Paranormal After Dark: 20 Paranormal Tales of Demons, Shifters, Werewolves, Vampires, Fae, Witches, Magics, Ghosts and More

by Rebecca Hamilton

  She shouldered her way under the hood, strong for such a small girl. Her nimble fingers worked over the spark plugs, her eyes closing and her lips moving. Finally, she straightened, her gaze settling on him.

  “Go turn the key,” she said.

  Why argue? Cade thought, shaking his head. It wasn’t like Ever was a real witch. That Fluffy Bunny Wiccan would probably shit if she ever saw real magick like mine.

  To his surprise, the engine turned right over.

  Ever tapped on his window, and he obliged by rolling it down.

  “You should get something newer and more environmentally friendly.” Ever winked at him, then flitted away.

  As she disappeared inside the house with an affable wave, Cade stared after her, astonished.

  Had Ever O’Connell done real magick?

  Chapter 7

  EVER

  AS SOON AS she heard her best friend’s car in the drive, Ever met Meagan at the door.

  “Cade Bourdain was here earlier,” Ever said, taking a covered platter from her friend’s hands.

  Meagan gaped as she folded her umbrella and stowed it on the porch. “Seriously? The one and same?”

  Ever nodded. “The only. Leave your boots out here. I just mopped.”

  “What did he want?”

  “To ‘check on’ me.” Ever led the way down the hall and into the kitchen.

  “Smells like pumpkin spice cookies!” Meagan squealed, caught off-subject by her favorite seasonal treat.

  Ever grinned. “Just for you. They’re in the oven, but they’re almost done.”

  “So. Cade Bourdain came to check on you.” Meagan slipped into a chair at the table, a grin crossing her face. “Maybe he’s as in love with you as you are with him. Did you swoon?”

  Ever stuck out her tongue, carting a big pitcher of tea to the table — newly made after the earlier tea disaster. “I didn’t swoon. Though it was a little hard not to.” She sighed, shoving a glass closer to Meagan. “And I doubt he’s in love with me. He was just covering his butt because of Donovan.”

  Meagan lifted an eyebrow. “They’re all the same.”

  “That’s not true, Meg. I guess he felt responsible for Donovan’s actions., anyway That’s what happens when you’re a coven leader. I feel the same way about you guys.” Ever smiled. “Luckily, my covenmates are awesome people who would never put me in that position.”

  Meagan took a drink of tea, closing her eyes in bliss for a second, before saying, “I don’t know about that. I seriously considered breaking Donovan’s neck.”

  “But you didn’t,” Ever reminded her. “There’s a difference between wanting to do harm and actually doing it. We’re shaped by our choices, not our thoughts.”

  “In that case, I choose to break Donovan’s fingers the next time I see him.”

  Ever rolled her eyes. “Get serious.”

  “How did it feel to have Cade Bourdain in your house?”

  Ever went weak at the mention of his name and the memory of him standing next to her. “Weird. Like a hot, sexy alien invader. He didn’t belong, but boy, did I want him here.”

  “What did you guys talk about?”

  “Not much. Stupid stuff.” Ever dropped her head into her arms on the tabletop. “I’m too lame to exist.”

  “No you’re not. Stop it. Drink some tea.”

  From the front of the house came the sound of the door opening. Laughter drifted into the kitchen. The coven had started to arrive.

  First through the door came brother and sister combo Tia and Tomas Rodriguez, both olive skinned and black-haired. Their parents were from Columbia, but they’d been born in Tennessee. They were eerily smart and known for breaking into rapid Spanish at any time.

  Behind them trailed Ava, a petite, quiet brunette, and her best friend Roxy, a loud, brazen auburn-haired beauty. They were the founding members of the coven, along with Meagan and Ever. The four of them had been friends nearly their entire lives.

  Moments later, the final three members came in: Claudia, whose hair was blue today with matching eyeliner; her boyfriend Nate, mahogany-haired captain of the basketball team and a closet witch; and last but not least, Ollie.

  Ollie sidled straight to Ever, wrapping her in a lavender-scented hug. “I was worried about you. I didn’t hear until later.”

  Ever squeezed back. Ollie was all curves that she hid beneath gauzy layers, her face classically beautiful like a Grecian statue and her curly blond hair luminous. She was fairly new to Coalhaven, having just moved there the year before, but the coven had immediately welcomed her into their ranks, and Ever had taken to her right away. There was a strange connection between the two of them. Soul friends, Ever thought.

  After everyone made a plate, they took seats in the living room. Ever had already set the atmosphere by lighting a dozen candles around the room, and Native American flutes played softly on the stereo.

  “First order of business, boss?” Meagan joked.

  “Tonight I wanted to talk about raising money to go to the CircleEarth festival in Georgia,” Ever started, excited just to be talking about it. “As you guys already know, CircleEarth is the biggest pagan gathering in the south. People come from all over the country to be a part of it.”

  “What do they do there?” Tia asked, shredded cheese hanging from the corner of her mouth. Tomas rolled his eyes and wiped his sister’s face with a napkin, earning a glare.

  “Everything you could imagine,” Ever answered. “Drum circles, chanting, meditation, dancing. They do three rituals a day, and have workshops on different types of magick and spells. At night, everyone gathers around the fire and shares stories.”

  “How do you know all this?” Ollie asked, her eyes wide.

  “I went with my Nah when I was ten. I’ve been dying to go back since.”

  “How much would we have to raise?”

  Ever made a face. “That’s where the problem is. None of us are particularly rich. The weekend fee is $150 a person. Plus we’d need extra money for groceries, gas, and the craft fair, if anyone wants to buy anything.”

  “When is the festival?” Claudia asked. She’d finished her plate and was nestled between Nate’s legs, the two of them wrapped around each other, as usual.

  Ever always thought they were such a cute couple, but right now, their obvious adoration for each other made her heart hurt. She’d never had a boyfriend. Quite frankly, she’d never found a guy she thought was worth her time. Maybe it was Cade’s fault for storming into her house like some kind of dark angel this afternoon, reminding her how wrong he was for her. How she’d never have him.

  “It’s in a couple weeks,” Ever said with a grimace. “We probably should have talked about this earlier, but I only just found out about it. So we’d have to work fast, and of course get permission from our parents.”

  “Did you have an idea for raising money?” Ava asked.

  “I thought we could all do some ‘spring cleaning,’ for lack of a better word, and then host a big yard sale. Nah already said she could ask Jerome if he’d let us use the truck bay at the fire house.”

  Jerome was Nah’s on-again-off-again boyfriend and the local fire chief. Ever worshipped the ground he walked on; Nah simply had commitment issues.

  “That’s a great idea,” Roxy spoke up. “I bet our parents would donate a bunch of old stuff to sell, too.”

  “Your parents would,” Nate said quietly. “Mine won’t.”

  “I’ve already thought of that,” Ever assured him. Nobody but the coven knew Nate was a witch. His parents were strictly Catholic and liable to kick him out if they discovered his secret. “You get permission from your parents to go camping. You’re already eighteen, so it’s not like they can really tell you ‘no.’ And whatever fees you can’t cover, the rest of us will make sure you’re taken care of. Right, guys?”

  Unanimous consent. Her covenmates took care of each other. Period. It was a wonderful feeling.

  “Any other business to
discuss before we go to ritual?”

  Meagan spoke up. “I make a motion to discuss the ongoing situation with the BlackMags.”

  There was a murmur of agreement as Ever shook her head. “No, guys. We can’t dwell on it. We have to move forward.”

  “We are moving forward,” Meagan said with a wink. “With our metaphorical fists.”

  The group tittered.

  “It’s not in our nature to retaliate,” Ever argued, slashing her hand through the air to make her point. “We are witches of the light. The only thing we should do is wish the BlackMags a change of heart and send them nothing but peace and joy.”

  “While I adore you for your sweetness and light,” Ollie said, exchanging glances with Meagan, “I have to agree with Meagan. Putting you in the hospital went too far. There’s always been rivalry between us, at least since I’ve been here. But rivalry is shouting names and stealing the other side’s Book of Shadows. Not physical violence.”

  Ever couldn’t argue with Ollie’s out of character monologue. “That doesn’t change the fact that I don’t want any of you to get in trouble on my behalf. Donovan has been punished by his own parents and by the school. It’s done. I’m the coven leader. It’s my job to take flak and protect you.”

  “And it’s our job to protect you,” Meagan intoned. “You have no control over me. If I want to knock Donovan’s head off his shoulders, I’m gonna.”

  No, you’re not, Ever thought, making a note to address that later when everybody had gone. “If we’re done talking about stuff we shouldn’t be talking about, can we move on to ritual? Nate, it’s your turn to be high priest. What did you come up with?”

  Nate cleared his throat, sitting up straighter as Claudia moved away from him. “I wanted to do a cleansing to clear away some of the negative build up from the BlackMags.”

  “Even before Donovan’s attack on Ever, they’d been getting worse,” Claudia added.

  Everybody nodded in agreement.

  Nate grinned at Ever. “But next week is my girl’s turn for ritual, and she agreed to do the cleansing then so that today we can perform a healing for Ever.”

  “You guys don’t have to do that,” Ever said, heat rushing to her cheeks. “It’s just a little scratch.”

  “I haven’t seen beneath the bandage,” Ava murmured, “but I’m sure it looks more like a Frankenstein stitch than a scratch. There’s bruising around your eye.”

  “No, really,” Ever insisted. “Doctor Manikov was certain it won’t even scar.”

  “Let us do this for you, Ever.” Claudia gave her a pointed look. “You give and you give for us. Let us give in return.”

  * * *

  THE O’CONNELL FAMILY ritual space was a source of pride. Nah, Ever, and her mother had made it together and then spent most of Ever’s life practicing magick there. After nearly fifteen years of O’Connell magick, it was a hallowed place that felt sacred to even the most mundane members of the coven.

  All nine members trooped up two sets of stairs and into the cool, dim attic. Ever always thought it was like stepping into another world — especially in the fall and winter when they ascended from the golden warmth of the hallway into the almost blue glow of the upper reaches of the house.

  The attic was separated into three parts: the main section at the top of the staircase, where the collections and detritus of several generations of O’Connells came to lie, and then two side rooms beneath the low hanging eaves of the house. One room functioned as an occult library: ramshackle bookshelves supporting an impressive collection of tomes compiled over the years. The second was the ritual room.

  The ceiling pressed close, embracing the space as a mother might. A chalk circle was etched in the center, big enough for an entire coven to stand side by side comfortably — though Ever’s flock had never made it to a full thirteen. In the center of the circle sat a waist-high rectangular table they used as an altar.

  Everybody had their assignments and knew what to do without being told. The group split to the cabinets lining the walls, removing candles, incense, charcoal, stones, herbs. In moments, the once-empty altar table was set for ritual, and Nate — in his basketball shorts and socks — took the helm.

  He nodded to Ollie, who walked over to the eastern candle with a lighter.

  “Hail to the guardians of the east and the element of air,” Ollie intoned, her voice strong. “Let the strength of the mighty wind blow inspiration upon this circle. Allow us to be open to the winds of change and fortune. By the power of three, blessed be.”

  The rest of the coven answered, “Blessed be.”

  Roxy took the lighter from Ollie and stood before the southern candle. “Hail to the guardians of the south and the element of fire. Let the destruction and rejuvenation of fire cast strength upon this circle. Allow us to be open to the flames of purification and illusion. By the power of three, blessed be.”

  As “blessed be” was repeated once more, Meagan accepted the lighter and moved to the western quarter. “Hail to the guardians of the west and the element of water. Let the smooth rivers and rippling tides wash away all negativity and give this circle emotional balance. Allow us to be open to the waves of love and comfort we find amongst one another. By the power of three, blessed be.”

  Ever smiled as she took the offered lighter. She stood before the northern candle and set the tip of the lighter to the wick. As it flared to life, she said, “Hail to the guardians of the north and the element of earth. Let the strong foundation of stone give us courage and the ability to stand strong as the dirt brings forth life anew. Allow us to find protection and community within ourselves and with others. By the power of three, blessed be.”

  “Blessed be!” the coven said exuberantly.

  Nate grasped his sword and walked behind the coven with its metal tip towards the floor. “I cast the circle once around, let our magick here be bound,” he chanted as he completed the first circuit. “I cast the circle here times two, magick called and flowing through. I cast the circle thrice about, as within so also without.”

  After completing his third circle, he returned to the altar table and smiled. “Merry meet, brothers and sisters!”

  “Merry meet!” Ever parroted back with everyone else.

  “Take a moment to greet each of your covenmates and bless them for their presence here.”

  Ever turned to Meagan. They took hands, and while Meagan kissed Ever’s right hand twice, Ever did the same to Meagan’s.

  “Merry meet, sister,” Ever said, giving her a tight hug.

  The ritual was repeated over and over until all of them had greeted one another personally. It was something they’d done for as long as Ever could remember, even as far back as freshman year, when Ever had first joined and their leader had been Mike Florentine. She loved this part; it felt like it strengthened their bond.

  When they were done, Nate returned to the altar and held his palms out to his side. “I declare this circle complete, and now ask the God and Goddess to join us.”

  Ever crossed her arms over her chest, her palms resting against each shoulder in the symbol for the god.

  Nate’s voice was deep as he said, “Mighty God, horned hunter of the night, we welcome your presence in this sacred space. Lend us your energy as we work our magick tonight. Hail and welcome.”

  “Hail and welcome,” Ever repeated, listening to the sound of her voice superimposed on the rest of the coven’s.

  Nate lifted his arms to the ceiling, palms up. “Great Goddess, thou of the dark and fertile earth, we welcome your presence in this sacred space. Lend us your energy as we work our magick tonight. Hail and welcome.”

  The coven repeated the welcome.

  Nate motioned to the space in front of the altar table. “Ever, lie down in the middle.”

  She complied, though she was uncomfortable with being the center of attention. Ritual was usually a group project where everybody worked together and nobody but the person acting as priest or priestess s
tood out. Once she was on her back, Nate lifted his hands to the ceiling.

  “God and Goddess, we ask you to bring your healing energy to Ever in the wake of her attack.”

  “It wasn’t an ‘attack,’” Ever argued.

  “Shh!” Meagan nudged Ever’s knee with a toe.

  “Everyone kneel around Ever and put the fingertips of both hands somewhere on her,” Nate went on, ignoring them.

  Ever giggled and fidgeted as her friends’ hands found ticklish spots on her belly and legs. She silenced herself once they were in place, finding the weight of their hands comforting. Ollie and Meagan flanked her head. Their fingers lightly touched her face.

  Nate spoke. “Imagine your awareness exists as a single ray of light. Cast that light from within you and into the stars, reaching for the infinite love and power of the Divine. Find Their warmth. Embrace Them. Let Their energy infuse your ray of light, brightening it as that energy flows towards the earth, towards you. Welcome the healing into your spirit. Feel it reach every corner of your body, spilling into you until you can’t hold it any longer.”

  Ever kept her eyes open, trying desperately not to follow Nate’s instructions. It was hard to be on the outside of the spell, to not reach for the Divine with her coven. Her mind was hardwired to visualize everything she heard. It was why she was so good at magick.

  “When you can’t hold that energy any longer, let it flow into Ever.”

  Her friends had varying degrees of magick within them. Nate had nothing. Not a lick of real power, just a well-intentioned desire to worship nature and attempt to bring about change through ritual. The same went for Meagan, who had only joined the ranks of Wicca because of Ever. Ava and Roxy were both pretty intuitive, and sometimes Ever thought she could feel real magick from them during rituals. Tia and Tomas definitely had a bit of real power, though they were nowhere near Ever’s level and probably weren’t aware of their own abilities.