by Rose Pressey
I grinned at her and nodded. “Yep."
"Let's get out of here, then,” she said.
Zipping through the streets, I rushed back to Book Nook with the items secured in my purse for safe keeping.
Fortunately, all was quiet when we returned. I placed the shirt and hair on the counter. I sure hoped no customers came in and saw me with a wad of hair on the counter and a book on spells opened. Talk about losing customers. I couldn't afford to be closed any longer, though. Not if I wanted to keep my home. I perused the pages of the book again. Abe, Vivian and Mrs. Williams were back, too intrigued by the process to stay away for long.
"I hope this works,” Abe said with a caring smile.
"We'll need a small bowl to put all this stuff in. We need to cut a small piece of the shirt off, too.” In a hurry, I rummaged through the drawer until I came across the scissors.
Mindy went into the back of the store and came out a short time later carrying a small bowl in front of her. Mindy handed me the bowl and I held it out in front of me, examining it for cracks. Then I carefully placed it on the counter. I felt like we were in some ceremonial ritual. I stood in the middle of the store with everyone looking at me, waiting to see what I would do next. Why was everyone looking at me for answers? Did I look like I had the remedies to all our problems?
"Okay, now that we have everything I guess we'll start,” I said, more or less talking to myself aloud.
Mindy was looking over my shoulder again, reading the page. I could hear her breath in my ear.
Abe, Vivian and Mr. Haynes soon joined her.
"You should put the hair in first,” Vivian said.
"No, no. It says fabric first,” Abe said.
"Give me the book,” Mindy said, not even realizing what the others were saying. “I'll tell you what it says."
"I already looked at the book and it said fabric first,” Mrs. Williams retorted.
"You always did think you knew everything,” Mr. Haynes piped up.
"What makes you say that? You don't know what you are talking about. Although you always thought you did."
"I do know what I am talking about. You always walked around like you knew it all. You're a little snotty if you ask me.” Mr. Haynes gave her a matter-of-fact smirk.
"Well, no one asked you. And I couldn't care less if you think I'm snotty.” Mrs. Williams fumed.
The drone of the constant chattering all around me was driving me crazy. I could not believe they were bickering. I was already nervous and couldn't concentrate. Not to mention adding fighting into the equation. My hands were shaking and my stomach was churning.
"Hey,” I screamed, as loud as my lungs would allow. “Everyone needs to shut up and calm down!"
Astonished expressions surrounded me. I was sorry I'd had to yell like that, but they'd left me no choice. Finally, I had silence. You could have heard a pin drop in my mind, for once. Mindy handed me the book, recognizing that everyone must have been getting on my nerves.
"Thank you,” I said. “Now let me see what it says. Looks like none of you were right.” I ran my finger across the page. “It says to put in the rosemary first, and then the hair and everything else follows after that."
They all nodded, happy with my response.
"All right, it says to hold the bowl up. I guess like I'm offering it to some gods or something. I really have no idea what I'm doing. Ugh, I need salt. I don't have salt.” I moaned loudly. How was I supposed to know what I was doing was correct?
"Wait, I've got it covered. I have some little packets in my purse.” Mindy bounced to her purse, her big hoop earrings dangling wildly.
I raised my eyebrow at her, “What else do you have in that thing? The kitchen sink?"
I laughed as she rummaged through her purse, tossing items carelessly everywhere all over the counter.
"What can I say? I love French Fries from McDonald's."
She handed me the packet of salt, and I lightly sprinkled it in a circle around the bowl while speaking the following words: “I bless this place for only love and good can remain; hate and evil are cast out."
Just then, as the word ‘evil’ floated in the air, Abe and Vivian disappeared; they did not want any part of it. In the 1800s witchcraft was still very much a concern. Luckily, I could perform the spell without their help. I would have been in big trouble if I'd really needed them.
After the space was prepared, I placed the book down and took a deep, relaxing breath.
"Everyone must be quiet, I have to meditate and concentrate on the spell before I perform it."
I sure sounded like I knew what I was doing, but really I had no idea. Mindy and Mr. Haynes nodded in unison. Mindy was unaware of the timing of her nod. It had been in perfect unity with Mr. Haynes.
The book instructed that, when my thoughts were clear and free of emotion, I should engrave the person's name, hold up the bowl containing all the ingredients and the white candle. How was I supposed to clear my thoughts? That wouldn't be an easy task. At that time, I was supposed to think of the person I wanted the spell to be broken from. Envisioning the person in my mind would break them free.
As clearly as I could, using my fingernail as the book instructed, I carved the words into the wax. I pressed strongly to ensure it was as firmly written as it should be. Next, I placed a few more drops of rosemary into the bowl, and then rubbed some on the candle to anoint it. Carefully I rubbed the oil along the base of the candle and all around it, coating every inch of it. All the while, I was still thinking of Callahan and concentrating on breaking him free from the hex Brianna had assigned to him. The air in the room intensified. I felt like I was in a dream and nothing could have stopped me from carrying out the spell at that moment. I felt empowered.
Vigilantly, I sat the bowl back on the counter and placed the candle back in the holder; I then sat the candle next to the bowl. Cautiously, I lit the candle, careful not to burn my manicure (I needed to look good to perform magic, right?) and spoke the following words:
As this candle burns...
I call on the Powers around me for aid...
That I shall break the spell that binds this person...
and let the lust and the ties fade...
That they shall be cleansed and free...
I focused all of my energy on casting out the negative spell Brianna had bound to Callahan. I conjured up every positive thought I could think of (trying to leave out the naughty ones).
The spell was complete. I'd followed every last detail listed, and all that was left to do, at that moment, was to wait. Once I'd finished the spell, I felt drained from top to toe. After having four spirits in the room, drawing on my energy, and then focusing my energy on a spell I'd never done before, I felt exhausted. I could barely hold my head up.
"There. Now we'll see how that works.” I rubbed my aching head.
"How long do you think it takes?” Mindy asked softly.
"I would think it should take affect right away."
Callahan and Brianna walked past the window as if on cue. I felt like someone had let the air out of me. All that trouble, and it hadn't worked. I'd done it all for nothing.
"What happened? Damn, it didn't work,” I said through gritted teeth.
"Why didn't it work?” Mindy slumped across the counter.
"Well, if you had read the paragraph at the end of the page you'd know why it didn't work. Why are you completely clueless all the time?” Mrs. Williams snorted. She'd popped up just in time to add her two cents worth.
I scanned down the page. “Hmm. That does pose a problem,” I said. Maybe I was completely clueless.
"What is it?” Mindy asked. I pointed at the paragraph. Mindy scanned down the page. “Oh. Yeah, that does pose a problem doesn't it?"
There in print at the bottom of the page, in black and white, was the reason why the spell hadn't worked.
It was supposed to be three days before a full moon when we mixed the ingredients and then we had to wait until
the full moon before performing the spell. Why hadn't I read the entire page?
"When is the next full moon?"
"I have no idea."
"I'll get my calendar and check.” Mindy offered.
"What's the point? Nothing is going to work,” I said. I felt defeated. Like a deflated balloon that had been popped with a pin, and sent whirling to the ground, losing all my air.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 26
The next morning I stood at the counter of Book Nook with my chin propped on my hands. I was staring out into the open space of the room when Mrs. Williams popped up next to me. I didn't acknowledge her; I was in no mood to deal with her cynicism.
"Why don't you contact the local coven?” she said, casually, as she leaned against a shelf.
"What?” I looked at her, furrowing my brows. “What are you talking about?” Typically, I tried not to listen to much of anything she said. Usually all she ever said was some form of a complaint.
"There's a coven in Magnolia. Didn't you know that?” She gave me a duh-look.
"No, I'm sorry I didn't know that. Is this supposed to be common knowledge or something?"
"I just figured everyone knew about it. And you do tend to act like you know everything,” she said, leafing through one of the books next to her.
One day someone was going to walk through the door and freak out when they saw a book moving by itself. I would never be able to explain it.
Without saying another word to Mrs. Williams, I grabbed my cellphone and dashed over to look out the front window. Feverishly, I punched in Mindy's number while I scanned the street in search of the spiky-haired blonde.
"Mindy, there's a coven in Magnolia,” I said when she picked up. I didn't even bother to say hello. “Were you aware of this?"
"What? Who is this?"
"Stop trying to be funny. This is really serious. Did you know there was a coven in town?"
"Of course I didn't know. Don't you think I would have said something to you about it? You do mean like a witch's coven, right?"
I stared out the front window, once again trying to spot Brianna. Too bad I didn't have Mindy's binoculars. Brianna was nowhere in sight. She was probably off somewhere turning someone into a frog.
"Yes, a witch's coven. I didn't think you would have known about it, but I had to ask to make sure."
"So it's a coven, with witches and everything?
"Yes, that's what it is."
"Why didn't we know anything about this? I can't believe they could keep something like that hidden from me,” Mindy quipped.
"I guess they don't exactly advertise that kind of stuff. It's not like they take out a front page ad in the Yellow Pages."
"Touché."
"Exactly,” I said.
"Can you get in touch with them? How can you find them? Can they help you? I have no idea about this witchcraft stuff. Sorry I have so many questions. I'm just so confused."
I paused, contemplating the situation and my options.
"I have someone I can ask, hold on."
I covered the phone with my hand. “Mrs. Williams, I need your help."
In one swift motion she turned her back to me and made a humph noise. I was being snubbed.
"You know what you need to do in order for me to help you,” she grumbled.
"I promise I will talk to your husband. I won't leave until he talks to me, but right now I need your help. It's extremely important."
"Go to him first. After that I will help you."
"No way. I'll go to him and then you'll vanish. I need you to tell me first how to get in touch with the coven, and then I'll help you. Tit for tat."
"No."
"All right, suit yourself. I'll never talk to him then. Poor Robert will have to suffer with his broken heart."
Mrs. Williams was like a stubborn mule. She was the most hard-headed person I'd ever known.
"I'll run off all your business. What little business you have. No customers will ever set foot in this place again."
"You wouldn't dare!” I could not believe I was bickering with a ghost. She was impossible to deal with. Every time Mrs. Williams spoke to me, I felt like a scolded ten-year-old. She was a ghost, for heaven's sake. Why was I putting up with that behavior from her? I should be the one in control.
Clearly, my attempts at negotiating were not getting me anywhere. I had to think of something else to say.
Fortunately, a second idea popped into my head.
"Listen, Mrs. Williams,” I said gently.
She shook her head ‘no’ to let me know she wasn't willing to listen.
"Listen to me!” I said sternly. “Do you have children?"
"Yes, I have children,” she hissed. Why couldn't she ever answer without a nasty demeanor?
"Then maybe you can sympathize with my mother. Can't you do this for my mother? As a mother yourself? Wouldn't you want someone to help your children if they could? What if they needed someone to help them? Callahan is a nice person, and he doesn't deserve this.” I knew I was grasping at straws, but I had to try anyway.
After a long pause, she sighed. “All right. The lady's name is Karyn Bentley. Her number is in the phonebook."
I could not believe my plea had worked, and she'd shared the information with me. I would have to remember that trick in case I needed to use it against her again in the future, although I prayed my future with Mrs. Williams would be a short one. I was determined to finally get through to her husband. Deep down, she was not as tough as she led people to believe.
"Thank you, Mrs. Williams. I promise I won't let you down."
She ignored me.
I uncovered the phone and chirped into it, “I got it. I got the lady's name."
"Find her immediately,” Mindy commanded.
"Don't you want to know how I got it?” I asked.
"There's time for that later. Right now time is of the essence. Just find her."
"Gotcha. I'm looking for her right now."
"Bye,” Mindy snapped.
I fished out the phone book from the drawer under the counter and scanned the alphabet for her name.
"Thank God, there she is,” I muttered aloud.
Nervously, I dialed her number; I had no idea what I was even going to say. Hello, is this the witch?
The phone rang several times as my heart thumped.
"Hello,” the soft voice said. Hmm, I was expecting a more crackly-like voice. I think I expected her to say something like I'll get you my pretty, and then laugh in a wicked cackle.
"Hi, is this Karyn Bentley?"
"Yes, this is Karyn."
"Hi, Karyn. My name is Larue Donavan. I own Book Nook here in town."
"Oh, hi Miss Donavan. How are you today?"
"Just fine, thank you. The reason I'm calling is...” I paused.
"Yes,” she said, waiting for me to sputter out the rest of the sentence.
"I was told you were a part of the coven here in town. I didn't even know there was such a thing here in Magnolia,” I said nervously.
"Why do you ask?” she questioned guardedly.
"Right, well, I have reason to believe someone has placed a bad spell on someone I know. I was told you might be able to help. I tried to break the spell myself with some books I have here in the store."
She laughed. “But it didn't work."
"No, I'm afraid not. I'm not sure what I did wrong. Although the book said it had to be done on a full moon and I didn't do that part. After I tried it once I don't have the energy to try again."
"Well, it could have been that. But, honestly, it could be any one of many things. More than likely, it wouldn't have worked even on the full moon simply because, deep down, you don't believe it will work. Magic is a powerful thing, and so is the mind. They go together you know?"
"Well, um, no, I didn't know, but I'll take your word for it."
"So, who is this person?"
"Well, my friend is Callahan Weiss. Or
, at least, I thought we were friends until...” I trailed off.
"Go ahead.” She pushed.
"Until Brianna Garret came into the picture."
I could hear her exhale deeply into the phone.
"And you think Brianna has cast a spell on him?"
"Yes, I do."
"What makes you think she has cast a bad spell?"
"My friend and I saw her working her magic, I guess you would say. One day, she had this strange-looking bowl, she waved her hands around, and a puff of smoke came billowing into the air.” I sounded like an excited child as I described it. I gestured with my hands as if she could see me.
"A strange looking bowl, you say?"
"Yes, it was wooden with strange symbols on it."
"Uh huh. Okay and then what happened?"
"Well, after that. My friend began acting very strange. He stopped talking to me and he had this strange far-off look in his eyes."
"That is not good,” she said with trepidation.
I wasn't truly expecting her to agree with me, so when she did I was shocked. Relieved, but still shocked.
"It isn't?” I said.
"No. Not good at all. So you want to help your friend?"
"Yes, I do. If it is possible I would like to. I think he would want my help. I really feel like he would. The way he is acting is not natural."
"I realize that,” she offered. “Can you meet with me?
"Sure,” I said, nervously. The thought ran through my mind in that maybe she was in cahoots with Brianna and it was all a trick. Maybe they would turn me into a frog. Somehow Mrs. Williams was involved, too. I really was becoming paranoid.
"How about this afternoon?"
"That sounds fine,” I croaked.
I jotted down her address and hung up, wondering what disaster I had just gotten myself into and possibly could not get out from.
Needless to say, I was shocked to discover that Magnolia had a coven. How many witches were in town? If there was one bad witch, though, didn't that mean there were more? They needed to form some sort of witch police to track down the bad ones.
I mean honestly, a real live witch in my hometown. Even in my line of work, the only dealings with witches I had had, well, were none. I had seen the movie Practical Magic with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman several times, but that was it. Oh, and then of course, there were the Salem witch trials. But a coven here in Magnolia? I was still stunned.