Page 22 of Magical Melee (Stonewick Magical Midlife Witch Academy #1)

I made my way back to the cottage. Frank trotted faithfully by my side. His little legs worked overtime to keep up from the car to the front door. The cool fall weather reminded me that winter was coming to Wisconsin.

My head was still spinning from everything I’d learned at the tea shop. Stella was a vampire. Nova was part-elf. Keegan was a warlock. And me? I was apparently a witch destined to fend off a centuries-old magical enemy.

No pressure.

As I rested my hand on the knob of the front door, something felt…off. I stopped myself from opening the door and stepped back to look at the cottage.

My eyes darted from tree to shrub, finally landing on the roof.

A gargoyle was missing.

“Frank,” I muttered, “am I seeing things, or is one of our stone sentinels on a coffee break?”

Frank gave a low grunt. His wrinkled face scrunched into what could only be described as bulldog skepticism.

I hesitated at the front steps, unsure of what I was about to walk into.

Twobble had already proven that unexpected visitors were par for the course here. But I wasn’t prepared for what greeted me when I opened the door.

“Maeve! Finally!” Twobble’s high-pitched voice greeted me the moment I stepped inside. He was perched on the arm of the couch with his big eyes practically radiating with excitement. “You’re late! We’ve been waiting.”

I set my bag down and raised an eyebrow. “We?”

“That’s right,” Twobble said with a grin, hopping down to the floor. “Allow me to introduce my good friend, Karvey.”

I followed his gesture, and my eyes landed on what could only be described as a gargoyle come to life. He was about four feet tall, with leathery gray skin, wings folded neatly against his back, and a face that was both intimidating and oddly endearing. His glowing yellow eyes locked onto mine, and he gave a polite nod right before a deep dimple appeared.

“You’re…a gargoyle,” I said, my voice tinged with disbelief. “An alive, living, breathing…gargoyle.”

Had I not just chatted with a vampire and elf earlier, I might have needed something to lean against.

“Correct,” Karvey replied, his voice deep and gravelly, like stones grinding together. “One of your roof’s finest at your service.”

Frank, who had been sniffing around the room, stopped in his tracks and let out a low growl. His little body tensed as he stared at Karvey.

“Easy, Frank,” I said, though I couldn’t blame him for being wary. “He’s, uh, a guest.”

Frank huffed, clearly unimpressed, and plopped down near the fireplace. His eyes never left the gargoyle.

“So,” I said, turning back to Twobble and Karvey, “why is there a gargoyle in my living room? Aren’t you supposed to be, I don’t know, guarding the roof?”

Karvey folded his arms with a firm expression. “We don’t just sit on roofs all day, you know. Gargoyles have lives, too.”

Twobble chimed in, nodding vigorously. “Karvey’s been guarding Stonewick for centuries. He’s got stories, Maeve. Oh, the things he’s seen!”

Karvey inclined his head. “Indeed. And when the forces around this cottage weakened earlier, I thought it prudent to pay a visit inside.”

I frowned. “The forces? What do you mean, weakened?”

“Shadowick’s influence is growing,” Karvey said, his tone serious. “That fellow who got through last night was testing the boundaries, looking for cracks in our defenses. I sensed a disturbance and have been investigating.”

My blood chilled. “What do you mean, the fellow who got through?”

Karvey looked at me. “Gideon. He was here last night.”

I shook my head slowly, trying to decipher fact from fiction.

“He was in my nightmare last night,” I whispered.

He nodded. “That would explain it.”

“You’re saying he was in my cottage?” A chill ran down my body.

“No.” Karvey cleared his throat. “No. By all accounts, he did not get past the woods. My partner and I did our best to keep him out. But he got close enough to infiltrate your energy. And that can’t happen again.”

Twobble cleared his throat. “Maybe I need to invite more…”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Twobble, I don’t think my life has room for more magical buddies right now.”

“Nonsense!” Twobble said, waving a clawed hand. “You can never have too many allies. Especially ones as seasoned as Karvey.”

Karvey gave a solemn nod. “Your goblin friend is right. The challenges ahead will require strength, knowledge, and unity.”

“Great,” I said, sinking onto the couch. “First a goblin, now a gargoyle. What’s next? A dragon in the basement?”

Twobble’s eyes lit up. “Oh, that would be amazing! Do you think we could find one?”

“No,” I said quickly. “That was a joke, Twobble. Let’s not make this any weirder than it already is.”

Karvey settled back into an armchair. His wings shifted slightly as he adjusted. “You’ll find, Maeve, that weird is relative in the magical world.”

I sighed, leaning back and rubbing my temples. “You know, it would’ve been nice if someone had given me a crash course on all this magic stuff before I got thrown into the deep end.”

Twobble and Karvey exchanged a glance, and then Twobble grinned. “Consider this your crash course! Lesson one: magical creatures come in all shapes and sizes. Lesson two: always expect the unexpected. And lesson three: Alchemy is your friend.”

“Yeah, I’m getting that,” I said dryly. “So, Karvey, do you have any tips for dealing with guys like Gideon?”

Karvey’s expression darkened. “Stay vigilant. He’s cunning and relentless. But most importantly, trust your instincts. You have more power than you realize. You just haven’t learned how to guide it, but I’m sure Nova and Keegan will ensure you get proper training.”

I let out a sigh. The thought of curling up in my fluffy quilt upstairs did little to entice me.

Funny how quickly things could change around here.

Twobble hopped onto the arm of the couch beside me. “Oh, don’t be like that, Maeve. I sense your melancholy, but we’re here to help! And think about it—how many people get to say they have a gargoyle and a goblin on their side?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at that. “Though I’m not sure this is something I’ll be bragging about.”

Karvey’s wings fluttered slightly as he stood. “Maeve, you’re at the center of something much larger than yourself. The road ahead will be difficult, but you’re not alone.”

For once, his words didn’t sound like empty platitudes. I nodded, feeling a curious mix of apprehension and determination.

“Thanks, Karvey,” I said. “And Twobble, too.”

Twobble beamed. “You’re welcome! Now, who’s up for snacks?”

Karvey shook his head. “No, but I appreciate the offer.”

“Well, more for me,” Twobble said, scurrying off to the kitchen.

I leaned back, watching as Frank continued his low growl, his eyes never leaving Karvey. “Looks like Frank’s going to take a bit longer to warm up to you. Have you two not met?”

It seemed highly unlikely.

“Oh, no. We’ve definitely had an encounter or two.” Karvey gave a small smile. “He’s a good protector. That’s a quality to be admired.”

I couldn’t argue with that. As strange as my life had become, at least I wasn’t facing it alone. Whether it was a grumpy bulldog, a hyperactive goblin, or a wise gargoyle, I had a team—an unconventional, mismatched team, but a team, nonetheless.

And somehow, that made the mayhem a little easier to bear.

I walked over to the bookshelves and ran my fingers along the leathery spines, hoping one of them would speak to me. When I’d about given up, heat wandered up my fingertips as I landed on a deep mahogany tome, larger than any dictionary I’d seen.

“Ah, good idea.” Twobble’s toothy grin emerged. “Get caught up on all the magical folk.”

Twobble ignited flames in the fireplace with a theatrical snap of his tiny fingers. “Classic Goblin flair.”

The fire crackled softly, casting a warm, flickering light across the quaint living room.

“You’re going to have to show me how to do that,” I said, warming up to the idea.

He chuckled and sat perched on the couch's armrest, swinging his legs like a kid who’d had too much sugar.

And he probably did since I had no idea what he found to eat in the kitchen.

Karvey had apparently decided the interior of my cottage was now part of his patrol route. He lounged in the armchair with his stone-gray wings folded neatly behind him.

Frank lay sprawled out on the rug in front of the fire, his usual watchful self, occasionally snorting as if to voice his disdain for the night’s lineup of unusual houseguests.

I sipped my tea, trying to let the warmth seep into my bones and calm my thoughts. After everything that had happened today—the showdown at the tea shop, the revelations about vampires and warlocks, and now gargoyles and goblins—I was more than ready for some quiet.

The peace, however, didn’t last long.

Frank suddenly lifted his head, ears twitching. His eyes locked onto the window, and he stood. His stocky frame tensed as his usual lazy demeanor vanished. His snorts were replaced by a low, rumbling growl that quickened my pulse.

“Frank?” I set my cup down, my heart picking up pace. “What is it, buddy?”

Twobble froze mid-swing. His eyes snapped to Frank. “Oh no. He’s doing the thing.”

Karvey leaned forward with glowing yellow eyes. “Point,” he said quietly.

“What’s ‘point’?” I asked, glancing between them.

Frank moved to the window with a rigid body as he stared into the dark forest. His growl deepened. It was low and guttural, shaking my bones. I’d never heard a sound like it from the bulldog, even earlier today.

Twobble and Karvey exchanged a look. The silent communication made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

“Twobble,” I said, my voice laced with a mix of trepidation and fear. “What’s going on?”

Before he could answer, I saw it.

A flash of light in the forest darted from tree to tree, like a firefly on steroids. It was quick, almost too quick to follow, but it was there—a glowing streak of silver that wove through the bare branches like it had a purpose.

“Um,” I said, pointing toward the window. “Should I be concerned about that?”

Twobble hopped off the couch, his expression uncharacteristically serious. “Always.”

Karvey rose from the armchair. His wings unfolded slightly as he moved toward the door. “Stay inside, Maeve. This could be trouble.”

My heart thudded. “Trouble? What kind of trouble?”

Twobble grabbed a small pouch from his belt, muttering something under his breath as he followed Karvey to the door. “The usual kind. Mysterious lights-in-the-forest at night kind.”

“That doesn’t help!” I said, standing and crossing my arms. “You can’t just leave me here without an explanation.”

Karvey stopped at the door, turning to face me. “You want an explanation? Fine. There are things in the woods that don’t belong. That light? It’s either lost, or it’s looking for something—and neither option is good.”

“What am I supposed to do if it comes here?”

Twobble grinned, but there was no mischief in his expression this time. “Lock the door.”

I blinked. “You’re joking, right? You do realize a lock isn’t going to stop whatever’s out there. We’re in Stonewick. Magical things don’t care about deadbolts.”

Twobble shrugged, already halfway out the door. “Better safe than sorry.”

Karvey gave me a final nod before stepping outside. His stone frame disappeared into the night with wings flapping.

Twobble followed. His small figure practically vibrated with excitement as he clutched his pouch of who-knows-what.

“Stay put, Maeve!” he called over his shoulder. “And don’t open the door unless it’s us!”

The door clicked shut behind them, leaving me alone in the flickering glow of the fire. I did what he said and locked the door.

Frank returned to his spot by the window with his tense body, and his eyes fixed on the forest.

“A lock,” I muttered under my breath. “Yeah, that’ll do it. Nothing says ultimate protection like a latch from Home Depot.”

I sat back down on the couch as uneasiness grew. Glancing at Frank every few seconds didn’t help.

He hadn’t moved a muscle and looked ready to spring into action at any moment.

The forest outside was dark, the trees barely visible under the faint light of the crescent moon. But I could feel it—the same energy that had been crackling in the air since I arrived in Stonewick.

The woods were alive, watching, waiting.

The flash of light reappeared closer to the edge of the woods. My breath caught as it hovered for a moment, pulsing like a heartbeat before zipping out of sight.

“Frank,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “You’re seeing this too, right?”

Frank’s growl deepened as his body lowered to the ground like he was ready to pounce. I grabbed a throw pillow, holding it against my chest like it could somehow protect me.

Minutes passed, though it felt like hours.

The fire crackled, and the shadows danced as if warding off uninvited guests.

With each passing second, my nerves stretched thinner with the silence.

Suddenly, Frank barked—a loud, sharp sound that made me jump. He pressed his nose to the window, fogging up the glass with his breath.

“What is it now?”

And then I saw it.

A figure barely visible to the naked eye stayed at the edge of the trees. The creature stood motionless, cloaked in shadows and blurred by the darkness. My heart raced as I squinted, trying to make out any details, but the figure was too far away.

The flash of light appeared again. This time, it circled the figure like a protective halo before vanishing into the woods.

Frank barked again, more urgently this time. I clutched the pillow tighter, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

What was that figure? And why did it feel like it was watching me?

I glanced at the fireplace, praying it wouldn’t use the chimney to enter.

With my heartrate beating wildly, I closed my eyes and started thinking of Nova. I needed her strength. And Stella. I needed her humor.

As if on cue, the door burst open, and Twobble and Karvey hurried inside before slamming it shut behind them.

If the lock didn’t keep them out, I wasn’t sure how it would keep anyone else out.

“What was that?” I asked.

Twobble’s face was unusually serious. “It’s as we feared. Something—or someone—is testing the boundaries.”

Karvey nodded, his wings rustling as he folded them tightly against his back. “The forces are holding, but they’re not invincible. Whatever’s out there, it’s probing for weaknesses, and until Stonewick gets back her full energy, we can’t let our guard down. This ward will do its best to protect, but we must stay vigilant.”

“Great,” I said, throwing my hands up. “So now I’m not just worried about Gideon but some glowing forest spirit, too?”

“It’s not a spirit,” Karvey said, his voice low. “My guess is a wood nymph summoned by Shadowick, probably Gideon himself.”

I let out a heavy sigh, sinking back onto the couch. “Fantastic. Just another night in Stonewick.”

And if I were being honest with myself, I kind of loved every second.

Twobble grinned, his usual mischief returning. “Welcome to the magical life, Maeve. Never a dull moment.”