Chapter 8

At six in the morning, his head pounding from too much caffeine and not enough sleep, Jared crossed from New York into Connecticut. Bleary-eyed, he checked his odometer. Since leaving New Orleans, he’d driven over a thousand miles stopping only long enough for a short nap, fast food, coffee, gas, and one speeding ticket.

How far north is the bastard going? Jared drove into a gas station with a convenience store and parked. He ran his hands over his face. The refresh charms had stopped working, and his body was telling him he seriously needed sleep.

He picked up the mirror on the seat next to him. He hadn’t received any taunts from Adam in quite some time. “Show me Philippe.” He blinked in surprise when a sign for the Pier Point, Connecticut, ferry landing filled the glass. What the hell? The image changed to show him Philippe being helped by Adam and another man into what looked to be a private boat. As he watched, Adam turned, gave him a salute, grinned, and boarded the vessel.

“Fuck you,” Jared growled into the mirror, as the boat pulled away from the dock. He peered closer and read “Omnipotence” in bold black across the boat’s stern. The words below made the hair on the back of his neck rise. If he remembered his Latin correctly, Dominus Laevusthe translated into something like master of the left, or sinister, hand, weird dark magic.

“Merde,” he cursed, climbing out of his car to pump some gas.

“How far is the Pier Point ferry landing?” Jared asked the young man behind the counter.

“About an hour and a half, maybe more,” he replied as he rang up Jared’s dark chocolate bar, black coffee, and a canned espresso shot.

Jared glanced at a clock shaped like a beer can. Six-thirty.

“You won’t make the morning ferry,” the young man added as he handed Jared his change.

“Why not?”

“Because it leaves at eight o’clock.” He glanced out the window at Jared’s black Porsche and smiled. “Or maybe you will.”

An hour and thirty-three minutes later, Jared swore a string of French as he watched the ferry pull away from the landing. “Great, now what?” The smell of the ocean greeted him as he got out of the car. A brisk wind chilled him to the bone.

He flicked his wrist and a black leather jacket and gloves appeared. This sure as hell wasn’t New Orleans. As he slipped on the jacket, he scanned his surroundings. Weak sunlight pierced the morning fog swirling above the choppy gray water. He passed fishing and pleasure boats as he headed for a small clapboard building at the end of the long wooden pier.

Welcoming warmth surrounded him as he stepped through the weathered doorway of the ferry office. A pretty thirty-something woman whose name tag read “Mary Beth” smiled at him from behind the ticket counter.

“The wind has a bite to it this morning, doesn’t it?”

Jared nodded. “Yes, it does.”

“If you’d like some, there’s hot coffee over there.” She pointed to a table where a pot and Styrofoam cups sat on a tray. “There’s sugar, but I only have powdered creamer.”

“Thanks.” He helped himself to the dark brew. “When does the next ferry leave?”

“Which one? We have two.”

He paused, his coffee cup half way to his lips. “Do they go to the same place?”

She shook her head. “One goes to Dog Island and the other to Black Island.”

Adam had taken a private boat. Would the mirror tell him which island he’d gone to? While he was debating what he should do, she interrupted his thoughts.

“Are you going to an inn or a bed-and-breakfast? Perhaps I can help if you tell me the name.”

He hesitated. How much should he reveal? If she were a friend of Adam’s, he didn’t want to tip his hand. “Actually, I’m supposed to meet my brother, and I lost the island information.”

Her smile widened. “My eight-year-old is always losing things. Just the other day we spent hours searching for his toothbrush and finally found it in the dog’s bed. Can you imagine? He was going to brush the dog’s teeth with his own brush.”

Jared chuckled. “I did the same thing, but I used my brother’s toothbrush.”

Memories of him and Philippe growing up played through his mind—their discovery of magic and all the trouble they’d gotten into. They’d enhanced the Dupre Hotel’s reputation for being haunted by making frogs leap from water glasses in the dining room or making the chandelier in the lobby sway. When they’d levitated a customer’s suitcase across the floor, their mother had taken a switch to them both. In their teens, their mischief-making included other Wiccan boys who, like them, couldn’t resist playing pranks on their mortal classmates.

When had his brother fallen in with a crowd that wasn’t just playing pranks? Why hadn’t he noticed Philippe’s interest in magic was going down the wrong path?

“The things boys will do,” Mary Beth concluded bringing his thoughts back to the present.

“I think my brother said something about a friend having a boat called the Omnipotence. Have you heard of it?”

She nodded. “Sure, that’s Adam Montief’s boat. Is your brother enrolled in the academy on Black Island?”

Jared’s brows rose, his instincts telling him to be cautious with his reply. “I’m not sure. I got a call from my brother telling me to meet him here.”

“The academy is a private boys’ school run by the Montiefs. Perhaps that’s where you’re supposed to go. Unfortunately, there isn’t another ferry for Black Island until eleven o’clock.”

Jared tried to control his impatience, but his irritation must have shown.

“You see it takes at least thirty-five minutes to reach the island,” she continued. “Then they have to unload the supplies and make the return trip. If you had gotten here a few minutes sooner, you could have caught the eight o’clock ferry.”

“Is there any other way to get there?” he asked.

She nodded. “By private boat.” She hesitated. “If you don’t mind me saying, you look as if you’ve been traveling for quite a while. Where ya from?”

“New Orleans.” He grinned and scratched his beard stubble. “Am I that bad? I’ve been in a hurry to get here, and I haven’t had a chance to clean up.”

“Don’t worry about it. You should see some of the fisherman when they come in. I’ve always wanted to visit the Big Easy. They say real witches live there. Is that true?”

Jared smiled. “There’s magic of all kinds in New Orleans. Whether it’s caused by witches,”—he shrugged—“who knows.”

She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “You know people say we have witches living right on Black Island. Rumor has it strange things go on at that academy.”

Jared tossed his empty cup in the trash. “Really? Like what?”

Before she replied she glanced around the room as if they might be overheard. “Weird colored lights have been seen flickering in the sky over the compound. And they say once the boys go through the gates they’re never seen again.” She bit her lower lip. “And sometimes screams can be heard.” Mary Beth stood up straight. “But I can’t believe any of that’s true. The Montiefs are such nice men. I think some people have nothing better to do than talk about folks who are different.”

Jared tamped down the sense of urgency washing over him. He needed to keep a cool head. He had to get to the island and he wasn’t waiting until eleven o’clock to do so. Stepping closer, he gave Mary Beth his friendliest grin. “As you say, I’ve come a long way, and I’d rather not wait until the next ferry. Is there anyone I can hire to take me out to Black Island?”

She blinked a couple of times, smiled, and fluffed her hair. “Well, let me think. There’s Rudi.” She shook her head. “No, he’s gone to Boston. And Brock has already taken his fishing boat out.”

“I’m not choosy. Any kind of boat will do.”

“If you’re sure you’re not particular about the boat, and you’re willing to pay for the ride, I’ll bet Oscar could use the extra money. If you’d like, I’ll give him a call.”

“Yes, please do.”

“I have to warn you, Oscar is a little…” She hesitated. “Well, kind of strange.”

As long as he had a boat, Jared didn’t care if he was a one-eyed troll. “Strange is okay.”

“Don’t get me wrong, he’s a great guy. People just think he’s spent too much time alone on the water. He’ll talk your ear off with the most outrageous stories if you let him.”

“Thanks for the warning, but I’m sure we’ll get along just fine.”

While she made the call, Jared poured himself another cup of coffee. He’d already had so much of the damn stuff he’d probably never sleep again.

“Okay, you’re in luck. Oscar said he’ll be right over.”

“Thanks a lot. I really appreciate your help.”

“No problem. Now, I’m going to sound like your mother and ask if you’ve eaten lately.”

He shook his head. “I had a candy bar earlier, but I’m all right.”

“It’s going to take Oscar at least a half hour to forty-five minutes to get his gear and get over here. At the end of the road is a diner. How about I call in and order some sandwiches for you. By the time you walk over there and eat, Oscar will be ready to go.”

“I don’t know.” But as he said the words his stomach growled and he laughed. “Okay, it sounds as if my stomach thinks food is a good idea. Thanks. By the way, what do I do with my car while I’m on the island?”

“Leave it parked in the lot. They only allow bikes on the island, and everyone who lives out there parks here. I assume you have a cell phone?”

He patted his pockets. When was the last time he’d tried to call Kendra? The phone wouldn’t work, so he’d…damn, he remembered angrily tossing it out the window somewhere in Maryland. Conjuring an electronic device could be tricky. “I must have lost it. Do you know where I could buy one?”

“Next to the diner there’s a general store. They have a little of everything. Perhaps they’d have one of those throwaway cell phones. On the island, the post office and the harbormaster’s house have landlines. Also, the businesses are the only places you’ll find electricity. The others use oil lamps or gas-powered generators.”

The consternation on his face made her laugh.

“Pretty primitive, I know. The people who live out there are no-frills nature types.” She paused. “Like I said, people say they’re all witches, but I think they’re kind of like the Amish.”

On his way back from the diner, Jared stopped off at his car to pick up his backpack. He slipped his knife into his boot. If there were witches on Black Island, and not knowing if they were friendly, or dark like Adam, he wanted to be prepared.

Exactly forty-five minutes later, Jared sat next to Oscar McBride, a weathered older man who wore his cap low over bushy brows and kept the stub of a cigar clamped between his teeth. The boat reeked of dead fish and looked as if it was held together with rust. They bounced and dipped over the waves while an icy wind blew through the open cabin windows. Jared wanted nothing more than to surround them both in a nice warm protective bubble but didn’t want to scare the old man into having a heart attack. So he gritted his teeth and hoped he didn’t freeze to death. He swore to himself once Philippe and he were back in New Orleans, he’d never go north again.

Seeming to read his thoughts, Oscar smiled at him from around his cigar.

“Nice brisk wind gets the blood movin’, don’t it?”

Jared nodded. “That it does.”

“Hah, you southern boys are too used to warm weather. Makes a man soft. Why, I’d say it’s at least forty degrees out here. Practically a heat wave. I’ve been out on the boat when it was twenty and the wind howling.”

“Is that right? Well, I’ve been in a hurricane or two. Does that count?”

Oscar chuckled. “I guess it does. You’re okay, son. Fog’s liftin’.” He pointed to a patch of blue sky just visible in the distance. “And there’s Black Island.” Again, he pointed.

Jared squinted through the mist to where a dark speck broke the flat horizon. He couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to live surrounded by water and so far from civilization.

Oscar, whose face took on a serious expression, asked, “You part of that Montief devil cult?”

Surprised at the question, Jared shook his head. Then, hoping to learn more about Adam, he said, “I don’t know the Montiefs or anything about a cult. My brother is on Black Island, and I’m going to see him. But I did hear people think witches live out there.” He studied Oscar’s face closely as he asked, “What do you think?”

Oscar shrugged. “I believe anything is possible. I can tell you most of them mind their own business and are harmless. It’s those Montiefs who are pure evil. For his sake, I hope your brother isn’t involved with that bunch.”

Pressing him further, Jared asked, “What makes you think the Montiefs are evil and part of a cult?”

With a pained expression, Oscar stared toward Black Island. He was silent for so long Jared wasn’t sure he’d heard the question. Then the old fisherman looked hard into Jared’s eyes. “Son, I’ve been on these seas for most of my life. I’ve seen strange happenings that can’t be explained. One thing I’ve seen is the devil himself in the eyes of those Montiefs. There are some who can lead folks into believing they’re good decent people and hide the darkness inside. Adam and his uncle are like that. As for you, I think there’s more to you than you’re letting on, but I also think you’re one of the good ones. Take my advice. Get your brother away from Black Island before it’s too late.”

Jared not only saw decades of wisdom in the faded blue eyes, but deep sorrow as well. He heightened his senses and probed deeper. Were there traces of magic?

As he pressed harder, Oscar spoke, “That’s enough, son. You’ve told me what I needed to know, and you’ve seen all you’re going to see.”

Jared scowled. “Why, you old coot. You knew I was a witch from the start.”

Oscar chuckled. “I had my suspicions. I wanted to make sure you weren’t part of Montief’s following.”

“And you let me freeze my ass off.” Jared flicked his hand and an invisible shield blocked the open windows.

Oscar’s grin widened. “Hey, cold air is good for you.”

“Yeah, whatever.” Jared slipped the gloves from his hands. “Now tell me what I need to know to get my brother away from the Montiefs.”

Oscar’s grin faded. Fear and concern filled his lined face.

“Depends on how much control they already have over him. Once the brainwashing is complete—I’m sorry, son—nothing can save him.”

Jared cocked his head. “I know it’s none of my business, but you sound as if someone you were close to was involved with Adam.”

Moisture gathered in Oscar’s eyes before he could blink it back. He sighed and took a deep breath. “It was my granddaughter, Rose. A kind child who brought home every stray and injured animal she found. She’d nurse them back to health and find them new homes. It seemed Rose would follow in her grandmother’s footsteps and be a gifted healer. Like me, she loved being out on the water. She used to say someday she and I would sail around the world. When she turned eighteen, she went to Black Island with friends. That’s where she met those devils.

“That bastard Adam seduced her and messed up her mind. She turned against her parents and me. I never had much power, but both my son and daughter-in-law have strong magic. They did their best to get her away from him, but his control was complete.

“They were desperate to try anything. One night three years ago, they ran into a boy Rose used to date, and who was part of the compound. They made up a story I was dying and thought Rose would want to know. The boy had enough goodness left in him he told Rose. Her love for me was still somewhere inside her, and she managed to leave the compound on her own.”

Tears flowed freely down his cheeks, and he didn’t attempt to brush them away.

Jared placed his hand on Oscar’s arm. “A couple of years ago, my brother got involved with a bad coven in New Orleans. So I understand some of what you’ve gone through.”

Oscar nodded and continued. “Her parents got her home without Adam following. They wanted to leave the island, but there was a storm. They locked themselves in and, after hours of pleading with Rose, thought they’d broken through his spell or whatever hold he had over her. She showed signs of clarity and remorse. Exhausted, they put her to bed, placed as many safety charms around her room as they could think of, and went to sleep.”

Oscar swallowed hard before he could continue. “The next day they got up, and Rose was gone. They found her body on the rocks below the compound. My son and his wife are convinced Adam broke through their charms somehow and got to Rose and took her back with him. The police concluded it was suicide. Whether she jumped or was pushed, we’ll never know. As for me, I’m convinced that son-of-a-bitch had something to do with her death.”

A steely determination filled Jared’s eyes. He’d gotten Philippe away from the Black Cross coven, and no matter what he had to do, he’d get him away from Adam as well. “I promise you I’ll do my best to destroy Adam Montief for what he did to Rose and for what he’s trying to do to my family, but I’m going to need your help.”

“My son, Jack, and his wife, Sylvia, run a small B&B on the island,” Oscar said. “I’m sure they’d be more than happy to help you. In fact, I radioed Jack I was coming, and if I’m not mistaken I see Sylvia waiting on the dock.”

Jared turned and saw an attractive tall dark-haired woman wearing a heavy corduroy coat and blue jeans.

“Hey, Pop, we didn’t expect to see you out this way,” Sylvia McBride said as she caught the line Oscar threw.

“Got me a young man I want you to meet.” Oscar nimbly jumped from the boat and helped secure the line. “This here is Jared. He came all the way from New Orleans to find his brother.”

As Jared shook Sylvia’s hand, he felt her magic and saw compassion in her deep brown eyes.

“And you think he’s here on Black Island?” she asked.

Jared nodded. “I know he’s with Adam Montief.”

Her mouth formed a thin line. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Let’s go to the house,” Oscar said. “We could both use a hot cup of coffee, and Jared can explain.”

“Sure thing,” she replied. “Jack’s cutting firewood and I have a pot of she-crab soup on the stove. It’s this way, Jared, just up the hill. Do you have a bag?”

“Only this.” He held up his backpack. “I’m going to need more clothes. Didn’t think I’d be gone this long.”

“No problem. There’s a general store.” She grinned. “But I have a feeling you can conjure your own.”