Autumn Calling Read online

  Some of the nuns had been thrown into teaching by the church or the father who managed the church, but not all liked teaching or the subject they were teaching, and it showed.

  Today had been combat magic with Morti, and it was exhausting. Morti was like a drill sergeant in the ROTC. Though his methods did discipline her techniques, it was tough on her self-confidence. He never gave her a word of praise, and she wondered if she had any talent whatsoever.

  They had done some blood thurmagy this afternoon, and the cut on her hand was bothering her. Thankfully Aunt Myrtle had a poultice of some herbal concoction that took the pain away and made it heal in record time. Surely Morti could have offered something to her, unless he was trying to teach character in pain.

  Summer often relied on Aunt Myrtle’s take on the lesson to determine if she had done well in Morti’s class. When working with Myrtle she always knew whether she was doing well or not; she was good at giving feedback. Aunt Myrtle often said, “I fear Mortimer has been a cat so long he’s lost his people skills, my dear.” How very true. That pretty much summed up Morti in one sentence.

  When Hunter arrived the next day, there were hugs all around. Aunt Myrtle was giddy as a school girl and all aflutter with questions of his journeys. He could barely answer the first question before she was asking another, but Hunter took it in stride in his calm, cool, and collected manner. He just smiled at Myrtle’s enthusiasm. When Summer and he got some alone time, he took her hand and asked, “And how about you, Summer. How are you doing?”

  “Good, I guess. I’ve missed you, obviously,” she answered hugging him again.

  “I’m sorry about Jackson. I know you two were on the cusp of something before we went on our trip and now…Well, with him staying, I hope you’re not too disappointed.”

  “No. I mean I was disappointed before he decided to stay.”

  “Come again?”

  “He didn’t really stay in contact with me while you were gone, so I think it all just faded away awhile back. Though hearing it outright does bring up some disappointment.”

  “I see. So you’ve moved on then?”

  “I have,” she said with an embarrassed smile.

  “Good for you. He’s a lucky guy.”

  “I like to think so, but I think I’m the lucky one.”

  “I hope to meet him soon.”

  “You will.”

  “So, how have lessons been?”

  “Good, I guess. I think we’ve found I’m best with the element of air, though I’ve not explored much yet in the earth element. Fire is definitely not my forte.”

  “I see Morti’s got you using blood magic?” He pointed to the poultice wrap on her palm.

  “Yes, but only just.”

  “Next time take the blade to you forearm. You need your hands strong when battling, not in pain the whole time.”

  “Good tip. Wish Morti had mentioned it earlier.”

  “He likes you to figure things out for yourself. But I imagine with all this magic being crammed down your throat, you probably can barely think straight, let alone work out all the ins and outs of it.”

  “Exactly.”

  “What about potions and spells?”

  “Love it. I’ve really enjoyed using my knowledge of plants to make things.”

  “Great.”

  “Though I have realized gypsy magic is not my cup of tea. I just don’t seem to get it.”

  “Very few do. In fact if you were to ask most witches, they’d tell you gypsy magic isn’t technically real magic. After all, look how abused it’s been over the centuries with all the charlatans that have duped the weak and unknowing. The few who are gifted with it are worth their weight in gold, I can tell you.”

  “Really. Tori was quite deft at gypsy magic. Turns out she has gypsy blood.”

  “How intriguing. How is Tori?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “No? I thought you two were joined at the hip.”

  “Not so much these days. We’ve had a bit of a falling out.”

  “Oh?”

  “At least that’s what she thinks.”

  “Okay. I’m confused.”

  Summer went into the details of the accident the Macabres inflicted on Tori and the demand Nick insisted upon.

  “So you instigated a squabble to keep Tori safe and Nick off your back.”

  “In a nutshell.”

  “Things have been eventful since I’ve been gone.”

  “Sure have. Speaking of that, are you going to tell us your news?”

  “I was tomorrow when the three of us were together again, but I suppose I can give you the highlights. Our investigations pulled up the existence of another dragon.”

  “But how can that be? You said all dragons were connected and could feel the presence of one another.”

  “True and it’s this very reason I believe that this dragon is much older than I am, and very possibly a female.”

  “Really,” she said with a smile.

  “Knock that off. This dragon could be my grandmother in terms of years.”

  “The way you explained it, she may be that in age, but not necessarily in body. I mean look at you, you’re what, over fifteen hundred years old, and you look like a twenty-one-year-old.”

  “That’s sixteen hundred and thirty-five, but who’s counting. It’s true. Dragons don’t age like other beings.”

  “So there’s still promise for your species, right?”

  “That is the hope, though just because we’re the last ones on the planet doesn’t mean we’ll like one another.”

  “I guess that could be true, but tell me what makes you think she’s a she and that she’s so much older.”

  “Because I can’t sense her. Females are better at hiding this sense from others to protect their nests, and I expect her age because she hides so incredibly well, it appears she’s mastered the art.”

  “I get it. So do you have any idea where she is?”

  “Last known sighting was in Scotland about five years ago.”

  “Great news if she’s still alive.”

  “Yes, it is unless, she’s been captured.”

  “Why would someone capture such a thing, and for that matter how?”

  “I don’t know, but it can be done. I just hope I’m wrong, because if someone has captured her, no telling what they’re doing to her or using her for.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean having a dragon under your control is like having a nuclear bomb at your fingertips. In the past, mad dragons have nearly destroyed entire nations. One rogue dragon driven mad could be the end of the world as we know it. There was a time when dragons could pull together and stop a lone destructive dragon, but it would have taken many, many dragons to take down one, not just me.”

  “That’s pretty scary to think about.”

  “Damn straight.”

  * * *

  The following day was a happy event for the most part. A small impromptu party was held for Dr. Stuart, and he gave whacky touristy gifts to all who attended. The hard part was Tori. She’d worked for Dr. Stuart as the receptionist/secretary for as long as Summer had worked there, and that was part of what made it such a joy to work there. But things were tense.

  Nick had come and he glared pompously from behind Tori throughout the gathering. Tori kept to the opposite side of the room if possible, and it was obvious there was an issue between them that everyone in the room could read. Summer attempted to wave hello to her, only to be ignored. She was on crutches and looked terribly uncomfortable, but she seemed to be healing well. Nick was picking up the slack and helping her at every turn, which pleased Summer greatly.

  When the party cleared out and an appointment actually showed up, it was then that Dr. Stuart was asked to follow Tori and a doting Nick into the doctor’s office. Summer wondered what that was all about as she followed the patient, a pot belly pig and its owner, into exam room number two for a checkup.

  Upon l
eading her patient back into the reception area after completing the exam, she saw Dr. Stuart standing at the glass door with an envelope in his hand and waving goodbye.

  “What was that about?” she asked.

  He waved the envelope in front of him and said, “She’s just gave me notice that she quitting.”

  “Oh.” It had never even occurred to Summer that Tori was angry enough to not be able to stand working in the same establishment as her.

  “What’s going on with you two?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It was obvious you two were at odds during the party.”

  “It’s really complicated.”

  “Is it? Are we in need of a Pizza Pit stop?” he asked. The Pizza Pit was where he took his employees to talk things out. It was public enough that a disgruntled employee wouldn’t do something goofy, not that it was ever a problem with Dr. Stuart’s staff, but it was also laid back enough that one could have a personal conversation outside of the workplace. Dr. Stuart had never invited Summer to the Pizza Pit for personal issues, though she knew it was his go-to place. She was embarrassed that it had come to this, and she wondered what Tori and Nick had said to Dr. Stuart that he thought it necessary for an outing to the Pizza Pit.

  “I guess,” she said quietly.

  “How about we get lunch? Say twelve thirty.”

  * * *

  When 12:30 came around, they closed the office for an hour and Dr. Stuart drove his car to the Pizza Pit. Summer nervously picked at her cuticles while Dr. Stuart hummed to some seventies song she’d never heard before.

  After they ordered, they sat at a long table with benches on either side. They sat opposite one another, with two Diet Cokes between them.

  “So, you want to tell me what’s going on? Sounds like things have been pretty crazy for you while I was gone.”

  “It’s not exactly been a lot of fun, that’s for sure.”

  “I want to thank you for taking care of all the administrative things while I was gone: the accountant, the insurance people, and having the door replaced. You know I took an extended vacation to help you out, not make things more complicated.”

  “I know, and I appreciate everything you’ve done. It’s allowed me to be educated faster than I could have been working part time, but I hadn’t anticipated you would take the brunt of the Macabres’ onslaught thus far.”

  “I don’t care about the car or the damage to the building, but I do care about you and Victoria. I heard a very one-sided version from her in my office earlier, but there was something about it that didn’t sit well with me. I thought we’d come here and talk, where other office members would not overhear and get back to anyone they shouldn’t.”

  “Like what?” she asked.

  “I’ve known you since you were a little girl volunteering at the clinic to play with the animals and clean their cages. One thing you are not is insensitive. When Victoria told me what happened, and that you didn’t visit her in the hospital or act concerned, I knew something was wrong with the story.”

  “What do you want me to say?”

  “I want you to tell me why you’re pushing her away.”

  Summer was shocked. How could he see through her facade so easily yet Tori couldn’t, or wouldn’t?

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Yes, you do. You’re a terrible liar, Summer, always have been. One thing you and I have always had is an honest relationship. I’ve never lied to you, and as far as I know you’ve never lied to me. Now let’s not mess that up. Tell me what’s going on.”

  He was right. She never was a very good liar. Sister Mary Louise had that figured out from the get-go. What harm could it do if she let him on her charade? She was embarrassed, but decided it had to be done.

  “You’re right. I have pushed her away. The investigation into Tori’s accident showed that the brakes had been tampered with, and you know as well as I do that I am the primary driver of the dog mobile.”

  “Yes, I know. That’s why I was so surprised to find she that had been driving it. She hates that car.”

  “Right, well knowing that, Nick concluded the accident was meant for me and Tori was just using the car at the wrong time.”

  “That’s probably a pretty good deduction.”

  “So when we first found out she was at the hospital and drove there together, Nick told me he wanted me to do whatever it took to keep Tori out of this battle with the Macabres, even if that meant giving up our friendship.”

  “I see. And how did you make your lie so believable Victoria didn’t see right through you?”

  “I figured if there was some truth to base it on, that it would be more believable and less like a lie for me to cover up. So I picked a fight with her regarding Nick. In our talk Nick had said in so many words that he was the reason Jackson hadn’t contacted me at all while he was in Japan with Hunter.”

  “Ah, I think I’m getting the picture. So everyone is protecting Victoria from harm. What happens when she gets wind of this? She’s as independent as they come. If she has an inkling that she’s been manipulated into staying out of things, she will be livid with both of you.”

  “Better to be livid and alive, don’t you think?”

  “I’m not so sure in her case.”

  “Maybe, but I had just lost Sister Mary Louise and found out the Macabres were responsible for wiping out my family, and to top it off I almost lost Tori to an accident meant for me. I had to do something.”

  “I’m not going to tell you that you’re wrong in what you’ve done. If put in your shoes I might have picked the same path; I’m just concerned about the repercussions that could arise from this.”

  “I know. I don’t like it any more than you do, and it’s been incredibly hard not having her to talk to with all this craziness with the crows here and at home.”

  “You had another crow incident?”

  “Actually the one at home was the first. One of them actually knocked at the door. It was very disturbing.”

  “You know they say crows are the messengers of the dead.”

  “Thanks, like things aren’t creepy enough without you telling me that.”

  “Sorry. Though maybe they’re just the familiars of the Macabre family.”

  “Or one in particular. I still don’t get how a father can plan to have his daughter killed. It just doesn’t seem…I don’t know, right?”

  “Though I can’t imagine the thought myself, I do know there are all sorts out there, and some of them are pretty messed in the head.”

  “I guess. It’s just hard to swallow that he takes one under his wing and wants to kill another he’s never even met.”

  “It is disturbing. Makes you wonder what his life must be like, that he can even contemplate such a thing.”

  “Exactly.”

  * * *

  “On a happier note, I was glad to hear that, despite leaving Paws and Whiskers Clinic, she’s following her ancestry and opening an herb shop.”

  “That’s fabulous. Always thought if the veterinarian field hadn’t worked out for me I would have taken up something like that.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Really?” Summer said.

  “Yes. You know I love horticulture. Maybe I’ll retire and go work for Victoria, and you can take over the clinic.”

  “Oh no, you don’t. I’m not ready for that just yet. But nice of you to say you have that kind of confidence in me.”

  “Always have, Summer. I always have.”

  “So when will this shop be opening?”

  “She didn’t say. I’m guessing she’s scouting out places first.”

  “It will be expensive to start, don’t you think? Where do you suppose she’ll come up with the money?”

  “Don’t know. Not my place to ask, but I imagine Nick has something to do with it.”

  “Certainly. He may not like me much, but I love him for how supportive he is for Tori, especially since I can’
t be around now.”

  “Yes, and I do hope one day you two will be able to go back to the way things were before without any damage.”

  “That’s what I’m hoping for. Otherwise I’d never make it through a day.”

  “Well, my dear, best be returning to our furry friends.”

  “You’re right. It’s good to be back with some normalcy in my life, though I’m not sure how normal it will be without Tori.”

  “True, but don’t you think the way things are, that it’s kind of a blessing she’s not there? I think it would be hard for you and her and everyone else in the office to be around that kind of tension.”

  “I’m sure you’re right. Thanks for lunch, Dr. Stuart.”

  “Any time. My office door is always open.”

  “That is so good to hear. Thanks.”

  “You bet.”

  Chapter 12

  After late classes with Hunter, Summer and he were walking across the graveyard when, out of the corner of her eye, Summer spied movement. Obviously Hunter’s senses felt a presence, too, as he turned with her.

  Summer whispered as Hunter pulled her with him behind a huge nearby headstone, “There. You see him? I’ve seen him a couple of times, but I don’t know who it is.”

  Hunter sniffed at the air; closing his eyes as if that helped his senses determine things better. “Smells familiar, but I can’t place it. Something’s strange about the scent. It’s animal scent, but obviously he isn’t. You distract him by going around the shed and then calling to him. I’ll duck out the other way, go around the house, and hopefully intersect his path as you set out towards him, sending him running into me.”

  “Okay. On the count of three,” she said.

  Hunter nodded. She whispered, “One…two…” and he was gone. “What happened to ‘count of three’?” She said to herself. She snuck around the shed and then called out to the man, startling him.

  “Hey. What are you doing here?” she shouted and started running towards the shadowy figure in the dimness of the falling night.