Gray Magic

by Jennifer Snyder

  Chapter 6

  I glanced at my cell to check the time. It was after five. Benji had sent a text thirty minutes ago, telling me he was on his way. Where was he? I was ready to get out of the house. I’d spent the day lying around, watching movies on my laptop and eating junk food. It had been nice, but it would have been better if my head hadn’t been pounding the entire time.

  Thoughts of gray magic and how it might be able to help me popped in my head, but I pushed them away quickly because I was in Aunt Rowena’s presence. While I knew she wasn’t a mind reader, I still wasn’t taking any chances.

  Memories from how she’d reacted at the mention of the unfamiliar magic last night shifted through my mind. My teeth sank into my bottom lip. There were so many things I wanted to ask her now. Mainly, why she was so afraid of it.

  “How do you draw in so many guests,” Ellen, the sixty-something hippy woman staying in the amber room, asked Aunt Rowena. We were in the kitchen, congregating around the island. “Being such a small town and all, it seems as though it would be an impossible feat.”

  My gaze shifted to Aunt Rowena, curious what her response would be. The beginning of a smirk twisted the corner of her lips before she took a sip from her tea.

  “Mirror Lake is a small town, yes,” she said, her eyes glued to Ellen. “But, sometimes people enjoy quaintness. It’s what they come here for. A quiet place to relax. I think people are drawn to Caraway Inn because of the sense of charm it holds.”

  While that might be true, I also knew she was omitting things such as the crystals and actual charms placed throughout the inn to aid in prosperity and bringing in new guests. She also cast a spell once a month as maintenance to rid the inn of any built-up energy—negative or otherwise—to create a more welcoming and inviting atmosphere.

  Rose entered the kitchen. She stepped to the island and reached around me for another cookie from the jar in front of me. The napkin she’d been using fell to the floor. I bent to retrieve it for her but paused when a sharp pain stabbed through my head.

  No. No. No.

  Fear pumped through me. I knew this pain. It wasn’t like the headache I’d been suffering from all day; it was more like what had happened just before the vision of the man. I handed Rose her napkin and reached into the front pocket of my jeans for the amethyst crystal I’d borrowed from Aunt Rowena’s stash in the attic earlier. I’d been using it today to help maintain the horrible headache as it seemed to have grown in intensity since yesterday.

  My fingertips smoothed over the uneven surface of the crystal. It wasn’t any bigger than a nickel, but it still held enough power to keep the vision at bay. At least for a while. I knew it wouldn’t be a permanent fix, but it was something.

  Amethysts were known for easing headaches and migraines. They were also good for warding away spiritual and emotional pain. I wasn’t sure it would keep the spirit on the other side in check all night, but I hoped.

  I continued to rub its smooth surface as I willed the vision away. The pain dissipated, and I licked my lips while exhaling a slow breath.

  Thank God.

  “Ridley?” Aunt Rowena’s concerned voice startled me. I glanced at her, and noticed her brows were furrowed with worry. “Are you okay?”

  “Oh. Yeah. I’m fine.”

  The familiar sound of Benji’s truck pulling up in front of the inn made its way to my ears and the tension in my muscles eased.

  “There’s Benji,” I said. I slipped off the stool I’d been sitting on and headed to the front door. “I’ll be back later.”

  “Have fun. Be careful,” Aunt Rowena called after me.

  While I was eager to see Benji, I was also ready to put distance between myself and Aunt Rowena. Since our conversation last night she seemed uneasy. She also seemed as though she were watching me more closely than usual. Was she searching for signs I had used gray magic?

  Were there signs?

  Surely, they wouldn’t be anything obvious like if I’d been using drugs.

  I grabbed my coat from the hook near the door and pulled it on. Once I had my purse, I swung the front door of the inn open and stepped out onto the porch. Icy air licked at my skin, forcing away the warmth I’d carried outside with me. I wrapped my arms around my middle and made my way to Benji as he climbed out of his beat-up red pickup truck. It was already dark out, thanks to it being the dead of winter, but I could still make out his face in the porch lighting as he walked my way. He flashed me a sexy smirk.

  “Hey, what are you runnin’ out here for?” Benji asked as he tucked in the dark gray long-sleeved shirt he wore. There was a slight chuckle in his tone. “I was gonna head inside and say hey to everyone before we left.”

  “Oh. Okay.” I grabbed hold of his hand and led him inside.

  “Hey, Benji,” Rose greeted him with a wide smile as she slipped past us to head upstairs. She held a stack of chocolate chip cookies in her hands, as though she hadn’t already eaten enough of them tonight.

  “Hey yourself,” he called after her. “How’s that rabbit of yours doin’?”

  “Stickers is good.” Rose paused on the steps. “Oh, tell Julian I said thanks again for the medicine for him.”

  “Good. I’m glad to hear his eyes are better.” Benji smiled.

  I’d completely forgotten Rose’s pet rabbit had caught a funk in his eyes last week. Benji had asked Julian, who happened to be a vet at the local clinic, what she could use to help. He’d given Benji a thing of eye drops for him. Now, Stickers was doing much better.

  “I switched his bedding out like you suggested too.”

  “What did you go with?” Benji asked. “The recycled newspaper?”

  “Yeah. It’s a lot softer than the wood chips I was using. He seems to like it better.”

  “Hopefully it helps his eyes stay clear from here on out. Julian said it might.”

  “I hope so too.” Rose took a bite from one of her cookies. “Have fun tonight.”

  “I’m sure we will,” Benji said.

  He squeezed my hand in his and I steered us toward the kitchen.

  “Benji. It’s nice to see you again,” Aunt Rowena said. A smile formed on her face like always. I’d never had to question whether she approved of Benji, because she’d made it clear from the beginning she did. Even after his transition, she still cared for him.

  “Nice to see you again too,” Benji insisted with a nod of his head.

  Ellen stepped forward and ran her hand along Benji’s arm. “What a handsome young man,” she said. Her gaze drifted to me. “You’ve done well for yourself, sugar.”

  “Thanks,” I muttered, unable to believe the way she’d put her hands on him.

  Old ladies never seemed to give a crap about embarrassing themselves or how they looked coming on to younger men.

  Benji tugged at the collar of his shirt, and I noticed in closer detail what he was wearing. Besides the gray long-sleeved shirt, he wore a faded pair of blue jeans and his best boots. He wasn’t wearing a jacket, but he didn’t seem the slightest bit cold.

  I wondered Ellen would notice his lack of winter attire, but she didn’t seem to.

  “Well, I should probably head upstairs and do my afternoon meditation practice now. I’ll be down again later,” Ellen said. She released her grip on Benji’s bicep and moved to the sink to rinse out her tea mug. When she finished, she smiled at us all as she left the kitchen.

  “We should get going. I’ll be back later.” I pulled Benji with me toward the front door.

  “Have a good rest of your night,” Benji said, being the true southern gentleman he was. “I won’t have her out too late.”

  “Thank you,” Aunt Rowena called after us, even though I knew curfews had never mattered much to her.

  “Wow, that Ellen lady was a real piece of work,” Benji said as we walked to his truck.

  “I know. I can’t believe she squeezed your arm like that.”

  “Surprised me too,” he chuckled.

  Inside
Benji’s truck was ice cold. I fastened my seat belt and shoved my hands beneath my thighs to warm them. My teeth clicked together while I waited for Benji to get in and turn on the heat.

  “All right, where are we going for dinner? I figured I’d let you pick,” he said. He slipped behind the wheel of his truck and cranked the engine to life. “Any place you’ve been cravin’?”

  I must have looked as cold as I felt, because in the next instant, he reached out to switch on the heat full blast. It was cold at first, but if there was one thing I loved about his old truck, it was how quickly it heated up. Soon it would feel like an oven in here.

  “Do you even have to ask? You know how much I like Zoey’s,” I said, trying hard not to let my teeth chatter while I talked. “Their Greek salad with the potatoes in it is amazing. Plus, they’re fast. I can’t wait to head to Brewed Awakening.”

  Benji shifted into reverse as his lips hooked into a half grin.

  “I’m sure.” He cast a quick glance at me as he turned out of the tiny parking lot for the inn. “How are things goin’ with that? Any better?”

  “Nope.” I wasn’t going to lie to him.

  “Has your aunt noticed?”

  I ran my fingers through my curls and shifted in my seat. “Not really. She asked about it once, but I blamed it on studying too much.”

  “Have you thought about mentionin’ gray magic to her anymore?”

  “I did. Last night.”

  He glanced at me for a split-second, taking his eyes off the road. “What did she say?”

  “She said she wanted me to stay away from it.”

  I hated telling him because it worried me he’d agree with her. Then I’d be on this path to learn unfamiliar magic on my own.

  “And, you’re not goin’ to listen?” His grip tightened on the steering wheel.

  “No. It’s the only way I can control my anchor abilities. I’ll be cautious, but I’m not going to shove it to the side and forget about it. I can’t.”

  Benji exhaled a slow breath. “Okay, well. Hopefully, we can find a book on it for you.”

  My lips quirked into a grin. I loved he’d said we. He was in this with me and I was glad.

  “I’m counting on it,” I said, because I was.

  Benji glanced at me when he paused at a traffic light.

  “I know,” he whispered.

  A smile curled at the corner of his mouth. He grabbed my hand and pulled it to his lips, but didn’t speak. He didn’t need to. I knew what he was saying without saying anything at all. Warmth filled my stomach as tiny butterflies broke into flight. We drove for a while in silence with our fingers intertwined and resting on his thigh.

  As we neared the city, thoughts of gray magic shifted through my mind. Would I be able to wield it? What if it was too difficult? What if I screwed up and something bad happened? What if it destroyed me like Aunt Rowena said it did to some?

  “What are you thinkin’ about so hard over there?” Benji asked.

  “Gray magic,” I admitted.

  “Figured. Is there a specific book you’re on the hunt for? You never said.”

  “No, but I think I’ll know it when I see it.” A sense of certainty twisted deep in my gut as I said the words.

  “I have no doubt.”

  Benji stopped at another traffic light, and I became hyperaware the only noises in the cab were of the heat rushing through the vents and the radio turned down low. The dull ache that seemed to be a normal occurrence in my daily life now intensified. Whoever was on the other side was becoming restless again. I reached in my pocket for the amethyst crystal and clasped it tight in a fist. The pain slowly subsided.

  “You okay?” Benji asked. “Your breath hitched like you’re in pain.”

  I flashed him the crystal, knowing even though it was dark he’d be able to see it. His eyesight was much better than mine, thanks to his vampire abilities.

  “I’m okay. Now. My headache was getting worse. This stopped it.”

  “What’s that?” he asked.

  “An amethyst I borrowed from Aunt Rowena. It’s supposed to help with headaches, migraines, and certain types of pain.”

  “Does it?”

  I nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Cool. I’m glad you were able to find somethin’ to help.” He chewed the inside of his cheek and then cast a quick glance at me. “Will you promise me somethin’?”

  “What?”

  “That you’ll be careful with all this gray magic stuff.” His worry was nearly palpable. “Especially since your aunt wants you to stay away from it.”

  “Yeah, I promise.”

  Just because I promised didn’t mean nothing bad would happen though.

  Benji turned into the parking lot of Zoey’s and cruised around, searching for an empty spot. When he found one, he cut the engine of his truck.

  “Let’s get you somethin’ to eat, then we can head to that shop,” he said.

  “Aren’t you eating with me?”

  I slipped out of the truck, instantly hating how cold it was outside.

  He scratched his neck. “I’ll order somethin’ small, but I already ate.”

  Which was probably a good thing, considering we would be around humans. Lots of humans. I met him at the front of his truck and grabbed his hand, locking our fingers together. He gave it a gentle squeeze, and then we started for the entrance of the restaurant.

  After we grabbed something quick to eat, we made our way to Brewed Awakening. It was less than a mile from Zoey’s, but still took us almost twenty minutes to get there thanks to traffic.

  “I couldn’t handle dealin’ with this daily,” Benji growled. He cut a right at the traffic light and the sign for Brewed Awakening came into view. “People are nuts.”

  “You’d probably get used to it,” I said.

  “Doubtful.”

  Benji slid into a parking space in front of the shop and my insides tingled. Once he’d shifted into park I popped open the passenger door and climbed out of his truck. I was ready to browse their gray magic section.

  Chilly air bit at my face as I stepped to the sidewalk.

  “So, this is the place, huh?” Benji asked. “I like that it’s a coffee shop too. I could use somethin’ warm, minty, and sweet.”

  “Yeah, this is it,” I said.

  We made our way to the entrance of the shop, and I took the place in. It was cute. White Christmas lights were tacked up outside, and the windows had all been sprayed to look frosted.

  When we reached the door, Benji held it open for me. I stepped inside and noticed a sweet, sugary scent with a hint of spice that lingered in the air. It tempted my taste buds. Warmth wrapped around me like a fuzzy blanket and strands of music floated through the air.

  This place was heaven.

  My gaze drifted to the section where the books were. That was where I wanted to be.

  “Are you headin’ to the books, or did you want to get somethin’ to drink first?” Benji asked.

  “Um, I’ll have whatever you’re having.” I flashed him a smile and adjusted my glasses. “I think I’m going to head over and see what I can find.”

  A knowing smirk twisted his lips. “Okay. One peppermint hot cocoa comin’ up.”

  He started for the barista, and I headed to the nearest shelf of books.

  As I walked, I noticed small signs hung above each aisle listing the genre. I made my way to the spiritual section because it was closest. There were books on religion, meditation, and a few on self-help. When I saw a sign for Wicca, I headed toward it. There, I found books on natural magic, living a kitchen witch life, and everything on herbs you could imagine, but nothing on gray magic. A twinge of pain slithered through my head. I crammed my hand into my front pocket for the amethyst crystal still there. As soon as I touched its cool surface, the pain faded. I kept the crystal clasp in my fist as I shifted my focus back to the books around me. There were plenty of books on Wicca, witchcraft, and the occult in general, but nothing like
what I was looking for.

  Where were the books on gray magic I’d seen online?

  “Not findin’ what you’re lookin’ for?” Benji asked as he cut down the aisle I was in. He held out a hot chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate shavings on top.

  “No.” I put the amethyst in my pocket again and took the cocoa from him. “I know I saw some online, but I can’t find them.”

  Benji glanced around. “Is this the right section?”

  “Yeah. I mean, I think so. I can’t imagine they’d be mixed in with the books on Buddhism or tarot cards.”

  “Maybe there’s a backroom somewhere.”

  I hadn’t thought of that, but it was possible. Wasn’t it? Octavia had said gray magic was neither good nor bad, but did that mean it was something that should be hidden or kept secret?

  If the owners felt the way Aunt Rowena did it might be.

  I stepped out of the aisle we were in and glanced to the back of the store. A woman walking toward us captured my attention instead. There was a friendly smile on her face as she made her way to me.

  “Hi. Can I help you find something? You look as though you’re here for something specific.” Her voice was soft and warm when she spoke.

  “Hey, actually I’m looking for some books I found on your website, but I don’t see them,” I said, taking in her appearance.

  She had long brown hair that had been twisted into a beautiful braid and violet eyes. Dressed in a purple flowing skirt that swept the floor and a white long-sleeve shirt, she looked like the stereotypical hippy. Multiple pieces of jewelry decorated her neck, arms, and fingers, adding to the vibe.

  Something tugged at me as I continued to stare at her. This woman was a witch. I could sense. An earthy vibe emanated from her that reminded me of Raven.

  “Sometimes that happens. We sell things and forget to update the website. There’s a good chance I might have another copy of whatever title you’re looking for in the back, though. What was the name of it?”

  “It’s not just one book. I’m actually looking for an entire section.” I tucked a few curls behind my ear and shifted on my feet as unease prickled through me. If the books weren’t out here with the others, that had to be a bad sign, right? “Um, they’re on gray magic.”