MIDNIGHT MAGIC - ch 16

MIDNIGHT MAGIC – ch 16

Julie

(*)(*)(*)

Liz nudged her husband’s arm. “Ian, I just looked at the internet on my phone’s app, and the flight will take more than seven hours. Cormac has been sitting in that chair for almost one. Maybe he needs to use the bathroom. Or maybe, at least have something to drink.”

He kissed her cheek and whispered, “You always were a softie. But you have a point. Although he’s a warlock, I’m sure he’s still human enough to have basic needs. I’ll talk to Auntie.”

Finola pondered and then decided to hand Cormac a tin cup of whiskey. “You ought to be glad we have someone in the family who has enough sympathy for what she hopes is whatever human spirit you have left.” Ian untied one arm, and Cormac gratefully accepted the drink.

In her usual no-nonsense way, she placed her fists on her hips and gruffly asked, “I suppose now you’ll be telling me you need to pee!”

While the spell she placed on his tongue was still working, the look in his eyes spoke volumes.

Finola walked to the other side of the kitchen, placed her left hand on a brick that was set in the hidden wall which swung open to reveal a small bathroom. A few seconds later, she nodded to Brian and Ian. “Would you be so kind as to escort our friend here to the bathroom. You don’t need to stand there with him. The room is now spelled and warded. He’s not going anywhere!”

Midnight stopped pacing long enough for Cormac to relieve himself.

Seconds later, Cormac with a relieved look on his face, and reluctant defeat in his gait, walked back to the chair where Finola’s spells had him bound, now without ties around his arms. Midnight, once again, began her vigil.

After pushing her large mirror back into the small broom closet, yes, she spelled it to fit, she turned to her family. “Look, we’re not monsters. We’re not evil, and by now, we’re all famished. I would imagine Cormac is as well. I’m going to call into Paddy’s Pub and order some food. We’ll all be less grumpy after we’ve eaten.”

Midnight stopped her pacing long enough to offer a pleading glance at Finola, who laughed as she said, “You, too mo stor. You deserve a thick slice of haddock!”

Midnight jumped and screeched with delight, but Cormac didn’t recognize it as delight, and he shook with fear.

Mia tried to hide her smile but giggled as she said to Jules, “Good thing he’d just been to the bathroom, or I swear, he’d have wet his pants.” Jules also giggled.

Morena couldn’t help but keep a keen eye on their captive. While she was an Elf, she knew enough about witches and warlocks to be concerned.

She approached Finola and queried, “Finola, I’d be much appreciative if you could bind his hands so the only thing he can do is eat. I don’t want him to have the ability to wave his arms around.”

“That was my plan. Don’t fret.”

More than an hour later, they were all well fed. Mia and Jules offered to clean the dishes and wipe down the table.

“Aintin, do you mind if I take Jules upstairs and let her rest for a while?”

“Mia, that’s an excellent idea. I think we should all rest. Go, take the first bedroom. Your mom and dad can take the back bedroom, and Jules will go with Mickey and stay in my room. Ian and Liz can take the back bedroom down here..”

Brian wondered, “And what about you, Auntie? When will you rest?”

She smiled. “Trust me, mo stor. I have a plan.”

Morena shook her head and mumbled, “You usually do.”

With part of her family approaching the bedrooms, Finola looked at Cormac. “Oh, Cormac. What to do with you! You always were trouble and now you’re brought your evil ways to my home. Well, you’ve caused enough chaos for one night. Time to have a very restless sleep.”

She placed the palm of her left hand gently on the top of his head and recited,

“The hour has come for you to sleep.

No rest for you. Horror, you’ll reap.

You’ll wake with a tremor from the dreams that you’ll see.

This is what I desire. So, mote it be!”

She looked at Ian and Liz, who’d stopped when they heard the new spell. “There’s the spare bedroom behind the kitchen. Go. Please rest. Cormac won’t be bothering anyone tonight. Midnight and I will catnap, pardon the expression, on the couch. Go, please get some rest. In about five hours, we’ll have more company.”

Ian and Liz looked at the slumping Cormac whose eyes flitted and body twitched almost violently. “Uh, Auntie. How about if we lay him on the floor? If he falls off the chair, he’ll wake everyone and maybe even get hurt.”

“Ah, no need for that mo ghra (my love). He’s not going anywhere. He’s bound to that chair now, until I say otherwise. Ian, my sweet nephew, don’t ever forget, white magic is always much stronger than dark magic and we are bound to harm none. Now, go. Get some sleep.”

Finola looked at the man who’d been a powerful bully when they were young and sighed. She shook her head, walked to her pantry and poured herself a double shot of Hennessey. “Midnight, mo bhinneas (my sweetness), how about a bowl of your special milk before we go sit on the couch?”

Midnight nuzzled her leg. “Ok, then, we’re all off duty for the next few hours. Then the fun begins. However, I need to plan it all out. I know what I’m going to do. It’s just the timing of doing it that needs planning. Hmm let’s see. We know Tony and Monty will arrive at the same time. We know neither of them have any magic.”

She rubbed her hands together. “Oh, my dearest friend, this is going to be so much fun.”