MIDNIGHT MAGIC - ch 8

MIDNIGHT MAGIC – ch 8

Julie

(*)(*)(*)

It was at that point, Ian gulped the rest of his Hennessey and reached for the bottle. “Anyone else want another shot? What I just drank was to calm the shock of everything we’ve just learned and now, the second? For pride and celebration!! I have a daughter!”

Brian grinned. “Not so fast, brother. I claimed her as my daughter, first.”

Ian laughed again and stated, “Only an adopted daughter but she’s mine now! All right and legal!”

As Julie shyly lowered her eyes and blushed, she was startled when Midnight screeched, her back arched with the hair on her back standing on edge.

Finola stood. “Yes, Midnight, I feel it, too. Mickey, take Jules upstairs. She knows which room. Don’t come down until I call you. Go!”

Without question or hesitation, Mickey grabbed his wife’s hand and quickly made their way to the second floor.

Mia, quickly, knowing what was coming, used her hand and within a few seconds had the extra dishes washed and put away. She felt rather than looked at the concern and split emotions bouncing around in her familiar’s mind. She placed a gentle hand on Midnight’s head and said, “Go. Go be with Julie. She needs you. We’ll be fine here. I trust you.”

Midnight ran and eased her way through the opening seconds before Mickey closed and locked the door. They sat on the settee with Midnight in the lap of the new but terrified bride.

“Mickey,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry. I should have been more careful. I didn’t think he’d find me so quickly. I really thought I’d have time to hide. Oh, god! What have I done?”

He put his arms around her, hugged her tightly and said, “Jules, I promise you, I will not allow him or anyone to ever hurt you. I would rather he show up and find you. Let him see our power. Let him know that if he tries to hurt you, he’ll hurt more. Look at me, Jules.”

She looked into his eyes and saw fierce determination and something that calmed her fears. “Mickey? I, I want to say that I feel scared but suddenly, I feel, well, a bit calmer but I feel something I can’t explain. It’s not fear but it still scares me. Mickey, I’m so cold.”

He pulled the throw blanket off the back of the settee and wrapped it around her shoulders.

“I have an idea.” He stood, and as he outstretched his arms, said aloud,

“Windows and walls, prevent outsiders to hear.

Allow no foes to enter here.

Prevent them from knowing,

Blind them to see.

So, I desire it; so, mote it be.”

He then pulled out Finola’s large dressing mirror and sheepishly looked at his bride. “Try not to laugh. I haven’t used a scrying mirror in ages. Let’s hope I don’t mess it up.”

She sat silently, and while comforted her new family would protect her, couldn’t help but wonder what other surprises she soon learn.

She heard Mickey say,

“Mirror, my friend, we need to know

what’s happening with the man we call foe.

He’s about to invade our happy place.

We need to see him, know his face.

Show who he is and allow us to hear.

Keep us hidden from his eyes and ear.

Mirror, my friend, allow this for me. So, I desire it; so, mote it be.”

They watched as the mirror began to fog. Within seconds, it cleared and Julie with Mickey, once again sitting beside her, watched what was happening on the floor below.

Someone was knocking on the front door. Before she opened it, Finola raised her hands over her head and spun around once. Her nephews and their wives were aghast at Finola’s new image. Where an elegantly sixty-something woman had stood, now they saw a much older woman who was bent, her hair long and stringy. The young rosy glow of her cheeks gave way to an almost pasty-gray color. She looked at her family, winked, smiled, then opened the door.

“Can I help you?” she inquired with a crackled voice.

The young man was somewhat started. For a reason he couldn’t explain, he never expected such an older woman.

“Uh, yeah, I hope so.” he answered. He pulled from his shirt pocket, a photo of Julie. Then continued, “I’m looking for my daughter. She ran away from home, and I learned she made her way here to Ireland. I want to find her and bring her home. Her mama misses her.”

Julie whispered, “Mickey, he’s not my father. I have no idea who that man is.”

He squeezed her hand. “Jules, you don’t need to whisper. He can’t hear us. I know Aintin will take care of him. Let’s listen.”

“There’s only one young woman here, young man and she’s my great-granddaughter.”

With that, a very pregnant-looking Mia came waddling out of the bathroom and with a thick Irish brogue said,. “Oh, grandmam, I swear! This baby better come out soon! I’m so tried of sitting on the bowl. I doubt I have any fluid left in my body!”

Morena patted the seat next to her. “Come here, mo mhuirnin (my darling). Sit between your pap and me. Maybe Aintin and Uncle can amuse us while granny is busy.”

Julie looked at the door and said, “Oh grandmam, I’m sorry. Didn’t realize you were having more company.”

Finola said, “I’m not. He’s looking for his daughter who’s run away.”

She turned to the man at the door and declared that she’d never seen his daughter. “Sorry, I can’t help you, young man, but as you can see, there’s no one else here but my family.”

Without a word, he turned to go, and she watched as he used his cell phone. She twirled her finger in the air and listened. “Yeah, Tony, she’s not here. The only person here is some old crone who looks like she’s got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. Yeah, I’ll keep looking. There are two more houses on this road. I’ll find her. Don’t worry.”

He got in his car and drove away – for now.