Every Witch Way but Wicked

by Barbra Annino

  “Bronan, you can’t hide inside forever.” She smiled, sensing him in there, enjoying the sensation of being surrounded in her love.

  “Why not?” he whispered slowly, a smile curling the corner of his lips. “With you here, I don’t want to go anywhere else.”

  She eased her hand across the sword wound, closing it, soothing the tender skin, strengthening the area. “You’ll be fine now. Let’s get you up so that you may address the council.” Using the waves that buoyed him off the hard ground, she lifted him, righted him onto his feet and left waves to support him while he steadied himself.

  Only then did she realize they were surrounded by the dozens of curious elders. All dressed in various shades of blues, they’d gathered around their injured colleague.

  The same spokesman as before stepped forward. “Mistress Riana, we are grateful for the life of Councilman Bronan.”

  She bowed slightly. “As am I. I trust the challenge is no longer an issue?”

  The elder nodded. “We no longer argue that point. You are the rightful Priestess of the House of Sarlagon. As the victor this day, the entire Huron House is now for you to rule or to dispose of as you see fit.”

  She gave a start of surprise.

  Didn’t see that one coming, did you?

  “I hadn’t realized,” she admitted to the others.

  “As Ector demanded the House of Sarlagon as his spoils of war, he automatically gives up Huron House as the loser.”

  Not expecting a prize for defending her own honor and that of her House, she didn’t know what to say. She knew how bad Huron House had been, and she couldn’t allow that to continue. Suddenly she knew what to do. “I give Huron House, in completeness, to his son, Bronan of Huron House.”

  At her announcement, the rumble throughout the arena rose and fell. “Are you sure, Mistress Riana? The Huron House is not without its own treasures.”

  “I am sure.” She inclined her head, her tone of voice sharp. “Councilman Bronan’s home is not the spoils of war, the treasures of his family not mine to keep.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” She smiled at the warmth in her mind.

  “Then tell them. Or shall I?”

  She stilled. And spoke to him directly. “If you are sure.”

  He smiled. “Never more so.” He turned to face his peers. “Councilmen, Riana is my betrothed. Our Houses will be joined after the ceremony.

  The elder spoke up, surprised respect in his voice. He raised an eyebrow. “Are you both certain?

  Bronan spoke for them both. “It has always been thus. We are one. It was only my father’s machinations that drove us apart.”

  “Mistress Riana?”

  “It is so.”

  “You wish to make this formal at this time?”

  “It has always been formal to us. Making it formal in your eyes is the official seal on what we’ve always known—we were meant to be together. Our Houses meant to be one.”

  “So be it.” Bronan’s smile tickled her insides, but the wave of loving energy filled her soul.

  “Amen to that.”

  The End

  About Dale Mayer

  I’ve always been a fanatical reader, enjoying books across the genres and I’m delighted to have instilled the same joy of reading in all four of my own children. It’s important to kids to read and to become hooked on reading. It’s even more important in today’s digital world where there is so much else to do instead of picking up a book. I’m delighted to contribute in this way!

  Dale Mayer is a multipublished multi-genre author who writes nonfiction career and gardening books. However, fiction is her passion. Here, she writes taut psychological suspense with romance and paranormal elements. She has recently branched out into writing both mystery and urban fantasy books for young adult with the occasional vampire book thrown in just for fun.

  To connect with Dale and find out more about her writing, visit her at www.dalemayer.com, find her on Facebook.com and follow her on Twitter and Google+

  THE WITCH IS BACK

  by

  Rose Pressey

  Magic was all around us. That’s what my Aunt Sabrina used to say. She was a self-proclaimed witch. I’d labeled her eccentric many years ago, but now I knew she had been telling the truth. “Don’t be afraid to use magic, Stormy Sanders,” she had said. She had liked to call me by my full name. Another eccentricity of hers. When she passed away, I was her sole heir.

  I’d moved into Aunt Sabrina’s house a week ago. It was a white, two-story home that looked as if it should be in the middle of a farm instead of right in the center of town. Next door to the house was an antique shop. This had been my first opportunity to wander into the old shop since moving in.

  I pulled my jacket up close to fight the chill and peered up at the overcast gray sky—perfect weather for Halloween. If only the rain would hold off until the kiddies could get their treats. The familiar musty smell of antiques hit me when I walked through the door. The bell jangled and a little old lady peered up from her desk at the back of the room.

  “Welcome to Alana’s Antique Shop. I’m Alana. Have a look around and let me know if you need any assistance,” she said with a gravelly voice.

  I nodded. “Thank you.”

  I browsed through the aisles, but nothing really caught my eye. Just the usual dishes, paintings, and other gadgets that I had no idea what they’d been used for. When I reached a table at the back of the store, a little velvet pouch captured my attention. The color of the fabric was a beautiful deep purple. Inside was a heavy crystal about the size of a golf ball. I pulled it out and watched it sparkle and twinkle in the light like a huge diamond.

  “How much for this?” I asked, holding it up.

  “Oh…” She shuffled over, her deeply lined face breaking into a crooked smile. “Someone brought that in with those dishes.” She pointed, then pulled a piece of hard candy from her pocket, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth. “I think they found it in a trunk or something. I can’t recall. I wasn’t paying much attention.” She rolled the candy around in her mouth. “Anyway, I have no idea what it is … just something pretty to look at, I guess. I have noticed it always seems to glow at night. Very shiny. How about two dollars?”

  “Sold,” I said, giving a smile. She had me at ‘shiny’. Put something sparkly in front of me, and I had to have it.

  What I wanted with the thing, I had no idea. But I was strangely drawn to it. I’d place it on my desk so I could see it every day. Maybe it would make a good paperweight.

  “I’m your new neighbor.” I gestured toward my house as I approached the counter.

  “I recognized you, all right. You look like your aunt. Except for her hair was a prettier shade of blonde.”

  Gee, thanks for noticing. This woman forgot to use her on and off switch for her mouth.

  “Enjoy the crystal,” she said with a knowing smile.

  After paying for my purchase, I headed back home, shuffling through the leaves scattered across the pathway. I’d decorated my front porch for Halloween the day I moved in. Fake spider webs, pumpkins atop bales of straw, and a spooky-looking scarecrow flanked the entrance.

  The smell of fall hung in the air. After heading inside, I removed the crystal from its velvet pouch, then forgot about it until later that night. When I walked past my desk on my way to the kitchen, the crystal called out to me. That’s the only way to explain how I felt. As if an energy force pulled me to the sparkly gem. The next thing I knew, I held it in the palms of my hands. I’d never believed in magic before—maybe the power of positive thinking, but not magic.

  A white glow emanated from the gem, engulfing my hands in the light. It lit up the room.

  “Do a simple spell to start with. Something small,” a female voice called from behind me.

  I whipped around, but no one was there. Was I dreaming? No, I was very much awake. Should I do what the voice asked of me?

  “Who are you?” I aske
d, looking around the room for the person behind the voice.

  No answer. Silence hung in the air.

  Okay, now I was hearing voices. Psychotic much? That’s what happened when you lived alone for too long.

  “Wish for something and the magic will appear,” the voice called out again.

  Wish for something? Like what? Bigger boobs? I shook my head. No, the voice had said to wish for something small. A smaller waist? Hmm. No, that didn’t seem right, either. Maybe I should wish for something not superficial.

  “Are you there?” I called out to the great voice from beyond. It was as if I was talking to Oz. How bizarre was this, now I was talking back to the voice.

  “Be careful what you wish for—it may come to you in ways you don’t realize. The power of magic is the power of the mind.”

  None of this made sense, but I decided to do what the voice had told me. After all, Aunt Sabrina would have wanted me to. But what to wish for? A date with a gorgeous hunk of a man? No, definitely out of the question. I’d been meaning to get a cat. Perhaps I should wish for a pet. Yes, that would work.

  As I held the crystal, I pictured the animal in my mind. I knew what to do next. How I knew, I wasn’t sure, but I knew. Words came from my lips as if someone else spoke them. A magic spell. I didn’t know magic … but I knew the words now.

  “A wish for a companion … to make me smile all day … and curl up on my bed at night under the moonlight. So mote it be.”

  The light pulsed faster and faster until finally slowing, then back to the steady white glow again. The sensation of something brushing against my leg startled me. I looked down and green eyes peered up at me. Apparently, my wish had been fulfilled. The black cat looked at me and meowed. It wore a silver collar with a little pendant dangling from the front.

  The doorbell rang. I jumped and almost dropped the crystal. The black cat weaved around my legs. The glowing light disappeared as mysteriously as it had appeared. I placed the gem back on my desk and hurried out of the room before the voice popped up again.

  A fall storm was moving in. Lightning flickered in the distance with an occasional rumble of thunder. A steady mist of rain fell. It would put a damper on the trick-or-treaters. Too bad, because I loved looking at all the little costumes.

  The doorbell rang again.

  “Hold on, I’m coming,” I called.

  These were some seriously dedicated kids to be out in this weather. I grabbed the bowl full of chocolate candy and opened the door expecting to see a little ghost, witch, or maybe a bumblebee. Instead, a man stood in front of me.

  I guess he was good-looking if you liked tall, dark, and handsome with a body that would make women unable to form complete sentences in his presence. He wore dark pants and a dark jacket and held a case in one hand. A silver chain with a pendant dangled around his neck. It looked just like the one the cat wore. That was weird. He quirked a brow at the cackling witch decoration on my front door.

  “If you’re here to sell something, I’m afraid I am broke. Sorry.”

  Soundless lightning flickered in the sky to the west.

  “My name is Gavin Wickcliff.” He stretched his hand out toward me.

  His hand was strong, smooth, and dare I say, sexy?

  “Please excuse me for bothering you, but I, um…” He looked over his shoulder toward the antique shop. “I believe you have something that belongs to me.”

  I raised my brow. “I don’t believe I do.”

  I should remember to see who was at the door before I opened it. Visions of the movie Halloween flooded my mind.

  “You bought something from the shop next door?” He gestured toward Alana’s Antique Shop.

  “And what business is this of yours?” I crossed my arms in front of my chest.

  He gave a lopsided grin. “Well, the item you purchased was mine. I tracked it to the shop next door, and I’d like to buy it back. The nice lady gave me your name and address.”

  How sweet and thoughtful of her. I’d have to remind her I was a single female living alone. No need to send strange men to my door to murder me and stuff me in an oil drum.

  “What was this item of yours? You haven’t even told me what it is you think I have.”

  Somehow, I knew it had something to do with the crystal. Did he know what had happened? This was too strange.

  “I’m the owner of the crystal. It was taken from me by mistake.”

  “It’s just some old stone. Doesn’t look as if it’s worth much.” I looked down at my sneakers. I never had been a good liar.

  “So you do have my crystal.” He smirked.

  I’d stuffed my foot in my mouth yet again.

  “I’m sorry about your luck. I paid two dollars for it, so it’s mine now.” I tried to make my voice sound cool and collected.

  Where were the trick-or-treaters when I needed them?

  “The more important question is … did anything strange happen with the crystal?”

  I knew he could read my expression. My poker face was terrible.

  He sighed. “I was afraid of that. I’d hoped to find it before anyone used it, but it’s too late. I’m too late.” He ran his hand through his thick, licorice-colored hair.

  I didn’t like the sound of this.

  “Okay, you’re scaring me now.” Should I slam the door in his face?

  “Do you mind if I come in?” he asked, his green eyes holding on to mine.

  Okay, he was gorgeous and all. Chiseled features and he smelled fantastic … like cinnamon—but serial killers could be gorgeous. No way could I let a stranger into my house.

  “How about we just stay on the front porch?” I pointed over his shoulder.

  He placed the case on the chair next to my front door, then popped the lid. I inched across the threshold far enough to see the contents. Inside, five other crystals just like my newly purchased one rested on velvet fabric—the same as the pouch my crystal had come in.

  “You’re a witch now.” He gestured toward the case, then peered up at me.

  “Hey, I’m not going to let you come in my house so you can call me names.” I scowled.

  He chuckled. “Well, technically I’m not in your house. But I’m not calling you names, either. You’re a witch now, whether you like it or not.”

  I would have said he was insane, but after what had happened when I held the crystal, I had to believe anything now.

  “A witch? As in cackling, riding a broom, and owning a black cat?”

  Speaking of black cats … where had that cat gone? Had it run out when I opened the door?

  “Well, if you want to use every witch cliché known, sure … a witch.” His bright eyes gleamed with mirth.

  I was glad he found all of this so amusing … not.

  “I think you’re going to have to explain what you’re talking about,” I said. “And don’t try to be ‘mysterious’.” I used air quotes.

  He shot me that lopsided smile again and I couldn’t help but chuckle. His smile was downright infectious. Darn him.

  “Fine. I’ll just come out with it. I’m assuming that something happened when you held the crystal. You must have had some strong thoughts when you held it.”

  “I think I must always have strong thoughts,” I said.

  “Yes, I can see that.” He winked and I think my toes tingled. “Can you tell me exactly what happened?”

  “Well, I kind of feel silly telling a complete stranger such a crazy story, but you are standing on my front porch wanting your magical crystal back, so…”

  “I’m glad you’ve decided I’m not completely and utterly crazy. You have a fantastic smile, by the way.”

  I tried not to smile, really I did, but my attempt was futile.

  “Thank you,” I said softly. “Anyway, about what happened. I held the crystal in the palms of my hands and a voice told me what to do. Okay, this sounds even more ridiculous once I say it out loud.”

  “Well, it’s not ridiculous, so please continue,�
�� he said.

  “She said … the voice was female….”

  He nodded. “Yes, she’s Edna, the witch spirit that’s attached to the crystal.”

  “Edna? Edna the witch? Of course. Should I be worried? This is nothing evil, is it?” I shivered not only from the cold air, but from his words, too.

  “No, no, nothing like that. She’ll be like your guardian witch from now on.”

  Great. What I always wanted—a witchy fairy godmother.

  “Anyway, she said to make a wish, to start with something small. So I wished for a cat. Which has now disappeared, by the way.” I glanced around, but still no sign of my new furry friend.

  He winked. “I have a feeling the cat will reappear. When I started my search for the crystal I never imagined it would lead me to such a beautiful woman.”

  His gaze held mine.

  The moon peeked out from behind a thick cloud. The rain had stopped and a couple of kids marched up the porch steps for candy.

  “Trick or treat,” they said in unison.

  “Aren’t y’all adorable?” I smiled.

  When the little vampire and Dorothy from Wizard of Oz left, Gavin said, “Well, since it’s too late to get the crystal back, how about you go out on a date with me? We can discuss this whole witch thing over dinner?”

  That smile of his would be the end of me. I always had liked tall, dark, and handsome.

  About Rose Pressey

  Rose Pressey enjoys writing quirky and fun novels with a paranormal twist. The paranormal has always captured her interest. The thought of finding answers to the unexplained fascinates her.

  When she’s not writing about werewolves, vampires and every other supernatural creature, she loves eating cupcakes with sprinkles, reading, spending time with family, and listening to oldies from the fifties. Yeah, she loves Elvis. She can’t help herself.

  Rose lives in the beautiful commonwealth of Kentucky with her husband, son and two sassy Chihuahuas.