Supernatural Seduction (Book 2 of the Coffin Girls Series)

by Supernatural Seduction (mobi)

  “How do you tell the difference between what’s magickal and medicinal?” asked Faith, the most notable of the young witches. Faith had been the one to make contact with Anais, and she was the un-elected, yet undisputed leader of the girls. She also held the most ambition to become a Coffin Girl.

  “You have to learn the names of the herbs and plants, learn their uses, and then safely experiment. With practice, the knowledge will come to you,” Sophie replied. “Some of the plants have both purposes. For example, the dandelion is magickally used to promote harmony in the home, but its sap can cure warts and skin blemishes.”

  Sophie noticed a hand from one of the girls briefly touch her acne. Teenagers. The vanity angle would hopefully spark the first interest, and practice would engage them further. “Cinnamon is another example. The bark from the tree is used remedially to increase metabolism and magickally to increase power and strength.”

  “Now, here is your exercise for the day,” Sophie handed out sheets of paper. “You’ll find the names of plants and herbs listed with their magickal and medicinal uses. The plants are also found here,” Sophie waved her hand towards the rows of plants that stood in the hothouse.

  “But how will we know what the plants are? They’re not labelled,” piped Anna.

  “Here are drawings of the plants with their names. For the next hour, I want you to try to identify each of the actual plants from the drawings, and then correlate it with their medicinal and magickal uses. Use the hour well because tomorrow, we’ll start working with them. And don’t forget,” Sophie warned, “be kind to the plants and they’ll be generous with you.”

  “I’ll leave you now to get to it,” Sophie continued. “Afterwards, come into the house for lunch, and then rest this afternoon. Tonight, you’ll be helping out at the wedding as part of your practical course and it will, undoubtedly, be a long evening.”

  Leaving them to their mix of groans and enthusiasm, Sophie made her way back to the house. She found her sisters and Miss Suzette waiting for her in the kitchen. At her entrance, Miss Suzette started heaping mounds of food into the waiting dishes. Helping herself to a cool drink of sweet iced tea, she did a double-take at the evident blood that Anais was guzzling.

  At her raised brow, Anais smiled sheepishly, “Didn’t get a chance to feed this morning.”

  “You fed, alright,” Marie quipped, “just not on blood. Yep, you’re getting mighty fond of blood sausage there, cher.”

  “That’s Scottish, Marie,” V’s replied, sardonically.

  “Conall’s not Scottish,” batted Marie back.

  “I know,” said V, “he’s Irish.”

  “That’s why I just called it blood sausage, not Scottish whatever,” Marie was fully engaged in the childish argument.

  “Okay,” Sophie interrupted the verbal tennis match, “let’s leave Conall’s sausage, whether it’s Irish or Scottish, to Anais, shall we?”

  It was such a silly question preceded by such a nonsensical debate that the room erupted into a chorus of giggles. This is what made their home, Sophie thought. They argued over anything and nothing at all, laughed over more, and shared everything. Always aware of what the others were feeling, Sophie noted that the mood had lightened. These feelings she could live with; they were familiar and benevolent.

  Anais licked the last drop of red from her lips and brought their focus back to business. They were going to have a working lunch to discuss the final details for the night’s event.

  “I’m glad that tonight’s event is a small, intimate one,” Anais said after they’d gone through the checklist for the evening’s event. “With everything else we’re doing lately, we don’t have much time for pulling off ‘big and fantastic’.” Anais’ lips pulled into a grimace, the signature rouge noir color of them a startling contrast to the dark color of her hair and eyes, amidst her perfectly porcelain skin.

  When they’d agreed to establish the school, they’d debated over the merits of keeping the wedding planning business open. In the end, the decision to rather cut back than completely cut it out was unanimous. They didn’t need the money, but they loved the work and the romance that came with it. It also provided an explanation for their residence on the plantation and allowed them to socialize with humans at the wedding so that they didn’t need to at other times. They’d learned a few decades ago that isolating themselves raised more eyebrows than eccentricity.

  “The newspaper article on the school and the announcement that we’ll be focusing on small events to see the hospitality school through its teething phase has worked,” said V. “Papillion Plantation can easily pick up the big events later. That was a good move, Sophie.”

  “Merci,” responded Sophie. Praise from their strong, warrior-like sister was rare. V’s looks of straight, severe, long black hair, nearly black eyes, and sharp facial angles were the perfect match for her tough, serious demeanor.

  “Yes, thank you, cher,” Anais agreed. “And thank you, too, Marie and Rose. Because of your admirable and exceptional management of the wedding business, the rest of us have been able to be involved in the school set up and witch searches.” Anais threw a tender look at Miss Suzette, “Thank you to our Cajun mama, too. Miss Suzette, you’ve taken over most of the catering for the events and still run this household smoothly. Merci.”

  “I don’t have children of my own flesh,” said Miss Suzette, her booming voice, unusually quiet this time, “but if I had, and they were half the women you all are, then I’d be the proudest mama on earth. I’m already the proudest over my girls. So, it pleases me to help my chicks.”

  Sophie hooked into the emotions that ran across the room and felt pure, innocent love emanating from each one for all. The love of her family might have been stolen when they’d all been murdered, but she’d been fortunate enough to find familial love in another lifetime. It was both poignant and encouraging. She dabbed at the corners of her eyes and noticed that the rest did the same.

  Anais cleared her throat, “I got us all something to celebrate having come through one helluva ordeal, and mostly, to recognize that through it all, we remain sisters and a mama,” she looked at Miss Suzette. “Always.”

  Marie interrupted the silent anticipation, “Well. Don’t be a tease. Give over.” Her silky brown curls bobbed as she used her vampire powers to leap across the table to search Anais for the gifts. But, Anais was older and quicker, plus, she knew Marie, and easily sidetracked the ambush. Marie found herself neatly placed in a chair sans gift. “Damn it!” she huffed to the delighted laughter of the rest.

  Anais used her recently unleashed royal magick and called forth their gifts from her room. Beautifully wrapped packages, in the Papillion Plantation's colors of white, black, and gold were placed in front of each of them - including her.

  Sophie opened her box carefully, folding the ribbon and paper as she went along. Marie tore at the paper, Rose ripped at it, too, but more carefully. V unwrapped hers with military precision while Miss Suzette and Anais left theirs for a moment. Each one was content to watch the rest of them indulge. It was funny how a person’s approach to unwrapping a gift hinted at their personality, Sophie thought. Then she saw it. It was a beautiful pendant shaped into a ‘C’ and ‘G’ hanging from a chain. The tips of the letters were adorned with single diamonds and holding them together was the deepest red ruby heart. “Mon Dieu! This is exquisite! Merci, cher, you’ve given us the Coffin Girls”.

  “De rien. You’re welcome,” Anais waved the thanks away. “I believe, Sophie, that we’ve given each other the Coffin Girls. I’ve just given us a keepsake. To quote Marie, ‘we’re witch-vampire women that kick ass’, but that doesn’t mean that we cannot do so with class. No?”

  Rose, the other sister, let out a bark of laughter, her green eyes glinting. “Huh! Trust Anais to turn something as potentially morose as a coffin into something fashionably elegant. Well, red is one of my favorite colors too.” The others giggled at the double entendre. Not only did Rose sport a v
ibrant mass of red hair, she was fonder of blood than the others. Her blood cocktails - alcoholic cocktails mixed with blood - were legendary amongst the local vamps.

  “What is this?” Sophie asked, holding the necklace up to the light. “The gems and silver are a bit too bright, too clear, like the jewels at the fae hollow.”

  “Very perceptive of you, Sophie,” Anais replied as they clasped the chains around their necks. “Our vampire magick would repel the silver, but fortunately, that is negated by the witch magick. But they’re not from the hollow. They’re from the Enchanted Island, Conall’s home. He was kind enough to have one of the jewelers make them for us. And we bespelled them so that it also offers each of you, when you wear it, added protection.”

  “I like it,” Sophie stated. “It symbolizes our bond while protecting us.” The others nodded their agreement.

  “Now,” said Anais, “let’s get a run down on our other activities while we’re together. Marie, how’s the necromancer training going?”

  Marie scowled, “Not going. There are no instructions, no way to guide you. I’m not getting it. But, I will. I won’t be raising zombies accidentally again.”

  “That’s all that we can ask, cher,” Sophie comforted. She felt Marie’s determination override her self-doubt and was confident that Marie would master her gift.

  V went next. “Raulf and I will be leaving in two days’ time for Europe. There are rumors of other witch-nappings so we’re going to check them out. We’ll stop by the Enchanted Island first to get weapons and to rendezvous with the team Niul is putting together.”

  “Niul’s not going with you?” asked Sophie.

  “No,” answered V, “he’s staying on as second-in-charge to Conall and because he is the head royal guard, he can’t leave his duties unless he’s flanking Conall or at the castle.”

  “If there’s anything you need us to help with before you go, just give us a shout,” Anais reminded V.

  “Sophie, I peeked into the school earlier and was happy to see that the girls are settling in well and so are the other teachers. How are the girls doing?”

  “With regards to the school, they’re doing as well as can be expected of a bunch of teenage girls,” Sophie answered truthfully, “but there’s still much trauma for them to work through.”

  Anais nodded her ascent, “We only experienced what they did secondarily. So, I can’t imagine what their little hearts and minds must have been through. I guess it’ll take time and the care and love we can give to them. Are you okay with the emotions you’re picking up from them?”

  “Sure,” replied Sophie, giving an inelegant shrug, “I’m used to it.”

  Anais didn’t look convinced, but moved onto Rose, “How is the progress going with the buildings?”

  “They’ll be ready next week,” responded Rose, “and then Conall’s witch teachers can take up residence.”

  “Any hotties, Anais?” asked Marie. “You already met them when you visited the castle with Conall. I could do with a bit of blood sausage in my life.” Because Marie was deliberately goading her and she knew it, V rolled her eyes in response.

  “Of course,” responded Anais with a sly smile, “our supernatural world seems unnaturally filled with eye-candy.”

  Marie’s tongue openly flicked over the tips of her sharp teeth. “Yum, some fresh blood,” she said with relish, making the others laugh at the ludicrous statement. None of them liked ‘organic’ blood or blood from the source (preferring their feeds from the less glamorous source of blood bank bags and when necessary, from the veins of sinners).

  “You haven’t asked how Miss Suzette’s progress is going with Nicholas.” Rose teased, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

  At the mention of the architect they’d hired for the school construction, Miss Suzette flushed. “Something wrong with y'all if you call it progress,” Miss Suzette grumbled shyly.

  “Oh, come on Miss Suzette,” Marie nudged her. “You’ve heard all our stories. It would be nice to hear about your hot and funky lovers for a change.” The others hooted and Miss Suzette blushed even harder.

  Sophie felt their collective joy in Miss Suzette’s romance. Their adoptive mama had made the difficult decision to let go of a relationship with Nicholas years ago when he’d worked on the reconstruction and refurbishment of the slave quarters. She’d claimed that she’d chosen her voodoo heritage and the life that she loved on the plantation over him when he’d proposed marriage, but the girls had had their doubts. It was consolation to see her pick up the romance as though it had never ended when Nicholas returned.

  Miss Suzette knew them too well and picked up on the intent behind their teasing. “Don’t make me get mean, girl,” Miss Suzette warned without much heat behind it. Then she grinned, “The progress with Nicholas is progressin’.” More laughter followed the smirk.

  “Ooh,” V teased, “Miss Suzette has a hottie of her own.”

  Anais turned to address Sophie, “Speaking of hotties, I heard that you need to start empath training at Sylvain’s?”

  Sophie narrowed her eyes, “Why that babble-mouth!”

  “Wasn’t Sylvain, boo.” Miss Suzette said, interrupting the tirade Sophie was about to embark. “I told them. And you can’t point fingers either. I remember you doing the same to Anais a few months ago.”

  “Okay, fine,” responded Sophie with irritable resignation. “He offered for Arianna to give me empath lessons and I accepted.”

  “No one’s going to rag on you, Sophie,” Anais said softly, “I think it is a great idea. We’ve always worried about your nightmares and if this can help, you have our support. But I’m concerned about how you’ll fit it into everything else you are doing. Not that I believe that you’re incapable, but rather that going through empath training while being around the girls, with all those residual emotions of trauma, might be self-defeating.” Anais looked at the others, sending a sinking feeling into Sophie’s belly. She smelled conspiracy in the air and it bore a similar resemblance to how they’d ‘tackled’ Anais’ stubbornness a few months ago. What’s more, they were shielding from her, and they only did that when they had something up their sleeves.

  Purposefully ignoring the frown marring Sophie’s countenance, Anais continued, “So, we chatted about it and all agreed that you need some time off. Conall’s sending the teachers over earlier than originally planned, and they can stay in the refurbished slave quarters until their lodgings are complete. That’ll help some. But, then there’s still the wedding business. But, with the girls here, they can lend a hand a bit more for a time, and I’ll help out too. Raulf’s pack will help out with the security detail that V usually sees to and a bunch of hot men, even if they’re wolves, will be good for business. So with all the contingencies in place, you’re free to take a few weeks off and focus on the empath training.”

  Sophie’s immediate reaction was to argue at the way they’d manipulated her and taken the liberty to manager her life, but she quelled that down. One of the less satisfying aspects of being an empath was that she could always literally see the other person’s point of view, and even where they were coming from. In this instance, she knew they were concerned for her and genuinely wanted to give her what they felt she needed. It sucked that she couldn’t get her mad on, which they would have known when they concocted their plan. They’d cornered her well and true. And they were right. She did need the help. Being around the young girls was satisfying in that she got to see them grow, learn, and knew that she’d played a hand in it, but it was emotionally draining and took considerable effort to shield against the always intense and often sudden emotional flashbacks they each gave off. She was already nervous about the empath training and had no doubt it would be draining. Of course, she’d have to learn to deal with Sylvain, too, and what he evoked within her. Anais was right, darn it. “Alright, I’ll take the time off,” Sophie agreed, reluctantly.

  “Great,” responded Anais. “I’ll contact Sylvain and ask him to come an
d pick you up. Miss Suzette, will you please help Sophie pack?”

  “Hold on, Miss Suzette,” Sophie stopped the older woman. “What’s this about packing? I agreed to go to the hollow for lessons, not to stay there.”

  “Sophie, cher,” Anais came to stand in front of her, taking Sophie’s hands in hers, “the nightmares became more frequent and vivid after we rescued the girls. And being in your room, so similar to the one you had at your family’s chateaux can’t be helping, either. Your memories of that horrible time in your life are invading your nightmares, too. Don’t you think that it’s best if you receive your training without all of that holding onto you?”

  Anais shook her head regrettably; tough love stunk. “We want to give you a real chance to learn how to control your gift, and as much as we’d like to be selfish and keep you with us, we insist that you go, Sophie. You need to do this for you!”