by Rose Pressey
I needed to ask another witch’s advice. The only catch was I didn’t really have any witch friends. Since I’d always been the outcast of the coven, most witches avoided me like a burning stake or a broken broom. But there was one witch who would be more than willing to lend me a wand… my mother. She would want to know more about Nicolas and Liam though and that was the problem. If I told her what was going on with them she might freak out. Unfortunately, she was my only option. There was still a little daylight left in the day. Just enough time to catch my mother at her shop before she closed and went home for the day.
I picked up my cell and dialed the number to Bewitching Bath and Potions. “I thought I’d come over for a bit,” I said when she answered.
“What’s wrong?” she asked with panic in her voice.
“Can’t I come see my mother?” I asked in defense.
“Well, you rarely volunteer to come by the store,” she replied with frustration in her tone.
I scoffed. “That’s because you always put me to work.”
“Just get here as quickly as you can,” she said around a sigh.
Little did my mother know that I wouldn’t show up to her shop as myself.
Chapter Sixteen
Grabbing the Book of Mystics, I headed downstairs to perform the glamor spell. There was one small problem though. If Liam was down there, I’d have to trick him into leaving me alone for a bit, just enough time for me to cast the spell and slip out of the house.
I had to change my appearance in order to go out of the house without protection. After all, Jacobson and his crazy coven members would be looking for me, not someone else. But who would I change my appearance to? I’d changed my appearance to Nicolas already and that had almost been a catastrophe.
Luckily, this time I had the counter-spell so I wouldn’t have to worry about being stuck taking on someone else’s appearance. Well, in a perfect witch world that was the way it worked. In my world, there was always some doubt. There was only one person who I felt I would be safe as… Liam Rankin. After all, he was my bodyguard and no one would mess with him. But what if they saw me out and thought that he’d left me home alone? They’d come to LaVeau Manor. It wouldn’t matter though. I wouldn’t be here.
I tiptoed through the rooms, hoping that I wouldn’t hit one of the creaky floorboards and notify the whole house that I was moving around. Where was Liam? I should have checked his room before I’d come down, but I didn’t want to accidentally bump into him while in such close proximity to his bedroom.
The house was silent again except for the eerie tick-tock of that grandfather clock. I needed to get rid of that thing. The sound was just too creepy. It was as if I was perpetually running out of time. Maybe someone was trying to tell me something.
Fortunately, I’d made it through the house without seeing Liam. Once I reached the kitchen, I hurried and gathered my items—cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and bay leaves. Aunt Maddy’s giant cauldron was in the big stone fireplace in the middle of the far wall of the kitchen. I wasn’t sure when I’d stop referring to everything as Aunt Maddy’s. It was all my stuff now… for better or worse.
After adding water to the cauldron, I swiped a long match against the stone then lit the fire underneath. I dumped the ingredients into the cauldron and waited for the water to boil. Of course we all knew that a watched pot never boiled, so while I waited, I paced.
What would Liam say or do if he found out what I was doing? He’d laughed when I’d changed my appearance to Nicolas, but I knew he wouldn’t find this quite as humorous. I was slipping out of the house without him as my protection. If I was killed, it would ruin him. That was kind of selfish of me now that I thought about it. I didn’t want to ruin him—far from it. But it was just a risk I was going to have to take. I prayed that everything worked out the way that I intended.
Once the water came to a boil, I recited the words. This time I didn’t want to make any mistakes. It was too important.
“For a brief time, make my appearance not mine. Alter my look to that of Liam Rankin and no one’s beliefs will falter. So mote it be.”
The water bubbled like the angry sea and flashes of light zinged and zapped around the room. Within a matter of seconds, the commotion had died down again and it was just as peaceful and quiet as when I’d started the spell.
Apprehension coursed through my body. Had the spell worked? Of course I was nervous about making the counter-spell work too. Obviously, not nervous enough though because I’d gone through with the glamor spell. I was having spell casting remorse. It was too late to turn back now, right? Or was it? I needed to check the mirror to see if I was still me or if I’d taken on the handsome features of one sexy vampire warlock, Liam Rankin.
I rushed down the hallway into the little bathroom. The reflection in the mirror staring back at me was not my own. I now had a strong jaw, piercing blue eyes, long lashes, full lips and dark hair. Damn. Liam was good-looking. The spell had been a success. Now what? I’d have to hurry out of the house before I was caught.
I grabbed my purse and headed toward the door. Okay, how ridiculous did I look? A guy carrying a giant pink purse? But what was a female witch who’d changed her appearance to do? I needed my purse. It was practically my lifeline. I’d leave it in the car and no one would be the wiser. What would my mother say when she saw me like this? I felt like I was slipping out of the house like when I was sixteen. My mother had always used her magic to catch me though. I prayed that Liam didn’t use his magic to catch me.
The ride to my mother’s shop was exceedingly long. Perhaps it was because I was anxious and had a million things on my mind. Specialty shops and boutiques made up the bulk of the historic section of town. The main road ran along the river, twisting and turning through Enchantment Pointe. A stone wall surrounded the outer edge of town with cobblestone sidewalks and wrought-iron accents sprinkled around.
After pulling up in front of the building which housed my mother’s Bath and Potions Shop in the historic downtown of Enchantment Pointe, I cut the engine and let out a deep breath. I’d started working at my mother’s shop years ago, but she still didn’t trust me to mix the spells. The full beard on Mrs. Stillwell’s face had only lasted a month and it had been a novelty really. In hindsight, she should have thanked me. But because of that and a few other mishaps, I was banned from the cauldron.
Here went nothing. At the very least my mother would be thrilled with my witchcraft skills. Not every witch could change her appearance.
I hopped out from behind the wheel and around to the sidewalk. I looked up and down the street. A few people went in and out of other shops, but no one seemed to notice me. No one knew Liam in Enchantment Pointe though, so I’d probably be safe. Just a regular guy standing on the sidewalk, that was me.
As I pushed through the door of Bewitching Bath and Potions Shop, the bell above the door jangled announcing my presence. Annette LaVeau made all the items right there in her shop. Her merchandise included soaps, lotions, scrubs, and bath salts. She had a special knack for mixing scents—magical oils were her specialty. She was a workaholic when it came to her business: sections of the store were specifically designated for specific items, and you’d better not get them out of place either. Fragrances, oils, powders and herbs on the right. Soaps, shower gels, lotions, shampoos and conditioners on the left.
My mother immediately popped up from behind the counter. People could tell immediately that we were mother and daughter. We were the same small size—five-foot-one—but we packed a powerful punch. My mother had recently cut her blonde hair in a fashionable bob. She wore the store’s signature polka-dotted apron over her black T-shirt and black and white Capri pants.
My mother quirked her one eyebrow. My mother had gotten better with drawing on her eyebrows after this many years, but sometimes she forgot and accidentally wiped them off. I’d been responsible for a minor cupcake-related incident involving a partially destroyed kitchen, and my mother had her eyebrows.
Other than that, she’d come out unscathed. Never mind that she has to pencil them in to this day, bless her heart. She never had to worry about painful wax treatments though.
“May I help you?” she asked with a giant smile.
As I approached the counter, she scowled. Did she recognize me? Or did she suspect that I was behind the male face?
“Aren’t you that witch who corrupted my daughter?” She waved the wand that she’d been using to mix up a potion.
“What?” I asked, my voice coming out only slightly masculine.
I couldn’t believe she’d asked me that. It was so tempting to have a little fun with her, but she’d probably never forgive me if I did, so I knew I had to come clean.
Chapter Seventeen
My mother frowned. She was a smart woman and she knew something was amiss. And to think I’d actually entertained the thought of playing a prank on her. It would have taken her seconds to figure me out.
“Mother, it’s me, Halloween.” I waved my hands through the air.
My mother had always called me Halloween and refused to use the nickname Hallie. I’d given up the battle and allowed her to win years ago. It wasn’t worth the energy.
She stepped back and looked me up and down. Her mouth dropped open and she wobbled a little for added theatrics. “Why would you do such a thing?” she asked while clutching her chest.
I hurried around the counter and helped her sit on the stool. “I thought you’d be happy with my new talent.” I picked up a piece of paper and waved it in front of her as a fan. I believed she had a case of the vapors.
She looked at me again, then said, “Well, I guess I am a little happy.” She shook her head. “But no, I still need to know why you did this.”
I picked at the invisible lint on my shirt. “It’s complicated.”
“What isn’t complicated with you? I’m your mother, you have to tell me what’s going on. Don’t keep secrets from me. It’s not healthy.” She waved her finger at me.
She was making up that last part. There was no evidence that keeping secrets from her wasn’t healthy.
“After you left the Halloween Ball, Liam called for me to go to New Orleans,” I explained.
“And?” She motioned me to continue.
“Nicolas has been accused of stealing another witch’s powers, so now I have to figure out if the charges are true.” I rushed my words.
“Oh dear. What are you going to do?” She clutched her chest.
I shrugged. “I’m trying to figure that part out.”
“That still doesn’t explain why you look like Liam.” She pointed at my body, specifically the lower region.
“Oh yeah, that part.” I frowned.
I hated sharing the tiny details with her.
“Yes, that part.” She placed her hands on her hips.
“There’s a guy who isn’t very happy because Nicolas turned his sister into a vampire. So the Underworld assigned Liam to protect me.” I tested a new shade of pink lipstick on my hand and avoided her stare.
“Nicolas turned a woman?” Her eyes were the size of the large cauldron in front of us.
“Well, he said it wasn’t on purpose.” I placed my hands on my hips.
She picked up the paper and fanned herself again. “That’s not very reassuring. That still doesn’t tell me why you are pretending to be Liam.”
“I wanted to get out of the house and I knew I couldn’t just go out as Halloween LaVeau. That wouldn’t be very safe, now would it?” I asked.
“I don’t think it’s safe no matter what you do. You shouldn’t be out without Liam. Not if he is assigned to protect you,” she said.
“I figured that no one would mess with me if they thought I was Liam.” I flashed a wide grin.
“You have to change back immediately.” She grabbed my arms and spun me around to face her. Spinning me around wasn’t as easy as she thought considering Liam’s muscular frame.
“Why?” I asked, looking her in the eyes.
She averted her gaze and went back to stirring the cauldron.
“Are you going to tell me?” I placed my hands on my hips.
She released a heavy sigh, then said, “The Coven members are on their way and I don’t want them to see you like this.”
“What do I care what they think of me? I don’t have to worry about them and their stupid pamphlets any more. You know that. I’m the leader now. I’m exempt from ridicule.” I moved a couple boxes off the counter and onto the shelf behind us.
That was a new rule that I’d just made up. No more making fun of my less-than-stellar skills.
She shuffled papers on the counter and avoided my stare. “Okay, granted they shouldn’t have made that pamphlet, but that’s all behind us now. You really should try to get along with them if we are going to live in the same town.”
I scoffed. “They’d like that now, wouldn’t they? I don’t have to get along with them. I guess I will tolerate them, but I don’t want to be friends with them. What do they want anyway?”
She glanced up. “They want to have a luncheon and they’d like for you to speak. You know, talk about your role as the leader now. That kind of thing.”
I shook my head. “No way.”
“You need to learn to forgive, Halloween,” my mother said as she waved a wand over a bubbling cauldron.
I stepped closer to the big black pot. “What’s in there?”
It was probably better if I didn’t know. Why had I asked? I tried to remember not to ask what was in my mother’s spells. Some things are better left unspoken. I didn’t want to know that I was smearing toad’s butt on my face. Luckily, my mother had learned a long time ago not to tell people what was really in her potions.
She waved off the question, the bracelets on her wrist jingling with the motion. “Oh, just a few herbs and spices. Nothing too special. It’s all in the words.”
Just then the bell on the door announced a visitor. Much to my chagrin, it was Misty Middleton. She was the leader of the Enchantment Pointe Coven. We’d gone to high school together. I’d tried to keep my distance ever since. It had been years and I was pretty sure she knew how I felt by now.
Misty was dressed in her usual business attire of dark-colored suit, crisp white shirt and towering heels. She made me feel like an ant. Her eyes met mine and a flicker of flirtation sparkled in her gaze. Uh-oh. Please don’t let her start flirting with Liam. That was the last thing I needed this evening.
“Hello,” she said coyly, batting her eyelashes.
My mother looked panic-stricken. I knew she didn’t want me to divulge my secret, but I wasn’t about to endure flirting with Misty Middleton.
But as I opened my mouth to tell the truth, Liam burst through the door.
“Oh dear.” My mother swayed on the stool and I righted her.
Misty gasped, then backed up toward the door. “More magic and mirroring images. We don’t approve of this type of thing in Enchantment Pointe. What do you have to say about this, Annette?” Misty glared at my mother.
“She has nothing to say about this and neither do you,” I said, walking from around the counter.
Liam was ignoring Misty as he glared at me. He was not pleased with me at all. The bulging veins in his forehead were a dead giveaway.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he asked.
“Hallie, is that you?” Misty asked, looking at me with wide eyes.
I nodded. “Yes, it’s me.”
“Why would you do this?” Liam’s voice was full of frustration.
“I needed to speak with my mother,” I said defiantly.
“You could have done that with me escorting you.” Liam’s eyebrows slanted in a frown.
“What’s going on, Hallie?” Misty asked with her eyes wide.
“There’s a situation with the New Orleans Coven,” I said in a curt tone.
That was more than I should have told her. She would just run back and tell the Coven the gossip.
; She stepped closer. “Really? I saw that Jacobson Stratford over at the Bubbling Cauldron.”
That was the local bar for all the witches. I didn’t go often because the number of witches singing with the karaoke machine was terrifying.
“What was Jacobson Stratford doing there?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. He was there with another woman. They were having quite a few beers.”
“Was the woman his sister?” Liam asked.
She shrugged. “I honestly have no idea. I don’t think I’ve ever met his sister.”
“We need to go to the Bubbling Cauldron right away,” I said.
Liam ran his hand through his hair. “I suppose you’re right. But you can’t go as me. We have to do the counter-spell.”
I tapped my fingers against the counter. “You know, I could go as someone else to the bar.”
He shook his head. “I don’t think you can do more than one mirror spell a day.”
I frowned. “How do you know that?”
“It’s in the book,” he said as if I should have known that little detail.
This was ridiculous. How did he know what was and what wasn’t in the book? Half of it was still in a language that I didn’t understand. How could he read it? Was this common knowledge for everyone but me? If that was the case I wished they’d clue me in.
“How can I do the counter-spell? I don’t have the book,” I said with a heavy sigh. Nothing was going as planned.
“We’ll have to go and get it,” Liam said.
“I’m going with you,” my mother said, jumping up from the stool and grabbing her purse.
Liam shook his head. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea, Ms. LaVeau.”
My mother poked Liam in the chest. “Don’t push me, young man. And call me Annette. I’m not that old.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Liam nodded.