Spells

by Kristen Proby

  “You’re such a cynic,” Brielle says, rolling her eyes. “Of course, they won’t be, because Millie’s going to cast a little spell to avoid such a thing.”

  “Of course, she is. Why didn’t I think of that?”

  The two wander off, and I glance over to Millie. She’s concentrating on a bouquet of black roses in her hands. She pricks her finger on one of the stems and immediately puts the tip of the digit into her mouth. Her eyes find mine.

  Let’s talk. I mouth the words. She nods, says something to Dahlia, and then hurries over to me.

  “What’s up?”

  “I want to go inside where it’s quieter,” I whisper, and with her hand linked to mine, I lead her into her café and back to her small office. “We didn’t cast the spell to open our door yesterday.”

  “I guess the day got away from me,” she says. “Do you want to do it now?”

  “Yes. And here’s the thing, Millicent. We can close it after all is said and done and we’re past this little war. Or, we can keep it open for the rest of our lives. It’s completely up to you.”

  “Can we read each other’s thoughts?”

  “No.” I brush my thumb under her left eye, sweeping away an eyelash. “We can simply talk to each other whenever we want, except we don’t have to worry about a cell signal.”

  “Well, I like the sound of that.” She grins and leans against me. “Thank you for doing this.”

  “It’s for me as much as it is for you. I also want you to stick close to me for the foreseeable future.”

  She frowns up at me. “What’s wrong? I mean, aside from the obvious. Has something changed?”

  “I don’t have anything concrete to tell you, but I have a bad feeling. I’m going to stick close to you, and I want to keep the door open at all times.”

  She shivers as she nods. “Done.”

  We join hands, and I begin to chant to cast the spell.

  Light of day, and dark of night,

  Find my soulmate in spell’s flight.

  Mind to mind, and heart to heart,

  Connect us now while we’re apart.

  From this day, ‘til we decree,

  Make us one, so mote it be.

  A breeze blows around us as the words are said. Millie joins in, chanting the words with me. When we’re finished, we open our eyes and look at each other.

  I love you, Millicent.

  She smiles and presses her cheek against my chest, holding on tightly. I love you, too, beloved.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Millie

  “I smell children!” Brielle, dressed as Mary Sanderson, startles a group of kids who gathered at my booth for some hot chocolate. They giggle and shriek in joy.

  “We are children,” one of them says with a laugh.

  My sisters and I take Halloween very seriously. Every year, we dress up as famous witches, and this year, the Sandersons are in the rotation. Brielle’s dark hair is teased up, and she twists her jaw to the side to make herself look like the character from the movie. I’m Sarah tonight, with my long, blond hair teased, and my dress showing off my cleavage. Once in a while, I break out in, “Amok amok amok!” and make everyone around me laugh.

  “Sisters!” Daphne exclaims as she approaches the booth—well enough to make Bette Midler herself proud. “It seems there are children about.”

  “It’s Halloween,” a little Tinker Bell informs her. “Of course, there are children.”

  “Did you know we eat little children?” Daphne asks as she leans down to eye-level with the little girl.

  “We don’t really,” I insist as I pass the child her little cup of hot chocolate. “Stop scaring away my customers, Daph.”

  “You know Halloween is my favorite,” she replies, not sorry at all. She pats her red hair and gives me a toothy grin, thanks to her prosthetic front teeth. “I’m totally in character. I’m gonna go make the rounds.”

  “Have fun,” I reply as I wave her off. This is the best night of the year. The street looks fantastic, if I do say so myself, with the orange lights strung back and forth over the street. The Jack-o-lanterns are lit and grinning, thanks to Lucien’s handiwork. Each booth has a bouquet of black roses, thanks to Dahlia, and I love that folks feel safe to bring their little ones out here to trick-or-treat and enjoy the fun.

  “I want some caramel corn,” Esme says as she passes out another free hot chocolate. “And then I’m gonna man this station for a while so you can go mingle.”

  “We’ll take turns,” I assure her. “And you look adorable tonight, by the way.”

  She smiles and adjusts her black ears. “Meow.”

  “You make a sexy black cat in that suit.”

  “Thanks. It’s not fun when I have to go to the bathroom, but it shows off my curves pretty nicely, if I do say so myself. Maybe I’ll find a date tonight,” she replies and crosses her fingers. “A girl can hope.”

  She hurries off to get her popcorn. I have a table set up just inside the café door for tarot readings, and Gwyneth is manning the counter inside so parents can order coffees, along with some special potions. I offered to help her, but Gwyneth insisted that she could handle it.

  She’s a fast learner, and a delight to have around. I hope she’ll want to stay for a long while, even if it’s just one day a week.

  “How’s it going?” Lucien asks as he sidles up next to me and kisses my temple.

  “You’re not wearing your costume.”

  He sighs with exasperation. “Do you know how tight that thing is? It left nothing to the imagination. I’m not wearing it.”

  “But you’re not dressed as anything.”

  “I’m a scientist,” he reminds me. “So, I’m dressed as a scientist.”

  “If we had a khaki jacket, you could mess up your hair a bit and look like Egon from Ghostbusters. A much sexier version, of course.”

  “No thanks.”

  “Killjoy.”

  Lucien laughs and tugs me against him for a long, slow kiss that makes my toes curl, and the candles in the Jack-o-lanterns burn a little brighter.

  “There are children about,” I remind him.

  “And I don’t care.” He flashes a cocky smile. He leans in to whisper in my ear. “I can’t wait to get you home and have my way with you.”

  “Just hold that thought for a few hours.”

  “I’ll suffer,” he says with a deep sigh, then offers me a wink and starts ladling hot chocolate into little cups. “But I think I can survive a few more hours.”

  “Can I steal her away?” Dahlia asks as she skips up to the table. Everyone is just so happy tonight. I absolutely love it. “I mean, I know I’m interrupting a romantic moment and all, but we haven’t been down to the Head Over Heels booth to check out the shoes yet. And Mama needs some new kicks.”

  “Oh, yes, I want to look at shoes.” I look up at Lucien. “Can you handle this for a bit?”

  “Sure, have fun.” Stay close by.

  I’m just going down the street.

  He winks, and Dahlia and I set off down the block.

  “You outdid yourself this year,” Dahlia says. “The music, the fog. How did you do the fog, by the way?”

  “Little fog machines, strategically placed,” I reply with a satisfied smile.

  “Well, it’s fun. And maybe a little creepy, but not over-the-top, so it’s perfect for the kids.”

  “That’s exactly what I was going for,” I say. “Also, you’re the cutest Wednesday Adams ever. I love the wig.”

  She grins happily. “Thanks. I’ve always liked Wednesday. Oh, here we are. Hi, Charly.”

  “Well, hello ladies.” Charly gives us a welcoming grin. “It’s been a minute since I’ve seen either of you.”

  “I know, I need to come in more often. I need shoes like crazy, and I just miss you.”

  Charly and I have owned our shops for about the same amount of time, and we became fast friends. Her brother is married to Mallory.

  “Well, I have
some fabulous new things on display, but nothing is for sale here. If you want something, you have to go down to the shop. I’m mostly here for exposure and to pass out candy. Oh, and to show off my costume, of course.”

  Her dress is huge. And sparkly.

  And she’s holding a wand.

  “You’re Glinda the Good Witch.”

  “That’s me, sugar,” she says with a wink. “I’m a hit with the little girls.”

  “Oh, I’m sure you are.” I laugh and pick up a pair of black flats. “These would be great for work. Is it possible for you to call the shop and ask them to hold a size seven? I’ll pick them up tomorrow.”

  “Sure thing,” Charly agrees.

  “Look at these,” Dahlia says, holding up a pair of red stilettos. “The heel is so pointy. You could just drive it right into a man’s heart.”

  I scrunch up my nose. “What in the world is wrong with you? That’s disgusting.”

  “Oh, come on, it’s Halloween.”

  “You need to lay off the horror movies, friend.”

  “No way, it’s the perfect time of year for them.” She giggles. “And I wonder why I’m single.”

  “Yeah, that’s not really a great pickup line. ‘Hey, handsome. Do you like my shoes? They’re pointy enough to drive into your heart.’”

  We laugh and admire the rest of the shoes. I put one more pair, some black heels, on hold, and then we make our way back to our own booths.

  “You should read my tarot cards,” she says.

  “I can totally do that. But don’t you have to man your own stuff over there?”

  “My staff has it under control for now.”

  “Well, let’s do it then.”

  “But let’s do it outside,” Dahlia suggests. “I love the commotion of all the kids and the fresh air. It’s a nice night.”

  “I like that idea. We can keep an eye on things. I’ll grab my deck and be right out.”

  I hurry inside, grab my cards, check in with Gwyneth—who just shoos me out of the way—and when I decide that everything is under control, I return to Dahlia.

  We sit at a table in my booth, and I ask her to cut the deck.

  Esme and Lucien are behind me, passing out hot chocolate and admiring costumes.

  Everything okay? Lucien asks.

  Having a great time, I assure him.

  “Okay, let’s get started.” I start, laying the cards on the table. I frown. They’re not making any sense at all. “Are you sure you cut the cards exactly where you wanted to?”

  “I did,” she says.

  “Huh.” I place a few more on the table in the spread. “I’ve honestly never seen this before.”

  “What is it? What do they say?”

  “That’s just it, Dahlia. They don’t say anything. They’re jumbled and don’t make any sense at all.”

  “Sounds like my life.” She snorts. “Makes perfect sense to me.”

  “You need to recharge your stones,” I begin, all serious now. “You need to meditate and realign your chakras. Smudge your home and your store. I’m serious, Dahlia, you might think this is funny, but it’s not good. And it explains a lot. Your clumsiness, for example.”

  “I have been extra clumsy lately,” she says with a nod. “You’re right. Maybe I’ve just felt overwhelmed lately. I haven’t taken the time to reset and recharge.”

  “Are you okay? I haven’t seen much of you, and you just haven’t been yourself.”

  “I know.” She blows out a breath. “Listen, tonight is for fun. So let’s not worry about this right now. I’m doing okay, and now that this is in the forefront of my mind, I can focus on myself a bit over the coming days. The ritual with the blue moon the day after tomorrow will help.”

  “Oh, you’re so right. That will be amazing for you. For all of us, really. Good thinking.”

  Dahlia pats my hand and then leaves to check on her booth.

  “I’m worried about her,” I say to Lucien as I join him by the hot chocolate.

  “I have been, too. I’ve just been a little busy with other things. After the hunter’s moon rite, I’ll have a sit-down talk with her.”

  “Good idea.”

  “Hey, guys, lookie here. Hot chocolate for all the babies.”

  A group of four teenagers approaches our booth, all with arrogant little sneers on their acne-filled faces.

  “Does that mean you’d like a cup?” I ask innocently.

  The friends laugh, but the boy, the leader, doesn’t think it’s funny and knocks a stack of cups over.

  “You can be on your way,” Lucien says, his voice hard but low.

  “Or what?” the boy asks. “What will you do about it? Sic your little witch on me?”

  I smile and pick up a black candle. Lucien snaps his fingers, and the wick ignites, making the kids’ mouths fall open, and their eyes bulge.

  “Nice trick.” The boy swallows hard. “It’s just a little parlor trick you probably learned on YouTube.”

  I raise a brow, waggle my fingers, and conjure the wind to blow through their hair and then extinguish the flame.

  “Whatever, freaks.”

  “You know,” I say as I calmly set the candle down, “we were taught to be more respectful, kinder to others. Wouldn’t it be a shame if you and your little buddies here all turned into little black kittens tonight in your beds?”

  He starts to smirk, but I snap my fingers and a black cat jumps onto the table, then sits and begins cleaning himself.

  “Sorry, ma’am,” the boy stammers.

  “Just enjoy the street party,” I suggest. “And stop trying to ruin it for everyone else. Would you like some hot chocolate?”

  “No thanks.” All four of them shake their heads and hurry away.

  “Okay, where did the cat come from?” Lucien asks.

  I snap my fingers again, and it’s just Sanguine, staring at me as if to say, really?

  “Good one, my love,” Lucien says.

  “Amok amok amok!” I bounce on my heels. Brielle hauls off and sticks her elbow in my stomach. “Ooof.”

  “You guys crack me up.” Esme tosses used cups into the trash. The party is over, and we’re finishing up with tidying the café before we all go home for the night and sleep like the dead. “And if I laugh any more, I’m going to pee my pants. I’ve been holding it because wiggling out of this bodysuit is a chore and a half, but I’m afraid I can’t anymore. Be right back.”

  She runs toward the bathroom, making us all chuckle.

  “I like her so much,” Gwyneth says. “She’s helpful and sweet. And such a good witch.”

  “She is talented,” I agree. “Oh, Daph and B, I keep meaning to talk to you, but also keep forgetting. Our coven is performing an All Hallows’ Eve ritual the day after tomorrow, and I want you to come.”

  “Us?” Brielle asks.

  “Yes. You’ve never been before, and I think you’ll really love it. It’s beautiful. You can just watch.”

  “Are you going to be dancing naked under the blue moon?” Daphne asks.

  “No—”

  “Yes,” Lucien and I reply at the same time. I bump him with my hip.

  “No,” I repeat. “But I’ll dance for you naked after.”

  “If everyone keeps their clothes on, I’m in,” Brielle says. “I think it’ll be fun to watch, and the members of your coven have been nothing but accepting and protective of us. How can we not support this? It’s like Christmas for you.”

  “Oh, I’m even more excited now.”

  Gwyneth sighs as she tosses her used towel into the hamper under the sink. “I think that’s all of it back here, boss.”

  “You were an amazing help tonight,” I say. “I’m so grateful you were here. Thank you for everything.”

  “It’s my pleasure, honey. I’m going to head home and see what kind of trouble Aiden got into while I was gone.”

  “Have a great night.”

  “I’ll walk you to your car.” Lucien squeezes my hand. “
I’ll be right back.”

  Lucien escorts his mom out the front door.

  “Okay,” Daphne says as soon as the door closes. “Now that he’s not within earshot, I can say this. I love him, Mill. He’s so nice, and smart, and the way he looks at you is just…gah.”

  “He’s the best,” Brielle agrees.

  “Hey,” Cash says, looking up from his phone. He’s been in the corner, checking in with his team. He arrived late because of an investigation that ran long. He looks exhausted.

  I know he’s been working hard on our case, and that ours isn’t the only one on his plate.

  “I mean, he’s the best for Millie.” Brielle walks over and plants a kiss on her husband’s lips, sans prosthetic teeth. “No one’s better for me than you, babe.”

  “That’s right.”

  “Thanks, guys,” I say with a happy sigh. “I’m so mad at myself for fighting the attraction for so long. Because he’s amazing. I could have been having the best sex ever all this time.”

  “That is a bummer,” Daphne adds. “But it happened when the time was right. I’m really happy for you.”

  “Don’t make me cry,” I say, pointing to my sisters. “Now, I’d better take this trash out so we can all go home.”

  “I can do it,” Cash offers, but I wave him off just as Lucien walks back into the café.

  “No, I’m fine. It’s not heavy. I’ll be right back.”

  I can hear Esme struggling to get back into her catsuit as I pass the restroom.

  “Come on, you son of a bitch.”

  “You okay in there?”

  “Do you have a crowbar?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “Then I’m okay. I just might have to go home half-naked.”

  I laugh and continue through the reading room to the back door. It’s pretty dark back here, but I don’t bother to turn on the light.

  I know my way around like I know my own reflection.

  I open the door, and just as I step out, my foot catches on something and I pitch forward, falling flat on my face.

  I shriek, then wince when I feel the scrapes on the heel of my hand.

  “Damn it.”

  “Are you okay?” Esme asks as she hurries outside. “I just left the bathroom and heard you…oh, goddess.”