Chapter 32
32
ROMAN
O die’s sitting on the couch with Penelope when I walk out into the living room. She’s teaching her a few basic signs. Pen is glowing like she never gets this much attention. She probably doesn’t.
Odie turns to me. “Are you sure you don’t want any of us to come with?”
We’ve already had this conversation a few times. I can’t fault my friends for wanting to help, but in this case, Josephine and I should be able to handle things. “We’ve got this, but I have a feeling we’re going to need to circle the wagons soon.”
I sign the rest to her, not wanting to make Penelope mad. “You staying with Pen is a huge help.”
She’s twelve. If she thought we were leaving her with a babysitter, I’m sure she’d be pissed. That’s not what Odie’s here for, though. It’s more like she’s on protective duty.
“Are you ready?” Josephine comes out from the bedroom in jeans and a baggy sweater. This morning, Ambrose arranged what he called an assignation with Piper to get some of Jo’s clothing from her apartment. I don’t know when the hell he got her phone number, but that is not important right now.
Since we couldn’t break into the Delvaux house, Odie ran to the store. She picked up some staples to get Penelope through the next few days until we figure out what to do. I hadn’t quite thought through the logistics of kidnapping someone. It’s only Friday, so we have a few days before Penelope needs to be back at school. I’m concerned that her mom will come for her there. It’s just one of many details we haven’t figured out.
I reach out and grab Josephine’s hand. We haven’t left the house yet, but I don’t want to miss a single opportunity to feel her touch. She looks incredible. Her skin is practically glowing, and her eyes are bright. The underlying worry and tension are still there, but she looks healthier than I’ve ever seen her. I have to admit, even I feel pretty damn amazing. “Ready?”
“Pen, be good. Don’t give Odie a hard time. Call if you need anything.”
“Jojo, I’m not five. I promise I won’t explode the kitchen or make it rain in here. Just go and figure out your crap.”
“Fine. Love you.” Josephine’s fingers flex in mine. How fucking shitty that she can’t even hug her little sister goodbye. Fucking curses.
We’re just outside the door when I have to ask. “What are the chances that we come back to a rain soaked, exploded kitchen?”
Josephine laughs and we get in the car.
I considered breaking into the covens and stealing as many grimoires as possible as our next action, but it occurred to me that there was a better place to start. It’s only a ten-minute drive before we’re parking at the small pedestrian bridge that leads to Morty’s shop. Josephine has a beanie pulled down low on her forehead and has the hood on her coat flipped up. I suppose someone who knew her extremely well might recognize her, but her face is mostly hidden.
The bell over the door chimes as we step inside the shop. The packed shop.
“Fuck,” I hiss under my breath. “Why are there so many people here?” Josephine’s hand is back in mine, and I pull her to the side as a shopper nearly bowls us over.
“It’s Black Friday. Got to get the deals before they're gone.” A woman I don’t recognize whizzes by. Josephine drops her head, keeping her hood up.
Morty saunters up to us as if there aren't fifty people crammed into his shop.
“You do Black Friday?” I raise a brow.
“I’m an entrepreneur, Blackthorn, my dear. What can I say.” He shrugs, his eyes sliding over to Josephine.
“Stephanie, take over. I’ll be in the back for a few minutes.”
Stephanie works part time at the apothecary. Her curly hair sticks out in multiple directions as she runs around, looking harried. She mumbles under her breath as she packages up one customer's purchase and tries to answer another’s questions.
I’d like to say we won’t take up much of Morty’s time, but I have no idea how long this conversation will take.
Josephine and I follow Morty into the back room. I angle my body to keep anyone from touching her. My curse is awful in its own way, but avoiding the merest touch just sucks. The back of the store is full of rows upon rows of stock. Everything that’s out front, plus the ingredients to make potions. There’s also a small kitchenette and a shabby round wooden table with four chairs haphazardly pushed underneath.
“Take a seat.” Morty waves at us, and Josephine lowers her hood. I pull out her chair and sit in it before Josephine can. She makes a surprised sound that turns into a gasp when I grab her waist and pull her down onto my lap instead of letting her sit in her own seat. I’m feeling slightly crazed after last night and I can’t have her close enough.
Morty stays standing, looking at the two of us with a devilish glint in his eye. Per usual, he’s wearing an extravagant outfit. It’s a pink plaid suit with a pair of pointy leather boots. He smooths back his hair as if the craziness outside has disheveled him, although he looks perfectly pulled together, in my opinion.
“What do I owe the pleasure of a visit from members of both the Tenebris and the Lumen covens?” Morty grins as he pulls out a seat across from us and sits down sideways. One arm dangles off the back of his chair and the other rests on the table, his fingers drumming a beat.
“We’re looking for information about the curses.” I don’t waste time with small talk.
Morty’s eyebrows raise up, and he turns his attention to Josephine.
“Why do you look surprised?” I ask, and Morty turns back to me.
“I thought Josephine might have some other questions for me.”
Josephine’s eyes narrow. “Like why you’ve been selling ingredients for a siphoning potion to my mother.”
Morty nods, a slight smile on his face. This is news to me. I glare at Morty, not so sure I like the man anymore.
“How long have you known what she’s been doing?” Josephine asks. I squeeze her waist, pulling her closer to me. We came here for help, but if Morty’s been lying, supplying Josephine’s mom with the ingredients for a siphoning potion, then fuck him.
Morty raps his knuckles on the table. He squints his eyes and looks up at the ceiling like he’s trying to remember. “About a month now?”
Josephine blinks, confusion clear on her face. “But you’ve been selling my mom ingredients for a while, haven’t you?”
“No. The first time I saw that list of ingredients was when you came in to get them. I was confused because I knew what that combination could be used for. Your mother comes in on occasion to get supplies, but she would never hand over a list like that to me. My guess is she’s getting her ingredients from another location, maybe online.”
“Are you saying Amazon delivers magical ingredients?” I lean forward, tapping my fingers on the table, too.
Morty turns his attention back to me. “Yes, smarty-pants. There are plenty of us who live in the new age. I do know how to work a computer and am fully capable of slapping on a shipping label.”
I hold up a placating hand. “Fair enough.”
“Why didn’t you say something to me that day?” There’s a wounded look on Josephine’s face. If Morty doesn’t answer carefully, I can’t promise I won’t smash his nose in.
Morty sighs. “You obviously didn’t crack open the book that I sent home with you.”
A blush steals up Josephine’s cheeks. “I was sort of distracted that day.” Her eyes dart over to me and then back to Morty. “I kind of forgot about the book.”
“Obviously, if you’re asking me about curses.”
“What do you mean?” I sit up a little straighter.
Morty picks at a loose piece of thread on the sleeve of his jacket. “Let’s just say, if anyone had bothered to read the book I so kindly donated, you’d find out how to get your hands on the story of the Briar Witch.”
I look at Josephine. “What did you do with the book?”
Josephine bites her thumbnail. “It’s at my apartment.”
“Easy peasy, my angels.” Morty claps his hands together but stops when he sees the look on our faces. “Or not so easy?”
“We’re sort of avoiding my family,” Josephine says.
Morty taps the side of his nose. “I see. Well, my lips are sealed.” He makes a zipping gesture over his lips. “If anyone asks, I haven't seen you. And certainly not the two of you together. What a scandal that would be. How are the covens going to cope with a dark witch and a light witch together? It’s like the end times. Or perhaps how things are supposed to be.”
“What does that mean?” I ask, feeling, not for the first time, that Morty is playing with us. He knows so much more than he lets on.
“Just that there are some old ways that have fallen through the cracks of history over time. But they have a way of resurfacing.”
I frown, ready to interrogate him, but Josephine’s hand covers mine. “I guess we can stop by my place, and I can pick up some more clothes while we’re at it.”
Morty hops up, clapping his hands together. “That’s the spirit. Now get out of my shop. I have a mob of hungover, deal-seeking witches to wrangle.”
Josephine stays on my lap for a long moment before standing up with a sigh. She throws her hood back up and lets me guide her out of the shop, keeping her head down until we’re outside.
“Ready to sneak into your apartment?”
“You know, sneaking around sounds like so much fun when you watch it on TV or read it in a book, but in reality, it kind of sucks.”