by T S Paul
Knock, knock, knock.
Autumn looked up from her book toward the door. Checking the time she noted it couldn’t be the mailman. She approached the door and opened it without checking first.
“Hello dear. Mommy’s home.”
Introduction - Camilla's Obsession
Once upon a time, there were two Blackmore sisters, Teegan and Camilla. Both were happy and content to be young Witches in normal society. All it took was a whisper here and a whisper there to change all that and a book was involved. This is how Camilla lost her way. Welcome to Camilla's Obsession.
Camilla’s Obsession
This story takes place when Camilla and Teegan Blackmore were teenagers.
“Look Cammie, Unicorns!” Teegan pointed to the field across the road.
“Nice. Did you see the library here?”
“Is that all you care about Cam? Libraries? What sort of fun is that? Relax a little.” Camilla’s younger sister frowned at her.
“My name is Camilla. Not Cam. Not Milla. And especially not Cammie. It’s Camilla.”
Teegan made a face pantomiming her sister. “I know, I know. Camilla. Like I haven’t heard it my whole friggin’ life. Mom brought us here to have fun, not to stare at books all day.”
Camilla turned to her sister. “Books are important. As heir, I have to know things. How to run a coven, conduct a circle, spellwork. Stuff like that.”
“Mom’s never said which of us was the heir. You know that! One of the elders told me it was flexible.”
Camilla waved. “Those old biddies? They just say stuff to confuse us. I’ve tried talking to them before.”
“Some of those ladies are my friends. Do you have to be mean all the time?”
“I’m not mean!” Camilla protested.
“The question was rhetorical anyway.” Teegan stepped off the porch and ran for the fence containing the Unicorns.
“Idiot. She will never understand.” Camilla barely acknowledged that her sister had left. ‘Hereditary Witches and their Covens,’ was just too good a book to put down. She found the book in one of the many roadside gift shops they had stopped at on their way here. This was supposed to be THE best Unicorn Ranch and Resort in British Columbia.
“Camilla, where’s your sister?” Camilla looked up from her book into the eyes of her mother.
Marcella looked at her somewhat surly teenager and smiled. All teens are the same. “Did you hear me? Your sister?”
Camilla tried to hide her book behind her. “She’s over there.” Camilla nodded in the direction of the fields.
“Ah, I see her.” Marcella reached behind her daughter and pulled out the book.
“Wherever did you get this?”
Marcella flipped through the book and laughed. “This is very amusing. The publisher isn’t a magical press, it looks like one put out by the mundane press.”
“Can I have it back please?” Camilla frowned at her mother.
“Sure.” Marcella tossed it to her. “The stories that humans make up about us. Don’t believe that stuff. Coven rules and traditions aren’t like that at all. As you should well know by now.”
“I, uh, found it at one of the roadside shops we stopped at.”
“I hope you didn’t spend too much on it then. It’s time for lunch. Come on back inside, I have people I want you to meet. Teegan! Lunch!” Marcella called for Teegan.
Teegan ran across the field and up the stair. “Mom, did you see the Unicorns? They’re marvelous!”
“I did dear. They raise the best Unicorns this side of the Isle of Tir na nog. Later we will go see the young ones at the stables.”
“Can we?” Teegan practically jumped into the air with joy.
“We can. Unicorns are very special beasts. They are one of the very few to adapt to the New World so hardily. Camilla, would you like to see the Unicorns too?” Marcella peered at her oldest child.
“Can I just stay here and read? Unicorns are dumb.” Camilla looked up from her book to look at her mother.
“Of course, dear. We are on vacation. Now come inside and have lunch. You can read later.” Marcella pushed her two daughters toward the door. Alicorn Ranch was the largest of it’s kind in North America and a Blackmore family favorite for many years. The central lodge was three stories tall and could hold over twenty guests. The Magnus family owned both the ranch and the Spagyric Corporation that paid for it all.
Lunch, at least from Camilla’s standpoint, was a trial of nerves. Everything was Unicorn or Unicorn themed.
“Do we have to eat…This?” Camilla pulled the top off her hamburger in disgust.
“It’s beef, not Unicorn. It’s just a name dear. You’ve had burgers before.” Marcella looked over at her.
Camilla made a face. “It smells funny. Can I just eat dessert?”
Marcella shook her head. “No. Either eat your lunch or don’t. No rewards for not eating in this house.”
“Then I’m done.” She pushed her meal away and left the table.
“Teegan, what’s gotten into your sister? She didn’t used to be so... surly.”
Teegan shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. She’s been hanging out with the human kids at school and reading all the time. Can I have her burger if she doesn’t want it?”
“Of course, you may. What has she been reading?” Marcella scrutinized her daughter.
“Stuff. Heraldry, coven history, magick books, just books and things. She’s been sort of secretive.” Teegan dug into her sister’s hamburger.
“Hmmm, keep an eye on her for me. OK?”
“I can try. She hates it when I spy on her.” Teegan reached for more ketchup for her Unicorn fries.
“Do what you can. Thank you, Teegan.” Marcella stared toward the now empty doorway with regret.
<<<>>>
Camilla left the dining hall and went back to the porch to read. Regardless of what her mother had said, this was the book she had been searching for!
“… among Witch families in the British Isles. Tradition holds that the oldest child inherits all things in the Coven. Only the European Covens differ. There, magical inheritance is based upon power and ability. The most powerful magick user is the one that inherits, regardless of birth order. In America, only a very few of the New England groups hold with European rules. Most have adopted the British tradition of inheritance. This author attempted to obtain documentation on the American Covens particularly the Blackmore, Madl, and Carson ones. After negotiations failed, all attempts were dropped after the memory of the visits were purged from the editors of this book. Later attempts, using legal means… ”
Ever since school last year she had been obsessed with finding the secret of inheritance. Her school was co-ed, both magical and humans went to school together. The Blackmore family was something of an obsession with some of them, and they befriended her to learn more about Witches. They were surprised that as the eldest, she wasn’t the heir apparent. So was Camilla. Asking her mother Marcella, was useless. None of the so-called ‘Elders’ would give her a clear answer either. The libraries at school and home hid the answer too. Only this book, so far, held the key. She needed to be the most powerful to get it all.
Camilla snapped her fingers lighting a nearby candle. Her magic was just coming into its own. She made a mental note to study and learn. If she was good enough, her mother and the elders would choose her. No way could Teegan as powerful. After all, SHE was the oldest child.
The sound of running feet broke her out of her thoughts. Teegan burst through the door and ran across the field toward the Unicorns.
Camilla studied her. Something would have to be done about Teegan. Something, soon.
Author Introduction – TS Paul
I'm now into my second year as a published author. With over 25 works under my belt already my pace is relentless. Writing was never a goal of mine growing up. I really did fall into this accidentally. My wife and family knew of my love of books and urged me to try writing. I
t wasn't until an author i befriended gave me a short push off a long pier that i really gave it a go. And what a go that was!
Athena Lee and Agatha Blackmore have given way to over 50 short stories. I write a lot. The future is in books and I'm in it for the long haul. Keep your eyes peeled for new and exciting things coming from me this year. Don’t forget to check the Blog every week for a new Wilson or Fergus story.
I welcome comments and questions on my blog. Follow me on Facebook or visit my Amazon author page.
I'm excited, are you?
The Federal Witch
Born a Witch Drafted by the FBI! - Now Available in Audio!
Conjuring Quantico - Now Available in Audio!
Magical Probi - Now Available in Audio!
Special Agent in Charge - Now Available in Audio!
Witness Enchantment
Night of the Unicorn
Invisible Elder - TBD
Blood on the Moon - TBD
Child of Darkness - TBD
A Draft of Dragons - TBD
Cat’s Night Out, Tails from the Federal Witch - Audio Coming Soon
Serpent Con
Darkness Revealed - Coming Soon!
The Standard of Honor
Shade of Honor
Coven Codex -July 2017
A Confluence of Covens -TBD
Conflict of Commitments -TBD
Standard of Honor -TBD
The Mongo Files
The Case of the Jamaican Karma -TBD
The Case of the Lazy Magnolia - TBD
The Case of the Rugrat Exorcist -TBD
Cookbooks From the Federal Witch Universe
Marcella’s Garden Cookbook
Fergus Favorites Cookbook
Marcella’s Summer Bounty Cookbook
Marcella’s Autumn Harvest - Coming Soon!
Read and Eat Cookbooks
Badger Hole Bar Food Cookbook
Athena Lee Chronicles
The Forgotten Engineer
Engineering Murder
Ghost Ships of Terra
Revolutionary
Insurrection
Imperial Subversion
The Martian Inheritance - Audio Now Available
Infiltration
Prelude to War
War to the Knife
Ghosts of Noodlemass Past
Athena Lee Universe
Shades of Learning
Space Cadets - Coming Soon Late 2017
Short Story Collections
Wilson’s War
A Colony of CATTs
Box Sets
The Federal Witch: The Collected Works, Book 1
Chronicles of Athena Lee Book 1-3
Chronicles of Athena Lee Book 4-6
Chronicles of Athena Lee Book 7-9 plus the prequel
Athena Lee Chronicles (10 Book Series)
Standalone or tie-ins
The Tide: The Multiverse Wave
The Lost Pilot
Uncommon Life
Non-Fiction
Get that Sh@t off your Cover!: The so-called Miracle Man speaks out
Kurtherian Gambit
Alpha Class (The Etheric Academy)
Alpha Class - Engineering (The Etheric Academy)
The Etheric Academy (2 Book Series)
Alpha Class Book 3 (The Etheric Academy) - Coming soon
Anthologies
Phoenix Galactic
The Expanding Universe 2
Cupid’s Bow
Mysterious Hearts
Journal with a View: July - August - September
Non-Fiction
Get that Sh@t off your Cover!: The so-called Miracle Man speaks out
Study Guide and Timeline: The Athena Lee Chronicles
Author Notes
Writing this story was hard for me. Camilla was the sort of character that is very memorable. She was Agatha's original nemesis. The one person in her life she just knew hated her and would do anything to ruin her life. But I still wanted a good story. Just killing her off didn't advance the plot or make things interesting later on.
If you are a fan of my work, you might have noticed I plan things. It's the little details that make my stories fun. It took me over a week to write the last three chapters. Figuring out who to kill, how to do it, and why took the longest time. My wife Heather was the biggest help for this. She is the one that gave me the idea for the ending.
The only problem is now I have to write about the second Demon war. Expect a mini-series on that topic sometime next year. I'm kicking around the plots and cover ideas now in the very small amount of spare time I have.
Up next is Invisible Elder. My plan is to start work on it this week. Most of my historical research is already completed. Also, expect several more cookbooks and some really cool short stories over the next couple of months. My co-writer, Taki Drake, and I have been working hard on them. My other co-writer, Bradford Bates, is hard at work too. The first offering from him is titled The Wild Hunt. Expect it this winter.
Keep in touch. Find me on Facebook , Bookbub, and my website for more information.
Thanks, TS
Acknowledgments
There are many people that help when you are writing a book. I am lucky to have some awesome people in my life that help me with my creation and polishing.
I would like to especially thank the incomparable Ds. They provide developmental and line editing, brainstorming, and motivation to keep me on track. Kat Lind is my finish editor and is helping me with the production of clearer and higher quality work, all while lighting a fire under me when necessary.
Finally, thank you to the Phoenix Prime Collective. The opportunity to mentor, learn, and interact with all of you is motivating and rewarding!
TS