Evelina and the Reef Hag Part 23

She peeked out from under the sandwich board.

The tall woman strode away.

Sally walked out into the surf.

Then something extraordinary happened.

Her skin began to melt off her body, swirling with the foam of the ocean to rise ahead of her in another body-the Reef Hag's, leaving Psycho Sally's muscles and bones exposed. She wriggled and writhed, her face contorted in pain. Then, just as quickly a wave washed over her making her whole again.

It all happened so fast, Evelina wondered if she'd imagined it as she watched Psycho Sally saunter down the beach and the Reef Hag slither into the surf.

Wow!

It was true.

Sally was possessed by the Reef Hag. She was working with the Swamp Hags. And it sounded like Lake of the Isles was next. Evelina struggled to her feet. She had to get back and tell the others.

They had to do something!

Before someone else died.

Evelina picked up the sandwich board, to trundle in the opposite direction down the beach.

"We have to tell Burble!" was Abby's reaction when Evelina relayed the news.

"We can't wait until the weekend." Tally appeared horror struck. "It might be too late."

"Great." Abby wore a bemused look. "But, how do we contact her?"

"I don't know." Evelina searched her brain. "She always contacts us."

"We don't see her until Friday."

"We can't wait until then." Tally shook her head.

"Udora will know what to do," Evelina said, hoping she was right. "I'll find out tonight."

"Thoosa? Is that what she said?" Abby wore a look of distaste. "As in Thoosa Barnes?"

"I don't know." Maybe that was why she looked so familiar. She must have seen her at meetings. "Maybe."

Abby made a long whistling sound. "She's a b.i.t.c.h on wheels."

Tally huddled closer. "She has a fierce reputation." She lowered her voice to a hoa.r.s.e whisper. "I heard my mother speak of her once. Seems they went to school together. Let's just say the adjectives were not flattering."

Evelina had to agree with Tally's mother. Fierce was close. But, blood thirsty would be a more accurate description. She wasn't anybody you wanted to mess with. That's for sure.

Evelina never thought she'd feel sorry for Wendell, but after encountering his mother she kinda did? Having a mother like that had to be brutal. What must his father be like? Who married a freak like that?

Of course it explained a lot about Wendell-depending on which way you wanted to go with the nature, nurture thing, or in his case, a combination of the two.

He was one messed up dude.

No doubt about it.

"Burble?" Udora turned from pruning her lamb's ears in the garden, appearing neither surprised nor alarmed by Evelina's request.

The plant, more of a curly venus flytrap with yellow eyes and white dreadlocks, bleated for attention.

Udora scratched it under the chin. "I can send out a message of course." She set down the shears on the stone table. "But there's no telling if she'll get it soon enough."

"I don't know. Atmospheric pressure is low today." Mrs. Segal climbed down from the step stool under the lemon tree, straw hat askew. "It's difficult to say, my dear." She examined the lemons in her basket one at a time. "She might get it and she might not."

"Councillor McCrystal must be notified at once," Udora said in dour tones. "If anything is to be done at all."

"Most disturbing!" Mrs. Segal hugged her basket. "I've always made it my business to give Thoosa Barnes a wide berth. She's the worse sort of Hag!"

"Here we go." Udora rolled her eyes.

"Not at all suitable company." Mrs. Segal shuddered. "I remember during our Flurry her unsportsmanlike behavior. Shocking!" Mrs. Segal appeared incensed. "Proper etiquette must be observed-propriety upheld or we all fall to ruin."

"Meantime, back in the real world," Udora said under her breath. "Right. Let's get on with it, shall we?" Udora strode to the back porch of the little pink cottage. "It's been some time since I sent a Wind Wire."

Evelina scurried in her wake, anxious to see what it was all about.

"Let me see." Udora rummaged in an old white cupboard, crammed with bottles of all description-green, yellow, blue, fat, and squat. "Where is it?"

"I'm not sure how fresh that dew is." Mrs. Segal hustled onto the porch after them. "I hope it's not out of date."

"My inventory is quite current, thank you." Udora sucked in air between her teeth. "I keep scrupulous records, as you well know."

Evelina picked up the azure bottle from the table. Yesterday's date was scrawled under morning dew', on a small white label framed in gold. It was fresh all right. There had to be a couple of ounces. How long could it take to collect tiny drops of dew?

Udora produced a tall amber bottle next.

The label read, stardust.

Evelina gasped. "Where did you get that?"

"Falling stars, of course." Mrs. Segal gave a loud twitter. "You just have to be there at the right time."

"If you have time for such things, which I do not." Udora reached up to pluck a sprig of dried dill hanging from the rafters above their heads, then sent Evelina a sidelong glance. "I purchased it at Mr. Turtlemoon's apothecary. I'll take you there for an outing."

"Excellent." Mrs. Segal clapped her hands. "We'll do our errands and make an adventure of it."

Udora made a sound in the back of her throat very much like a growl. "Stardust and morning dew-that's all," she instructed, mixing a bit of each on the gla.s.s top of the table. "Then scribe your message."

With the sprig of dill she scratched in the palm of her hand, McCrystal, contact Udora Segal at once. She stood up, walked to the edge of porch, lifted her hand, then blew.

Silver and blue sparkles flew up in the air.

They swirled higher and higher and higher, dancing on the wind, streaking like a jet stream across the black velvet sky.

Then, just as quickly disappeared.

Evelina breathed a hearty sigh of relief. "Thank you."

"Not at all." Udora inclined her head regally. "It was wise of you to advise us."

Evelina nodded. Well, one problem solved. Now, if only she could get her necklace back.

Evelina squinted against the sun at the empty spot on the wharf where the Six Doubloons had been.

Disappointment engulfed her.

It was nowhere to be seen.

Even the ticket booth was gone.

Her pulse drummed in her ears.

How would she ever get her necklace back?

She s.h.i.+elded her eyes with her hand, peering up and down the bay, but there were no sails in sight.

She needed that necklace. It was one of the few things she had left of her parents-a tangible reminder of their love, despite all opposition.

But the s.h.i.+p was gone.

Who was she kidding?

Having the necklace wouldn't change things. Whatever her parents had defied the odds. It was a special love that rarely happened-according to Udora. Most Time Keepers were content to accept their fate of an arranged marriage. Or, most witches were smart enough to stay away from them-guard their hearts against them.

Too bad someone hadn't warned her before she'd laid eyes on Frankie Holler. Her life would have been a whole lot easier without wondering where he was or what he was doing at every moment. Clearly, she was obsessed.

It wasn't love. Love was something people shared-like her parents. They couldn't do without each other.

Well, it had to stop.

She had to cut her losses and move on.

It was hard enough figuring this witch thing out without being distracted by a golden freakin' Time Keeper with a fiance in tow.

They oughta' ear tag them or something-let a girl know before she speaks to one-before she gets involved.

Why hadn't he told her?

As if by magic Frankie appeared, as though her very thoughts had conjured him up.

She gasped.

In truth, his magic, not hers had popped him there.

He smiled. "I heard you were here."

She managed to defrost her tongue to croak, "Yes."

"I thought you might need some help."

So much for avoiding him. Luckily, he was a Time Keeper and not a Soul Sifter, reading all of her crazy thoughts-feeling her sweat. He'd know exactly what kind of a hot mess she was in. There was no help for that.

"Nope." She veered to the right of him down the sandy path to the Old City. "I'm good."

"Look, I know you're upset."

"What would make you think that?" She kept walking.

"I thought maybe we could talk."

She shrugged. The situation was pretty self explanatory as far as she was concerned, but she was dying to know what he had to say. "About what?"

He put a hand on her arm to stall her progress. "Her name is Eydis Turtlemoon."

"From the apothecary?"

"Yes." Frankie expelled air as though he'd been holding his breath. "Her grandfather runs the apothecary. She's very nice, but I hardly know her."

"She's just your fiance." Evelina strode away. "I get it."

Not.

He stepped in front of her, forcing her to a halt. "Look," he spread his hands wide, "if I could break it off I would. But I can't."

She shrugged. "I understand." She made to go around him.

He cut her off. "Only she can dissolve the match. If I do it, it ruins her reputation. It's a huge insult to her family."

"Look, you've got to do what you have to. We all have our obligations. You don't have to explain it to me. I understand." Family expectations messed with everyone's head. She of all people knew that. Even though her parents were dead she felt the need to honor their memory by becoming the best witch she could be. Still, she'd never give up her dream of becoming an artist. Somehow she'd find a way to make both work. "I've got to go." She had to find Psycho Sally.

"I'll come with you."

Evelina didn't argue. He wouldn't have heard her if she did. Chatter and laughter engulfed them as soon as they hit the crowded main street.

Tourists spilled into every nook and cranny.