The Mayhem Sisters (8 page)

Most of the information on Dax she already knew, but the details on the founders of Mender Corp were enlightening. The company was the brainchild of twins—Mitchell and Miranda Mender. They were prodigies in the
persuasion
of healing, groomed at a young age to excel in medicine. Vivi scanned the company’s public relations biography of the twins, which listed their extensive academy training and accolades, but it was an old news clipping that really got her attention. The story told the tragic tale of an accident at a laboratory, an explosion that killed the twins’ parents, leaving them alone in the world with no other family. The photo depicted two pale, dazed children peeking sadly out from under mops of black hair. Orphans. Geniuses. Rising out of despair to form one of the most successful companies in Everland. Fascinating.

Next, Vivi discovered an article in the newspaper on Mender Corp by a witch who had taken a company tour of the healing facility that caused Vivi’s senses to perk up. A tour was exactly what she needed. She selected a sheet of paper and a reed pen and composed a letter to old family friend Dax Cross, hoping he could get her a spot on one of the behind-the-scenes tours.
Couldn’t hurt to ask
, she thought. After writing the note and sealing it up, she put all the books back on the shelves and headed back downstairs to see how the author signing was going.

Luckily, Pepper was close to the front of the line, so Vivi made her way to the table and stood off to the side, waiting for her assistant.

A wizard in his mid-twenties fumbled with a pile of hardbacks he was holding to get signed and dropped them on the floor at Cassandra’s feet. He scrambled to gather up the books. Vivi couldn’t see his face, but he gave her a weird sensation. She hopped out of line and went up to give him a hand. “Need some help?” she asked as she picked up a book that had fallen a few feet away.

“I got it,” he said.

His face was gaunt and a line of acne scars lined his strong jaw, making him look more rugged than his tall, wiry frame would suggest. His hair was freshly washed and still wet, slicked back, showing off his hollow cheeks, beakish nose, and stiff grin. His face turned beet red. Cassandra had that effect on wizards, especially fans meeting her for the first time. When he took the book from her, Vivi noticed that he was wearing leather gloves.

“Thanks,” he said, and turned his back on her.

Even though she wanted the nervous fanboy to hurry up, Vivi couldn’t shake the strange feeling she got from him. She joined Pepper as the line advanced.

“I know how he feels,” Pepper whispered, shifting from foot to foot. “I was a ball of nerves the first time I met Cassandra.”

Finally, the next few people got their books signed and Vivi and Pepper approached the signing table.

“Now’s your chance,” Vivi nudged Pepper as their turn arrived.

Pepper giggled and set her book down in front of her literary idol, Cassandra Reason. “I love your work. It’s brilliant,” she gushed. “Please don’t ever stop writing.”

“You’re so sweet, Pepper. And very perceptive.” Cassandra arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at the two of them.

Vivi winked at her sister and made room for the next fan by standing off to the side.

After the book signing, they stopped off at the post office so Vivi could send the letter to Dax. The post was the main source of communication in Everland, and couriers went out numerous times day and night, delivering correspondence. Vivi was lucky, for when she walked in, an enthusiastic young witch with a messenger bag slung over her shoulder was about to leave with the next delivery, assuring the letter would reach Stargazer City later in the afternoon.

Having some time to kill, Vivi and Pepper stopped in the Brewery Tavern for a mug of kindle brew and some snacks before heading back to the shop to meet up with Clover. Two hours later the door swung open and a pretty woman with a pert nose and long curly blonde hair strolled into The Potion Garden. She was wearing a trailing skirt that skimmed the floor, an empire-waist blouse, and a wide-brimmed hat with flowers from her garden pinned to it.

Pepper raced over and gave Vivi’s sister a big hug. “I’m so excited for you and the new book.”

“Thanks, kitten. I’m glad you like it.” She pulled off her hat and used it to fan herself. “Is it hot in here or is it just me?”

“It’s you,” Vivi said. “All that adoration has got you overheated.” She laughed. “I’m just glad I don’t have to keep my mouth shut about the book anymore now that it’s out.”

“Since the book is finally available for the masses, I might be in a little late tomorrow. I plan on staying up to read every word. I can’t make any promises on my punctuality.” Pepper clutched her package in her arms.

“No problem. You can take the late shift tomorrow. Now hurry home and get reading,” Vivi said, but her assistant was already out the front door.

With the shop closed for the night, the two sisters sauntered into the back room. Clover made herself comfortable, brewing up a pot of tea for them while Vivi poured cooled potion mixtures, which she had brewed earlier that day, into bottles. She filled Clover in on the events of the past two days.

“I can’t believe Esmeralda was wandering the woods near my house. That’s a little sad and creepy,” Clover said, sipping her tea.

“I’ll say.”

“What are you going to do now?” Clover asked.

“From what I can gather there’s really only one thing I can do: check out Mender Corp. I sent a letter to Dax.”

Clover practically choked on her tea. “Are you serious?” She cleared her throat.

“After my day with Scarlet, I really don’t think I have a choice. I have to follow up on this lead and my gut.”

“Does Honora know what you are planning on doing?”

“If you mean does she know that I sought out council from her arch-rival, nemesis, and sworn enemy till death, then no. And she won’t until I find a way of breaking it to her tonight at dinner, so mum’s the word.” Vivi eyed her sister. “Got it?”

“My lips are sealed. In fact, I’m going to put a spell on myself so I don’t tell.” Clover dramatically dug around in her bag. “Where did I put that lip-sealer potion?”

They both laughed. “You used it all up on me, remember? So I wouldn’t spill any secrets from your new book.”

“I wish there was something I could do to help,” Clover said, pouring Vivi another cup of steaming tea.

“I’ve been avoiding the whole thing for too long. Scarlet really woke me up today about my
persuasion
. We have a lot in common. She made me realize that I can’t keep wasting my magic.” Vivi drizzled wax over the top of the corked bottles to seal them tight.

Clover didn’t say anything, but her silence was loaded.

“What?” Vivi asked. She hated it when Clover got quiet.

“Be careful with her. Scarlet serves herself. She was into some dark stuff back in school.” Clover ran her finger over the delicate edge of her cup. Being the eldest sister, she was the most protective by nature.

“That was a long time ago. Witches change. I’m keeping an open mind.” Vivi put the hot copper pot down, careful not to burn herself.

Clover shook her head. “What’s she up to these days?”

“She has a fortune-telling shop off Main Street.” Vivi smiled and shrugged. “It’s called The Evil Queen.”

“Ha! Told you. I need to come into town more often. I’m missing all the fun.”

V
ivi stayed in town to freshen up before heading out to the Meadowlands to meet her sisters for dinner. Clover lived in a huge old-world-style house the color of a ripe pumpkin with white trim and black shutters and door to match. Everyone called it the pumpkin house because of the orange siding. The eccentric-looking house fit her sister’s quirky personality perfectly, and gave off an air of perpetual Halloween. Both Clover and Honora were lounging in two wicker armchairs on the covered porch when Vivi arrived with her arms loaded down with groceries.

“Can I get some help with these?” Vivi yelled to them as she juggled the bags up the pathway to the house.

“Finally, the food has arrived.” Clover jumped to her feet and raced to help her with the goodies. She was infamous for her disasters in the kitchen, so Vivi and Honora did most of the cooking.

Nosy as a starving badger, Clover dug through the bag and latched onto a baguette, sliding it free. “Come to mama,” she said, sniffing the golden-brown bread.

Honora grabbed a bag out of Vivi’s arms but gave Clover a look of mock concern. “When you start to snuggle up with a loaf of bread, it’s an emergency sign you need a date,” Honora said, traipsing into the kitchen and unloading the food. “When was the last time you went out with a man? A
real
man, not an imaginary one you made up.”

Clover twisted up her mouth in thought. “Two novels ago. Randal, remember?”

“Who was he again?” Honora asked as the three navigated their way around the huge kitchen.

“The librarian,” Vivi yelped, pouring herself a glass of Clover’s famous wine and fruit sangria, which had a serious kick. “The strong silent type. A bookworm.”

“He was very, very sweet. And nice.” Clover tossed a head of lettuce onto the counter and held up a cluster of tomatoes still dangling on the vine.

“Too nice from what I recall.” Honora turned up the flame on the stove and warmed a pot of water.

“Isn’t that always the problem? Wizards are either hard as nails or soft as a marshmallow. I’d like to meet one right in the middle,” Clover said, starting to chop the vegetables for the salad.

“You need to whip us up a hot wizard potion, Vivi.” Honora stirred the bubbling red sauce she had made earlier that day, warming it up.

“You both know that love potions never work for very long. You can’t fake love.” Vivi sliced the loaf of bread in half and slathered it with a butter and garlic mixture.

“Who was talking love?” Honora asked. “We just want a warm body with thick hair. He doesn’t even have to talk. Just be gorgeous, sexy, and do whatever I tell him to do.” She wiggled her eyebrows.

“And gives good back rubs, likes to read, and knows some basic cleaning spells,” Clover chimed in, wielding her knife. She was not known for her neatness; in fact, she was a bit of a pack rat.

“I want a wizard who’s a good kisser, not too gorgeous, more on the casual, lived-in handsome side, a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy with a good stable job and a dog,” Vivi fantasized out loud.

“He sounds perfect for you.” Clover mixed up the greens in a large wooden bowl and drizzled oil and vinegar over them.

Honora snorted. “Sounds like the sheriff.”

Vivi opened the oven and slid the butter-slathered loaf inside, avoiding her sister’s gaze. “Well, with all this garlic and onions, we’re going to need a breath-freshening potion to go with our man potion because no one would kiss us after we ate this dinner.”

The sisters settled into the comfortable rhythm of talking, laughing, and eating. They sat around Clover’s old farm table with bowls of pasta drenched in sauce, salad, garlic bread, and a bottle of wine. Candles twinkled. Vivi leaned back in a padded high-backed chair and sighed. All the tension of the past few days had melted away. Dinner was perfect. She felt safe and at home with her sisters. Maybe the night wasn’t going to be that bad. Surely Honora would understand what she had done.

“Speaking of eligible,” Vivi said, awkwardly trying to transition the conversation to Honora’s old flame. “When was the last time you saw Dax?”

“It’s been a while.” Her sister’s body tensed and she sat up in her chair. “Almost a year. Why?” Honora gave Vivi and Clover a suspicious glare.

“I’ve been doing some digging about the case since the last time I saw you.” Vivi dipped a chunk of bread into the sauce on her plate and stuffed it into her mouth. “And I was curious about Dax’s company, so I did a little research in the town archives.”

“Which one? He’s diversified these last few years. He still owns the majority holding in the Silver Train, and last I heard he had invested in a medical company started by two weird genius twins.” Honora pushed her chair back and propped her feet up on an old wooden crate.

Vivi pictured the two flat birds of the logo and the haunting photo of the orphan twins. “Mender Corp.”

Clover returned to the table with a fresh bottle and poured a glug of wine into her glass. “Mitchell and Miranda. They’re two talented witches. The healing
persuasion
techniques they have developed are phenomenal.”

“Dax’s all business these days. He always knew a good deal when he saw one, and he jumped at the chance to work with the twins,” Honora said.

“Look how the Silver Train took off.” Clover hiccupped. “You should give him a call. He’s so hot, and his muscles have muscles. And he has thick hair. I love a man with a good head of hair.” She ran her hands through her own hair, getting one of her rings caught.

“Down, girl,” Honora said, helping get Clover’s ring untangled. “You’re going to hurt yourself.”

“I never realized he was interested in healing,” Vivi said.

“Dax’s interested in maximizing profit. Why so curious, sister?” Honora was like a dog with a bone ever since she started her private investigation company.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I sent him a letter today. I would love to get a tour of his new company and see how the healing potions are made.” Vivi sipped her wine, Honora’s gaze clinging to her like a shadow. She hopped up and dug through Clover’s kitchen cabinets. “Do you have anything sweet? I need dessert.”

“Cupcakes, second cabinet from the left,” Clover said. “Get me one, too. Oh, heck, bring them all.”

Vivi returned to the table with a bakery box filled with chocolate cupcakes. She handed one of the giant buttercream-frosted delicacies to Honora, hoping to divert her sister’s attention.

“Wait a minute. Back up. Vivi, why would you want to go into the city and see Dax and his new company?” Honora swiped her finger across the rich icing and licked it off, watching her sister. “Does this have anything to do with your visions?”

“I focused on my
persuasion
like you suggested, and while in a trance I saw the logo for Mender Corp. I think it’s a clue to the missing witch.” She was planning to avoid mentioning Scarlet for as long as she could. Why bring her involvement up if she didn’t have to?

“That’s great. That’s a strong clue, Vivi,” Honora said, jerking up in her seat. “Maybe now you can figure out who this witch is and find her. Why didn’t you just tell me? I don’t mind if you go and see Dax.”

“Well, I know things didn’t go as planned with him. I didn’t want to bring up bad memories.” Or make her mad, especially if she knew that her nemesis had helped her channel her vision.

After the fallout with Scarlet, Dax and Honora had tried to keep up the steamy relationship but had hit a rough patch. Since then, they dated on and off for years. Currently it was off.

Honora sighed. “No problem. It’s over. And if my connection with Dax can help, then I want to do what I can. You don’t think he’s involved?”

“Probably not. Like I said, I just got the image of the logo, so it really could mean anything. That’s why I was hoping to get a peek at the inside. Do a little investigating.”

“I’m sure he’ll respond.” Honora smiled. “He always liked you and Clover.”

Vivi was relieved, but there was more to her story, and deep down, she knew she had to tell her sister everything. “There’s something else.”

“Wow, we’re going to go there already,” Clover said, eyes going wide. “I’ll need another glass of wine.”

“What is it? You can tell me anything.”

“Since I decided to take my
persuasion
seriously, I’m training and studying with someone, and this witch really helped me to learn new meditation techniques.”

“Oh, yeah? Who is this great teacher?” Honora asked.

“Spill it, Vivi,” Clover said.
Easy for her to say,
Vivi thought.

“It’s Scarlet,” Vivi blurted out. “I went to see her to get help. She’s the only witch I know who understands what I’m dealing with. I was desperate. You don’t know what it’s been like.” All of the relaxation of the night had evaporated in an instant. The room was now practically crackling with tension. A log popped in the fireplace, sending sparks flying.

“You what?” Honora leapt to her feet and began to pace the way she did when she was angry. “I can’t believe you would go behind my back and talk to her!”

“I didn’t have a choice. I don’t have anyone to help me.” Vivi bit her bottom lip.

“We could help you,” Clover said, trying to be helpful.

“You two are the only other witches I know who are busier than I am. You have great careers and lives of your own. You don’t have time to hold my hand through this, especially since I don’t even know what I need help with.”

“You come to family first,” Honora said.

“Scarlet understands how visions work.” Vivi twisted up her napkin and tossed it on the table. “She’s a good teacher.”

“A good teacher? We should be helping you. Not her.” Honora pointed to herself and Clover, who stuffed the rest of her cupcake into her mouth, wisely deciding to keep out of the quickly escalating argument.

“I need someone else. Someone who knows my
persuasion
.” Vivi’s shoulders tensed.

“Scarlet’s a hack with barely any magic. And she hates me. Or did you forget that part while you were hanging out with my ex-best friend?” Honora’s cheeks reddened.

“I know you two have had disagreements in the past, but I thought it was smoothed over enough. I hoped you would understand.” Vivi gulped down the last of her wine.

“Seriously? You know that information about Dax is probably no good,” Honora said, her hands on her hips.

“What do you mean? A minute ago you thought my information was fine and were willing to help me.” Vivi gritted her teeth. She needed Honora’s help, not her skepticism.

“That was before I found out where you got your information from. Now that I know it was Scarlet, I know it’s unreliable.”

“I know what I saw, and it was the Mender Corp logo.” Vivi clenched her jaw. Her face was getting warm, and it wasn’t from the wine.

“I’m sorry, Vivi, but Scarlet is setting you up. She probably planted some idea or image in your head. She’s still mad because Dax picked me over her, so she’s trying to set him up or implicate him in something. She wants us to look like fools and she’s using you.”

“That’s ridiculous. I went to her for help. She had no idea what was going on before I walked into her shop. And not everything in the world is about
you
!” Vivi snapped. She’d known Honora was going to be a
little
upset about her visit to Scarlet, but her sister was totally overreacting.

“You two need to calm down. It’s not worth fighting over.” Clover tried to interrupt them.

Honora leaned against the kitchen doorframe with her arms crossed over her chest. “You went to Scarlet for help and she saw her chance and grabbed it. You don’t realize it because you don’t want to. You feel guilty about what you saw and are desperate to find this girl. That’s it. She took advantage of your weak magic.”

Clover gasped. “Honora, that’s not a nice thing to say. Vivi’s not weak.”

Honora held her ground. She twisted up her mouth in defiance.

Vivi stood speechless. Was that really how Honora thought of her? She stepped back. She wanted to lash out, defend herself, say something sharp and cunning to show her sister how strong she was. The last thing she had wanted was a knockdown-dragout fight with Honora, who was the most pigheaded witch she knew, but she couldn’t let the jab go without one of her own. “This is exactly why I didn’t come to you. Scarlet didn’t tell me I was weak. She thinks I’m the one in the family with real power.”

Vivi grabbed her bag and jacket and headed for the front door.

“Don’t go.” Clover chased after her. “Honora didn’t mean it.”

But Vivi was done listening. She pushed through the screen door and let it slam behind her.

“I’ll come by the shop in a day or two to check on you,” Clover called from the porch. “She didn’t mean it.”

But Vivi knew that Honora did mean it, and she also knew her sister had a point. Her magic
was
weak, but all that was about to change.