Chapter 14
Mia felt like a truck had run over her the next morning when she finally pulled herself out of bed. She couldn’t sleep, so she had opened the book on Suzanne Parker and read late into the night, or early into the morning.
“Mia? Are you okay?” Christina knocked on her bedroom door, then opened it. “Wow, you look bad. Did you need to go in for the Edwards’s wedding?”
“Thank you for the pep talk. Give me thirty minutes to shower and change and inhale a cup of coffee, then we can head into the Lodge. I should be there for the ceremony and the beginning of the dinner. Mrs. Edwards can be a little much.” Mia eyed the coffee cup in Christina’s hands.
“Is that for me? Or did you lace it with sugar and cream already?”
“Black like your heart,” Christina teased. “What were you doing last night? I got up around three and your light was still on.”
Mia took the coffee. After a couple of hot sips, she opened her eyes and pointed to the book.
“I was finding out about our victim, Suzanne Parker. She was a child when her mother was hanged in Salem. Then she lived as a servant. If anyone deserved a life do-over, it was that child. I got through all but her life before this one. She was kind of a badass.”
“Do you know why she was killed?” Christina picked up the book, then dropped it quickly. “The book feels wrong.”
“Really?” Mia set down her coffee and picked up the book again. Nothing. She looked at Christina. “Is Abigail here? Tell her what just happened.”
“I’m not picking up that book again.” Christina backed out of the room.
“Drama queen. Just ask her. She can come in here and get it if she needs to.” Mia picked up her coffee again. “I’m heading to the shower.”
When she got out and dressed, she noticed the book wasn’t in her room anymore. In the kitchen, Grans and Abigail were huddled over the table. Christina was in the living room. “What’s going on?”
“Cleo gave you this?” Grans looked up and stared at Mia. “Let me see your hands and arms.”
She held them out. “Nothing. I didn’t react. I couldn’t sleep, so I read for hours last night, probably too long to be productive at work this morning. Hopefully, the wedding will go off without a hitch, because I don’t think I can solve a problem to save my life right now.”
“The book probably drained you a little. Christina felt it more because of her current state. Her body is trying to keep three people alive, not just her.” Grans met Abigail’s gaze.
“Cleo must have thought that the book’s power had died with its subject, but I think there’s some still in there.
One of the ways Suzanne Parker kept coming back was that she’d use the book to drain energy from the people it came in contact with.
Life energy. Just a little from everyone.
In a school full of rambunctious kids, the book would probably fill up fast, keeping Suzanne alive. It’s an amazing spell.”
“When you’re not the one being drained!” Christina called from the other room.
Mia rolled her eyes and Grans laughed. “She’s not wrong. I think we should return this to the library and get it away from you. Your face is a little pale.”
“I didn’t finish reading about her last life,” Mia said as she refilled her coffee cup, “but I didn’t find anything that explains why she was killed. No revenge plot building. Is the book true?”
“It’s a historic rendering, yes. Maybe you can read the rest tonight or Monday, when you’re a little stronger.
I think the book’s power is slowly waning anyway.
” Abigail picked up the book and carried it out to the apartment door.
Grabbing the key to the library, she called out, “I’ll be right back. ”
“I’m not going to be the one to tell Thomas that his wife was sucked dry by a dead woman’s book.” Christina picked up her plate and headed to the kitchen. “Let me know when you’re ready to go.”
Mia’s phone buzzed. Mark.
Do you know if this was a magic killing or not? Can’t believe that’s my question.
Mia smiled as she texted back.
From what I can tell, I don’t think so. I need to expand my investigation today. Any tox results back yet?
It’s the weekend, so no.
Heading to work, then I’ll pull out my notes. I’ll let you know if I find anything.
Weird thing is, the mayor’s not sticking his nose in this murder. Does that mean that it’s not magical?
Don’t know. But it’s interesting, I agree. Chat later.
Mia set down her phone near the food that Grans had set in front of her. She was starving. Probably due to the book draining her life force. She looked up and saw her grandmother watching her. “Have you figured out anything on who would want to kill Suzanne Parker? On the coven side?”
“She was powerful. The coven originally thought the attack came from us, but since your level went up, I’m sure that ended that discussion.
We didn’t have a reason to kill her unless she nullified your testing.
She was the one who tested you and the result was higher, so, well, there goes that logic. ”
Grans sat down across from Mia. “I do think you need a stronger protection spell. I don’t like the fact that Blake was able to put you under a spell for over an hour. She could have planted anything in your head.”
“She said she was sorry and she wouldn’t do it again.” Mia flinched as the words came out of her mouth. The words didn’t sound like something she’d say. “Can you tell if she did anything to my head?”
“What do you think I am? An emotional X-ray machine?” Grans shook her head. “Dorian, I mean, Damien has a potion that might clear any unwanted programming. He’s been working on it in the potions lab. We’ll see if that works.”
“Cleo knows about Dorian and Cerby and Buddy, and she has to know about Sarah and Em because she said two hellhounds.” Mia looked down at Muffy. “Unless you’re one in disguise.”
Muffy barked, then Mr. Darcy yawned, and they both went back to sleep.
Grans rubbed his belly. “I think that’s unlikely. Cleo knows a lot. She also holds a lot of secrets. I don’t worry about what she knows, I worry more about what she tells us. What else did she say that has you on edge?”
Because Christina was in her bedroom talking to Levi, and Abigail hadn’t come back from the library yet, Mia quickly told her grandmother about Cleo’s assumption that Mia was Goddess chosen. “It’s not a label I want.”
“I think Cleo’s right on this subject. You get what you get.” Grans looked at the kitchen witch doll hanging in the kitchen. “We need more direction from Gloria if this is true. I’ll find the right spell and we’ll see if we can have a conversation with our elder with more than just the giggling.”
Abigail came back into the apartment. “The library sent me back with a book. Dream walking? Is this for one of you?”
Mia stood and took her plate to the sink. “I guess I have more reading tonight. I’ve got to get to the Lodge before Mrs. Edwards’s head starts spinning around like a top.”
“It’s good practice for Christina’s wedding.” Grans grinned as Abigail refilled her coffee. “Her mother is going to be a nightmare. Thank the Goddess that you got out of Isaac’s clutches before we had to deal with her.”
At the Lodge, things were going better than she expected.
Mia checked in with the not-horribly-anxious mother, made sure the deliveries of wine and food were ready for the dressing party, and walked through the chapel, where the ceremony was to be held.
Jeani, the decorator for the Lodge, had done an amazing job.
Everything that Mrs. Edwards had listed off had been done.
The chapel had looked lovely yesterday, but today, the room almost glowed.
With those tasks checked off her list, Mia went to the reception ballroom and made sure things were set up there too.
Blake came up to her. “Everything looks good.”
“I think our clients are going to be very happy.” Mia looked up from her clipboard. “I realized today that you could have done a little meddling in my head while you were in there looking for your answers. I don’t know what your game is, but I’m reconsidering letting bygones be bygones.”
“I didn’t add anything to your head.” Blake’s anger flared just a little and her face reddened.
“But I did find something you should know about. Someone has been feeding you fake memories. Not a lot, so I was confused at first when I found them. Your grandmother should be able to clear them quickly. It’s weird; they’re like little patches covering up holes in your memories.
Like they took something out and put these in. ”
Mia thought about the vision she’d seen at the restaurant. What if something else had happened? “Blake, could this have happened during my testing?”
“No. The National Office wouldn’t allow …” Blake stopped and tapped a finger on her lips, a sign she was thinking. “I don’t think Parker could have done it during the test, but you got breaks, like lunch. What did you have for lunch that day?”
Mia shook her head. “I don’t remember, but it was something Abigail sent over.”
Blake studied her, then took her wrist, holding it between two fingers. “Don’t tell anyone I said this, but yeah, I think it might have happened during your testing.”
After Mia made sure everything was fine with the wedding, she headed back to her office. She had questions, and she didn’t know if she could trust Blake to tell her the truth. She needed to go home and talk to Grans and Abigail.
Christina was reading when Mia went into her office. She set down the book. “Now what?”
“I didn’t say anything.” Mia crossed the room and grabbed a soda from her fridge. She needed the sugar or she was going to faint. Right here. Splat.
“You didn’t have to. You look worse than you did after that book got hold of you. Don’t tell me that Blake attacked you again. I’m going to go kick her butt three ways to Sunday.” Christina stood, putting her bookmark between pages to save her place.