Southern Omens (Sweet Tea Witch Mysteries Book 17) Read online

  Betty nodded. “Great idea. We need to all change clothes. I’ve got just the spell ready.”

  “I’m sure you do,” I mumbled, annoyed. But honestly it wasn’t like this was anything new in my family. My grandmother had a knack for keeping pertinent bits of information from me. I wasn’t sure if this was because she liked being in control or if she figured that I’d simply not do what she wanted.

  That was probably it. If I knew of certain events before they would happen, like this one, I would have left town yesterday and not returned for an entire month just to make sure that I didn’t have to suffer through it.

  But suffer I would.

  Betty rubbed her hands together. “I need a little help, everyone. Y’all focus.”

  Magic stirred inside me, unfurling like a coiled snake. The power zipped up my spine, and the next thing I knew, I felt a cold shower of power shimmering down from above me.

  Betty’s clothing changed from a gray housecoat to a dress made of deep purple, complete with long sleeves and a full skirt.

  Cordelia wore a gown of green, Axel had on a black doublet and tights, which made his calves look super muscular, if I do say so myself.

  I wore a royal blue gown. I ran my fingers over the silk and satin, cooing at the decadence.

  “I hope I don’t get too hot,” Cordelia said. “My deodorant’s been iffy lately.”

  I bit back a smile. “Perhaps you need to buy something else.”

  Cordelia’s lips twisted into a sour expression. “Yeah, I think so. I just haven’t found anything.”

  Betty perked up. “I’ve got something that’ll help you. Of course, it might burn the hairs off your armpits, but it’ll work wonders. You’ll never sweat again.”

  Cordelia shook her head. “No thanks. I’d rather deal with clammy skin than third-degree burns.”

  Betty scowled. “It’s not gonna do that much damage.”

  Axel clapped his hands. “Should we go?”

  “Yes, please, save me from this conversation.” I linked my arm through his. “Lead us on.”

  We wove through the crowd, and I swear folks parted like the Red Sea. Murmurs filtered through the crowd, and many folks bowed as we passed them.

  I looked behind Axel to see Betty doing some sort of stiff royal wave that she must’ve learned from Queen Elizabeth, and had to stop myself from rolling my eyes.

  “So this is really a big deal,” I said.

  “Oh yes,” Betty said through her smile. “It is.”

  Up ahead I spotted Amelia and her boyfriend, Sherman. Sherman was bowing before Amelia, and she placed a hand over her mouth, giggling. They looked like a such a sweet couple—Amelia with her soft blonde curls and Sherman with his mop of hair and clumsy, almost goofy movements.

  Speaking of beaux, I turned to Cordelia. “Where’s Garrick?”

  She hoisted up her skirt, kicking it out in front of her. “Working. He should be here, though.” She lifted her skirt higher, kicking it again. “I swear, Betty. Couldn’t you have made my skirt shorter? It’s too long. I keep tripping over it.”

  Betty eyed the dress. “I can give you a miniskirt. Though you’ll be out of fashion and I dare say you might be stoned for being a harlot.”

  My cousin scoffed. “Are you kidding me? Never mind. I’ll keep the long skirt.”

  “Wise choice.”

  We reached the pavilion. A row of wooden chairs had been placed on a dais at the end of the structure.

  “Where’s my throne?” I joked. “I mean, if we’re going to go to all this trouble of having a renaissance fair, we might as well do it right.”

  Betty poked my spine and whispered to me, “Don’t press your luck, kid.”

  “Okay,” I murmured. “I didn’t want one, anyway. I was just asking.”

  Sheesh. I didn’t get it. Folks had gone to a lot of trouble to put this together, so it seemed like only a natural progression for there to have been a jewel-studded chair for me to sit on. Right?

  Okay, maybe not.

  Axel and I sat in the middle. Cordelia sat beside us, and Betty waved for Amelia to come over.

  I caught sight of my cousin, Carmen, in the crowd. Seeing her made me think of Rufus Mayes. He had disappeared several weeks ago after a magical explosion. No one knew what had happened to him, where he had gone.

  Oh, there were theories, of course. Had he been blown into smithereens? I cringed. I couldn’t bear to think that Rufus had died, that he was no longer here, that he had disappeared into the great unknown after saving me, saving us. He had, you know, saved us, made it so that we could put the heart fire back together and reclaim the magic in Magnolia Cove that had been lost.

  So thinking of him now and facing the fact that he may have died made my heart shrivel, made my chest constrict and made me feel guilty. Yes, I carried the weight of guilt with me. My head knew that Rufus wouldn’t want me to feel bad. He’d made his choice, choosing to work with power that was too much for him. But that didn’t change anything. It certainly didn’t change the pain that seared straight to my heart.

  If only I knew what had happened. If I knew for sure where he had gone.

  It was the not knowing that woke me up in the middle of the night, my heart racing.

  Would I feel better about it? Would I? If I knew that Rufus had simply evaporated into nothingness, would it actually make me feel better or would it make me worse? Would the weight of my guilt grow heavier?

  Knowing would be better. Intuitively I felt that. It would ease my suffering.

  We’d had a complicated relationship, Rufus and I. He’d wanted to give me everything, but I knew that my everything lay with Axel. In the end, Rufus accepted that.

  A hand squeezed mine, and I glanced over at Axel. He shot me a quizzical look. “Okay?”

  I forced a smile and nodded. “Fine.” I squeezed his hand in return and rested my head on his shoulder. “Just thinking about things.”

  “You looked worried.”

  I brushed away his concern. “It’s nothing.”

  No, I hadn’t told Axel of my burden. It was mine to bear. Besides, I knew what he would say—if Rufus were here, he would tell me not to feel guilty, that he made the choice he did for a reason. To save us.

  Axel would be right, of course. But sometimes a problem had to work its way out by itself. A knot wound too tight had to be pried at gently. It couldn’t always simply be yanked free.

  I supposed that I was the knot that needed time to be loosened.

  Betty crossed to the middle of the platform, facing those who had gathered. They immediately settled and flanked the sides of the pavilion, resting in chairs that had been set out. This left a long stretch of open walkway where, I could only assume, people would march down to present their gifts or tokens or soothsaying abilities.

  It was all very medieval if you asked me.

  “Welcome, everyone,” Betty said. “We’re so happy to have y’all here for Presents Day. My granddaughter, Pepper, is tickled that y’all have all shown up today to hear what the soothsayers have to announce.” She turned to me, and I suddenly felt my face grow hot. “Pepper, is there anything you’d like to add?”

  Not really. I rose and smiled. “Yes, thank you, all of y’all, for coming. You’ve made our family”—I took Axel’s warm hand in mine—“feel so special. It’s a day we’ll never forget.”

  “Thank you,” Betty said, clapping her hands. She motioned for us to sit. Then she gestured out to the crowd, spreading her hands wide. “Let’s begin then. Will the first soothsayer please come forward?”

  I heard a thin, feminine voice. “Coming through, everyone. I’m coming through! Would you please get out of my way? Ow! You’re squishing my dress. Do you mind? Big lug,” the voice mumbled none too quietly.

  I shot Axel a confused look. Where was this person? He shrugged as if to say, Beats me. Then from the very back, where a small group had clustered, what looked like a fairy, complete with beating wings, broke free of the crow
d and plunged onto the walkway.

  The momentum caused her to tumble forward, and she rolled, headfirst. I gasped and grabbed Axel’s arm that was draped in velvet.

  “Is she all right?” I whispered. And how did she get inside of Magnolia Cove? Only witches were allowed in our town. There were special occasions and days when this was different—Halloween was one of those, but otherwise we lived in a magical bubble. We stayed inside, and the outside world stayed outside.

  It worked well for us.

  “She has witch’s blood in her,” Betty leaned over and whispered to me as if she could read my mind.

  “But she’s so tiny,” I whispered back.

  The fairy witch, or whatever you called her, rose, brushed off her dress and smoothed her hair. She turned around and yelled to the clot of folks in the back, “If y’all hadn’t been all shoved up together, I never would have fallen. Now look. I ripped my dress!”

  She pointed to a tear the size of a teardrop. I had to squint to see it, but indeed there was a rip.

  “Now I have to fix it,” she continued, scolding the crowd. “And I’m in a bad mood.”

  “Let’s hope it doesn’t affect what she has to say,” I said to Axel.

  Then the fairy, after giving the crowd a good old-fashioned stink eye, whirled back toward us, plastered a huge smile on her face and sailed down the walkway, wings beating.

  “My name is Yates Fail,” she declared, fluffing her red hair with one hand, “and I am from the band of witch fairies. I have come to tell you the future of the baby you carry and bring blessings upon you.”

  After her outburst, I was hoping she would be giving us blessings and not curses. She was a spitfire, and I figured what she had to say could go either way.

  Her eyes were a spear that hit me in the solar plexus, stealing my breath. She had great power, this little witch fairy. She wasn’t someone that I wanted to encounter in a dark alley.

  Betty whipped her head in my direction. I met her gaze, and she flicked her hands, nudging me to respond to Yates.

  I cleared my throat. “You have brought us blessings? I would love to hear them?” I said, glancing at Betty for support.

  Axel leaned over. His lips brushed my ear as he whispered, “You’re doing great. Keep it up.”

  Yates’s mouth split into a wide smile. She placed one hand over the other and closed her eyes. A bright ball of light filled the space between her palms, and its glow worked up her arms, haloing her.

  “I see many blessings for this child—so many. The child will be welcome into many homes and will help bridge relationships between two factions—two different people.”

  “The witch and werewolf,” I murmured.

  Axel was half werewolf, but even he had faced prejudice and tensions from both sides. Werewolves didn’t like witches, and witches didn’t trust werewolves. There wasn’t another way around it.

  “The child will be powerful,” Yates said, continuing, “and will be a blessing all on its own.” The ball of light between her hands faded, and she opened her eyes. “This is what I see and the message that I bring you. I hope it has been to your satisfaction.”

  Axel spoke. “Thank you, Yates Fail of the witch fairies, for coming and bestowing upon us such wonderful news.”

  Bestowing? I shot Axel a look and he shrugged. “When in Rome,” he murmured.

  I think he meant, When you’re dressed like royalty from another century, speak like royalty from another century.

  Yates beamed. “You’re very welcome. That is all I have to say.” She glanced behind her, at the throng of people in back. “Now, if those people won’t step on me and try to murder me, I’ll be going.”

  Not wanting Yates to be trampled, I pointed to a spot in front of us. “Why don’t you wait until all the soothsayers have spoken? You can stay up here, with us.”

  She nodded. “That would be better. The last thing I need is a broken wing joint.”

  Yates took a spot in front of us and a little off to the side. She hovered, bobbing up and down as her wings hummed.

  “We’re next,” called out another voice, once again feminine.

  Two witches bumbled down the aisle. They were dressed like everyone else, in period dress, and had their hair pinned up.

  “Oh, isn’t she beautiful,” the first one, who wore glasses, said when she saw me.

  “If you’d move your head, I could see her for myself,” the other one mumbled.

  She glanced around the first one, and I saw a flash of pink hair mounted on top of her head.

  The first one moved to the right to give the second witch room, and the second witch moved right as well.

  “Oh, you’re still in my way,” she grumbled.

  Then the second witch moved left at the same time that the first witch did.

  “This is no use,” she said, flustered. Finally she placed her hands on the shoulders of the witch in front of her. “Just stop, Katrina.”

  “You don’t have be so nasty sounding about it, Freya,” Katrina said.

  “I’m not being nasty,” Freya, the witch with pink hair, replied. “I want to see her, too.” She stepped around Katrina, took one look at me and sighed. “Oh yes. She is lovely.”

  “We’re close enough that we might as well introduce ourselves,” Katrina said.

  “I’ll go first,” Freya said, stepping forward.

  “I was first in line,” Katrina replied.

  Freya scoffed. “You were first in line because you marched on ahead in front of me.”

  Axel sighed. “Ladies, can you please come to an agreement?”

  Freya and Katrina shared a look of confusion before Freya spoke. “Who does he think he is?” Freya whispered.

  “He thinks he’s her husband, I suppose,” Katrina whispered.

  “We’re not here to see him,” she argued. “We’re here to see the mother.”

  “In case you haven’t noticed,” Axel said through gritted teeth, “it takes two people to have a baby.”

  “Oh, we’ve noticed,” Freya replied. “But Presents Day is for the mother, not the father. These are words for her ears. The fact that you’re here is only a convenience. It’s only to be nice to you.”

  Axel glanced at Betty. “Are all these soothsayers going to be so persnickety?”

  She grimaced. “Looks like.”

  “Maybe I’ll head back to the house. Take a nap,” he said.

  I grabbed his arm. “You’ll do no such thing. If I have to sit here and endure this, so do you.”

  Freya stepped forward and smiled. “There are three of us, but we’ve lost our sister somewhere. She should be along soon. Each of us has a gift that we have seen. I have seen love in the child’s life. The child will be much loved.”

  As she stepped back, Katrina came forward. “And what I saw is kindness. The child will be kind.”

  I cocked a brow at Axel. “See? They have seen good fortune for our child.”

  He smirked. “Anyone could have foretold that the child would be loved.”

  “But not anyone would have traveled to tell us so,” I quipped.

  As Freya and Katrina took their place beside Yates, a boy walked up. He looked to be around nine or so, and I wondered if he was lost and needed his mother.

  “Young’un,” Betty said, “are you looking for your mama?”

  The boy scowled. “I am not looking for my mother.” He stopped and bowed before me. “My name is Ignatius Wrench, and I am here to tell what I have seen.”

  The boy’s voice was high and tinny, not what I would have thought of a soothsayer. “Seriously, are your parents here? Do they know that you’ve come to Magnolia Cove?”

  His face turned red. “I have come to pay homage for I, Ignatius Wrench, am the greatest living soothsayer of all time.”

  “Oh, here we go,” Freya mumbled. “This whole thing again.”

  “I swear,” Katrina said to her sister. “We can’t go to any Presents Days without seeing him.”

/>   “I know,” Yates whispered loudly. “Who keeps inviting him, anyway?”

  “I can hear you,” Ignatius said, furious. “I can hear y’all over there talking about me.”

  I think he was about to throw a temper tantrum. A headache bloomed on one side of my head and I sighed. Why couldn’t this day have been simple? Why couldn’t it have gone smoothly? But no, I had a gaggle of soothsayers lined up, and each of them seemed to not get along with the others—or anyone else, for that matter.

  I leaned over and whispered to Betty, “I thought this was supposed to be a good thing, a nice environment.”

  She shrugged. “You don’t get to invite the soothsayers. They invite themselves.”

  Well, that explained it—not at all.

  Ignatius spoke. “I, Ignatius Wrench, am a soothsaying genius. You don’t have to listen to me, but I have seen information about the child. I have seen what is to come, and I have a right to let you know what it is, the same as these others have.”

  He looked at us, waiting to be given the green light. Axel nodded. “Go on.”

  Ignatius cleared his throat. He laced his fingers. “What I have seen—is death.”

  The crowd gasped, and my jaw dropped. “Death?” I whispered.

  He nodded. “That is what I have seen. There will be death!”

  CHAPTER 3

  A xel rose. “What is the meaning of this? Did you come here to scare my wife and upset our family?”

  Ignatius shook his head. “I have seen what I have seen. There will be omens, dark omens that follow your wife. She will see them, and they will reveal that what I say is true.”

  “Listen, kid,” Yates spat, “just because you’re only eight years old doesn’t mean that every place you go, you have to prove yourself.”

  His mouth tightened to a small O. “I am not trying to prove myself. This is what I’ve seen.”

  Air blew between Freya’s lips, and they flapped like a motor. “Oh, get off it. You’re just a kid pretending to be one of us.”

  “I am not,” he yelled. “I am the greatest soothsayer that has ever lived! I have seen what I’ve seen.”

  What he had seen troubled me. Not that he’d said anything else, but the idea of death struck me. The other soothsayers saw life and good things for the baby. So I guess Ignatius saw death in the distant future? Either way, the entire idea of death made me sick. Bile surged up the back of my throat, and my stomach felt like it had filled with metal.