Witch in Exile (A Mackenzie Coven Mystery Book 7) Read online

  So much had happened. Why couldn’t she remember any of it? Lexie looked around her as if searching for something to anchor her. “Wow. That is the largest fireplace I’ve ever seen.”

  “Oh, you haven’t seen Mirabelle’s. Or have you?”

  Swinging around, Lexie drew her eyebrows down. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Cat looked away. “Never mind.” Lowering her voice, she said, “Innocent until proven guilty.”

  Lexie looked up. The ceiling seemed to go on forever. It reminded her of the ceilings in fantasy films with carved beams curving across. “It’s beautiful.”

  “It’s a vaulted ceiling,” Cat said. “I went through a medieval phase and rather liked it.”

  “Well, it’s high. Just how big is this place?”

  “It’s as large as I need it to be. It looks larger from the inside, but from the outside, it actually looks like a cottage. You’ll be safe here. No one comes out this way. I’ve made sure of that.”

  “Where exactly is here?” Lexie asked. She only knew her Australian cousin lived in a cottage but had never asked about its whereabouts.

  Cat’s eyes sparkled. “It’s in what we call the high country with tall mountains and forests. My cottage is deep inside the forest.”

  Lexie chortled. “Is your cottage made of gingerbread?”

  “It depends on what’s inside a person’s heart. If they’re evil, it’s supposed to look like a derelict ruin with fierce gargoyles guarding it.”

  “Thank you for offering me asylum. Umm... I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but how long am I going to be stuck here for?”

  Cat gave a firm nod. “Until we get to the bottom of this. It would be too dangerous for you to return home before then.”

  Jonathan groaned, Luna hissed and Lexie sunk down on an upholstered chair.

  “Well, humph to you all,” Cat exclaimed. “Here I am, putting my neck on the line and offering you a safe haven and what thanks do I get?”

  “Sorry, and I did thank you. I only wish I’d come for a visit under different circumstances.” Lexie sighed and looked around her but she couldn’t focus on anything. “So... why exactly am I here?”

  “Let’s get you all settled in first and then we’ll talk about it.” Cat turned to Luna. “I would like to introduce you to my feline companion, Smidgen.”

  Lexie saw a ginger cat appear beside Cat.

  “She’s shy and only talks when it’s absolutely necessary. If she likes you well enough, she’ll allow you to hear her.”

  Smidgen took a tentative step toward Luna who responded with a shy step of her own. What followed could only be understood by cats as they danced around each other, both appearing to express a mixture of indifference, disdain and interest. After five minutes of rising tension, they scampered toward each other, and took off together to another room.

  “Well, that was rather suspenseful. I guess Smidgen is going to show Luna all her hidey-holes. I’ll show you to the guestrooms.”

  Lexie followed with Jonathan beside her, his hands shoved inside his pockets, his mouth set in a hard line. “Umm, I don’t mean to sound overly eager, but would you mind telling me why I had to make such an impromptu exodus?”

  “Are you saying you don’t remember anything at all?” Cat asked.

  Lexie searched her mind and tried to remember what she’d done the day before. When nothing came to mind, she thought about the preceding days. Scenes raced through her mind. Breakfast at the Kitty Café. Lunch and dinner at Jonathan’s bar, O’Connor’s. Conversations with Luna. Luna’s chatter. Luna’s silence. Luna’s grumbling. Luna sprinting around the apartment. Luna staring at a wall. The entire week had been busy but uneventful and then the day before, Luna had suggested going out for a walk. And then... and after that... and...

  Lexie’s lips parted. Even her thoughts had gaps.

  She shook her head. “Nope. Nothing.”

  “Rumor has it, you killed Mirabelle.”

  Chapter Two

  Lexie looked at her hands as if expecting to see traces of her evil deed.

  “How do you think you did it?” Jonathan asked, his tone casual.

  “I can’t tell you something I don’t know.” Lexie frowned. “And could you at least try to give me the benefit of the doubt? Why would I kill Mirabelle? Let me rephrase that. I don’t have it in me to kill anyone.”

  Jonathan gave her a lifted eyebrow look. “So what happened to the inky black fog you encountered months back?”

  “Are you really going to compare an evil fog to a real person, one I happen to be related to?”

  He shrugged. “You’re right, but you have to admit, you have reason to want to bump Mirabelle off.”

  Lexie’s voice hitched. “Bump her off? Are you kidding me?”

  “You often argue and she’s never been your favorite person. Chill out. I’m only playing devil’s advocate.”

  “Oh, right. What are friends for?”

  He chortled. “You got that right.”

  “Here we are,” Cat said in her chirpy tone. She opened a large wooden door and waved Lexie in. “This is the tower room, fit for a princess. It offers the best view in the cottage.”

  A massive canopy bed sat in the middle of the room. Two comfortable looking chairs, a small table and a chaise lounge were positioned facing the large window with its splendid view of the mountains.

  “Did you say tower? I didn’t realize we’d gone up the stairs. In fact, I didn’t notice stairs at all.”

  “You were busy defending yourself against Jonathan’s none too subtle accusations.” Cat curved her eyebrow at Jonathan but he didn’t apologize for his behavior.

  “Does that mean he gets the dungeon?” Lexie strode to the window. Opening it, she peered up and down. “You weren’t kidding about the tower. Out of curiosity, if I wanted to escape, would I have to climb down?”

  “Why would you want to escape?” Cat asked, her tone wary.

  Lexie imagined her exchanging a look with Jonathan. Sighing, she swung around. “Okay, the both of you need to stop it. Cat, you said you’d heard a rumor about Mirabelle being murdered. What else do you know?”

  “I had to switch off,” Cat explained. “As soon as I heard it, I contacted Jonathan and I had to go under the radar for fear someone might sense me going to your rescue.”

  “So, for all you know, the rumor could be unfounded.”

  Cat tapped her chin, something Lexie usually did when she focused on her trail of thought.

  “You’re right. It could be a furphy,” Cat said.

  “A what?”

  “It’s Australian slang for an improbable story.”

  “I’ve never heard that expression.” Lexie turned to Jonathan who shrugged.

  Cat smiled. “Actually, there’s a story about how it came into use.”

  Lexie sunk down on a chair. “Go on. Tell us.”

  Cat sparkled. “Oh, you want to hear it.”

  “You’ve piqued our curiosity.”

  Cat pirouetted around the room, much as she did in her orb form. “There are many versions and they’re probably all furphys. Back in the 1880s, John Furphy & Sons designed and made steel and cast iron water carts. They were mostly used on farms but they also came in handy during World War I. The water carts had the family business name stamped on them and they became popular as gathering places where soldiers could exchange gossip, rumors and fanciful tales.”

  “Oh, a water cooler discussion.” Lexie looked up at the ceiling. Why would anyone make up a story about her killing Mirabelle? It had to be someone she knew.

  “I’m going to show Jonathan to his room. Why don’t you take some time to let it all sink in? Maybe something will come to you. You know, something to fill in those gaps.”

  Lexie nodded. “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.”

  * * *

  Lexie sat cross-legged on the massive canopied bed and hummed her way into oblivion. If she could focus on nothing, she might clear
her mind long enough to see something that might lead her somewhere...

  “Hum. Hum.”

  After five minutes of deep breathing, she rose off the bed, levitating a few inches. Much better, she thought and wondered why she didn’t meditate more often. She’d learned the skill only recently from the Monkey God, Hanuman. Lexie smiled as she recalled his antics. If he were here now, he’d tell her to do exactly this, meditate her way to clarity and once there, start prodding for answers.

  “That’s right, just sneak up on the solution, and fill those gaps.” Everything she’d left out had to be swimming around somewhere inside her.

  Seeing a pinpoint of light in her mind, she focused her entire being on it. It felt so peaceful inside her head. Again, she wondered why she didn’t meditate more often.

  Why? Because life kept interfering.

  Mirabelle kept barging in with her expectations and demands. Although, to be fair to her, she hadn’t been around much lately, but even without Mirabelle around, Lexie had been tackling one problem after another and playing catch-up with everything she should have learned years ago about becoming a fully functioning member of the Mackenzie Coven.

  Pinpoint of light, Lexie.

  Nothing else matters.

  She threw in the sound of waves gently lapping against the shore and smiled at the sound effects.

  Just as well she’d levitated. Otherwise, she risked falling asleep. All the tension that had settled around her shoulders when she’d been wrenched out of bed earlier, eased away.

  The light inside her mind glowed brightly and expanded, much like Cat’s orb had done when she’d transported them all here. As it expanded, it drew closer. Lexie tried to let it happen without questioning how and why… and what. It would be normal to wonder what the light represented but she just let it happen and do whatever it had to do.

  She wanted to think she didn’t have any expectations, but that would be a lie. The sooner she found answers, the sooner she’d get to go home. Not that she minded being here. In fact, it would be lovely to spend a couple of days with her cousin, living in her palatial cottage.

  Lost in her thoughts, Lexie didn’t notice the glowing light expanding so much it almost engulfed her. It felt peaceful, soothing, entrancing... beautiful and—

  The soft light turned pitch black and exploded into shards that shot right through her.

  Lexie yelped.

  Slapping at her head, she wobbled and struggled to find her balance but the light turned into a fierce red blob filling Lexie with dread and fear.

  “Yikes.” Losing her balance completely, she crashed back down onto the bed.

  Luna shrieked. “What are you trying to do? Kill me?”

  “What were you doing on my bed?” Lexie shrieked right back. “When did you come in?”

  “A moment ago,” Luna said and turned to check for damages. “You were meditating and I didn’t want to disturb you. If not for my reliable feline reflexes, I’d be road kill and you’d be scraping me off the bed.”

  Lexie pressed her hand against her chest and felt her heart pounding.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Luna asked.

  “I... I don’t know. I saw something. At first it was beautiful but then it turned quite ugly.”

  Luna blinked at her and then, lowering her voice, asked, “Do you think Cat’s cottage is possessed?”

  Lexie rubbed her sweaty palms along her thighs. The threat had felt real, but it had emerged from a light that dwelled within her.

  Was she experiencing a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde transition? Her life hadn’t been the same since her cousins had ambushed her with a reminder of the duties she needed to embrace. While some days had been slow going, others had been filled with so much chaos and magic, she’d barely had time to think.

  Too much, too soon?

  What if her new powers had wreaked havoc with her mind?

  Lexie shook the disturbing thought away and asked, “What happened to exploring the cottage with Smidgen?”

  “Smidgen gave me the grand tour.” Luna gave a feline shrug. “We poked around in some rooms. She told me I shouldn’t expect to find any mice because Cat had put a spell on the cottage to ward it against vermin. I tried to refrain from making any remarks that might have been perceived as snooty, but I couldn’t help curling my lip at the idea of sinking my teeth into a live mouse. Apparently, it’s quite a delicacy, one I’m prepared to forego. There are some things I would rather not experience in any of my lifetimes.”

  “But you got on well with Smidgen.”

  Luna nodded. “She spoke at great length about the mystical forest surrounding the cottage and she told me they have satellite TV because Cat loves sitcoms.”

  “She never mentioned it.”

  “Apparently, she had aspired to be an actress and occasionally grumbles about you turning your nose up on the wonderful opportunity of working with your mother.”

  For as long as Lexie could remember, her mom had been trying to rope her into taking up acting. And not out of a desire to live vicariously through her. Morgana had never expressed any regret for choosing to become a director instead of a stage actor but she still wanted to see Lexie on the stage.

  “Smidgen actually spoke at great length about Cat constantly complaining because you get to have all the fun and she’s stuck here. If you must know, I found Smidgen’s breach of confidentiality inappropriate. You’d never hear me speaking ill of you to someone else.” Luna sat there staring at her tail then, turning her attention back to Lexie, she lifted her chin. “Before you mention this morning’s episode, I should remind you I was in shock and, therefore, not quite myself.”

  “Perhaps we should talk about that. What can you remember?” Lexie asked.

  Luna stared at her for long seconds. “Nothing.”

  “You must have seen or heard something.”

  Luna’s little head tilted. “Of course I did. Otherwise, I’d have no reason to flee for my life and think you were going to kill me next. Whatever I saw or heard has been wiped clean from my mind. Perhaps I’m suffering from posttraumatic stress and memory loss.” Luna sighed. “I hope it’s not a case of hysterical amnesia. We’re already in therapy.” Luna stood up and took a tentative step toward her.

  “Are you sniffing me?” Lexie asked.

  Luna didn’t answer straightaway. Finally, she sat down and curled her tail. “I don’t sense anything dark inside you.”

  “Well, that’s a relief. I guess I must have imagined it. I’d hate to think my inner being is suffering from a split personality disorder.”

  Luna’s whiskers twitched. “So what’s the plan?”

  “I’ll come up with something.”

  “For the record, I do not believe you would intentionally kill Mirabelle.”

  “That’s comforting and reassuring. If you don’t believe it, then it can’t be true, otherwise you would have sniffed it out.” Lexie frowned. “Hang on. Did I just miss something? I think I did.” She clicked her fingers. “Yes. You said intentionally. Do you actually think I’d be capable of killing someone unintentionally?”

  Ignoring her, Luna pranced around in a tight circle. “Is it possible you might have fallen under a spell?”

  If she had, then the spell had affected Luna too. And Jonathan. He hadn’t been able to recall any of her deeds and or misdeeds over the last few days. “We need to try and piece together... and then... so we could...”

  Luna blinked. “Gaps. There must be some sort of residual spell working inside you, stifling your attempts to recall what you did.”

  “Impossible.” Lexie shook her head. “I refuse to believe I did something that went against my nature. Everything I am is ingrained deep within me. There’s no shaking it off.”

  “Unless Mirabelle pushed you too far,” Luna reasoned. “In fact, I’m sure I heard you say something to that effect.” Luna cleared her throat and mimicked Lexie’s voice. “Mirabelle, this time you’ve gone too far. I’m going to get you for
this.” Luna gave her ear a vigorous scratch. “Or maybe it was the other way around. Not that it makes any difference.”

  When Lexie shifted, Luna sprung back.

  Lexie frowned. “Hey, I thought you were over it.”

  “Sorry, feline reflexes. There’s nothing I can do about that. The fact I have risked coming into your room should go a long way toward restoring my good standing as your loyal feline companion.” Luna tilted her head in thought.

  “What?”

  “Divide and conquer. While I’m not comfortable with the idea of someone identifying a weakness in me and taking advantage of it, I suspect this is what’s happened. Someone might have wanted to breach your defenses by first getting me to turn my back on you.”

  That actually made sense. “They can’t have done their homework. After all, Jonathan and Cat came to my rescue.” And Luna had come to her senses.

  “Yes, but are they really on your side? What if Jonathan and Cat are right this minute plotting to hand you over to the Coven Disciplinary Board? Also, Cat brought us here, but where exactly is here? This could all be a ruse and she’s actually taken you to a prison. We should make a run for it while we can.” Luna sprung off the bed and shot toward the window. “Well, what are you waiting for?”

  “Come back,” Lexie ordered. “We’re not fleeing.”

  “Don’t you want to live to fight another day? There’s nothing cowardly about running. Just saying.”

  Lexie rolled off the bed and strode up to the window. “Do you think the Coven will find us here?”

  Luna blinked. “Us?”

  Lexie rolled her eyes.

  “Sorry, slight relapse.” Luna gave a brisk nod. “Yes, we’re in this together.”

  “Let’s go find the others and see if they’ve come up with any new insights.” Lexie turned the doorknob... or at least, she tried to.

  “Is there something wrong?” Luna asked.

  “I think the door is stuck.” Lexie tried again.

  “Put your back into it!” Luna urged.

  Locked.

  “Did I hear you correctly?” Luna asked. “We’re locked in? As in, imprisoned in the tower.”