Witches of Palmetto Point Series Boxset Books 1 - 3: Haunting Charlie, Wayward Spirits and Devil's Snare

by Wendy Wang

  “You know, if I didn't know better,” Charlie said, her voice full of warning. “I’d think that you’ve been colluding with the enemy.”

  “He is not our enemy and no matter what you think, he still cares about you. A lot.”

  Charlie scowled. “I don't want to forgive him. Not yet. Maybe not ever.”

  “I can't make you do anything you don't want to do.” Jen straightened her spine and sniffed. “But I'm not above trying to guilt you into it.”

  “Noted. And I already knew that. If you think I forgot Brian McAfee, you've got another think coming,” Charlie said trying to lighten things between them again.

  “Oh my God. That was fifteen years ago. Let it go already. Let it go.” Her cousin sang the last line holding up her arms in a dramatic fashion. Charlie laughed. And just like that things were healed between them. For a brief second Charlie wondered if her cousin had employed a silent spell but she pushed that thought away. Any other witch and it might have been a possibility, but her cousin didn't like to use magic on her family, regardless of any threats she might make.

  On Friday afternoon Charlie pulled her blue Honda Accord into Scott's driveway. She sighed and looked up at the big house she once shared with her ex-husband. Things had been better between them since last year when he almost died, but dread still weighed on her heart every time he asked her to come inside.

  “You okay, Mom?” Her eleven-year-old son sat in the front seat next to her, his black backpack on his lap. He looked at her with his thoughtful blue eyes. One of the few things he inherited from her. She cupped his cheek and called up a smile.

  “Of course,” she said. “Get your stuff out of the trunk, okay?” She reached down and lifted the trunk release. Evan hopped out and disappeared behind the trunk’s door. She stepped out of the car and watched him wrangle the backpack and the black carry-on he’d asked to borrow. When she had asked what was wrong with the suitcase he had at his dad's house, Evan had told her, “It has a Captain America shield on it, Mom. And it's bright red. It's something a baby would carry.” A bittersweet pang had filled her chest. It was only a couple years ago that he had loved that Captain America suitcase.

  Charlie followed Evan toward the front porch. He stopped midway along the cement walkway. “You know you don't have to walk me to the door. I’m not a baby anymore.”

  “I know that,” Charlie quipped. “But your dad asked to talk to me about something.”

  “Oh.” He frowned. “You sure it’s not ‘cause you want to check out his plans?”

  “I’m sure. But just so you know, you're still my son and your safety and well-being will always be my priority.” She went to ruffle his hair, but he ducked her. She followed him inside, met by Scott in the foyer.

  “Charlie,” Scott said, sounding entirely too happy to see her. “Thanks for coming in.”

  “You’re welcome.” She gave him a wary smile and waited for stern, unhappy Scott to appear.

  “I know you’re busy, what with Friday night dinner and all.”

  “It’s fine, I wanted to make sure you had my information, too.”

  “Great,” Scott said.

  Charlie opened her purse and pulled out a piece of paper with neatly typed rows of phone numbers for her cousins as well as emergency numbers for her uncle and aunt.

  “Do you have anything similar for me?” she asked sweetly.

  He looked over the list of names and numbers. “I didn't realize this was what you wanted. Why don’t we go back to my office and I’ll write down the numbers for you. I have something important I want to talk to you about.”

  “Sure.” Dread coiled in her stomach. She'd hoped to avoid his office. Even as things had gotten better between them over the last few months, his office still made her feel a little like a child being pulled in to the principal's office.

  She followed him through the house noting the changes to the living room since the last time she had been here. All the fussy cream and gold furniture and knickknacks that had furnished the living room were now gone. The walls had been painted a fresh pale gray and the new white couch and two modern-styled armchairs finished off the conversation area.

  Charlie stopped to admire the new set up. She brushed her hand across the top of one of the chairs. The soft navy fabric tickled her palm. “You got new furniture.”

  “I know! It's great, isn't it?” Scott beamed. It'd been years since she had seen that much light in his face. “Heather thought we needed a change in here.”

  “Wow.” She glanced around. “Heather has good taste.”

  “She does,” he said, the admiration shining through his voice. “She's an interior designer, though, so it's sort of her thing.”

  “Of course,” Charlie muttered. “Well, it certainly feels better in here.”

  “It does,” he said. “Sometimes I just like to come in here and sit now.”

  “I think that's great, Scott. I'm glad you’re happy.”

  His eyes crinkled a little but something about his smile, which widened, made her wistful. She had loved him once, and he had loved her. But never in the fourteen years of knowing him had he ever smiled that way for her. “Thank you, Charlie. That means . . . “ He nodded his head, and the lines deepened in his brow. “ . . . a lot. I hope one day you'll be this happy again, too.”

  Another bittersweet pang plucked at her heart. No point in feeling regret now. She smiled. “So, you wanted to talk to me about something?”

  “Right, come on. It’s something I want to give you. For your trip.”

  “Okay.” She followed him on through the living room and kitchen, down a short hallway to his office. They passed through the heavy walnut door and Scott crossed to his desk in four easy steps.

  “Why don't you have a seat?” He pointed to the couch along the far wall. Charlie took a seat on the long leather Chesterfield sofa. Scott sat down next to her but not too close. He handed her a small white box. Her heart leapt into her throat. It looked like a jewelry box. “I want you to have this.”

  Charlie took it and hesitated opening it. Her cheeks flushed with heat. Why was she so nervous suddenly? Her voice shook a little. “What is it?”

  “Just open it. It won't bite you.”

  “It's not jewelry, is it?”

  “Charlie, you didn't even wear the jewelry I bought you when we were married. Why would I buy you jewelry now?” he said, sounding a little irritated.

  “Good point.” She relaxed her shoulders and lifted the lid off the box. She stared down at the contents of the box. Bewildered. “It's a knife?”

  “Not exactly. It’s a combination tool.”

  “Like a Swiss Army knife?” She took the tool from the box and felt the weight of it in her hand. The cool metal gave off a pleasant energy, and she bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. Just a few months ago she’d barely even noticed metal, much less the energy it gave off.

  “Even better. See the handle opens and it’s pliers but it’s also a cutter. See the little blade here. Very useful for cutting wire or twine.”

  “Okay,” she said, watching him as he carefully fanned out tools from each of the handles.

  “See, it’s like a tiny tool set. Screwdriver, Phillips head screwdriver. Two different sized blades. Both of those are very sharp by the way, so be careful. A saw, a can opener. And then there's a place for a carabiner.” He pulled something from his pocket and put it in her hand.

  She stared down at the round antique brass object attached to a black carabiner. “Your compass.”

  “Yes.” Scott nodded.

  “Scott, I can’t take your compass. Your grandfather gave you this.” She pushed it back toward him, and he grabbed hold of her hand and closed her fingers around it.

  “I want you to take it, Charlie. You can give it back to me after your trip if you like.”

  “Why?” Charlie met his steady gaze.

  “Because you're going into the woods,” Scott said matter-of-factly. “Evan said
that you’re going camping.”

  “We've rented a cabin. A pretty luxurious cabin, actually. We’re not going camping in the backwoods. Trust me.” She chuckled and tried to pull her hand out of his but his grip tightened. Her stomach fluttered with panic.

  “Please?” He lowered his voice. “It’ll make me feel better.”

  “Why?”

  “I just want you safe. And to know that no matter what, you’ll come back.”

  “Scott.”

  “Humor me. I’ll never know if you don’t pack it but it will make me feel better knowing you have it.”

  Charlie sighed. She thought about arguing with him. Accusing him of trying to control her. Trying to find a way back into her life. But something inside her didn’t think that was what was really going on. She gave him a weary smile. “Can I please have my hand back now?”

  “Of course. Sorry.” He let her go and glanced away. His cheeks filled with color.

  She tucked the box with the tool and the compass into her bag. “Now are you gonna write down those numbers for me or what?”

  “Yes, of course. I'll do that right now.”

  Chapter 4

  The tires screeched against the asphalt. Charlie’s head bounced hard against the headrest in the front passenger seat of Daphne’s SUV. Out of instinct she grabbed for the bar above the window and held on for dear life. When the SUV finally came to a stop, they were too close for Charlie’s comfort to the car in front of them. All three lanes of traffic stood still. Daphne’s hands gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white. She made a strangled gurgling laugh in the back of her throat.

  “Jesus, Daphne!” Lisa yelled from the backseat. “What the hell?”

  Daphne’s gaze shifted to the rear-view mirror, and she scowled. “Sorry. Everything just stopped really fast.”

  “You okay, honey?” Charlie ignored Lisa and put her hand on Daphne’s shoulder. Her cousin was trembling a little.

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” Daphne muttered softly. “I really am sorry.”

  “It’s okay, sweetie.” Jen sat up and stretched. “Can you see what’s going on?”

  Daphne craned her neck. “Looks like construction. May as well get comfortable.”

  “Ugh.” Lisa punched at the pillow she’d been leaning on and rearranged it so it was between her head and the window. “Wake me when we get there.”

  Charlie leaned over to find her bag with her spell notes and came up with Daphne’s brown tote instead. Daphne grabbed it from her and her travel book fell out.

  “I thought you were gonna get rid of that,” Charlie said. She recognized the cover with the Devil’s Snare photo.

  “What is that?” Jen leaned forward and snatched the book out of Daphne’s hand.

  “Nothing,” Daphne said, too innocently for anyone to believe.

  “Why don’t you tell Jen about it?” Charlie asked. Daphne shot her a look that could kill. Charlie smirked and shifted her gaze to Jen. “You see what you missed out on? Daphne had plans for a little adventure during our trip. We heard all about it the other morning. I’m sure Daphne would be happy to fill you in.”

  Daphne had a defensive tone when she explained the story of Devil’s Snare. When she finished she shrugged. “I just thought it would be interesting.”

  “No, you thought you’d end up with more videos for your YouTube channel,” Lisa chimed in.

  Daphne said, sharper than she intended, “I thought you were sleeping.”

  “Who can sleep with y’all yammering away?” Lisa shifted in the backseat.

  “It could still be fun to investigate. I mean the book still doesn’t explain why hikers that venture in don’t come out,” Daphne argued.

  Charlie thought of the box in her purse holding the compass that belonged to Scott. “It’s really easy to lose your sense of direction in the woods. Especially if they’re unfamiliar to you.”

  Jen thumbed through the book. Her fingers stopped on the photo of a painting of a young woman. Her fine features were set off by her dark hair and dark eyes. A slight smile curved her lips as if she held a secret. “Is this her?”

  “Yeah. Abigail Heard. Eventually she confessed to witchcraft,” Daphne said.

  “Probably after they tortured her,” Lisa grumbled. “Sons of bitches.”

  Daphne pivoted her body so she could look at her cousins. “Supposedly she cursed the town right before they killed her.”

  “What kind of curse?” Jen continued to leaf through the pages.

  “Oh.” Daphne shook her head. “You know, nothing specific that I could tell from the book. The big thing is that people that go into the woods get lost and don’t come out.”

  Lisa chuckled. “Well, that’s kind of a dumb legend.”

  “I thought it was kind of interesting. We’re not that far. Maybe we could check it out. You know, as part of Charlie’s initiation.” A chorus of no’s came from her three cousins, and Daphne crossed her arms. “It was just an idea. That’s all. Geez.”

  “Well, I'm still not sure what sort of witch I’m gonna make,” Charlie said.

  “You’re gonna make a fine witch,” Jen said.

  “Yeah, and it’s too late to back out now,” Daphne chimed in. “Ostara is Monday. We're doing this. Even if we have to drag you kicking and screaming.”

  “Don't listen to her Charlie,” Lisa said. “If you don't want to be a witch, you don't have to be a witch. I don't know if anybody has actually said that out loud to you but it's really all your decision. And nobody should be making you do it if you don't want to.”

  “It's not that I don't want to. I love the idea of being more like y’all, but – “ Charlie shifted in her seat so she could turn and look at Lisa. She sighed. “I’ve failed almost every spell Evangeline has taught me in the last five months.”

  “Oh,” Daphne said. “Well, that’s totally normal. Didn’t mama tell you that?”

  “I . . . no.” Charlie’s cheeks filled with heat.

  “It’s not even a question of whether you’re a witch or not. You have Payne blood running through your veins, just like all of us,” Daphne said. “Own it.”

  “She still has a choice, Daphne. Not everybody wants to live this life. Once you go through vivification, there’s no turning back. You can’t turn the magic off like a light switch.”

  “Don't be afraid of turning on the switch, Charlie,” Daphne said.

  “No,” Jen said. “Lisa's right. It's her choice. But you should know that failing at spells is part of the process. Even with magic in our veins we all vivified at different times.”

  “That’s true. Jen could do magic long before I could, even though I’m older,” Lisa said. “Maybe you're just putting too much pressure on yourself to get it right. Whatever that means. And how do you know the spells didn't work?”

  “Well, they were pretty straightforward spells. Stuff even a six-year-old witch could do,” Charlie said. Her baby cousin Ruby had picked up the spell Evangeline tried teaching her with ease.

  “You can't go by Ruby,” Jen said. “She vivified as a baby. Just because Ruby can do a spell and you can't doesn’t mean that you aren't a witch. Spells just may not be your thing.”

  “That's very true,” Lisa chimed in. “I certainly can't see the dead.”

  “Right,” Daphne said. “I make a mean potion and cast a glamour like it's nobody's business, but I can’t do a locater spell half as well as Lisa.”

  “That's true,” Lisa said.

  “The point is that we all have different gifts and magical abilities, but it doesn’t make us any less a witch.” Jen leaned forward and leveled her gaze on Charlie. “Trust yourself. And, of course, we’re here to help.”

  “Absolutely,” Lisa added.

  “Anyway,” Daphne said, “there are supposed to be these really gorgeous waterfalls near the forest in that book. I marked the pages in the travel book with the trail to get to them.”

  “Cool. We should go see them,” Charlie said.


  “We'll take a picture of the four of us. Start our own adventure wall,” Lisa said.

  “Now that's an idea I can get behind,” Charlie said.

  “Yeah, and the cabin we're staying at really isn't that far,” Daphne said. “I think we could actually hike to the waterfalls from it.”

  “These woods are that close to the cabin?” Lisa asked.

  “Yep. But don’t worry. It’s just a stupid legend,” Daphne said.

  “Yes, somehow that doesn't really make me feel better,” Lisa said. “Hand me that book please.”

  Jen passed the book to Lisa. A few strands of Lisa's long strawberry blond hair had come loose from the braid that slipped over one shoulder. The wisps fell softly around her face. She shared her sister's pixie-like features and her nose scrunched up as she flipped the book over and read the back of it.

  “Well,” Lisa said, thumbing through the pages to the several illustrations in the middle. “It does look like a big old tangle of woods. I bet that's why they can't find anybody. I mean look at this.” Lisa opened the book to a page showing an aerial view in winter. The gray branches crisscrossed each other like a cage.

  “Hikers go in but they don't come out,” Charlie said.

  “Well, we’ll just steer clear then.” Jen grabbed the book from Lisa's hands and tucked it inside the backpack at her feet.

  “Hey!” Lisa protested.

  “You can read this later,” Jen said. “This trip is supposed to be something spiritual. Not full of negativity.”

  “Come on, it’s just a ghost story about a witch,” Lisa chided. “It's probably something that the locals made up to get people to come to their little Podunk town.”

  “Well, there's truth in all legends,” Daphne said, sounding defensive. “And we all know that ghost stories can be real.”

  They all became quiet for a moment and the air grew heavy.

  “Hey, traffic’s moving.” Lisa pointed toward the front windshield.

  “Great. I don’t know about y’all but I'm hungry,” Daphne finally said, breaking the heaviness. She inched the SUV forward. “Maybe we can stop for lunch at the next exit.”