Witches and Whatnots: An Izzy Cooper Novel (9 page)

Locking up the office, I went around front and let myself in the main entrance. Just like Dorothy said, there was a pile of pumpkins to choose from. Stepping back, I studied the dozen or so pumpkins until I found one that was perfectly round, and just the right size. Leaning over, I picked it up and set it on the tall table next to the front entrance.

There was something else I wanted to do while I was in the gift shop. I knew Dorothy had tons of books on the history of Mystique Island, and that’s what I needed. Although I wasn’t too sure how much help a history lesson would be with our current investigation, it might help explain the dreams or visions I’d had.

I wasn’t sure why I didn’t just ask Zane about it, except for that maybe part of me was afraid of what his answer would be. Learning history from the cold pages of a book seemed so much less personal, and safer than going to the source.

Flipping on the light, I made my way to the book section and started looking at the spines. There were cookbooks filled with the recipes of locals, picture books, and a few history books. There was only one book that looked like it might contain information about the Mystique.

Picking it up, I glanced at the little green price tag on the back and winced. It was steep, but it could save me a trip to the library.

Taking the book to the front, I pulled money out of my pocket and set it on the checkout counter. It was then that I noticed another book displayed near the checkout. It was a history book of Mystique Island, though a little more recent history, as opposed to ancient variety.

On impulse, I picked up a copy and put more money on the counter, along with a note telling Dorothy what I’d bought.

With the books tucked under my arm, I switched off the light and grabbed my pumpkin. When I stepped outside, Uncle Aaron was coming up the stairs.

“It must suck working nights all the time.” My greeting could have been a bit warmer, but I still wasn’t over his dalliance with Missy.

“Well, until I can find someone trustworthy enough to take a shift for me, that’s what I’ll be doing. People listen to the radio more at night.” He was huffing and puffing by the time he got to the top step.

How the heck did he manage the stairs to the lantern room every night?

“If you want to know what I think … I think you should be spending some time at the gym during the day, instead of sleeping and playing video games.”

“Who asked you?” He threw me a withering scowl.

“Just saying.” I shrugged. “You’re going to kill yourself.”

“What’s with the pumpkin?”

Leave it to Uncle Aaron to change the subject when he wanted to turn a blind eye to something. “It is for the pumpkin walk at Founder’s Park tomorrow night. There’s more inside if you want to do a couple,” I hinted.

“Maybe.” He wiped away a drop of sweat that had started to trickle down his forehead.

“Have fun tonight.” I started down the stairs, but stopped when a thought occurred to me. “Has there been anything strange going on around here lately?”

I figured if Muriel were active, Aaron would know it. She really liked messing with my uncle.

Aaron shrugged. “Lights flickering … the usual. I did notice more lights out on the water last night … and I think there might have actually been a ship out there. It was too dark to say for sure.”

“Like what kind of ship?” I asked, my curiosity peaked.

“An old ship, with sails.”

“Hmm.’

“Why? What’s up with that?”

“Nothing.”

“It must be something.” He frowned.

It was time to change the subject. If I told Aaron about my visions, it would just give him something else to make fun of me about. “Have you heard from Aunt Mandy? I haven’t been able to get a hold of her, and neither has Annabelle. I was kind of wondering how her fling with Marty Morrison was going?”

“She left a message on my voicemail a few days ago. Mandy said she was running off to Las Vegas with her new lover,” Aaron smirked.

“Hmm, well maybe I’ll catch you later.”

“What are we supposed to do with the pumpkins when we are done with them?” he asked. “Maybe I’ll work on some tonight.”

“You can leave them by the front door or drop them at Founder’s Park in the morning.”

* * *

Although it was only the thirtieth, and a Sunday, there were still a lot of activities going on for Halloween. From what I’d heard, the carnival and ball had been a huge success. Mystique Island was ready to welcome Misty Haven Resort with open arms.

Driving through Storm Cove, I saw the occasional Halloween home haunt. These days, so many people putting up spook alleys in their own homes. It was a fun idea, if one had the time and energy to do it.

I thought about stopping at Ripper Pies for a quick bite to eat before going home, but then I saw the big sign in front of the Bayside Grill.

Chili & Skeleton Bones Halloween Special

No doubt there would be plenty of chili at the pumpkin walk tomorrow, but I wanted some now.

As soon as I stepped inside the Grill, I picked up on the cozy atmosphere. They had a nice blaze going in the huge rock fireplace and the air was filled with the spicy scent of chili, which sent my stomach into a growling fit.

All the employees were dressed in costumes.

One thing was certain; Mystique Island did take Halloween seriously.

From out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone waving at me. It was Elias, sitting in one of the booths closest to the fire.

Apparently, he wanted me to come and sit with him.

I had planned on having dinner while going over the case files I had tucked under my arm, but Elias did have a good spot, and I was anxious to do some catching up with him. I hadn’t talked with Elias since before the ball.

Making my way through the diners, I stopped at his table. “You’ve been in town a lot lately. Did you finally decide to drop your vendetta against Storm Cove?”

“Not a chance.” He smiled widely. “But I would like you to join me for dinner … unless you’re here to meet with someone else.”

I shook my head. “Nope, just taking a dinner break … and thanks. I’d love to have dinner with you.”

As soon as I slid into the booth, he half stood and leaned over the table to place a quick peck on my cheek. It wasn’t exactly the most romantic kiss I’d ever gotten, but that was Elias for you.

“How did the ball go?” he asked.

“I’m sure you’ve heard about the mayor … and also one of the ride attendants.”

Elias nodded.

Before he could say anything, one of the waitresses stopped by our table. According to the sticky tag on her dress, the new waitress’s name was Sarah. I hadn’t been coming to the Grill as much, therefore hadn’t kept up on the new waitresses.

Sarah was dressed like a rag doll, with a bright red dress and matching wig of yarn. There was a splatter of brown, painted on freckles, dotting her face.

Smiling, she pulled out an order pad from a pocket in her dress. “What can I get you tonight?”

“I’ll just have your special, and a cup of coffee.”

“Okay. Coming right up.”

When she was gone, I noticed Elias was eating a hamburger instead of chili.

“Where’s your holiday spirit? You should be having chili.” I pointed out.

“I’ve eaten so much chili this weekend, I had to come here to get away from it. Every lady in Roseland has a pot of chili brewing.”

“At least it is chili instead of witch’s brew,” I said, thinking that I’d almost prefer to deal with a pack of werewolves than the Black Moon witches.

“I take it you are having some witch trouble.”

I lifted both shoulders. “I don’t know. Annabelle is getting way too involved with those witches at the Dell. She is supposed to be initiated into their coven tomorrow night.”

“Can’t you talk her out of it?”

“I’ve tried. She isn’t listening.”

Sarah was back with a big bowl of steaming hot chili and a plate of fresh baked skeleton bones.

“Thanks.” I smiled.

“No problem. Let me know if you need anything else.”

“Your sister is a smart woman. I’m sure if there is anything really bad going on, she’ll catch onto it.” He pointed out as soon as we were alone again.

“I don’t know. What if she is under some kind of strange spell or something?”

“Don’t you have a way of countering that?” he asked.

“I don’t think so.”

Digging into the chili, I tried to eat as ladylike as possible. I’d always hated eating in front of hot guys, afraid that I’d somehow give away the fact that I could eat like a horse, especially when I was famished.

“So what did you find out about Dupree?” he asked, getting down to what he really wanted to talk about.

I was beginning to resent the fact that he seemed to be using me to get information about Zane. “Not much. I only had one dance with him before all hell broke loose.”

“So you didn’t get a chance to explore the resort?”

“Nope.” I shook my head. “Not much of one.”

Taking a drink of his coffee, Elias slipped into one of his silent modes.

“What is it about Zane you are trying to find out? I mean … I know he’s a vampire, but you and Ayden seem dead set on pinning something on him. As far as I can tell, he’s running a legitimate operation.”

“Because he’s not your ordinary bloodsucker. The Knights have been tracking him for generations, and I can tell you there is something not right with him.”

“Like what?”

“He has some kind of power that I’ve never seen a vampire have. You witnessed it yourself.”

It was true. I’d noticed he had the ability to appear and disappear at will.

“What are you thinking? I know you all must have some kind of theory.”

Elias shook his head slowly. “For a long time the Knights believed he might be a witch, but I’m no longer sure that would accurately describe what he is.”

“Why’s that?” I asked, all ears. Lately, anything to do with Zane Dupree captured my attention.

He was everything Elias wasn’t. Sure, Elias was one hot guy, but so was Zane. The vampire was also mysterious, romantic, and very attentive. Though Elias was one hell of a lover, he was severely lacking in most of the other things, namely his ability to really put his heart into a relationship.

I still had feelings for Elias, and probably always would, but I was starting to move away from my high school love. The realization surprised me.

Lately, I had actually been thinking of Zane more often than Elias.

“It is the nature of the witch and the vampire that doesn’t make sense. The witch’s power relies on her connecting her energy with the energy around her … a vampire is already dead, so he cannot have that energy.”

“Are you trying to say that vampires do not retain their souls?” I wasn’t sure I agreed with him. From what I’d seen, vampires seemed the same as anyone else.

“I believe they still have their souls, but that living energy in their bodies is gone. Face it, they are walking corpses.”

I had to admit that Elias might really have a point, though it was difficult to view Zane as a walking corpse. His touch was cold, but it was hot at the same time. It was like the clashing of fire and ice.

But still, as far as I was concerned, Zane could be called a witchy vampire, for lack of a better label.

“So tell me … what is your idea of what he is?” I knew he must have one.

“Maybe he is a ghost who has somehow figured out how to take on physical form … or a demon,” he suggested.

Could either of those beings be a vampire?

I wasn’t sure, but anything was possible, especially on Mystique Island.

“I’d like to talk about us,” I told him, changing the subject.

Elias looked away. That was the reaction I got from him every time I brought up the subject of us.

Turning back to face me, he forced a smile. “Sure. What about us?”

“Why are things so different between us since I regained my memory of you?”

Again he looked away, but not before I glimpsed the sadness and pain in his eyes. “I love touching you and being with you … but there just can’t ever be an
us
in the future.”

“There could be.” If I was nothing else, I was stubborn.

He shook his head. “There is something I have to confess. ”

Dread bubbled up inside of me like a toxic brew, but I remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

“When I wanted us to marry, I was young and naive. My feelings were real,” he whispered, reaching out to grab my hand, “but I was too inexperienced to understand that love really can’t conquer all.”