MIDNIGHT MAGIC - ch 19

MIDNIGHT MAGIC – ch 19

Julie

(*)(*)(*)

Liz kept nervously watching their two intruders. While she understood the spells Finola placed on them, she still worried.

Morena gently patted her hand. “Don’t worry about them, Liz. They can’t harm any of us. For that matter, they won’t harm anyone ever again. While I don’t know what Finola has in mind, I’m sure it’s something they won’t be too happy about.”

Micky said aloud, ‘And I think they know it, too. Look at how profusely they’re sweating.”

Brian sipped his Hennessey while Ian just put his glass to his lips for a large gulp. He was still a bit shaken from the events of the night.

Finola, looking at her great-nephew with a twinkle in her eyes, said, “Mickey, my stor, that’s how I like my men: helpless and sweaty.”

Brian choked on the whiskey he’d just consumed and Ian, in shock, watched helplessly as his body involuntarily spit his across the table. Julie blushed, while everyone else laughed.

Brian finally recovering asked, “But weren’t you were totally committed to Uncle Finn?”

“Of course, mo ghra. But I had a life before him, now, didn’t I? And who’s to say I didn’t make him sweat?”

They watched the humorous grin spread on her face and realized she’d only been kidding (they hoped), just to watch their reactions.

Midnight sat on her tail and licked her front paws, indifferently. “Aintin, my paws are clean, so whenever you give me the words, I can scratch their legs raw.”

Finola just shook her head and ignored the cat.

Finola began circling the chairs where the two men sat, nervously watching every move she made. She turned, walked to Julie, reached for her hand, and said, “Jules, mo ghra, I’m saving the best for last.”

Her humor, now curtailed, the white witch walked to stand before Monty. His eyes widened in fear. He’d seen what she had done to Cormac and wondered, “if she can do that to a warlock, what can she do to me?”

Finola’s smile was part mischievous, part humorous, and part wicked. The look in her eyes frightened him.

“Ah, Monty, Monty! First, I, hmm. Hold that thought.”

She turned to Tony and said, “You, first.”

Everyone noticed how the fear in Monty’s eyes relaxed a little. Julie looked inquisitively at Mickey who whispered, “He’s probably thinking that by the time Auntie gets to him, she’ll be too worn out to do much, well, witchy stuff. If that’s what he’s thinking, he doesn’t know my aunt.”

Finola walked the few steps to Tony, placed her hands on his ears and said,

“Until I decide to unblock your ears,

You’ll be deaf. You cannot hear.

You’ll worry, you’ll sweat, and it’s fear you’ll see.

So, I command it; so, mote it be.”

He stared, twitching his head to regain some hearing. It never came.

Finola, now walked back to Monty. Her smile was playful and yet wicked. “Oh, my friend. Your turn! Did you really think I might relax and let you off easy? Oh, I can see the tremble of your lips. You want desperately to say something. Well, Monty, you will, indeed say something but hear this.”

She placed her left hand on his head, her right fingers on his lips and recited the truth spell:

“For us who want the truth revealed,

Loosen this tongue for secrets unsealed.

Those who now are in my house,

Will hear the truth from this enemy’s mouth.

My finger on lips for all to see,

Will tell the truth! So, mote it be!”

He tried to speak but his voice couldn’t work. His lips could form no words. His tongue was like a dead fish stuck in his mouth.

Then, and only then, did Finola ask, “Tell us, Monty, exactly who you work for.”

He replied, “I work for the Moretti family.”

“You’re saying “family”. How many in the family employ you?”

“Leo, the father, Tony, the older son, and Fred, the younger son.”

“Hmm, a family affair, then. Next question: What is your roll as employee?”

“Hire and fire other employees, like gardeners, grounds keepers, housekeepers. That sort of thing.”

“Were you asked to do any other things for any of the Moretti’s?”

“Yeah. Find their run-a-way women and bring them home.”

“How many women?”

“Didn’t count them. Maybe eight? Could be nine. Not sure.”

Julie’s eyes widened in shock and Mickey heard her gasp. He put his arm around her and drew her closer. Although Tony couldn’t hear or speak, his eyes spoke volumes of hatred.

Finola continued, “Did you find them all?”

“No, every once in a while, one just vanished Left no trace.”

“Why didn’t you call Cormac at that time?”

“Didn’t really know him well enough. Only called him for the last two that I couldn’t find.”

“If these, as you called them, run-a-ways, and I’ll use the word, escaped, how did you convince them to return with you to the Moretti’s?

“Followed them everywhere. As soon as I got the chance, I’d slip something in their drinks. When they got too drowsy to stand, I’d offer to drive them home. I had all the necessary papers to prove they were my wives who’d gone on a long-needed vacation and needed medical treatment at home. No one ever asked.”

Mickey felt Julie slump against him. He looked at her pale face fearing she’d fainted. She hadn’t but she looked as though she might be sick. “Jules, do you need a break?” he whispered. “No. I’m just sick thinking his next victim might have been me.”

Julie looked at Finola’s worried face and assured her she was fine. “Aintin, please continue. I’m sorry I interrupted.”

“Mo stor, that is not a problem at all. Now, Monty, once you brought them home, as you said, what did you do with them?”

“I was ordered to take them immediately to Tony. That’s exactly what I did.”

“Do you have any idea what he did with them?”

“Yeah. They’re in a house on the old man’s property.”

During this time, Midnight stealthily crept closer to Monty’s feet awaiting the signal from Finola to strike.