Chapter 5

Oh, Tansy,” Melinda Tipton called in her usual sing-song voice as she shoved the door to The Murky Cauldron open. “I didn’t see your name on the committee list. I’m sure it was just an oversight, so I thought I would come here and get your information. Not that I think anything has changed, mind you. It’s just a formality.”

Tansy looked up at the other woman, her brows furrowed with her confusion. “Melli, what on earth are you talking about? What committee?” She glanced over at Wanda, who dusted the back shelves, but the older woman just shrugged.

“The Downtown Autumn Festival, of course,” Melli said, her tone indicating she thought Tansy silly for even asking. “The Harbor City police will block off Main street from the beginning of downtown to the railroad tracks, and we have vendors coming in to set up booths, while the restaurants in the area will set up their own displays, selling their specialties. Bars will sell booze, we’ll have a D.J. and a dance floor, and people will pay good money to get in and party the night away. We’ll list it as a holiday celebration and advertise it as the first chance to buy their Christmas presents before the rush hits. It’s November, after all. Time for people to start thinking of others. It’s great for business.”

Tansy chuckled. “People should think of others all year long. And it sounds more like it’s a great mixture for trouble than business,” Tansy said, shaking her head. “When is this taking place? I want to make sure my store is closed and locked up tight.”

“Tansy!” Melli hissed. “You’re on the downtown council. You need to be a part of this.”

“When did I sign up to serve on this council?” Tansy couldn’t believe she agreed to anything like what Melli suggested. First, the Coven Council, and now she served on the Downtown Council? What the hell was up with her being such a servant all of a sudden? “I swear, I don’t remember agreeing to participate in any such thing.”

“Well, you didn’t exactly,” Melli said, her speech slow, cautious. “I actually signed up for you. I thought it would be good for your business. You know, like a networking type thing. People worry about your store and all the witchy stuff you have here. I thought it would help make you more human to the other businesses.”

“More human?” Tansy asked, staring at the other woman, one eyebrow cocked. “Just what do they think I am now if not a human? I own a New Age store, not a fortune-telling booth. Besides, even witches are human, too, you know? It’s not like they’re aliens or vampires.”

“Can a witch be a vampire?” Wanda asked, ceasing her dusting and standing there with one hand on her hip. “I’ve never heard of one before, but it wouldn’t be too far out there, I suppose.” She turned to Famallumi. “Have you heard of that happening before?”

The elf sat up straighter, turning to Wanda as he puzzled over her question. “Vampires? I am not sure I’ve ever heard of such creatures existing.”

“You haven’t heard of vampires?” Melli asked, crossing the store to stand before the middle-aged man, or at least, what she thought was a middle-aged man. Whenever the elf was in the main part of the store or in public, he wore a glamour that hid his true nature. The glamour usually made him appear in his late forties with blond hair, a thin frame, and an all-too serious expression. “Haven’t you watched Twilight? The Vampire Diaries? Read Dracula? How could you be as old as you are and not have heard about vampires?”

Famallumi cocked an eyebrow at the other woman, his head tilted to the side a moment. “Have you met one of these vampires? What is it they do?”

“You’re serious?” Melli asked, shaking her head. “Where have you been for the past century?”

Famallumi opened his mouth to tell her the proper answer to her question, but Tansy headed him off. “He reads a lot of nonfiction and folklore,” she said. “He doesn’t watch television or go to the movies, so it’s almost like he’s not from our world, so to speak.” She glanced over at Wanda, winking.

Wanda hid her chuckle with her hand, pivoting, so Melli wouldn’t see her.

Famallumi sat there, blinking, a thick book in his hands. Tansy almost laughed at the flummoxed expression he held.

“You don’t watch television?” Melli asked, staring at the elf. “Everyone watches television.”

“Melli, you were telling me about this festival, remember?” Tansy said, looping her arm around Melli’s and turning her away from Famallumi. “What is it you’re needing me to do for this committee of yours?”

Melli glanced over her shoulder at Famallumi, her brows furrowed as she allowed Tansy to walk her over to the front counter. “We have a meeting tomorrow morning at Hampton’s,” Melli said, her usual sing-song voice subdued as she turned back to Tansy. “We’ll go over advertising, setup, cost of admission. The bars usually take the brunt of everything, since they’re the ones who will rake in the most profit. These festival-goers are mostly partiers, so the bars will set up booths plus have things happening at their businesses. We hope to catch the overflow, the odd looky-loos who might open their purses after a few extra drinks.”

“Sounds like a lot of noise and headache,” Tansy said. “I think I’ll close early and let everyone else have the overflow.”

Melli’s eyes went wide. “What? Why would you close early? These festivals bring a lot of business downtown.” She nudged Tansy in the side. “Brings a lot of eager opportunities, too, if you get my meaning.” She winked at Tansy as she turned her clipboard around. “Who says only the festival-goers get to have all the fun?”

Tansy took a deep breath, standing straighter. “I’m sure you’ll have a good time,” she said, guiding Melli to the front door. “I’m really not one for loud parties.”

“But think of the business you’ll be missing,” Melli said as Tansy opened the door.

“I prefer to think of the sanity I’ll be saving,” Tansy told her. “Thanks though. I wish the rest of you luck.” She gave Melli a finger-wave goodbye as she closed the door behind the other woman.

When she turned around, Wanda just stood there, staring at her, her head tilted to the side a bit.

“What?” Tansy asked, shifting on her feet a little under the older woman’s scrutiny. “You know I hate those things.”

Wanda gave a slow nod of her head. “I do, but I’ve never known you to remove someone forcibly from The Murky Cauldron. You practically shoved that woman out the door.”

Tansy stood there, suddenly feeling extremely ashamed of the way she acted. Wanda was right, of course. Tansy’s behavior was out of character. But, then again, it wouldn’t take but an odd question for Famallumi to reveal himself and bring all kinds of questions out of the gossipy woman’s mouth. None of them needed Melinda Tipton spreading rumors about an elf hanging out in The Murky Cauldron. Tansy sighed. “You’re right, of course, but I just could not deal with Melli today,” she said as she moved back behind the front counter. “I have a hard enough time dealing with her on a normal day. The woman talks too much.”

Wanda moved over to the counter, leaning on it, as she studied Tansy a little harder. “Are you sure that’s it? You’ve seemed agitated all morning. Are you regretting moving Sherri in with you?”

“What?” Tansy stood straighter, eyes widening. “Heavens no.” She softened her tone, smiling as she remembered leaving Sherri that morning. The blonde was trying to figure out how to decorate her room, what pictures she wanted to get, new bedspread, curtains. The girl was ecstatic, and Tansy would do nothing to douse that exuberance. “I think Sherri living with me is the right thing to do. No, I’m agitated by a call I received yesterday from Maggie Olsen. I think the Coven Council intends to hang Selina out to dry. When I told Maggie I felt sorry for the young girl, Maggie grew indignant, telling me I would be the only one who stood up for the girl. Seems they passed judgment on her already. I’m worried about the punishment.”

Wanda nodded. “The girl didn’t exactly have the best role model, but I’ve seen people with worse situations pull through and turn themselves around. We have a couple of hard cases here; Laci and Sherri come to mind.”

Tansy slid onto her stool, nodding. “Selina’s barely in her twenties. She had no proper direction on her magical journey, except what her mother forced down her throat. In the end, however, Selina came through, trying to put a stop to everything. It’s not her fault her mother left her in the dark with most of the woman’s plans.”

“I don’t think it’ll be a straightforward decision whichever way people vote,” Wanda said. “There’s a lot to consider, including the deaths they caused.”

Tansy sighed. “I still can’t help but feel sorry for the girl.”

Wanda reached out, placing her hand on top of Tansy’s wrist. “Nothing wrong with feeling sorry for her, but don’t forget the families of Hannah, Nicole, and Clara. We need to feel for them, as well. They suffered just as much as Selina and her mother, if not more, since they had no idea what was happening or why their daughters died.”

Tansy nodded, saying nothing. She knew Wanda was right, looking at all sides as she usually did. Tansy just wished there was something she could do for Selina. The girl avoided jail because there was nothing they could take to the police to prove she did anything. Tansy supposed that would have to be Selina’s mercy, while the Coven Council doled out her punishment. Tansy just wished she knew what they had planned.