Destiny of the Witch (The Other Witch #4)

8. Chapter 8

Chapter 8

I knew the Other circus almost as well as I knew my own Coven tower. Every month I painted complex warding runes into each caravan, which meant that over the years I’d frequently met the occupants.

For most of them, I was their sole connection to the Other realm, a way to get news and gossip about what was happening in the magical world that they’d forsaken. I was a bit of a celebrity, which wasn’t a feeling I enjoyed. I’m not a gossipmonger, though I tried to dredge some up for the circus occupants. Sometimes they needed – and deserved – a slice of normal life.

The previous month I’d let Hannah Lions accompany me to the circus to help with the warding, and now Meredith had been attacked. That, together with Hannah’s name being on the Coven Council’s list, put Hannah slap bang at the top of my suspects’ list. The thought made me feel rather ill. Hannah was hard working and conscientious, and I saw a lot of myself in her. But maybe hard work was too much and she’d taken shortcuts. Maybe blood work had turned to pain work, and pain work had turned her to the dark side. Maybe she was an evil witch.

I hated the thought but it buzzed loudly in my brain for the whole journey. I even logged onto the Coven systems to check where she was. It noted her as having an allotted day off yesterday and today.

Witches don’t work a Monday to Friday week. We have a rolling schedule that ensures we have coverage twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The attack had fallen on Hannah’s two days off. A smart evil witch would have done it on her working days and manufactured some fake jobs to give a concrete alibi. Perhaps Hannah wasn’t as smart as I thought, or maybe she really wasn’t evil.

Though my brain was stuck on the latter, I would not ignore the facts because I didn’t like them. In life we all have to face facts that challenge our beliefs, and I was determined not to be wilfully ignorant. But dammit, I really didn’t want Hannah to be the culprit.

I strode confidently towards Cain’s black caravan; it was top of the line, his one indulgence as ringmaster. That was where he would help anyone who was injured or upset, so no doubt I would find Meredith there.

Stu caught sight of me. ‘Amber’s here!’ he yelled loudly. He looked behind me and blanched when he saw Bastion and Benji on my heels, then gaped as he caught sight of Frogmatch riding shotgun on the golem’s shoulder. Oscar stayed in the car, protecting the vehicle from tampering and ensuring we could make a quick getaway should one be needed. ‘She’s brought allies!’ he called.

‘Yes, thank you, Stu,’ I chastened. ‘No need to announce the colour of my knickers as well.’

He blushed. ‘Sorry, Miss Amber. We’ve been worried. Mere is in a bad way.’

I quickened my pace then launched myself up the caravan steps, knocked once and let myself in. Ria looked up as I entered. Her blue eyes were red-rimmed and her flaxen hair was loose around her shoulders in total disarray as if she couldn’t stop carding her fingers through it. She was sitting next to Cain and his arm was tucked around her.

Cain’s face was lightly lined and he had a sprinkle of silver in his dark hair, but he was still devastatingly handsome. His eyes were tired but he still held himself with purpose.

‘Clark,’ Bastion said in surprise .

Clark Farrier – now known as Cain Stilwell – gave Bastion a small nod. ‘Bastion. I trust I can rely on your discretion, not just about my death but about the whole circus.’

‘Yes, of course. I give you my word that no one will learn of it from me.’

‘Meredith?’ I interrupted impatiently.

‘We found her hanging,’ Cain said grimly. ‘We cut her down as quickly as we could and resuscitated her. Although she’s breathing on her own now, she hasn’t come round.’

Ria let out a soft choking noise and her familiar, a mouse named Fido, nuzzled into her neck.

The hospital was out as an option for Meredith. Hospitals have crossover staff, people that work both as doctors and healers. Cain couldn’t risk the paperwork that might end up sliding across the Connection’s desk. It was me or Common medicine grabbed from a pharmacy, and the latter would be wholly inadequate. Without magical intervention, Meredith would need to be carefully monitored in a hospital, particularly for brain damage.

‘In your bedroom?’ I asked briskly, already moving that way .

‘Yes,’ Cain confirmed.

I opened the door and went in with Bastion on my heels. Meredith’s hair was spread out on the pillow like a pale halo. Her face was ashen and the skin around her throat was already darkening with bruises. Her brain had been deprived of oxygen for Goddess knew how long.

Luckily, I had brewed a brain-swelling potion for Oscar not long before, the main treatment for cerebral oedema and hypoxic brain damage. Despite its short shelf life, it would still do the trick for Meredith. The small amount of innate magic she had in the Common realm would be enough to spark the potion into working. Thank goodness I’d had it to hand; it was rare for me to brew it let alone carry it with me. I gave thanks that Oscar had been struck on the head when the fire elemental had attacked me; it would probably save Meredith’s life.

I opened my bag and pulled out the yellow vial. Bastion carefully searched the room; once he had ascertained that it was safe, he stepped out to speak with Cain. He left the door ajar so that he could hear if I needed him.

I opened Meredith’s mouth and poured a little of the yellow potion into it. As I had with Oscar, I closed her mouth and stroked her throat so that she swallowed reflexively. Unlike Oscar, she did exactly that. I repeated the process until the vial was empty .

Her eyes fluttered and she awoke with a strangled gasp. She shot upright, hands moving to her throat, eyes wide in panic.

‘You’re okay,’ I assured. ‘You’re safe.’

‘Mother!’ she croaked in relief when she saw me. She fell into my arms and started to sob.

I patted her awkwardly. ‘Everything’s okay. You’re safe now,’ I repeated.

The door pushed open. ‘Mum!’ When Ria ran in, Meredith left the comfort of my arms and instead offered comfort to her daughter.

‘I’m okay.’ She smiled bravely through her tears, then wiped at them, not wanting her daughter to see her cry. Her voice was hoarse and croaky; there was no doubt she was in pain from the damage her neck had endured.

I opened my tote bag, found potions for muscle damage and bruises and pulled out a small paintbrush. ‘Let’s heal that throat.’

Ria moved off her mother’s lap so I had some more space to work in, but she clung fiercely to Meredith’s hand. ‘Ouch!’ Meredith murmured. ‘I still have bones in that hand,’ she joked. ‘I’m glad to see you too, baby.’

Ria snorted. ‘I’m not a baby.’

‘You’ ll always be my baby,’ Meredith replied, kissing her lightly.

Meredith had always been well-groomed, so it was odd to see her now with her hair wild, face naked of makeup and nails with the remains of last month’s manicure half-grown out and picked at. She’d been through some truly difficult times, and I suspected that they weren’t over yet.

I painted on hagalaz for injury and sowilo for health, first using the muscle damage potion then the one for bruises. I examined her with a critical eye then painted on two more runes for good measure. The more runes you use, the more of your magic you use to activate them, but even so I have never been one to skimp on magic. Results matter.

I drew my magic forward and traced it through the runes. They lit up and I watched with satisfaction as the bruises faded before they could get truly established.

Meredith smiled at me. ‘Thank you, Coven Mother. That is so much better.’ She touched her neck self-consciously.

‘No problem. I’m glad you’re okay.’

I studied her. Her colour was up and she looked steadier. Her tears had stopped when her daughter arrived. ‘Good,’ I said abruptly. ‘I have some questions for you.’

Meredith’s smile faded. ‘No doubt.’

‘Did you see your attacker?’

Meredith looked down and away as she squeezed her daughter’s fingers. ‘No,’ she said softly. ‘I’m sorry.’

I shook my head. ‘Whatever they said to you, I need to know the truth.’

‘They didn’t say anything. I didn’t see anyone,’ Meredith insisted. I wasn’t sure I believed her, but now wasn’t the time to press while her fear was still so strong.

‘They wrote a message. In blood,’ Ria said tremulously. ‘They wrote, “There’s no quitting the black Coven, Ria. You can’t hide from us. We’re coming for you next”. We’re not safe here, Coven Mother. We need to go home.’

I narrowed my eyes. They could damned well try and get my witches but Ria was under my protection now, and I would keep her safe through any means necessary.