Applebottom Magic: Paranormal Romance

by S Cinders

  I didn't like the fear in her voice nor did I like the fact that I didn't have any answers to give her.

  I looked to Ryan who was holding Apple, both of which were looking very concerned. He just shrugged; he had no clue what it was.

  Looking at Nana I saw that her eyes were clouded with worry, the aunts held the same expression.

  James was scratching his head looking warily at us, from his expression alone I knew that he had never seen it before.

  So, I turned to the last member of our makeshift family, the plain faced Shana that Apple had brought back from the compound.

  The woman who for all we know could be a spy for the Magical Council that she had spent literally hundreds of years working for.

  She was the last person I wanted to rely on when it came to keeping Emily safe, but I had to take the chance that maybe she knew what the hell was happening.

  Her eyes were focused on our gripped hands, eerily no expression on her plain features. Why did Apple trust this woman? Clearly, she was hiding things behind mask.

  "Do you know what this means?" I asked tersely. Trying, yet not truly succeeding, to temper my tone.

  She glanced up to meet my eyes, still so serene.

  "And so, it begins."

  CHAPTER 31 - Emily

  “I had that dream again last night.” I said as I looked over at Apple, who was lounging upside-down tossing Cheetos lazily into her mouth. Girls should not be allowed to be that beautiful. It makes the rest of us feel just a tiny bit insecure.

  She once told me that she felt bad that all the magical people she knew looked like super models… except her.

  Reasons why I question her sanity…

  Apple is a total knock out. I mean does the girl even own a mirror?

  Apple is the most powerful witch I have EVER known, and she wants to marry my brother. If you knew my family you would think twice before signing up to join it.

  Apple is crazy. And I mean that in a good way, but also in an “I would never in a million years want to be on her bad list because she scares the bejeebers out of me” crazy.

  “The one about Patrick and you at the arches making out?” her eyes lit knowingly and she swung her legs around to sit up straight. “Do tell.”

  “No! Good grief Apple!”

  Case in point why I should learn to keep my big mouth shut, “Not that one! The one about that woman in the old-fashioned clothes that seems to need help but can’t communicate what she needs. I thought that she was a ghost coming through, but I have never had one come to me in my sleep before and they always have been able to talk.”

  Apple sucked the Cheeto dust from her fingers, how she managed to do this and still look amazing was truly an art. Just so that we are clear, it is one that I clearly could never manage.

  In the last few months the moon goddess has visited me twice, once to tell me to come to the Grand Canyon to meet Apple and the Applebottom women and then she came again a few weeks ago when she personally blessed me with magic from all four of the elements.

  Apple is one of the only other magical beings that I know that used magic from all the elements. She told me that she can see threads of magic around her and she manipulates them to do her will.

  Things I see around me…

  Not a gosh-darn thread, stand, piece of yarn, rope, chain or even noodle. (Apple would use this as an excuse to make jokes about a male appendage… I kid you not.)

  Patrick in all his amazing sexiness sitting way too far away for my liking. (Is it inappropriate to lick someone without asking? Because he does tempt a girl. Make a note to ask Apple later.)

  Shana reading a fashion magazine. (So, creepy, why would Miss Plain Jane be reading Glamour anyway? She is always giving me mean looks. Something's not right there.)

  “Okay, so if you don’t think that this woman is a ghost trying to speak to you. And she can’t communicate with you anyway, maybe it is one of those dreams from your subconscious telling you something.” Apple replied. “Like when you dream you show up somewhere without your clothes on.”

  “Naked dreams,” I exclaimed a little louder than I had intended.

  Patrick’s head shot up and slow grin covered his chiseled jaw. “Do you ladies need my assistance over there?”

  Apple laughed at her older brother, “You are volunteering for some field work there, soldier?”

  Patrick flushed a bit, this was mortifying.

  “You know that I am always willing to do my duty Apple-pie. What do you say beautiful?” He looked right at me, and when he looked at me like that and said things like that to me my brain just starts shutting down. It’s like a whole self-destruct button gets pushed and I am imploding on the inside, verbal diarrhea starts shooting out, it’s horrifying.

  “Oh, I am totally good on the naked thing.”

  His eyebrows shot in the air.

  “I mean, I don’t do naked”

  The smile was back, this time reaching his eyes.

  “I mean I do naked, everyone does naked, but you know, not with a group, because that would be awkward.”

  He brought a hand up to cover his mouth because his smile was that big. Can you hate someone and love them at the same time?

  “I really need to stop talking now, I’m going to go. But not to be naked, in case you were wondering, which you probably weren’t so bye.” I got up to leave and tried to race past him towards the hallway to my bedroom but the snake was twice my size and ten times as fast.

  He caught me by my elbows and my nose buried itself into the soft flannel of his shirt. His chest was large enough that if I kept my head down I could almost pretend that I wasn’t completely dying of embarrassment.

  I really needed to stop lying to myself.

  “Anytime you want to try any type of naked, I will be there.” He whispered so softly against my ear I wondered for a moment if I hadn’t heard it correctly.

  But as I looked up into his face and saw the intensity of his gaze I realized that I hadn’t missed a word. I flushed bright red and he chuckled softly before leaning down and brushing a soft kiss on my cheek and letting me go.

  As I walked away from him I realized that Apple was laughing her butt off from the couch. I really needed to get myself a filter.

  ***

  Patrick POV

  There are many things in this life that I thought would turn out differently. My main goal was always to work hard and become a COW, which for all of you smart asses that think this has something to do with dairy, you are dead wrong.

  In the magical law enforcement, the COW position is like a cop is to a normal. It stands for commanding oppositional warlock. I had been training with my buddy James under my best friend Ryan for decades, it’s like when you are so close to something you can taste it and it’s whipped away.

  My life was completely changed on this last assignment. It was literally to be my last assignment as a trainee before being instated. We took some crazy job in the Grand Canyon of all places, looking for a rogue witch who hadn’t checked in with headquarters in over 100 years, which is illegal, just in case you are wondering.

  We show up here and it’s like my life had taken an acid trip, but I am no druggie. My best friend meets the love of his life, I’m talking instant sappy love connection, and suddenly everything that we have ever worked for is thrown out the window. Now instead of looking for enemies we have become enemy number one.

  Get this; she lives with her grandmother and great aunts who of course at witches and so we all tend to look around the same age. Magical beings stop again at around 25, some choose to keep track of their years, but I would say that the majority don’t. So, imagine my surprise when we uncover that Ryan’s main squeeze and I are actually brother and sister, well at least half brother and sister.

  My best friend is dating and doing who knows what with my sister? This is beyond weird. But no, we are only getting started here. Ryan, the guy I thought I knew better than he knew himself, has a sister of his ow
n, whom he had never mentioned before. I’ve known the guy for over 200 years. You would think it might come up in conversation at least once.

  Emily is smoking hot, not like ‘man I’d hit that’ hot but more like ‘I’m a grown ass man, and I would be willing to go to ridiculous lengths just to see her smile’ hot. Oh, yes folks, I’ve got it bad. She makes my eyes blur and my stomach churn, and yes, I know that sounds like the flu, I really can’t explain it. I find myself grinning ridiculously whenever I am around her, and worse acting like Ryan does around Apple. James is disgusted with the both of us, and I can’t say I blame him.

  Emily is beyond adorable, and part of me wants to grab her and run away from all this insanity. But in some strange way I am really connected with these people now. I don’t know if it’s because we found out that they are my blood or if it’s the hormones talking because let’s face it, when Emily is around they are pretty much shouting at me nonstop. But when it came time to really helping the Applebottom’s fight against the MC (magical council) I found that I was 100% on board.

  It’s been two weeks since we found the Applebottom family wand. That was a pretty freaky day. A magical circle was created and we summoned the circle from where ever it had been hiding or banished to from centuries ago by Nana and the aunt's father. It had appeared in midair and before even thinking I had made a grab for it and shocked the living hell out of myself and inadvertently Emily as well because she grabbed onto me just after I grabbed it.

  We haven’t talked a whole lot about that experience, but it was intense. And I think that it may have messed me up a bit. Not to be all girly princess fairy land or anything, but I think that it gave me insight on how she is feeling because I have been getting these impressions about her that I never have had before.

  For example, earlier today I knew that she was agitated when speaking with Apple, I could feel it coming off her in waves. But it quickly changed to embarrassment and then mortification when she stumbled over her words; awesomely enough ‘naked’ happened to be the topic. I could feel how upset that it was making her and I had to stop her before she left the room. I know that she was horrified, but she was just so damn cute. I could seriously watch her all day, every day.

  What really got my juices flowing however was the wave of arousal that slammed into me the moment that I grasped her arms. If I wasn’t ten feet from my brand-new sister and a room away from my best friend and former commanding officer, I would have taken her far away and nothing or no one could have stopped me. But I knew that isn’t what she would have wanted.

  Damn it, maybe I was turning into a chick. I need to watch NASCAR and drink beer as soon possible before I totally forget who the hell I am.

  CHAPTER 32 - Emily

  “You need to focus, you are lazy and weak. Do it again and better this time.”

  I seriously wanted to kill Shana. We had been training for a week now. It was Apple’s brilliant idea. Apparently, she is some master trainer, but all I have gotten from her is a few bruises and a bad attitude.

  I focused on making a ball of fire in my hands, it appeared easily, but then I am originally a fire witch.

  “Good,” she shouted out to me from across the gym, “Now throw it at me.”

  Gladly, I thought and tossed it at her head.

  She batted it away as easily as shooing a pesky fly. “Is that the best you’ve got? Because I must warn you, that if this is what you intend to bring against your father, you might as well go jump off the nearest bridge. Save you both a bit of trouble and embarrassment.”

  I flushed hotly. She had been on my case nonstop since we had started. And what really chaffed was that all I had heard from Apple was how sweet and funny she was. Shana was a right bitch, no doubt about it. How they could possibly be friends I had no idea. Feeling the resentment and irritation build up in me, I allowed another ball of flame to burst into the palm of my hand.

  Seeing her turned away I smirked before throwing it harder and faster than I had any of the previous others. Without even looking back at me she flicked her wrist over her left shoulder and dissolved the orb on contact.

  “Ugh! How did you even know that was coming? Do you have eyes in the back of your head?”

  “When faced with meritocracy I find that just the normal amount of vision is needed. In your case I could probably be blindfolded and three days’ sleep deprived.” Her tone was bored, and grated on my nerves. What I wouldn’t give to blast her stubborn ass.

  “That will be all for today, I haven’t the heart to torture myself further for today.” She walked off without even looking my way. With a sigh of frustration, I sunk to the ground of the training room.

  It was a large rectangular room adjacent to the gym where I could often see Patrick or the guys working out. I hated training with Shana so close to possible witnesses of my total humiliation. I knew that I needed a brush up, but I had no idea I sucked rocks hardcore. Reality can be a real pain.

  As I gathered up my equipment and toweled off my face Apple walked in with my brother Ryan.

  “How’s training Em?” Ryan asked throwing an affectionate arm around my shoulders.

  I shrugged it off and made a face. “Besides me being a complete disappointment to her? You know, I am super awesome sauce!”

  Apple laughed, “I am sure you are not that bad!”

  I looked at her straight faced, “She said that she could face me blindfolded when she was three days’ sleep deprived and still win.”

  Ryan winced.

  “She was probably just kidding,” Apple smiled conspiratorially but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

  “No, she wasn’t. She called me mediocre, lazy and weak.”

  “Now, wait a minute.” Ryan was getting worked up on my behalf, “Shana has no right to go around offending my sister. She has no idea of the things that we have been through. Of the things that Emily specifically has been through. How dare she treat my sister this way? I’m going to give her a piece of my mind.”

  As he turned to storm off both Apple and I grabbed his arms to stop him.

  “No, please do not get involved.” I begged of him. “Apple says she is the best, and if she is the best that is what we need. It doesn’t really matter what I have been through. It matters what I am up against and if I am prepared enough to fight it.”

  Ryan looked ready to argue but then Apple looked at him. I can only imagine what kind of mind speak convo that they were having, but whatever it was it seemed to do the trick because he huffed and nodded his head.

  Apple turned to me, “I know her methods seem unorthodox. And I realize that she is not a warm and fuzzy type of person.”

  “More like bitchy and cranky,” I added, to which Ryan grinned, until he saw Apple’s frown.

  “But she knows her stuff, and if anyone is going to get you ready to face your father it would be Shana. We all need to be in top fighting form before we face him.” Apple reached over and pulled me into a hug.

  Ryan wrapped his arms around both of us and squeezed until we were both out of breath and laughing.

  “Killer group hug maims sister and fiancé of local warlock,” I teased after he let us go.

  “Hey,” he smiled, “You are pretty good at that, maybe you could have a future in news reporting.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Because I have nothing else to do with my life, besides destroy my evil father.”

  “You forgot making babies with my brother.” Apple teased, which caused my cheeks to heat and Ryan’s smile to flatten out into a line.

  “Are you practicing that tonight?” An excited voice called out from the doorway.

  I turned just in time to see a shirtless Patrick, clearly just finished with his workout, chest still glistening and a towel wrapped around his neck. I think I drooled.

  Ryan sent a gust of wind to shove Patrick out of the doorway, I could hear his laughter and he went down the hallway. Just as I thought he was out of hearing I heard him yell, “I didn’t hear a ‘no’
!”

  Ryan went to step after him when a very amused Apple put both hands on his chest to stop him from tearing his best friend apart.

  “Cool down there handsome,” She cooed into his face, “We were just yanking your chain.”

  Slightly mollified he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her nose, “I would rather discuss making babies of our own.”

  “Ewwww…” I blurted out, “Now I am grossed out, you two get out of here!”

  They laughed and followed each other out of the room. Hugging and kissing and generally looking so happy and adorable that any sane person would want to vomit. I was happy for my brother, but I could only take so much of the PDA.

  But if I was being honest, I would love to be an aunt. I would just prefer to believe that the stork brought the baby.

  CHAPTER 33 - Apple

  “Back up Buttercup, why are you being so hard on Emily?” I flopped down on Shana’s bed after closing and locking the door. I knew that I had to show full support in front of Em and Ryan, but even I thought she was taking things a little too far.

  Shana sighed before answering, “Look Apple, everyone learns differently. Emily needs to find confidence in herself and being nice and coddling her in not going to achieve that. She needs to dig deep into her soul and figure out who she really is. Babying her is crippling, and she will never grow to her full potential.”

  “So basically, you are trying to get her to grow a pair?”

  “Please tell me you are not bringing testicles into the conversation.” Shana rolled her eyes and tossed a throw pillow at my head.

  “Have you ever actually seen testicle in real life?” I raised an eyebrow dramatically, mostly just to piss her off.

  “Get out!” She pointed to her door.

  I knew she was kidding by the smirk she was trying to hide unsuccessfully. “You do love me, despite my unladylike manners.” I grinned.

  “I tolerate you.” She conceded.

  “That’s sixes and sevens. Anyhow, I still think you could be a little less Attila the Hun on her. And why are we back to Little House on the Prairie disguise, what happened to your hot Latin soul?”