MIDNIGHT MAGIC - ch 17

MIDNIGHT MAGIC – ch 17

Julie

(*)(*)(*)

“Aintin,” Julie began to question, “I don’t know anything about witches or warlocks except what I’ve learned in the past few days but, now I’m wondering. If Cormac is supposed to be so powerful, why, then were his powers useless when Mickey and Da Ian brought him here?”

“Ah, mo chailin daor (my dear girl),” Finola smiled as she explained. “As I became aware of and grew into my powers, I understood the pros and cons of good and bad magic. My beloved Finn wasn’t magical, but he understood that I was and asked how white magic worked. I explained that more often than not, it is used for protection, then demonstrated the use of wards. The wards are used to keep evil out. While evil might approach my home, it can’t enter through the doorway. Once Cormac walked into my home, he was rendered powerless.”

Finola watched as Cormac’s eyes widened in enlightenment and understanding.

“Oh, okay, I get that, now, but how was it, then, that Mickey and Da Ian were able to subdue him in the woods before they brought him here? He wasn’t near your door, and yet, they caught him.” Jules admitted her confusion.

Finola’s smile turned a little wicked. “I’ll let him explain that.”

Turning to Cormac, she said, “Cormac, the truth spell is still upon you. You will answer any and all questions truthfully. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” he replied, but his face emitted a vile hatred when he tried to say more but couldn’t. He was beyond furious.

“Now, then, knowing the powers you had when Mickey and his da approached you, why did you allow them bring you here.”

“I wish you’d remove this spell so I could tell you exactly what I’d like to say but your spell won’t allow it.”

Julie hid her shock well, but Mia smiled with sharp mischief glowering on her face.

“I truly don’t care how you feel Cormac; however, you will answer our questions.”

“I knew the girl had to be here somewhere. I hid and saw two men approaching. Then I heard the boy whispering. I tapped my ears to enhance my hearing so I could hear what they were saying. The boy said, “Dad, we’re all set. We need to get back. I don’t want to leave her alone too long.” I knew the “her” he meant by the tone of his voice. I allowed them to find me and bring me here. However, Finola, it seems you anticipated trouble by warding your home, especially your entryway. I should have calculated that in my plan. My mistake was that I didn’t realize your powers had grown to the extent that they have.”

“Questions, for now, are over. Your tongue is, once again, useless.”

Midnight hissed and quietly meowed, “Aintin, trouble is approaching.”

“Yes, I sensed their approach, as well.”

Finola turned to Julie. “Mo bhinneas (my sweetness), is there anything else you need ask?”

Julie stood and hugged Finola. “Just one more thing, Aintin but it has nothing to do with what’s happening now.”

Recognizing what Julie was about to say, she wrapped her arms around the girl and replied, “Yes, mo ghra (my love), Mia and I will teach you the Gaelic language. First lesson that you’ll need, the phrase, “mo ghra.” It means “my love.”

Julie smiled and then asked, “How would I say, “thank you”?” It was Mickey who stood and answered, “Go raibh maith agai, mo ghra.”

She turned and smiled at her husband, “Oh, Mickey.” Her eyes began to fill with tears she never expected.

“Turning to her family, Finola asked, “Are we ready to have some fun?”

Mia noticed a bit of fear in the way Cormac looked at Finola. Although he always had the ability to anticipate trouble, he’d never come upon the magic of a white witch and being in the company of one now, had him baffled.

Finola waited for the sharp rap on her door, then, a second. As a third rap was about to connect with the wood, yanked it open. Midnight stood by her side and hissed angrily.

“Ah! Monty, is it? We meet again.”

He looked puzzled. “Who are you? And how do you know my name?”

Finola smiled as she twirled her finger in the air and allowed the image of the old crone to appear. Monty took a step back. He jumped backwards again, when she snapped her fingers and just as quickly, the old woman was gone and Finola was back in her normal form.

“How, how did, how did you that?” He stammered. Tony looked on with a wide-eyed bafflement.

“Brian, my ghra, please place two chairs near Cormac. One on each side of him. Thank you, mo stor.”

She pointed at Tony. “You! Sit there!” Although he tried to fight her order, he found no will of his own. He walked to the chair and sat. Likewise, Monty followed her orders to sit on the other chair.

Only Mia, Mickey and Midnight were aware that Finola previously spelled the chairs to immobilize her new visitors.

Wanting to keep them off guard, she repeated the truth spell to encompass them at the same time.

“Aintin,” Mia whispered, “I didn’t know you could do it that way.”

Finola whispered back as she chuckled, “Neither did I. There’s a first time for everything.”

Mia almost shouted, “What? What?”

Finola laughed and replied, “Just kidding, mo ghra.”

She saw no use in questioning Monty since she’d obtained enough information from Cormac, so she turned her attention to Tony.

“My first three questions are: We are aware that Jullie isn’t your first so-called fiancé. We also know that you send Monty to find and return them to you, should they be smart enough to walk away. What have you done to them? Who else is involved? Where are they?”

Before he answered, she turned to her family. “I saw the images in his mind, but I want all of you to hear this from his own lips, especially, you, Jules.”