Honey smiled as she stepped around a pile of books that was wavering perilously. Leave it to the absent-minded professor to turn the darkest part of the library-bookshop into an obstacle course. But his enthusiasm was infectious, and what he had learned about Cauldron Falls may prove the key to solving Lily’s murder. She lit up with the prospect.
At last, they came to a small nook tucked into the furthest corner. Cobwebs draped the shelves, which held a collection of scrolls and leather-bound volumes. Clive’s eyes glittered with hope as he turned to Honey.
"Now, let's see what secrets these old pages hold, shall we?" He pulled an ancient torch sconce on the wall. With a grating rumble, one of the shelves swung open, revealing a hidden room shrouded in darkness.
Honey gasped, her eyes widening as Clive ushered her and Cona into the hidden room. Dust specks swirled in the beams of light that pierced the gloom. The walls were lined with shelves holding parchments, manuscripts, and strange relics that seemed to hum with latent power.
"This chamber contains the collected esoteric knowledge of all the secrets of Cauldron Falls for centuries," Clive explained, selecting a scroll and carefully unrolling it. "See here, this details the rituals and rites of initiation of the first settlers from Transylvania."
Honey leaned in, brows furrowing as she tried to decipher the elaborate calligraphy and arcane symbols. Clive launched into a rambling explanation of the town’s history, the escape from the vampires in Transylvania, and the brief uprising of dark magic in the century after its’ settling, pointing out key passages in the documents.
Cona sat beside him like a sculpture, listening intently to the history lecture.
"I remember reading something about the water of the falls in the fifth volume to the left, there on the wall," Clive said, adjusting his spectacles. “Will you hand it to me?”
Cona retrieved the book.
“Cauldron Falls is not only the keeper of the crafts of the old traditional magic, like brooms, hats, cloaks, and wands, but the crystal pool at the bottom of the waterfall is linked to something powerful. It’s got an underground source of magic that infuses the water with an unlimited amount of power. It’s good power, not evil. Theoretically, anything fed with the water from Cauldron Falls’ crystal pool should not be wicked or have dark magic properties.”
“So, what would cause good things, watered by the water, to mutate? Or what would cause anyone to want to turn our beautiful falls into something nasty and mean that could not only kill people but destroy our town?” Honey crumpled into a dusty, cobweb covered chair.
Clive crossed to her and patted her shoulder. “That question I can only imagine, my dear, is not hard to answer. Why does anyone ever do anything bad? For power, influence, fame or fortune. Or they’re just crazy. Or in love, or jealous.” Clive chuckled. “I guess it could be a multitude of reasons why someone would see fit to cross over to the dark side of magic. It’s very alluring, you know. Dark magic, when performed correctly, can actually give you a heightened sense of yourself, a high like no other. Did you know that?”
“I did not. And exactly how do you know that?” Honey squinted and furrowed her brow.
“My mistake, I have I implicated myself as a potential suspect. That was not my intent at all. If I must confess anything to you, it was that I am in love with Lily, and not the kind of love that could ever turn to hate.”
“What?” Honey was clearly shocked.
“Yes, hard to imagine an old warlock like me. But from the moment I saw her. I knew her, and she knew me. It was a connection I’ve never felt, and what my life, all these hundreds of years, was missing. I would never harm a hair on her beautiful blonde head. She was, well, if I may, she is the most magnificent witch I’ve ever known. She is my soul mate, and I only had her for a few weeks, but she is and will always be the love of my life.”
Honey saw the honesty in Clive’s eyes. The miserable that was once there replaced with love and grief. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you. I’ve still yet to determine what to do next. I wonder around in these archives reading, studying, and hoping to help you and Roam. To bring justice and closure for Lily. She knew she was in danger, you know.” Clive let out a long sigh. “I was just too in love to read the signs she was giving me.”
“What do you mean?” Honey asked.
“Oh, many things, if I think about it. But the biggest one happened the last time I was with her. She gave me this.” He dug in his pocket and pulled out a small round box. Clive popped open the lid and showed Honey what lay inside. Compartmentalized in four sections sat dozens of tiny seeds, all fed by a center bubble filled with water that dropped microscopic droplets into each compartment. The intricately carved gold box had its own eco system inside.
“Are these seeds from her orchard?” Honey asked.
“Yes, the very ones. She said she wanted me to keep them safe. They are seeds from the original trees of her ancestors. One section for each type of tree; apples, pears, almonds, and cherry.” Clive smiled as he peered at the box of seeds. “They were her children, you know. Her trees. The orchard. And Cona, of course. It was very ceremonial when she gave me the box. She presented it like the treasure that it was to her. Along with the gift of partnership, she gave me her blessing to take care of her trees, the farm, and Cona. She asked if I would like to be an orchardist. Silly me, I thought she was asking me to stay with her here in Cauldron Falls. To not return to the University next fall, when Colin and Gloria return to this shop. I didn’t realize she was truly giving me her orchard, protecting it in case…” Clive trailed off.
“What did you say to her?” Honey was wrapped in the tale of Clive and Lily’s love story. Her heart tugged with happiness and sorrow for the couple whose love was cut so short.
“I said, yes, what else would I say? I couldn’t possibly imagine my life without her. I had no intention of leaving her or Cauldron Falls.” Clive turned away from Honey, and back to the shelves, removing his spectacles and rubbing them with a cloth.
“And now?” Cona asked.
Clive swiveled toward the large Irish Wolfhound and smiled. Closing the space between himself and the dog, he ruffled the fur on Cona’s head. “It’s you and me, pal. We’ve got apples, and pears, cherries and almonds to grow.”
Stalled Expectations
Honeypacedthefloorof her parents' cozy living room, fidgeting with her curls as she thought. Roam leaned against the fireplace, his arms crossed over his chest, eyes narrowed in concentration. Honey muttered, her voice tinged with urgency. "We need to pay a visit to the other suspects. The ones Grumble mentioned."
Roam nodded, his gaze never leaving the flickering flames in the hearth. "Agreed. But we have to be cautious. We don't what to tip anyone off."
“Right. I think we can confidently mark Clive off our suspect list. He loved her, Roam. He wanted a life with her. And she loved him enough to give him her orchard, and her familiar. He’d have no motive to kill her.” Honey looked longingly at the panther Shifter she loved.
