CHAPTER ELEVEN
The Broussard Greenhouses boasted a lovely retail set up and were popular with the locals year-round.
As we walked inside the main entrance and retail space, I saw that they were indeed busy that day.
Racks for live trees were being set up, and tables full of poinsettias were being stocked.
Filled-in tidy swaths of red, cream, pink and variegated varieties of poinsettias were all ready for sale.
A trio of farm dogs came bouncing out from the main display area and went tearing across the main room and outside with happy barks.
At first Dex and I simply strolled around, looking like any other shoppers, until I was approached by one of the employees who asked how my house plant sales were going.
“Great!” I flashed him a big smile. “Hey, I was wondering if Jolene was working today? She was so helpful the last time I was in.”
“Oh yeah, she’s in greenhouse two,” he said, pointing to the left.
With a nod we walked over to the second greenhouse—and I felt the energy shift as soon as we walked in. While the main sales area and first greenhouse had been bright, warm and welcoming, this one felt heavy.
“You feel that?” I whispered to Dex.
Dex rubbed the heel of his hand over his heart. “Yeah, I do.”
“There she is,” I said, spotting her working in the far corner, transplanting seedlings into six-pack cell trays.
Squaring my shoulders, I walked confidently towards her. When I was about six feet away, I called out a greeting. “Hey, Jolene. Remember me?”
Her head snapped up when I called out her name. For a split second her surprise showed. Then her features relaxed. “Can I help you?” she asked.
“Gosh I hope so.” Dropping Dex’s hand, I walked forward, all faux smile and pretend good will. “I was wondering if you could help me choose some new houseplants? With Black Friday coming so soon, I want to be fully stocked. I figured you would know what sort of house plant is the most popular.”
“I’m sorry.” Jolene frowned and pulled a rag from her pocket to wipe off her hands. “Do I know you?”
I pretended to pout. “You don’t remember me?”
“Ah, no.” She frowned. “Should I?”
“I’m Kate Weaver. I own The Apothecary Shoppe in Five Points South? We met at your cousin Hattie’s bridal shower. I’ve been purchasing plants wholesale from the Broussard’s for the past couple of years.”
“Well, how nice.” Her tone let me know that she couldn’t have cared less. Then she shifted her attention and slowly and deliberately looked Dex over. “Who’s your friend?”
“I’m her boyfriend,” Dex announced.
I didn’t react to his statement. Because truthfully, I was too busy trying not to recoil from the energy the young woman was radiating out. It was dark, angry and malignant, and I was surprised that the seedlings she was working on weren’t simply withering and dying from the contact.
Jolene now turned her attention fully to Dex. “I’d be happy to help...you.”
Ignoring that she was blatantly hitting on Dex, I smiled and acted as though she’d been speaking to me. “Great! So, can you recommend a new variety of houseplant? Something different and fun for me to offer my customers?”
Jolene’s dark eyes slid to me. “Spider plants are always popular.”
Of course she’d recommend that, I thought. To her I said, “Oh I have a few of those already. I was thinking of something more exciting. Maybe with variegated or pink foliage?”
“I’ve always preferred the classics myself,” Jolene said. “I suppose you could call me old school.”
Spotting the large sparkly pendant peeping out from behind the neck of her greenhouse polo shirt, I stepped closer. “What an unusual necklace. Is that a spider?”
Jolene reached up and touched the pendant. “It is. Some folks are afraid of spiders. I’m not. They are a very misunderstood creature.”
How very Nancy from ‘The Craft,’ I thought, fighting to keep up the friendly and harmless act.
“Spiders,” Jolene continued, “weave the cosmic threads that connect life, death, and magick.”
“Oh!” I batted my eyes and made my voice breathy as if I was impressed by her statement. “Are you a practitioner?”
Jolene flipped her dark hair over one shoulder. “I’ve been known to dabble.”
“Dabbling can be dangerous,” Dex said, his tone serious. “Magick isn’t a game.”
Jolene laughed at him. “And maybe you should mind your own damn business.”
Dex gently shouldered me aside, inserting himself between us. “Well, you see here’s the problem, Jolene,” he said, stepping closer. “When you decided to hex your cousin Hattie, and she came to us for help, it did in fact become: my business.”
“Dex,” I said, placing my hand in warning on his waist.
There went the ‘don’t antagonize her’ plan, I thought ruefully. Because everything about Jolene changed. Her stance, her eyes, and even her energy. Recognizing the magickal threat before us, I ranged myself at his side instead of staying behind him.
Jolene’s eyes flashed over to mine. “You’re the one who gave Hattie the necklace.”
“I did.” Now it was my turn to drop the mask of civility. “She and Johnny are both under my protection.”
“I wondered who had done that,” she said, tapping a finger to her lips as she thought it over.
“All of the sudden I couldn’t get to them anymore.
And I wondered what local Witch would have had the kind of juice required to divert that particular curse.
” Jolene tipped her head to one side as she considered me.
“Still, I bet it cost you. How are you feeling these days?”
“Very well,” I bluffed as the seed trays on the worktable beside me began to quiver. “Thanks for asking.”
“Oh, I bet you’re not ‘very well.’” She laughed lightly. “That hex transferred to whoever was trying to block me.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Bragging is not attractive on you, sugar.”
“Speaking of,” she said. “I bet under that pretty dress you’re all black and blue. Guessing you took a tumble recently?”
You fucking bitch, I thought, as my temper began to rise. A large bag of potting medium fell over and spilled on the floor, but Jolene didn’t realize that was because of me. She was smugly standing there, admitting to her maleficence, and smiling at me. Confident that I couldn’t touch her.
Someone needed to teach her a lesson.
I’m not sure what would have happened next. Maybe we would have exchanged insults a bit longer, or perhaps Jolene would have spit magick at us, or my magick would have caused all the overhead lighting in the greenhouse to blow…
But from behind me I heard a ruckus and the sound of canine paws scrambling across the concrete.
There was angry barking and suddenly the trio of large dogs I’d seen earlier ran up and arranged themselves at my side.
The largest dog, a black Doberman looking mix, pushed his way between me and Jolene.
He immediately began to show his teeth and snarl at her.
“Kahn!” Jolene cringed back from the dog. “What’s wrong with you?”
Behind us, my magick had the doors to greenhouse two slamming shut. I lightly dropped my hand on the head of Kahn. “Good boy,” I crooned.
Now it was only Dex, me, Jolene and three very angry mixed-breed dogs. I clearly saw the moment that Jolene realized how much danger she was actually in.
Kahn lowered his head, showed even more teeth, and began to stalk toward her. His ears went back, and his barks were mean, sharp, and terrifying.
“Hey!” Jolene yelped and tried to back away but was trapped against the side of the greenhouse and between two long tables.
On either side of me and Dex, the two other dogs began to growl. Lowering their heads as well, they also began to move toward Jolene.
“Stop,” I said quietly, and instantly the trio of dogs were silent. They held position, quivering, but awaiting their next command from me.
Jolene’s eyes were huge as her eyes swung from the dogs and back to me. “How did you do that? Who are you?” she asked, shaking.
“I am a devotee and namesake of the triple goddess of crossroads, witchcraft, and hounds…” I paused for a moment. “Hekate.”
Jolene went pale. “Your eyes are glowing,” she whispered, sounding terrified.
“You played with magick and pissed off a true Witch, Jolene,” I said, my voice deeper and richer from invoking my namesake. “My patron does not tolerate those who use abuse magick.”
For emphasis Kahn lunged forward, barking and snapping. He didn’t bite her, but it was very close, and with a squeal and whimper, Jolene pressed herself against the table and wall as far back as she could.
“You will work to undo the curse you cast,” I told her. “And you better pray to whatever god is listening that they take pity on your stupidity and your malevolent spell fades and ends. Quickly.”
As if to emphasize my words, Kahn snapped at her ankles. I was fairly sure he’d torn her jeans—I heard the fabric rip when he shook his head.
“Kahn,” I spoke his name. “Release and come to me.”
The dog immediately let go of her jean’s cuff and trotted back to my side as affable as a golden retriever. He hadn’t injured Jolene, but he’d scared the crap out of her.
“Have I made myself clear?” I asked the trembling and crying Jolene.
“Yes!” she said. “I’ll undo the hex. Immediately.”
Dex spoke. “We’ll be keeping an eye on you, Jolene. Not only Kate and me, but the entire magickal community. If there is even a hint or suspicion that you are practicing again, what happened to you today will feel like a picnic.”
“I understand,” she sniveled.
“One more thing,” I said. Reaching into the pocket of my dress, I took a handful of the loose dried herbs I’d tucked there earlier. Quickly lifting my hand to my mouth, I blew them at Jolene.
She gasped as they went up in the air and showered down over her hair and her clothes.
“I bind you Jolene,” I said evenly. “In the name of the triple goddess, any harm you cause to another with magick will return upon you three-fold.” I held her gaze for a long moment. “Do you understand me?”
“Yes!” she cried, cringing away from me.