Boundary Born (Boundary Magic Book 3) - Melissa F. Olson Page 0,62
added, “When I picked up the big crystal, I disturbed the grid, and the spell failed. He also probably had a grid around your house, so picking up this one rock”—he pointed to the chunk of maybe-amethyst—“would be enough to break the spell.”
Which meant he’d set out a grid of crystals at the sculpture garden before I’d ever picked up last night, just on the off chance that his effort to kill Maven failed. He was a planner.
I sat down at the table and took the amethyst from Simon, examining it. It was pretty, but I didn’t see anything particularly special about it. I certainly didn’t feel any vibrations, menacing or otherwise. “What was it doing?” I wondered.
“Supposedly, amethyst is a protective stone,” Lily said. “But I don’t understand why Emil would want to protect you, if the only threat against you is coming from him and whoever he works for.”
“But it’s hard to say for sure, without seeing the rest of the pattern.” Simon shook his head.
I considered that for a moment. “I’ve felt a little weird at home lately,” I said slowly. “But in more of a good way.” I told them about how peaceful and relaxing the cabin had seemed over the last few days.
The Pellars exchanged a bewildered glance. “You need an expert,” Simon declared. “A lot of the public ‘knowledge’”—he mimed quote marks with his hands—“about crystals is based on the theories of a single guy, who made them up based on his meditative practices.” Seeing my baffled look, he added, “The ‘feelings’ he got from the crystals. If you want to know how actual magicians use crystals, you’re probably going to have to find one,” Simon told me.
“Great.”
“There are at least two crystal stores on Pearl Street,” Lily offered. “Probably more in Denver.”
Simon, ever the scientist, said, “But we have no way of knowing if the people who work there are the real thing, or just wannabes.”
I considered that for a long moment. “Hang on, people, I’m having an idea.” I retrieved my cell phone from my other jacket pocket and called Anna.
“Hey, cousin. What’s buzzin’?” she said cheerfully.
I couldn’t help but smile at that. “Hey. Listen, do you know anything about crystal healing?”
“Yeah, of course.” Her voice was amused. “You realize that I have a degree in religious studies, right?”
I paused. I’d never really considered crystals as part of an actual religion. “Right, so if I send you a picture of a stone, would you know what it’s, um, meant for?”
There was a pause. Simon and Lily were both watching me expectantly. Finally Anna said, “Maybe, but why don’t you just ask Blossom?”
I blanked for a long moment. “Blossom Wheaton?” I said incredulously. “John’s mother?” The Pellars exchanged a confused look, but I waved them off.
“How many other Blossoms are there?” Anna asked me.
“Dude, this is Boulder. Last month I met two different kids named Dandelion.”
“Girls or boys?”
“Anna—”
“Right, anyway. Blossom Wheaton works at the crystal shop in downtown Longmont. You didn’t know?”
Blossom lived thirty miles outside of Boulder in a little house with two defense-trained Dobermans and an armful of rifles. I’d never considered what she did for money. “I guess I just figured she ate the kids she lures into her gingerbread house.” Simon made a choking noise in the back of his throat.
Anna just laughed. “She’s not that bad, Lex. She actually helped me with a paper on ceremonial applications for various quartzes. She’s just a little . . . mmm . . . prickly.”
I had a very distinct memory of Blossom chasing Sam and me out of John’s house with a giant butcher knife, because we’d used one of her woven throws as a picnic blanket. “Prickly” wasn’t the word I’d use.
“I’m sure this stuff is probably on the internet,” I hedged.
Anna made a little grunting noise that perfectly communicated a verbal shrug. “Your call, but Blossom would probably save you some time. Assuming you tip her well. I had to buy, like, eight pounds of quartz to get that paper done.”
I sighed. “Thanks, Anna.”
When I hung up the phone, I let my head fall to the table with a clunk. “So,” I said into the Formica. “I think I might know a magician.”
Chapter 26
As I drove northeast on 119, I tried not to think about having to confront Blossom and beg her for information. My efforts were futile. “She’s not an ogre, Lex,” I muttered to myself. “She’s not gonna hurt you.”