Witch School Dropout: A Witch Squad Cozy Mystery #7

by M. Z. Andrews

  Seeing her familiar face, I let out a heavy sigh of relief. “Clara, you haven’t aged a bit!” I told her with a smile.

  Clara winked at me. “The air up here is good for a ghost,” she said sweetly. Pulling her shoulders back to stand up taller, she surveyed us curiously.

  Feeling braver, Jax and Holly stepped out of our shadows and stood next to Alba and me.

  “Wow, two visits in one week. To what do I owe the honor?” asked Clara.

  “Two visits?” asked Holly. “This is our first visit this week.”

  I nodded knowingly. Ghosts often got their dates confused as they had few points of reference to the outside world’s calendar system. “You’ve got your days mixed up Clara. We came to see you around Halloween, back in October. It’s springtime now!”

  A look of confusion covered her face. “No, I’m quite certain there was someone else up here this week. It was just a day or two ago.”

  “Oh, well, I suppose that’s possible,” I said. “It just wasn’t one of us. Who came to see you?”

  “I can’t say their name,” said Clara pinching her lips between her teeth.

  The fact that someone else had been to the Great Witch’s Library’s third-floor recently piqued Alba’s interest. “Well, what book did they check out?”

  Clara wagged her ghostly opaque finger in the air. “Oh, I can’t tell you that either, dear,” she said mysteriously. “That’s a strict violation of GIPA.”

  “GIPA?” asked Alba, raising one eyebrow.

  “Ghost’s Information Protection Act,” she said with a somber nod.

  A laugh burst out of my mouth. “You made that up!”

  She shrugged with a smug look on her face as if to say there was no way for me to disprove her words.

  “Whatever, Clara,” I said with a smile. “Keep your secrets. We came to check out a book by D.E. Cooper.”

  “There are many books by D.E. Cooper downstairs,” said Clara knowingly. “Have you looked for your book down there?”

  “No. It’s on the third-floor. We checked the card catalog. Besides, it’s a pretty heavy-duty spell,” explained Alba. “It’s in a book called Spells for the Spirits.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “Ahh. I know the book well.” She turned smoothly, lifting a hand so she could beckon us to follow her with one curled finger. “This way ladies. You were right. It is indeed a third-floor book.”

  We followed her as she floated to a book shelf and pointed at a silver-spined book. “Here is the book you seek ladies.”

  Alba put a hand on it excitedly.

  Clara reached out and gently touched her hand. Alba’s hand recoiled as if she’d just been struck by a snake. “Touchy dear,” she said lightly. “Who shall be the responsible party for this book?”

  Before anyone could answer, she held up a long, thin finger. “Don’t forget the penalty for not having it back on time.”

  We looked at one another wearily. We knew the fine. It was a hefty one. If we didn’t have the book back by sunset on the third day, then whoever checked the book out would become the new third-floor ghost-librarian. Keyword being ghost.

  I shook my head. “It’s someone else’s turn this time.” I’d been the one to sign for the book the first time because we’d used the book to unbind my mother and Merrick Stone to stop weird things from happening to her.

  Holly put her finger on the tip of her nose. “Nose goes.”

  Jax sighed. “This one’s for Char. I’ll do it.”

  Clara held up a hand. “I’m sorry dear. Only a witch can check out a spellbook.”

  Jax let out a groan. “That’s not fair!”

  “It’s the rules, dear.”

  Alba stepped forward. “Fine. I’ll do it. But you three better remind me to return that book!” she insisted, pointing at the three of us.

  Holly pulled out her phone. “I’m putting a reminder in my phone right now!”

  Alba pulled the book from its resting place. It was a silvery, iridescent-colored book that sparkled in the light when turned from side to side. We all stared at it in awe.

  “May I have the card please?”

  Alba opened the front cover and pulled the card out and handed it to Clara.

  The old woman pulled a pencil from her bun. “Name dear?”

  “Alba Sanchez.”

  Clara wrote her name on the card and stuck it in her dress pocket. “Thank you, ladies. The book is yours for three days.”

  “Thanks, Clara,” chirped Jax.

  “Thank you for coming to see me again. It’s been great having so many visitors in one week. Take care now,” she said before floating back to the stacks where she’d been when we arrived.

  The girls and I took off down the stairs. Eager to get started with our spell.

  Sweets

  My pulse pounded a steady, rhythmic beat in my ears as I approached Sorceress Stone’s office. Morning classes had already begun, and the breakfast rush was over, so the air around me was deafeningly quiet. I pressed two hands to my cheeks. They were warm. I had to assume they were red – like they always were when I got nervous or was embarrassed about something. My stomach churned anxiously as my grey flats slid silently along the smooth tile floor.

  I stopped just short of entering and took a deep breath. Relax Sweets, I told myself.

  I blew out the breath I’d just taken and cautiously peeked my head through the doorway and into Sorceress Stone’s secretary’s office.

  “Hi Sweets,” said Brittany Hobbs the moment she saw my head peek across the threshold. “Something I can help you with?”

  Uneasily, I stepped into her office. “Oh, hi Brittany,” I mumbled as if I were surprised to see her in her own office.

  That made her look up from what she was doing and stare at me curiously. “Everything alright?”

  I swallowed hard. My words felt lodged in the back of my throat, and I was having difficulty spitting them out. “Sorceress Stone?”

  “Yes, she’s in her office.”

  “May I please speak to her?” I asked in little more than a choked whisper.

  Brittany smiled at me. “Sure. Just let me tell her you’re here.”

  Brittany stood up and walked over to the headmistress’s office and poked her head in. “Miss Stone, Mildred Porter is here to see you.”

  Mildred Porter was the name I’d used to register for classes at the Paranormal Institute for Witches, but I’d been called Sweets since elementary school. Hearing my real name made me feel like I was in trouble or something. My stomach rolled, and I suddenly felt like I needed to throw up.

  Brittany came back out into her office. “You can have a seat, Sweets. She’ll be out to get you in a few minutes.”

  I nodded and took a seat in one of the two chairs against the wall separating Brittany’s office from Sorceress Stone’s. A pile of magazines on a small, square, wooden table caught my eye. There were several issues of Today’s Witch Magazine, a thick hardcover copy of The Witch’s Bible, and a single copy of Good Housekeeping. It looked so out of place among the stack of witch reads. The blueberry custard pie on the cover of Good Housekeeping intrigued me. I smiled, and instantly my body relaxed as I grabbed the issue and thumbed through all the articles to find the recipe.

  My mind wandered as I read through the ingredient list, and soon I thought how nice it would be to add that dessert to the pie selection at the bakery. It would be especially fitting for a Fourth of July specialty dessert. I thought about suggesting the recipe to Mr. Bailey. That’s when it hit me once again. Mr. Bailey was gone. The thought caused my chest to constrict and the air to leave my lungs.

  “Mildred?” called a firm voice above me.

  I looked up and saw Sorceress Stone looking down her nose at me. Jax’s mother was a tall, thin woman with straight white hair that hung all the way down to the small of her back. There wasn’t much to her, but what there was – scared me. Sorceress Stone wore a long, grey, jersey knit dress that fell all the way to the g
round, giving her the appearance that she was floating rather than walking. “You asked to speak with me?”

  My mouth went dry. I gulped back the pasty lump that had formed in my throat. “Yes,” I managed to squeak. As I stood up, the magazine clattered to the floor awkwardly. I glanced up at Sorceress Stone and smiled. “Oh sorry,” I mumbled as I reached down to pull the magazine off the floor and put it back on the table. I wished I had asked Brittany for a photocopy of that recipe.

  Sorceress Stone took a step back towards her office and motioned for me to follow her. She skirted around the outside of her desk and took a seat behind it.

  I looked at the door and wondered if I should shut it for our meeting.

  “You can close it, Mildred,” said Sorceress Stone in her usual commanding voice.

  That made me wonder if she was reading my thoughts or if she just could sense what I was thinking.

  I shut the door and took a seat, all the more worried that she was now reading my thoughts.

  “What can I help you with Mildred?” she asked, sounding annoyed and slightly bored already.

  “I – I …” I began. After spending the night on Jax’s and Mercy’s futon, I’d gone back to my room early and practiced my speech in my dorm room mirror for an hour, but sitting here now in front of Sorceress Stone everything fell apart. She was just so … intimidating!

  “You?” she asked, rolling her hand forward as if that were going to pull more information out of me.

  “Did you know that Victor Bailey died yesterday?” I finally asked, exhausting the breath I’d been holding. We could start with that.

  Sorceress Stone leaned back in her seat and templed her fingers. Her face softened slightly. “Yes. I did hear about Vic. That’s very sad to hear. He and Char were both old friends of the family. It sounds like it may have been a heart attack.”

  I nodded primly.

  “Did you just come to make sure that I was informed about that?”

  “Umm, no. That was just part of it. I do my internship at his bakery,” I began.

  She nodded then. “I see. You’re wondering about the status of your internship. Well, I’m sure that now isn’t the time for internships. The new Mrs. Bailey will have a lot of things to figure out and will likely not have the time to fool with an intern.”

  I closed my eyes and willed myself to speak candidly with Sorceress Stone. “Actually, Char thinks she might need me more than part-time now that Mr. Bailey is gone,” I finally rambled. My words came out in a jumble, but at least I’d gotten them out.

  Sorceress Stone sat still for a moment. Taking in what I’d just said. Finally, her head tipped to the right as she looked at me closely. “I see. Will the workload interfere with your studies?”

  I nodded.

  “You’ve come to work out a new schedule with me?” she asked.

  I shrugged. How could I tell her that I was considering dropping out altogether? “I’m not sure I can handle both,” I said, my voice little more than that of a mouse’s.

  “So the choice is work or school? Is that what you’re telling me?”

  I nodded again.

  She let out a breath of air and straightened her posture. “Now I understand. You’re thinking about dropping out of witch school?” She paused and raised an eyebrow at me. “Or am I confused? Have you already decided? Are you here to tell me you’re quitting?”

  I let out a heavy sigh. The decision weighed heavily on me. I was having a horrible time making up my mind. “I haven’t decided,” I answered, looking down at the frosting-pink fingernail polish Holly had put on my nails a few days prior.

  “Are you seeking my advice?”

  I looked up at her sharply. Did I want her advice? Sorceress Stone was a pain in all of our butts, but she was also Jax’s mother. All mothers had to provide motherly advice, didn’t they? I nodded. “Sure.”

  “Quitting is for quitters,” she said simply, her tone high and tight.

  “Oh,” I said meekly. That wasn’t quite the advice I’d been hoping to receive.

  “When do you expect to know of your decision?” she asked. Any chance of pulling out the motherly side of Sorceress Stone was now one-hundred-percent gone.

  “I’m going to a meeting with Char and her other employee Louis this afternoon. Perhaps I’ll have a little more clarity after that meeting,” I offered.

  Sorceress Stone stood up and walked to the door where she held the round handle in her hand. “As you know, there’s a waiting list to get into the Institute. I can’t hold your spot forever,” she chided.

  I sighed. “I’ll need a little time off this week. I’ll have to help Char with the funeral and with getting arrangements made and I may need to keep the bakery open for her.”

  Sorceress Stone tipped her head down slightly to consider my request. “Request granted. Keep in touch with Brittany regarding the classes you will be missing, and you can work with your teachers to get homework made up. When you’ve made your decision, you may make another appointment with me.”

  I sat motionless with my mouth slightly agape.

  “Is that all Mildred?”

  I snapped my mouth shut. My mind drew a blank. I couldn’t think of anything else. “Yes,” I said almost inaudibly.

  “Very well then, you may go,” she snapped, and with a slight wave of her hand dismissing me, she went back to the work piled on her desk.

  I stood up then and walked to the door. “Thank you,” I mumbled before fleeing her office. As I rushed into the lobby of Winston Hall, I had to bend over to suck in a deep breath. If I hadn’t felt the pressure of a decision before, I most certainly felt it now. The pressure was on.

  11

  With the spellbook in hand and a sense of urgency looming over our heads, we rushed down to the potions lab in the basement of Winston Hall. We had no idea how long it would take the police to get an autopsy started on Mr. Bailey, and we had to get to him before some coroner did.

  The second we slammed the door shut behind us, Alba plopped the heavy book down on the counter and began flipping through the pages until she came to the exact resurrection spell we’d been searching for.

  Her brown eyes scanned the page intensely. “Okay, looks like we’re gonna need some black ash, a clove of garlic, two shakes of wolf powder and the fruit of a Tamarillo tree.”

  Looking over Alba’s shoulder at the spellbook, I made a face. “I’ve never heard of a Tamarillo tree.”

  Alba shrugged. “Me either. But it’s what we need. I’ll Google it. Holly run to the kitchen to get a clove of garlic from one of the new cooks,” she said starchily.

  Holly stared at Alba. “Are you seriously going to bark orders at me?”

  Alba threw a hand up. “I’m sorry, are we not doing this spell right now?” Alba asked, looking around at the three of us dead seriously.

  “Of course we are, but I’m not taking orders from you. You don’t even ask. You just order people around. It’s so annoying,” snapped Holly, throwing her hands on her hips.

  Alba rolled her eyes and looked at Jax. “Shorty, would you please do me the great honor of getting the garlic from the kitchen while I figure out where we are going to find the fruit of a Tamarillo tree?” she asked with an exaggeratedly sticky sweet voice.

  Jax glared at Holly. “Fine, I’ll go get it.”

  “Thank you, Jax,” I said. “I’ll rummage through the cupboards and see if we’ve got the black ash and the wolf powder on hand.”

  Holly frowned. “So then what am I supposed to do?”

  “You were supposed to go get the garlic,” Alba barked at her in annoyance.

  Holly and Alba bickered like sisters most of the time, but the pressure of having to get this spell done before Mr. Bailey was autopsied was especially wearing. “Just go find a black candle, Holl. We’re going to need a black candle too.” I tossed my room key to her. “Back of Jax’s closet, she has a box of candles.”

  Holly rolled her eyes and stormed out in a huff.
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  “So, we’re going to need a plan,” I said as I began rummaging through the cupboards in search of the rest of the ingredients for the spell.

  “Yeah, marching into the Aspen Falls Morgue and flaunting Cosmo’s girls isn’t going to work this time,” she said, referring to the first time we’d visited the morgue looking for Morgan Hartford’s ghost. Holly had charmed the morgue attendant, but we were sure the guy had learned his lesson since then. If he even still worked there at all.

  “We’ll have to figure out a new way to convince someone to let us see Mr. Bailey’s body. Maybe we can just sneak in when the attendant is out to lunch?”

  “They don’t leave the morgue unattended, Red. It’s not going to be that easy.”

  “Well, then we’ll have to ask Char to give us access,” I said with a shrug. I didn’t know how else we’d get in unless someone had recently discovered the powers of invisibility or something. Without that or a good tactic, there was no way they were going to let us into the morgue again.

  Alba reeled around to look at me after my suggestion. “Are you crazy? We can’t tell Char! She’s a grieving widow for crying out loud. She’s barely keeping it together. If we tell her that we’re going to try and bring Mr. Bailey back to life and then we fail? You know what that will do to her? It’ll kill her all over again!”

  I hung my head. I hadn’t thought of all of that. Alba was right. We couldn’t get her hopes up until we had Mr. Bailey put back together and he was standing right in front of her. “How about Detective Whitman. We could get permission from him to go visit the body.”

  “Why would he allow us to do that?”

  “I don’t know, we could tell him that we need to talk to Mr. Bailey’s ghost and the ghost is at the morgue,” I said with a shrug.

  “If this were an active homicide investigation, then I think we could pull that off, but with it likely being a heart attack? I don’t think Detective Whitman is going to pull any strings to get us into the morgue. We’ve got no reason to be in there right now.”