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She gives me a look that clearly says I’m going to have my work cut out for me trying to accomplish my goal. “I don’t have anything. I was sent here to get a good story about an entire island dependent on their witch. I haven’t even started, I mean there are the interviews with other people, the background and lore, and an interview with said witch. I’m not going anywhere, mister.”
“God damn it, you heard what Don said. You saw what that woman looked like. The safest thing for you is to get back on that damned ferry and pretend you never even heard of this place.”
She sits staring at me for a long silent moment before looking away finally. When she turns back it’s with a resigned look. I prepare myself for winning with dignity and being mindful not to gloat.
“You’re right. I did hear ‘Don’,” she makes air quotes with her fingers when she says his name reminding me of how familiar I am with the people around me, “and Don said it’s probably a murder caused by domestic violence between romantic partners. So, I am perfectly safe since I have no romantic interest on the island and don’t plan to have one. So, I’m staying.”
She grabs the door and shuts it leaving me standing outside my own truck wondering how this argument turned to shit on my end so quickly.
I go around and slide in the driver’s seat. There’s nothing else left but to take her back to town. “You are the most…stubborn creature…”
“I’m a Taurus, we’re all very persistent.” She says it like it's common knowledge and I shouldn’t be surprised at all.
“It’s called stubborn. You’re fucking stubborn.” Even though I mutter it under my breath she can still hear it if the look she shoots me is any indication.
“You must be a Pisces. You got this whole otherworldly-stand-offish thing going for you and you always have to be right.”
I roll my eyes and focus on the road. There is literally no way in hell I am telling her she’s right. “You want an interview with the witch, you want to know the history, and find out what other people think about all this?” She nods, so certain in her plans. “Then let’s make a stop at the library and get this over with. If we’re fast, we can have you on the last ferry back tonight.”
“Why do you want me off this island so badly?”
Instead of answering her, I pull into the library parking lot and hop out. As soon as we walk in, I can tell something isn’t right. I’m proven right when Annabeth, the only librarian on the island, comes rushing over to us.
“Ms. Nova? Have you come to find out about the history of our town?” She takes Nova by the arm and steers her away from me.
How the hell did Annabeth know Nova’s name and why she is here? And why is she treating her like she’s fucking visiting royalty? I narrow my eyes at the two women as they lower their heads closer together and walk into a little room off the central room of the library. The room is full of historical records and old books containing all manner of stories and legends.
“Ours is a lustrous history full of the best kind of misfits and outcasts.”
Lustrous? Not sure I’ve ever heard that one said in relation to my family lineage.
“Did you know Deliverance Magnus came to this island in 1692 to establish a safe place for those that didn’t necessarily agree with the Puritans that landed in America at the time? She was the first woman to involve herself in politics.”
My head comes up and I look over at the door where Annabeth’s voice is floating out. What is she…first lady in politics? What does that even mean? I step in the doorway and find her holding a copy of the painting hanging in my house of my fifteen times over great-grandmother and grandfather.
“Who is that?” Nova points to the man standing beside Deliverance.
“Oh, that is her husband, Nathaniel Magnus.”
Nova looks up at me, “You were named after your great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather.”
I give Annabeth a look telling her to cut the shit and stop whatever she thinks she’s doing. She either doesn’t see it or she ignores it. I’m guessing the second choice if I just had to give an answer.
“He was her protector, her guardian. And quite a looker if you ask me. Good looks run in the Magnus bloodline.” I can’t help but let out a tiny growl of frustration at how hard Annabeth is pushing this whole thing. “They came to the island when Deliverance was heavy with child.”
“Nooo.” That’s not how the story goes.
“He saved her and their unborn baby by bringing them here and Deliverance made sure they were safe and sound tucked away on their little island paradise. Soon others followed.”
“She wasn’t pregnant when she left the mainland. She got that way shortly after they came here, Annabeth.”
“Sure, that’s why their baby was born eight months later. Temperance Magnus.” She tells Nova.
“She never married?”
“No, Temperance's husband took her last name.” Nova lifts her eyebrows in a surprised look before scribbling in the little notebook she’s pulled out at some point during Annabeth’s story.
“Why don’t you just get to my grandmother and mother instead of going over the entire family lineage?”
