Spells and Spooks (Witch Haven Mystery - a fun cozy witch paranormal mystery series Book 1)

by K E O'Connor

  “Fine. What’s to say we haven’t just dropped by to see an old friend?” Storm didn’t try to hide the sarcasm in her tone. She even exaggerated it.

  “You could be, but I doubt you’re here to rekindle friendships,” I said.

  “You’re not as dumb as you are evil,” Storm said. “And I heard you got your brain fried during rehab. Some reckon it was the best thing that could have happened to you.”

  “Storm! That’s enough.” Odessa tried to pinch her again, but Storm dodged out the way.

  “Some people are wrong.” I rubbed the side of my head. I’d lost count of all the spells used on me. Some had left their mark.

  “We don’t want to talk about what did and didn’t happen,” Odessa said. “And that won’t help the current situation.”

  “What’s the current situation?” I said.

  Odessa bit into her cookie and chewed. “Don’t you just love pumpkin spice and chocolate?”

  “Odessa! Why are you here?”

  She swallowed her cookie. “We’re here to plead Luna’s case.”

  “People are saying you made her go up against a ghost,” Storm said. “It almost killed her.”

  I groaned. “Then people are wrong, as usual. And that’s what happens when you listen to gossip. I thought you were better than that, Storm.”

  I glared at her, while Odessa bent and petted Nugget, before feeding him a piece of cookie. She brushed crumbs from her fingertips. “We’re all a little different since the last time we met. You’re prettier than I remember, Indigo, but you’re giving out a weird vibe. What’s going on with your magic?”

  “Nothing you need to worry about.”

  “She’s had it drained,” Storm said. “That’s what you’re picking up on.”

  “How do you know that?” The snap in my voice sounded unlike me.

  Storm tapped the side of her nose. “Because I listen to gossip. Sometimes it’s useful.”

  “Gossip is Storm’s business these days,” Odessa said.

  “How’s that work?” I said.

  “She’s got her own private investigation agency,” Odessa said. “I’m so proud of her.”

  “You poke around other people’s business and get paid for it?” I said. “Lucky you.”

  “It’s great.” Odessa grinned and patted Storm on the back. “She’s like Miss Marple on steroids.”

  Storm snorted a laugh. “Thanks, Scarecrow girl.”

  “Yes, that’s me! I’m just about to take over my parents’ pumpkin farm. Get me! A business owner. I remember Mrs. McGinty at school saying I’d amount to nothing because I liked to talk to animals more than people. She didn’t understand that animals are better conversationalists than people. You two being the exception. And they always tell the truth.”

  I’d forgotten how much Odessa liked to talk. To people and animals. “I’m happy you both have great careers.” I gestured to the door.

  “Not yet. That’s why we’re here, to tell you the truth.” Odessa picked up another cookie. “You need to help Luna get better.”

  “I’ll tell you the same thing I told her uncle. I didn’t suggest Luna confront that ghost. She came to see if I could get rid of it, but I wasn’t able to help. As you’ve both noticed, there is something funky going on with my magic.”

  Storm picked up a piece of broken cauldron I missed and turned it over. “You don’t say?”

  “Of course! That makes total sense. You’d have helped if you could,” Odessa said. “Luna is your best friend.”

  “She was. That was a long time ago.”

  “Some friendships are built on forever. They take their guidance from the rocks and the sky. Eternal and forever. Never dying.” Odessa nodded an encouragement at me.

  I glanced at the open cabinet and the ruins of the spell I’d attempted. “If I could figure out a way to get my magic functioning, I’d have taken a swing at this ghost.”

  “I’m sensing a but,” Storm said.

  “You see. Storm misses nothing,” Odessa said.

  I arched an eyebrow. “But even if I could, I don’t have much time.”

  “Which is where we come in,” Odessa said. “We’ll help you.”

  “We will?” Storm said. “You didn’t mention anything about that. I have cases ongoing. Leads to follow.”

  “Yes, we will. We’re getting the gang back together. Our magic works fine, and Indigo’s is just rusty,” Odessa said.

  “It’s way more than rusty,” I said. “It’s gone.”

  “No! Magic doesn’t die until the person does. Even then it lingers for a while. Your stepmom is still drifting through this place. Well, her energy is. Between us, we’ll figure this out. Storm can use her sources to find out what people know about the ghost. And I’ve got my animal connections, and they always want to help people.”

  “You’ve got it all worked out. You don’t need me.”

  Odessa lifted one shoulder, and a flush crossed her cheeks. “You always were amazing with the darker side of magic, and this ghost is definitely dark. He could respond to you. I didn’t have much success when I made contact.”

  “You’ve seen this ghost?”

  “No, just felt him. He gives me the serious creeps. I even started turning down Luna’s invitations to dinner because every time I visited, I got sick. Anyone who spends too long in her apartment becomes unwell. And Luna’s suffering, although I don’t think she realizes how bad she’s become.”

  “She looked tense when I saw her, but I figured that was because she was visiting me. I didn’t realize things had gotten so difficult.”

  “Why would you? You weren’t around,” Storm said. “And you didn’t bother to look us up when you came back.”

  I waved a hand around, gesturing at the mess. “I have all this to deal with. I don’t have time for girly chats.”

  “This isn’t a problem. We can help with this as well,” Odessa said. “We’ll come by after work and clear things out. I liked Magda before she went all dark. It made me sad to see this place abandoned and knowing it was once showered in love. Now you’re here, you can get the house back to how it should be.”

  I was about to tell her that wasn’t my plan, but I stopped. I’d only spent a couple of days here, but was already getting sucked in by all the good memories.

  “I told you she wouldn’t help,” Storm said. “Let’s get out of here. I have a job waiting for me.”

  “Indigo will help, won’t you?” Odessa said. “And we’ll lend a hand here if you need it. You just have to ask. I can supply all the pumpkin pie if you’re running low on food.” She glanced at the tin of empty peaches I’d left on the side.

  “I’m good.”

  “I’ll bring my cleaning kit. I’ve been meaning to try my new orange infused polish. Oh, and we could hang dried herbs on all the nails, make the place smell good. And what about the yard? You need someone to look at that. I know a guy. He’s affordable and friendly.”

  “Just say yes,” Storm said on a sigh. “You know what Odessa gets like. Behind that sweetness is a heart of steel. Resistance is futile.”

  “I appreciate the offer to help with the house, but I don’t think I can do much about the ghost.” I looked at all the magical aides in the cabinet.

  “You can. The decision’s made. We’ll help Luna, then fix up this place.” Odessa grinned. “Shall we go now and take a little peek at the ghost?”

  Storm smirked and looked away.

  Odessa ate more cookie, smiling as she waited for my answer.

  It looked like they were going nowhere fast, and neither would my mission to get this place cleared out until I got rid of them. “I’ll help Luna, so long as you both leave me alone. And I don’t want help to clear the house.”

  “Oh, you will!” Odessa clapped her hands together. “We have to make it a proper home, so you don’t ever want to leave. Now that’s all settled, shall we go evil spirit zapping?”

  Chapter 8

  “This is where
Luna lives?” I stared at the pristine whitewashed apartment block with double glass fronted doors and neat pots of flowers outside. “I didn’t know baking paid so well.”

  “It doesn’t. Her sugar daddy gave it to her,” Storm said.

  I snorted a laugh. “Yeah, right. Luna has a sugar daddy?”

  Odessa chortled and gave me a friendly whack. “No! She’s just good friends with Englebert Whistletop. She started doing his grocery shopping once a week when he was sick. They became friends, and he gave her this apartment.”

  “For free?” I said.

  “I told you he was her sugar daddy,” Storm said.

  “No! Stop teasing. Luna’s paying rent,” Odessa said.

  “A peppercorn rent. Practically nothing. She doesn’t even pay for her utilities,” Storm said.

  It sounded like Luna had landed on her feet thanks to this rich old guy.

  “They came to an arrangement that suits both of them,” Odessa said.

  “Sure. So long as Luna doesn’t mind being shown off on Englebert’s arm as his cute little witch,” Storm said.

  “Stop! It’s not like that. But even if it was, would it be so bad?” Odessa said. “Englebert is a respected figure around here.”

  “Who’s old enough and wrinkly enough to be Luna’s grandfather,” Storm said.

  “Englebert owns the boutique hotel chain Silver Sparkles, doesn’t he?” I said.

  “Yep. Magical luxury wherever you stay,” Storm said. “He’s rolling in cash. And he has no kids, so he’s splurging on his other interest. Younger women.”

  “Luna would never use a guy for money. And it can’t be love. She was never into older guys,” I said. “Doesn’t she like beefed up football player types?”

  “She does,” Storm said. “But they don’t always come with loads of money and free apartments.”

  I studied the outside of the building. “So, what’s the plan with this ghost? Go inside and tackle him head-on and tell him to get lost?”

  Storm backed away as she checked her watch. “You do that. I’ve got to go. There’s a client I need to see.”

  “I thought you were helping,” I said. “Don’t you want to come inside and see what’s messing with Luna?”

  “I’ve already met the ghost. I won’t be long. You check things out and report back.” She turned and dashed away.

  “I guess it’s just the two of us,” I said to Odessa.

  She shook her head and grimaced. “Storm’s right. You look first on your own to get an unbiased opinion. I’ve been in loads of times, so I already know what it feels like in there.”

  “You want me to go in alone? With a ghost who drained a much more powerful magic user than me?”

  Odessa nodded and smiled. “It shouldn’t bother you. And Luna’s magic has been strange recently, so her ability isn’t consistent. Some days, she has too much, and it’s oozing out of her pores, then another day, she’s kitten weak. I’ve never met a magic user with such variable vibrations in their magical energy.”

  “Could this ghost have been affecting Luna longer than anyone realized? He’s making her magic unstable.”

  “It could be this ghost. Although she’s been like it since she came into her full powers. Luna was a late bloomer and showed limited ability until she was eighteen. It was weird how her magic didn’t want to show itself.”

  “Luna had magic when I knew her. Although I missed her magic coming out party.”

  “Oh, yes! Because of the whole killing spree,” Odessa mimed stabbing the air.

  “Yeah, you got it. Are you sure you don’t want to come in with me?”

  “I’m certain. There’s an interesting bug over there I want to see. He’s new to the village and I have to make sure he’s not lost. I’ll go check him out, then grab us some coffees. I’ll wait out here until you’re ready to report your findings.” Odessa flitted away to a tree and stared intently at the bark.

  She was weirder than I remembered, although she’d always loved having conversations with bugs, birds, or anything furry.

  I shrugged. So much for Odessa and Storm’s help with this ghost. The second they got close to the building, they turned tail and practically ran off. Not that it mattered. I worked better on my own. I was simply humoring them until I could shake them loose and get back to sorting out my own house problem.

  I stepped through the large front doors that took me into the tidy communal hall for the six apartments in the block. There was a wide, well-maintained staircase leading up to where Luna’s apartment was located. There was a faint smell of lavender polish in the air. Luna’s sugar daddy was definitely looking after her.

  I shook my head. She didn’t have a sugar daddy. She was just nice to everyone, so deserved to be treated well. Although if I got the chance, I’d have a chat with Englebert, to make sure he wasn’t putting pressure on Luna to do anything she felt uncomfortable about.

  I reached the landing and walked toward door number six. My eyes narrowed as I got within a couple of feet of it. There was smoke drifting out from under the bottom of the door. Was her place on fire?

  I ran the rest of the way and tried the handle. The door opened with ease. I stood on the threshold, gazing at the mass of smoke swirling around the hallway.

  “Welcome,” a male voice hissed. “Enter at your peril.”

  I snorted a laugh. “Oh! That’s very haunted house. Have you got a spooky script to run through? Will I meet my doom next?”

  The smoke intensified and swirled toward me.

  I waved it away. “Are you the jerk who’s been bothering my friend?”

  “You have no friends.”

  “Point well made. But I had friends, and you’ve been messing with one of them. I don’t like that.”

  “Come inside and show me how unhappy you are?” The voice reverberated with laughter as if the malevolent spirit in the smoke knew how feeble I was when it came to using magic.

  But I wasn’t backing down. I was here, and it would be a waste of time to turn back. Besides, what was the worst that could happen? If I did meet my doom, there was no one around to miss me. The Magic Council could sell Magda’s house and everything in it. Nugget, Russell, and Hilda could find a new place to settle, and I’d be nothing but a bad memory to anyone who bothered to think of me.

  I stepped over the threshold and walked into the hallway. The temperature dropped about fifteen degrees, and I rubbed my hands against my arms.

  “You should have a warning notice up about the conditions in here. I’d have brought a sweater.”

  “I can make it hot if you prefer. I hear Ash witches like to burn in hell these days.”

  “I’m impressed you know who I am. Why don’t you introduce yourself?”

  “I’m your worst nightmare.”

  I chuckled. “Yep, you’re reading your terrifying lines of horror from a tired old script. You need better scares.”

  A growl filled the air.

  “Down, Fido. Let’s get this over with. Get your ghostly claws out of Luna and leave her alone. And pack your smoky bags and get out of here whilst you’re at it. You’re not welcome.”

  “Neither are you. This whole village hates you.”

  “That’s not a surprise to hear. I know what I did. Although I’m interested in learning how you recognize me.”

  “You’d be better off dead.”

  I pressed my hand over my mouth and faked a sob. “Really? I’m wounded. Listen, jerk, I got that figured out a while ago. Don’t worry, I don’t expect to live for much longer. I’m here because of a guilt trip and because I have a lot of people to say sorry to. If this is one way I can make it up to Luna, then that’s what I’m doing.”

  “You won’t live for long now you’re here.” The door behind me slammed, and a gust of cold wind that had a faint stench of decay rushed past me, blowing my hair back.

  I headed along the hallway and entered the living room. It was just as cold and menacing in here, and goosebumps prickled al
l over my skin. There was a large, black damp patch on one wall.

  “I doubt Luna thinks much of your redecorating skills. You should take that paint back and get a refund. Mildew chic will never catch on.”

  “Luna’s not here, anymore. I’m playing with her now.”

  “It’s time you left.” This had just gotten deeply creepy. I slid my hand into my jacket pocket and clutched the tiger opal I’d selected from Magda’s magic cabinet. The magic fizzled strongly against my fingertips.

  I had a plan. It wasn’t a great one, but then I’d never dealt with an evil ghost sucking the life out of a friend before, so I was willing to give anything a go.

  “Show yourself to me,” I said. “It’s not fair you get to hide in the smoke while you can see me. Anyone would think you’re afraid.”

  “Your hair would turn white if you knew who I was.”

  “If it did, I could always dye it if that color didn’t suit my skin tone.”

  A growling laugh echoed around me. “Smart mouthed witch.”

  “Not so smart, but I don’t have many figs to give about what’s dumb and what’s clever. You can do what you like with me, and—”

  The ghost punched through me, sending shards of ice cascading through my veins, erupting into a splitting headache behind my eyes, and then racing down to my toes to freeze them to the point of pain.

  I staggered back, my breath pluming out of me. “Hey! That’s just rude.”

  The ghost swirled around me in the smoke. “You’re a broken Ash witch. This will be interesting.”

  I waved my arms in the air and jogged on the spot, trying to get the feeling back into my extremities. I’d never been punched by a ghost before. It was zero fun.

  “Reveal yourself, spirit. Tell me why you’re here. There must be a reason you’ve chosen to focus on Luna. Has she done something to make you unhappy?”

  “It’s nothing personal. Not with her, anyway. Although she has too many secrets. It’s time they came out.”

  “I don’t care if she has a thousand secrets. Stay away from my friend and leave her home.” I tightened my grip on the tiger opal, and heat washed up my arm. The sensation reminded me of the flares of magic I got when learning how to control my power. It felt good to have a taste of that magic again. I’d missed it.