MIDNIGHT MAGIC - ch 15

MIDNIGHT MAGIC – ch 15

Julie

(*)(*)(*)

“Morena, my stor (my dear), I can feel your anxiety. What’s on your mind?”

“Finola, we’ve all been enormously distracted since Monty showed up a few hours ago. Distracted to the point where most of our concentration has been on what he’s doing, rather than the outer corners, specifically, Tony and what might happen next. It’s fine to fix our immediate problems, namely Cormac and Monty, but what about Tony? It’s a gut feeling that he won’t stop. I don’t have to explain to anyone how super worried I am about Jules.”

Everyone focused their gaze on Morena and began to chatter about how right her statement was. It was Mia whose face turned almost wicked as she said, “Aintin, are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

Finola, who almost spit out the sip of Hennessey she’d just taken, began to laugh. “mo neacht mhilis (my sweet niece), you wicked girl. You’re more like me than anyone could have guessed. Yes, mo ghra (my love), that is exactly what we’re going to do. However, we need to wait. We know Tony is on his way and we’ll use the mirror to see how much longer we need to wait. He and Monty will arrive together. Then, and only then, will we act.”

She pointed a finger at Cormac. “The spell stands! You will only speak when we ask you questions.”

Finola began to turn away but then on a second thought, with a sly grin, looked back at the warlock. “Almost forgot to mention this, Cormac. I know you’re wondering why none of your powers work in my home. I’ve placed wards inside and outside, only because, well, because you never know who might show up and why. Your powers are useless here.”

She, then slightly raised one of his pants legs – just above the ankle. Now knowing what to expect, perspiration, again began forming on his forehead. As she walked away, she said, “Meán oíche. scratch beag amháin. díreach go leor chun craiceann a bhriseadh agus itch a chur faoi deara. rud ar bith níos mó (Midnight. One little scratch. Just enough to cause a welt and an itch. Nothing more).”

The cat pounced and Cormac flinched. He tried to pull his leg away but Midnight was faster. She bared her fangs, more for affect than action, but it was enough to grasp the man’s attention. Then with a glow in her glolden eyes, extemded one claw and gently racked it across his ankle. If cat’s could smile, that’s what Midnight was doing when she saw the tiniest welt beginning to raise. She called out in Gaelic to Finola, “See, Auntie? I didn’t even draw blood – but I sure had him scared!”

They heard Finola chuckle as she walked up the stairs.

Mia and her family were startled when they heard a loud thump. Brian began to run up the stairs thinking his aunt had fallen. She met him half way and apologized. “Oh, Brian, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry any of you. That bloody mirror was too heavy to carry so I zapped it. Now, I can pull it out of my broom closet.”

Her family looked at each other in total confusion. That is until Finola opened the small door and pulled out her large dressing mirror. She smiled. “I decdied this would be better for viewing for all of us, than trying to squeeze the image we want into a smaller hand mirror.” She turned the mirror to face her family with the back of it facing Cormac. Although she has, so far neutralized his powers, she wasn’t taking any chances with the once-powerful warlock.

She walked to him, placed her hands on his ears and said,

“Until I decide to unblock your ears,

You’ll be deaf. You cannot hear.

I’ve turned my mirror so you cannot see.

This is my desire; So, mote it be”

Cormac would see only what Finola wanted him to see but heard nothing.

With the family gathered behind her, now, she raised her hands and recited,

“Mirror, my friend, reveal to me,

The latest image of our enemy.

We need to know where he is now,

To prepare, we need what time will allow.

Mirror, my friend, we need to see.

Please my friend, so, mote it be.”

They watched the mirror fill with a smoky film, then gradually clear.

Tony sat in his seat on the plane, impatiently checking the time on his watch. He called the airline attendant and ordered a drink. They noticed that this was his third. Jules commented, “He always drank heavily when he was angry. This isn’t going to be pretty.”

Mia laughed and saw Finola smille but it was Mia who stated, “Oh, Jules, the fun is just beginning.” She placed the palm of her left hand on Julie’s slow-growing bump. “You both will be fine; actually,” she hesitated, “Jules, how much do you trust me?”

“Wha.. What? Mia, I trust you with my life. Why do you think I came rushing to you. You’re the only one I knew would and could help me.”

Mia gave the little bump a gentle pat. “Your child will be better than you could ever dream. When Baby It is born, you and Mickey will be the super proud parents of ... well, you’ll see.”

They heard Finola, “Mmm” but only Mia and her familiar understood what her great-aunt was thinking.

Midnight paced back and forth in front of Cormac. Evey now and then, she’d bare her fangs and hiss.

“Uh, Mia?” Liz quietly called out to her niece. “I think Midnight has that poor guy terrified. He can’t see what Midnight’s done to his leg and now I think he’s wondering what else the cat might bite.”

The all looked at Cormac and noticed the sweat dripping down his face as he watched what he deemed a feriocuis feline stalking his legs.

Mia walked to her cat, knelt and said, “Meán oíche. Rinne tú go maith. Coinnigh sweating air”, (Midnight, you did good. Keep him sweating.)