Chapter 20

I gaveVeva a what’s going on look, but she simply shrugged and smiled faintly before sitting at the table.

Iswallowed this new bit of information and took a seat between Miriam and Jim. The last time I’d seen “MadameMystique” had been when Ian, Dru, and I had laid siege to a locker room, waiting for what we thought would be JohnathanSmithe, the man who’d attempted to take Grandma’s spellbook from me.

Instead, we’d found AgnesDorsey buying a dark magic potion to help her sleep. I’d told her I’d make her a better one, but she hadn’t bothered to come get it.

Hmm. Could the pentagram and possibly murder suspect be one of her bed and breakfast guests? Smithe had been her guest, so why not this one? MaybeDorsey aimed to collect the criminal visitors of Olmeda like collectible cards. Maybe there was some kind of underground competition between bed and breakfast owners of who got to host the most paranormal criminals.

“I’m sorry, MadameMystique,” I said in a contrite tone. “I was unaware that this was your passion.”

“It is not a passion,” she said with a small theatrical sniff that made me wonder if she was related to Brimstoneand Destruction. “It is a calling. Thespirits!” she suddenly exclaimed, making us all jump. “They demand to be heard. Veva, the lights, please.”

Vevareached over to light a candle in the middle of the table, then stood to close the door and switch off the overhead light.

Theroom beyond the table fell into thick darkness as the candlelight flickered against our faces. The shiver of excitement and unease returned, traveling down my spine and forcing me to squirm in my chair.

OnceVeva had returned to her seat, Dorsey began speaking in that commanding yet cracking tone. “We sit today in the master bedroom of FlorenceCarter, right underneath the attic where she abandoned her stepdaughter, MaryElizabeth, to live and die on her own.”

Weall made “o” with our mouths and turned to look at the ceiling. A breeze fluttered my hair.

“Oh, my God,” Miriam exclaimed, eyes wide. “Did you all feel that?”

Jimshook his head. Veva smiled placidly. I scowled, knowing perfectly well ghosts didn’t produce breezes. Not mine, at least.

“MaryElizabeth’s spirit remains trapped in this house,” Dorsey said with heavy sorrow. “It is she who will help us contact other spirits, for she is lonely and wishes to hold conversations with friends.”

Ilifted a hand.

Dorseyeyed me with distrust. “Yes?”

“If the stepmother left her to die, wouldn’t MaryElizabeth avoid this room?” I asked tentatively.

“It is the closest we can get to the attic, and there are no remains of Florence left behind after her death.”

“Why aren’t we doing this in the attic then?” Jim asked, showing none of the awe on Miriam and Leah’s faces.

“There’s no space in the attic for the table, Jim,” Dorsey snapped.

“We could sit on the floor,” Jim grumbled under his breath.

Dorseysniffed again, then closed her eyes in concentration. “I will now introduce everyone to MaryElizabeth and any spirits present, so they are not afraid of us.”

“Why would the—” Jim began.

“So they are not afraid of us,” Dorsey repeated louder. After a pause, she continued, “Dear spirits, I will be your guide today. I am MadamMystique, and with me are the heart-bound friends, the man who spends his days among make-believe monsters, the wolf’s mate”—I sputtered, then choked on my own saliva—“and the diviner. We are not here to make trouble but to contact any spirit who wishes to communicate with the living.”

“Ooh,” Miriam whispered in awe. “I think I felt something.”

Dorseynodded. “MaryElizabeth likes you. She feels a connection with you.”

“I bet it’s because you were a foster kid,” Leah said excitedly.

Miriamgaped at her friend. “Oh, my God.”

“Souls who were lost growing up tend to connect,” Dorsey agreed.

“This is so cool,” Leah whispered.

Itwas kind of cool. Dorsey might be a rude old biddy, but there was no denying her artistry (and internet search prowess). EvenJim was leaning in, full of interest.

“Now, everyone hold hands on top of the table.”

Dutifully, I took Miriam’s right hand and Jim’s left one.

“I will now proceed to enter a trance. This is a delicate time that requires all my concentration. Please do not speak until I give you permission.”

Weall watched in fascination as she closed her eyes and let her head hang down toward her chest. A few minutes passed while she remained completely still, and I was starting to wonder if Dorsey had just gone and expired on her chair when her head snapped up.

“I can see them!” she exclaimed. “The spirits!”

Wegasped. Leah’s hand went to her throat.

“Hand,” Dorsey demanded in a croaky snap, her empty fingers contracting into claws.

“Sorry,” Leah whispered, touching Dorsey’s palm tentatively. The old woman immediately snatched Leah’s hand and brought it down to the table.

Dorseycould sure move when she wanted to.

“The spirits are here,” she continued, her eyes focused somewhere above Veva’s head.

Weall turned toward the end of the table. Veva’s amiable smile stayed in place, her shadow flickering against the wallpaper.

“There is a presence nearby…” Dorsey began.

“Who?” Jim asked eagerly.

“I’m not sure…”

Concludingthat since Dorsey hadn’t bitten Jim’s head off for talking, it was okay to speak now, Miriam asked, “Is it MaryElizabeth?”

“No, someone else,” Dorsey replied, closing her eyes again and frowning in concentration.

“Is it friendly?” Leah asked, then held her breath.

“Is it a dead witch?” I asked, since I was here and all. MaybeDorsey would let something slip if she knew anything about the pentagrams or who had killed Crane. Too bad I couldn’t ask if it was Crane, since nobody was supposed to know he was dead.

Miriam, Leah, and Jim let out a chorus of ooh.

Oneof Dorsey’s eyes popped open, its evil glare focusing on me. “There are no real witches here.”

Ouch. “Are you sure? You can never really tell. Maybe my presence has lured one?”

“No witches,” Dorsey said curtly, closing her eye again.

“Oh, but I read there used to be a coven or something?” Leah said excitedly. “It was on the booklet at the hotel about haunted Olmeda places.”

“Yes,” I said solemnly. “Bad witches. I wonder if one has come back to haunt us by leaving spells on our buildings?” HadDorsey done the pentagrams to up her medium side business?

“Are you trying to steal my idea for next year?” Jim asked in irritation. “I already have the witch thing covered at the ThreeSisters’.” He shook off my hold to point at me. “Don’t you dare think of it. Stick to your tours, Avery.”

“Hands!” Dorsey barked.

Weimmediately held hands again.

“The spirits don’t like arguing,” she said. “They will leave if you continue this way.”

“Sorry,” we muttered.

“Ah, I feel a strong presence,” she continued. “Someone…an old soul…”

Welooked at each other, waiting for someone to guess who it could be.

“Is it my grandfather?” Leah asked barely above a whisper.

“No, child. Someone unrelated… Oh!”

Weall leaned in.

“It’s a great sorcerer! So much power!”

Gaspsof delight escaped Miriam and Leah.

“A sorcerer?” Jim asked, unconvinced.

“A great druid of the past!”

“What does he say?” Miriam asked.

“He says…” Dorsey pinned me with a glittering cold stare. “To not meddle in magic that isn’t yours to tame, for you are weak and cannot comprehend all its secrets.”

Iheld her gaze. “Perhaps if the great druid had been more powerful, he wouldn’t have gotten his ass kicked by the Romans and died, yes?”

Astrangled laugh came from Veva’s direction, but my focus didn’t waver. With a wide smile, I added, “Live every day to its fullest and reap its power, for there is nothing you can do once you’re dead.”

Otherthan get stuck haunting houses and bathtubs.

Dorseysniffed. “The great druid is laughing at your na?veté and eagerly awaits to watch your downfall.”

“The great druid is not very nice,” I said. “Can’t you find us someone more friendly?”

“I do not direct the spirits,” she said smugly. “Rather, they guide me to impart their knowledge.”

“Can you ask the great druid if he’s met anyone famous?” Miriam asked.

Thecandle’s flame flickered, almost dying out, and a woosh of wind sent my hair flying everywhere.

“Oh, my God,” Leah exclaimed. “Did everyone feel that?”

“The great druid is not here to talk about petty fame,” Dorsey said somberly. “You have angered him.”

“I’m so sorry,” Miriam said in a rush. “I take it back. Forgive us, oh, great druid!”

Asoft breeze went through the room, then quieted down.

“The great druid understands the folly of youth. He has forgiven you.”

“Thank you, great druid!”

Leahgiggled. “What else can he do? Can he lift the table or something?”

Weall glanced down at the worn piece of dark wood.

Theworn piece of dark wood did not move.

“The great druid is not here to do parlor tricks,” Dorsey said, possibly because her elemental air magic wasn’t strong enough to move tables.

Hadshe killed Crane during some kind of air mage beef?

Butwhy take the blood? To sell it? Dorsey was definitely the opportunistic type, but why would she go through all the premeditation of getting a copy of my keys and learning the alarm code? No, it didn’t make sense.

“Can we ask questions now?” Jim asked.

“You may each ask one question,” Dorsey conceded.

Jimlicked his lips. “Does the great druid know where Wesley left the key to the trunk with the revolutionary costumes?”

Weall blinked at him.

“His house is a mess, total hoarder. We’re never going to find it at this rate,” Jim added in a defensive tone.

Weall swirled toward Dorsey.

Dorseyclosed her eyes for a few moments, her mouth moving silently, then stared at Jim. “The great druid says to call a locksmith.”

Jimtsked and muttered something about expenses.

“Next?” Dorsey asked, ignoring him.

“Oh, oh, me please,” Miriam begged.

“Go ahead, child.”

“Does the great druid know if my dormitory is haunted? SometimesI feel like there’s a presence there.”

Aftera few moments of silent conversation with herself, Dorsey nodded gravely. “The great druid says you are perceptive. A spirit roams the halls of your dormitory, indeed, but do not fear it. It simply craves the presence of other students and will look after you.”

“See? I told you it was friendly,” Leah said.

“You’re right. I’m sorry,” Miriam answered, contrite. “It’s just so creepy.”

“Great druid,” Leah said eagerly. “WillI get the manager position at work?”

Dorseytilted her head, as if she was hearing something only she could hear. The candlelight flickered wildly again, and Leah bit hard on her lip, her eyes wide.

“The great druid says there is no doubt your career will flourish going forward.”

“Told you,” Miriam whispered.

“He says…” Dorsey continued. “He says your grandfather is watching over you.”

Leahperked up. “Grandpa?”

“Yes.”

Leahlooked at the ceiling. “Thank you, Grandpa!”

“Does the great druid know who’s up to mischief this Halloween?” I asked before Dorsey started fake-channeling the woman’s grandfather. That hit a bit too close to home.

Dorseypursed her lips before answering. “The great druid says AllHallows’ Eve attracts all sorts of spirits—the benign ones and the evil ones.” Her mouth stretched into a thin smile. “He says some people attract the worst of them, and tells you to be careful, for dark forces have attached themselves to you and will attempt to devour your soul come the morrow.”

“The great druid really dislikes me, huh?”

“The great druid only speaks the truth.”

Miriamand Leah were watching the exchange with open mouths.

“That’s awful. Can’t the great druid do something?” Leah asked, recovering first.

“The great druid is a messenger between us and the spirits,” Dorsey said with glee. “He does not command them.”

“Not so great then, eh?” Jim muttered, probably still mad we weren’t doing this in the attic and that he had no keys to the costumes trunk.

“It’s okay,” I told Leah and Miriam in a reassuring tone. “I’m a witch and can protect myself.”

“Oh, that’s right,” Miriam exclaimed. She let out a sigh of relief. “I’m so glad.”

Dorseyharrumphed, then squeezed her eyes theatrically. “I must end the session here. The spirits…they tire me.”

“But she hasn’t asked anything?” Leah said, looking at Veva.

“Don’t worry,” Veva said, “I’m here to lend my spiritual support.”

Asudden gust of wind doused the candlelight, throwing the room into complete darkness.

Leahand Miriam squeaked in panic. Jim cursed. I reached for my phone.

Theoverhead light came on, and we all gasped.

“She’s gone!” Miriam exclaimed.

Dorsey’sseat was empty. The door was closed. Veva stood by the light switch, her lips twitching.

“Where did she go?” Leah asked in shock.

Ieyed the wardrobe. Where, indeed.

“That was amazing,” Miriam said in awe.

Jimwas also eyeing the wardrobe, but before either of us could fall into temptation, Veva opened the door of the room and shooed us out. On the way down the stairs, I heard Leah tell Miriam they were doing this again next year, and the two of them left a sizable tip on the table by the entrance door before donning their coats and leaving, whispering to each other excitedly.

Jimleft after them, not bothering to leave a tip and grumbling about how we should’ve used the attic and maybe brought out a Ouija board.

“Are all sessions like this?” I asked Veva as I put on my jacket.

Shegrinned. “They’re always showy.”

Istudied the elegant stairs at the back of the entrance. “Is the house really haunted?” I thought of the bag of Ian’s cemetery dirt I still kept in a closet. “There are spells for that.”

Vevalaughed. “Dorsey would never conduct a seance in a place with actual ghosts.”

No, I conceded. Dorsey would have more street smarts than that. “Do you know where she was last night? Did she do any seances yesterday?”

“Yes, she’s usually booked full at nights during Halloween week.”

“What time is the last seance?”

“I don’t know. I only came for today’s.” She tilted her head, studying me. “You think she has something to do with the pentagrams?”

“Maybe.”

“I doubt it. Why bother with pentagrams?”

“Some sort of Machiavellian plan to promote MadameMystique? Maybe she hoped to go viral.”

“She doesn’t need to. She’s booked solid.”

Myshoulders slumped with defeat. “You’re right. I just don’t like her.”

“It seems the feeling is mutual,” she said with clear amusement.

“She started it!”

“Sure.”

Ipaused on the threshold. Night had fallen, and the street was empty and creepy. “Do you know anything about that old dark magic coven?”

“Only that it existed. There’s a house over at CloveStreet where the leader supposedly lived.”

Amemory of Vicky pointing at a house during her creepy tour of horrors unlocked. She’d told me they had discovered all sorts of potion paraphernalia and blood stuff there. Excitementblossomed in my chest. It was too late to go now, but I’d check it first thing in the morning. If any descendant of the coven was here to cause trouble, they might’ve left clues there.

Ithanked Veva and made my way to the cemetery. The suspect’s screenshot might be a bust, but things were looking up again.