Page 18 of A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poison

18

T hey returned to the greenhouse and worked in silence. Bisma needed to ask about Leilani, but how to do so without arousing Xander’s suspicions? He was unnaturally nosy and would only ask a hundred questions.

‘I’ve been thinking about who might be ordering the poisons to happen,’ Bisma said, keeping her tone casual. ‘A few months ago, I gave a client a slow-release poison for her husband. What if he found out and is trying to get revenge on me?’

Xander dropped what he was working on, his wide eyes focused solely on her.

She swallowed. So much for being inconspicuous.

Shaking his head, he rubbed a hand over his face. He stalked over to her table, stopping in front of her.

‘Good god , Bisma.’ He was angry, one of his eyes twitching. ‘This is why I say you should stay away from this poison business. You shouldn’t be getting involved with people like this! Making enemies!’

How dare he scold her!

‘Someone asked me for help!’ she said hotly, scowling. ‘I wouldn’t refuse them, and anyway, it’s my business.’

‘You can do business in other things!’ he exclaimed, refusing to back down.

‘I am a garden-witch! I make poisons!’

‘You don’t have to! You could make perfectly reasonable and harmless potions.’

She scoffed. ‘You know full well that is not an option, not as long as your family’s apothecary stands—as long as you continue to create in bulk and sell at lower prices. Why would anyone buy from me? But poisons are different.’

‘If you worked at the Apothecary, like I suggested, you wouldn’t have to worry about that.’

Her eye was twitching by then, as well. The gall of him! She glared at him and he shrank back a little.

‘Or you could work with me,’ he continued, his voice gentler. ‘We could be partners.’

She scoffed louder this time; she had a mind to stomp on his foot for even suggesting it!

‘You can’t just go around poisoning people, Bis!’ He was back to lecturing, waving his hands about dramatically. Indignation flared through her. His face was splotchy, his hair a mess. ‘See how it’s hurting you to see your loved ones poisoned, how do you think others feel?’

‘How dare you? He abused her; he deserved it!’ she snapped, her heart beating furiously fast. ‘Are you saying Deeba or Luna or Mei deserve to be poisoned? They’ve done nothing wrong! I’m not entirely heartless—I don’t just poison people for no reason, or sell to anyone with coin. Each client always explains their predicament to me and I refuse cases that I feel like are based purely on malice—but why am I explaining myself to you? You’ve clearly already made up your mind.’

Who was he to her that she needed his approval? His good opinion? He didn’t matter. She was wasting her breath, she knew she was, but, even so, it hurt that he thought so little of her.

She could bear everyone else thinking she was a monster, but not him.

It was just because they were working together, she told herself. They needed to be civil with one another.

But deep down she knew it was more than that.

‘I didn’t know all that,’ Xander said, sheepish now.

‘As much as you like to think so, Alexander, you don’t know everything.’ She turned her back to him, focusing back on her work. She heard him walking over to his table, and she stewed silently, itching for a fight.

If only he would yell at her, she could argue with him, but he said nothing. Even his last words had been calm. It gave her nowhere to direct this energy.

She took deep breaths, sinking her hands into the soil, making different herbs and plants for them to use in their research. Though she felt him watching her, she ignored him.

After a little while, when the worst of her emotions were gone, he finally spoke.

‘I’m sorry, Bis,’ he said, his voice gentle. ‘I judged you harshly. I shouldn’t have.’

‘Yes, you shouldn’t have,’ she said, not looking up.

‘I really am sorry,’ he said, coming to stand in beside her. She refused to look at him. ‘Bis,’ he said.

‘What?’ she snapped, finally turning to him.

‘I know you’re doing the best you can to take care of your sisters,’ he said. ‘I see now that you use your magic for good, to help people.’

His sincerity doused her anger like water over a flame. She hated how his validation made her feel, but she couldn’t ignore it.

‘I do just want to help,’ she said quietly.

‘I know that,’ he said, giving her a small smile. She felt warm. ‘I just wonder—and don’t bite my head off for this—but why not go to the authorities, have them deal with it?’

She sighed. ‘It isn’t so simple, nor so easy.’

‘Why ever not?’

‘People like you are taken seriously by the authorities,’ she said. He was rich, powerful, important. ‘But people like me … the people I help … we aren’t.’ These were women, the poor; those who were abused, overlooked, discarded, undervalued. ‘Sometimes you have to take things into your own hands.’

‘Oh.’ He considered this. ‘I’ve never thought of it that way.’

Of course he hadn’t. Why would he? But that wasn’t his fault, either; she knew that. It was getting harder and harder to be cruel to him, especially when he seemed so adamant on not being frightened away by her.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said again. ‘And thank you for explaining that to me, though it was not your duty to do so. You know I’ve—’ He broke off, suddenly shy.

That piqued her interest.

‘What?’

He laughed nervously before fixing his green eyes on her. ‘I’ve always been interested in you,’ he said. ‘From that very first time, when you did what you did to Luna’s father. Even when I didn’t agree with your poison work, from an academic standpoint, I was always fascinated—in awe, really. You motivated me; I wanted to be as good as you, even when I was away at school. I thought of you often.’

His cheeks were pink, and he looked away, clearly embarrassed by what he’d said, but his words cooled her like a salve against a burn.

She had always wanted to be as good as him , even when he had been away. She had thought of him, as well. She still did. More than she would ever care to admit.

But she didn’t say any of that. She couldn’t say anything, not until her heart stopped pounding so hard.

She cleared her throat. ‘The reason I brought up the woman poisoning her husband,’ she said, trying to get back to the topic at hand, ‘was because I didn’t hear from her again for a second dose, which I was expecting since I gave her enough for a month, but told her it would take three before her husband died.’

‘Does that happen often?’ Xander asked. ‘What if she changed her mind?’

‘I don’t think so,’ Bisma said. ‘She was determined to end her suffering. But what if the husband found out about the poison and is trying to get revenge on me? She said he traveled for business sometimes, so he could have hired a witch to make the poison for him.’

Or Eleanora , she thought to herself.

‘It’s possible,’ Xander said, considering it. ‘Though it’s also possible that the woman ran away, isn’t it?’

‘I suppose.’ Bisma hadn’t thought of that. She certainly wanted to believe it. For some odd reason, Bisma didn’t want Eleanora to be guilty, and she suspected the reason was standing right in front of her.

‘Even so, do you know the man’s name?’ Xander asked. ‘With a bit more information, I could try and find out.’

‘No, but I do know the wife’s,’ Bisma said. ‘Leilani.’

Xander froze. His face flashed with pain so severe that Bisma felt sorry for bringing it up.

‘What is it?’ she asked, unable to keep the worry from her voice.

‘I knew someone called Leilani—she was like an aunt to me,’ he said, voice thick. ‘She was like a sister to my mother; they grew up together and were the best of friends.’

‘Do you think it’s the same woman?’ Bisma’s heart pounded. ‘Wait, what do you mean was ?’

‘I never knew her husband …’ He trailed off, horrified. ‘But, Bisma, she died in her sleep two months ago. That’s why you never heard from her.’

Bisma’s suspicions were confirmed.

This gave Eleanora a clear motive. Leilani’s husband must have found out about the poison and used it—or something else—on Leilani. Eleanora must have known it was Bisma that sold Leilani the poison and was the cause of all this.

Oh no .

Bisma’s mind whirred, but she did not want Xander to notice or he would ask questions, grow suspicious.

‘It’s getting late,’ she said, reaching for her shawl. ‘I think we ought to call it a night.’

‘Won’t you stay for dinner?’ Xander asked, adapting to her change in topic. ‘I know the promise of my company won’t tempt you, but surely a roast and potatoes will?’

‘No—No, I’ll eat with my sisters,’ she said, distracted. She headed for the door and Xander followed, grabbing a dark coat.

‘I’ll walk you,’ he said, slipping the coat on.

‘There’s no need,’ she said, already walking away. Lifting his collar against the chill, he easily fell into step beside her. Damn him and his long legs.

‘It’s no trouble,’ he said. ‘Besides, it isn’t safe.’

She gave him a funny look. ‘I walk home alone all the time.’

He frowned. ‘Yes, well, seeing as three of your sisters have been poisoned, I’d rather not take any chances,’ he said, agitated.

This tickled her. ‘And what might you do if someone shot out of the bushes now, ready to poison me?’

He gave her an unamused glance. ‘That isn’t something to jest about,’ he said, which made her laugh.

‘ Alexander , scolding me on what and what not to jest about!’ she said, donning a scandalized tone.

He glared, huffing and puffing as she laughed.

‘Forgive me if I don’t find the prospect of you being wounded entertaining,’ he said hotly. ‘And to answer your question, just let someone try and hurt you in my presence. You’ll quickly see what I might do.’

She had another sarcastic response ready at the tip of her tongue but stopped when she saw his face. He was scowling.

Oh. She felt a little sorry for teasing him, for he seemed genuinely upset now.

They walked on, Xander silently stewing until Bisma bumped his shoulder with hers. He was so shocked that he practically went flying, nearly tripping over a branch.

He gave her an incredulous look. ‘What was that for!’

‘Quit pouting,’ she said. ‘You’ll get wrinkles.’

His hands instinctively went to his face.

She smiled.

A moment later, he smiled, too, the tension leaving him. He bumped her shoulder with his, and she nearly went flying as well. His rich laughter filled the air.

Then they walked in companionable silence; it was nice. He stayed by her side as they walked all the way to the Enchanted Forest, the moon shining bright above them, the stars glinting as they watched, as if giggling to a private joke.

They stopped at the edge of the Forest. There was the usual foggy border along the Forest’s perimeter, and though it looked daunting, Bisma wasn’t afraid. Xander didn’t seem to be, either.

‘Goodbye,’ she said.

‘I’ll see you tomorrow?’ he asked, sounding hopeful.

She nodded. ‘Goodbye, then.’

She passed through the thick fog until she was fully in the Enchanted Forest. She walked on, thinking over the day’s events, letting her feet carry her along the usual path home.

Until she realized she was lost. Where there should have been a slowly running creek, there was not.

But—no, she couldn’t be lost.

Bisma looked around. Everything else was the same: the trees, the position of the moon in the sky, the little rabbit hutch, the big red maple tree. She stepped closer to where the creek ought to have been, touching the land.

It seemed like the creek had simply run dry. The soil was cracked, parched.

Strange.

The Forest must have had a reason for it, Bisma told herself, as she continued home. The Forest always knew what it was doing; she had nothing to worry about. Even so, unease needled the back of her mind.

Back home, Bisma ate dinner with the girls, a soothing chicken and corn soup with crackers. Nori made quick work of her dinner, then went directly to dessert, eating the pumpkin cake Haru had sent for Luna.

‘Nori, isn’t that Luna’s?’ Bisma asked.

‘Baji, she said I could have it!’ Nori said, crumbs falling from her mouth.

‘I don’t want it,’ Luna said.

Bisma looked at Luna, but Luna avoided her gaze.

Why was Luna acting weird? That night, after they had played games and gotten ready for bed, Bisma stopped by Luna’s room on the way to her own.

‘Why don’t you come to town with me tomorrow?’ Bisma asked gently. ‘You can get a batch of gingersnaps for us to eat with tea.’

Luna was sitting on her bed, brushing her dark honey hair, not looking at Bisma. ‘Take Azalea,’ she said.

‘Lu, what’s going on?’ Bisma frowned. ‘You never miss an opportunity to go to town or to go to the bakery.’

Luna set the hairbrush down and promptly burst into tears.

Shock poured over Bisma; she hesitated, then rushed to Luna’s side.

‘What is it?’ she asked, wrapping Luna into a hug. Luna clutched Bisma tight, her tears falling onto Bisma’s shoulder. Confusion coursed through Bisma.

‘I’m just so scared,’ Luna managed to say through shuddering breaths.

‘Scared?’ Bisma repeated. The volatile emotions of fifteen-year-olds were quite something to grapple with. ‘Of what?’

‘I almost died,’ Luna replied.

‘But you’re alright,’ Bisma said, not entirely understanding. ‘You’re safe. Nothing is going to happen to you, I promise.’

‘I know,’ Luna said, pulling back to wipe her face with the edge of her sweater sleeve. Her eyes were red. ‘I trust you, Baji, I do. But no matter how hard I try to be brave, I still feel scared. It feels like something is wrong inside me, as if I am wrong. And what if he sees? What if he sees that there is something wrong with me?’

Her eyes welled with tears again. She did not need to specify who he was.

‘First of all, there is nothing wrong with you,’ Bisma said, holding Luna’s face in her hands. ‘You’re perfect! You always have been.’ She wiped Luna’s cheeks. ‘Secondly, you needn’t worry about Haru. He likes you, Luna.’

Luna shook her head, bottom lip trembling. ‘You don’t understand.’

Bisma didn’t, not really. She opened her mouth to say something else, but Luna pulled her blanket up, getting into bed.

‘Goodnight, Baji,’ she said, her voice quiet.

Unsure what to do, Bisma stood. With a sigh, she stroked Luna’s hair. ‘Goodnight, Lu.’

As she left, guilt knifed through Bisma—but it morphed quickly into rage as she went to her own room.

She would find out who was behind the poisonings, and she would make them pay. She swore it.

Even if it was Eleanora Chapman.