Chapter 4
“Congratulations, my dear. I don’t think there has been a level five on a first testing for years.” Damien came over and pulled Mia off the couch to give her a hug.
“Second testing. It’s my second testing. I was supposed to be a level three or four at the most. But five?”
“The harder the test, the more likely a strong witch will score higher,” Abigail explained. “I worried that Parker’s zeal would affect the results.”
A loud knock sounded at the front door.
“Who’s that?” Mia turned toward the door. Muffy started barking and Mr. Darcy arched up and started hissing.
“Calm down, everyone, it’s probably Thomas thinking I can’t drive home on my own.” Abigail hurried over to the door. “Did you hear?”
Instead of Thomas, Suzanne Parker stood at the door. “How did you cheat this time? I was there, watching every step. Do you have a friend in the testing department? I knew the coven was way too casual about this. I will find out and you will be banished from the community.”
“I didn’t cheat.” Mia stood and walked between the group and the door.
Muffy was on her right side and Mr. Darcy on her left.
In the darkness, Mia spotted Buddy flying in for the argument as well.
She perched on a tree on the other side of the parking lot.
Mia could see fire in the dragon’s eyes.
“I think you need to leave and take your false accusations with you.”
“I just wanted to tell you that I’m watching you. And I’m not leaving Magic Springs until I bring you down.” Suzanne Parker glanced back at Buddy, who was watching her.
“Then you might as well buy a house here and move in. It’s a lovely community, even for people who don’t deserve it, like you.” Damien picked up Muffy and tried to calm the dog.
“You! You’re an abomination and should be burned. No one gets to cheat death.” She glared at him. “Mark my words, you’ll disappear sooner rather than later.”
“You’re threatening us?” Abigail pointed toward the door. “You need to leave, now. We don’t act this way in Magic Springs. I’ll have your job for this.”
“I don’t care. She’s not a level five and I’ll make sure she never receives a dime of the allotment.” Suzanne Parker turned to walk away. “And your dragon’s going to a zoo when I get back to Nationals. Exotic pets aren’t allowed near humans. You should know better.”
A chortle came out of the tree, but Mia didn’t think Buddy sounded happy. She stepped outside, hopeful that the coven had reapplied her protection, and watched the woman drive off in a rental. She looked up at Buddy. “Go tell Trent I’m fine and we don’t need him here. We’re safe.”
Buddy chortled again but followed her instructions after a brief hesitation and glance toward the road where Parker had disappeared.
At least Mia hoped Buddy went straight home and didn’t trail Suzanne Parker in her silver rental to the hotel to eat her.
Dragons got rid of the evidence of a killing.
Trent had told her that early on when Buddy first showed up in Magic Springs.
Mia dialed and quickly explained things to Trent as she came back inside, locking the door behind her.
“Buddy’s home,” Trent said. “Mad as a wet hen but here. She keeps talking about someone threatening you.”
“Suzanne Parker, my tester. She’s taking this level five thing personally. And they’re sending me money? What do I have to do for them to get a monthly check? Don’t get me wrong, it would be helpful, but if I’m selling my soul to the devil, I’d like to know the terms before I spend the money.”
He chuckled. “I’m not sure. I was never a level five. I don’t know anyone at that level. They don’t talk to me anymore.”
“Not since you turned down your mentorship program?” Mia asked, wondering why Trent hadn’t talked about the last straw that made him turn over his “official” power to Levi.
“Levi has a big mouth,” Trent suggested.
“I think his mouth is exactly the right size. You’ve been keeping secrets from me. How am I supposed to make good decisions if I only have one side of the situation?” Mia wasn’t angry at Trent, but her words sounded like it. Probably the Parker factor.
He grunted, either agreeing with her statement or just clearing his throat. “Anyway, watch out for Suzanne Parker. Stay home until she leaves town. This will all blow over.”
“Maybe.” Mia had a bad feeling about Suzanne Parker. “How’s training going?”
“Cerby blew a hole through the side of the house and Tempest has turned the baby into a statue a few times. She seems to think it’s funny. Em howls when Tempest performs magic for her or to her, depending on the way you see it. And no one seems to be potty-trained, not even the baby.”
Mia started laughing. “So, you’re telling me it could be worse? Suzanne Parker could turn me into a statue and pee on me?”
“Exactly.” He sounded more relaxed now.
“Go to bed. I’ve got a house full of people I need to debrief with. I love you.” Mia walked back to the living room, where everyone seemed to be talking at once.
“I love you too. I’m not sure I’m worthy of a level five, though.”
Before she could answer, he hung up.
“How’s Trent?” Abigail asked. “Did Buddy get home?”
“Yes, Buddy’s home, and I don’t think she had time to blow up Parker’s car on the way. She wanted to tell Trent everything.” Mia rolled her head back and forth. “Now, the female thing makes more sense with Buddy. She’s a protector and I’m one of her charges.”
“She does love you,” Grans added. “Dorian, I’ll see you in the morning. We need to talk about this threat. If Suzanne Parker tells the National Office that you broke your contract, you’ll be out of that body and on to the next world before you know it. You know they hate reincarnation of any type.”
“I’ll deal with that,” Damien said, his voice cold. “You and Muffy should head to bed. Do you want me to take him out one last time?”
“That would be sweet. Mia, would you make sure Muffy gets into the apartment tonight?” Grans headed to the elevator. “I swear, life doesn’t have to be this hard.”
Abigail watched as elevator doors closed. “And yet it is. We need a meeting with all of us, well, besides Trent and Sarah. Maybe we can put them on speakerphone. We need a plan to deal with Suzanne Parker. You don’t want to take the next test for setting a level. It’s barbaric.”
“I’m not even going to think about what another test might be like. I’m worn out from this one. As soon as Muffy is back inside, we’re heading to bed. Christina, are you staying here?”
The girl blushed so hard the roots of her blond hair glowed red. “No, I’m going back to the condo with Levi. Abigail, do you want us to drop you off?”
“I can drive, dear, no matter what my husband thinks. I’ll see everyone in the morning.
Finn’s heading off to the Lodge to work because Mia’s Morsels is closed tomorrow.
We’ll do a brunch meeting in Mia’s apartment.
” Abigail put on a coat and grabbed her keys out of her purse.
“But I wouldn’t mind you walking me out. ”
Mia walked to the door with the others. Mr. Darcy sat on the stairs, waiting for her.
As they said their goodbyes, Damien came up and handed her Muffy. “All taken care of. I’ll see you in the morning.” Then he kissed her on the cheek. “Congrats on level five. You deserve it. I knew the first time I met you that you were going to be something special.”
“You’re too kind.” Mia leaned against the door-frame. “Dorian, can I ask you a question?”
“It must be serious if you’re using my real name. Yes, of course.” He adjusted his driving gloves.
“Is there really going to be a war?” Grans and the others had been talking about the signs for months now.
Like how Trent and Em were granted hellhounds by the Goddess.
And how the family power was being shared between the upcoming generation, at least here in Magic Springs.
If Nationals found out, Trent and the others would be banned, or worse. Mia didn’t want to think about it.
Dorian started. Apparently that wasn’t the question he’d expected from her. Finally he answered. “It feels the same as before. The first war, we were fighting a common enemy. Now, I’m afraid the fight will be an inside job. We could be hurting one another without even knowing it.”
Mia’s phone rang at six the next morning. Swearing, she reached out from under the covers and found the phone. “What?”
“Turn on the news,” Trent said.
As Mia did, she thought about Trent’s tone. Something was wrong, and even in her sleepy state, she could feel his pain. “What’s going on?”
“Just listen.”
Mia sat up and turned up the volume.
“Just to recap, a local tourist has been found dead on the mountain. Sources say that the woman, one Suzanne Parker, apparently died of exposure. Her body was found on a cross-country trail, not far from the trailhead parking lot. Her rental car was located in the parking lot. Magic Springs Police have closed that section of the ski resort as they complete their search of the area. Police Chief Mark Baldwin wouldn’t comment except to say that it was an open investigation.
We’ll let you know when the area reopens for skiers. ”
Mia turned off the television as the female anchor went on to talk about what to wear on this chilly morning. She turned back to the phone. “Tell me there’s another Suzanne Parker visiting Magic Springs this week.”
“You missed the description. Dark hair, pale skin, and working for the National Creative Arts department out of Boston,” Trent said.
“It’s your tester. I took a picture of her photo on my phone, which the newspeople got from when she checked into the Lodge on Monday.
” He paused. “I just sent it to you. I wish I wasn’t stuck in the house while this is going on.
Why would someone kill a coven testing specialist?
It’s like attacking the people who transcribe reports in the CIA. They don’t know anything.”