Page 29 of Upside Down Magic

“I’mnot putting you in a cat’s body.”

Shecackled. “That’smy offer.Catcafé visit for my vast knowledge.”

Ifigured it couldn’t hurt.Plus, cats were cute.Grandmahad been allergic, butIremember playing with the neighbor’s whenIwas a kid. “Wehave a deal.”

“Doesyour question have to do withBrimstone’svisit and the young wolf’s misadventure while delivering your ugly new couch?”

“Ofcourse not,”Ilied, knowingIwasn’t fooling anyone but having to try.

Bagleysnorted. “Itotally believe you.Whatdo you want to know?”

“Havethere been any incidents in the past where paranormals’ magic got screwed up?”

“Idon’t know.Havethere?”

“Doyou want to go to a cat café?”

Shecackled again. “Can’ttake a joke still.Sucha pity.Yes, child,Ido remember a story about something similar happening.Itwas before my time, though, soIdon’t have all the details.”

“Iheard two versions of it.Onesays a paranormal inMontelwas affected, the other had to do with the old dark coven inOlmeda.Whichis it?”

“Oh, definitely the oldOlmedacoven,” she said with relish. “Suchan impressive group of witches.Istudied them in detail, you know?”

Abunch of evil witches using unwilling blood to create spells?Ofcourse she did. “I’munsurprised.”

“Youshould always study those with power,” she chided. “Plentyof lessons to be learned from them.”

“Anddid you learn anything?”

“I’lllet you decide for yourself,” she answered in a downright evil tone.

“Youdidn’t start a coven, though,”Ipointed out.Orhad she, andIwas unaware?Ifought to hide the sting of anxiety the thought produced.Butno,Bagleyhad had one evil assistant and that was that.

“Idecided against using their tactics,”Bagleysaid as if she were shrugging.

“Howcome?”Iasked, curious in spite of myself.

“Theygot caught, didn’t they?”

“Goodpoint.Doyou know about the magical issue then?”

“Onlysaw mentions of it.”

Bagleywas being strangely helpful, butI’dworry about that later. “Doyou know who might?”

Shesighed heavily. “Don’tthey teach any kind of critical thinking at schools these days?TheCouncil, child.Theywere the ones who dismantled the coven.”

“Andif there is any information, it’ll be in theCouncil’srecords inMontel,”Ifinished.JustasIhad guessed.

“Dingding ding.”

“Thankyou,Ms.Bagley, you’ve been very helpful.”

“Don’tforget to take me to the cats,” she exclaimed asIreturned upstairs.

Itappeared a visit toMontelwas in order.

Ianarrived withRufusasIfinished my call withBrimstoneto cover shifts tomorrow, then he helped me move the sofa fully into the living room.

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