CHAPTER 22

C HAPTER 22

T he next morning, Mia was awake too early for the time she'd finally fallen asleep the night before. Grans pulled into the driveway in Robert's Grand Wagoneer exactly at eight. Mia had made a casserole for breakfast along with a batch of cinnamon rolls. And she'd started a second pot of coffee. With the harvest queen contest off her worry list, she should have slept like a log last night. But she hadn't. Hopefully after a day out in the sun for the festival, she wouldn't fall asleep in Trent's truck as soon as they got in to come back to the school.

Mia rubbed Mr. Darcy's ears. "Look, Grans is here, but she brought Robert. So, if you're going to be a jerk, maybe you should hide out in my bedroom or head outside to chase mice?"

Mr. Darcy just yawned and curled up tighter.

"Okay, then. Don't say I didn't warn you." Mia headed downstairs to unlock the front door. Abigail was coming over at ten to meet the rental company as they gathered up the furniture from the prep room. Christina and Levi were putting away the chairs and cleaning the backyard before they came over to the festival. Mia had offered to help, but Abigail and Christina told her to take the weekend off since she'd used vacation time from the Lodge for last week's event.

She unlocked the front door, and Muffy ran to her, barking a greeting. Mia leaned down and picked up the little dog. "I know, it's been forever since I saw you too."

Muffy licked her face, then cuddled into her arms. She looked back at Robert's car and saw someone sitting in the back. Robert was helping Grans out of the car, then they both turned to the back and helped another man out. Mia squinted, but she couldn't believe her eyes.

Dorian Alexander, Grans's former boyfriend and the witch whose soul was currently residing in Mr. Darcy, walked toward her. He smiled and looked around the school, but even from a distance, Mia could see that he wasn't really there. What did her dad say all the time? " The lights are on but no one's home ."

"Grans, what on earth did you do?" Mia hurried them into the school and closed the door. Dorian stood in the lobby, waiting.

"I told you I was working on a project." Grans patted Dorian's chest. "This is a golem. He's made up of some of Dorian's DNA, so you could say he was a clone. Like in those sci-fi movies they advertise. Abigail was right—I can't send Dorian onward. Not anymore. He needs to make that decision. But I can get him out of Mr. Darcy."

"You're remaking Dorian?" Mia didn't know what to ask first. "But the world thinks he's dead."

"I petitioned the coven, and if this transfer is successful, they'll set up Dorian in another city where he can live out his life. The new coven will watch for any degradation in the golem body and handle it if need be. But Mr. Darcy will be clear of the second soul, and you won't be stuck watching out for Dorian. Now, let's get him set up in the spare bedroom, and I'll do the transfer spell. Then, tomorrow morning, we'll know. Either way, Mr. Darcy will be back to normal in about five minutes."

Mia followed them up to the apartment. Maybe this was why she hadn't slept last night. She'd figured it had to be the missing Brad. And maybe why the Goddess had sent Cerby to Trent to watch over them.

As if she'd called out for his help, Trent came in the front door with the mini hellhound. Muffy wriggled out of Mia's arms, and she let him down before he fell. The two dogs greeted each other like long-lost friends.

Grans turned and smiled at Trent. "I'm glad you're here. Right on time."

"I aim to please." He looked at Mia and then at the Dorian golem, his eyes widening as he realized what must be happening. "Are we doing some spell casting today?"

"I need to get this Dorian project done and his new body out of my house. I can't even list it until I clean both of the bathrooms. And how would I explain a naked man hanging around the house?" Grans explained, but Mia was still in shock about seeing Dorian—or the Dorian doll—walking around her school. Mia had found Dorian's body when he was killed. Now the coven wanted to reanimate the man? Or were they just seeing how far Grans could go with the process?

As they opened the apartment door, Mr. Darcy looked up and meowed loudly.

"Get that door closed. We only have a few hours to finish the transfer before the golem starts to break down. It needs a soul to live." Grans nodded to the bedroom and went over to pick up Mr. Darcy. Holding him up to her face, she stared into the cat's eyes. "I'm sorry it took me this long to figure out an answer."

Mia could hear her cat's purring from where she stood. Dorian must be on board. She took a big breath. "I guess we're doing this. What do you need from me?"

"Just your presence. We don't need a full thirteen, but the four of us will give more of a controlled transfer process." Grans followed Robert into the hallway. "Let's go get you a body."

Mr. Darcy meowed, and Cerby and Muffy jumped up on the couch. Grans turned back to Mia. "Lock the apartment door, dear. It's better if we're not interrupted."

* * *

An hour later, the new and improved Dorian was dozing on the bed, and Mr. Darcy was running up and down the hallway in what Mia had heard explained as zoomies. He went to the door, sat there, then ran back to her, a big cat grin on his face. Or as big of a grin as cats ever got. Mia picked him up and rubbed his head. "How does it feel to be alone in there?"

The purr was immediate and the only answer she needed. Her cat was back to being just a cat. And her familiar.

Dorian opened his eyes and smiled at her and Mr. Darcy. "Thank you," he muttered, then he closed his eyes again and fell asleep.

Grans moved them all out of the room. "We'll let him sleep. The coven will come over and pick him up around noon. Abigail will still be here, right?"

"I think so." Mia set Mr. Darcy on the floor. "I could call her."

"She's downstairs. I can feel her." Grans patted Mia's arm. "I'll just let her know what's going on and ask her to stay. Then we're heading to the festival."

"So are we." Mia glanced back at the closed bedroom door. "Unless you need me to stay."

Grans shook her head. "No, the fewer people around him in the next few hours, the better. Besides, you wanted to see the parade. You two get out of here. Muffy, come here. It's time to leave."

The group moved downstairs to the front door. Mia paused and looked back upstairs.

"What's going on in your head? Aren't you happy?" Trent asked as Grans and Robert went to find Abigail.

Mia let out a big breath. "I can't believe that Dorian is going to have a second chance at life. Well, not his life—he's in a weird coven witness protection program—but he's not dead."

"He wasn't dead, or at least gone from this world all this time. His body was, but he was alive in Mr. Darcy. There is a lot we don't understand about what makes us human. But I know one thing—it's not just our body having a heartbeat or being able to take a breath." Trent pulled her into a hug. "It's been a crazy morning, let's go have some fun at the festival. Cerby? Are you ready to go?"

The little dog barked, and Mia wondered if he knew he might run into Muffy there. Or if he was just happy to be with his human. And his human's girlfriend. Mia decided she wasn't going to think about anything harder than whether or not to have a third corn dog or to ride the Tilt-a-Whirl or the Scrambler or both. She'd think about the moral repercussions of what they'd done that morning at another time.

"Is Frankenstein required reading in the witch-in-training program?" she asked as she grabbed her bag.

"See, you are learning." Trent pulled her into a hug without directly answering the question.

When they got to the parade route, Bambi found them. She had sweat running down her cheek. "Oh, good. Have you seen Melody?"

Mia handed Cerby's leash back to Trent. "Not since last night. Why?"

"She didn't come to practice for the parade this morning. Now Crissy wants to step into her queen role since she's not here."

Trent rolled his eyes. "Tell Crissy to hold her horses. Mia and I will run over to the Sellers' house and find out what's going on. Did you tried to call?"

"I'm not an idiot, Mr. Majors." Bambi waved to someone across the way. "Just let me know if you find her. The parade starts in thirty minutes."

Mia and Trent headed back toward the park entrance. The Sellers' house was just a block away. They could get there and back in ten minutes tops. Mia figured Bambi hadn't wanted to walk that far in the high heels she'd worn. "Bambi's a little high-strung for this job, don't you think?"

"You should apply for the job. You've planned a magical wedding. How different could that be from a harvest queen contest?" Trent teased as they made their way off the festival grounds. He stopped a girl who was eating cotton candy as she walked by. "Hey, aren't you Melody's friend?"

The girl paused like she was going to rabbit, then she smiled. "I'm Tera. You're Mr. Majors, from the store, and Miss Malone, I recognize you from the pageant. Wasn't that crazy that Melody beat out Crissy? I bet she was mad. Crissy told everyone she was winning this thing."

"It was quite the upset. Hey, have you seen Melody? Is she here?" Mia asked.

"She was. We were on the rides, but then she got a call. She said she had to go home and change, and she'd see me after the parade." Tera held out the pink cotton candy. "She left this with me, knowing I can't help myself. Now I've eaten hers and mine. And a corn dog."

"Well, if you see Melody, tell her that Bambi is looking for her." Mia started walking again, looking over at the line for the corn dogs. "Now I'm hungry."

"I'll buy lunch as soon as we track down Melody. I'd hate for Crissy to take all the glory this early in Melody's reign."

The street was pedestrians-only until Monday so people could park at the empty lot across from the park, but since they were leaving the park and not coming in, they were going against the traffic flow. Finally, they made it through the crowd and went up to the porch of a well-maintained Craftsman-style house. When Trent knocked, the door swung open.

"That's not good." He tied Cerby's leash to the porch railing and called out, "Melody? Mrs. Sellers? Is anyone home?"

"Maybe they just forgot to close the door when they left?" Mia could feel the fear surrounding them. "Please tell me that Melody wasn't the one doing the retribution spell. She was in the school too many times by herself. I passed it off and took her excuses as valid, but Trent, please tell me that the spell is too advanced for a teenager."

Trent stepped into the house. "It is way too advanced. Besides, the coven binds the contestants from doing magic when they are chosen for the contest. It's automatic. I wish they bound their entire families, then Carla wouldn't be dead."

Mia felt better. A lot better. She liked Melody. She didn't want her to be behind the terrible magic that was happening. "Melody? Are you in here?"

A sound came from the basement. A part of her vision came back to her. "Trent, Brad's in the basement."

"Now, why would Brad be in the Sellers.' basement?" Trent asked, but before Mia could answer, something hit her head, and she fell to the floor. She heard Cerby barking from a long way away.

When she woke, she was tied to a chair, and Trent was out cold on the floor in front of her. His hands were tied to a table. Cerby was still barking. Elly Sellers stood in front of them with a frying pan in her hand.

"Now, don't you two move. I can't have anyone stopping Sherry from winning the queen contest." Elly blinked and cocked her head. "Does anyone hear a dog barking?"

Cerby was trying to get them help. Mia blinked, shaking her head to clear the cobwebs the blow had caused. "Mrs. Sellers, Elly. The contest was last night. Melody won."

Elly frowned, setting the pan on the stove. "Melody? No, Sherry was supposed to win this year. It's her turn."

A male voice called up from the basement. "Sherry's dead, Mrs. Sellers. She was killed in a car accident, remember?"

It was Brad talking. She'd found him. Which wouldn't do either one of them any good since he must be tied up downstairs. "Melody played the piano for her talent. You were there. It was beautiful."

Elly rubbed her head. "Melody plays like me."

Thank the Goddess. "Yes, she does." Mia thought that maybe Elly was actually with them. Now Mia was worried about Melody. "Where is Melody? Where's your granddaughter?"

Elly shook her head and rubbed the pan. "Sherry hated practicing all the time. But I told her it would win her the contest, and look, it did."

Mia's hope faded. Elly was too far gone and lost in a world where her daughter was still alive and young. Her granddaughter, Melody, hadn't even been born yet.

"Sherry's dead, Mrs. Sellers," Brad started again, but this time Elly stood and banged on the door.

"Shut up. Stop saying such mean things. Sherry's at the contest. She's going to be queen—then her life will start, and she'll be ready to win it all," Elly screamed down the stairs.

When her back was turned, Mia saw a face at the back door. It was Melody. She waved and then held up a finger. She was trying to tell her something. One? One minute? One second? Or was it more deadly?

As Elly slammed the basement door and leaned against it, Trent moaned. Distracted by his pain, Mia didn't see when two deputies stormed into the kitchen. After taking away her frying pan, they put handcuffs on the elderly woman, who was sobbing for her lost daughter.

* * *

Mark Baldwin allowed Melody to go back to the festival with a deputy to ride the parade float. In fact, he insisted she go. Mia thought he wanted to try to piece the mess in front of him together without Melody hearing it all.

Melody paused by Mia before she left. "You'll watch out for Grandma?"

Mia wasn't sure that Elly Sellers needed much watching out for, since she'd brought both her and Trent down with just one pan. Trent had an ice pack on his head that matched her own. Brad was up from the basement now and sat at the table with them. She focused on Melody. "Go do your queen responsibilities. I'll watch out for your grandmother."

"Thanks, Mia." She let the deputy lead her away.

Mark waited for them to leave the house, then looked at Mia. "Do you want to tell me what's going on here? How did an elderly dementia patient knock all three of you out?"

Mia pointed to the cast-iron skillet. "There's your answer right there. We were here, looking for Melody for Bambi. She was worried she was going to miss the parade."

"I hate this queen contest." Baldwin glanced at Brad. "So, you're Brad Heinrich from Twin Falls? Have you been down in the basement since Wednesday? Your girlfriend is very worried about you."

Brad sipped some water, nodding. "Wednesday's my day off. Mia called and invited me to have a late dinner to catch up. She said she had some news about Sherry."

"Brad, I didn't call you. We had dinner the week before, and I was busy with the contest on Wednesday. It was talent night, and I was the timekeeper for Bambi," Mia pointed out.

"Someone called the restaurant and said it was you. That you wanted to meet at the Lodge at nine." Brad drank most of the bottle of water that was in front of him.

"Maybe it was Elly." Trent didn't seem convinced. "But how would she know where you worked? And that you knew Mia?"

"Good question. I think I have the message in my car." Brad took a second bottle of water from Mark. His eyes widened as he looked at the water. "Is this from here?"

Mark shook his head. "I carry water in the truck, just in case. So you came up for a late dinner with Mia . . ."

" Not with Mia," she corrected. When she saw the look from Mark, she rolled her hand. "Fine, go ahead with your story."

"Okay, so I was early. I was having a drink in the bar, then an old friend of Sherry's saw me. She came over to chat, and after a few minutes, she told me I needed to talk to the Sellers. That it was important. So I came over to see the Sellers. Sherry and I had dated before she died. She got pregnant, and we gave away the baby. Or so I thought. Anyway, when I saw Melody in pictures all around the house here, I realized Sherry hadn't given up the baby like she'd told me. Melody looks just like her."

"You and Sherry Sellers had a baby?" Mark didn't look up from his notebook as he waited for the answer.

"Yes. Like I said, she told me she put the baby up for adoption, and that she needed some time. Then she was killed in that car accident. I was just a kid. I couldn't have raised a child on my own. With Sherry, maybe, but not by myself."

Mark nodded. "So you came over to see the Sellers. I take it you didn't know Jake was dead?"

Brad shook his head. "I tried not to think about Sherry or her family. But when I saw the pictures of Melody, I asked Elly about her. She said she'd tell me everything, but she needed a box from the basement. That she kept Sherry's things down there. She'd given me a bottle of water before we went down, and I guess it had something in it, because I felt dizzy and fell down once I got down the stairs. I've been trying to get anyone to even notice me since."

"One last question—who was the woman you talked to in the bar?" Mark asked as he read what he had written in his notebook.

"I don't know her last name, but Sherry always called her Titi. They went to school together."