MIDNIGHT MAGIC - ch 24

MIDNIGHT MAGIC – ch 24

Julie

(*)(*)(*)

“Tony,” Finola began, “just to be clear, I want to review what I’ve learned about you. You’re still bound to tell the truth, but you may elaborate on your answers. Do you understand?”

“Yeah, I understand. What’s that old saying? ‘The truth will set you free?”

“Hmm,” she remarked and began to pace. “well, that’s the saying but that’s not always how it works. In your case, it won’t. You pursued Julie with the sole purpose of adding her to your, let’s call it, your house of women. Is that correct?”

“Yeah, why else?”

“You could have married her.”

“And why would I do that when I can add her to, as you called it ‘my house of women’? Like my father and brother, I enjoy variety. One woman would just get boring after a while.”

Everyone heard a loud hiss and then a growl from Midnight. Without waiting for approval, she jumped on Tony’s lap and ran one outstretched claw down the side of his once handsome face. She was still careful not to draw blood but looked at Finola and asked, “Soon, Aintin? You know he deserves it.”

“I know, mo stor, but we are still bound. Welts only, my ghra.”

Midnight shook her head in exasperation, then, had an idea. Rather than jump off Tony’s lap, she crawled backwards down his legs, with her claws extended causing long, large, red welts until she reached the floor.

Finola burst into laughter. “Oh, mo ghra. You are quite ingenious, now, aren’t you? Good girl!”

As Finola laughed at the cat, Mia looked at Julie for a reaction to what Tony said and saw what she hoped to see. Rage! And yet, she also noticed Julie quickly glanced at Mickey wondering if she’d be good enough. Mickey was too infuriated to see the worry she tried to hide.

Mia closed her eyes, then sent her cousin a brief thought. “Mickey, she’s worried you might also get bored with her.”

This time, Mickey turned to his hand-fasted wife, placed his palm on her cheek, looked into her eyes and said, “Jules, how could anyone ever be bored with you around? He’s wrong, so wrong, but we’ll talk about this when he’s gone.”

She smiled and nervously nodded her head. She wondered how, in such a fleeting time, she’d fallen in love, not just with the man beside her but with his entire family. While she knew how Mia and her family felt, she still wasn’t sure about Mickey. Although he tried to reassure her, she still thought, “Now’s not the time to fret. One way or the other, it’ll work itself out later.”

Finola stepped backwards until she reached the kitchen counter. Leaning against it, she stared at Tony until he felt as though her eyes were burning holes in his skull.

“Tony! Am I to believe that you still have eight women held against their will?”

“Will? What will? We keep them pleasantly, uh incapacitated so they never argue, never question. They just obey, the way all women should.”

Finola raised her hands, looked at the ceiling and quietly murmured, “Dia agus bandia, tabhair dome an neart agus an fhoighne dom chun dochar a dheanamh do dhuine ar bith” (God and Goddess, please give me the strength and patience to harm none).

Midnight bared her fangs and was ready to pounce, but some strong magic held her back.

Finola felt the air stir around her as a renewed power built. Despite the fact that her physical appearance didn’t change, her image projected someone who’d just grown several feet. Her body seemed to glow and elevate in the middle of a cloud of mist.

She walked to Tony, and said angrily but without temper, “You will pay for this. Mark my words! You will pay; you will remember why; you will be sorry. And there will be nothing you can do about your fate.”

Her body relaxed and the stiffened posture she’d carried through the last few hours melted away. Midnight felt the release, as well, and looked up at Finola and meowed, “Thank you, Aintin.”

Wanting to remain calm, Finola took a deep cleansing breath, then said, “Before we begin, there is one particularly important spell for you and your family.

“You’ll return to your home; never again will you roam.

No more will you seek women to keep.

The women you have, you’ll gladly set free.

And as you do, You’ll send them to me.

This will be accomplished, immediately.

So, I demand it; so, mote it be.”

She turned to Liz and Morena. “We’ll have our work cut out for us making these women whole again.” Both women nodded in agreement. Then Morena said, “Thank you, Aunt Finola. I believe your decision is the best one. We’ll take care of them until they can be on their own again. Then, we’ll send them wherever they wish to go.”

Mia offered, “Aintin, Jules and I can help with that, as well.”

“I was counting on that. Uh, I need a minute with Jules, if it’s alright with everyone.”

While Mia understood, the others looked puzzled. Mickey thought he knew but, since his great aunt kept surprising him lately, thought it best not to assume anything.

Julie stood and before addressing Finola, briefly glanced at Tony, then asked, “Aintin, would a walk outside be good?”

“Oh, mo stor; that’s just what I was thinking.”

“Ian, mo ghra, would you be a love and pour a bit more Hennessey for everyone. It might not be a bad idea to offer Tony a sip or two. Hennessey or water. Makes no difference to me. We’ll be back shortly.”

Outside, they began the short walk to the old stone bench that sat beneath the Hawthorne tree. “You know, Jules, my Finn planted this tree when we built this house. We chose the Hawthorne because of its fragrant aroma. He made this bench and carved our initials in it.”

“I think you both made the right choice. The tree is perfect, and the aroma is breathtaking.”

Finola smiled and said, “I often sit out here. It relaxes me.”

She gently caressed Julie’s hair and said, “I’m going to tell you what I have in mind for Tony. If you don’t approve, we’ll think of something else.”