All the Pretty Witches Read online

  “Fair enough,” Honora said, having an immediate sense that favor would be a doozy. “Thanks. I’ll be seeing you around. I’m sure.”

  “Be careful with Witches of a Feather. They’re into some dark stuff.” She didn’t elaborate and nodded toward the exit.

  Honora slid off her stool and strode toward the open side of the club and dove right off the edge into the sky. The wind cooled her warm face as she banked up and flew across town. She was starting to sweat, her nerves fraying at what she’d just suggested to Sasha. Pretending to want to join the exclusive flying club had been spontaneous, impetuous, and perhaps a teensy bit stupid, seeing as she was already in a club that she adored. There was no going back now. She needed to do some damage control and talk to a friend.

  Harper worked for the Witch Council, whose headquarters was in the center of the city. Within minutes of Honora sending a message that she was there to see her, Harper came hurrying down the main stairway and into the grand vestibule to meet her. “What’s wrong? Has something happened to you, Slader, Jonas? Not one of your sisters?” Her face was flushed. She was petite and dressed in a pencil skirt and flats. She took a deep breath and straightened her blouse.

  “Calm down. It’s nothing like that. What’s got you so flustered?” Honora asked and guided her friend over to a bench.

  “It’s a workday. You never come and see me on a workday unless it’s an emergency. Is there an emergency?” She tucked a rogue strand of hair behind her ear.

  “No. Not at all.” Honora paused. “Well…”

  Harper arched her brow. If her persuasion weren’t flying, Honora would have sworn Harper was a mind reader. “There’s something. Out with it. I took my break so we’d have time to chat. So spill.”

  “I wanted to talk to you about things. Have you heard about Slader and his new girlfriend? Well, maybe they aren’t official yet. But he likes her.” Honora started slow.

  “I’ve heard, but he’s keeping the details to a minimum. I’m glad he found someone who makes him happy. He can barely mention her name without blushing.” Harper smiled and speared Honora with her gaze. “But that’s not why you came to talk to me. You seem a little tense. Is it personal? Maybe about Ren.”

  “Oh, no. That’s over. I’ve totally moved on.” Honora wiped her sweaty palms on her pants. “I may or may not have done something stupid that affects the group.”

  “You mean us, the club.” Harper’s eyes flashed. “Go on. This sounds interesting.”

  Honora proceeded to tell her everything that had happened recently starting with the dead witch in the alley, the detective, Witches of a Feather, and her time at Soar.

  Harper crossed her legs. They’d been friends a long time and Honora’s antics never seemed to faze her, which was a relief.

  “We really need to hang out there again. But the few times we went Slader hated it. He said the white couches made his butt look big,” Harper said with a laugh. “They kind of did too.”

  Honora smiled. “You’re taking this all in stride. Are you sure you’re not upset with me?”

  “No. Why would I be? You have a job to do or at least you have to help find out what happened to the poor witch in your alley.” Harper shook her head. “It’s going to complicate things a little. I’m assuming you’ll have to take a break from the club while you cheat on us with the fancy witches.” Harper’s smile slipped away.

  Honora’s stomach plummeted. “I’m not breaking up with the club!” she blurted.

  She really couldn’t handle losing her friends and her boyfriend in the same week. Why had she been so impetuous?

  Harper’s eyes widened. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I was just joking. Technically though you can’t be in two clubs at the same time. I just meant we’d have to pretend you weren’t in the club anymore.”

  “I know. You’re right. I didn’t think it through. I just plowed ahead and gave Sasha my card to give to them. It was the only way I could think of to reach Witches of a Feather quickly.” Honora leaned back. “Who knows? They might not even respond to me.”

  “They are totally going respond to you. You’re a Mayhem and the only one who flies. Plus, you’re a sexy private investigator. They’d be lucky to get you. Temporarily of course.” Harper patted her hand. “We’re lucky to have you.”

  “Thanks for saying that. But I’m the lucky one. You guys put up with all my mayhem.”

  “I’m guessing I’m the only one you’ve told.”

  “Yep. I want to tell Slader and Jonas soon. We’ll get together and talk it out, formulate a plan. Everyone knows I’m in the club with you guys. If I’m going to make a break with our club, it’s going to have to be very visible.”

  “Sounds like a plan and exciting. I love being melodramatic,” Harper said.

  Honora smiled. “You’re the least melodramatic witch I know.”

  “That might have to change.” Her foot bounced jauntily. “Now that I’m the top witch in our club.” Harper grinned slyly.

  5

  Vivi Mayhem sat cross-legged on the floor of her apartment, eyes closed, a crystal rolling around in her right hand. A small forest of candles surrounded her, glowing brightly. She tried to focus, relax, and follow her breathing. Since she’d passed the test to become a licensed seer, she’d picked up a couple of low-level assignments from the police department of her little town of Willow Realm. The sheriff had thrown her some softballs—minor vandalism to shop windows, stolen cases of beer from the tavern, and numerous lost cats from all over town. She’d solved them all by projecting her sight into the future to locate the perpetrator’s next move or the cat’s whereabouts.

  Vivi was grateful that Lance Gardener, sheriff extraordinaire and also her boyfriend, had trusted her enough to give her the cases, but also hadn’t thrown her into the deep end of law enforcement. Until now. A stunning silk scarf was pooled on the floor in front of her; deep ruddy stains marred the peach-colored fabric, the edges rimmed in smears of blood. Lance had given her the scarf yesterday with a briefing. It belonged to a young witch named Willow Cashing, a promising graduate of Haven Academy’s School of Advanced Magic. Her persuasion was in the law and navigating the tangled web of legal doctrine. Good for her, Vivi had thought. She was glad there was someone out there who enjoyed that kind of work.

  The problem was Willow Cashing had disappeared. One moment she was working at her uncle Edward’s legal practice in town and the next moment she was gone, her tea going cold in the cup. Willow lived above the law office in an apartment and all her things were where she’d left them. Nothing taken. Not even her purse. The only clue was the bloody scarf found on the floor beside her desk.

  Lance and his deputies were tracing down the usual leads, but he’d decided to take a chance on Vivi’s persuasion of prophecy to jump-start the case, since so far they’d turned up nothing on the poor witch’s whereabouts and the bloody scarf was not a good harbinger. In fact, the blood turned Vivi’s stomach. It created a sense of urgency in her, an almost desperate need to learn something, anything, about the young witch that might help the police find her.

  Vivi squeezed her eyes shut and concentrated. Holding the scarf in her hands, she rubbed the silky fabric between her fingers. She pictured the law office in her mind. She’d walked by it dozens of times on her way through town. She tried to picture herself sitting at Willow’s desk in the office, a case file in front of her, a quill clutched in her hand. But that wasn’t the future, it was the past and focusing on it wasn’t helping. Willow wasn’t in the office anymore. The scarf felt empty, void of life and energy.

  A lump formed in Vivi’s throat. Was the witch already dead?

  The smell of honeysuckle, gardenias, and lilacs drifted up from the potion shop below her apartment. Her nose twitched. The smell was sweet yet pungent. Pepper was giving a po
tion-brewing class on concocting spring potions. She’d made dozens of bottles of her famous Spring Fling potion and had already sold out. Business was brisk, so much so that Vivi had hired two additional witches to work in the shop. The smell was distracting Vivi, sending her off course. It wasn’t as if she was getting very far. Now that she was a licensed seer, she had to balance her new priorities with working in the shop.

  The Potion Garden was her life or at least it had been, before she acknowledged her true persuasion of prophecy and started using her magical talent to help the police. She tucked the scarf back into its evidence bag, packed it safely away in a drawer, and jumped to her feet. No use sitting around anymore. She ran down the steps into the back of the shop. The sound of clapping filled the room. Vivi poked her head around the corner and saw Pepper beaming and taking a bow in front of her students. Her face was red with embarrassment. Vivi couldn’t help but smile. After all the work Pepper had put into the shop, Vivi had made her a partner and it was the smartest thing she’d ever done.

  Leaving Pepper to her students, Vivi collected the dirty supplies off the counter and cleaned up. She might as well make herself useful. She was up to her elbows in warm sudsy water when Pepper strolled into the back.

  “Hey, don’t do that. I’ll clean up.”

  “No problem. I was in the mood to scrub,” Vivi said.

  “I was wondering why you didn’t use a washing up spell and save your skin. You must be having a rough day,” Pepper said and gathered up some herbs, bundling them into a fragrant bunch.

  Vivi shrugged. “To tell you the truth, I’m depressed, frustrated, and totally feeling sorry for myself.”

  “That’s a lot of emotion going on. Do you need a Cool and Calm potion? Or I can whip you up a Chill Out balm.”

  Vivi smiled. “You have a potion to cure everything, don’t you?”

  “Yes, and if I don’t have one I can make one. Pick your potion.”

  “I think the saying is pick your poison.”

  Pepper tucked a strand of her auburn hair behind her ear. “Yikes. I’m not a poison master. That would be a little scary. Maybe that can be my costume for next Halloween and we can make some fun poison potions.” Her eyes went wide with delight.

  Vivi cringed. “Maybe not. I don’t want to give anyone dangerous ideas.”

  “True, witches and wizards can take things so literally. What’s up with you? I’m not going to let you distract me off topic.”

  Vivi turned back to the sink. Her fingers were starting to prune in the water. “It’s nothing. No, it’s something. I don’t know how to handle something and I’m getting frustrated.”

  “What is this mysterious something? Maybe I can help you work through it.”

  Vivi’s shoulders slumped. She grabbed a towel, dried her hands, and turned to face Pepper. “It’s failure. There, I said it.”

  “Failure.” Peppers brows rose. “What have you failed at?”

  “My own stinking persuasion that’s what.” Vivi smiled wearily. She sounded so whiny.

  “Details. I need details. What’s going on? Did Lance give you a new case to work on and you’re now just getting around to telling me about it?” Pepper crossed her arms over her chest in mock disdain.

  “Yes, and it’s a hard one.” Vivi told Pepper all about the case and the bloody scarf. “Worst of all, I’m getting nothing. Nothing. Not one vision of Willow’s future.” Vivi shook her head. “What if she’s in trouble? What if she’s been taken and is hurt? She could be in serious danger. And I can’t see her.” Her throat tightened.

  Pepper began to pace the floor. “You’re putting too much pressure on yourself. Are you sure the scarf was hers?”

  “Lance said they tested the blood and it was a match.”

  “Then you should be able to get an energy reading off of it. That’s so weird that you’re coming up cold.” Pepper’s brow furrowed.

  “I’ve never gotten nothing before. My vision is totally black. Like a void of the future.” Vivi rubbed her arms, getting a chill. “What could that mean if not the worst?”

  Pepper planted her hands on her hips. “Well, now that you’ve hit a roadblock, what are you going to do?”

  “Roadblock is a much better way of looking at this situation than failure.” Vivi considered her next move. “I’m going to Willow’s apartment. I need more. Maybe I can get a better vibe on her if I’m surrounded by her things.”

  “That’s the ticket. Let’s go.” Pepper grabbed her jacket.

  “You’re coming with me?” Vivi slipped a cardigan over her blouse.

  “Absolutely. I’ve been trapped in the shop all day inhaling potion fumes. If I get another whiff of lavender or rosemary or bubbling brew anytime soon my head is going to explode.” Pepper adjusted her green-rimmed glasses.

  “Sounds like someone needs a little fresh air,” Vivi said as the two witches walked out to the front of the shop.

  Lindy, one of their new assistants, was helping the lone customer still remaining in the shop after the potion class. She was tall and gangly and a student at Haven Academy who worshiped Pepper and worked part-time to help out.

  “We’ll be back soon,” Vivi said.

  She and Pepper strolled along Main Street. They passed by Nocturnes and resisted going in after the door opened and the delectable smell of baking bread washed over them. The streets were busy with witches and wizards milling around outside in the fresh spring air. The doors were open over at the Charmery and tables covered in stunning charms were set up for an impromptu spring sale. Once Vivi dragged Pepper away from the charms, it didn’t take them long to walk over to the law office. There was an officer stationed out front. A gaggle of curious witches were huddled together whispering and staring. Gossip spread like wild magic in Everland and the gawkers were already out in force. Vivi made her way through the crowd to the front door.

  “Hey, Jake,” Vivi said, recognizing the young officer.

  “Ms. Mayhem.” He nodded to her.

  “I’m here to do some research on the case.” Vivi pulled a small parchment card from her wallet and showed it to the officer. He examined her license and handed it back. He unlocked the door and let Vivi inside, but stopped Pepper. “She’s with me. She’s my assistant.”

  Pepper nodded thoughtfully. “I’m here in case she goes into a trance and needs help. Unless you have experience in trance handling.”

  The officer screwed up his face, baffled by Pepper. “Just don’t touch anything.”

  “Of course not,” Pepper said and followed them inside the law office.

  The officer shut and locked the door behind them as the crowd outside surged forward to get a peek in the windows. Jake cleared his throat. “Wizard Cashing isn’t here. After he was questioned the other day, he went home and hasn’t been back since. He’s taking it pretty hard and closed the office for business until Willow’s found. He loved her like a daughter. I’m sure the sheriff told you her parents died when she was young and her uncle’s raised her ever since.”

  Vivi walked over to one of the desks in the room. There was a vase of wilting flowers and a gilded picture frame on the neat surface, not a parchment out of place. “Is this her desk?” Vivi asked Jake.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  There was nothing much on it besides a stack of parchments, a casebook, an ink bottle, and a quill. The flowers were impersonal and wouldn’t be able to tell her anything about Willow. She picked up the picture frame. A portly wizard and a young witch smiled up at her. Vivi assumed the picture was of Willow and her uncle Edward.

  “That’s them,” Jake said as if to confirm her thoughts.

  A strong jolt of energy pierced Vivi’s temple. “Ouch!” She pinched her eyes shut. A vision flooded her mind’s eye. Edward Cashing stood in a small room, packing wom
en’s clothes into a box. Vivi knew instinctively it was Willow’s room. His eyes were red and puffy. Tears streamed down his cheeks. He mopped his face with a handkerchief and collapsed to the bed. “What have I done? What have I done to my little angel?” he asked over and over, grief overwhelming him.

  There was no one else in the room. After a moment, he collected himself and stood, glanced around nervously as he walked over to the corner, and kneeled down. He pulled a cherry wood wand from his pocket, whispered a spell, and suddenly one of the floorboards popped up. Edward removed the board and pulled out a small bundle that had been hidden beneath it. He gingerly unwrapped the cloth, exposing a stunning cameo brooch. He held it to his lips and kissed it. “What have I done? Please forgive me, Willow.” There was a sudden knock on the door. Edward hastily returned the brooch to its hiding place and jumped to his feet.

  The vision cut off in an instant. Vivi was bent over, grasping the desk. Pepper was stroking her back. “Vivi, Vivi, are you okay?”

  Vivi straightened and blinked her eyes, clearing her sight. “I’m okay. I’m fine.”

  Jake had brought her a glass of water and handed it to her.

  “Did you see something?” Pepper asked.

  Vivi gulped down the cool liquid. “Yes, and it isn’t good for Edward Cashing.”

  6

  Honora returned home to find Barnaby circling the sky outside her apartment, a telltale sign her familiar was being both alert and protective. Honora glanced down into the now dreaded alley and saw Detective Corder leaning against a police hovercraft. What was he doing back so soon? The crime scene had already been cleaned up; the magical barrier had disappeared and the black magic stains scrubbed clean like nothing ever happened. Honora shuddered. She had a bad feeling the detective wanted to talk to her. Well he could wait a minute more. She touched down on the ledge and headed inside to freshen up before going down to see what he wanted.