Chapter 11

Maddy looked down at the list she held. There were a lot of supplies to pick up if they were checking the whole list. She sighed and looked at the ten jars she had set on the table. Maybe they should just check all of those first, if she had any sort of luck, at least one of those would be the right one.

She yawned for the fourth time; she just couldn’t seem to wake up completely. Glancing towards the door, she wondered how long Colin was going to be outside “getting the blood flowing.” All she wanted to do was go back to bed, and he was outside doing push-ups and sit-ups, it wasn’t fair.

Going over, she tucked the list between a few jars and decided to take her notes on the verse to the couch and see if any good ideas came to mind. With any luck, she’d fall asleep, and no one would notice.

Maddy had just gotten comfortable, making it appear like she was going to intently study the notebook in her lap, when the Alice warning chimes went off. She groaned, she really wasn’t up to a visit from Alice right now.

Colin came in the back door. “Dragon lady is here.”

Maddy smirked. “I heard.” She turned to watch him pull a shirt over his head, briefly admiring how it hugged his muscular chest. “Play nice, I’m completely blah today and don’t want to have to run interference.”

Colin frowned down at her. “Didn’t sleep well?”

“Guess not,” she said quietly as she shrugged. Alice walked in without a knock or greeting. She gave Colin a glance and then zeroed in on Maddy.

“Have you gotten anywhere with the herbs, dear?”

Maddy wanted to roll her eyes at Alice's very obviously fake concerned tone, but she restrained herself. “We’ve eliminated some possibilities. I have to go and get some supplies before we can check the rest.” She offered Alice a fake smile. “We didn’t want to miss your visit, though, so we’ll go later.”

Alice nodded. “Very good. You could have let me know, I could have picked some up for you.” She looked at Colin and frowned and then back to Maddy. “I thought you’d work through the night trying to find them. Or do you want to be stuck together forever?”

Colin sneered. “It’s not the stuck together part that is our biggest concern—it’s the withering falling to both part we’re really trying to stall.” The snotty old witch ignored him and turned her back to him as if he wasn’t even there. Colin glanced at Maddy, who looked like she hadn’t slept.

He went over, dropped down on the couch beside her, and glared at the offensive woman. Playing nice just wasn’t going to happen today. He was frustrated as hell, tired, going a little bit stir-crazy, and the last thing he was in the mood to tolerate was some yappy old hag that thought she was better than the rest of the planet. “Did you come here just to remind us were in deep shit, or is there an actual purpose to your intrusion today?” He didn’t have to look over at Maddy to see she wanted to smack him, some instincts still worked quite well.

Alice’s jaw dropped, and she glared at him. “I came to see how things were going, if at all, and to see if Veronica had explained what we were doing last night. I worked on that for hours past when Veronica went to bed and started again this morning.”

Maddy sighed and stood up. “Let’s go make some coffee Alice, then you can go over every detail for us. It’s all quite surprising.”

Alice glared at Colin for a moment longer and then reached to take Maddy’s hand. “Of course, dear.” She smiled at her, her eyes zeroing in on the pendant around Maddy’s neck. She touched the chain gently. “That chain is starting to look thin, Ramada. I’ll get you a new one for Solstice this year. You wouldn’t want to lose it.”

Maddy looked down at the necklace she never took off and smiled. “No, I wouldn’t.” She let Alice lead her towards the kitchen; glancing over her shoulder, she gave Colin a wide-eyed look.

He shrugged and reached to pick up his cell phone off the table. “I have to call my machine and see if anyone has wrecked my lab in the last few days.”

Maddy nodded and kept walking behind Alice. “I’ll let you know when the coffee is done.”

~

Colin was in no hurry to go into the kitchen. He didn’t know what it was about that woman, but he was all for locking her in a room with the big black kitty for a few hours. He rubbed his clenched jaw. Normally he didn’t have a problem with anyone, even if he found them offensive or annoying, he was still able to communicate with them—without seeing red.

Sighing, he got up from the couch and slowly headed to the kitchen, maybe he wasn’t giving her a chance. He heard Alice whispering as he got closer to the door, he stopped and leaned a shoulder against the wall outside the door. He wasn’t spying on them, really, he just wanted to know what he was walking in on before he did it.

“How is school, Ramada? Veronica said you’ve reached advanced conjures, which is wonderful considering your...handicap.”

Colin snarled at the way she said it.

Alice continued, “I’m not surprised, your mother was an extremely powerful witch at a young age. Clearly, you have her abilities.”

Maddy set the cups on the counter, wishing Alice would go home. “School is fine. I may actually graduate before I’m thirty.” She poured one cup and offered it to Alice.

Alice nodded solemnly as she accepted the cup. “I’m sure you will, dear. It’s so shameful that they’ll never be able to place you in a secure position in the community, however.”

“I’d rather not talk about all of this right now, Alice. I’m feeling so sluggish today, just focusing on finding the plants used in the verse is going to take all of my energy.”

That’s it, Maddy, don’t take her crap, Colin thought. He debated briefly on whether to sit back on the couch or possibly go outside, but continued to lean there listening.

“Of course, of course,” Alice said quickly. “You do look a bit peckish, my dear. Not to worry though, you have several senior witches helping you in this. We’ll have that man out of your way before you know it. Unless, oh, Ramada, you’re not getting attached to him, are you? He’s just an ordinary—”

“He’s not.”

Not what? Colin frowned.

“No, I meant not our kind, dear. I realize you’re young and vibrant, but we’ve talked about this before. It’s just too risky to be around others. It’s safer that you keep your distance. No one really knows the details of the first curse, and it would just be better if you’re alone.”

Colin straightened up, he’d heard more than enough. He stepped into the kitchen and smiled at Maddy. “Coffee ready?”

Maddy nodded. “Has anyone wrecked your lab?”

Colin went over and reached behind her to get the coffee pot. “Not so far, my department got the grant we were after, so it’s full throttle ahead.” He grinned at her.

Maddy moved out of his way and held out her cup. “That’s great. I guess you’re in a hurry to get back then?”

He filled her cup, returned the pot to the burner, and shook his head. “No. I haven’t had time off in several years.” He winked at her. “I’m enjoying time off, regardless of circumstance.” He leaned back against the counter and glanced over at Alice. She had a scowl on her old face that made all the wrinkles form around her mouth. He took a sip quickly so he wouldn’t grin.

Alice set her cup on the counter. “I must get back and see if Veronica got through one part before she ran off to work.”

Maddy nodded quickly. “We appreciate your help, Alice.” She avoided looking at Colin. “Let us know if you find anything.”

“Of course, dear.” Alice turned and quickly went out the door.

Colin took another sip before he decided she was gone completely. “I have more motivation to find the answers now. Spirits were fine, withering was okay, but I will do anything to not have to see her again.”

Maddy smirked. “You don’t help things, you know.”

He set the cup down and crossed his arms. “I can’t seem to help that. There is just something about that woman that sets off every cell in my body. I don’t trust her, Maddy, there’s just something about her...” He stopped when Sarabi wandered into the kitchen.

-I really want to keep him, Maddy.

Maddy grinned down at her cat. “Only because he thinks your beautiful and agrees with you.”

-I think he likes you a bit too.

“Do you think so?” Maddy rubbed her hand down the soft thick black fur behind the animal’s neck.

You two are like cats in heat around each other, pun intended.

Maddy’s cheeks went hot. She picked up her cup and turned towards the door. “I’ll keep that in mind. We have to get to work now.”

-I wish I could talk to him.

Maddy snorted, “Not if I can help it.”

Colin grabbed his cup and followed her. “I keep feeling like the two of you are leaving me out of interesting discussions.”

Maddy shook her head and kept walking towards the study. “Nothing too exciting.”

-Chicken.

She ignored that comment and motioned to the desk as she went through the door. “I think we should try all the plants I do have, and see if maybe we can get lucky before we go shopping today.” She stopped and turned to look at him. “I know you like using the portals, but do you mind if we drive later? I’d just like to wander a bit, get out of here for a while, and get some groceries.”

Colin shrugged. “Sounds good.” He set his cup down and looked around the room. Spotting a box in the corner, he went over and picked it up. “I was thinking we could try the tests outside.” He grinned. “Maybe it would cut down on the smell?”

Maddy nodded. “Good idea.” She started putting jars into the box he held. “If you pray to anyone, start now, maybe one of these is part of the answer.”

~

They weren’t. Maddy backed her faded green bug out of the driveway and frowned as she drove. A few times it had taken longer for the plants to smoke and burn, getting their hopes up, but in the end, all they had done was inhale a lot of stinky-smelling smoke. She turned the corner quickly, heading towards a little village south of where she lived. A witch lived there that ran an herb shop, hopefully, she’d have all the plants left on the list.

Colin grabbed the handle above his door and held on when he almost tipped over as she went around another bend in the road. He wasn’t sure where they were going, but he wished it wasn’t on a twisting gravel road. The back of the car slid on the next corner. He glanced at Maddy to see her scowling at the road. “Do you take the car often?”

Maddy glanced over and shook her head before looking back at the road. “Not really. I mean, unless I’m going somewhere that doesn’t have a portal close by. I didn’t even bother getting my license until I was twenty-two; it wasn’t really needed in my little world until then.”

He cleared his throat. “I can drive if you’d like to relax.”

Maddy hit the brake but didn’t slow the car soon enough to avoid a pothole. “I’m fine.”

Colin winced when his head hit the roof as she flew the car through the large crater in the road. “No, seriously, I can.”

Maddy slowed a bit and looked over at him. He was hanging onto the handle and holding his head to the side, so it wasn’t too close to the roof. “I suck at it, don’t I?”

He shrugged, “Maybe just a little.” He held his breath when she hit the brakes, and the car slid twenty feet through the gravel, it was heading straight for the ditch, and he didn’t let his breath out until it completely stopped. He opened the door, not giving her a second to change her mind, and unfolded himself from the car.

Maddy stopped in front of the car as they met. “Sorry, being distracted doesn’t help my driving skills.”

He leaned down and placed a light kiss on her cheek. “It’s okay. I’m just too big for derby driving in this car.”

Maddy stood there and watched him get into the driver’s seat. She hadn’t even thought of his size when she suggested taking her car. She climbed into the passenger’s side and snorted to stop a laugh when she looked at him. His knees were on either side of the steering wheel as he fiddled under the seat, trying to find the level to adjust it. When the seat finally moved back, she still wasn’t sure if he had enough room. “I guess you’d fit better in a van.”

Colin grinned at her as he put the car into drive. “Little cars are fine, as long as the seat tilts back. Otherwise, I could steer with my chin.” He turned his attention to the road and pulled out. “You just sit back and tell me when to turn.” Maddy nodded and looked out the window.

~

Colin brought the last two packages into the house and headed straight to the study. Maddy was leaning over the giant book on her desk.

She looked over at him. “Ronnie left us a message while we were gone.” She motioned for him to come over. When he did, she tapped the book, and Veronica’s image appeared on the page.

“Hey, guys. I thought I’d update you before I run back to work. Mother called me home to double-check this; we think we may know who your spirits are.” She held a notebook up to read. “Okay, so we’re pretty sure the curse was placed roughly around the mid-1600s, but we can’t pinpoint an exact date. At this time, the Darcy clan had split, and some fled to the west coast of Scotland, long blah blah there about the Irish Confederate wars. Anyway, Maddy’s ancestors were some that fled.”

Maddy and Colin looked at each other before turning back to the book. “So in Scotland, you have the descendants of the Pict King Kenneth MacAlpin, and eventually thirty-some generations later the Queen of Scots—and then the whole outlawed thing. Okay, I’m rambling, but there is a lot here to cover. End of the story is, Robert MacGregor and Brenna Darcy fall in love, both families pitch a fit, and they’re killed when the families were chasing them as they try to run away together. Horse accident of some sort, don’t know if there’s a carriage involved or what, but this sparks a feud between the two families, and it goes on for over sixty years.” Ronnie took a deep breath while nodding. “The last known MacGregor family member known to have the treasured family heirloom was an aunt—uh, I’ve lost the name somewhere in this mess, anyway, no one knows where it went from there. So, we’re making the joint assumption that dear old aunty did the spell to end the feud, and well, as you know, she cursed it.” Ronnie let out a slow breath. “And there you have it.” She turned and looked beside her. “Oh, Mother is going to do more research and see if we can call out these two spirits and get rid of them.” She nodded, presumably to her mother, who was nearby. “I’ll call you tonight after work with an update.

Maddy closed the book. “Well, that was—”

“A lot to say in a very short period of time,” he finished.

Maddy smirked. “That’s Ronnie. You should see her when she’s excited about something.”

Colin shook his head. “I don’t think I’d survive it.” He leaned against the desk and crossed his arms. “So, I’m from royal blood, and our two spirits were in love and then died together.”

“Yeah, that’s the abbreviated version.” Maddy sat down and studied the book Ronnie’s message had rambled out of. “Wow, now the spirits showing up when they do make more sense.”

Colin smirked. “Yeah, it seems we’re picking up where they’d like to have been.”

Maddy instantly blushed. “That doesn’t explain why she didn’t show up the last time, and he did.”

Frowning, Colin ran his hand through his hair. “I did ask you to stay, would that have something to do with it?”

“I don’t know,” Maddy whined. “I just want something to make sense or work like it’s supposed to.” She rubbed her hands down her face and then looked at him. “Research how to call spirits or start working through all these plants?”

Colin looked at the packages and then at her. “That’s a tough call. I want the curse removed for reasons I don’t really need to explain. But there’s a part, okay, that’s going to sound wrong.” He smirked. “I’d also like to finish what we keep starting without interruptions and spirits.” He leered at her as her cheeks went red again. Straightening up and holding out his hand. “Let’s go play in the plants. At least if we can break the curse, we would know for sure that it was us that want to finish what we started, and not because of some pissed-off aunt from long ago.” Maddy’s eyes widened as he pulled her to her feet. “Yeah, I know you’ve been thinking about it too.”

Maddy pulled the plant list out of her bag. “Do you read minds?” He laughed. She shrugged. “I had to ask.”

Colin grabbed the Quaich and one of the wrapped packets of plants in one hand and followed her to the door. “Is there a way I can hear Sarabi’s thoughts?”

Maddy held the door for him and quirked one eyebrow at him. “I don’t know. I can ask Mother, she’d know.”

He gave her an amused look. “Cool.”