The Mayhem Sisters (15 page)

“Awesome.” Honora’s gaze was trained on the mirror. “Did you see the way it glided through the air? Talk about aerodynamic.”

Clover pointed, her attention captivated. “It’s flying toward the mansion. We’re going inside.”

Goosebumps cascaded over Vivi’s arms. She didn’t know anyone who had ever seen inside the dark wizard’s mansion; there were no rumors, not even whispers, of what existed behind the stone walls. And she was getting pulled inside, getting a bat’s eye view. The familiar flew into a tall vestibule lined with windows and down an expansive hall. Wrought-iron chandeliers hung on thick chains from the ceiling. Illuma lights glowed from the tips of tall waxy tapers though not a drip of wax fell on the dark wood floors. The walls were lined with tapestries woven with historic scenes of witches being tortured, burned, and hung.

Vivi shuddered. What kind of wizard hung such disturbing images on his walls? At the end of the hallway, the familiar entered a sitting room adorned with plush red velvet sofas, brocade-covered chairs, and wooden tables. A fire crackled in a huge stone hearth large enough to roast a pig. The three sisters were given a perfect view of the room when the familiar perched on one of the wood beam rafters. The sound of a door opening and closing down the hall filtered into the room, followed by approaching footsteps.

An imposing wizard stood in the threshold. Clover gasped. Her hand went to her mouth. The wizard was impeccably dressed. One side of his face was handsome with a strong jaw, but the other side was covered in scars that ran from his collar to his hairline. Viciously creased and puckered, his face was painful to look at and appeared to have been burned. His black hair was cut short, exposing ears that came to points, the way a fairy’s or elf’s would, but which seemed unnatural on him.

For a second, Vivi wondered if the wizard might be part goblin. What kind of magic had he been using on himself to create those ears?
A glamor?
she wondered.

The wizard’s gaze drifted skyward, locating his familiar, staring right at them.

“Do you think he senses we’re here?” Clover whispered.

“Hopefully not. But we don’t have much time.” Vivi couldn’t stop staring, mesmerized by the wizard. “We get as much information as we can before he senses us, and then we break the spell. I want to see the wizard who just arrived. There’s something about him that has my hackles raised.” Vivi rubbed the back of her neck.

“We make it quick, see who the wizard on the bike is, and cut the connection,” Honora pushed defiantly. “One look.”

Her sister was right, of course. But it was hard to resist a tempting opportunity to see inside the forbidden lair. Vivi felt so close to an important piece of information. Additional footsteps came from the hall and the door swung open.

The man from the bike drifted into the room. He slipped off his jacket and dropped it onto a chair. A black T-shirt clung to his well-developed torso and biceps. Black jeans and heavy boots completed his outfit. He helped himself to a drink and swirled the amber liquid around inside a crystal glass. Sinking down onto the sofa, he propped his boots up on the coffee table with his back to them. Vivi’s gaze drifted to his belt holding a metal wand that she recognized. Then she saw the rubber bands around his wrist and put it together.

Her mouth suddenly went dry. She knew him. “It’s Rye Finn!”

“Who?” Clover asked.

“He works for Hex Division. He questioned me about my vision at the police station. I can’t believe it. He practically accused me of being a suspect and now he’s sitting in the Darklander’s house sipping expensive booze.” She fumed, both shocked and confused.

“What a pompous jerk,” Honora said. “This is unbelievable.” She shook her head.

The Hexer glanced over his shoulder and she got a good view of his angular face and sharp nose. She had no doubt. The Darklander poured himself a snifter of amber liquor and joined Finn.

“What does this mean?” Clover asked. “Why would a Hexer be meeting with the Darklander?”

“He looks a little too comfortable to be on official business,” Vivi said, realizing that the Hexer was alone, without his two associates. She bit her lip. “I knew there was something up with him. He was more curious in what I knew about the case than wanting to find the missing witch.”

“Let’s give the guy the benefit of the doubt before rushing to judge. Hexers have to do a lot of things against the Witch’s Code. He could be undercover.” Being a private investigator gave Honora a sympathetic perspective.

Vivi wasn’t buying it. She didn’t trust Hexer Finn one bit. She focused on the scene and realized they had started talking. “Shh, I want to hear this.”

The three sisters leaned in to listen.

“This is unacceptable. I’m not bargaining.” Finn gulped his drink and sat the glass down with a loud clank.

“You don’t have a choice.” The Darklander’s voice was smooth and deep. “You do what I say.”

“Ha! Hardly.”

“For now we keep to the terms of the original agreement.”

“Sounds like they’ve done business before,” Vivi whispered. Her hands were slick with sweat against the mirror’s frame.

“Fine.” Finn sighed. “What about the other matter? Any word?”

“The magic is varied, inexperienced and advanced at the same time, but the wizard wasn’t stupid enough to leave anything useful behind. I am afraid, for now, I have nothing to offer you on that front.”

“There has to be a good reason the Darklander’s keeping quiet. He knew I was in the woods. Why doesn’t he tell Finn?” Vivi swallowed, her nerves on edge.

The familiar’s head jerked up as the door opened and a group of black-clad minions entered the room. A wizard with twisted horns and a curly goatee led the way. One had a tattoo covering the side of his neck and half his face in the markings of a Druid. Another had bleached white hair and the pointed ears of an elf. It was rumored that the Darklander and his followers were against the separation of species and wanted the borders of Everland opened up to the Otherworld, welcoming fairies, elves, wolves, and all the creatures of the Otherworld, including humans, into Everland. Many of his supporters used magic spells to mimic the features of other species like the elf ears, goat horns, and tattoos as a sign of solidarity.

They lugged a long rectangular wooden box into the room and heaved it onto the table in front of Finn and the Darklander as if it weighted a ton. The side panels were carved with ancient woodwork and intricate markings Vivi had never seen before. The Darklander wiped the surface with a damp cloth that came away covered in dirt and cobwebs. The box had been hidden away for a long time.

The followers jostled for position around their master, curiously peering over each other’s shoulders to glimpse what they had unearthed. An elaborate lock with two interlocking metal serpents graced the lid. The Darklander waved his wand over the twisted metal snakes and the lock slowly uncoiled.

A hushed silence filled the room.

The lid lifted. The hinges creaked. Nestled inside the box on a bed of crushed blue velvet was a row of colorful glass spheres. Each small globe was about the size of an egg, with a transparent surface revealing a swirling cosmos of light and color leaping to life inside of the balls.

“Wow.” Vivi gaped.

“What are those?” Clover asked.

“They’re impossibly rare. I’ve only seen them in diagrams at the Academy archives.” Vivi was riveted. “Amazing.”

“Elaborate, please,” Clover said. “Besides being spectacular, you still haven’t told us what they are.”

“Spectacularly dangerous. If I’m right, those little babies are elemental spheres. The balls are used to control elemental forces as well as the weather. The red ones are sky fire. The blue ones channel water. Gold controls the earth; white the air. I think the silver one must harness electricity.” Elemental magic had always fascinated Vivi. This had to be about Rye Finn and his desire to know more about the volatile magic.

“Where did they get them?” Clover asked. “But more importantly, what are they planning on doing with them?”

“Probably the black market,” Honora said. “You don’t want to know the kind of stuff traded in Stargazer’s seedier sections of town.”

“That’s heavy-duty magic, and it isn’t good. The Witch Council outlawed the spheres a century ago. They could screw up our whole world. Can you imagine someone controlling the elements?” Vivi said.

“The Darklander would control the entire witching world,” Honora said. “He must have stolen them. Or traded them for something equally terrible.”

Clover narrowed her eyes. “I understand why the Darklander would be involved. Selling illegal magical devices for profit seems right up his alley. But what’s the Hexer doing here?”

Vivi stared at the rubber bands he wore on his wrist. “He’s not an elemental, but his mother’s one. He has some power,” Vivi said. “But I’m guessing he wants more.”

“Now he has a whole lot.” Honora snorted. “Never trust the Hex Division. They’re always out for themselves. Who knows what plans they have for the spheres?”

“Could the council be after them? Maybe he’s working for them.” Clover shrugged, always the pragmatic one, giving everyone the benefit of the doubt. “We should wait until we know more before we condemn him.”

“Maybe, but you never had the pleasure of meeting him. The spheres need to be destroyed or at least locked away by the council. No matter who has them,” Vivi said. She was really starting to dislike this guy.

Finn picked up one of the balls from its velvet bed and held it up to the light. The ball swirled with energy. After inspecting the magical fireball, he reached into his jacket and pulled out a pouch and dropped it on the table—gold. Vivi’s stomach clenched. He was here to make a deal with the Darklander.

“Does this mean that the Darklander isn’t involved in the witch attacks?” Clover asked.

“I don’t know.” Frustration washed over Vivi in a wave of heat. Every time she got a little bit closer, she took a step backwards. She didn’t know what this meant, except that it complicated things. “I don’t think the missing witch is in the Darklander’s mansion. I can’t feel her at all.”

There was a buzzing sound in the room.

“What’s that?” Honora asked.

“The mirror’s vibrating.” Vivi grabbed the edge.

“Magical power surge,” Clover said. “This old thing is unpredictable.”

The minion with the elf ears looked up suddenly and pointed to the rafters where the Darklander’s familiar perched.

“They’re onto us,” Honora said. “I told you two this mirror was trouble.”

They had been so distracted by the elemental spheres they had forgotten that the mirror caused a disturbance in the scene it was viewing. After a short amount of time, the magical energy would be felt and even seen, the mirror becoming a window, enabling the wizards in the room to peer right through. The veil separating them thinned, turning transparent.

“One more second.” Vivi needed more information.

Finn slammed the case shut and the Darklander stepped in front of the table. The minions snapped to attention and went into a surround formation to protect their leader. Suddenly, the sisters were staring down at a small gang of wizards with their wands raised, ready to strike. The Darklander pulled a long thin wand that looked like a crooked finger bone from the interior pocket of his jacket. A dark phrase poured from his lips. It wasn’t a curse, but it was a strong spell that leapt in a spark of sharp energy from the tip of his wand upward into the rafters. The familiar screamed as the spell exploded inches from its head.

“Shut it down.” Honora lunged for the mirror, but she was too late, for Clover had spoken the counter spell, and with a spark, the mirror went black.

“That was close.” Honora brushed the hair out of her face.

“Too close,” Clover said.

“I just wanted answers. The Darklander has to know something about the witch attacks.” Vivi held her head in her hands. “Nothing happens near his house without him knowing. His familiar flies through the trees at all hours. He knows, and he’s not telling anyone. He trades in stolen goods, and I bet he trades in information, too.”

“What about Hexer Finn?” Honora asked. “If he’s an elemental or wants to be a stronger one, we’re in trouble. Plus, he knows we saw him committing a crime. He’s not going to be too happy about that.”

“A Hexer might have gone rogue. That’s all you need.” Clover picked up the mirror and placed it back in the old trunk where she had found it. “I hope this wasn’t a bad idea.”

“At least we know more than we knew before. It just wasn’t what we were hoping for,” Vivi said.

T
he following morning things were slow at the shop. Pepper was holding a potion-conjuring workshop with a few friends from Haven Academy, and Vivi didn’t want to get in the way of eight overly excited young witches brewing up love potions, so she headed over to Nocturnes, craving a cup of tea and a warm cherry almond scone. After her peek through the scrying mirror last night, when she spied on and got caught by one of the most powerful and deviant wizards in Everland, she needed time to clear her head and figure out her next move.

Lavender waved madly from the front window of The Charmery, tapping on the glass to get Vivi’s attention as she walked down Main Street. She had planned on stopping by later that day, but from Lavender’s reaction, Vivi figured she must have exciting news about the bracelet, so she picked up her pace and headed over. Once she was inside the shop, the excited charmer latched onto her arm and pulled her into the back, telling her assistant to watch the store.

“I’m guessing you have news,” Vivi said, pushing past a drape and into the workroom.

“You bet I do.” Lavender peeled back a piece of black velvet, revealing the ominous silver bracelet.

“It’s still in one piece.” Vivi eyed the jewelry, wishing it had been carved up, so she could peek at its metal guts.

“I didn’t cut it up or melt it down. I used a view casting spell to see inside like a magical x-ray.” Lavender wiggled her eyebrows, practically giddy with excitement. “Want to know what I found?”

“Of course.” Vivi felt as if she would jump out of her skin. The charm witch’s enthusiasm was infectious. “Tell me.”

“Well, you were right about it containing a binding spell. But that isn’t the interesting part. Let me explain. The purpose of a charm infused into jewelry is to gradually transfer the magical spell onto whoever is wearing it. For example, a binding spell controls or binds the witch wearing it.”

“Right,” Vivi answered. “So Miranda, the witch I saw wearing a similar bracelet, was using it to give herself more magic. It was a charm, but this one is binding.” That didn’t surprise Vivi. She held up the bracelet, turning it in her hand.

“Not exactly. That’s what’s so exciting. This charm bracelet isn’t just a vessel to hold magic or bind someone. It’s a siphon.” Lavender’s face lit up.

“Wait, you mean it was made to draw magic out of a witch?” Vivi dropped the bracelet back onto the cloth and gave it a suspicious glare. “Is that even possible?”

“I know witches who have tried. I’ve heard of experiments to help witches with too much power.” Lavender sat next to Vivi. “If a witch’s
persuasion
is too strong, it can cause problems. Some elementals have to siphon off magic prior to working with fire or air. The elements are stronger than witches, so to handle the magic, they siphon some of it off to keep from hurting themselves.”

“That’s interesting. This bracelet could be used to pull magic from a witch in a good way. Hexer Finn is trying to learn elemental magic. Could something like this help him?”

“Not necessarily. He would need magic if he’s going to control it, and if he isn’t a natural elemental, I don’t see how this would help him. As for the bracelet doing good, it depends on the intent; it could be used for good or bad. I haven’t been able to get any signature of what kind of magic the charm held, except for the remnants of the binding spell, like I said.”

Vivi picked up the bracelet. It looked harmless, but looks could be deceiving. The bracelet was a device that yielded to the magic and the witch wielding it—good or bad.

“Thanks, you’ve been a big help.”

Lavender wrapped up the bracelet and handed it back to her. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“Me, too. I just can’t stop thinking this thing is a key to what’s been happening.”

“Always trust your instincts.”

A surge of excitement filled Vivi as she left The Charmery. Finally, she had another piece of the puzzle. It made sense and explained why Clarissa Taylor was empty of magic when they found her in the woods. The dark wizard siphoned it off and left her for dead. A pulse of anger hit her when she thought of the poor witch lying in the healer ward. At least now she knew how it was being done. Finding out who was behind it was another story.

Her list of suspects was short.

The twins had to be involved. There was no way Miranda’s bracelet was a siphon. She was too hungry for power and control. But why would they steal magic? They were already powerful and wealthy. It didn’t make sense. Could they be using it for a new healing remedy? The lab was buzzing with some grand new product. But what motivated them? That was the question.

Vivi rubbed the tip of her finger with her thumb, recalling the drops of her blood Mitchell had taken for his test. She knew from her own potion-making experience the Menders would naturally have to test all products before selling them to the public. Testing was the norm. But how far would they go? The twins’ involvement didn’t explain the black magic found in the Dire Woods. She couldn’t picture Mitchell and Miranda traipsing around the forest, using blood salt,
unless
the experiments and tests weren’t working, and they became desperate. But she had no proof against Miranda. A bracelet wasn’t enough.

The vision she had at the lab only confused her more—a lovely cottage in the woods, but inside the idyllic home, the blackest magic was being performed. Where was it? Vivi remembered the tapestries hanging in the Darklander’s home. Terrible things had been done to witches in the past, but that was by humans. Vivi knew better than to think that witches and wizards were that different. They had many traits in common and the desire for wealth and power was just one of them. The Darklander was the type who had no problem with using black magic. She was left with still more questions.

She crossed the street and headed into Nocturnes. The lunch crowd hadn’t descended yet, so she had her pick of tables and chose a prime window seat location that stared out over Main Street and ordered a hot mocha tonic. Her hunger was gone. She couldn’t eat, but the drink was rich and soothing, warming her whole body from the inside out. Wanting to confide in him, Vivi contemplated heading over to the sheriff’s office to see what Lance thought about her recent discoveries, but if she told him about the bracelet, she would also have to tell him where she found it, and that would lead to the Darklander and the scrying mirror. She wasn’t ready to turn in Hexer Finn without knowing more about his dealings with the Darklander and the elemental spheres. Maybe Clover was right and Rye Finn was working for the Hex Division on a secret mission.

The shops on Main Street were all coming alive for another day, opening their doors to the oncoming shoppers. Nocturnes was great for witch watching. Vivi eyed witches and wizards walk by on their way here and there. That was when she noticed a familiar face—a wizard wearing a jean jacket with the black hood of his sweatshirt blown back from his head. He had a stubbly jaw, lightly scared from acne. His eyes darted up and down the street as he crossed, making his way to Nocturnes and passing the window without a glance. She knew she had seen him before. Butterflies erupted in her stomach when she remembered him.

It was Paul, the young wizard she’d seen at Mender Corp, lurking around the lab, talking to Dr. Fowler. Then it clicked. She’d also seen him at the Cassandra Reason book signing. He was the nervous fan who dropped his books. Seeing him at the company, she’d assumed he lived in the city, but she realized he must live out here. It made more sense. Maybe he would give her the inside scoop on his bosses, she mused, prompting her to pay her check and dart after him before he could get away.

She spotted him immediately and hurried to keep up, but hung back, watching. There was something about him that interested her, and she had a feeling he might be of help to her. He didn’t go into any shops, but took a right turn down the crooked alley. He was headed for the portal, so she quickened her pace. Casually following someone down the street was one thing, but following the wizard through a portal was verging on stalking. This was her only chance to ask him a few questions.

“Excuse me,” Vivi said, reaching his side. “Hello. I hate to interrupt you, but I was hoping to talk to you for a second.”

Paul stopped abruptly and gave her a suspicious glance. “What about?” His hair was shaggy and hung across his forehead into his eyes. Clad in worn jeans, he drove his hands into his pockets and scanned the street.

“I saw you at Mender Corp the other day. I was on a tour. You work with Dr. Fowler, right?” She smiled, hoping to put him at ease.

“Oh, is that all?” He shrugged, looking relieved. “Technically, I don’t work with him. I do freelance research for the lab. Pick up jobs on the side. Sometimes I feel like I do all the work for them, and they take all the credit.” His voice was laced with sarcasm.

“It must be exciting, a great opportunity? I’m a potion maker. Nothing major like the work they do there, just small stuff, but I’m a big fan of the Mender twins. Do you ever get to work with them? You know, see behind the scenes?” She was betting on her fan-witch routine to get some dirt on the healers and their operation.

“Sure, sometimes. Mostly Miranda, when I can reach her. She’s very selective of who she works with.” His gaze was calculating. “If you’re looking for a job, I can’t help you. Sorry.”

“I wouldn’t dream of asking.”

“Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to get a meeting with Fowler? It took years, and I still have to come in the back door.” He shrugged.

“Good to know. Tell me, what’s he really like to work with?”

“Guy’s real hard-nosed. Cocky, too.”

“Why? He didn’t seem all that bad to me. Kind of gruff, but he’s the head healer so I imagine he’s under a lot of pressure.”

“Pressure.” Paul shook his head. “He’s the problem. Always pushing for results and never satisfied. I’d stay away from him if I were you.”

“Really?” But, if Vivi recalled, it was Paul who was pushing the doctor to read his paper. “I hear he’s working on some breakthrough magic. That he’s a genius.”

“Like I said, stay away from him. You haven’t seen what he’s really like. He’s got this back room to his laboratory that no one knows about, but I saw it one time when he didn’t realize I was there. It’s like a
dungeon
where he takes
volunteers
.” His expression turned serious. “I’ve heard things, terrible cries. Strange things go on down there.” He glanced around, making sure they were alone. “I even saw some jars filled with black ash once.”

Vivi couldn’t believe what she was hearing, so she challenged him. “Now you’re just trying to scare me.” She narrowed her eyes, remembering Dr. Fowler’s black fingertips. Could the
volunteers
be the witches? “Have you told anyone?”

“Why would I do that? I’d lose my job. I don’t care what that crazy wizard does in his spare time as long as I still get to work and get paid.”

Obviously, Paul cared more about his career than about the ethical standards at Mender Corp. It seemed impossible to know for sure, and accusing the doctor or the Mender twins of a serious crime was going to be difficult enough. She tried to imagine the doctor as the wizard from her vision. He definitely had the experience. And who knew what motivated him? But she pressed on. “The twins are healers. It’s hard to believe they’d let anything bad go on in their lab,” Vivi said.

“Who knows? They’re all about sacrifice and the greater good, hard work, and the grind. They’ve got an orphan complex. They see the sacrifice as necessary.”

“Miranda seemed like a control freak if ever I saw one,” Vivi said before she could stop herself.

A smile spread across the young wizard’s face. “I’ll give you a piece of advice for getting a job with the company, no charge. The Menders like strong witches. Power attracts them. Real power.”

“What do you mean?”

Paul tilted his head to the side and contemplated her question before answering.

“Let’s just say I have a sense about people. I know their true nature. Take you, for example. I know you pretend to be a potions master. Don’t get me wrong. You seem smart, but you hide what you really are. You’ve been doing it for years. But you can’t hide it from me.” A strange little smile twisted up his mouth. “They would like you. The real you.”

“What are you talking about?” Vivi was shocked. Who did he think he was, taking one look at her and summing her up? He didn’t know her at all, and yet he knew there was more to her than potions. “Are you an intuitive? What’s your
persuasion
?” Vivi asked.

“Don’t get mad. It was a guess.” He gave her a devious grin. “Nice talking to you.” He turned his back and headed over to the green door with the boar’s head portal.

Vivi wasn’t sure if she could trust anything he had told her. Something was off, but she couldn’t decide if he was telling the truth or was just a cocky wizard talking trash. She turned to leave, but lingered, waiting to see where he went. Paul walked over to the boar’s head portal. “Fox’s Rock,” he said and disappeared into the swirling energy.

Fox’s Rock was an old haunt. It was nestled on the outskirts of Willow Realm, between the village and the Meadowlands. Witches gathered at the outcropping of rocks for festivals, harvest moons, and solstices. Huge boulders jutted up out of the clearing, creating stony ridges and plateaus, making perfect places to sit and have a picnic or get away from the world, relax and kick back. It was a nice quiet place to live.

Turning back, Vivi hurried to her shop to get ready for tonight.