The Ice Witch: A Mayhem Sister Short Story (A Sister Witches Mystery) Read online

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  The Ice Witch

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  The Ice Witch

  Copyright © 2015 by Lauren Quick. All rights reserved.

  First Kindle Edition: 2015

  Editor: Elizabeth Buck

  Cover and Formatting: Streetlight Graphics

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

  The Ice Witch

  A Mayhem Sisters Short Story

  By Lauren Quick

  Long distance relationships were tough, even for a witch who could fly. But Honora Mayhem didn’t do things the easy way, especially since a ruggedly handsome wizard had entered her life a few months ago when she visited the fabled North Woods during a missing persons investigation that ballooned into a major case, affecting the entire fate of Everland. Honora solved the case with a lot of help from her friends, new and old, and in the process met some enticing and resilient witches and wizards who called the icy territory their home. The fact that she lived in Stargazer City wasn’t going to stop her from spending some quality time with her new boyfriend.

  The Silver Train glided into the station, hovering like a whisper above the tracks. The magical train had become her mode of transportation the past few weeks since the North Woods were too far to fly, no matter how good a shape she was in. She and Ren took turns visiting one another, and since he’d come down to Stargazer City two weekends ago, it was her turn to make the trek up to his place. When the doors whooshed open, Honora located an empty compartment and snuggled down for the long trip north. Last stop—Rawlands, the only settlement in the North Woods.

  The train listed from side to side, gliding along, lulling her into a relaxed daze. She pulled up the velvety-soft brown hood of the new jacket Ren had given her as a gift to entice her, or bribe her, to visit him in the icy tundra he called home. Her stunning collection of leather jackets looked great, but weren’t going to cut it in the harsh cold of the north, and even though it was a rainy April in Stargazer City, the North Woods were still blanketed in a layer of snow. Outside the window, a snowy pine-filled forest rolled by, and she felt like she was entering a wintery dreamland.

  Once she’d reached the settlement, Honora stepped off the train and inhaled the crisp scent of fresh pine. Rawlands cut a jagged clearing through the face of the forest, carving out enough land between the huge trees for a small yet thriving settlement. Honora dug her hands in her pockets and strode down the rugged plank sidewalks of Main Street. A dark winged shadow glided overhead, catching Honora’s attention in her peripheral vision. She didn’t have to look up to know it was her familiar and trusted flying companion, Barnaby. Refusing to be left behind, the barred owl had made the journey north to be by her side.

  Honora’s first stop in Rawlands was always The Wolf’s Den Tavern to visit friend and local town maven, Rosalyn Van Harbor. Honora pushed through the swinging front door to the sound of raucous laughter and shouts. Howls echoed across the wood-paneled bar. Fists pounded on tables. Boots stomped on the wide-planked floor. Honora dodged left as a knife sailed across the room and drove its sharp blade into a thick beam above her head. She was all for throwing knives, but that was close. No one seemed to notice. Just another day in the wild Rawlands.

  The tough tavern owner was refereeing a magical ax-throwing contest at the back of the bar. A huge tree stump, which was either magically fastened or growing right out of the wall, Honora wasn’t sure, was the target. Plain old darts obviously weren’t good enough for the strong-as-iron wizards of the north. No, they took darts to a whole new level. An awe-inspiring collection of axes hung on the far wall of the bar, displaying dozens of different kinds of blades with sharp, thick edges and carved handles.

  They were the magical weapons of choice in the north.

  A glint of steel caught Honora’s attention as the blade of a magical ax zinged through the air and split a knot in the tree in two. Bursting from the knot, an agitated raccoon crawled out and shook its tiny black fist in the air. The room erupted in laughter and applause. Honora wasn’t sure if the sudden appearance of the animal was part of the game or not, but it seemed from the reaction of the beer-glugging wizards that it was.

  Rosalyn’s jet-black hair was piled on top of her head; the gray was gone, replaced by a blue streak in the front, setting off the mischievous glimmer in her eyes. The stories that woman has to tell, Honora thought.

  The witch waved her wand and a huge leather belt with a curved blade ax affixed to the front appeared in midair. “The winner of the third annual Wolf’s Den Tavern’s ax-throwing contest goes to the illustrious, magical ax handler, Vanderkin Archwood!” Rosalyn held the belt high, and a wizard who looked more like a bull stood to accept his prize. His fingers were as thick as sausages and wrapped entirely around the belt. His curly black beard covered his chest and trailed down past his stomach. His eyes were black and hard as obsidian. Honora gulped. The wizard was a scary dude. That was until the raccoon crawled up his leg and perched on his shoulder. It was hard to look menacing while scratching the cute little chin of a masked raccoon.

  Rosalyn’s expression brightened and she waved Honora toward the bar as she strode behind it. Peeling off her coat, Honora hopped onto her usual stool and rested her forearms on the bar, settling in. Next, as per their growing tradition, Rosalyn poured Honora a shot of her specially brewed winter pine whiskey. The glimmering liquor was a deep green color. Honora gulped the shot that had a wicked bite to it, but warmed her entire body and made her breath smell surprisingly fresh and minty.

  “Can’t seem to get rid of you, can we?” Rosalyn asked with a wink.

  “I’ve been trying to come up with some good reasons not to come up here,” Honora countered. “The weather’s horrific. If I have to eat another piece of jerky, I might become a vegetarian, and the company is mouthy and heavily bearded, and yet Rawlands has stolen my heart.”

  “I shaved my beard this morning,” Rosalyn refuted with a chuckle. “But seriously, I doubt it’s Rawlands that’s stolen your heart, honey. I think it’s a handsome woodsman with a mighty big ax, from what I’ve heard. And I bet it’s more than your heart he’s stolen. He’s a wizard of many talents.” Rosalyn’s toothy smile was punctuated with a silver capped incisor.

  “You know I love a wizard with talents.” Wild earth magic did have its allure, Honora thought with a grin.

  After about an hour of chitchat with Rosalyn and watching some magical knife throwing, Honora started to get a little restless, even a little annoyed if she were being honest. Vanderkin and his gang, which consisted of two wizards and a six-foot-tall witch with a massive white braid trailing down her back, were currently throwing magical axes, blindfolded, into thick ice shields, sending frosted ice flying with each hit. Seeing her friend’s waning patience, Rosalyn offered Honora some rabbit fritters, which she politely declined. Ren had promised Honora a home-cooked dinner at his cabin, and she didn’t want to spoil
her appetite. Plus, she had a hard time swallowing deep-fried bunny rabbit.

  Honora drummed her fingers on the bar and checked her watch for the tenth time. Ren was late, which wasn’t like him. They’d arranged to meet at the bar and then head up to his cabin for the weekend. He was considered one of the best guides in the North Woods. His persuasion of magical tracking kept him in high demand and lately his business had been booming. But he’d told her that the job he’d been working ended early in the day and he’d be back in time for dinner.

  “Looks like I’ve been stood up.” Honora figured the job ran long and Ren didn’t want to disappoint a paying customer, so he was making her wait. Or at least she hoped. The woods were dangerous, filled with enchanted animals much larger than their southern counterparts, but Ren was a pro and could handle the wildlife, magical or otherwise.

  Honora could relate to his need to work all the time. She’d had more than a couple of late nights and down right all-nighters as a private investigator in Stargazer City so she couldn’t complain too much, but she was still a little peeved.

  “I’m sure Ren has a good reason,” Rosalyn said. “It’s been a bad winter and doesn’t seem to be letting us out of its clutches any time soon.” She pulled the sleeves of her flannel shirt down over the edges of her fingerless gloves.

  “Really? You mean it’s not supposed to be this cold and snowy in April? I thought I was just soft.” Honora smiled despite her sour mood.

  “Nope, it’s been brutally cold and wet, bringing tons of snow and ice that keeps thawing and refreezing. I don’t mind the snow so much, but it’s the ice you really have to watch out for.” She gave a mock shudder.

  “I hear ya.” From what Ren had told Honora, the North Woods had two seasons: freezing cold and mildly chilly. But he promised her that the woods did thaw out and there was grass under all that snow and ice, though she was still skeptical. “I better push on and see what’s keeping my ax wizard. I’m headed up to his cabin for the weekend for a little rest and relaxation by the fire.” Honora paid her tab.

  Rosalyn swept the gold coins up off the bar. “You two have fun and be careful out there. Like I said, it’s been a bad one. With the weather warming up, the ice has been murder.”

  A chill ran up Honora’s spine, giving her a shiver. She zipped up her jacket and stepped out of the bar, slipped on a pair of flying goggles and secured her hood. Time to fly, she thought as she lifted off the ground and hovered in the air as light as a snowflake. Every witch and wizard in Everland was born with a unique magical persuasion, and Honora never took for granted that her gift of flying was one of the best.

  With Barnaby joining her in the sky from his perch outside the bar, she arched her back to gain more altitude, shooting upward and hovering above the pines. Scanning the terrain beneath her, Honora glided quickly through the icy air, locating Ren’s cabin a few miles outside of town. On land, the only way to reach the cabin was by snowcraft or animal-drawn sleigh. Ren was a speed junkie and preferred a top-of-the-line snowcraft, which, strangely, was parked outside of his cabin.

  Maybe he’s home after all, Honora thought.

  Once Honora saw illuma lights glowing from the windows, a smile bloomed across her face. But her good mood was snapped instantly as she descended and saw the disturbed state of Ren’s cabin and the surrounding yard. Layers of chaotic tracks cut through the snow. A perilous crust of icy shards hung like daggers from the cabin’s roof and frozen waves of ice covered the porch and grounds. The heavy wooden door had been torn right off its hinges and lay flung like a toothpick in the middle of the yard.

  Honora’s heart hammered in her chest.

  “Ren?! Are you in there?!” She lowered her body, hovering a few feet off the ground and approached slowly. She cast her senses wide open, trying to pick up on anything or anyone inside. A fierce wind whipped across her face; a howl echoed in the distance. Had some wild animal or magical creature attacked? She spun in a circle, the dark forest fencing her in. The last thing Honora needed was to be torn apart by a rabid white wolf or mountain lion.

  The cold and isolation of the fabled woods seemed to intensify the magic, especially the wild earth magic. A few months earlier, Honora had even fought a magical skeleton bear and didn’t want a repeat performance. Silence surrounded her, save for the aching cracks of the icy shards clinging to the roof.

  “Ren! Answer me! Give me a sign if you can hear me!” she yelled, sucking in a gasp of cold air. Nothing. No response. No sign of him.

  From where she hovered, a few feet from the open door, the cabin appeared to be empty. A blazing fire winked at her from the hearth. Erring on the side of caution, Honora lifted higher and circled the cabin from above, checking the perimeter, before venturing inside. A few yards behind the cabin, through cracks in the pine branches, she saw a huge wolf lying in a pool of blood-soaked snow. She gasped, a chill of recognition shooting through her entire body.

  Without a second thought, Honora dove for the ground, descending at a sharp angle. The wolf was Ren’s familiar, Timber. When she reached him, he whined from his side, hardly able to lift his head. Her heart ached for the wolf, Ren’s constant companion. They rarely left each other’s side and she was sometimes even a little jealous of their closeness. Her feet touched the packed snow as she landed next to him, trying to avoid the blood. She gently stroked the wolf’s soft fur. He whimpered and howled as if trying to speak to her, telling her the terrible story of what had happened.

  “I’m here, boy. Don’t worry. I’m going to take care of you.”

  Honora winced at the gash in the poor animal’s flank. With closer inspection, it looked like a knife wound with numerous entry points—a savage attack. She scanned the area around his body and saw the bloody shards of ice and her stomach turned. Who would use ice as a weapon? And why? The wolf was an imposing creature, but Timber wouldn’t hurt anyone unless provoked. Timber was Ren’s fierce protector. He’d never leave his master willingly, and Ren would never abandon Timber in such a dire state.

  This was no accident. Ren was in danger.

  To make matters worse, Honora had only a few healing spells committed to memory and no knowledge of animal healing. There was little she could do for treating the animal’s wounds, so she sealed the gashes with a quick first aid spell to stanch the bleeding that she’d learned as a rookie P.I. on the streets of Stargazer City. After quickly assessing that the cabin was deserted, she pulled out her wand and levitated the wolf inside and onto the table. Timber would need an animal healer as soon as possible.

  Honora vaguely remembered Ren mentioning a talented animal mage who lived in the area. It was time to call in some reinforcements. She whistled to Barnaby, scribbled a note on a piece of parchment, and sent her familiar to deliver the note to The Wolf’s Den. If anyone knew an animal healer in the area, it would be Rosalyn. Honora also asked the tavern owner to send the local sheriff to investigate the scene. She didn’t know what, but something bad had happened here.

  After Barnaby left, Honora paced the cabin, trying to make sense of her surroundings and what might have happened to Ren. Signs of a struggle were obvious. The chairs surrounding the dining table were overturned. Honora’s boots crunched over the shattered remains of plates and glassware. The saucy remains of whatever Ren had been cooking for dinner was splattered all over the kitchen. The copper cauldron lay toppled on the floor. Honora ran her finger over red droplets dotting the counter’s smooth surface. Her stomach seized. It was blood.

  Honora scanned the room for additional clues that might tell her what had happened, her gaze stopping on something discarded outside of the front door.

  A small white cardboard gift box with a red bow on top had been left on the stoop. The top was ajar. Not wanting to get too close, she nudged the box with her toe. From the table where he lay, Timber jerked his head up and whined a warning. She
eased forward and peered inside the box. She narrowed her gaze. She picked up the box to get a better look. Chills rolled up her arms, but she held the box firm. The meat was actually a heart with a giant nail driven right through it. Honora swallowed hard and took it inside the cabin for closer inspection.

  Being a private investigator had exposed Honora to all kinds of dark witches and wizards and their treacherous deeds. Apparently, someone had left a gross little present on Ren’s stoop. She set the box on the table next to the wolf and lowered her illuminated wand tip over the heart. She couldn’t tell if the heart was from a witch or wizard or maybe a large animal, but either way it wasn’t a good sign. Not to mention the nail driven through it—a nail in a heart. She wondered if the box could be from a witch.

  Whoever sent the message had some serious anger issues. She tried to remember if Ren had mentioned any enemies or unhappy clients, but couldn’t think of anyone angry enough with him to do this. From the state of the cabin, the guilty party had done more than send a message; he or she had brought a full-out fight right to Ren’s doorstep.

  While fingering the edge of the box, Honora felt a fold of parchment slipped down the side—a note. She gingerly pulled it out and read the message.

  You promised to always love me, now I’m keeping you to your word.

  The mystery just got worse. Over the years Honora had come to realize that thwarted love was one of the wickedest emotions to deal with. Love gone bad caused feelings to run high and logic, reason, and common sense went out the window when a jealous ex was in the mix. With a sinking feeling, Honora realized she needed to find Ren and fast.

  “Some witch has taken him, hasn’t she, boy?” Honora said, stroking the wolf, who barked in response. She patted Timber’s head. “Help’s on the way. I’ve got to go find your master.”