Ghostly Curse

by Cadie Snow

  “Stop!” Olivia called.

  “Thief,” Harper said. “He’s stealing the book!”

  Jaime leapt from the chair and hit the man with bolts of energy. Having used the technique recently, she was in practice. The man fell on this side and the book thudded to the floor, falling open.

  For a moment, no one moved. The man looked at the book, then stared at the pages. Yet he didn’t seem inclined to grab it and race off. His mouth dropped open, and he flipped through a couple of pages, with the others looking on.

  “The pages are blank,” the man said, in amazement. “This book is useless.”

  Jaime didn’t make a move to stop the man when he got to his feet and staggered away. She heard the door close behind him. Then she gently lifted the Book of Shadows back to the pedestal.

  “He was simple to read telepathically,” Harper said. “He didn’t understand the book at all. He didn’t know why his employer wanted it. He didn’t know who had hired him, only that it was a quick task with money for him afterwards.”

  “I daresay whatever he expected to be paid,” Olivia said, “it wasn’t what the book was worth.”

  “What it was worth to us, you mean?” Jaime said.

  “Yes, to us,” Olivia said. “It’s a safety mechanism that has protected this Book of Shadows since its inception—only witches can read the spells.”

  “If any other attempts it,” Harper said, “the spells vanish, so the pages are blank. It surprised that thief, for sure.”

  “From the communication you received, the man didn’t have any idea why the book was important,” Jaime said.

  “But someone knows its value,” Olivia said, taking the words right out of Jaime’s mouth.

  Jaime shuddered to think of who knew about the Book of Shadows, besides the coven. Even Olivia and Harper hadn’t known the incantation to retrieve the book from its hiding place. Yet a man had entered with the intent to steal it.

  Questions flooded Jaime’s mind. Who had known the book was in the home, and wanted it so badly as to send a thief to steal it? And how had that person known Jaime had retrieved the book, at just that moment? A chill ran up her spine. Whoever it was had to be powerful. That was going to be a problem.

  CHAPTER 12

  The day before, Jaime had been at Iris’s house for a while, going over the Book of Shadows with her sisters. Her ancestors’ wisdom would strengthen them against enemies and be an aid in the fight for good.

  But despite the book’s power, it wasn’t the whole answer. The spells were to be used wisely, and not to be relied upon or replace a witch’s initiative or ability. The book played an important role in the coven activities, so Jaime cherished it. Once she was finished sharing the book with her sisters, she had recited the proper incantation to return the Book of Shadows to its hiding place.

  Jaime was under pressure on many fronts, but she couldn’t overlook her children. The argument with Elijah had put her on guard. She could not allow him to push her around or encroach on the children’s safety.

  The next morning, Jaime called her divorce attorney and gave him an earful. She was upset that Elijah could be so flippant about a court order. Her attorney agreed to file a complaint about the violation despite the fact that there were no witnesses. Jaime had the right to demand that the restraining order was enforced.

  That wasn’t the end of it, though. The safety of her children was foremost in her mind. The sheriff had assigned a patrol to cruise the neighborhood, which she appreciated. But it wasn’t enough. The more serious threat was supernatural, so Jaime would have to deal with that herself.

  Her top priority was to protect Abigail, since it seemed that Elijah had a perverted interest in her. The Book of Shadows had a protection spell for this type of situation. While the kids were at school, Jaime went out in the backyard and chose a spot beneath the trees that was hidden from view by overgrown bushes.

  Jaime had a gold necklace with a black tourmaline crystal pendant that would make a good talisman. The object could be charged with energy to protect its wearer from harm. Concentration and a relaxed mind were required to create the proper result.

  Jaime had an unscented candle that she placed on a nearby rock. The procedure worked best outdoors, so her location was ideal. The scent of nature was preferable, so she didn’t light incense as she might have if performed indoors. She sat on the ground in a comfortable position then cleared her mind. Once she was relaxed enough for intense concentration, she lit the candle.

  For several minutes, Jaime sat in a relaxed pose, opening her mind to the sounds around her. The birds chirped in the distance, the trees rustled in the light breeze, but otherwise it was quiet. As the minutes passed, she released negative energy and visualized a white, healing light encompassing her.

  Jaime held the necklace in both hands and concentrated on the qualities she intended for it to possess. She charged the object with energy that would repel Elijah. She imagined what would happen if he tried to approach Abigail, creating a barrier of protection with her mind.

  With her hand over the item but not touching, she made three circular motions in a clockwise direction. She said, “I cleanse and purify this object, casting out impurities within. By my power, this necklace will protect Abigail from bad energy or an attack from Elijah Abernathy.”

  Jaime kept her eyes closed and took a few deep breaths. Then she held the necklace in her palm, opened her eyes, and snuffed out the candle. The talisman would help protect Abigail, although it had innate weaknesses. But the newly charmed necklace might be enough to ward off Elijah.

  For the rest of the day, Jaime worked at her desk then drove to school to pick up the kids. Certain issues hadn’t been discussed, but it was time to do so. Once they were home, Jaime ushered the kids into the family room for a talk.

  One way to offer protection from danger was to warn that it was coming. Jaime could no longer keep certain subjects from her children. Some would say that what she had to tell them wasn’t appropriate for their ears. Yet children were bright and appreciated being told, so they weren’t left out of important matters.

  It was Jaime’s feeling that children could deal with things much better than they were given credit for—and that went double for hers. Each had exhibited magical power and demonstrated a maturity that she had to take into consideration.

  Landon and Andrew sat on the floor, leaning against the sofa.

  Abigail took a seat in an armchair. “Don’t be mad. There was no choice.”

  “You’re referring to Elijah’s behavior?”

  “Yes, Landon did it to protect me,” Abigail said. “He had to use his power.”

  Landon lowered his eyes, sure that he’d hear about his behavior.

  “I’ve held off talking with you,” Jaime said, “as I’ve had quite a lot to tend to. But you, all of you, are very important to me. I don’t think ill of you, Landon. I’m relieved that you were there to stop a horrible mishap from occurring.”

  “You’re not mad?” Landon said.

  “No, I’m not,” Jaime said. “Although I wish you would have told me about your ability. I suppose I didn’t make it safe for you to do so, but in the future I hope you will share such things.”

  “Okay,” Landon said.

  “He got off easier than I did,” Andrew said, then looked at his brother. “You didn’t even get suspended.”

  “The point is,” Jaime said, “that we learn to use our abilities appropriately. When a family member is in danger, using our power to protect them is justified. But only enough to stop the threat…as you did, Landon. Powers are not for display or to show off. Do I make myself clear?”

  Andrew and Landon nodded, and after a short hesitation, Abigail did too.

  “I’m curious, Landon, how long you’ve known about your telekinesis ability,” Jaime said. “And how strong it is, at your young age.”

  Landon rolled his shoulder. “I’m not sure, really. I used to play around with it when I was little. I
t was kind of fun to move things around. I was weak, so I’m sure you didn’t see me do it. But I did it more as I grew up, and got the hang of it. When you banished magic from the house, I tried to stop doing it, but…”

  “If an emergency arises, you instinctively use your power to defend against danger?”

  “I suppose so,” Landon said.

  “That is very natural, so you should expect it,” Jaime said. “And the strength?”

  “I’ve only tried a few things,” Landon said. “I was afraid of lifting something too heavy, but I’ve gotten stronger recently.”

  “I’ll guide you in the practice when you’re in a safe place,” Jaime said. “It’s best to have control over your power. I can probably get a coven member with the ability to coach you.”

  Landon grinned but didn’t say more.

  “Can you teach me a spell?” Abigail said. “I need one in case Elijah comes back. My dreams don’t help me with that. He’s really strong.”

  “I have something to protect you,” Jaime said, then pulled the necklace from her pocket and dangled the pendant.

  “That’s beautiful,” Abigail said, and took the necklace.

  “I want you to wear it at all times,” Jaime said. “It’s a talisman for protection that I charmed to keep Elijah away.”

  Abigail put on the necklace and fingered the black stone. “Will it work?”

  “It should do the job,” Jaime said. “And about the spell…that’s for later. I can teach you, but abilities take practice. It’s like being born with a talent to play the piano. It takes a lot of practice to get good at it, and it’s the same with magic.”

  That seemed to satisfy everyone, so the kids went off to snack and do their homework. They were still children, after all—powers or not.

  The next morning, Ian called. “I’ve been doing some work on your investigation, like I said I would.”

  “Have you turned up anything useful?”

  “I might have, but I’d like to show you a few things,” Ian said. “If you’ll be in town today, can you stop by my office?”

  “I’ll make a point to do that,” Jaime said. “I’ll leave early, and on my way to Olivia’s I’ll go to the sheriff’s department.” She couldn’t wait to hear what he had learned.

  For the next few hours, Jaime was distracted, since she was anxious to talk to Ian. She drove to the sheriff’s office, an unadorned brick building. It was very plain, but handling law breakers wasn’t meant to be a social event. She went inside and greeted the desk clerk.

  Ian was waiting for her, so he came out to walk her back to his office. On the way, they passed the sheriff, who was talking with two other people. Stephen Henson had been elected to the position and did a decent job, from what Jaime had heard.

  The sheriff’s office served all of Union County and was a full-service law enforcement agency. Jaime suspected that she’d be dealing with Steve, as his constituents called him, before this was over. She had a real murder on her hands, whether the authorities wished to believe her or not.

  “Let’s grab some coffee,” Ian said, then stopped by the breakroom. He poured two cups and handed one to Jaime, then he led her back to his desk.

  “I can’t wait,” Jaime said. “You’ve got me curious.”

  “I did some digging into old murder cases,” Ian said. “And I have a few I’d like to share with you. There are ways to kill someone and make it appear to be a heart attack.”

  “Then death would be assigned to natural causes, and no extra procedures would be called for during the autopsy?”

  “Smart woman,” Ian said. “That’s exactly it. For example, fear can cause a heart attack, if the victim was already at risk.”

  “But my aunt was healthy.”

  “True, but there are other ways to give a person a heart attack,” Ian said. “A shock could cause an adrenaline surge, causing the heart to beat wildly and ineffectively.”

  “My aunt did look shocked a moment before she died.” Jaime lifted her hand. “I told you that I saw images of the incident.”

  “But your aunt was a strong woman,” Ian said. “I’m suggesting that there was more than the shock of something the killer told her. Take a look at these cases.”

  Jaime sipped her coffee and took a few minutes to flip through the book. There were photographs of victims, along with descriptions and details about the cause of death. Each was a version of what Ian described. Death by heart attack could be intentional yet allow the murderer to evade capture—since the method couldn’t be traced.

  “In some cases, although rarely, the authorities suspected foul play,” Ian said. “Those investigations discovered additional impetus for the heart attack and gained evidence to support a charge of murder.”

  “I see what you mean,” Jaime said. “Instead of shooting a person with a gun, a murderer could cause the victim to have a heart attack. But how?”

  “Those cases were just to demonstrate that it’s possible,” Ian said. “But I have a theory, or part of one, anyway.”

  “Tell me.”

  “You remember that I went to the scene,” Ian said, “and found burn marks. What if the burns had been caused by bolts of electricity…just like I said they could have been, if lightning had struck?”

  Jaime was stunned. “You could be right. And in dealing with the supernatural, that is possible.”

  “Supernatural or not, it’s possible,” Ian said. “A human with murderous intent could use an electrical implement to cause the death. I suppose a cattle prod wouldn’t do it, because it would cause so much visible damage. But I investigate murders, so I’m aware of how creative their methods can be.”

  “I think you’re right,” Jaime said. “But that doesn’t mean the sheriff will agree.”

  “Maybe not yet,” Ian said, “but I might have enough to put together a forensic investigation of the crime scene. I’ll do my best to get that started.”

  “That would be great.” Jaime thanked Ian, feeling like progress had been made. The theory had credibility, particularly since she was sure that supernatural forces had been involved.

  After leaving the sheriff’s office, Jaime went to the bed and breakfast. She was scheduled to meet her sisters, since they planned to go to the coven meeting together. It was Friday and the kids were staying overnight with friends. That left Jaime free, since the meeting would probably go late into the night.

  Upon arrival, Jaime found Olivia talking to a man about the same age. He was tall, dark, and handsome—just Olivia’s type. It looked like the conversation was going well, since they were laughing.

  Olivia looked up. “Jaime, I want you to meet Curtis. He’s a guest here, and we seem to have so much in common. He’s from a small town, too.”

  Curtis smiled, his green eyes shining. “Good to meet you. I’m only here for a few days, but Olivia is keeping me entertained.”

  “I’m sure she is,” Jaime said, then gave Olivia a look. “Uh, I hate to break this up, but…”

  “Oh, yes,” Olivia said. “We’ll continue this tomorrow, Curtis. I’m so sorry, but I have to go. My sisters and I have plans.”

  “I’ll look forward to it,” Curtis said. “I’m off to see what the nightlife is like in town.”

  When Curtis left, Jaime said, “I hope you gave him some tips, brochures or something. This town doesn’t have much nightlife.”

  “He’ll be okay,” Olivia said. “Curtis is a big boy.”

  Jaime raised her brows.

  Then Harper arrived in a flurry of activity. She tossed her purse on the chair, hugged Olivia, then grabbed Jaime’s hand. “I have something for you.”

  “For me?”

  “Yes, and I want you to take this seriously,” Harper said. “I realize you have magical abilities, but I’m going to do all I can to ensure your safety.”

  Jaime accepted the velvet pouch and opened it to find a sterling silver amulet. It was the size of a quarter, with the Viking compass tattoo engraved on the surfa
ce. Jaime recognized the Vegvísir, a charm that derived its name from an ancient Icelandic manuscript.

  “I made that for you,” Harper said. “That powerful symbol honors your lineage and bestows protection upon you. It was described in a collection of spells, and I found good representations of the compass. I’ve etched the image as authentically as I could.”

  “It’s beautiful,” Jaime said, admiring the design in the center, a magical symbol of navigation. Around the edge of the circle, Harper had carved the entire runic alphabet.

  “You will never lose your way, even when the way is not known,” Harper said. “Such is the power of this amulet.”

  Jaime was moved. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Just carry it with you.”

  “We have to go,” Olivia said, “or we’re going to be late. And you can’t be late to your first coven meeting as the new leader.”

  Coven meetings were held at Sophia’s home, since she lived in a secluded house in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Jaime drove along the road through the thick stand of trees until she spotted the paver driveway. She wound up to the top, finding the black iron gates open.

  After parking, Jaime went inside with her sisters. The cousins were already there. Sophia acted as hostess with the help of the other women. Ava was there, along with distant cousins Jaime didn’t see that often.

  The home was a large, rustic country home, ideal for lakeside entertaining. Jaime went over to the enormous picture window to see the water. Before dusk, the crystal-blue water looked like a jewel against the mountain backdrop.

  “I love it here,” Jaime said when Sophia came over.

  “So do I,” Sophia said. “And congratulations on your new role. All of us are glad that you’re in charge, although we would have preferred it under different circumstances.”

  The meetings were more like parties, with food and gaiety abundant. The cousins didn’t get together that often, so it was a chance to catch up. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, even with the underlying somber undercurrent, due to the reason for the meeting.