Witch rose, p.8
Witch Rose, page 8
“It’s making me shiver just looking at you,” said Ivy. “Put some clothes on.”
Lizzie laughed. “Very well. Give me a moment.” She disappeared behind a tree and emerged wrapped in a long green robe that tied at the waist. She twisted her damp hair onto the top of her head. “Let’s walk to the cottage and we can have some tea.”
“That would be nice,” said Bryony.
“Make sure you don’t drink any of it,” muttered Ivy. “If she is our poisoner, she may try lacing the tea.”
“She wouldn’t be so bold,” whispered Bryony. “But maybe we should keep an eye on how she makes it, just in case.”
“You said you wanted to talk to me about some old friends?” asked Lizzie as they walked through the front door of the cottage. “I hope nobody is in trouble.”
“Have you heard the news about Josie Spicer?” asked Bryony.
“Josie? I haven’t seen Josie for ages. I spend most of my time in the forest these days.” She gestured to the table in the kitchen. “Take a seat both of you.”
“Josie has run into some trouble.” Bryony sat down and Ivy joined her, sitting in the opposite seat.
Lizzie busied herself in the kitchen, putting mugs on a tray and switching on the kettle. “Is everything okay with her?”
“She’s dead,” said Ivy.
Lizzie paused, a teapot in one hand. “I didn’t know. How did she die?”
“She was poisoned, and then she blew up,” said Ivy. “How are your poisoning skills?”
Lizzie slowly placed the teapot on the table. “I would never poison Josie.”
“The two of you knew each other from the pageants you used to enter,” said Bryony. “Is that right?”
“Yes, I used to enter those silly things before I was married,” said Lizzie. “I always felt I had to prove myself to others. And what better way to do that than winning a prize for how beautiful you are or how well you can perform magic.”
“And you weren’t friends with Josie?” asked Ivy.
“We didn’t get along,” said Lizzie. “Those stupid competitions bring out the worst in people. On the surface, we all seemed like friends, but everyone wanted to win, so you would find people being sneaky and doing things like hiding your costume, or trying to hex you just before you went on stage to perform your magic. The pageants were taken seriously. I’ve seen girls physically fighting with each other when a contest has been disputed.”
“But you stopped doing them after you married?” asked Bryony.
“As soon as I met my lovely Horatio,” said Lizzie with a sigh. “He showed me I was perfect just as I am. And I had nothing to prove to other people, so long as I was happy.”
“He was a lot older than you,” said Ivy. “Didn’t you mind being married to such an old gremlin?”
“You know what gremlins are like,” said Lizzie. “He was a good eighty years older than me, but you’d have never known it. He had such a mischievous streak about him, always playing little jokes on me. And his energy! He had the stamina of five human men. Not that that’s a surprise. No, the age difference meant nothing to me.”
“So you didn’t poison him?” asked Ivy.
Lizzie let out a strangled cry. “No! I would never hurt Horatio.”
Bryony shot her sister a warning look. “Ivy didn’t mean to be insensitive.”
Lizzie shook her head and took a deep breath. She filled the teapot with loose tea and poured boiling water over it. “It’s fine. I know what everyone talks about when it comes to me and Horatio. We were an odd couple, definitely not your typical match. And he was much older than me. But I loved him. People can say whatever they like about our relationship and what happened to Horatio, but if I could, I’d bring him back in a second.”
“It sounds like you had good times together,” said Bryony.
Lizzie smiled as she arranged some fruit tarts on a plate and placed them in the center of the table. “We did. He was a rogue, always chasing me around the house. It felt like we were still newlyweds. He was a passionate half gremlin, in every aspect of his life. It sometimes caused arguments between us, but nothing serious. Our marriage was a good one.”
“Which is all very nice,” said Ivy. “But you didn’t answer my question about how good your poisoning skills are?”
Lizzie poured out the tea, handed the mugs around, and then sat down. “I’ll be honest, I know my way around poisons. And I’ve learnt a lot living in the forest; what nature provides in the way of poisons is exceptional. There’s monkshood, foxglove, deadly nightshade, wolfsbane, hemlock. All natural, and all deadly if you know what to do with them.” She lifted the plate of tarts. “Can I tempt either of you? They’re homemade.”
“Thanks, they look lovely.” Bryony took one of the tarts, but Ivy snatched it out of her hand.
“There’s plenty to go around,” said Lizzie with a quizzical smile. “Or do you think I may have poisoned those as well as my beloved husband?”
Ivy set the tart down. “You have to admit, it is suspicious that your husband dies in strange circumstances and then people you don’t like begin dropping down dead as well.”
Lizzie took a sip of her tea. “It’s not just Josie who’s died?”
“So far, it’s just her,” said Bryony. “Belinda Mayhew has also been poisoned, and so has Gabriel Galbraith from the Charm Police.”
“I know Belinda well,” said Lizzie with a frown. “And I confess, the two of us were rivals when we worked the pageant scene together. We often fought over first and second place. I beat her in the looks department, but she was better at the magic. But as for Gabriel, I don’t know him at all. I’ve seen him around Old Sarum, but he doesn’t often come into the forest, so our paths haven’t crossed. I have no reason to poison him.”
“Do you have any reason to poison either of us?” asked Ivy, picking at the fruit tart before handing it back to her sister. “It's safe to eat.”
“No, I’d never poison either of you,” said Lizzie, a look of surprise crossing her face. “I have no grievance against you.”
Bryony took a bite of the tart. “This is excellent.”
“Berries from the forest,” said Lizzie with a smile.
“Can you think of a reason why anybody would want to poison you?” Bryony brushed crumbs from her fingers. “We don’t want to alarm you, but we think there is a connection between Josie and Belinda. Someone may have a grudge against them, and if the connection is the pageants you used to enter, you could also be at risk.”
“You think someone will try to poison me?” The color drained from Lizzie’s face. “I haven’t done the pageants for a while now.”
“It could be an old grudge,” said Bryony. “And we’re not certain if that is the connection, but it’s the only thing we can think of that links the three of you together.”
“How were they poisoned?” asked Lizzie.
“With flowers,” said Ivy. “Have you received a delivery of any roses?”
“No, nothing like that,” said Lizzie. “I have to collect any post from the post office in the village. The postman doesn’t like coming into the forest. He said the last time he did, an ogre tried to eat him. As if they would. They’re such sweeties when you get to know them.”
“It wouldn’t have come from the postman,” said Bryony. “Someone is leaving the flowers on people’s doorsteps.”
“That’s brazen,” said Lizzie. “The poisoner delivering the item to their victims. Who would want to harm a beauty and magic queen?”
“The mind boggles,” said Ivy.
“We could be looking at this wrong,” said Bryony with a sigh. “The pageant theory is just that. But if the link isn’t the pageants, then why were Josie and Belinda targeted?”
“And us,” said Ivy. “And I’d not enter one of those dumb pageants if my life depended on it.”
“I only know the others through the pageants,” said Lizzie.
“Could it have been Josie?” asked Bryony. “She could have accidentally poisoned herself after she’d poisoned Belinda. Maybe she was trying to find an antidote from us before the poison took effect.”
“She’s not good enough to do that kind of magic,” said Ivy.
Bryony ate another fruit tart. The three of them were at a loss as to who the poisoner could be.
“So what next?” asked Lizzie.
“We go back to our store and you get on with your life,” said Ivy.
“I won’t be able to sleep knowing there’s a poisoner out there interested in me,” said Lizzie. “As beautiful as the forest is, it can be a lonely place when you’re living here on your own.”
“Especially when the ogres get restless,” said Ivy. “Bet they know how to rattle a door.”
Lizzie looked around the cottage. “Perhaps I should move closer to the village. But there are so many memories in here. I hate to leave.”
“You’ve nothing to worry about,” said Bryony. “Just steer clear of any flower deliveries. And if you do get a delivery sent to the post office, let the Charm Police know.”
“I will,” said Lizzie. “But I’m hoping I’m not involved in any of this.”
“You could be right,” said Bryony. “I’m thinking we’ve got the wrong connection here. We need to rethink the poisoner’s motives and why they’re targeting particular people.”
“It could be some crazy magic user who’s lost control of their abilities,” said Ivy. “There are a few of those in the village.”
“No one’s lost control of their magic in Old Sarum for years,” said Bryony. “And if they have, they’d be looked after. They wouldn’t be allowed to get away with poisoning others.”
“I hope they catch whoever is doing it quickly.” Lizzie showed Ivy and Bryony to the front door.
“So do I,” said Bryony. “Thanks for the tea and tarts. They were delicious.”
“Any time,” said Lizzie. “You’re always welcome here.”
The girls said goodbye to Lizzie and walked back along the forest path towards the village.
Ivy kicked a few stones out of her way and sighed. “That was a waste of time. Sounds like Lizzie rarely leaves the house. Not likely she's dropping off poisoned flowers.”
“At least we can discount her,” said Bryony, sharing the same sense of deflation. She’d been so sure the pageants were the link between the victims and the poisoner.
“We can start talking to magic users who we know are powerful enough to create these kinds of spells,” said Ivy. “But it will take a while. And they might strike again while we’re searching for them.”
“I’m sure the Charm Police have made better progress than us,” said Bryony. “Their tests will show something useful.”
“Yes, I’m sure your Gabriel will find the answer.” Sarcasm bit through Ivy’s words.
Bryony looked at the ground. “I am worried about him. He didn’t look too good when he was at our store.”
“So he shouldn’t,” said Ivy. “He’s been poisoned.”
“Because of me,” said Bryony.
“Don’t go feeling bad because he was an idiot,” said Ivy. “It’s not your fault he was poisoned. He should have known better.”
“Still, I’d like to make it up to him somehow.”
“I’m sure he’ll be thrilled about that,” said Ivy. “Anyway, why do you care? I thought you weren’t interested in Gabriel?”
“I’m not. Well, at least not like that,” said Bryony. “I’m just worried about his well-being.”
“That’s the worst lie you’ve ever told me,” said Ivy. “If it makes you feel any better, go and see the hulking great fool. Put your mind at rest that he hasn’t keeled over from the poison.”
“They will find an antidote in time, won’t they?”
Ivy glanced at her sister and noticed the worry in her eyes. She wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “He’ll be fine. After all, he’s Mr. Perfect.”
“He is rather perfect,” said Bryony.
Ivy released her grip on Bryony and gave her a shove. “Now you’re being the idiot.”
Bryony grinned at Ivy. “Just don’t run him out of Old Sarum until I’ve made sure he is going to be okay.”
“As if I’d do that,” said Ivy. “It would break your heart to let go of Gabriel.”
“Better that than yours.” The grin on Bryony’s face faded.
Ivy shook her head. She knew how fond her sister was of Gabriel. As long as Bryony didn't fall in love with the annoyingly righteous angel, everything would be fine. “Stop being pathetic and hurry up. Our store won’t run itself.”
Chapter 12
Gabriel pulled the sleeve of his white shirt down. “What’s the verdict?” He was in an examination room at the Charm Police headquarters with his colleague, Jacob Astor, one of their experts when it came to medical curiosities of a magical nature.
“The speed the poison is traveling through your system is increasing.” Jacob’s usually cheerful expression was grim. “I’ll mix up a couple of potions for you. They should help slow down the progress.”
“Should?” Gabriel raised his eyebrows. “You don’t seem so sure.”
“That’s because this is a new combination of poisons for me,” said Jacob. “I’ve identified three known magical poisons that have been interwoven. But there’s something else in there that’s new. Until I crack what that is, we can’t create an antidote.”
“How long have I got?”
“A week.” Jacob set his notes down on his desk. “And that’s if you take things easy. If you don’t take a break, the poison will move faster through you. You need to stay calm and as still as possible.”
“I can’t do that,” said Gabriel. “I’ve got a killer to catch.”
“Get others to search for the poisoner,” said Jacob. “You won’t be any use to us if you’re dead.”
“It won’t come to that,” said Gabriel. “I trust you to find an antidote in time.”
“I’m good at what I do,” said Jacob. “But even I can’t work miracles. If I can’t discover what the final component in the poison is, I won’t be able to help you. I’ve run every test I can think of to figure out what this mystery poison is. But so far, I’m drawing a blank.”
“I’ve already got a team out talking to people about Josie’s death,” said Gabriel. “But I need to be out there myself.”
“You need to trust the people you’ve got working for you,” said Jacob. “None of us want to see you die from poisoning. Even though you’re the boss, most of us think you’re an okay sort of boss.”
Gabriel gave a wry smile. “That’s the nicest compliment anyone has ever given me.”
Jacob grinned. “Can’t let you go getting a big head now. My advice, not that you’re going to take it, is stick to desk duties. And take a break when you feel tired or sick. That means the poison is on the move and you don’t want it to get to anywhere vital. Even angels only have one heart.”
There was a knock on the examination room door.
“You can come in,” said Jacob, before focusing back on Gabriel. “We’re done here, for now. But I want to run more tests on you at the end of the day to check how things are progressing.”
Hollie Barnes, a new recruit to the Charm Police, poked her head around the door. “Gabriel, you’ve got a visitor.”
“Who is it?” Gabriel stood and straightened his shirt. “I’m supposed to be taking things easy.” He shot Jacob a smile.
“You’re going to like this particular visitor.” Hollie grinned impishly at him. “You’re going to feel so much better after you’ve seen her.”
“Then I prescribe the visit,” said Jacob.
Gabriel nodded thanks to Jacob and followed Hollie along the corridor to the visitor reception. He looked around the white painted room, the walls speckled with motivational comments such as be a good brownie and pick up your litter and do a good deed be a good gremlin.
“She’s over there.” Hollie pointed to the main doors.
Gabriel walked over to the door and pulled it open. Bryony stood outside, dressed in a snow white coat with a furry collar.
She turned as he opened the door, and as soon as he saw her smile, he instantly felt better.
“Hope you're not here to report a crime?” asked Gabriel.
“Nothing like that. I wanted to see how you’re feeling,” said Bryony. “I was worried about the poison.”
“Do you want to come inside?” asked Gabriel.
“Only for a minute,” said Bryony. “I’ve left Ivy in charge of the store, and she has a habit of terrifying customers rather than helping them.”
“Come through and I’ll make some tea.” Gabriel stood to one side, and after a second of hesitation, Bryony stepped through the door.
“I’ve never been in here before,” said Bryony.
“That’s because you’ve never done anything wrong.” Gabriel led Bryony along a corridor to the small staffroom. He was pleased to find it empty.
“I wouldn’t say that,” said Bryony with a shy smile.
“Are you confessing to a crime?” Gabriel gestured to a seat.
Bryony grinned as she sat down. “Definitely not. If I ever do deviate from the laws of Old Sarum, it’s only for the greater good.”
Gabriel smiled to himself as he made them both tea. He couldn’t imagine Bryony ever breaking any law. He shook his head as he recalled his conversation with Eddie and Theo. He had to remember, there was something strange about the way he felt when it came to Bryony.
Gabriel carried the tea over to Bryony and sat in the seat opposite her.
“Thanks, I need this after my walk over here,” said Bryony. “It’s getting cold outside.”
“The solstice is almost upon us,” said Gabriel. “I imagine your family will be celebrating.”
“Yes, everyone’s bringing something to the celebrations. It should be quite an event. We’re planning something for the whole village.”
“When I was an active angel, we acknowledged things like the solstice, but it didn’t seem so important. The boss had us focused on the bigger picture. You know, saving the world from demons and making sure the humans didn't blow themselves up.”
