's sit at the table."
 

Dad followed me to the dining room table with his tea. Sitting down, I wrapped my hands around the mug, hoping the earth would give me courage. "What did mom tell you?"

"Nothing. She left a voice mail telling me what we would have for dinner, and that you wanted to tell me something. Why?"

I sighed, "It's a bit of a story."

He cocked his head and arched an eyebrow.
 

My leg started bouncing. I took a deep breath and dove in. "I didn't tell you and Mom about something that happened during the troll case because I didn't want to worry you. After the sorceress was taken into custody, she died alone in her jail cell. When she died she was yelling about how death was the first step, and that she would come for me. Written on the cell walls in her blood was, 'It's not over.' This morning, I woke up to find that written on the outside of my bedroom window." I took a big slurp of tea while waiting for his response, and then another.
 

"You didn't tell us because you didn't want us to worry?" He dropped his head into his hands, sitting still as one minute stretched to two. When he looked up he was calm, but I could see the worry lines creasing the corners of his eyes. "For years I could only watch and worry from a distance. I have a chance to be in your life, help you, and be there for you. I'll worry even if you aren't in danger, but let me try to help you, and trust me to be able to handle the extra worry."
 

"You took this a lot better than Mom." I wasn't protesting. It was an observation.

"Mothers worry in different ways. Dads tend to tell you to keep your chin up and keep swinging. I'm worried, but I know you can protect yourself. You've proven to be mature, realistic, and trustworthy. Besides," his eyes hardened, looking nothing like the kind eyes I was coming to love, "if anyone hurts my little girl I will hunt them down."

My mouth fell open. I wasn't sure what to say.
 

"Why did the sorceress target you?" he asked, saving me from my shock.

"I don't know."
 

"I don't follow. You put her in jail, and you don't know why she would target you?"

"Dad, I understand why the sorceress would come after me for revenge, but she's dead. Who else would have a grudge against me?"

"Whoever gave her the power?"

"That's my guess. We never did figure out who gave her magic."
 

"True, did the police ever round up the rest of the troll group?" Dad asked.

"Only the teenagers we found at the chicken farm. The group was compartmentalized, and the kids couldn't identify anyone else. It's an open investigation, but there hasn't been any progress in finding the rest of them."

"Something turned her into a sorceress, and I'd look for it behind the scare tactics," his voice was firm.
 

"I'll keep my eyes open, Dad, but unless forensics comes up with something, there isn't a trail to follow. Not to mention, I'm a witch, not an investigator or the police. I learned that one the hard way and don't want to repeat the experience."

"Good, your mother and I don't want to be getting any more calls from police informing us that you are in the hospital."

I ducked my head, unsure of what to say.

He smiled, and changed topics. "Why don't you tell me where you're at with the preparations for the class?"

"The supplies have taken over the coffee table and part of the floor." I motioned in the direction of the living room with my mug. "Watch where you step."

Dad followed me to the couch, dodging piles of cloth, wands, stacks of paper, and three-ring binders.
 

He sat down next to me. "You've been busy."

I shrugged. "A big case could crop up at any time. I need to get this done before the next emergency."

"Where do you want to start?" He asked.

"Would you mind helping me measure out the herbs while we go over what I've done so far?"

"Not at all. Do you care where I start?"
 

The coffee table was occupied by nine large jars and a dozen small jars of herbs. Next to the table were several flats of pint and half-pint jars, and empty flats labeled and waiting to be filled with the small jars.
 

"I'm almost done with the rosemary. Would you mind working on the milk thistle?" I asked, sliding off the sofa so I could sit on the floor beside the coffee table.

"Am I dividing it into pint or half pint jars?" Dad sat on the floor next to me.
 

"I was thinking half-pint?"
 

"Was that a question or statement?"
 

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. When he taught me magic, our lessons had often gone like this; he would make me ask the questions and seek out the answers. "It was a question. I've never taught anyone, and I want your help."

Dad smiled, "Alright, I'll go easy on you. Is this a six week course?" I nodded. "Based on the curriculum we talked about, I would use the pint jar and fill about three quarters of it."

I was on my second jar when I started asking him questions. "Natalie recommended having the students add a pinch of Day Lily Dust to their spells. Is that a good idea? I don't remember doing that."

"It's a great idea. I wish I'd thought to mention it, but I'm used to teaching more advanced students. I'd have to ask your Mom, or your old teachers, but I think your first teacher lightly laced the other components of the spells so you didn't need to add the day lily dust."

"Oh." This was going to be educational in so many ways.

"It looks like you have a good selection of herbs and oils. Why did you get the wands?"

I put the last jar of rosemary in the flat and started on the horse chestnut seeds. "I wasn't sure what supplies they would have, since most of their magical equipment will be owned by the police department. If they don't have a wand for personal use they can use one of these, with the option to buy it. The mortar and pestle, ritual knives, herbs, oils, wood disks, twine, grease pen, parchment, burlap, cloth, and work mats will be in kits owned by me that they can use for the class. That way I don't have to deal with them forgetting to bring something. If they want, they can buy part or all of the kit at the end of the class."

"That's a good idea. It should simplify the set-up. Are they going to take the binders home?" Dad finished the last jar of milk thistle and started on the day lily dust.
 

"I haven't figured that out. I was thinking about emailing them an electronic version of the binder, and having them keep the physical copy here until the end of the class." How to manage the information had been an ongoing dilemma. They needed to have access to it when they were at home so they could practice and use what they'd learned, but I didn't want to deal with them forgetting the papers.

"I've done something similar, and I liked the way it worked. A few of the students didn't like having their notes at class when they were home, so I had them bring a different notebook for taking notes and they could keep that one with them."

"I hadn't thought about that. Thank you!"

The next two hours flew by, and before I knew it, he'd kissed my forehead and escaped out the door. The information he'd given me was swirling around my brain. While I let it sink in, I finished cleaning up. Dad had helped me move the completed kits into my work room, but I still needed to store the rest of the jars and vacuum.
 

By the time I finished cleaning, I was hungry. Since my fridge was bare, I went downstairs to find food. After scavenging in Landa's fridge, I settled down to eat a sandwich, but my phone rang before I'd taken the first bite. I answered reluctantly, unwilling to disrupt my evening for a police emergency. "Oaks Consulting."

"Hey, Michelle. It's Rodriguez."

"What can I do for you?"

"Nothing. I wanted to tell you the lab didn't find any fingerprints. They pulled a few smudges they thought might be prints, but there wasn't anything usable. The paint is a standard red latex paint that's available in several stores, so it isn't unique enough to tell us anything. As for the shoe print, we know it's a guy's size 10 tennis shoe, but the tread was worn off so badly that they couldn't get a brand. I'm sorry I don't have better news."

"It's fine. You didn't have much to work with," I tried to sound cheerful.

"I've got them running a few other tests, but I wouldn't bet on them coming up with anything."

"Thank you. I know this has turned into a giant waste of time, but thank you."

"It wasn't a waste of time. There was an incident, which you reported. Like I said, we take care of our own."

"Thank you," I said.
 

"You're welcome. I need to head home, good night."

"Night."

With a heavy sigh I returned to my turkey, bacon, and cheddar sandwich while watching a dwarven comedian. Normally, I opted for documentaries or reading, but tonight I wanted something light hearted to take my mind off things. The dwarf had given way to a human, and I was placing my dishes in the sink when someone knocked on my door.
 

I made a beeline for door, calling out, "Who is it?"

"Elron. Please let me in."
 

Newly paranoid, I looked through the peep hole before throwing back the seldom used deadbolt.
 

Elron walked in carrying a small tree in a green ceramic dish. "How are you? I thought you might like some company."
 

Seeing the hesitation in his body, I smiled, "Company would be great. I'm sorry for being difficult this morning. You were helping and I was rude."

He shook his head, sending his silver hair rippling around his shoulders. "As I said before, all is forgiven. I would be testy if I awakened in that manner. The woods have been — awakened, for lack of a better term. They will try to prevent evil and evil-doers from entering this area. If they can't prevent their progress, they will alert us. With your connection to the earth, you should feel their alarm and distress."

"Thank you, I feel safer already." Which was true, but it was going to be difficult to sleep with mental images of something nasty creeping around the lodge.

"This," he nodded at the bonsai, "is for you. It will extend the protections of the forest into your apartment. I understand if you do not want it. Last time I gave you a plant it engulfed your bathroom." His shoulders drooped, and I could tell that he still felt bad about the last gift. Exposure to my magic had changed the small flower. I now had a purple and blue striped flower the size of a dinner plate next to my bathroom sink, and green vines twirling around the rest of my bathroom.