A Witch's Trial (Witch's Path Series: Book 3) (3 page)

Elron shook his head. "If I tell you, it will complicate things. Either your behavior will change or you will want to rush events. This needs to happen in its own time and place."

"Well, that's a grand way to spoil a lovely not-in-reality date," I said dryly.
 

He folded one hand over his waist and the other behind his back, giving me a shallow bow. "My lady, you have my most sincere apologies. When things are settled, I shall do my best to amend this slight."

I stood there, starting at him without fully comprehending. This wasn't the Elron I usually encountered. Was the fragile man I had come to care for the real man, or was this self-assured, confident man the real Elron? What would I do if this independently functioning fragment of Elron was more than a dream? That would be a complication I couldn't balance right now.

"Don't worry so," he said.

My eyebrows did their best to merge with my hairline.
 

"Your face has been shifting from one emotion to the next. It was not difficult to see the conflicting feelings. Again, this shall all make sense in time. In short, just as your subconscious lets you slide into situations you would avoid if you were awake, mine is helping me process things that are painful when I am conscious." He winked. "I tend to brood and obsess."
 

"Ah."

"Alas, our time grows short. Do not fear, Michelle. Reality can be every bit as fantastic as a dream."
 

With that, he faded away, and I was left alone in the garden.

Before I had time to be sad, the sparkles rushed over. Most of them slowly flowed around me, forming a warm, glowing, moving blanket, but a few of them broke away from the group to rub against my cheek, hair, and arm.
 

I rubbed extra moisture away from my eyes. I wasn't crying yet, but I was close. A small sparkle rested against my moist fingers and zapped me.
 

"Ouch, why did you do that?"
 

The glowing spheres surged around me. One darted in and shocked my arm.
 

I took a step back. "What was that for?"
 

Two more shocked me, and I stumbled back again. When the next one dove in, I blocked it with a small shield spell. When the two energies collided, light flared. Blinking, I tried to clear the spot from my vision.
 

When I could see again, I looked over my shoulder and froze. I was eye to bark with a branch. The tree's lights were in a half circle in front of me, blocking my escape. Since the only open path was behind me, I ducked and sat down with my back against the apricot tree.
 

As soon as I sat down, the tree shuddered. The trunk flexed and the ground shifted. Behind me, the tree had formed a chair back, and under me, the roots moved themselves to make my seat more comfortable. The glitters resumed their previous behavior, coming in to rub my arm or hair without zapping me.

"You could've said something," I muttered.
 

The tree cuddled against me, a solid presence at my back and a comforting glow around me. Relaxing, I tried to push Elron's strange behavior out of my mind. It wasn't fair to judge him on something he didn't realize he was doing. However, fair didn't factor into my frustration or curiosity. Some part of him was frolicking with me in the garden and making cryptic discoveries. If the two parts of him ever unified long enough to sort things out, I'd have a stern word with him. Until then, I would let it be.

I pushed the worries and questions out of my head, emptying my mind and falling into a light trance. It felt good to be at peace, removed from the worry and frustration that had been dogging me for so long. The peaceful feeling lasted until my body started protesting.
 

 
My butt went numb, and I sat up to stretch. When I leaned back, the tree wasn't there. I opened my eyes to see the garden fading away, replaced by a campfire in a small clearing in the woods. This wasn't the first time I'd seen this clearing, but if the last meeting was any indication, I'd get cryptic answers and more questions before we were done here.
 

The fire and clearing were solidly in existence, at least in this dream of mine, when Sylvia walked out of the woods.
 

I stood up and dusted off my pants. "I'd greet you, but if memory serves, you don't like to use names."

"They have power."

"That they do. Are you going to tell me how you keep invading my dreams?" This was the second time, and it was irritating enough that Elron and I shared dreams; I didn't want to be having late-night meetings with his not-dead wife.
 

"Not now. I am short on time, and for the time being, it is a useful way to communicate." She folded her arms across her chest and leaned back while looking me up and down. "You've been hurting him, and the death of the werewolf was a substantial blow."

I nodded. She didn't have to name him; I knew she was talking about Gremory.
 

"That death bought you time. Use it wisely." Sylvia turned and marched back into the woods before the last word fell from her lips.
 

I woke up, tucked in bed at Mom's house, with predawn light coming in through the window.

*******

Breakfast was a quiet affair. We finished our food and were lingering at the table when Mom set down her glass and looked at me. "Michelle, can we go over some of the details of the wedding?"

"Oh, sure." I couldn't hide the hesitation in my voice.
 

"We'll have the ceremony and reception at Greg's house. It will be a reasonably small gathering," Mom said. "If you could come up here the night before, we can drive over together for the rehearsal. Dress is Sunday best."

I must have looked scared because Dad reached over and patted my hand. "It's going to be fine. We're going to have a lovely ceremony no matter what. You'll have a good time, and we'll still be here for you."

"What time should I be here?" I didn't know what to say to the rest of the plans, but I did need to know my scheduled arrival time.
 

"Could you be here around four?" Mom asked.

"Sure." Maybe with other witches around, I could finally find out what clan Dad was from. The thought perked me up.

"Michelle," Dad said, "will you be staying here today?"

I shook my head. "No, I've wallowed long enough. There's a pile of disenchanting waiting for me, and the world doesn't stop spinning because I had a bad day." I stood up, then started stacking dishes.

"You can come back anytime," Mom said.
 

Leaning over, I wrapped my arms around her. "I know, Mom. Thank you."

"Go pack your things. We can clean up."

I did as I was told. By the time I made it back downstairs, the kitchen was clean and they were ready to leave for work. I got hugs from both of them, Mom's with a worried smile and Dad's with an extra squeeze.

"I'll hunt around for relevant books. Be careful," Dad said.

"Thank you, and I will."
 

"Please be careful, and come back if being at the lodge is too hard."

"Yes, Mom. I'll call you." I rushed out the door before the situation could drag out.
 

Sometimes it was hard to tell if this family thing was going to work out. Dad and I spent most of our time pretending to have a relationship we didn't have, and Mom looked sad when the two of us failed to be convincing. Then Dad stood up for me, or backed Mom, and I could see it—family. Those moments of harmony gave me hope. Maybe we weren't pretending as much as we thought; maybe that's what family was like. There was a smile on my lips as I turned onto the main road. I could get used to this type of family.
 

My pleasant reflections were interrupted by my phone. I crossed my fingers as I answered, hoping it wouldn't be a dire emergency. "Oaks Consulting. This is Michelle."

"Michelle, it's Wells."

"Hi, Detective. What can I do for you?" I had a feeling he was after the book. After all, that's what I'd promised him.

"You've had a few days. When am I going to get a look at that book?"

"How does today sound?" There wasn't any reason to procrastinate. I had a copy of the book with me, and I was in Ellijay. Putting it off would just cost me time and gas.
 

"Today would be good. When will you be here?"

"Can we meet somewhere? Maybe Coffee Time?" It felt wrong to talk about the book at his desk in a crowded room with other cops and random citizens within earshot. I wanted him to decide what the rest of the force knew, not have them overhear bits and pieces while they were going about their day.
 

"Sure, but I expect a good explanation. Twenty minutes sound about right?"

"I'll see you then." I hung up before he could ask any more questions.

I strolled into Coffee Time ten minutes later with the book tucked in my purse. After getting a cup of tea, I snagged a table in the back. It was one of two tables in the back that weren't popular due to their proximity to the coffee grinder and blenders.

Sipping my tea, I reflected on the upcoming conversation. This meeting wouldn't be fun or easy. It was going to be hard and depressing. If I was lucky, he would believe me and we could work on common goals. Typically, luck wasn't my thing, which left the less fun but more realistic path. He wouldn't believe me, and it would deteriorate from there.
 

Detective Wells walked in, scanning the room. He gave a sharp nod in my direction before going to the counter. A few minutes later, he sat down across from me with a steaming cup of coffee in his hand.
 

"You owe me an explanation, Michelle."

I met his gaze. "I know. Thank you for being patient with me and for meeting me here."

He shrugged. "It was worth the trip for the coffee. The stuff that passes for coffee at work is shameful."

Flashing the smallest of smiles, I continued. "I've tried to think of the best way to do this, and a direct approach seems best." I gently placed the book on the table and slid it to him. Sitting back in my chair, I forced myself to relax and look normal. After some thought, I'd decided to present the book as if it were the original. It had taken some work, but to my senses the books were identical. Elron had the original, as was his right, and another, less precise copy was in my apartment.

Wells picked it up and flipped through the pages. It must've passed his inspection because he didn't ask to see the original. Tension in my shoulder relaxed, and I hoped he attributed any changes in my posture to the subject matter rather than legitimacy of the book.
 

"What's so special about this book?" he asked.

"Do you want to know what I think of the book or would you prefer to read it before you hear my thoughts?" I knew what he'd say, but I was looking for any chance to escape. This was a conversation I'd gladly procrastinate.
 

"I'd like to hear your thoughts." He crossed his arms and leaned on the table.

"Remember when I told you about the woman at Adder's house dropping the book?"
 

Wells nodded.
 

"I picked it up because I suspected it could be important. With the way things happened that night, I didn't want to give you the book in case it was spelled. I examined it, and it appears to be a completely harmless collation of thoughts put on paper."

He studied me. "If it's harmless, why were you concerned about eavesdropping?"

"The writing is the problem. It's the diary of a woman who was taken by a demon to be used as its host. At the end of the book, the woman also confesses to being Elron's wife, who was believed to be dead for the past two centuries."
 

Detective Wells's expression didn't change during my explanation. I would've felt better if his face showed some emotion.

"Does Elron know about these claims?"

I met his gaze. "Yes, I told him. I'm sorry if that affects your investigation, but he's my friend. I couldn't keep something like this from him. He needed to hear it from me."
 

"This book… it claims that there is a demon behind the trouble we've been having?"

I nodded.

Detective Wells leaned forward. "Michelle, does that make sense to you? Demons have been extinct for thousands of years."

He still had on his best blank face, and it was good. I couldn't tell if he believed me or if he was getting ready to take me in for a psychiatric evaluation.

"I'm not sure what to think," I answered. "It seems very convenient for me to find a book explaining a demon's role in the current troubles, along with a connection to my new neighbor. If word of a demon got out, there would be panic. People can't cope with an ancient evil returned to terrorize the modern world. Demons are somewhere between a fable and the ultimate bad thing in children's stories."

I shut my mouth before I could get myself into hot water. While I was perfectly willing to believe a demon was causing trouble, Detective Wells needed to decide on his own. Nothing I could say would persuade him as much as reading that book. Maybe Sylvia would even grace him with a late-night visit. That was an illuminating experience he shouldn't miss.
 

Wells studied me while I drank my tea and tried to look comfortable. My best guess was that I looked more like a rabbit ready to flee than a professional having a serious discussion.
 

"Did you have them spike my drink?" he asked with a smile.

I snorted. "Please. If I'd done that, we would be having a fun conversation, not this depressing talk of evil, doom, and gloom."
 

He tipped his head in agreement. "Thank you for giving me the book. I'll get in touch after I read it."

Detective Wells shook my hand and was out the door before I had a chance to say anything else. Perhaps it was for the best. He needed to come to his own conclusions, and I didn't want to sway his views. I sat there and finished my tea as Elron's brokenhearted sobs played through my head.