by Lily Luchesi
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Blurb:
Hannah Gray is hanging on by a thread. Her family legacy has transported her back to the past-1692 to be exact- when witches were hung daily.
She knows she’s there for a reason, but the noose around her neck feels all too real. Can her wits and magic save her from the same fate that faced her ancestors?
Prologue
The noose slid around my neck and I could feel the rough edges tightening.
A crowd jeered at me with words so different than those I was used to hearing.
“Kill the witch.”
“Make ‘er swing.”
Their anger and rage were so unjustified when they had no idea what they were doing to their neighbors all in the name of ridding the world of evil.
The pious voice of the man everyone held responsible, began reading from the list of crimes that I and the other witches with me were accused of.
"Hereby, the women who are known as Bridget Bishop, Sarah Osborn, and Sarah Good,” his voice continued to drone on with all of the things I and the other eight women were accused of doing.
“These witches have tricked many into following Satan. Their actions have led the good people of Salem to do evil. It is with great regret and the blessing of the Almighty God that we do carry out this sentence to rid the world of their kind so that we may sin no more.” He intoned with fervor. “May you find forgiveness and mercy before you are sent to eternal damnation.”
This was the moment I’d been dreading.
Death. It seemed so final, but I had chosen this so that my ancestor could live. If I was able to save more of the women standing on tiptoe next to me I would have.
A hushed expectation fell over the crowd as the executioner climbed the steps toward the lever that would take the floor out from under our feet.
I took a deep breath and could only hope that the spell I’d used to look like Sarah Osborn would hold in death.
His hand pulled the lever and the moment was at hand.
The rope tightened as my weight suddenly landed on my neck. The air in my lungs began to fade as the mark on my shoulder started to burn.
Cries of joy went up from the crowd.
“Witches are dead. Halleluiah, praise the Lord.” Reverend Parrish raised his hands in the air.
It was the last thing I remember before the world turned to darkness.
Chapter 1
Present Day
Rain pelted down on my hair as I whispered a small spell.
“Be dry until the night arrives.”
Thankfully, spells didn't have to rhyme or make sense to anyone else. I only spoke to them to help amplify their power. It was the thought behind the magic that made it work. For me the belief in my words made things come together.
When the water started coming down all around me without me getting wet, I remembered my grandmother’s words.
“One day, you’ll realize that it’s not in how you do the magic or the flick your finger to use magic. It’s all in how much you believe in yourself. Once you unlock that inner core, it will come flowing out of you and will be difficult to control.” She’d shake her with a smile before making whatever I had in my hands turn into flowers.
“Use your magic as much as you can so that when the time comes you’ll be ready for it.”
Even amid a torrential downpour, my grandmother's spirit seemed to with me.
Oh, how I missed that woman.
My own parents hadn’t been of the magical variety. They’d known I would be from birth when the mark had been discovered.
It was something that all those with magical abilities had somewhere on their body. Not everyone from our family tree had been gifted. Sometimes it had even skipped a few generations.
The shop I was making my way toward held something I had ordered from tomorrow morning’s special appointment. It was the only reason, I would attempt to wade through this much rain which wasn’t normal for our sunny L.A. skies.
A bell jingled over the door. There was a myriad of smells welcoming me to enter and shop.
“Hey, Laura. How are sales going today? Any cranky customers?”
"Oh, you know how that goes. Some days we get all the weird ones and then others are nice and blessed." She gave me a smile before turning to take a package off the shelf behind her. "I have what you ordered."
“Yay!” I did a little jig. “My appointment needs to see me doing something appear for him to believe that I’ve really diminished the ghost.”
She shook her head, “I’m still impressed that these people are willing to pay so much money for you to clear the spirits from their home.”
I shrugged, “It keeps me off the streets and a roof over my head.”
"This place came with small living quarters or I would be out on the street as well. I don't want to live with a roommate. Too much hassle if you ask me. I can’t hide my magic or who I am for long enough to keep a normie from finding out the truth.”
“Laura, I’m just so glad that I found you online. When Gran died, I lost my connection for supplies. Guess I should have paid more attention to what she tried to teach me.”
“Awe, you can’t beat yourself up over something like that. The older witch network learned the hard way to keep their magic from discovery by keeping it a secret.” She patted my hand in sympathy.
“Ugh!” I groaned as the mark on my shoulder started to itch.
“What is it?” She peered around as if checking for any malevolence from the nearest customers.
“My witch mark is itching.” I reached back over my left shoulder to rub it.
"Uh, oh." She thrust a shaker of salt at me. "Better toss some over your shoulder to ward off the approaching evil."
Rolling my eyes, I took it from her, poured some into my hand before tossing it over my shoulder as suggested.
“There. Now, I’m magically saved from the superstitions.”
“You’ll see. Evil is coming for you. Prepare as best as you can.”
I handed her my card to pay for my purchase, but she waved it away.
“No, I can’t take your money now. If everything is okay in a few days you can come in and pay me then.”
Letting out a deep breath, I didn’t want to offend her as she was my only way of getting supplies.
“Sure thing.” I scooped up my package and made my way to the door. “When nothing crazy happens, I’ll be back. You’ll have to let me get you lunch in exchange for the warning.”
“Well, if nothing happens I’ll be relieved.” Her tight smile said that she felt otherwise.
The rain had let up slightly, but my spell would last until nightfall which was hours away.
Subconsciously scratching the mark on my shoulder, I hopped on the bus as it pulled up.
Public transportation was the best method for the least amount of money to get back and forth without being in traffic.
My magic had never like to be cooped up and sitting in a car that was only moving inches at a time made it spring to life.
It was like there was a live animal inside that wouldn't be still for long periods. I wasn't a shifter because the mark on my shoulder wouldn't allow it. Many people could be a part witch and part shifter, of course, those in my family had a condition that made it not work. One of the strange things I'd learned from a cousin at my grandmother's funeral.
The bus pulled up to a stop and I took a big step to avoid the large puddle at the curb. Just because I wasn't going to have water on me, didn't mean I wanted to test the theory.
My phone rang and I juggled my package trying to get it out of my pocket.
“Yeah?” Not even bothering to check who was calling in my hurry to answer.
“Is this Hannah Gray?”
“Yes,” I pulled the phone away from my ear to see who it said was calling.
“You need to check your family history book. Something is happening and you’ll need to know what the book says so that you don’t mess up.” A click accompanied the end of the call.
“What the hell?” I frowned and checked caller ID again.
“The family history book? Why one earth would someone from an unlisted number call me to warn me to look there for something?”
Shaking it off, I fished my keys out of my pocket to open my apartment door.
I shoved the door open with my foot. The bag with my purchase or was it a gift now, wasn’t terribly heavy yet my shoulder sagged in relief when I sat it on the counter.
With a flick of my wrist had the door closing and the locks clicked.
It was basic magic and something I did frequently, but today the door slammed instead of simply shutting.
Startled, I looked around to see if someone else was there.
My magic never responded like that.
Glancing toward the calendar, I checked to make sure it wasn’t a holiday or moon cycle event that I’d forgotten. Nope, nothing.
Two different warnings from various different sources and this burning itch had me a little worried.
This called for something a little stronger to drink if I was going to dig into the family's personal history grimoire.
I opened the cabinet to take out my favorite mug with a rainbow kitten on it as I pushed the button on the coffee pot.
While it started brewing, I crossed the room to kneel in front of the hand-carved cedar chest under the window. I'd gotten it when I moved out of Gran's house. Most of the time, I used it as my personal altar because it gave me something to use to ground myself with.
Swiping the candles and pretty cloth off to the side, I took a deep breath. I hadn’t opened the chest since we’d moved it into the apartment six months ago. It had been longer than that since it had been opened with Gran to tell me what everything was. She’s wanted to make sure that I knew how to carry on the family legacy.
A gentle brush of a hand on my shoulder made me smile. I could hear her voice in my head. “Its okay, my child. Open it and use what is rightfully yours to make a way in the world.”
As quickly as I’d felt her presence and heard her voice, it was gone.
Determined to find out what was going on, I reached out a hand to lift the lid.
The family history was a large thick volume filled with all of the witches that had dotted our tree over the years.
I ran a loving hand over it. There were so many memories associated with it and my Gran. She’d tell the stories as if they were something she’d committed to memory.
The other book with a rich purple color with runes on the front. Gran had shown me how they worked. Only those with our family’s bloodline would be able to open it with their magic.
I ran a hand over the cover and it popped open. The spells on the pages were familiar as the mathematics tables were to teachers.
Scooping up both books, I closed the lid.
The coffee was finished and I poured it into my mug adding just a touch of whiskey to help take the edge off.
I’d looked at the family history book a few times, but now I really studied it. There was something important that I needed to learn from it.
At some point, magic had been used to arrange the stories in chronological order instead of just as the writer's remembered the stories.
Sarah Osborne was from Salem. History said she’d died by hanging, but our story was a little different.
Then there was Abigale Brown from the Revolution period. Or should I say the American Revolution because the next entry was about Giselle from the French Revolution.
Charlotte from the Second World War appeared very interesting. I couldn’t make out if she was a witch, spy, or human smuggler, but she was impressive.
Hours and several spiked cups of coffee later, I had read through the book. There was nothing inside the covers to offer a clue as to what the warnings were about.
Somehow I made it to my bed and passed out.
The next thing I knew the sun was coming through the window.
“Crap!” I scrambled for my phone to look at the time. My appointment was on the other side of town in an hour.
There was only time for a quick shower and microwaved sausage biscuit as I ran out the door with my supplies hoping that things went smoothly for this new client. He could bring in a lot of business from referrals alone.
Dressed to fit the part, I had on a broom skirt with a flowery blouse. Clients wanted to feel that they received everything they were paying for.
The bus chimed out the next stop as I slid a bunch of bracelets on my arms before tying my curly hair up into a scarf.
I should have known that the walk from the bus stop to the house would be up a hill and about a mile from the house.
A nice-looking man opened the door to my knock.
“You the lady that’s going to rid this place of the haunts?” A rough voice called from inside.
The man at the door rolled his eyes, “Sorry about my dad. He’s not sure that this will work.”
"Eh, it's all a part of the process," I assured him holding out my hand. "I'm Hannah Gray."
“Oh, uh, David Peck.” He shook my hand and moved back to allow me inside.
“All right. Where have the main sightings been?” I pull out the sage and start doing my own sensory check for the spirit.
He grimaced. “Back here. I’m fairly certain that someone died in this room. Dad never even tried to find out more about it. It wasn’t until I came to help take care of him that I noticed it.”
“You’re staying in the room where it happened aren’t you?” I started moving toward the back of the house.
David’s jaw dropped as he hurried to catch up to where I was headed.
The door was closed and I nodded toward it wanting to make sure that I had his permission before I went inside.
“Yep, this is where it happened.” I placed my bag on the bed and took out the cleansing candles. “Once I get set up, then you'll need to leave so that the spirit doesn't try to possess you. She thinks you're cute by the way."
He blushed at my words.
"Don't worry, they can't act on those kinds of thoughts." I wink at him. "Give me about 30 minutes and she'll be free to go to her new home in the spiritual sky."
“Yes, please make sure that the ghost doesn’t suffer.” He stammers cheeks still red.
“Will do. Now, shoo so I can get started.” I waved him away.
The door closed and I felt relieved to have the watchful eyes off me.
I lit the candles with my fingertips. Everything was ready.
“This is the chance for you to move on to the otherworld.” I tilted my head to listen to what she was saying.
"Yes, I know that he's cute. You can't stay here though. There are many cute guys on the other side. They would be lucky to go out with a ghost-like you." I tried to offer a chance for other opportunities not haunting this house or room.
She nodded.
“I release this spirit from the ties that have bound her to this room. May she find the peace that she desires in her new home.” I waved the sage stick around and made a few murmuring noises for the audience listening outside of the door.
The air cleared and there was a sense of having helped someone find closure in this life.
I opened the door and David was leaning against the wall waiting.
“Finished. You may want to put some salt over the windows sills so that nothing re-inhabits the house. Otherwise, I think you’re safe.”
“Thank you so much. I’ll sleep much easier knowing that the ghost was able to move on.” He held out his credit card for me to swipe on my phone.
“Anything I can do to help again just let me know.” I pushed the button to send him a receipt.
“Have dinner with me tonight?”
“Um, wow. That’s a nice offer. If you still want to do that in a month, then you have
my number. I like to make sure that business doesn’t get in the way of pleasure.” Giving him another wink and wave, I closed the door behind me.
Customers always tried to go out with me. I hadn't had anyone call me after my thirty-day offer. They always wanted something right now, but no one had the patience or memory for that kind of thing.
My phone dinged with the payment update. It was nice to get paid for doing what came naturally.
Even though I’d slept a lot last night, I was still feeling tired as I opened the door. I was looking forward to a shower and then an afternoon of binging my favorite show to catch up.
The door hadn’t even finished closing behind me when the mark on my shoulder went from an itch to burning.
“AGH!” I screamed in pain as I fell to the floor. What the hell is happening?”
My body landed with a thud and I could feel my spirit leaving it.
Suddenly I was flying through what looked like warp drive or a neon light tunnel to somewhere.
Chapter 2
Salem- 1692
I landed with a thump. The body I found was in the middle of a seizure when I jumped. I'm not sure what exactly happened, but I'd heard about this kind of thing.
This person was in a house that appeared to be falling apart. I stood and wiggled my fingers trying to figure out how this body worked.
Body jumping was supposed to be something that could only occur with some major mojo magic. I thought that was what had happened, yet things seemed to be very different. This had to be what I’d been warned about.
There weren’t any lights on, but the sun was high in the sky so I calculated that it was a little afternoon.
My clothes were scratchy with several layers. An apron was over the front and I could feel the pins pulling in my hair as it kept my bun up.
Noises grew outside and I peeked out the grease-stained window.
A crowd appeared to be growing as people hurried toward what seemed to be the center of town.
Without any real knowledge about where I was or who, I took the cloak on the door and tied it under my chin. Best not to look too out of place until I figured out what the deal was.