Cat's Night Out: Tails from the Federal Witch Read online

  Contents

  Grandmother Blackmore

  Camilla's Obsession

  Good things, Small Packages

  Don’t Feed the Unicorn!

  Trick or Treat

  Prancer

  Jacks on the Run!

  Cat's Night Out

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Copyrights

  Author Notes

  Some friends of mine

  More Books by the Author

  Grandmother Blackmore

  T S Paul

  This story takes place after Agatha’s seventh Birthday party and the collapse of her mother.

  “I can’t take her. Look what happened to her own mother! No. I won’t put my own family at risk.”

  “Camilla, she is your family don’t you understand?”

  “No means no mother. She is too dangerous. You take her.”

  I stood back and stared at my daughter. “Fine. I will take and raise her as my own. She is family after all.”

  Camilla looked at me with a frown on her face and turned away. It was all I could do to just shake my head at her. Her own sister's child. Speaking of the child… I looked around and spotted young Agatha sitting on the porch. She was talking to something on the table.

  “Make me bigger again!”

  “I can’t. I don’t know the spell. I tried to fix you once and your shrank, remember?”

  The small unicorn paced the table in front of the small Witch child. “I hate being small, change me back. Please?”

  “Agatha, dear?” She looked up at my voice with sad eyes. “Who is your friend?”

  “I’m not sure what his name is. He doesn’t like me.” She peered down at the small unicorn.

  I gave the obviously male Unicorn a look. “Well? Do you have a name?”

  “Who the hell are you? Of course, I have a name. My name is Fergus.”

  “Well Fergus my name is Marcella Blackmore, and this is my granddaughter Agatha. What are we to do with you? Hmmm?”

  “You look like a big shot Witch. Change me back, make me big again!” Fergus stomped his feet on the table and marched around in a circle.

  “You are the first talking Unicorn I have ever met, and I have met a few. Let me explain something about Witches and spells. Small cantrips or household spells can be performed by any Witch. Those are well known and reversible. Original or larger spells are almost impossible to reverse. Only the Witch that laid the spell can remove it. Especially those that are cast instinctively. If I tried bad things might happen, such as you being turned into a cabbage.”

  “So I’m stuck like this? Crap! This is why my people hate Witches and humans. Always screwing around, with the natural order of things. I’m hungry. Got any hay around?”

  “Agatha, why don’t you take Fergus into the house and show him the guest room you like the best?”

  “OK grandmother.” She scooped the protesting Unicorn up and ran into the house. I watched her go and sighed. I sat in the chair Agatha vacated and grabbed the phone from the table.

  Dialing the number from memory, I called Cappy first. “Cappy this is Marcella Blackmore.”

  “Yes, Mrs. Blackmore.”

  “I have my granddaughter Agatha here at the house with me. She is going to live here in case anyone asks.”

  “Is that the same girl who shrank the Unicorn the other day?”

  “It is. Camilla refuses to take her, and no granddaughter of mine will go to humans to raise. She stays with family.”

  “Yes, Ma’am. I will spread the word if anyone asks. I’m sure you can control her Magick.”

  “That is correct Cappy. Thank you for your time.” I hung up and stared at the phone. Cappy was like the town crier. He would spread any sort of gossip all over the county. Better than a newspaper.

  “Is he coming here for me? Did mommy die?” I looked down to see little Agatha at her feet with tears in her eyes. Quickly I went down on my knees.

  “No, dear. Your mother is just sick. Nothing's your fault.”

  “But, but, Auntie Camilla said… She said it was all my fault!” The dam of tears broke free, and the little girl began to sob and cry.

  By all that is holy, I should eject that girl from the coven! ‘Camilla, what did you do?’ Inside I was fuming. Glancing to the left, I watched as the candle display near the door began to melt on its own. I tried to reign in both my anger and my power.

  Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly and smiled at Agatha. “Little one, none of this is your fault. You are a Witch from a long line of Witches. Our ancestors defeated evil the likes of which would scare people like your Aunt. Witches are expected to do great magic, and those of our line are some of the greatest. Ignore her.”

  Agatha gave me a big hug which almost brought me to tears myself. Neither of my own daughters hugs me anymore.

  I brushed the silky black strands of hair out of her face and kissed her forehead. “Dry those tears young lady. We have a great many things to do today that doesn't require tears. Where did you leave Fergus?”

  “I put him in the dollhouse. He’s mean! What did I do to him that was wrong?” The tears started to come out again.

  Taking my fingers, I wiped them away and gave her a smile. “He’s just upset. Like you, he had a shock today. Come along and let’s see what he’s up to. There are lots of breakable things in this house.”

  I stood and took Agatha’s hand. The stairs were a bit too steep for a child such as this. “Wait here a moment dear,” I said a small prayer to my Goddess and spoke a word of power.

  “Whee! Grandmother, I’m flying!” The young girl levitated up to the second-floor landing.

  I had to smile. My own girls loved that the most. I grew sad thinking of them. I forced a smile for the young girl. “Did you like that?”

  “I did! Let’s do it again!”

  Chuckling at her enthusiasm, I scooped her up and held her in my arms. “We will another time. I promise! Now, which room did you go too?”

  Agatha led me down the hall to the room at the end. The door was already ajar, and we could both hear a growl. Oh, no! Zeus! I jerked the door open and stopped just inside the room.

  Zeus was a Savannah Cat, specially bred to be trainable like a dog and much bigger than the average house cat. Much bigger. He was on his hind legs, paws flat on the dresser, growling at the mini Unicorn perched on the very top of my mother’s antique mirror.

  “Zeus! Down!” The cat gave Fergus a final growl and put his feet on the ground. We both received a glare as he swished his way out of the room tail in the air.

  “Grandmother your cat is huge! Does he bite?” Agatha’s eyes were wide open.

  “He only bites Camilla, so you are safe dear one.”

  I turned to stare at the Unicorn. “By the Gods how did you get up there?”

  “I jumped! Nobody said anything about Lions being loose in the house! Change me back!”

  Unicorns. I shook my head ‘no’ as I reached up for him. “I told you, Fergus. That is almost impossible for me to do and not harm you. However, I will make you a deal.”

  The Unicorn stepped into my hand and looked up at me. “What sort of deal?”

  “If you behave and stay here with us I will send for the best magical detectives in the business. I will do everything in my power to find help for you. Do we have a deal?”

  “I have to stay here. With that Lion out there? No deal!” The small Unicorn nipped my finger, so I dropped him.

  “Aieee!” He screamed as he fell about five feet to the floor where he bounced like a ball and rolled under the dresser.

  “Why
the freaking hell did you do that? Can’t you see I’m breakable? Crazy ass witches.”

  “Fergus.” Silence.

  “Fergus! Come out here right now.” I bent down to look under the dresser.

  “No! You tried to kill me!”

  “Are you dead?”

  “No…”

  “Do you have broken bones or any injuries at all?”

  “No. What did you do to me? Is this some kind of trick?”

  I waved the Unicorn closer. “Fergus, when animals are affected by magic they can change in many ways. One of these is they become immune to magic and are indestructible. You can still die from disease or old age, but you cannot be harmed externally. Do you understand what I mean by that?”

  “What do I look like a donkey? My parents educated me. Thank you very much! I know what that means. Duh. So the cat can’t eat me?”

  “Well he can still swallow you, but chewing isn’t possible. Don’t let him do any of that. It might hurt him.”

  “Hurt him?” The Unicorn shuddered. “That might scare me half to death!”

  I grabbed him and set him on top of the bed. “So how did you really get all the way up there?” I pointed to the mirror.

  “Already told you. I jumped. Do you have any hay around here?” He began to trot back and forth across the bed much to the delight of Agatha.

  “There may be some out in the garden. I will round up something for you later.”

  I turned back to Agatha. “Is this the dollhouse?”

  “Yes, Grandmother. Did he damage it?”

  “It doesn’t look like it. This was once your great-great-great-great Grandmother’s room. The dollhouse belonged to her. Many of the things in this room were hers. Would you like this to be your new room?” My gaze fixated upon a small box on the dresser. For just a split second it gleamed at me.

  “Can it? Oh, Grandmother! It’s beautiful.” She scooped up Fergus. “Isn’t it beautiful Fergus?”

  “Yeah, kid. Beautiful. Not a single strand of hay in sight.”

  I glanced back at the box and opened it. A dusty bag lay in the center. I must have been imagining things I thought to myself as I closed the box. I moved it off the dresser and placed it in the curio cabinet near the door. I was snapping the lock closed as Agatha came over.

  “Grandmother, what’s in there?” She pointed.

  “That is some family heirlooms that belonged to my Grandmother. One day I will show you. But not today, OK?” She nodded at me but continued to stare.

  “Good. Let’s go find some food for the starving beast, shall we?”

  Fergus stopped running and froze. “Beast? Where?”

  Agatha giggled. “She means you, dummy!”

  She scooped him up just as he said “oh.”

  The stairs were easier to go down than up for Agatha. I saved my power for more important things. Still smiling I led the both of them through the house to the garden outside.

  “I have very few rules in my house, but this is a big one. Never go into the garden alone. This is the oldest Witch's garden on this side of the world. It has been here ever since we came to this country with Sir Walter Raleigh in 1585. Our ancestors were here first before any of our brethren. Later when this town was first founded our ancestors allowed it to happen and helped the colonists to establish themselves. There is ancient magick here, child. Respect it.”

  “Yes, Grandmother. I will.” She looked around at the flowers and herbs.

  “Fergus. What did you eat?”

  I looked at Agatha but no Unicorn. Scanning the garden, I spotted the little devil eating my prized Zinnias!

  “Stop! Those are not food!”

  Chewing a mouthful of flowers the Unicorn froze. “Mmmmph?”

  “Yes, you. Stop eating my flowers or being small is the least of your worries!”

  The Unicorn spat out the flowers and started to apologize. I waved him off. “I have a collection of grasses over here. You may graze till your heart's content on two conditions. Never eat all of one kind and leave my flowers alone. Got it?”

  He nodded.

  “Good. Let me show you. Agatha, these are all cooking herbs here in this part of the garden. Nothing here in this small section can hurt you.” I pointed to the small garden gate that said kitchen herbs. A thatched fence bordered the area complete with a picnic table and play area.

  “There is your grass Fergus.” I pointed to the play area.

  I lowered myself to my knees. “This is the only part of the garden you are allowed for now. It is completely safe for the both of you. Understand?” She nodded to me.

  “Wonderful. As you get older, I will introduce you to the rest of it.”

  I spent the rest of the afternoon teaching her the name of the herbs and telling her their uses. She and Fergus were tired out by the end of the day.

  After I had put her to bed, I watched her sleep. Fergus was curled up on a pillow next to her. I spoke to my daughter Teegan. ‘She is unique Teegan. Your daughter will be a marvel when she grows up.’ I sent prayers of healing toward the hospital where my daughter resided. Ignorance aside, the reason for her illness was fatigue and heartbreak. Her husband had been her entire life, and now he was gone. I blew out a breath. What am I going to do with a seven-year-old around here?

  A flash of light startled me out of my thoughts. I turned and looked behind me. The curio cabinet was glowing!

  It was with wide eyes that I removed my Grandmother’s enforcer bracelet from the bag it had resided in for over twenty-five years. It was glowing.

  I closed the cabinet and removed myself to my study downstairs. The bracelet had never glowed for a member of the family in living memory.

  What am I to do with you now? I stared at the now dull colored bracelet. It never reacted to me, so it has to be Agatha. Did it mean that she was destined to be an enforcer or did it mean something else? I needed a seer, and I needed one as soon as possible.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~

  I looked at the boxes stacked in the foyer and smiled. This year was going to be special. I could remember the good years with my husband and the girls playing and dancing beneath the tree. A small tear rolled down my cheek. I shook my head and wiped my face. Those days were long gone. I had a new voice and breath of freshness in the house now. I needed to move forward and start living for the future again. So much to do, so little time. It was time to call in the coven and put them to work.

  “Grandma, are we moving?” I looked down, and Agatha stood at my feet.

  Reaching down, I brushed her hair from her eyes. “No, little one. It will be Yule soon, and these contain all the decorations. Do you want to help put them up?”

  My little granddaughter has the biggest smile, and she graced me with it. “Yes, please.”

  I stepped over to the largest box and started to pull out several clear plastic cases filled with ornaments. “Sometime today, Cappy will join us. He went over to the Three Sisters Farm to pick out a tree for us. I told her that the Sanderson sisters always keep a nice one back for me. When we get it set up, you and Fergus can help me decorate. Does that sound good to you?”

  “Can I? Momma never lets me help. Daddy… Daddy told me that when I was older, I could help.”

  “You miss them don’t you, dear?”

  Agatha sniffed. “I miss my mommy.”

  Giving her a big hug, I squeezed her to me. “Honey, we can go see her if you like. She’s not too far away.”

  “OK. Is Auntie Camilla going to be there too?”

  “Do you want her to be?”

  Agatha put her head back down and hid her face. A muffled “No,” could be heard. It was all I could do not to curse my daughter’s name. She had terrified this little one so much.

  I held her away from my body so I could see her face. “The coven is coming this afternoon to decorate. I want you to help. Afterward, we can talk about going to see Teegan, your mommy. Does that suit you dear?”

  She nodded her head at me.

&
nbsp; “Good. Now where did you leave that rascal of a Unicorn?”

  ~~~~~~

  “Tally Ho!” Fergus put his head down and charged his attacker. The field mouse riding the crow dodged him and tried to stab him with its lance.

  Dancing to one side Fergus yelled. “You missed me!”

  He had been eating some choice hay in the garden and watching out for hawks. When suddenly he was attacked by a mouse dressed in armor riding a large crow.