Chapter 9

Maddy came wandering out of the study, it had been a few hours since she’d seen Colin. She felt bad dumping the research on him for the morning, but she wasn’t on vacation and had to attempt to keep up with some of her work—or starve.

She found him in the kitchen with books and papers covering most of the counter. He was hunched over his laptop, typing rapidly. “Get anywhere?”

Colin jumped up and spun around, holding his hand over his heart. “Just smash something on the floor to shatter the silence next time you want to scare me into a seizure.”

Maddy smirked, “Sorry, I didn’t realize you were completely absorbed in what you were doing.”

Colin leaned back against the counter. “Always,” he ran a hand through his hair. “Did you get some work done today?”

“Enough to keep my job, at least.”

“That’s a good thing, a job.” He turned and motioned to the screen on his laptop. “I’ve got a lengthy list of plants that could match the carved ones.” He rubbed his jaw. “It was a long process of looking at, and I can safely say this, hundreds and hundreds of pictures.” He picked up one of the large volumes of plants and herbs and waved it around. “I had no idea there were this many different families and species. I’ve touched on some in my own studies and work, but not to this extent.”

Maddy gave him a puzzled look. “I don’t think I’ve even asked yet; what do you do?”

He turned and started scrolling through the list on his screen. “I do research in the geophysics field.”

Maddy went over and perched on a stool. “Which is?”

He glanced over his shoulder. “Uh, probably more complicated than I’d ever thought to explain.” He turned and leaned one hand on the counter. “I work mostly in the geo side of it really—properties of matter and energy are important too, but I prefer to work in the aspects that involve ecology and—”

Maddy held up her hand. “Okay, either break that all down into plain words I’ll understand or tell me the end result of your research.”

“My company mostly looks for natural fuel resources, but I’m working in a division that is trying to use other resources for fuel sources. I’m in a lab most of the time working on formulas and testing theories trying to find alternative energy and fuel sources.” He smirked. “I’d be out of a job if the rest of the planet knew about your tree transports.”

“I don’t think you have to worry about that, portals have been around since the beginning of time, and so far, they’re still a secret.” She got up and went over to look at the list on his screen. “Now we just have to figure out how to eliminate some of these.”

He tapped the screen with a finger. “I wrote the main use each one had listed, but magic isn’t really my area of expertise.”

Maddy laughed, “Considering curse number one, only reversed magic is mine.” She went over and grabbed an apple juice from the fridge. “Let’s go sit down and start going through this list. If we can narrow it down to a few dozen, I think I have a way to see if they’re the right ones.”

Colin picked up his laptop and followed her out. “How’s that?”

Maddy dropped into the chair beside the couch and put her feet onto the stool. “Those would most likely be the very last herb or plant to have touched the cup—”

“Quaich.”

She shrugged, “The cup. So, with the right charm placed on the cup, and don’t worry, it won’t be placed there by me; it should react to the right plants.”

Colin set the laptop on the small table and shook his head. “I’ll just wait and see.” He leaned back and studied her for a moment. Loud chiming started from outside the house. “What—”

“Oh great. Prepare yourself to meet Alice. The chimes are an early warning spell Ronnie put around the property when we were younger so we’d know when her mother was coming.”

He raised both eyebrows at her and turned to look out the window. Two women were walking from the back of the property. The younger one had short black hair and looked happy. The older one, also with dark hair pulled so tight it must have kept the wrinkles from showing on her face, looked very annoyed. She walked across the backyard, looking at the ground like it was filled with puddles she needed to avoid. Colin had no idea what she was avoiding stepping on in the thick grass. “She looks upset.”

Maddy got up and kneeled on the couch to look. “No, that’s just a normal Alice face.”

“Wonderful,” he said quietly.

Maddy stood up when Ronnie stepped in the door.

“Mad, why didn’t you call me and tell me?” She looked at Colin for a second and then back to her. “When your mother contacted us last night, I was completely stupefied.”

“Sorry, Ronnie, I was hoping it would be something with a quick fix.” She glanced over at Colin and then back to the two women. “Alice, Ronnie Smythe, this is Colin Gregor, the unfortunate man, like myself, to have the right blood in his veins to activate the curse.”

Veronica gave him a little wave. “Hi, unfortunate man.”

“I can’t believe nothing can be done about it.” Alice quipped loudly.

Colin raised his eyebrows at the older woman’s tone and turned to look at Maddy.

“We’re hoping you’ll help find a way to do something.”

He watched Alice walk over and brush off the same chair Maddy had been sitting in; she perched on the very edge of it, and no part of her body touched much of the chair.

Alice looked at him for a moment and then turned to Maddy. “So it’s true? You can’t be apart?”

Maddy sighed, “Sure we can, just as long as it’s not further than sixty feet or so.” She frowned at Colin. “We really should measure; what if it’s changed?”

He stood up, looked at the backyard, and then back to her. “You think it has? Or is going to?”

Maddy stuffed her hands in her pockets. “I don’t know. It didn’t refer to anything like that in the verse—at least not that we interpreted.”

Colin ran his hand through his hair and stood there looking at the floor. “I don’t think it does either, but now that you mention it, we should check it occasionally and make sure.”

Ronnie glanced from one to the other. “How do you check it?”

Maddy groaned, “Walk until it hurts too much to walk.” Ronnie’s jaw dropped open. “Yeah,” Maddy said softly. She motioned to the study and looked at Alice. “All the family history is in the study—mostly on the scrolls; if you want to start there, we’ll be back inside in a few minutes.” Ignoring the cold look Alice was giving her, she turned and headed outside.

Colin stepped out the door and stood on the step beside her. “Are you walking away, or am I?”

Maddy looked at him for a moment. “I’ll take the first turn.” She looked around and then went over to her flower bed and pulled out the stake with the moon on top of it. “I’ll use this to mark when it hits.”

Colin nodded and stood there watching her walk slowly out into the yard. He glanced down to see Veronica standing beside him.

“Is it very painful?” she asked softly.

“Like knives in your guts.”

“Ugh. That sucks,” she whispered. She looked back to watch Maddy and noticed she was slowing down. “Does it—”

“The twinges have started.” He didn’t take his eyes off Maddy. She stopped and turned to look at him, and he nodded. She took one, then two steps back, and the cramping started. He held a hand over his stomach and nodded to her again. Quickly she pushed the stake into the ground and took three fast steps forward. “Does that look like sixty feet?”

Ronnie stared at the moon Maddy had shoved into the ground. “I don’t know. I’ll go find something and measure it.”

“Thanks.” he said softly, but still continued to watch those long legs bring Maddy closer to him again.”

She stopped in front of him and sighed. “I was hoping it was gone.”

He grinned and pulled her into his arms. “So was I.”

“Ramada, your cat is growling at me again!”

They both turned and looked in the window. Maddy bit her tongue so she wouldn’t grin. “Whis—Sarabi isn’t fond of Alice.”

“I like that cat,” he said as he held the door open for her.

They walked into the study to see Alice trying to make herself one with the corner of the bookcase as Sarabi growled as if hunting. She had her ears pinned back on her head and was crouched down. Maddy wanted to laugh, but the look on Alice’s face told her that wouldn’t be a wise thing to do. “Sarabi, enough. Let Alice alone, she’s here to help us.”

-But I love scaring that old bat. Can’t I just bite her once, carefully? She probably tastes like bitter leather.

Maddy turned her head away from Alice and tried not to laugh. Colin gave her a curious look. “Sarabi, go outside and help Ronnie.”

-You know, since you got cursed again, you haven’t been any fun at all.

Maddy patted her head as the cat stalked by her and out of the room slowly.

“Sarabi?” Ronnie turned from the cat back to Maddy. “Did you get a new cat?”

“No. It seems Whiskers wanted a strong but graceful name.” Maddy rolled her eyes at her friend.

“How in the world did you come up with Sarabi?”

Maddy turned and looked at Colin and then back to Veronica. “Ask the lion tamer over there.”

Colin leaned against the doorframe. “Sarabi is much better for a creature that size. Calling her Whiskers would be about the same as calling a snake something like Cuddles. It just didn’t fit.”

“Ramada, I don’t understand why you don’t gut this room and modernize it. I feel like I’m standing in some sort of—flea market when I’m here.”

Colin turned to look at the older woman stepping over the piles of books and scrolls scattered across the floor. “Not sure if you heard, but we’ve been ass deep in research here, didn’t have time to stop and tidy for company.”

Alice spun towards the rude man and glared at him. “I wasn’t aware your name was also Ramada, I was certain you’d been introduced as Colin.”

Colin stood there for a moment and let her look him up and down with a distasteful expression on her face. He took two steps towards her only to be stopped when Maddy stepped in front of him. He looked at the look she was giving him; it said ‘play nice’ and offered her a fake smile. “I was going to show Mrs. Smythe where the family history scrolls were.”

Maddy leered at him, “I’m sure you were.”

“I’d like to see the Quaich.” Veronica looked from one to the other.

“You have it here?” Alice was shocked.

Maddy sighed and turned. “Yes, it’s right there under that cloth.” She pointed to the covered case, “Ma said no one was to see it though.”

“Really?” Alice’s voice was a few notes higher, “And why is that?”

“I guess she doesn’t want it to affect anyone else,” Maddy said solemnly.

Alice chortled. “I doubt it could harm me. I’m not exactly a witching with only part of my power and a” —she looked Colin up and down again— “a man with no power.”

Maddy felt Colin step close to her back. She knew without looking he was glaring at Alice over her head. She stepped back a few inches so she was just barely touching him. “I’m sure you’re right, Alice, but I have been given my orders by the Ruler of the High Council, my mother.”

“Very well, dear. We wouldn’t want to go against council orders, would we?” Alice said softly.

“Is that the verse?” Ronnie asked quickly. She pointed to the marker board covered in notes and lines.

Colin turned his head and looked at it. “That’s the verse—which is still open to discussion and much debate.”

Alice walked a wide circle around him and went to stand in front of the board. “Veronica, find something to write on and jot this down, I want to study it when we get home and see if I can’t find the remedy for it.”

Colin held his breath for a second and then released it slowly. “The verse is not what we need you to be studying.”

Maddy nodded. “Did Mother explain to you that we have a problem with spirits trying to take over us in addition to the curse itself?”

Alice nodded as she watched Veronica write. “You don’t expect me to waste years of training and expertise on going through a few old family trees, do you?”

Maddy turned and gave Colin a wide-eyed stare. Was Alice purposely trying to make someone mad? “If you have any advice or ideas, Alice, I’m sure they’ll be quite helpful.”

“I knew you’d see I’m right, Ramada.” Alice grimaced. “I should think you’d want as much help as possible considering the alternative.” She glanced at Colin and then the board again. “Withering doesn’t sound at all appealing. Don’t you agree Mr. Gregor?” She frowned as she looked him over. “As I’m sure Ramada would like her quiet little cozy home all to herself again, wouldn’t you dear?”

Colin gave Maddy a look, she thought he was just bored and then realized it was a violent look in his eyes. She quickly looked away. “We’d appreciate any help you can give Alice, I know how busy you are, and we’re just thankful you were able to do it.” Colin’s eyes widened at her words. She turned her face and tried hard not to grin, but knew she wasn’t succeeding completely. “I really do have to go feed Whi— Sarabi. If everyone will excuse me.” Maddy walked quickly out of the study.

She knew Colin was behind her before she turned around in the kitchen. She put her finger over her mouth and hoped he would not do anything to cause Alice to start on one of her boring lectures or, worse, stay a moment longer than she had to.

Colin looked at her hand over her mouth and snarled. He leaned one hand on the counter and bent his head down so his mouth was a few inches from her ear. “I think you excluded an enormous amount of detail in warning me about that witchy bitch in there.”

Maddy tilted her face to the floor to hide her smile.

“You have roughly five minutes before I’m carrying her out and throwing her against your portal tree—Ramada.”

He said her name in such a low voice is resonated through her. She looked up into his dark eyes to see they were closer to black now, not more than a shade lighter than his raven hair. Lifting her face she kissed his cheek in a slow lingering motion and whispered. “I’ll do my best.”

~

Maddy had been sitting at her desk for at least an hour after Alice and Ronnie left. Colin finally walked in wearing his jeans, his upper body covered in a light sheen of sweat. Wow, that was the only word that formed properly in her mind. She could have parked her small bug car on that chest and still had room to spare. He gave her a playful grin. She couldn’t help but smile back. Speaking slowly, to be sure her tongue was still capable, he called his body while looking at that sculpture. “Do you feel better now?”

Colin leaned against the wall and nodded. “Much.” He watched her for a moment. “I don’t usually have a problem with my temper, but that woman just zeros in on all the wrong buttons and starts prodding them.”

Maddy bit her lip and tried not to smile. “I know.” She flipped her long hair behind her and sighed, “I’ve been living with that behavior since my mother left.”

“That’s child abuse,” he stated quietly.

Maddy nodded slowly. “Possibly. I’m not a child now, and I found out a long time ago the best thing to do with Alice is let Alice think she’s right.”

He gave her a curious look. “I noticed you also know how to stop her. Mentioning the ruler of the high council certainly did that.” He walked over and sat on the edge of her desk. “Your mother is the top witch, huh?” Maddy nodded. “I’ll have to remember to behave around her— mirror in the future.”

Maddy laughed. “Ma has a wonderful sense of humor.”

He shrugged. “Even so, behaving is probably safer.” Colin rubbed his jaw in thought. “What exactly is the high council, and what do they do?”

Maddy leaned back and brought her knees up, putting her toes on the edge of the desk. Hugging her legs, she sighed. “That’s a long list, I suppose. They oversee all things magical.” She frowned for a moment in thought. “Like witches, mortals of magic, schooling. They also have to balance out any situations caused by magic, whether it’s just a spell gone wrong or been done intentionally.” She blew out a breath. “A few natural disasters have actually been someone doing the wrong kind of magic, and it got away on them—”

“Please don’t go any further.” He crossed his arms and shook his head. “I’m still working on processing everything I’ve had dumped on me in the last three days, I don’t think my poor normal human brain could handle any more.”

“Actually, we call you mortals; we’re all human, just different varieties.”

Colin laughed. “That’s what I mean right there. Until three days ago in my sheltered non-magical world, there weren’t different varieties of humans, just one.”

She dropped her legs and looked at him for a moment, trying very hard not to look at the way his arms were flexed with him having them crossed like that. “I guess I’ve never thought of it that way before.” She looked from the glistening chest quickly and at the clock. “Go grab a quick shower, and I’ll go find us something to eat.”

He nodded and straightened up. “You could join me in the shower...”

She felt her cheeks go hot. “I’ll have to pass, but thank you. The last thing we need is our spirit shadows to join us in the shower. Someone could drown.” He threw his head back and laughed as she walked quickly by him to the kitchen.