MIDNIGHT MAGIC - ch 26

MIDNIGHT MAGIC – ch 26

Julie

(*)(*)(*)

Julie was never a vindictive person but this time, she was enjoying his groveling. She almost pitied him – almost!

“I do have a few more questions if no one minds.”

Brian answered, “Hon, I think I can speak for all of us. Ask whatever you’d like. I’m sure we’re all interested in what he has to say.”

“Okay, then, Tony, you said I would have made ‘Lucky Thirteen’ but I’m curious as to how many years you and your family spent, uh, acquiring your, uh, house guests.”

“I guess sometime around twenty. My father started it long before my brother and I even knew about it.”

Midnight screeched loudly and it didn’t take a witch to understand the shock in the growl.

“What happened to those women?”

“Before my mother died, she made him promise to release them. He did, for a while. When I turned thirteen, he gifted me with a girl, well, she was about, I’m guessing twenty, maybe twenty-one. He did the same for Teddy. Women became regular visitors at the house, but then about five years later, he came up with this idea that we needed permanent women in the house. A variety, he said, and told us what to do. We never thought much about it, only that it would probably be fun.”

“Your mother knew?” Mia asked in shock.

“Yeah, she wasn’t happy about it but as long as dad left her alone, she ignored the whole thing.”

“So, then, how many women did you slap around into submission?”

Tony lowered his head. Suddenly he felt ashamed. “All of them but it was only for a few days. Then my father got the idea of the drugs. Once you said you were pregnant, you hardly touched any food or drinks I gave you saying you had to be on a strict diet. I’m sorry, Julie, really sorry I hit you.”

“Hit me? Tony, you beat the living crap out me. I’m surprised I didn’t lose the baby! You want forgiveness? I can forgive the child you had been, but the adult? You knew better, and yet you willingly went along with the kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, and rape that you put us through.” The more Julie spoke, the more upset she became, until Mickey stood and pulled her into his arms. As he stroked her back, he spoke quietly and gently, “Jules, we can fix it, There are other spells to incapacitate him. Just say the word.”

They heard Midnight hissing and growling but only Mia and Finola heard her ask, “Please Aintin. He really deserves a very large scratch.” Mia looked at her cat and waved her finger to indicate “no.”

Julie shook her head. “No, Mickey. Like Aintin said, “harm none.” I truly believe that Aintin has the right idea.” He lifted her chin, so she’d look into his eyes. “Jules, once he’s gone from here. He’s gone for good. Can you live with that? With what Aunt Finola has planned? Can you be happy – wait! Let me rephrase that. Do you think you’d allow me to try and make you happy?”

Midnight slowly walked to Julie and began rubbing her head against Julie’s leg.

Julie wrapped her arms around Mickey’s neck and said, “Oh, Mickey, you already do and yes, as long as you’re around, I think I’ll be fine.” She turned to Finola and asked, “Aintin, is there any way you can doctor up a glass of wine that I could have that won’t hurt the baby?”

Finola smiled, poured the wine, snapped her fingers over the goblet and handed it to Julie. “There you, go, mo stor. Now, let’s finish this.”

Turning to Tony, she continued. “Tony, I know how Monty planned on getting Julie back to America. He told us that he had someone create a fake passport for her. Your orders are to fly those women here, so tell us all, do you have passports for them?”

“Of course. That’s the first thing we do when we, uh, acquire them. This way, when we travel, we can take one or all with us.”

“Good, then when you get home, this is what you’ll do. You’ll first greet your father and brother. You’ll give each a handshake and hug. You’ll tell them you’re taking the women on a trip. They won’t argue. In fact, they’ll be eager to help you. Pack what they need, including their passports, and get them to the Dublin Airport as soon as possible. Mia and I will meet you there. Once all the women are safely with us, I’ll cast another spell to keep you as far from Ireland as possible. Do you understand?”

“Yes; I do.”

“Since Monty took the car you both arrived in, my niece, Mia will take you to the airport and make sure you’re on the first plane to New York. Any questions?”

“No, ma’am.”

Brian almost jumped out of his chair. “Aunt Finola, I don’t think she should be alone with him.”

Finola and Mia stared at Brian.

“Really, dad? Are you kidding me? You don’t think, that with my powers, I can’t handle him?”

“Brian, with the spells he’s under, there is no way he’d even have any evil thoughts towards Mia. She’s safer with him than she was when that Dwyer boy was around. And she solved that problem, didn’t she?”

Brian sat. “Yeah, sorry. Mia, I keep forgetting you’re not my little baby girl anymore.”

Everyone chuckled but understood his emotions.

Mia looked at Finola and asked, “I know you can read my mind but no one else can. How do we get the women back here. With eight, plus you and me, we’d have to make several trips, and there are too many for the leys.”

“Mia, mo ghra. Your next lesson will take place tonight. Tonight, you’ll learn about portals!”