Evelina and the Reef Hag Read online

  Evelina gulped down her surprise, attempting a casual smile—harder than it seemed with Frankie’s cheek pressed to hers—lips inches away. “We’d be very grateful.”

  They must have appeared sincere. The pirate’s frown faded to a half smile. “What the hell!” He handed them two tickets. “It’s on the house.”

  Frankie pulled her close pressed his mouth to hers, kissing her soundly. Not a quick peck like last time, but long and deep, sending a shock snaking through her.

  When the kiss ended she melted into a blissful fog. “What did you do that for?” she whispered when she finally came to her senses.

  Frankie shrugged. “Just wanted to make it authentic.”

  “We already had the tickets.”

  Frankie smiled. “Did we?”

  As they headed for the gangplank the pirate called after them, “Keep it under your hat! This ain’t no charity!”

  The ship’s deck was littered with tourists. Tropical cotton prints created a carnival of color under the twinkling lights, high along the mast. Their shiny new sandals turned the poop deck blinding white.

  The welcoming scents of salt and sea tickled passed Evelina’s nose. She’d never tired of that smell. She drew a deep breath as they halted at the rail to watch the crew work.

  In minutes, they’d pulled up the gangway and cast off.

  Soon the white sails flapped and billowed above their heads.

  They had one hour before the ship returned to port. Not much time to scour the ship in the dark for clues. They’d have to split up to cover more area. It would take too long dragging each other around like anchors.

  “Above deck or below?” she called over the music and laughter.

  “Below.”

  “Perfect.”

  She wasn’t partial to confined spaces.

  Besides, Frankie had the powers to extract himself from dangerous situations—she didn’t.

  She felt much safer above deck, lost in the crowd.

  Evelina made her way to the stern of the ship, dodging dancing tourists and waiters, balancing silver trays of sparkling champagne.

  She climbed the steps to the quarterdeck, only to find it as sardine-packed as the rest of the ship.

  She squeezed her way to the tiller where the crush seemed to clear out.

  A scruffy man in a pirate costume manned it. He was missing half of his teeth. His eyes lit up as though he knew her.

  But that wasn’t the most surprising thing about him.

  Her breath caught in her throat.

  He was wearing her ring.

  “That’s mine!” Evelina pointed at his hand on the tiller.

  “Is it now?” The man’s pale blue eyes flashed silver in the moonlight. “She said you’d be comin’ to claim it.”

  “Who?”

  “The old doll at the market. Down at the pier.” His leering gazed crawled down the length of her. “She described you perfectly.”

  “Psycho Sally?”

  He shrugged. “Don’t know.”

  “But how did she know I’d be here?”

  “She said you’d find me.”

  “How would she know that?”

  His dark brows drew together. “How should I know?” He snarled. “Here!” He wrenched the ring from his finger. “I’m glad to be rid of it. It’s caused me nothing but grief from the moment I clamped eyes on it. Haven’t slept a wink.”

  “What about the gold chain?”

  His scowl deepened. “I saw no chain.”

  She pulled aside his collar to examine his neck. “It was on a chain.”

  He snatched away from her. “Are you calling me a liar?”

  She took a step back from the heat of his glower. “No! No. Thanks very much.” She did an about face. He was lying, of course, but there was nothing she could do about it, short of frisking him on the spot. Which might end in her walking the plank, or being flogged, or some similar retribution. Pirates were very fond of torture, if she remembered correctly—something to avoid if at all possible.

  She stalked away.

  Only to come face to face with another pirate, smoking a fat cigar by the railing.

  She spotted her gold chain encircling his skinny neck.

  “Hand it over!”

  His brown eyes popped, while his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “What?”

  “That gold chain around your neck!” Anger bubbled in her veins. “It’s mine! Hand it over!”

  A sly smile spread over his rat face, revealing crocodile teeth. He whipped the chain off over his head. “Come and get it!”

  Evelina rushed forward to make a grab for it.

  The pirate stuck out his foot.

  She tripped, skidding across the slick deck just as the ship pitched and rolled.

  “Whoops!” He let go a squeal of laughter as she hit the stern.

  She made a wild grab for the ship as another wave swept her overboard.

  She plummeted through the salty spray to the ocean below, sinking down and down—until her lungs burned and her chest felt like it would burst, until her paddling stalled her progress and she began to rise.

  A ghostly form circled her, igniting her with panic.

  She pushed her way up faster, breaking the surface like a bobber on a fishing line.

  She gulped in air—heart pounding fast.

  “Filthy pirates!” She gasped when she caught her breath.

  She was starting to sound like Udora.

  If she wasn’t careful this Water Witch thing might take hold before the famous artist emerged.

  Chapter Ten

  “I told you not to let anything happen to her!” Wendell roared against the buffeting wind, rocking the crow’s nest of the ship.

  The Reef Hag cackled. “What’s the fun in that?” Her eyes gleamed like polished chrome, gazing down at Evelina in the foaming water. “She can swim. She’s a Water Witch, isn’t she?”

  “I said frighten her—not kill her!”

  “She’s not that easily frightened,” the Reef Hag hissed. “Look! She’s already half way to shore.” A crooked smile split her face. “Besides, you can’t protect her forever.”

  “What do you mean?” He kept his tone neutral. Calling on the services of a Reef Hag was always risky. They weren’t reasonable creatures, but somehow he had to rein her in. “There’s no price on her head. If there was, I’d be the first to know.”

  “Not yet. But there soon will be. She’s poking around, into her parents’ deaths. He’ll have her head on a plate if she digs too deep.” She scrambled down the ropes, then dove overboard.

  Wendell ground his teeth as she disappeared into the inky depths. The despicable old hag was right. As much as he hated to admit it.

  Evelina Crimm was playing with fire. She was out of her league. Not that he should care. She only had eyes for Holler.

  As if on cue Frankie appeared on the wharf to help Evelina out of the water to safety.

  Wendell gnashed his teeth.

  She was backing the wrong horse—poor creature. But there was no help for it. He couldn’t tell her or warn her off without giving himself away.

  Fate chased them all. The question was, how long would their nine lives last? And what would it all count for in the end?

  He meant to make his count for something.

  A raven landed on the rail of the crow’s nest.

  Wendell stiffened, but managed a pleasant tone. “What are you doing here, Mother?”

  She transformed in an instant, bedecked in a frothy black chiffon, brassy blonde locks flowing behind her in the wind. As usual her dress was far too short for a woman her age, but propriety never stood in the way of Thoosa Barnes and her eccentric tastes. She lived to shock.

  “Doing?” She threw her head back and laughed, exposing her large canines. “I came for a visit, of course, darling.”

  “What is it this time?”

  “Just checking in.” Her generous expanse of cleavage jiggled as she adjusted her perch o
n the rail. “Can’t a mother do that once in a while?”

  Her wheedling almost made him laugh, but he sucked it in. No sense risking her anger. “A normal mother would, but you and I both know that’s not the case. So, what do you want?”

  She spread both hands in the air. “We can’t talk here.”

  The next thing he knew he was standing in the gilded lobby of the Beach Haven Hotel—playground of the rich and famous of Key West.

  “You know I hate coming here,” he ground out. “Pretension without substance never fails to annoy.”

  “Forgive me, darling.” Her mouth formed a pout. “But I needed to get out tonight—a little pick me up. You understand.”

  “And it has to be here!”

  “Oh!” Her face lit. “I forgot. You’re not dressed.” She lifted her hand, as though blowing a kiss. “There.”

  He gazed down at the black tux, then back at her. “That’s not what I meant.”

  She took him by the arm, appearing offended. “I don’t know why you don’t like it.”

  “Because the silver isn’t clean and the lobster is as tough as rubber,” he said behind his teeth like a ventriloquist, then plastered a smile on his face as the maitre ‘d led them to a table between two giant potted palms. “Do you need another reason?”

  “One dirty fork hardly constitutes boycotting the place.” She shook her linen napkin onto her lap. ”If you don’t like the lobster have something different, for goodness sake.”

  He leaned across the table. “What’s this really about?”

  Her features hardened. “You had her and you let her go.” She stabbed her fork into the air. “He wants to know why.”

  “Because I don’t agree!” Wendell bit out. “Do you think Elberta Crimm will just sit back and take it if anything happens to her granddaughter?”

  “The girl is dangerous.”

  “How?” He did his best to appear astonished. “She’s a novice.”

  “Very well.” Thoosa’s grey eyes narrowed. “She’ll be dangerous one day, and then you’ll wish you’d taken care of it.”

  “That’s a long way off,” he said firmly. “In the meantime, she might prove useful.”

  “It will happen eventually, whether you like it or not.” Her lips thinned. “But if you force his hand, it won’t be as clean and painless as you wish.”

  “Why should I care?”

  Her lips curled in a sly smile. “Anyone can see you have a fondness for her.”

  “What fondness?” he blustered. “I hardly know her.”

  “Prove it!” She hissed across the table. “Finish it now.”

  “I will.” He reached for his water glass. “When the time is right.”

  “You might think her weak, but she won’t be for long.” Thoosa picked her teeth with one red fingernail. “And, from what I hear, she keeps dangerous company.”

  “Don’t we all.”

  “I don’t want you to be affected.”

  He adopted a patient tone. “I understand that, Mother.” He sighed, reminding himself that she was his mother and had his best interests at heart. She kept telling him he was destined for great things. She’d repeated it so many times, he was starting to believe it himself. The time memories of his father and her knowledge of black magic certainly gave him a distinct advantage.

  And yet he couldn’t help but wonder what was in it for her.

  She might be his mother, but she was still a cold-hearted bitch.

  He never met his Time Keeper father. His father had given him his memories and little else. But he’d always had his mother and her spells.

  Black Magic changed his life. He’d felt the power of it—felt the heat of it curl around his soul. Those ancient pagan rituals spoke to him like nothing else.

  If only the Witches’ Council could see the wisdom of the old ways! But they seemed blind to the richness of their past. They wouldn’t see reason.

  Stubborn fools!

  There was no choice left, but to show them.

  ***

  Evelina woke in a sweat, breathing hard—heart pounding fast, like running feet. She’d dreamt of the clarifying pool again, and the clawing fingers around her throat. She’d dreamt of Melvin Ruggles and Rolly Ringrose, and their cold white cheeks.

  It seemed so real, as though it was happening all over again—a waking dream she might change, if only she knew how.

  She catapulted out of bed, anxious to escape the fearful imaginings.

  Clambering down from the loft her steps increased to spider leaps.

  Udora turned from the stove, lifting a dark brow. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning.” Evelina scanned the room for Mrs. Segal.

  Udora lifted the kettle from the stove just as it started to screech. “Quiet, isn’t it?” A rare smile curled her lips. “Philyra is in Kashmir picking saffron for her tea cakes.” Udora set a flowery teacup filled with green liquid before Evelina at the table. “She’s on the refreshment committee for the meeting tonight and determined to shine.”

  Evelina sniffed the cup. It smelled pungent, and not in a good way. “What is it?”

  “Catnip tea.” Udora pushed the cup closer. “Calms the nerves.”

  It smelled more like cat pee. But, seeing no way out of it, Evelina ventured a sip.

  “Well?” Udora gave her a long look.

  “It isn’t horrible.”

  Udora grunted. “Good.” Her expression remained bland. It was impossible to tell if she was offended or not. “I see you managed to get your ring back.”

  Evelina gazed down at the ring on her finger, guilt twisting in her belly. “But not the chain.”

  “Hmmm.” Udora padded back to the stove. “As long as you can make your Cosmic Call. Elberta will get over it.”

  “I thought the ring was the important part.”

  “It is,” Udora said. “The chain was your mother’s—a gift from your father on their wedding day, if I remember correctly—an heirloom of some sort, but as I said, Elberta will understand.”

  Evelina swallowed hard. A sick feeling washed over her. One of the few things she had left of her parents and she’d lost it. Grammy Crimm might get over it, but she sure wouldn’t.

  Somehow, she had to get that chain back.

  Even if the waters around that pirate ship were haunted by sea ghosts.

  ***

  “What’s up with your finger?” Abby pointed at Evelina’s hand.

  Tally’s mouth formed an O.

  “I don’t know.” Evelina stared down at her disfigured index finger. It was swollen when she woke up that morning. It must be getting worse to be so noticeable in the misty twilight of the lagoon. Probably what gave her the nightmares last night. “It’s this ring, I think.” She pulled it off to examine it once again in hopes of discovering the problem. “It’s been sticking into me ever since I put it on.”

  “Let’s see.” Abby snatched it up. “There must be something in there.” She squinted through the hole, rolling the ring between her finger and her thumb. “Can’t see anything.”

  Tally pulled a magnifying glass from her pocket. “I’ll have a look.”

  Evelina and Abby exchanged looks.

  “What?” Tally exclaimed. “It comes in handy sometimes.” She peered closer with the glass. “Like right now.” She angled the glass around. “Looks like the spine of a fish.”

  Evelina peered through the glass over Tally’s shoulder. No wonder her finger looked so red and swollen. That needle sharp spine had been pricking her for hours.

  Abby gave a snort. “How do you know that?”

  Tally blinked behind her spectacles. “I can’t be certain, of course, until it’s analyzed.”

  Evelina nodded. “I’ll get it to Lily. Maybe she can take it to the lab on Monday.”

  Tally produced a pair of tweezers and a small envelope. “Unfortunate, but unavoidable.”

  Abby quirked a wry smile. “You carry that stuff with you everywhere you go?”
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br />   “It comes in handy.” Having extracted the spine, Tally returned the ring to Evelina, musing absently, “Too bad we couldn’t just pop it there. It would be a lot quicker.”

  “Yeah right!” Abby gave a loud bark of laughter. “I wish I could fly, but that’s not about to happen anytime soon.”

  Evelina stuffed the ring in the pocket of her tunic. Abby was right. Until then, they’d just have to rely on the good old messenger service.

  In the meantime, curiosity would eat her up.

  Though knowing what it was wouldn’t tell the whole story—like, exactly how did a fish spine get wedged in her ring?

  The conch shell sounded.

  The witches edged closer.

  The Diviner stood and a hush fell over the crowd.

  “Welcome!” Cordelia Nawfar announced, raising both arms to the heavens.

  A flash of lightening lit the sky, as though in answer.

  Or had she done it?

  The laws of nature didn’t apply here.

  All bets were off.

  A witch’s life was a freak show.

  And the Glaring was getting freakier by the minute.

  “Tonight, you must get your rest,” Nawfar continued. “Tomorrow is another day of competition. The regatta begins at nine sharp.”

  “Sounds like a canoe race or something.” Abby looked like she’d swallowed a lemon. “How boring is that?”

  “There must be more to it,” Tally mused.

  “There always is.” Evelina agreed.

  “Before you go!” Nawfar’s voice silenced the crowd. “An added word of caution. The recent deaths are thought to be the work of a Reef Hag. Reef Hags may take any form, but usually use the same host for years, so be on your toes. The Council has stepped up its efforts to apprehend it, but in the meantime we must do all we can to remain safe.”

  Evelina stretched on her tip toes to peer above the crowd. “I need to find Lily.” Removing the sharp barb had reduced the swelling in her finger, but she still felt a bit wormy—not quite her self. The sooner she got the results back and knew what she was dealing with the better.

  “Wow!” Lily exclaimed when Evelina finally tracked her down. “Nasty.” Lily stared at Evelina’s finger with an expression of awe, adjusting her spectacles to get a better look. “How did you get that?”