Legacy Of Magick (Legacy Of Magick Series, Book 1) (18 page)

“No, it is not.” Gwen said firmly. “I’ve never even heard of it before.”

“What happened twenty-two years ago?” I asked.

Gwen seemed to choose her next words deliberately, “Twenty-two years ago this family experienced what could best be described as a serious magickal attack, for reasons I still don’t understand. Your grandparents and your father’s best friend all died.”

Well, holy crap. That was a bit of an unexpected bomb to drop into the conversation. I was silent for a moment. Clearly it was an uncomfortable subject, the death of her parents— my grandparents. While I was sorry to see my aunt upset, I needed answers, and I needed them pronto.

“Do you remember our grandparents?” Holly asked me.

“Nope, I guess I would have been around two when they died. Dad never talked about his family very much. It always seemed to upset my mother.”

Gwen shook her head, sadly.

“Aunt Gwen,” I began, “you said that magick frightened my mother. Is that why they left?”

“Your grandparent’s deaths tipped the scale, you could say.” Gwen answered.

“How did they die?” I asked

“It appeared that your grandfather suffered a stroke while he was driving and that he lost control of the car. He died instantly, while your Grandma Rose held on for a few days, but never regained consciousness.”

“What do you mean, it appeared?” I repeated.

“Investigators decided it must have been a heart attack or a stroke, for him to loose control of the car as he did. However we have reasons to think it may have actually been a magickal attack.”

“Why would you think that?” I wanted to know.

“Since the autopsy showed that he had suffered neither a stroke nor heart attack, and it was too neat and tidy of an answer. Moreover, after the accident, another driver struck one of the responding police officers who was trying to save your grandmother. He died too, and the hit and run driver was never identified.” She paused for a moment. “A few weeks after the funerals, your father left with you and your mother.”

Oh my god.
It clicked suddenly.
A police officer had died, probably trying to save my grandmother. Could that be my ghost?
I tried to stay calm.“The officer who died at the scene, was he friends with my father?”

Gwen narrowed her eyes. “Yes, he was.” She sounded surprised that I asked.

Before I could ask the officer’s name, Bran walked in with Duncan Quinn and a pretty, middle aged woman. My cousins and aunt rose to their feet. Duncan went straight to me, pulled me up out of the big chair and into a hug. I sputtered in surprise and embarrassment. The last time Gwen had been around Duncan, she was very hostile. I had to wonder at Bran bringing him and the mystery woman in the house.

To my astonishment, Gwen merely nodded at Duncan and the woman and said hello.

Clearly I had passed into an alternate universe.

Duncan held me out at arm’s length. “You’re okay?” He must have come straight from the job site. His jeans were splattered in what looked like paint and his t-shirt seemed a little sweaty. I couldn’t have cared less. As we stood there looking at each other, I felt little tingles from where his hands touched my arms.

I smiled. I couldn’t help it. “I’m glad to see you, but what are you doing here?”

“Bran called me.” He said, and then he addressed the group. “I’m not sure what my uncle thinks he’s doing with this stunt, but believe me when I say we had no idea he would try such a thing.”

“Why would he do that, use magick on her in a public place?” Holly asked.

“Power play, maybe?” Ivy threw her two cents in.

“Girls.” Gwen cut off the twin’s theories.

I nudged Duncan, “Are you going to introduce me?”

“Oops. Sorry.” He grinned. “Autumn, this is my mother, Rebecca Drake-Quinn.”

My mouth hit the floor. What happened to the whole shtick about the entire family being evil? “Uh, hello.” I said.

As I studied the woman who stood there, poised and quiet in an elegant navy skirt and jacket, I could see where Duncan had gotten his blue eyes and blonde hair.

She smiled at me gently. “Hello Autumn.” Her voice was as cultured and sophisticated as the rest of her. I looked over at Gwen to see how she was reacting to having half of the Drake family inside of the manor.

“Rebecca, won’t you take a seat?” Gwen invited, and gestured for the rest of us to do the same.

I think my eyes almost popped out of my head at the polite manners and calm atmosphere in the family room. Rebecca chose a chair next to mine. Bran went over on the couch by his mother. The twins plopped back on the rug. I sat in the comfy armchair again, and Duncan chose to sit on the arm of my chair. To my shock, Merlin gave up his spot, then walked over to Rebecca and started rubbing against her ankles. She reached down to pet him, and, taking that as an invitation, Merlin jumped into her lap as if they were old friends. Then he sat there and purred. Loudly.

Ivy started to chuckle at Merlin, and Gwen observed Rebecca and the cat for a moment. “Animals are foolproof barometers of people and their intentions, Mom.” Ivy poked Gwen. “You taught me that yourself.”

Rebecca cleared her throat and addressed everyone. “I understand that you are hesitant to have us in your home, however, we find ourselves in extraordinary circumstances.”

Gwen looked at Rebecca, “Were you seen, coming here?”

Rebecca gave a slight smile, “Not at all. I used a glamour.”

“Duncan?” Gwen nodded.

“I don’t care if I’m seen or not.” Duncan crossed his arms, and then continued. “What I want to know is why he would spell Autumn and then threaten your family? What could he hope to gain from it?”

“He said he wanted me to find the Blood Moon Grimoire.” I explained.

“The what?” he frowned down at me, visibly confused.

“No...” Rebecca whispered and went a little pale.

Duncan reached over to his mother. “Mom?” He put his hand on her shoulder as if to steady her.

Rebecca looked around Duncan and at me, intently. “You’re sure? He said the Blood Moon Grimoire?”

“Yeah. He said it was a big antique book with a red leather cover. He seems to think my father stole it and then hid it. He wants me to find it and return it to him. He said that if I didn’t, then something might happen to the twins.” I explained.

“That son of a bitch.” Duncan hissed, and I jumped. “My uncle.” He clarified. “Not your father.”

“What I want to know is why does he think my father was a thief? That’s ridiculous! My dad wouldn’t steal some moldy old book. He wouldn’t have stolen anything.” I said.

And that pronouncement was met with ringing silence.
Thanks for the back up, gang.
I sat there a little offended as Gwen looked thoughtful, Bran merely lounged there, and the twins were apparently having the time of their lives. Silently of course.

Rebecca looked grim. “He did steal the grimoire.” She announced quietly.

“I don’t believe it.” I said in defense of my father. I looked to Gwen for her reaction, and she looked shocked. Her eyebrows had almost disappeared into her hairline.

“Autumn, listen to me.” Duncan’s mother spoke quietly but with conviction. “I know for a fact that he
did
steal the grimoire. Just as I also know that he didn’t do it alone. Arthur had help.”

Gwen and Bran both started to ask questions at the same time, and Rebecca silenced them with a raised hand. “I know all this... because
I
was the one who distracted Thomas while they smuggled the book out of the Drake mansion.”

“Who were
they
?” I asked her.

Your father, Arthur, and my husband, David.” Rebecca stated.

The room fell to silence. Judging by the way Duncan’s mouth hit the floor, he knew nothing of this either. Well, we were both the offspring of grimoire thieves. Now that’s sexy.

Duncan moved to stand next to his mother’s chair. “Dad wasn’t a Witch. Why would he have gone after a grimoire?”

Rebecca reached out and took Duncan’s hand. She looked up at her son and said, “The Blood Moon Grimoire was rumored to be a powerful book of magick, and, in the wrong hands, it could be lethal.” Rebecca explained. “Your father and Arthur took the book and hid it to protect you.” Now she looked at all of us gathered in the room. “They protected
all
of you, and the generations to come. And the price they paid for it was high. Very high.” Her eyes shimmered with tears.

“What was the price?” Ivy asked.

Suddenly I knew. The attack on my grandparents was revenge. My stomach roiled, and I felt like crying. I looked over at Duncan and his mother. I took a careful breath. “Duncan, was your father a police officer?”

“Yes.” Duncan said.

I stood up, as adrenalin surged through me. My heart started to pound and my face felt hot. I looked at Gwen steadily and this time I stated what I
knew
. “David Quinn, Duncan’s father... he was the police officer that died trying to save my grandmother.”

“What?” Duncan seemed horrified.

“Yes.” Rebecca and Gwen said together.

My heart was pounding so loud I wondered how no one else heard it. I stepped over to Duncan and his mother, and I worked hard to keep my voice steady and calm. “Do you happen to have a picture of him with you?”

“I do.” Duncan reached for his wallet. He opened it and gently pulled out an old photo. He handed it over; I met his eyes, and took it carefully. I steadied myself for a couple of seconds before I looked down at it.

The photo was older snapshot, one that had been trimmed to wallet size. It was faded a bit, but the images were crystal clear. I saw a toddler aged Duncan, held in a younger Rebecca’s arms. A man with dark hair cut military style short, had his arms around them both. The man was serious, but smiling, in his dress uniform, and was very familiar to me.

“Hello David, nice to see you again.” I said to the picture of the man whose ghost I had spoken to not an hour before.

In my mind I heard his voice say.
You need my help, and I need yours.

I saw black and white spots in front of my eyes. A roar filled my ears, and then I saw and heard nothing. Nothing at all.

***    

Someone was stroking my hair, and it wasn’t a bad way to wake up. Their voice was low and smooth, but sounded a little worried. I sighed and opened my eyes.

“There you are.” Duncan leaned over into my face and smiled at me. I blinked and found that I was lying on the family room floor, with my head in his lap.

“How did I end up down here?” I wondered out loud.

“You fainted, but I caught you.” Duncan explained.

Ivy leaned over my face. “It was very romantic the way you swooned.”

“Back up Ivy.” That was Gwen, and then she was leaning over me. “How do you feel now, honey?”

Embarrassment kicked in. “I did
not
faint.” I announced to the room in general as I discovered that everyone was gathered around me, staring as if they had seen a ghost or something...

Oh wait, I was the one who had seen the ghost. Seen and spoken to. Duncan helped me to sit up, and I took it slow, waiting to see if I would ‘not-faint’ again. I leaned against his shoulder as the room spun a bit, and then settled. I accepted a glass of water from Holly and sipped slowly.

“Your color is better.” Holly decided. She hunkered down next to me and gently laid her hand on my shoulder. I started to feel better as soon as she touched me.

Duncan reached up and drew Holly’s hand away from my shoulder. “You’re giving your own energy to her. Stop. Save it for yourself. I’ve got this. ” I jolted hard when his hand landed firmly on my shoulder where Holly’s had been. A big surge of power went through me. I sat up straight, my back almost arching, as I felt a delicious shiver roll through my entire body.

I reached up, covered his hand with my own, and slanted him a look. He returned it with a slight smile. I hoped to god the family wouldn’t notice that it wasn’t strictly healing he was sending. His energy blended with mine, and the attraction I felt to him intensified. I squeezed his hand and he caught my signal and the energy toned down. It was hard to sit there and act all serene, when what I wanted to do was, well... jump him, basically.

Duncan lifted our joined hands and pressed a kiss to the back of mine. Our eyes met and everything and everyone else in the room didn’t seem to matter.

It was Bran who broke the spell. “Hey, that’s enough you two.” He said gruffly.

The moment shattered by Mr. Conservative, Duncan and I grinned at each other and then he helped me to my feet. I saw that Holly was blushing; I guess somebody picked up on that sexy energy after all.

“Autumn,” Aunt Gwen asked before I even made it to the chair. “What did you mean when you said ‘it was nice to see you again?’”

Well crap. How in the hell do you politely tell the guy your attracted to, who just pushed hot, vibrant, and sexy energy straight through your body, that his father’s ghost has been haunting you? I stalled for a few moments as Duncan helped me to sit back in the big cushy chair.

I looked around the room at the half dozen faces watching me and decided it was time to tell the truth. It was a bit hypocritical to be all bent out of shape about my father keeping secrets from me, when I had been keeping my own. I looked up at Duncan as he sat on the arm of my chair again. “This isn’t the first time I have seen David Quinn.”

“How can that be?” Rebecca asked.

“I first saw him standing on the sidewalk, wearing a police officer’s uniform, a few weeks ago. I thought he was directing traffic. It was the day I drove the girls home from school.

“The day that crow bounced off the windshield and stopped us when that SUV that ran the stop sign.” Ivy said.

Nodding, I said, “After we got home, I saw him again, standing at the edge of the driveway. He told me to ‘stay safe’ and I thought he was a real person.” I cringed and then apologized to Rebecca and Duncan. “Sorry. That sounded bad.”

“Go on.” Rebecca said.

I filled them in on the times I had
spoken
to David, and I was completely unsurprised that Bran was now taking notes on a legal pad.