The Trouble With Witches

by Kristen Painter

  The whole process was slow and deliberate and done with a sense of respect that made Em feel very glad to be a part of something so ancient and solemn.

  Soft footfalls reached them, and a second later, Beckett appeared at the bottom of the stairs, packages in hand. “Your candles and your sage.”

  Em took them from him. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. I hope it goes well.”

  “Me, too.”

  He gave her a quick smile and went back upstairs, shutting the door with a firm thunk.

  Aunt Amelia waved her hand. Nothing happened that Em could see, so maybe she’d locked the door.

  Aunt Amelia pointed to the bag Beckett had brought. “Place a candle at each small circle. Speak the name of the element as you place it and light it.”

  “What should I light them with?”

  Amelia shook her head. “Ideally, your magic, but I realize that’s not possible for you yet. There is a book of matches on my desk, in the enamel box. Use those. Leave the sage on my desk as well.”

  Em did as her aunt asked, taking the box of matches out, then placing the candles and lighting them as she spoke the element names. The candles were pale gold and smelled of honey from the beeswax.

  When they had all been lighted, she stepped back to await her aunt’s next instructions.

  Aunt Amelia came around to stand in front of the south point. She looked at Em. “Step into the circle.”

  “Okay.” Em did, careful not to displace any of the salt. She was nervous now, little tremors zinging through her, but they were mostly the excited kind.

  Aunt Amelia stretched out her arms. “Emeranth Marchand Greer, do you enter this circle of your own free will?”

  “I do.”

  “And do you promise to use your magic for good? To keep to the side of light? To put right first?”

  “I do.”

  “This circle binds you even as it opens to you a new path. And while I guide the formation of that path, only you can walk it. The journey is yours alone to take. Are you ready to walk that path?”

  “I am.”

  “Then with great love and honor in the trust you’ve placed in me, I hereby call fire to initiate you and bring your power fully upon you.”

  At that, the candle flames sprang up and spread, forming a dome of fire over Em. Her pulse kicked up, her heart racing, but she held on to the belief that the fire wouldn’t hurt her. It hadn’t when she’d kissed Deacon, so why should it now?

  The memory of that kiss did nothing to slow her pulse, but she had this.

  Until fire covered the ground beneath her and filled the rest of the space inside the dome. She held her breath for a moment, a panicked reaction, but a second later, she realized that the fire felt no different than air. A little warm, maybe, but there was no burning, no pain, no intense heat.

  Just like that kiss.

  She smiled and started breathing again.

  As if sensing her acceptance, the fire disappeared.

  She stared at her aunt. “Is that it? Is it over? Am I initiated?”

  “You are. Welcome to your new life.”

  Em just stood there, a little breathless from it all. “What do I do now?”

  “You study and learn and practice. But first, we’re going to release this circle, then burn sage and clear the room so it’s ready to use again.”

  “Okay,” Em said. She thought about what her aunt had said. “Are you going to be my teacher?”

  “I can be. If you wish.”

  “I do wish. That would be great.”

  Aunt Amelia smiled. “It’s not going to be easy.”

  “That’s okay. I’m not afraid of hard work.”

  “I sense that about you. It’s a good quality.” Aunt Amelia’s gaze narrowed with sudden challenge. “You can start by extinguishing these candles.”

  Em took a step forward, fingers at the ready to pinch the flames out.

  Aunt Amelia raised her hand. “No. From where you are. Use your magic.”

  Em nodded, a little unsure, but wanting very much to show her aunt that she could do this. She focused on the candle in front of her, the one at the south point representing fire. She calmed her mind and said, “Out.”

  The flame sputtered, but remained.

  “Believe in yourself and in the power of the word,” Aunt Amelia said.

  Em repeated it with more feeling. “Out.”

  The flame vanished in a wisp of smoke.

  Em gasped. “I did it.”

  “You did,” Amelia said. She smiled. “Now do it three more times.”

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Sleeping on the concrete garage floor was never Deacon’s first choice, but when he was covered in flames, it was his only choice. A man on fire couldn’t exactly climb into bed and hope to wake up with the house still standing. The downside to keeping the house from incinerating was how sleeping on the garage floor made him feel.

  Stiff and achy. Like he was a hundred years older than he really was. Because of that, he lay there for a while, staring through the garage door windows.

  It was still dark outside, but late enough that the moon had risen, releasing him from the curse he’d taken on.

  He finally mustered the energy to push up to a seated position, thankful he was no longer covered in flames, but wishing every muscle in his body weren’t rebelling. Slowly, he reached for his toes, rolling through his vertebrae as he moved forward.

  Getting some flying time might help. He leaned back on his hands and sat for a minute longer, but that wasn’t helping. Gradually, he got to his feet.

  His joints cracked and snapped with the effort. Okay, a hot shower, then some flying time. Hopefully, Jerry wouldn’t have another episode for a while.

  Scorch marks blackened the floor where he’d been. Not much he could do about that. He toed his boots off, then picked them up and headed for the kitchen quietly so he wouldn’t wake Gracie or Bishop. He had to eat something. He hadn’t had a bite since taking on Jerry’s curse.

  Food didn’t last long in hands that were eighteen hundred degrees. He knew the temperature, because the last time he’d absorbed Jerry’s curse, Deacon had had Shep measure the flames with the infrared gun they had at the firehouse.

  That level of heat pretty much made eating impossible. Besides, any food that would survive would be too burned to taste good.

  His stomach grumbled in agreement as he opened the fridge. Lots of sandwich fixings, but he wasn’t in the mood for that. He wanted a meal and was hoping for some of the roasted chicken from last night’s dinner, but Bishop must have been here already, because the only thing left from last night’s meal was the salad Gracie had made to go with it.

  She always made salad. And she was the only one who ever ate it.

  He shook his head as he closed the fridge. Old habits died hard.

  Well, the diner was open. He could fly over there and get something. After he showered and put on clean clothes. He sniffed his shirt sleeve. It smelled like smoke. Not a bad price to pay, considering they hadn’t burned off. That seemed to be the way of the curses, though. However they affected the original owner, they also affected him.

  It could always be worse.

  In general, taking on curses wasn’t a fun experience for him, but this one had been different. This one had helped him discover that not only was Em not vulnerable to fire, she was also an exceptional kisser.

  He smiled, thinking about that. He started up the stairs to his room, his steps light. There was no telling what the day would bring, but two things he knew for certain: He was going to see her again tonight for Gracie’s party, and he was absolutely going to kiss her a second time.

  After a long, hot shower that finally got the smoke smell off him and loosened up his stiff body, he changed into clean clothes, then walked out onto the back deck, shifted into his raven form, and took flight.

  The air beneath his wings felt incredible, and when he landed in the park a few bloc
ks from the diner, he felt like himself again. Still starving, too. He returned to his human form and headed for the diner, ready to chow down.

  The overcast sky had started to lighten, signaling the sun was on its way up even if it wouldn’t be visible.

  Still early, though. Most of the houses he passed were dark. A couple lights here and there. One or two folks headed out to their jobs. An equal amount headed in from a night out. Weird hours weren’t that weird in Shadowvale.

  But the downtown wouldn’t be waking up for a while, except for a few places like the diner. The rest of the shops had a few hours yet before their doors were unlocked, though some had special evening hours for citizens who really weren’t daytime people.

  Seemed to work out well with the after-hours crowd, who appreciated being able to shop like regular folks. As a result, those stores usually had a loyal clientele.

  Wasn’t all that surprising, really. Everything in Shadowvale worked out like that. After all, the entire place catered to those who lived here in a way that no town outside these gates ever could. There was no need to live your life any differently than anyone else, no matter if you were a cursed supernatural or a cursed human being.

  Aside from the curses, the weird magical goings-on, and the lack of sunlight, this place was a freaking utopia.

  He sighed as he walked.

  If only he didn’t feel so trapped here. If only he thought Gracie had a chance for a normal life here.

  If only, if only, if only. Those words had become his life’s mantra. And they were exactly what was keeping him from being happy. Always wondering what could be.

  But now there was Em.

  And he really wanted to know what could be with her. But that meant putting Gracie’s best interests aside. At least temporarily.

  Would he and Em get to the point someday where she might want to leave with him and Gracie? Because if that was the case, he could put his plans on the back burner for a little bit.

  He went into the diner and grabbed a booth. It was worth finding out.

  * * *

  Em couldn’t believe she was holding in her hand a key to the bakery. It felt like such an important thing. And it was, really. Not just because it was a sign of Nasha’s trust in her, but because it represented the chance to earn a living. To finally take care of herself and make her own way.

  That was a huge part of her new life.

  Maybe not quite as big as the initiation she’d gone through last night, but still a major component.

  She smiled at Nasha. “I won’t let you down.”

  “I know.” Nasha planted her flour-coated hands on her hips, smudging the sides of her full-body apron. “The fact that you were willing to come in so early on such short notice speaks volumes. It just never occurred to me that we ought to test that machine. I mean, what if it doesn’t work? I’ve got a ton of beans on the way! I’m not sure I can come up with that many coffee-themed desserts if I have to use them up.”

  Em glanced back at the La Pavoni, gleaming like an enormous chrome jewel. “I’m sure it’ll work. Those machines are built to a high standard, designed to work for years without issues.”

  “Good. Then make me a cup of coffee, and let’s see what this thing can do. I hope those beans I brought from home will be all right. The order I placed is due in today, but probably not until noon or later.”

  “I’m on it, but it’ll take about fifteen to twenty minutes for me to prep the machine before I can pull the espresso.”

  “No problem.” Nasha grinned as she walked back to the prep table. “I’m here all day.”

  Em started for the machine, then paused, unable to stop thinking about something Nasha had said. “One question. How does stuff get delivered here without the town’s secrets being revealed?”

  Nasha looked up from the scone dough. “All part of the gate’s magic.”

  “So…no one really knows how that works?”

  Nasha laughed. “Nope. And none of us have tried to figure it out. At least not that we remember.”

  “Oh. Oh.” Em blinked at what that implied. “Got it.”

  Nasha returned to the scones she was making, and Em made a beeline straight for the espresso machine.

  She went through the steps of prepping the machine. Adding filtered water, plugging it in, letting it warm up, then discharging the water. She was amazed at how it all came back to her even after not working as a barista for a while.

  And what a joy it was to use a machine like this, even with the prep.

  At last, she was ready. She ground the beans, filled the basket, tamped the grounds in, then pulled the espresso.

  It smelled like heaven and looked like liquid silk. She grinned, unable to be anything but pleased with the first cup.

  She walked it over to Nasha and presented it. “Here you are.”

  Nasha took a break from loading scones onto a baking tray. She lifted the cup off its tiny saucer and sipped the coffee. For a moment, she had no reaction.

  Then her eyes lit up. “This is amazing. This came out of that machine?”

  Em nodded. “It sure did.”

  “Oh, wow. I had no idea that machine could produce something so delicious.” Nasha took another sip. “Deja Brew might be in trouble.”

  Em grimaced. “Is that going to be a problem?”

  “Hah, no.” Nasha wiggled her brows. “Nothing wrong with a little healthy competition. That’s something we don’t have much of in this town. So I’m all for it.”

  “I don’t want to talk myself out of a job, but giving the coffee away like the baked goods could actually cause some bad feelings from the owners of Deja Brew.”

  Nasha pursed her lips. “Yeah, that’s true. We’ll sell the coffee. Can you work up some reasonable prices?”

  “Sure, but do you have a register?”

  “I do, believe it or not. I charge small amounts for special orders. It’ll be easy to program in the drinks once you get them to me.”

  “Sounds good to me. I’ll work them up right away. What else would you like me to do?”

  “Nothing, really. Not until the shipment comes in. Which won’t be for a while, so you might as well go home. Really, everything can wait until tomorrow. Besides, the machine won’t be moved out to the coffee bar until then. I have a couple of guys coming in to do it.”

  “Okay, if you’re sure.”

  “I’m sure. Gracie’s party is this evening, and I know you’re going to that, so don’t worry about setting things up here. Tomorrow is fine for that. In fact, tomorrow can be your official first day if you like.”

  “Thank you. That sounds great. Are you going to the party?”

  Nasha shook her head. “It would be a little awkward. I like Gracie, but since Shep and I didn’t work out…you know. Could be weird. And not in a good way.”

  “Right.” Em wasn’t sure what good weird was, unless it was a Shadowvale thing. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, then. Well, actually, I’ll see you later today when I come back to pick up Gracie’s cake with Deacon.”

  Nasha got a little twinkle in her eye. “So that’s how it is now.”

  Em laughed. “Yeah, something like that.”

  “All right, see you then.”

  Before she left, Em turned the espresso machine off and wiped it down, even though it didn’t need it. Once outside, she stood on the sidewalk for a moment, just enjoying the day. Since Aunt Amelia had done her initiation, it felt like she was seeing colors for the first time.

  Everything was brighter and clearer and more…real. The thought sounded odd, but there was no other way to explain what she was feeling. Like she was just waking up from a long sleep. Or like her life had finally begun.

  There was a new joy in her, and it gave her a lightness she’d never experienced before. Maybe it was the initiation. Maybe it was this place.

  Maybe it was how, for once in her life, everything was coming together without the possibility of her mother uprooting her life, or doing somet
hing equally awful to ruin it all. Em’s life was absolutely, positively hers now.

  And that was amazing. So was this place.

  She couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. Her gratitude to her aunt was overflowing to the point that she wanted to do something nice for Amelia.

  Em thought about flowers, but her aunt’s garden was beyond anything a florist could top. Another loaf of pumpernickel raisin might be nice, but they weren’t finished with the first one yet.

  She glanced up and down the street, searching for ideas. Then it hit her. She’d hang out until Spellbound opened, then find the perfect witchy gift.

  After that, she’d hit the thrift shop and see if she could come up with something fun to wear to Gracie’s party. Oh! And she’d need to get a gift. Maybe a book? Gracie seemed like a reader.

  Hmm. She should text Deacon.

  Until the shops were open, however, she might as well have breakfast.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Deacon’s phone buzzed just as he was about to sip his coffee. He braced himself, hoping that it wasn’t another curse that needed taking care of. Not today of all days. Not on Gracie’s birthday.

  But when he looked at the screen, he saw a text from Em, a pleasant surprise that instantly put a smile on his face. He tapped the message to read it.

  What does Gracie like? I need some ideas for a birthday present for her!!

  His smile stayed put. He quickly texted back. Your presence is all the present she’ll want.

  Yeah, that’s nice but for real. Women like gifts. ;)

  He chuckled. She’d be happy with anything.

  You’re so helpful.

  Fine, he responded. How about a candle?

  “Yeah, that’s not boring at all.”

  He looked up to see Em sliding into the booth across from him. Her phone was still in her hand. He shook his head. “Where did you come from?”

  She grinned. “Magic?”

  His brows lifted. “You’re that good already, are you?”

  “Nah.” She tucked her phone away. “Nasha called me in to make sure the espresso machine works before we go live tomorrow. It does, and I finished up over there pretty quickly, so I figured I’d do some shopping. Of course, nothing’s open yet, so breakfast seemed like the next logical step.”