You’re welcome, I guess, Sherlock said. And thank you.
Now Maria stopped. Sherlock stopped, too. “Thank me?”
Yeah. The voice coming inside of Maria’s head was now a whisper.
“For?”
For…you know…being a good owner. I’ve seen the way some dogs are treated. I’ve seen TV shows where Bloodhounds are only used for their award-winning, crime-solving noses. I’ve lived a good life of hanging around, sleeping, and doing whatever I want. You know, except for sniffing dead squirrels.
“At least when I’m around.”
Sherlock nodded, his big floppy ears shaking with the movement.
“You’re welcome. You’re family, Sherlock.”
Aw, don’t get all sappy with me, Maria, please. I don’t want to—
“Cry?” Maria guessed.
Bloodhounds don’t cry. We solve crimes!
But Maria saw his eyes were watery all the same. Well, more watery than normal.
They came upon Main Street. The lights of Salem’s sign were off, but the there was one light on in the back. The senior magic brigade. She wondered if they would be playing cards, like they were the night before. Probably not; not on a night like tonight. A solid lump of fear rose up her throat. She stopped.
This was it. This was the end.
Sherlock looked up at her. What is it?
“I’m not ready. I don’t feel right leaving yet.”
Why not? You said your goodbyes to Claire and Tabby. He lifted his paw up and examined it like he was a human counting his fingers. Far as I know you don’t have any other friends, unless you count Ted a friend, but he’s a royal asshole and a half. Hm. Who could I be leaving out? Oh! I know! Sherlock proceeded to make kissing sounds, which did not, in fact, sound much like kissing sounds at all. They were more of a slobbery chomp-chomp.
Joe.
“Shut up,” Maria said. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Maria, I’ve known you since you were a pup. He snickered. See what I did there?
Maria glared at him.
Okay, listen, if you’d feel better saying bye to Joe, I don’t see the harm.
“No, I couldn’t. That would be so weird. I can’t just show up at his house and say, ‘Surprise! I’m leaving and that kinda sucks because I have a huge crush on you but I don’t know when or if I’ll be back at all, so what’s the point?’”
You make a good point there.
“Plus, the village. I think most of the dread inside of me is coming from them. They’re counting on me, and I don’t know if I can really — ”
Stop! Sherlock said. You’re Maria Apple. You can do whatever you put your mind to. You were raised by Ignatius Apple. You always do what’s right and what’s good. I think you could’ve saved them before you even discovered that you were a witch.
Maria bent down. There were tears in her eyes. She wrapped her arms around Sherlock.
“Thank you, Sherlock,” she said. “I needed that.” She kissed him on the bridge of his nose.
Blech! No kissing! New rule. No kissing!
“But we’re friends,” Maria said playfully.
Sherlock shook his head. No, no, I don’t have friends.
“What about that dead squirrel back there?” Maria asked, a smile on her lips. She was obviously joking, but Sherlock didn’t catch the joke.
Well, you didn’t give me much time to get acquainted with it. Could’ve been a long and fruitful relationship. I should’ve defied you, put all four of my feet down.
“Paws,” Maria corrected.
Whatever. I don’t think there are any squirrels on Oriceran.
“There are Gnomes.”
Sherlock’s ears perked up.
Gnomes? You mean those little bastards with the red pointy hats? Fuck them. No promises.
“Sherlock…”
Fine. I won’t kill any.
Maria crossed her arms again and tapped her foot on the sidewalk. She was glad the roads were deserted. She couldn’t imagine how ridiculous she looked right then.
Fine. I won’t kill, I promiseeeee. But I can’t promise I won’t pee on them.
“I guess that’s a step in the right direction, but when you start a war or something, I don’t know if I can fight on your side. Being a part of a war fought over urine spilt is not on my bucket list.” Then, Maria put on her game face, which was really just squinting her eyes and clamping her jaw shut. “Now, let’s go do this. Let’s save that fucking village.”
Sherlock barked, and the two of them took off toward the ice cream shop.
Chapter Fifteen
They went in the backdoor, like they had the night before. Salem, Agnes, and the Muffler twins sat at the same table. The cards were out, but they played no games.
Gramps paced back and forth by the freezers full of ice cream.
When Maria and Sherlock walked in, Gramps’s head shot up. “Maria!” He rushed over to her, moving much faster than his age should’ve allowed. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” He hugged her tight.
Maria wheezed. She caught the time on the clock. It was only 11:04 P.M. So she was four minutes late; not the end of the world.
“I said 11:00,” Maria said when Gramps ended the hug.
“I know, I know, but something terrible happened,” Gramps said.
The others sitting around the table wouldn’t lift their heads up to look at either her or Gramps.
“What?” Maria said, dread sinking in her stomach. Am I too late? Did Malakai do what he wanted to do, even without the music box? Had he taken in from Gramps?
“There’s been an attack. Two agents of the Order of the Silver Griffins have gone missing,” Gramps said.
“Ah, you scared me,” Maria said, somewhat relieved. “I thought it was the music box!”
Gramps took it from the table behind him, which Maria hadn’t seen, and handed it to her. It gave her strength.
“Okay, missing? What does that mean?” she asked, but she knew what it meant.
It meant a giant spider was definitely close.
“There’s been more sightings,” Salem said. His voice was very soft, much softer than normal. “I was the last one to see Felah. I feel so terrible.” He put his head in his hands. Agnes rubbed his back. The Muffler twins simultaneously wiped tears away from
