Evelina and the Reef Hag Part 14

She couldn't wait that long. The trail of the ring was getting cold. She had to find it.

Evelina pressed her face to the gla.s.s.

The place was still, save the dark corners, where shadows appeared to s.h.i.+ft and move.

Strange.

It was the middle of the day. The Old City bustled with tourists. There must have been some crazy emergency to turn away so many customers.

She paced in front of the plate-gla.s.s window.

Then, pressed her face to the door again.

The door flung wide, sending her stumbling forward.

A boney hand clutched her forearm halting her progress.

Evelina sucked in a sharp gasp as her startled glance met the bug-eyed gaze of Psycho Sally.

"Come in! Come in!" She sounded frightened, if not slightly unhinged as she pulled Evelina inside. "Hurry!"

The door slammed shut.

"You look familiar," she said, wringing her hands. "What do you want? Do I know you?"

"You saw me at the pier. Remember?"

"Did I?" She gave a nervous laugh, glancing over her shoulder. "My short-term memory isn't that good these days."

"I b.u.mped into your table."

"Really?" Psycho Sally put a trembling hand to her temple. "I don't quite remember. It's all a bit fuzzy." She skittered to the right of the door to flick on the lights.

The gloom transformed in an instant to lollipop shades of pink, purple and blue. The shop had the look of a vintage beauty parlour, with pink chairs and gold mirrors on one side and a tiffany blue counter with a silver cash register on the other. Frothy grape curtains ballooned against the tall windows facing the street.

It smelled of tea and spice and peroxide.

"You were reading someone's tea leaves," Evelina said. "A young man."

"Was I?" Psycho Sally crossed her arms under her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, then uncrossed them again. "Oh dear! That doesn't sound good. Are you certain?"

"Yes. Why? What do you mean?"

"A warlock's been killed." Sally chewed on her bottom lip. "I do hope he wasn't the one." The shock must have registered on Evelina's face. Psycho Sally let fly a peal of brittle laughter. "Do you believe in witches?"

Evelina shrugged. She didn't know this woman. It would be a mistake to trust her with secrets.

"I do. I was married to one. For twenty years." Her gaze s.h.i.+fted north. "Still am. They never really die."

"You were married to a warlock?" Evelina repeated stupidly.

Sally nodded slowly, causing her s.h.i.+ny black hair to swing. "St. Augusta is a hotspot for them, you know." She hustled to the counter, flinging over her shoulder. "It's rare for a warlock to marry a mortal, but it happens."

"I didn't know that."

"I need a cup of tea." She moved toward the back counter. "Would you like a cup of tea?"

"No, thank you." Evelina s.h.i.+fted her gaze around the shop, making sure they were alone. "I came hoping you could help me."

Sally plugged in the chrome kettle with shaking fingers, then spun around. "You might even be one." Her gaze slid up and down Evelina. "Or perhaps not, in which case, I shouldn't be divulging any of this." She gave a shrill twitter. "But, never mind that. How can I help you?"

"I dropped my ring by your table. At least, it was the last place I saw it. I was hoping you found it." Evelina swallowed hard. "It was my grandmother's. It means a lot to me."

"Hmm...not that I know of." Her brow puckered. "Of course, I don't seem to remember much about it."

Evelina attempted to hide her disappointment.

The kettle gave a shrill whistle.

Psycho Sally turned to make her tea.

Evelina glanced at her watch. Half an hour til pumpkin time. "It's a black pearl ring. It was on a chain."

"Here we are." Sally trotted around the counter with a tea tray. "Come and sit down."

Evelina glanced at her watch again. Maybe just a slurp. She couldn't very well refuse. She needed that ring. She followed Sally to the little round table by the window.

"A black pearl you say." Sally took a long sip from her chintz teacup. "I'll check with the other vendors on market day."

"Thank you." Evelina took a swig of her tea. It tasted bitter and sweet all at once. But quite tasty, as tea went.

She glanced up to find Psycho Sally leaning forward, examining the depths of her teacup.

Little p.r.i.c.kles ran up Evelina's neck.

Evelina scooped up the cup, downing the contents in one gulp-leaves and all.

Hopefully, she hadn't seen anything-not that she would, because of course she couldn't, unless she was a Soul Sifter.

"Great!" Evelina rose to her feet. "Well, thanks for the tea. Thanks so much. I'll check back with you at the market," she babbled. "Sorry, but I'm running late," she said as she hustled out.

Her mind screamed something wasn't right as she navigated the busy street to her parking spot.

The warning continued to ring over the hum of the dune buggy, all the way back to the beach house.

She sat on the steps of the little front porch to wait for Kamaria, sketching everything she remembered about the tattoo parlor, including Psycho Sally. But, when Evelina got to the eyes her hand stilled. What color were they? At the pier she could have swore they were silver. But, in the shop they appeared blue.

Strange.

From the pier to the shop, everything about Sally seemed to change. Even her smile was different. The sly smirk had melted to serenity.

She morphed into a completely different person.

Evelina gazed down at the two-faced creature she'd sketched on the paper in her hand.

A chill ran up her back.

"I think Psycho Sally is possessed by the Reef Hag," Evelina said in hushed tones, not wanting to be overheard.

"Really?' Tally appeared startled, her gaze s.h.i.+fting about the crowd of witches in the clearing under the bright sun, as though fearing they'd be overheard. "Why do you say that?"

Abby's brows shot skyward. "How could you tell? I mean, she's such a freak."

"I know, right." To each his own, but any way you sliced it, Psycho Sally was a tad strange. "But this is different-like a Jekyll and Hyde thing. One minute she's sweet and flaky, the next she's cold and creepy."

"That's unfortunate." Tally scowled. "I'd been contemplating getting a tattoo. Something small and discreet."

"You!" Abby sent forth a howl of laughter. "Like what?"

"I'm not quite certain." Tally stiffened, clearly offended. "Why do you look so surprised?"

"Sorry!" Abby shrugged. "You just don't seem the tattoo type."

"What type do I seem?"

"She means," Evelina cut in. "You seem very..." she spread her hands wide. "Studious and... practical."

Tally pursed her lips. "I feared as much." She wrinkled her nose. "My social skills need improvement." She turtled her neck, thrusting out her chin. "Which is precisely why I need a tat, in order to dispel such misconceptions. In truth, I'm very well rounded."

"Right." Abby cracked a wry smile. "And I'm Marilyn Monroe."

Tally slashed her a fierce glare.

"Well, now you have longer to think about it," Evelina said, aiming for diplomacy.

"Yeah!" Abby slapped Tally on the back. "In the meantime, you might want to avoid psychopaths with sharp needles."

Evelina agreed. "At least, until the Witches' Council tracks down the Reef Hag and puts her under lock and key."

"Which isn't happenin' too fast," Abby said dryly. "Looks like you'll have plenty of time to get the old noggin workin'."

Tally's features held a mixture of relief and chagrin.

The conch sh.e.l.l blasted.

Evelina's scalp tingled.

Tally came to attention like a soldier at the ready.

Abby slashed Evelina a devilish grin.

A hush fell over the crowd.

"Today is the second compet.i.tion of the Glaring," Cordelia Nawfar announced with much relish. "Councilors will explain a.s.signments. As always, we are here to a.s.sist and observe. Interference is strictly forbidden."

Murmurs and whispers flew throughout the lagoon.

The warning was clear beneath Nawfar's stern benevolence.

Brooklyn Burble marched over, beaming from ear to ear. "Good morning, girls!" She trilled. "Today should be most exciting indeed." She levelled her gaze on each of them in turn. "I hope you're prepared."

They nodded in unison.

What else could they do with Burble towering over them, eyes gleaming with pride?

They'd won the Flurry.

She expected great things.

Precisely what they were remained to be seen.

Burble folded her hands under her bosom. "Today you will act in the capacity of messengers."

Evelina's blood rushed like sap in spring.

Messengers!

That meant Air Jets.

Whoo hoo!

No sooner did she think it, did three white Air Jets appear, hovering a foot off the ground beside each of them.

"Cool!" Abby ran her hand across the cus.h.i.+oned seat. "Are these the same as the Water Jets?"

"Precisely the same," Burble declared. "Just press the throttle and it does the rest."

Evelina hopped on hers, eager to make a quick getaway before Burble changed her mind. "Who are we delivering messages to?"

"Follow the trail to the scoring station," Burble lilted. "Councilor McCrystal will provide the clams."

Evelina gazed about the clearing. "What trail?"

"This one." Burble opened her hand, releasing a comet of silver dust that flowed through the tall palms like the Milky Way. "You have eight minutes before it dissolves. Good luck, girls!"

Tally swung up onto her Air Jet, pinching both handles, like the tails of two dead rats.