Phantom Quartz: A Stacy Justice Witch Mystery Book 6 (Stacy Justice Magical Mysteries) (22 page)

Chapter 46

Ponyboy’s radiance faded as Leo ushered Evelyn toward the mouth of the passageway.

“See you at headquarters, Red.” Then he was gone.

We wound our way out of the mines, and Leo loaded Evelyn into the squad car. The initial shock of the injury was wearing off with a vengeance, and my leg throbbed with every step, but the healing would have to wait until I got home—the wound was too deep for a simple spell, and I needed to get this baby back to her mother.

Leo came over to me. “Are you okay?” He touched my arm and snapped his hand back. “Damn, you keep shocking me.”

I was about to say something, but stopped short. I thought about the last few days. The shocks that affected the witches and no one else. No one but Leo. “You’re tuned to your magic now more than ever,” Lolly had told me, “and you’re feeding off others who have it or who are connected to your power”
.
I thought about everything. From the beginning.

Leo had showed up in town around the same time I moved back. He knew John, the Guardian of our operation. He said he knew him from the police academy, but what if they had attended a different kind of academy?

“Funny how you keep showing up whenever I need you lately. Ever since I returned from Ireland, in fact.”

“Is it?” He didn’t meet my eyes. Just jotted notes down.

“Funny, too, how you just saw two of me
and
a ghost and seem fairly unfazed by it.”

He looked at me then. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do.” I stroked the baby’s head. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Chief. It’s up to you.”

“I’m just here to protect and serve, Stacy Justice.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out some sort of medallion. “Give this to your grandmother. She’ll know what it means.” He plopped it into my pocket.

“So you’re really not going to tell me what the hell is going on?”

“You shouldn’t curse in front of the kid.” He opened up the passenger side door. “Come on. I’ll take her back to her mother and you to the hospital.”

I hadn’t felt the pain in my leg for a few minutes until he said that. “Does Cin know she’s missing yet?”

“I don’t think so. It hasn’t been that long. She’s probably still asleep. The baby came hours ago and the family already came and went. All except Tony.”

So Evelyn had posed as me, maybe asked to hold the baby, then hid her beneath a coat and slipped out. Tony probably thought I was walking the hospital floor with his daughter so he could watch over Cin as she rested.

“Hang on a minute,” I said.

I didn’t want Cin to feel anything but joy when she looked at her child. Didn’t want her to think she had to be constantly looking over her shoulder for monsters.

I went down to the river’s edge and around the bend to where there was a natural spring. I dipped the phantom quartz in the cool water, letting the glittery bubbles wash over it. I held the quartz to the sky and re-enchanted it with the light of the stars and the energy of the moon. I then infused it with a happy memory spell, one that would erase the terrifying ordeal the baby had just gone through. When Cinnamon touched it, that’s what she would feel too. That her daughter was calm, at peace.

I dripped a bit of the sparkling water onto the child’s head and called to Brighid to bless her soul’s journey through this life.

I climbed back up the hill, my feet crunching the grass. Then I swaddled the baby in a blanket Leo had in the cruiser, and tucked the crystal inside.

He said, “Hop in.”

“No. Not with her.” I nodded to Evelyn who no longer looked like much of a threat, with her face drawn and her hair matted with blood, but I didn’t want her energy anywhere near this child. “Get Gus to haul her in, then you take the baby back. Maybe he could bring a car seat to put her in.”

There was still a threat to consider. Someone had still stolen my locket. Sooner or later, that person would learn that it didn’t work without me. I decided to skip the hospital, hoping Birdie could help heal my wound.

After Gus, who had no idea why his boss asked him to bring a baby carrier to a crime scene, loaded Evelyn, Leo took the baby back to the hospital, and I trekked carefully up to where I’d left the truck. I still don’t know how he slipped her back in the hospital bassinet, because when I asked him later, all he said was, “I have my ways.”

But that didn’t matter. All that mattered was she was safe.

There was one last thing I had to do before I headed over to the inn.

Ponyboy was sitting on the couch, playing an old hand-held video game that must have been buried deep in the hall closet. Thor and the rabbit were sound asleep on the couch next to him. Every once in a while Thor snored like a V-8 engine and the rabbit hopped.

“Hey, Red. We kicked ass back there, didn’t we? Sorry about my sister. She was always kind of a head case.”

Yeah, I got that.

“Thanks for your help, Ponyboy.”

He placed the game on the coffee table, stretched his legs out, crossed them and leaned back, his arms draped over both sides of the sofa. “So you
did
need my help. Awesome. What’s my reward?” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“Come outside and I’ll show you.”

“Outside? Won’t that be a little cold? You
are
going to show me your boobies, right?”

“I’m going to show you my right hook if you don’t knock it off. Now come on.”

We walked around to the back of the cottage and I led him into the woods.

“Geez, Red Bull, this is kinky even for me.”

“Ponyboy, this has been quite an experience, but I think it’s time for you to go home.”

I centered myself near the oak where Tisiphone and I had sparred, looked skyward. The Raven ring was cold as the night as I twisted the head of it on my finger. After a few moments, thick black wings overshadowed the moon, blanketing the sky.

Ponyboy stared up into the night, his bright eyes transfixed on the fury Tisiphone. “Whoa,” he whispered. “What is
that
?”

“That, my young friend, is your ride home.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously. Oh, and a word of advice? Don’t piss off the goddess.”

Tisiphone glided to the ground expertly. The force of her wings blew my hair back and iced the air. Her sword was firmly attached to her left hip and her dragon rested comfortably at its hilt.

“Well, Stacy Justice. Glad to see you’re still alive.” She drank me in from the blood on my leg to the dirt in my hair and raised an eyebrow. “Battered, perhaps, but breathing.”

“Thank you. The week isn’t over yet, but I’m beating the odds in the pool, anyway.”

“A gambler, are you?”

“No. I’m more like that little bouncing ball on a roulette table.”

She smiled, her violet eyes glistening like river water under starlight. “What may I assist you with?”

“I have a transport for you. A shade I’m afraid I failed to help cross over.”

Tisiphone studied Ponyboy with a critical eye. “Yes, the young ones can be troublesome. I’ll take it from here, Seeker.”

She extended her hand, palm out and I returned the ring. She held it for a moment, then promptly passed it back to me. “This one is on the house. After all, you weren’t calling for your own personal reasons. That’s very altruistic for a human.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say it was
entirely
altruistic.” I cut my eyes to Ponyboy and pinched my lips.

“That bad, is he?”

Ponyboy stood stock still, staring at Tisiphone’s porcelain skin, blue-black hair, and enormous wings. He reached out to touch one and she grabbed his hand, bent his wrist back.

“Never finished puberty, I think,” I said.

Ponyboy winced in pain, but he was smiling anyhow.

“I see. Perhaps an evening with the Graces will satisfy his curiosity. Thalia hasn’t worn a top in three weeks.” She nodded to me and released Ponyboy’s hand. He shook it out, still in awe of her. “Come mortal, grab onto my boot, and don’t touch the wings
or
the sword.” Indigo blinked her eyes at me and puffed out a stream of smoke.

With that, the Avenger of Murder flew into the air and the ghost of Petey Leary was headed to the Underworld.

Chapter 47

I didn’t bother washing up. I just grabbed my bag and headed to the inn. I was still a bit jumpy walking over, wondering who had my locket and why, when Thor shot me an image of himself standing guard in front of a window of infants. No rabbit in the image, so maybe she was on break.

I slipped in through the back door of the kitchen where I found the Geraghty Girls and Angelica all in a huddle.

Oh, what fresh hell is this?

They startled when I shut the door.

“Hello, dear,” said Fiona.

“There you are!” said Birdie.

Lolly was drinking Champagne from a moose mug. She held it up and said, “Cheers.”

Something was different.
They
were different. Back to their true selves, almost. Birdie was wearing her usual skirts and gypsy blouse, but no hat. Lolly was in a silver strapless ball gown and Fiona was perfectly made-up, hair in a chignon, wearing a sleek sheath dress.

Angelica just smiled at me, smelling of spun sugar and allspice.

I said, “What’s going on? You all seem...
normal
. I mean, you know, normal for you.”

Birdie rolled her eyes. “Of course we’re normal. You didn’t think we’d let you siphon our magic without the ability to build it back up, did you?”

I frowned. “Well no, I guess not, but—wait a minute, did you say, ‘
let
me’?”

Birdie said, “Never mind that for now. We have a problem. We believe Cinnamon’s baby is in trouble.”

I sighed, put my bag on the counter. “Yes, well you’re a day late and about a million dollars short on that prediction.” I ran my fingers through my hair. “But don’t worry, the baby is fine. I handled it.”

“Are you sure?” Angelica asked.

“I’ve got the war wounds to prove it.” I pointed to my blood-soaked leg, and Lolly got to work gathering herbs and crystals.

“Oh, Stacy! You’re such a good girl!” Angelica tossed her arms around me in a bear hug.

“There is one thing, though.”

She stood back, her features lined with concern. “What is it?”

I pulled the nightmares jar from my bag, set it on the counter.

Angelica blinked at it. “Why do you have that? That’s for baby.”

I looked at her. “What do you mean, ‘that’s for baby’? Nightmares aren’t for babies.”

She chuckled and pinched my cheek. “This one, hah? So much to learn.” She thumbed to Birdie.

Birdie crossed her arms. “They turn thirty, and they think they know everything.”

“I’m twenty-nine, and can we please get back to the subject?”

Angelica said, “Nightmares not to
give
. To
take
.” She picked up the jar. “For only sweet dreams to stay.”

“Oh.” I guess that made sense, but I still thought it was a creepy-looking jar.

Wait. Why were we talking about magic right in front of Angelica? And why was she acting like she knew exactly what we were talking about?

Lolly passed the healing ingredients to Birdie to mix.

“Tell me what happened with baby,” Angelica said.

I shot Birdie a look as she pounded the herbs with a mortar and pestle to create a poultice. She met my eyes and nodded.

I quickly ran through the whole story of what happened in the caverns with Evelyn, her former role as Seeker as well as the miner and the captain. I stressed that the baby was better than fine with two watchdogs (so to speak) and a protective amulet of her very own—the phantom quartz.

Angelica made a grave face as she listened to the story about what happened to her granddaughter. “I knew I should not leave hospital. But my daughter is stubborn. She want to rest, so I let her rest.”

Birdie scoffed and shot me a look. “Tell me about it.” She handed the poultice to Lolly who applied it to my leg.

“Birdie, did you know about the miner? Did you know he was an ancestor?” I asked.

She shook her head. “There were rumors, of course, but I never believed them.”

Lolly said, “There are always rumors about the Geraghtys. It comes with the territory.”

I winced as she dug deep into the wound with the herbs.

Fiona said, “But there was nothing about any adoption in the Blessed Book.”

“Maybe Meagan didn’t know,” I said.

“I suppose that could be.” Birdie took over for Lolly, ripping my pant leg open wider to get a better look at my injury.

Angelica was quiet as she watched Birdie heal my leg. She crinkled her forehead after a while. “It best not to tell Cinnamon.” She nodded as if that was that.

I stared at her for a beat wondering what part of the Twilight Zone I had just entered. “Wrong. It’s best to
tell
Cinnamon. No way am I going to keep this from her.” Secrets and lies had plagued my family for generations and I wasn’t about to let the little one enter this world that way. I had never lied to my cousin. I wasn’t about to start with her child.

“In time, perhaps.” Angelica shrugged.

“I’ll give you a week.” My voice steeled.

She threw me an icy stare, and I thought for a moment she was going to reach into the apothecary table and grab a rolling pin to clobber me with.

But she didn’t. She just spun on her heel and left the room.

Birdie said, “You should have a bit more respect.” She motioned to Lolly who handed her a needle and thread.

“I
do
have respect. Which is why I won’t lie to Cin.” I sighed. “So we know who the shifter is anyway, but we still have a major problem. She didn’t have the amulet. And my time is up.”

Angelica came back into the kitchen with Lisa and a plate of cannoli. I held up a hand, palm out. “None for me, thanks.”

Lisa winked and said, “They make you happy, yes?”

“They make me goofy, no.” I shook my head.

Angelica whispered something to Lisa, and Lisa pulled a chain from around her neck and plopped it in Angelica’s hand. Angelica passed it to me.

It was my amulet. I stared at it, marveling at the way it pulsed with energy. It
felt
like mine. It felt like
home
.

“But how? I mean, where?” I stammered.

“The spell, of course. You didn’t think anyone could actually break our barriers, did you?” Birdie asked.

The three of them explained that they had a very good reason for tricking me into funneling their magic which basically went something like,
we didn’t want to tell you, dear.

I was livid. Yet another underhanded tactic to work me like a puppet. “You had no right to deceive me like that! I was terrified, Birdie. You could have just told me. Whatever the reason, I would have trusted you.”

Birdie narrowed her eyes. “Is that so? You never did before. In fact, I believe immediately after you felt the surge of power, you wanted to return the magic. Did you not?”

She was right, I knew, although I still wasn’t happy about being lied to. Again.

“We knew what we were doing, Stacy, and look at how it helped you with battling Evelyn,” said Lolly.

That reminded me. I needed a new sword.

Birdie started on the stitches.

“But you don’t
know
that locket,
I
do. I mean, what if the spell had ricocheted and left me powerless?”

Birdie paused, considering this. “Oh. That’s true.” She looked at Fiona, then Lolly. “We didn’t think of that.”

I sunk my face in my hands.

“It was the only way to get you strong. You’ve been so far behind, dear,” Fiona said.

“We needed you at full capacity for the next mission.” Lolly polished off the last of her Champagne.

I looked up. “It’s too late. No more missions for me.” I said. “They’re coming for the locket. They’re going to put me on trial.” That little gem of information had been delivered directly from Tabby to my cell phone before I headed over here.

“We
are
sorry about that dear. That actually was a mistake,” said Fiona.

“Yes, we never meant to spill the beans on the locket,” said Lolly.

Birdie was just finishing up my leg when I said, “That’s right. Why
did
you take it in the first place? I mean, if you wanted me to be at full power. That makes no sense.”

“We didn’t intend that part initially. Not until Angelica told us what your mother was up to. Putting her old coven back together behind my back. What was she thinking? She could have cost you the Seeker title. Or worse. The Council could have charged her with treason since Evelyn was stripped of her role as you said. That likely means she was also banned from using magic. ” Birdie said. “Your mother is grounded, by the way.” She added.

“But she didn’t know.”

“That wouldn’t have mattered. You know how self-righteous they can be,” Birdie said.

“Wait, so she
wasn’t
in on the spell you cast against me? Then who was the shifter who pretended to be my mother in the magic chamber?” I asked. Because it obviously wasn’t Evelyn.

In the corner, Lisa made a bird-like squeak. I turned to face her. She shuddered and trembled. Her legs lengthened, her hair grew, then faded and flashed auburn. Her eyes blinked from brown to green, and she looked exactly like my mom.

Then she did it again and transformed into Uncle Deck.