Blood Magic

by Jennifer Snyder

  “What are you doing out here?” I gasped. “It’s freezing.”

  “Hiding from Mom.” She didn’t look up from the notebook she was writing in.

  “Why?”

  Her gaze bounced between her notebook and her textbook as she copied something down. “Because, if I stay inside, she’ll make me do more crappy chores around the house, and I’m sick of doing chores.”

  The urge to pull out my cell and capture this wintery look she had going on was nearly too much to ignore. Somehow, I managed.

  “Things still breaking?” I glanced at the house. What the heck was going on? It was almost as though its defenses were crumbling, or it had caught a sickness.

  “Yep. Even more than yesterday,” Rose insisted. She lifted her gaze from what she was working on and locked eyes with me. “I’m not joking when I say Mom had me vacuum the living room and the freaking vacuum caught on fire. That’s the vibe in there right now. Which is why I’m out here.”

  I stifled a laugh. “How did you manage that?”

  “No clue. Thank goodness our new guest, Mr. whatever his name is, knows how to fix things. He’s in there working on the garbage disposal now. It took a crap when Mom put apple peels in it.”

  The place was hell-bent on falling apart. What the heck?

  “Still, it’s cold out,” I said. “You should be inside where it’s warm. You’re going to get sick sitting out here.”

  “Whatever,” she snapped. Her gaze never lifted from her homework. “I’m fine. I’ve got two blankets and my jacket on.”

  “Okay. Suit yourself.” I headed inside.

  My glasses fogged up from the temperature shift when I stepped through the door. The stench of burnt something or other hit my nose, and I realized Rose hadn’t been exaggerating for once. She had, in fact, caught the vacuum on fire. I pulled off my coat and hung it on the hook near the door.

  Noises from the kitchen had me heading in that direction. Aunt Rowena stood at the island, stirring a large pitcher of sweet tea. While seeing her make sweet tea wasn’t uncommon, the sight of a man’s body hanging out of the cabinet beneath the sink was. I couldn’t see his face, but I could determine from the length of him he was tall and took care of himself physically.

  “Ridley, hello. Stopping in to pick up a few things before heading back to Benji’s?” Aunt Rowena asked as I stepped into the kitchen.

  Even with things breaking and the prediction of chaos coming soon, a smirk still worked its way onto her face. I was surprised to see her so chipper, especially considering someone was working on the garbage disposal and the house smelled of burnt hair.

  Maybe now would be the perfect time to ask about mandrake root.

  “Yeah. I also wanted to see if you needed any help around here. I know I’ve been busy lately and haven’t had much time to do chores and stuff.” A bit of an understatement, but still. It felt nice to say the words. “Um, also... I wanted to talk with you in private for a minute about something.”

  She stopped stirring the tea and glanced over her shoulder at the guy beneath the sink. Did she think he might have figured out what I wanted to talk to her about from my tone?

  Doubtful.

  “Sure.” She stepped away from the island. “The tea is ready. Give me a minute and I’ll pour you a glass.”

  “No rush,” he insisted in a thick southern accent without leaning out from under the sink. His arm muscles flexed as he twisted something beneath the sink, working.

  The corners of my lips twisted upward. No wonder Aunt Rowena was so chipper—this guy was easy on the eyes. Did she have a crush, perhaps?

  “What did you need to talk with me about?” she asked as we made our way into the sunroom just off the kitchen.

  I closed the door behind me so our guest wouldn’t hear our conversation.

  “I’ll get to that in one second.” I grinned and then hooked my thumb over my shoulder. “First, let’s talk about that hottie with the body beneath the sink in there. Where did he come from?”

  Aunt Rowena’s cheeks tinted pink. It was the first time I’d seen her blush since Uncle Kevin passed away.

  She cleared her throat before she spoke, composing herself. “He’s a guest. He came to Mirror Lake from Louisiana and will be staying with us for a while. He’s thinking of moving here,” she said.

  Thinking of moving here, huh?

  “Why is he fixing the house if he’s a guest, then?” I asked.

  Aunt Rowena never let guests lift a finger during their stay with us. Yet, somehow this guy had charmed her with his tool belt.

  “Only because he’s a gentleman who happens to be a handyman and wouldn’t take no for an answer,” Aunt Rowena insisted. “Now, back to what you wanted to discuss,” she prompted, artfully steering the conversation back on track.

  I licked my lips. Playtime was over. I needed to ask her about the root. “Have you ever heard of mandrake root?”

  She arched one of her perfectly sculpted brows. “Yes. It has many properties. Both medicinal and magical. Why?”

  “I need some.” A simple, straight-forward, honest answer.

  Her eyes bored into me. She’d already linked my request for mandrake root to gray magic. It was in her stare. My nails dug into the palms of my hands as I braced myself for another lecture.

  “For a spell I presume,” she said. I nodded, but didn’t speak. “I don’t have any in the house, but I know where you can get some. You’ll have to take a trip over the mountain to Earth Roots. Abby sells it. Let me give her a call and make sure she has some in stock before you drive over.”

  Her words were stern, but she was saying what I wanted her to. She was also making an effort to help. I didn’t know why the sensation of dread in my gut hadn’t dissipated yet.

  “My cell is in the kitchen. One second.” She opened the sunroom door and walked to the island for her phone.

  I crammed my hands into the back pockets of my jeans and exhaled the breath I hadn’t been aware I was holding. That conversation had gone so much better than I’d thought it would. Whoever this new guest was, he sure had put her in a much more agreeable mood.

  When Aunt Rowena came back to the sunroom, she’d already dialed Abby’s number. She probably knew it by heart. She and Abby had been friends since they were kids.

  Just like her and Lanie, a tiny voice said in the back of my mind.

  “Hey, Abby. How are you?” Aunt Rowena asked when Abby answered. “Everything is good here. Yes, we’re still having some negative energy lingering around, but I think it’s starting to dissipate. Or at least I hope.” She chuckled.

  I hoped so too. Actually, I think we all did. Especially popsicle Rose on the front porch.

  “I will. Yes, I already have some drying out. Listen, I don’t want to keep you long. I know you’re busy. I’m calling to see if you have any mandrake root in stock. Great. Ridley will be by to pick some up in a little while. Oh, I’m sure you’ll have fun with that! Yeah. I will. Thanks. Bye-bye.” Aunt Rowena hung up and shifted to look at me. “She has the whole root and finely chopped both in stock, but she’s closing in an hour. She’s teaching a class on herbal remedies at the community building tonight so you’ll have to hurry if it’s something you need right away.”

  “I’ll head over now,” I said. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.” She wanted to say something more, I could tell, but her lips pressed together, keeping her words in.

  I was thankful.

  “Is there anything you want me to do around here before I leave? Abby’s shop isn’t far. I could wipe down the counters or something real quick.”

  Aunt Rowena shook her head. “Everything is under control.”

  “Okay, well... I’ll see you later. Love you,” I said as I made my way out of the sunroom.

  “Love you too. Be careful.”

  “Always.”

  I headed upstairs to my room for a few more outfits and then made my way to the front door for my coat.

>   “Leaving already? Not fair,” Rose said when I stepped out onto the porch.

  Her cheeks and nose were bright red from the cold, but she didn’t show any signs of moving.

  I crammed my hands into the pockets of my coat. “Yeah, I need to head to Earth Roots. Abby’s got something I’m supposed to pick up.”

  “Oh! Can I come?” Her eyes lit up and guilt rushed through me for having to tell her no.

  Summoning Adele was important, and I didn’t have time to bring Rose back home before heading to Benji’s to do so.

  “Not this time, sorry.”

  “Fine. I figured you’d say no.” Her face fell.

  “Next time, I’ll take you with me. Promise,” I said.

  “Okay.” Her gaze dipped to my bag before locking with my eyes again. “When are we going to watch more episodes of Sabrina together? I’m dying to see what happens next.”

  “I am too, but I’m not sure when I’ll have the time.” It was an honest answer. “I have a lot going on right now.”

  “Yeah, like moving in with Benji,” she muttered as she rolled her eyes.

  Did she really think I hadn’t heard her? Or did she not care if I did?

  “I’m not moving in with him,” I said.

  “Could have fooled me,” she snapped. She nodded to my bag. “Back again for more clothes? Seems like you’re slowly moving in with him.”

  I exhaled a slow breath. Tendrils of white swirled through the air in front of me and then disappeared. It was too cold out here to be arguing with her. Besides, I knew what this was—her letting me know she missed me. It had my heart feeling warm and fuzzy. Too bad the rest of me was frozen.

  “Maybe this weekend we can make cinnamon twists and watch a few episodes of Sabrina together,” I said, hoping by the weekend I’d have found the amulet and put Bram back inside.

  A girl could hope.

  Rose arched a brow as a smirk twisted at her lips. “You’re going to help make cinnamon twists?”

  “Right. On second thought, you can make them and I’ll watch.” I chuckled.

  “Sounds good to me. I already have the recipe memorized.”

  She would. Rose was the only person I’d ever met who truly had a photographic memory. I wondered if it was how her Caraway gift would present itself once she turned thirteen.

  “I’m sure you do. So, Sunday. Me and you. Cinnamon twists and Sabrina.”

  “It’s a plan.”

  “All right, I’d better get going. Abby’s shop closes soon.” I started down the porch steps.

  “See you later,” Rose called after me.

  I waved and then headed to my car, eager to feel the heat blaring from the vents on full blast. The feel of someone’s eyes on me bored into my back as I walked. I glanced over my shoulder to see Rose had resumed doing her homework. If it wasn’t her staring at me, who was it?

  Goose bumps prickled across my skin as I hurried the rest of the way to my car. I cranked the engine and glanced at the house. Something moved away from the windows in the sunroom. Was it a guest watching me or Aunt Rowena? Had she been more worried about me than she’d let on?

  I chewed my bottom lip as I adjusted the heat of my car to full blast. My gaze fixed on the windows of the sunroom, but whoever it was never came back. I grabbed my cell and sent Benji a text, letting him know I was heading to Abby’s for mandrake root. Afterward, I pulled up directions to her shop. I’d been there more than a handful of times but still sucked at remembering how to get there.

  GPS was necessary.

  Before I could shift into reverse and back out of my parking space, a crow landed on the hood of my car. Its feathers were inky black and beautiful, but the sight of it startled me. I flicked on my windshield wipers, hoping to scare it enough so he would fly away. When he didn’t, I popped my car into reverse and let the rush of wind and movement of my car do what my windshield wipers couldn’t. Even after he was gone, I swore I could still feel his beady eyes on me.

  As I stepped inside Earth Roots shop, the familiar scent of lavender made its way to my nose, bringing with it a smile. The place always smelled the same each time I came. Lavender was Abby’s signature scent. She always had lavender oil in the diffuser on the counter near the register. My muscles relaxed as I inhaled a deep breath, immediately putting me at ease. The ambiance of the shop added to my sense of ease as well. I loved this place. Every inch of it.

  Floating shelves ran along the entire length of the right wall. Each held glass jars of various sizes with chalkboard labels on them. Black cubes had been stacked together to form three tables nearly as tall as me and spaced evenly apart. Inside the cubbies of each were books, essential oils, crystals, and gemstones. On top of each table sat a lush philodendron plant with vibrant green leaves. There was another on the glass case beside the cash register. All four plants had vines growing along the ceiling in a crisscross pattern. In some areas the vines were so thick it looked as though they were the only thing creating a ceiling for the witchy shop at all.

  “Ridley. How are you, darling?” Abby asked with enthusiasm when she spotted me.

  “Hi. Sorry I didn’t get here sooner.” I smiled.

  Her hair was thick, brown, and slightly frizzy but still beautiful. It cascaded to her waist and swayed with her every movement. Her eyes were bright blue and inviting as always, but it was her smile that warmed my soul each time I saw her.

  Abby was the type of person who lit up a room with her presence and made you feel loved with a simple smile cast in your direction.

  “Don’t worry about it.” She waved my words away. “So, Rowena said you needed mandrake root? The whole root or a bit of finely chopped?”

  I made my way to where she stood at the register and noticed she had a large jar of brown dust in front of her and an oblong-shaped stick. “Finely chopped, please.”

  My gaze drifted to the baggies and tiny glass jars of premade potions and spells lining the shelf behind her. If I were in any other witchy shop, I wouldn’t have paid them any attention, but because this was Abby’s place I did. I knew they were authentic. They would work for whatever the tag on them said they were for.

  The urge to purchase something pinched at my insides. I knew it was better to be prepared for an attack by Bram than to wait around thinking it wouldn’t happen. Wards had fallen before. So had cloaks. What should I buy though? Abby had a large selection.

  My gaze settled on a purple potion sitting in a tiny glass jar. It’s label read: To Bind The Power Of Another.

  “I’ll take your potion to bind someone’s powers too,” I said, nodding toward it behind her.

  “Sure, no problem. How much of the finely chopped mandrake root did you need?” She unscrewed the lid on the jar and grabbed the scooper from inside while eyeing me.

  There were more questions resting on the tip of her tongue, I could tell, but she didn’t speak them.

  “Two tablespoons, I guess. I’m not sure the exact amount. The spell only listed its ingredients, not the specific portions.”

  “How about three tablespoons, then? Having more than you need is always good when it comes to mandrake root. Well, as long as you’re not ingesting it. That’s the only time measurements need to be precise.” She scooped three tablespoons into a little baggie.

  “I’m not ingesting it, so I should be fine.”

  Her bright blue eyes locked on me. “What spell are you using that calls for mandrake root?”

  My stomach dipped. Should I mention gray magic? Would she freak out like Aunt Rowena had if I did? There was a good chance she might. However, there was also a chance she wouldn’t.

  Abby was more open-minded when it came to different types of magic than Aunt Rowena. While Aunt Rowena stuck to traditional magic, mainly of the kitchen-witch variety, Abby practiced many kinds of magic. She even practiced lunar magic, which had always fascinated me.

  “A summoning spell,” I said. “One that involves gray magic.”

  She arched a br
ow. “Gray magic?”

  Her words spilled from her lips with a sense of awe behind them that I hadn’t been expecting. Had she dabbled in gray magic before? If so, maybe she would have some pointers.

  “Yeah.” I adjusted my glasses but never dropped my eyes from hers. “And don’t worry, I’ll be careful. I know the dangers. Aunt Rowena has cautioned me more than once.”

  Her full lips twisted into an amused smirk. “Oh, I’m sure she has. Did she mention Lanie?”

  “She did. Is it true she was sent to a prison for witches?”

  I couldn’t help myself; I had to ask.

  “Yes. Working with gray magic screwed her up.” Abby sighed. “Which is why your aunt lectured you about it. It’s not consequence free. Don’t forget that and you’ll be fine. Same goes with binding the powers of another.” She handed me the baggie of finely chopped mandrake root and then turned to grab the purple potion from the shelf. “$18.95, please.”

  I grabbed the twenty I’d brought out of my coat pocket and handed it to her. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome. Tell your aunt I said hello and I love her. Tell your cousins the same,” she said as she made her way around the glass countertop and pulled me in for a hug. “I need to stop by for a visit sometime soon. I miss you all and your beautiful faces.” Her hands cupped the sides of my face the instant she released me from her hug, and she squeezed my cheeks slightly.

  “We miss you too.” I smiled.

  “You better say that,” she teased. “All right, help me switch off some of these lights as we make our way out. I can’t be late for the class I’m teaching at the community building. Everyone wants to learn how to make my famous fire cider recipe since flu season is still upon us.”

  My nose wrinkled at the mention of the concoction as I crammed the baggie of mandrake root and the potion into my coat pocket. Abby’s recipe was the same one Aunt Rowena used when one of us became sick. The sick person was forced to drink gallons of the potent stuff until they were better, and those who didn’t come down with whatever sickness was lurking about were forced to drink a few teaspoons daily as a precaution.

  Basically, we were all in hell each time someone became sick because that crap was nasty.