All Spell Breaks Loose

by Annabel Chase

  “Potentially,” I said. “We don’t know that for a fact.”

  The kindly wizard met my gaze. “I do know it, Emma. I’ve believed it for quite some time.”

  “What if we held hands like we did to manifest the letters?” Begonia suggested. “That might help magnify the power of the spell.”

  “E pluribus unum,” I said.

  “That’s right,” Begonia said. “What did you tell us that meant again?”

  “Out of many, one,” Professor Holmes interjected. “My Latin may be rusty, but I recognize that one.”

  “That’s a great idea, Begonia,” I replied. I’d definitely felt an influx of magical energy when we’d performed the spell in the secret lair. More importantly, the spell had worked. Something I hadn’t been able to achieve on my own.

  “That makes sense,” Laurel said. “There’s also the symbol of the harp, remember? Maybe it’s not meant to be a bridge between heaven and earth. Maybe it’s suggesting a bridge between us to channel our magic.”

  Laurel positioned the spell in front of me. We stood in a circle on Curse Cliff and held hands. The horn stood upright in the middle, like a glowing traffic cone.

  I began to recite the words as Laurel had written them. This was a more complicated spell than the ones we learned at the academy. Then again, any spell that included more than one rhyming couplet was complicated to me. It remained unclear how the horn came into play. We decided to use it as a channel, the way Kassandra had used Magpie as a means to channel Gareth’s ghost during a séance at my house.

  I stood between Begonia and Professor Holmes. His hand was as warm and comforting as his demeanor. I focused my will on the horn and began to read aloud. “Goddess of the Moon…” As I continued to read, I felt the energy rise within me. I tried to stay focused on the incantation. I didn’t want to get too excited since my emotions could prove sufficiently distracting.

  Sparks shot from every pair of clasped hands, but the horn remained unmoving. The magic was churning—I could feel it in every fiber of my being. It just wasn’t doing anything.

  By the time I completed the incantation, everyone knew it was a bust. We released our grip and stared at the horn in defeat.

  “At least the horn didn’t self-destruct,” Sophie said. “We can try again.”

  “Yeah, except I don’t know what else to try,” I replied.

  Ginger retrieved the horn from the ground and dusted it off before returning it to the bag. “Let’s consider Raisa for a minute. That might help us.”

  “Excellent idea,” Professor Holmes said. “Understanding the spellcaster might help us understand the spell.”

  “She must have been fueled by so much hatred when she performed the curse,” Meg said. “I can’t imagine the strength of those negative emotions.” She shivered.

  Begonia’s head snapped to attention. “So then we fuel our spell with the opposite. We fuel it with love.”

  “Except the opposite of love isn’t hate,” I said. “It’s indifference. But I like your way of thinking. Infusing our spell with the opposite will of its creator…that might work.”

  Professor Holmes tapped his chin. “Yes, yes. That could very well be true.”

  I felt a growing excitement, as I recalled Raisa’s story. “She didn’t curse the inhabitants because she hated them. She was indifferent to them. Her only thought was to protect herself so she could survive.”

  Begonia studied the ground as though the answer would miraculously shoot from the rocks. “Okay, so how do we add love to the spell? It’s only a feeling.”

  “No,” I said quietly. “It’s much more than a feeling. It’s in our words and our deeds. It’s how we care for one another with no thought for ourselves. When our goal is to alleviate someone else’s suffering rather than our own.” It really was the opposite of Raisa’s goal when she cursed Ridge Valley.

  “That sounds like martyrdom to me,” Millie muttered.

  Meg flipped her red hair over her shoulder. “But how do we toss our words and deeds into the spell? It still seems like an intangible.”

  I sighed. “I don’t know.”

  “Back to the coven library,” Laurel said dejectedly.

  Sophie wrapped an arm around me. “I was hoping we’d break the curse before your wedding, so that you and Daniel could leave town for your honeymoon.”

  I patted her hand. “That’s a nice thought, Soph, but Daniel and I are happy wherever we are, as long as we’re together.”

  “And she gets to have…” Millie stopped and looked at Laurel. “Special time with her husband.”

  Laurel folded her arms in a huff. “I’m not a child, Millie. You can say the word.”

  “You are a child,” Meg said. “A very smart one, but still a child.”

  Laurel shook her head in disgust. “That’s fine. I don’t need the details, anyway. I have more important information to discover, like how to add love as an ingredient to a spell.”

  “What about a true love’s kiss spell?” Sophie asked. “Wouldn’t love need to be an ingredient for a spell like that to work?”

  “An interesting idea,” Professor Holmes said.

  “It sure is,” I said, practically giddy. “And I know exactly the paranormal to ask.”

  I strode up the walkway and took in the well-tended garden. Bursts of color greeted my every step. Everywhere I looked, something was in bloom. I knocked on the wooden door of the cottage and waited.

  “Emma, what a wonderful surprise.” Freddie stood there, looking like the happiest dwarf who ever lived. His cheeks were rosy, his smile was bright. A far cry from the sleeping dwarf in the glass casket.

  “Hello, Freddie. How are you?”

  “Better than you, I expect,” he replied. “I heard about your troubles.” He blew a raspberry. “Where are my manners? Come in. Heidi will give me good dressing down if she thinks I’ve left you standing on the front step for too long.”

  I entered the cottage and was immediately struck by the cheerful interior. The living room left me in no doubt that a loving couple lived here. Playful pictures of Freddie and Heidi adorned the wall.

  “Did Miranda take those?” I asked. Althea’s older sister was a highly regarded photographer in town.

  “She did,” Freddie said. “We had a great time during the shoot. She’s a lot of fun for a Gorgon.”

  “Who is it, darling?” Heidi came around the corner and halted in her tracks. “Emma, how marvelous to see you.” The naiad hurried over to kiss my cheek. “Freddie and I are so looking forward to the wedding, aren’t we?”

  “Bought a new suit for the occasion,” Freddie said.

  “And he’s agreed to wear a tie,” Heidi said, tugging on Freddie’s collar. The naiad looked as content as her partner. I felt so pleased for them, I could burst.

  “What brings you here so close to your big day?” Freddie asked.

  “Have you at least offered her a drink or a bite to eat before you start interrogating her?” Heidi’s tone was light, despite the admonishment.

  Freddie blushed. “Emma, can I interest you in a lemon fizz and a wistberry muffin?”

  “No, thank you,” I said. “I wish this were a social call, but I have a pressing matter. Freddie, I need to ask you about the spell you performed on yourself.”

  Freddie cast a shy glance at his beloved. “Not my finest hour.”

  Heidi gave his hand a quick squeeze. “If you hadn’t put yourself to sleep, I may never have realized my true feelings for you.”

  “The way to break the endless sleep spell was true love’s kiss, right?” I asked.

  “That was one option, not that I had a chance to find out,” Freddie said. “You broke the spell before I could test it out.”

  “I’d say it all worked out in the end,” Heidi said to him. “Wouldn’t you?”

  “But how can love be an element of the counteracting spell?” I asked. “It’s an intangible. It isn’t like chucking eye of newt into a cauldron.”
>
  “Thank the gods for that,” Heidi said, wrinkling her nose.

  “That’s why it’s true love’s kiss and not just true love,” Freddie said. “There needs to be an action that demonstrates the love. Trust me. I did tons of research before I put myself to sleep.”

  I knew that he had because I’d found his reference books from the library. The dwarf was as thirsty for knowledge as Laurel.

  “Thank you, Freddie. You’ve confirmed a thought I had.”

  His eyes shone. “I was helpful? To you?”

  “Absolutely,” I replied. “To the whole town, I hope.”

  He puffed out his chest and Heidi patted his back. “Let’s not make his head any bigger or we’ll have to expand the doorway,” she said.

  “I appreciate your help,” I said. “I look forward to seeing you at the wedding.”

  “We’re elated for you, Emma,” Heidi said. “Freddie and I have been rooting for the two of you from afar. We hear the gossip, even though we don’t partake in it.”

  “It’s good to know I have cheerleaders, even if I can’t see the pom-poms,” I said. “Makes me feel less alone.”

  “You’re never alone when you have others who care about you,” Heidi said. “Love is a bridge that connects us all.”

  Chapter 17

  "You’re taking another bath? You never take baths and this is two in less than a fortnight.”

  "Gareth!” I shouted. “You really need to learn how to knock, now that you can." I sunk down below the bubbles to preserve my modesty.

  "I assumed you were in here shaving your mustache or something," Gareth replied.

  I shot him an indignant look. "I do not have a mustache."

  "That's because you shave it. See how that works?"

  I blew bubbles at him from the top of the water. "Do you actually need to tell me something or did you just come in to annoy me on my wedding day?"

  My vampire ghost roommate drifted closer to the tub. "That's the fanciest bubble bath I've ever seen. You must have splurged. How unlike you.”

  "I'm using bubble bath I got at the bridal shower," I said. “I thought it was appropriate.”

  "It's my job as the best man of honor to keep you on schedule." Gareth tapped an imaginary watch. “You’re over-soaking.”

  "Well, I certainly chose the right friend for the job." I arched an eyebrow at him. "How long can I continue to soak in here before you start having heart palpitations?”

  Gareth put a hand on his hip. “First of all, I’m dead undead, so no heart palpitations. Second of all, I’m not the one getting married today. If you want to be late for your own wedding, that's entirely up to you."

  It occurred to me that Gareth would be perfectly content if I missed my own wedding. More than once he’d offered to drive the getaway car, never mind that he was a ghost.

  "Why don't you wait for me in the bedroom and I'll get out now?" I said. My bridesmaids would be here soon to help me prep. I didn't need a crowd gathered in my bathroom.

  Gareth disappeared and I took one last dip under the bubbles before forcing myself out of the tub. I wrapped my body in two towels and squeezed the excess water out of my hair before stepping into the bedroom. Gareth’s mouth dropped open when he saw me.

  "What?” I said. “Since when are you horrified by the female form? I mean, I know it's not your thing, but you usually hide it better."

  Gareth struggled to form words. "You…did you do this on purpose?"

  I frowned. "Do what on purpose? Get washed before my wedding? Yes, I figured Daniel would prefer his bride to smell more floral than fauna."

  Gareth pressed his lips together. "Emma, I hate to be the one to tell you this." He paused. "Okay, maybe I don't really hate it, maybe I rather enjoy it a bit, but you should go look in the mirror."

  A chill ran down my spine. “Crap! Do I have a massive zit on my nose?" My fingers felt up and down my nose, searching for the offensive bump. I felt nothing out of the ordinary.

  "It's not a pimple," Gareth said. "It's much, much worse."

  What could be worse than a zit on your wedding day? Slowly, I returned to the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror. I dropped the towel from my shoulders and screamed. I was too shocked to cry.

  "I don't understand," I said. "What is this?"

  Gareth was behind me, scrutinizing the label on the bottle of bubble bath. "This isn't ordinary bubble bath. It's a glitter bomb."

  I stared at myself in the mirror. "I'm sparkling like a Twilight vampire in sunlight. This is terrible."

  “Pretend you’re a fairy,” Gareth suggested.

  Every inch of my skin was covered in tiny flecks of iridescence. Even my hair sparkled with a multitude of colors. I held open the towel for a quick second. Yes, glitter everywhere.

  “And remind him of Elsa? No, thanks. What do I do? Is there a way to rinse it off?" I couldn't get married looking like this. Daniel would run for the hills.

  “Glitter bombs are designed to last," Gareth said. "It says so right here on the label."

  I groaned. "I thought it was plain bubble bath. Why would I read the label?"

  Magpie bravely stepped into the room and sniffed my ankles. His sandpaper tongue darted out and scratched my skin.

  "Hey," I objected, jerking my ankle away. "It's not tuna-flavored glitter."

  Gareth smirked. "I think you look amazing. Maybe you'll start a new trend. Glitter brides."

  Tears filled my eyes. "I don't want to start a trend. I just want to look pretty on my wedding day. Is that too much to ask?" Apparently, it was. Hadn't I overcome enough obstacles to get to this point? Did I really need to contend with a glitter bomb?

  The wind chimes sounded and I heard the front door open downstairs.

  "Your bridal team is here," Millie announced.

  I whipped back to the mirror. "I now have a house full of witches. Surely someone can help me."

  "Only one way to find out," Gareth said.

  Ten minutes later, I stood in my bedroom in pajama bottoms, a T-shirt, and bunny slippers while my friends examined my exposed skin. I tucked my wand into the waistband of my pajama bottoms. Tiffany was my ‘something blue.’

  "My cousin Amy got doused with a glitter bomb before the prom last year," Sophie said. "She ended up going home because she was too bright for the room. She kept blinding the other students and they complained."

  I smacked my forehead. I didn't want to blind guests at my own wedding.

  "I find it hard to believe there isn't a single spell that can remedy this," I said. "We can put a man on the moon, but we can't scrub off glitter? Insanity.”

  The witches exchanged glances.

  "We put a man on the moon?" Begonia asked. "What's he doing there?"

  I dropped onto the bed and whimpered. I didn't have time for a human history lesson. This was an emergency.

  "Glitter bombs are designed to stick," Laurel said. "That's one of their selling points. The user doesn't worry about it washing off straight away. They get time to enjoy it."

  "Well, I am not enjoying it," I said. "It would have been fine for the bachelorette party, but not for my wedding day. This is a disaster."

  Begonia came over and wrapped her arms around me. "Emma, my dear friend. Daniel almost marrying Elsa was a disaster. Millie nearly falling to her death from a broomstick was a disaster. Sparkly skin on your wedding day? It sucks, but it’s not a disaster."

  I sat up and sniffed. "No. You’re right, Begonia. I'm overreacting. It's my wedding day and I want everything to be perfect. That’s all.”

  "Of course you do," Sophie said. "It's only natural. Why don't I send Sedgwick with a note to coven headquarters? Maybe someone will have an idea."

  I blinked. "Do you really think so?"

  “It’s worth a try,” Laurel said.

  I nodded mutely.

  “Sedgwick, I'm going to write a letter. Will you take it to coven headquarters?” Sophie spoke slowly to Sedgwick, enunciating each syllable.


  Sedgwick fixed me with his yellow eyes. Does she think English isn’t my first language?

  I couldn't resist a smile. She has a cat, remember? She isn't used to owls.

  Sophie scrawled a quick message and tucked it into Sedgwick's claw. "I'll open the window for you, shall I?"

  Sedgwick rolled his large owl eyes. Unless you want me to suffer from a concussion, then yes.

  Be nice, Sedgwick. Sophie is only trying to help. I’m not having a great start to my special day.

  Maybe it's an omen, Sedgwick said. One that you should heed.

  I glared at him. "This is not an omen. This is me being too excited and distracted to read the label."

  Sophie opened the window and Sedgwick disappeared from view.

  "You think it's an omen?" Millie asked.

  I shook my head. "No, that's what Sedgwick said. I don't believe in omens."

  "What should we do now?" Begonia asked. "You can't get ready until we've dealt with the glitter problem."

  I looked helplessly at Gareth. "Any suggestions?"

  “Hope the sunlight hits you at the right angles?” he suggested feebly. “Best case scenario is you look like my old disco ball.”

  “Not helpful,” I moaned. “I want to look like a bride, not a disco ball.”

  “It might work,” Gareth said. “Guests can dance around you.” He stifled a laugh.

  “Don’t you dare find amusement in this,” I said, shaking a finger at him.

  “But I get so few opportunities,” Gareth said. “I’m a ghost, remember?”

  “You’re insufferable is what you are,” I said.

  “You need to relax. Go outside and get some air,” Sophie suggested. “Fresh air always makes me feel better.”

  “Good idea,” I said, struggling to breathe normally. “I’ll be right back.”

  “You’re sure you want to go outside like that?” Gareth asked.

  “I’m going to stand on my front lawn,” I said. “Who cares what I’m wearing?”

  Gareth gestured to my slippers. “It’s your reputation, not mine.”

  “These are delightfully adorable,” I said in a huff. “I need to get out of here before I banish you to the basement.”

  “That was my bedroom,” Gareth said. “Until you dismantled it.”