Part 9 (1/2)
”We do.” Her gentle voice turned grave. ”There's an investigation under way. Raskin Lipworth, the chief prosecutor, is questioning anyone who had anything to do with it.”
That sounded ominous. ”I found him dead.”
”So I hear.” She didn't sound shocked. ”Be careful of what you say, my dear.”
Evelina's heart picked up speed. ”I didn't have anything to do with it!”
”Of course not.” Grammy Crimm waved a depreciative hand. ”But there are those who would point the finger at anyone they can, especially during a compet.i.tion. The stakes are high.”
”You mean the Swamp Hags.”
”And others, working with them.” Grammy Crimm wore a grim look. ”Tribe members turn against each other when it comes to gaining a seat on the Council.”
”To help friends?”
”Nepotism is rampant, I'm afraid.” She shook her head. ”One cut and we all bleed to death.”
”But that isn't right!”
”No, it isn't. Many of us are working to change this. But it takes time.” She folded her hands in front of her and smiled. ”But, let's talk of happier things. ”How's your friend, Frankie Holler?”
Evelina shrugged, attempting to appear nonchalant. ”He promised the Council to stay away from me.”
”Ha! A mistake on their part.” She gave a sparkle of laughter. ”Love grows stronger once denied.”
Evelina stiffened. ”Doesn't the Council have more important things to do than spy on us?”
”No, no. It's nothing like that. Even we have our limits, you know-invasions of privacy are taken very seriously. It's strictly forbidden.”
”Like Time Keepers and Water Witches marrying.”
”Time Keepers have never married for love.” Grammy Crimm nodded. ”Your parents dying under suspicious circ.u.mstances didn't help that taboo.”
Evelina breathed a great sigh. If only she could prove they met with foul play and it had nothing to do with her father being a Time Keeper. They were investigating black magic spells. But that's all she knew. ”I wish I knew how they died.”
”It's being investigated.” There was finality in Grammy Crimm's tone as though she didn't want Evelina getting involved. Maybe it would jeopardize her seat on the Council. ”Things must be done through the right channels to make charges stick.”
”Why are you my cosmic contact?” Evelina changed the subject to another question that had been burning a hole in her brain. ”I mean who decides that?”
”There is no choice. You are the next novice in our line and I the last to pa.s.s.”
”But, what if you hadn't pa.s.sed?”
”Then my mother would have been your contact as she was your mother's.”
”Is that how you became such a powerful witch? From secrets pa.s.sed down through the generations?”
”Powers can't be taught.” Her expression grew serious. ”They come from within. Only then can you use a spell to its fullest.”
”Burble's all about the spell book. She wants us to learn it from cover to cover.” The spell book was enormous. Each spell had infinite variations. Evelina's mind whirled just thinking about it. Her memory stunk. She'd always had to study her guts out to pa.s.s any tests at school.
”It isn't the spell, but the witch behind it.” Grammy Crimm's lips firmed. ”However, Councilor Burble is right. You must know both.” She smiled. ”You will in time.”
Hopefully, before the Reef Hag reared her ugly head.
”You killed the wrong novice!” Wendell roared over the rush of the surf under the pier. ”You stupid hag!”
The Reef Hag's silver eyes sparked in the darkness. ”I take what opportunities arise.”
Wendell jerked away. ”I told you to take out one of Oceana's first. They're our strongest opponent.”
”I take my orders from the one who summoned me,” she hissed. ”Not some half-crippled Novice.”
Wendell's face suffused with heat, setting his ears on fire. But he managed to choke down his rage. ”Save it!” He bit out. ”I'm no real novice. Your poison doesn't work on me.”
She gave a loud cackle. ”Are you certain?”
Wendell ignored her sly look. ”You take orders from me when he isn't here.”
”Raskin Lipworth is questioning everyone.”
”I know.”
”He knows you were there.”
”Holler must have ratted me out.”
”Or the Crimm girl.” She smiled knowingly.
He slashed her a dark look. ”She's a novice.” His voice turned harsh, despite all attempts to hide his disquiet. ”She knows nothing. Leave her to me.”
Her glittering eyes narrowed. ”I could deal with her next.”
Rage engulfed him. But he beat it down, gritting out, ”Stay away from her. She's mine. Do you hear me?”
”You're protecting her!” she announced with triumph. ”Why?”
”Of course not. We have a score to settle, that's all.” He reached over and grabbed her by the throat. ”If you deprive me of that pleasure, you old hag,” he said slowly and distinctly, applying just enough pressure to make her rasp. ”I'll seek my revenge with you.”
Chapter Six.
”Raskin Lipworth is here, in St. Augusta?” Evelina blinked against the bright sun, but failed to read Frankie's expression under the shadow of the stone fountain. ”Already?”
”Yes.” His golden gaze locked with hers, causing her heart to skip. ”Be careful of what you say.”
”That's what Grammy Crimm said.” She shrugged. ”But I didn't see anything.” It was so dark, and it happened so fast. ”I don't know what actually happened. I just found him there. Dead.” She s.h.i.+vered, remembering his vacant stare. ”He was just lying there... so white, so cold-so young.”