MIDNIGHT MAGIC - ch 13

MIDNIGHT MAGIC – ch 13

Julie

(*)(*)(*)

“Well, good evening, Finola!” the men said arrogantly. “Didn’t expect to see me again, huh? After all these years?”

Ian and Mickey looked stymied, but it was Ian who asked. “Aunt Finola, you know this guy?”

“I knew him many years ago. Too many years ago. He was the neighborhood bully when we were young.” She folded her arms across her chest and loudly declared, “And a warlock! Or at least, at that time, a wanna-be warlock. Looks like you’ve been practicing a bit, eh, Cormac?”

“How do you think I found your nephew without you knowing? I cloaked myself. My magic has drastically improved since you saw me last. And, by the way, I go by Mac now. You can’t touch me, Finola.”

Ian’s back straightened and Mickey clenched his fists. “Easy, boys; he can’t touch any of us in this house, and he knows it. Mickey, go, get your wife and the others, and bring Midnight.”

When Mickey opened the bedroom door, Jules almost flew in his arms. “Mickey, what’s going on. Are you and your dad ok? We don’t know how to use the mirror so we couldn’t look. And every time Midnight went near it, she hissed violently. Where’s Mia and her dad? “

He hugged her and closed the door. “Before we go downstairs, I’ll tell you what I know so far.”

After he related the incidents of the past thirty minutes, he told them what Finola said. “Jules, do you think you’ll be okay? I mean, okay enough to face a strong enemy?”

She squeezed his hand said, “with you and our family around me, I think I can face anything. I’m not saying I won’t be frightened, but I’ll face it, in any case.”

As they walked down the stairs, Mickey refused to let go of Julie’s hand. Morena and Liz walked behind them, but Midnight led the way. The second she turned the corner, she extended her claws, hissed loudly, and leapt, with her fangs bared.

Finola caught the cat before she landed on the man’s leg. “No, mo stor, ta nimh air (my dear, he’s poison.”

Midnight hissed so only Finola could understand, “Can he still harm me in your home?”

Finola held the cat, snuggly, and whispered so only Midnight could hear, “Years ago, I would have said no but now? Now, mo stor, I’m not sure yet.

Before another word was spoken, Mia and her father came bursting through the front door. “Aintin, I felt trouble, We got here as soon as, … who the hell is that?” She pointed to the man that Ian and Mickey had tied to a chair. She looked at Julie, who was still standing next to her husband, and was surprised to see how calm her friend was.

“Have a seat, everyone. I’ll make this short. Brian, would you be so kind to get out the Hennessey? And Mia? Please get some of my raspberry tea for Jules.”

Cormac was about to say very sarcastically, “You mean JULIE, right?” but Finola pointed a finger at him and loudly said, “Cormac MacNamara, you will keep your tongue quiet until and ONLY until, I give you permission to speak!”

He tried to argue but found that his tongue refused to work. Finola noticed that sweat was now beading on his forehead and upper lip. She smiled and said, sweetly but with a tinge of sarcasm, “You’re in my home, now, Cormac and you will do as I say. Have you forgotten that my white magic was always more powerful than your family’s dark side?”

She now waited until everyone found something to sit on, then she began.

“When I was younger, a young teen, actually, there was a boy in our school whose looks could stop your heart. He was beyond handsome. One look from him had the girls swooning. Hmm, do they even use that word anymore? Doesn’t matter! Anyway, Cormac, although a good-looking young man was filled with envy. Never liked the fact that, hmm, I believe his name was Shamus McDougal had almost every girl in school following him as though they were love-struck pups.”

“Auntie,” Brian interrupted and smiled, “what about you? Were you as mesmerized as everyone else?”

“I took a long glance at him but then, my brother, Marty introduced me to Finn and that was it! I never looked at another boy. Anyway, it wasn’t long before Shamus was involved in an accident. He was helping his da on their farm and somehow, one of the treads on their tracker came lose in the mud causing the tractor to flip. Shamus was pinned beneath the machine and when they finally were able to pull him out, the damage was done. He was paralyzed. His parents transferred him to a school for disabled people. It sounds hard to believe but suddenly Cormac’s appearance was more appealing. His blemishes were gone. His eyes were softer, his hair a bit lighter. His facial features were subtly but completely transformed.”

They turned and looked at the stranger before them, then Finola continued.

After school, I used my crystal and saw everything. I couldn’t prove a thing, and it wouldn’t have mattered. Shamus would still be paralyzed. The only thing I could do was place a protective ward on my friends, family, and myself. Then all too quickly, Cormac was gone! The rumor said he’d moved to America and as long as he was gone, I didn’t care enough to find out.”

“Aintin, can we find out how he met Jule’s ex-fiancé? Can we trace what he did when he arrived in America?”

“Mia, mo ghra (my love), we could but none of that matters. What matters is stopping him.”

She looked into the hateful eyes of Corman and declared, “And we will! Have no fear about that. He’ll be stopped in his tracks faster than Shamus’ tractor was stopped in the mud! Only, our friend here will succumb to a much dire consequence.”

She saw the fear in his eyes. “Oh, don’t worry, Cormac. I’ll not harm you. White magic makes us vow to harm no one. However, when I’m through with you, you’ll wish I had.”