Miss Frost Saves The Sandman: A Nocturne Falls Mystery (Jayne Frost Book 3)

by Kristen Painter

  The three women stood only a few steps away from me, but their attention was on each other and preparations for the spellcasting. It was pretty interesting. Cold magic I knew backwards and forwards, but witchcraft was completely foreign. Everything about this space—the jars, bottles, and boxes filling the shelves that lined the walls, the table of tools and implements the women were gathered around, and the curiously-titled books stacked in neat piles here and there—seemed as alien to me as Cooper’s heat magic.

  I was content to just stand there and listen while they prepared. I figured maybe I’d learn something.

  Marigold unpacked the bag she’d brought, laying smaller packets on the table where Pandora had set out a mortar and pestle. “Chamomile, sage, and lavender. And vervain for the sachets.” She glanced over and smiled at me. “All organically grown and from my garden.”

  I nodded. “Nice.”

  Corette took glass jars off the shelves and brought the containers to the table. “Ashes, sand, and salt.”

  Pandora carried a carved wooden box over from the other side of the attic. “Silver dust.” She put the box down, then pulled a long, black feather from the pocket of her apron. “And a raven’s feather.”

  “Cole’s?” Marigold asked.

  I had no idea why the feather could be Pandora’s boyfriend’s, but I wasn’t going to question it. Maybe he was a witch too.

  “No,” she said. “This isn’t from a familiar.”

  More stuff I didn’t understand.

  Corette drew a slim, silver blade from a burgundy leather sheath and turned toward me. “For this spell to be as effective as we can make it, a few drops of your blood will be required. I promise we’ll only take what’s required for the spell. Nothing more.”

  Her tone was almost apologetic and I could sense her reluctance to ask me. Almost like she expected me to refuse. I guess blood was a pretty powerful thing. But they were doing me a favor. A huge one. I wasn’t going to question their intent. I smiled and stuck my hand out. “Whatever you need.”

  “Thank you.” She took my hand and drew me closer to the mortar, holding my hand over it as she pricked my finger.

  I flinched, then laughed. “I’m kind of a big baby when it comes to pain.”

  “We all are.” She squeezed a few drops into the bowl. “That’s it. All done.”

  I pressed my thumb against my forefinger. It throbbed a little. “What do you need me to do now?”

  “Nothing yet,” Pandora said. “We have to mix the rest first.”

  “Okay.” I stepped out of their way and watched. “I know I’m not a witch and this is probably secret stuff, but if you can tell me what you’re doing, I’d love to know.”

  Pandora smiled. “Sure, we can share some of it with you.” She held up a glass jar. “This is sand collected under a full moon. It represents the dream world.” She measured some into the mortar.

  Marigold held up the packets she’d brought. “And these plants—chamomile, lavender, and sage—are for calming and protection.” She emptied them into the mortar as well. “The vervain will remain whole and a sprig will go into each of the little bags we’re going to prepare.”

  Corette held up another glass jar. “These are ashes collected from burned white oak. They represent death.”

  “The reaper,” I whispered.

  She nodded and tipped some into the mix. “Yes.” Then she picked up a new jar. “And this is salt. It represents life.”

  “Me?”

  “In a way, yes. But it is also the thing we wish to preserve.” She sprinkled a handful of the white crystals over the ashes. “The blood is what ties this magic to you.”

  Pandora added a pinch of the silver dust. “The silver is the spirit world.” Then she lifted the feather. “And this feather is the natural world. The one we walk in.” She stirred it through the ingredients in the bowl. “It binds all these things together.” She put the feather down and passed the mortar to Marigold.

  She picked up the pestle and ground it into the mix as she spoke a few words over and over. “Peace and rest, light and peace, may all nightmares from this point cease.”

  I was riveted. It was like being admitted to a secret club. Sure, I’d never really be a member, but getting to watch all this was pretty cool.

  “What now?” I asked when she stopped chanting.

  “Now you stand in the center of the room,” a voice said behind me.

  I turned around to see a petite woman with shellacked salmon hair that matched her pantsuit. She was as sheer as a set of curtains and hovering three feet off the ground. I sucked in a breath. “You’re not all there.”

  Corette rushed to my side. “No, she’s not, but she won’t hurt you.”

  “Gertrude,” Pandora admonished. “You promised not to make an appearance.”

  So this was Gertrude. Two ghosts and two reapers in one day. Or as it was otherwise known, life in Nocturne Falls.

  Gertrude pouted. “I said I wouldn’t interrupt the spell. And I haven’t.”

  I pointed. Maybe not the most polite thing to do, but I was a little stunned. “She’s a ghost.” I meant it as a question, but I already knew the answer. Two in one day. That seriously had to be a record, even for Nocturne Falls.

  “Yes, she is and I’m sorry.” Corette took hold of my arm with the sort of firmness that suggested she thought I might need propping up. “Gertrude, I know we’re in your space, but Jayne isn’t used to such appearances. And she has enough to deal with.”

  “Oh?” Gertrude’s eyes widened happily. “What else has happened?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t know where to start.”

  Corette patted my arm. “You don’t need to.” She addressed the ghost again. “Gertrude, we’re just about to finish this spell. If you would be so kind…”

  Gertrude hovered a little higher. “I could help.”

  “You can?” Maybe I shouldn’t have asked, but there was something so sincere about the little old lady ghost I couldn’t help myself.

  “Sure, honey. I’ve been doing spells since before the lot of you were born.” She did a little twirl, arms outstretched. “Whose spell-room do you think you’re standing in?”

  I glanced at Pandora.

  She shrugged. “This was her house.”

  I looked at Gertrude again, only to find she was floating mere inches away from me. I startled. The day was really starting to get to me and there was a lot of it left to get through. I took a breath before I spoke. “I’m happy to have extra help. Anything to keep Luna from being able to affect me.”

  “Who’s Luna?” Gertrude asked.

  I explained as briefly as I could. “So you see why I need the spell to keep the nightmares away.”

  “Oh, yes.” Gertrude straightened. As much as an apparition could. Then she clapped her hands, which somehow made noise. “Form a circle, ladies. Let’s charge this spell.” She waved a hand at me. “You, into the center.”

  I moved as she directed, then Pandora handed me the bowl with all the ingredients in it. “Hang on to that.”

  I nodded as she joined Marigold, Corette and Gertrude in a loose circle around me. They held their hands out, palms up, and chanted the same words Marigold had said before. Three times they repeated the phrases, then finished with, “So mote it be.”

  Gertrude was the first to break formation. She snapped her fingers at Pandora. “You have the muslin?”

  “I do.” Pandora took the bowl from me. “We’re going to divide this into bags for you.”

  Marigold held up three teabag-sized muslin pouches. “One you’ll wear around your neck, one to put under your pillow, and one to put in your store.” She smiled. “Not that you ever sleep there, but it’ll give you a little added protection against the reaper.”

  “That’s great, thank you.” While the women worked, I glanced at Gertrude. “Do you like other ghosts? Because I know someone who could use some company.”

  She sighed. “I can’t seem to l
eave this attic.”

  “Bummer.”

  “Indeed.”

  Corette walked over, three pouches in her hand, one hung on a long white ribbon. “Here you are. Put that one on and don’t take it off.”

  “Thank you.” I took them from her, slipping the ribbon around my neck and tucking the pouch under my T-shirt. It actually smelled pretty nice. “Anything else I need to know?”

  “Just be careful, Princess.”

  “I will. And I really appreciate this.”

  Corette smiled. “We’re happy to help.”

  “I hate to get spelled and run, but I should return to the store.” I needed to put decent clothes on and get myself ready for the signing.

  “You want a lift?” Marigold asked. “I’m going back to the florist shop. I can drop you off. I just need to help Pandy clean up.”

  “That would be great, but I need to go back to your mom’s store. I rode one of the company bikes there.”

  Marigold laughed. “I drive a big old SUV. I can swing by there and we’ll throw it in the back.”

  “If you don’t mind, that would be nice. Thank you.”

  Corette made shooing motions at us. “You girls go on. Pandora and I will put everything away.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” Marigold headed down the stairs and I followed her right out of the house.

  She drove a black SUV that kind of reminded me of what the Ryde drivers favored, except those vehicles were always pristine inside. This one had granola bar wrappers on the floor along with a pair of pink sneakers and a jump rope. A white sweatshirt jacket decorated with a sequined kitten applique lay across one of the rear passenger seats.

  She saw me looking and laughed as she pulled out of Pandora’s driveway. “I have a daughter. Saffron. She’s nine. And not the neatest.”

  I couldn’t imagine having another person dependent on me. Taking care of Spider was probably a good start, though nothing like having a kid. “Is she a witch too? Sorry if that’s a dumb question. I don’t know how that works.”

  “Not a dumb question. And yes, she is, but we don’t really get our powers until about age thirteen.” Marigold smiled. “Right now, Saffie’s main concerns are Mini Molly dolls, Tiny Pets, and Charlie Merrow.”

  “Hey, we sell those at the store. Well, not Charlie. You know what I mean.”

  Marigold laughed. “I do. She earns a new accessory each week if she does all the chores on her chart. I’ll have to bring her in.”

  “Let me know before you come so I can make sure you get the friends and family discount.” By which I meant free. After the help she and her family had given me, there was no way I’d let her pay for a few toys.

  “Very kind of you.”

  “Well, I appreciate all you guys have done for me.” She stopped in front of her mom’s shop and I opened the door to hop out and grab the bike. “Including the ride home.”

  “No problem.” She got out to help me and we were back on our way in two minutes.

  A few minutes after that, she pulled up to the warehouse curb and threw the gearshift into Park. We got the bike unloaded and I thanked her again. “I really do appreciate this. All of it.”

  She nodded. “You’re welcome. And have a great day.”

  “I will now.”

  She drove off. I went inside, put the bike on the rack, then went straight to my apartment, where I tucked the second muslin bag under my pillow.

  Luna would not be bothering me again.

  The second and final signing was twenty minutes away and everything was as ready as it could be. I was in my second super-professional-manager outfit: a pale gray sheath dress with a slim black belt and less sensible but killer black heels. Pearls and diamond studs to accessorize, of course. The shoes kept it from being boring. Really it was corporate sexy. There was power in feeling this pulled together. Along with the magic pouch around my neck, it gave me a confidence boost. Exactly what I might need if Luna showed up.

  Everything else was just as on point. The display table was stocked with books (which were already being snatched up by customers in record numbers). The signing area was neat and tidy, awaiting Sanders’ arrival. And everyone was in their place. Juniper was on the register, Holly was ready to check receipts in the signing line and Rowley was working the floor while Kip handled restocking.

  But most importantly, the third muslin bag was tucked under the cash drawer of the register. The register seemed like the heart of the shop, so that’s where I’d put the pouch.

  That didn’t mean I wasn’t sweating a little bit, though. Sure, I had the witches’ magic, and I didn’t doubt the protection they’d given me against nightmares would work, but there was still most likely a reaper headed to my store.

  A reaper. The more those words repeated in my head, the more I could feel myself getting spun up.

  I checked my watch. Fifteen minutes. Sanders would be down shortly, but I could spare a moment. I hustled to my office and dug into the stash of eggnog fudge that had arrived from my aunt Martha with the last shipment of books.

  She’d worked out a deal with Delaney Ellingham to sell the fudge in Delaney’s shop, but my aunt, being my aunt, always made sure each shipment that came through included a small box for me. And sometimes, more often than that.

  It was good to be this loved.

  I leaned back in my chair and took a bite. The sweet, creamy, sugary explosion of flavor made my teeth ache and my happy endorphins kick in. I popped the rest into my mouth and relaxed even more, closing my eyes and enjoying a moment of pure peace. I could do this. Luna wasn’t going to be a problem. I just had to keep telling myself that.

  “Knock, knock.”

  I opened my eyes at the familiar voice. “Hey Coop.”

  “Hi, Jay.” He leaned against the door frame, hands in his pockets.

  “What brings you by?” He was in his uniform, which added extra degrees to his already off-the-charts hotness. All in all, a very nice distraction that was slightly sweeter than the fudge I’d just eaten.

  “You.” He smiled. “Just wanted to see how you were doing.”

  Wasn’t that nice? “Crazy.” I shrugged. “But what’s new? I’ll be fine. I can handle this.” That last bit was more for me than him.

  “You look great, but…” He glanced at his watch. “Doesn’t the signing start in a few minutes?”

  I checked the time. Ten minutes. “Yes. Snowballs. Sanders isn’t standing out in the warehouse looking for me, is he?”

  Cooper checked over his shoulder. “Nope. Just me.”

  I jumped to my feet. “He’d better be on his way down here, because if something else is going on—”

  The elevator’s chime interrupted me and I heard the doors slide open. “Please tell me that’s him.”

  Cooper took a second look and nodded. “Yep. I’ll let you get to work. You want to hang out later? I could bring dinner. There’s a new BBQ place in town that’s supposed to do killer ribs, Big Daddy Bones. Have you tried them yet?”

  “Nope, but I’m in.” I shut my desk drawer and headed for the door, even though Cooper was still blocking it. “Seven?”

  “Sounds good. See you then. And I’ll let myself out so you can deal with Sanders.” He moved so I could pass, but as I slid by, he nuzzled my neck and inhaled, whispering, “You smell nice.”

  I didn’t have time to tell him it was the juju bag tucked beneath my dress, but I was suddenly very glad the spell hadn’t required anything funky like tail of newt or dried bat liver. “Thanks.” I squeezed his bicep. More for me than for him. “See you for dinner.”

  He grinned and I made my way to Sanders, who was standing by the shop door now. Olive was at his side, checking something off on her pad. Her messenger bag was slung across her body, as full as it had been the first time. I imagined it contained all the same supplies.

  I stopped in front of them as Cooper exited the building. “I trust the rest of your day has been uneventful?”

  “Ah, yes,” S
anders said. He’d changed into sea green fancy pajamas, his hourglass safely at his side on its cord. “I had a most refreshing nap after breakfast.”

  Olive didn’t look up from her work, just grunted something that I guessed was a sound of agreement.

  “Great. All ready for the last signing?” I rubbed my hands together. “The shop is busy.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “Will the same number of people show up, do you think?”

  “We’re definitely hoping that’s the case, and judging by the look of things, it should be close.” I certainly hoped we were busy, because we had a mountain of books on hand. And being busy made the time fly. Not to mention, I still wanted to impress my father and uncle with some exceptional numbers. “Why don’t we go in and get things started?”

  He nodded. “Lead the way.”

  I got him and Olive situated in the signing area, then headed to the front to see how the crowd (which had definitely showed up) was doing. I almost ran into Greyson as I rounded the last row. “Hi.”

  He smiled. “Hi yourself. You look lovely. How’s it going?”

  “Thanks.” He didn’t look bad either, but then he never did. “Just getting started.”

  “No sign of our special guest then?”

  “Not yet.”

  His nostrils flared. “You’ve taken some precautions, I see.”

  “You can smell that?”

  “Vervain. Also salt, ash, lavender.” His nose wrinkled. “And silver. I know what the Romani would use that combination for. Who made it for you?”

  The man was wise about so many things. I liked that. Handsome and smart was a great combo. “The witches fixed me up. Corette and two of her daughters.”

  “Good. That’s very good.”

  “Glad you approve.”

  “I should have thought of it myself.” He stepped to the side. “I know you’re busy and I don’t want to be in the way so just tell me where to stand.”

  With Holly already working the signing line, the best place for Greyson was behind the register. It was the easiest spot for him to watch the customers coming in without being too conspicuous. Juniper wasn’t crazy about vampires, but I was hoping she’d be all right with this temporary situation. Fingers crossed, anyway. I gave Greyson a little nudge with my hip. “Follow me.”