A Touch of Magic

by Annabel Chase

  “Regardless of the methods used, a little healthy competition never hurt anybody,” Lucy said. “I look forward to the challenge."

  Lucy certainly had a good attitude, not that I expected anything less from the plucky fairy. “Speaking of a challenge, you're still going to play poker at my house, right?" I asked. "You’re not going to become too much of a celebrity?"

  Lucy grinned. "I need to keep my constituents happy, don't I?" She flexed her wings. “Anyway, Speech Night will go a long way toward soothing voters’ minds. I hope so, anyway.“

  "Speech Night? When is that?"

  "It's next week," she said. “Each candidate speaks, and then members of the community have the chance to ask us direct questions."

  "Like a political town meeting in the human world," I said.

  Lucy gave me a blank look. "I suppose so."

  "Are you preparing for that?"

  She set to work placing the poster boards in a row on the floor. "Yes, I spend an hour each evening working on my speech and then I’ve been practicing questions with Ricardo."

  "If you need any help, you know I'm here. I've never been involved in an election, other than as a voter, but I'm happy to help."

  Lucy smiled at me. "Thanks. I'm sure I’ll take you up on that. Anything to stop you from drawing pictures on my signs.“ She pointed her fairy wand at the posters and said, “Boopity doopity do.”

  I laughed. "You fairies have the weirdest spells." I watched in awe as the poster board filled with slogans and calls to vote for Lucy Langtree for Mayor. "Those look amazing. Love the glitter." It wouldn't be a fairy sign without glitter.

  Lucy folded her arms, satisfied. "We can hang these around town. I've already seen some of Hugo’s over by Brew-Ha-Ha. I need to get one on the clock tower first."

  “I’m pretty sure the clock tower is big enough for all of the candidates," I said.

  Lucy gave me pointed look. "Yes, but I want to be first."

  There was the competitive fairy I knew and loved. "You’re going to win this, Lucy. I just know it."

  Chapter 3

  “You can take off your shoes,” Dr. Hall said. “Don’t let me be the only one with naked feet.”

  I sat in my weekly therapy session, alcoholic drink in hand. Catherine Hall ran her practice like a bartender with a psychology degree. Admittedly it was a strange mixture, but it seemed to be working for me. It helped that I was fond of the eccentric vampire.

  "You know, I have it on good authority that Lord Gilder stops by the Blood Bank Tuesday mornings around nine o'clock," I told Dr. Hall. "When do you usually go for your supplies?"

  Dr. Hall pointed her full glass of Bitter Pill at me. "I know exactly what you’re up to, missy. Don't try to outshrink a shrink."

  I shrugged innocently. "I don't know what you mean. I'm just saying that casually bumping into him would be an easy way to reconnect with an old friend."

  Dr. Hall pursed her lips. "Nice try. Now, why don't we get back to business, since that’s why you pay me?”

  "I'm in the business of helping people," I said.

  "What a coincidence! So am I.” She tipped back her glass and sucked the liquid from it with enthusiasm. "And right now, I am trying to help you, although you’re being as stubborn as a centaur.”

  “Ouch.”

  "You mentioned during our last session you’d had a new dream. How about we talk about that?”

  I leaned back in my chair, thinking. "I don't know that there’s much to talk about. I only remember snippets of the dream. I'm not even sure if it’s a memory or wishful thinking."

  "You mentioned that your mother was in it,” Dr. Hall said. “Tell me what you remember about it.”

  I took a sip of my drink and tried to remember the dream. “I’m about three years old, I think.”

  "Isn't that how old you were when she died?"

  I nodded. "That's one reason I'm not sure if it's a memory or just a dream. We’re in the kitchen together, baking cookies."

  "What kind of cookies?"

  I squinted. "Is that important?"

  "It is to me. I'm hungry."

  I groaned. "Chocolate chip. I saw her handing me the wooden spoon to lick the batter."

  Dr. Hall rubbed her stomach. “Yum, that's the best part."

  "I know, right? So, the doorbell rings and I stay in the kitchen while she goes to answer it." I paused, remembering the details of the dream. "I don't know who’s at the door, but I hear my mother raise her voice."

  “Was she a yeller? I bet she couldn't yell like my mother. She was the champion yeller of our town before she was eaten by the Kraken.”

  I briefly wondered whether I needed to make a polite sympathetic noise about Dr. Hall’s mother before I continued. She seemed to get mentioned during my sessions as often as my own deceased mother.

  "No,” I finally said. “That’s the thing that sticks out to me about the dream. My mother never raised her voice. She was all warmth and softness. Whoever was at the door must've really upset her."

  Dr. Hall set her glass on the coffee table and leaned forward. "Then what happened? Who was at the door?“

  "That's it. It ends with a loud voice and me with cookie dough batter in my mouth."

  "Well, I suppose there are worse ways to end a dream." She studied me. “And how often have you had this dream?”

  “It started a couple of weeks ago,” I said. “I’ve had it three times now. Always the same.”

  "Have you considered doing a memory spell? We use them in therapy sometimes. They can be helpful in reparenting situations or overcoming trauma."

  “What’s reparenting?” The term was unfamiliar to me.

  “A form of therapy where I treat clients who’ve been harmed by abusive or defective parenting.”

  “And a memory spell? What's that?"

  “Basically, what it sounds like. It's a spell that allows someone to relive a memory. It's almost like time travel because you can explore the memory from beginning to end, even the parts only your subconscious remembers.”

  "So, if this is actually a memory, I’ll be able to see who my mother was talking to at the door."

  Dr. Hall nodded. “Possibly. The spell will help you access the rest of the moment in time.”

  That sounded really interesting. "Who performs the spell?" As a vampire, Dr. Hall was not a magic-user and not equipped to cast a spell of that magnitude.

  "I bring someone in," she replied. "We work together. I generally use Ginger or Meg.” Ginger and Meg were redheaded sisters in the coven. They were talented witches and I liked them both.

  “Either one would suit me," I said. “I trust them both."

  "It will be an extra fifty coins for that session," Dr. Hall said. "They don't work for free. Cheap witches." She peered at me. "I can say that now, right? Since you’re not actually one of them?"

  "No, you cannot say that. And not just because I'm a sorceress. They’re still my friends."

  Dr. Hall shrugged. "Killjoy."

  “What happens if it’s only a dream?” I asked. “Will I be able to tell from the memory spell?”

  “Yes,” Dr. Hall said. “Things will go Alice in Wonderland on you and get weird really fast. Dreams and memories are very distinct. Either way, you get to leave Spellbound for half an hour. Not many residents can say that.”

  “I’m surprised no one offers it as a service,” I said. “Allow the original residents to access memories from before they became trapped here.”

  Dr. Hall licked her lips and I saw the points of her fangs. “That’s an excellent idea. You should talk to your pretend people about it. Seems to me the coven is leaving money on the table.”

  It would be interesting to see if it was a memory rather than a dream. Even if the argument turned out to be insignificant—maybe it was a dispute with a neighbor about an overturned trashcan or something—at least it would be a chance to see my mother again. To relive a treasured moment. That was worth far more than fifty coins.
/>
  "Can I set up the memory spell for my next session?" I asked.

  "Absolutely. It will probably be best not to drink during that session, though.” She gave me a reproachful look.

  I barked a short laugh. "Fine by me. I only drink to keep you comfortable."

  Dr. Hall rolled her eyes. "That's what they all say."

  Chapter 4

  “Gareth, why are you trying to stretch with me? You do remember that you’re a ghost, don't you?" I sat on the floor of my bedroom, doing my best impression of Someone Who Can Do Yoga. Sadly, I wasn’t fooling anyone, including myself.

  He glared at me. “No need to remind me. I know perfectly well what I am. Now you're just rubbing it in.”

  "So, what do you think about this memory spell? Should I do it?" I bent forward, trying in vain to reach my toes. As hard as I tried, my fingertips were still a good three inches away from my feet.

  "Don't break anything," Gareth advised, watching me strain. “Aye, I think if you’re having this dream over and over, then your subconscious is probably trying to tell you something. You would do well to listen."

  I felt the muscles in my lower back begin to twinge, so I gave up the goal of toe touching and settled for knee touching. Much easier.

  "That's what I think, too. I'm a little nervous, though. What if it's bad? What if the memory is actually a negative one?” All I had left of my mother were my positive memories of her. I didn’t want anything to tarnish that.

  "The truth is important," Gareth said. "No matter how difficult it is to learn."

  "Are you talking about your human family?" I asked. Gareth had confided in me about his family in Scotland. They'd not been an understanding bunch.

  "You know as well as I do that living a life of delusion isn't living at all," Garth said. "If there’s something important you need to know about your mother, then you must do the memory spell and find out the truth.”

  I crossed my legs and leaned forward in an effort to stretch my hip flexors. "You're right. I can't hide from the truth. And, no matter what, it would be a chance to relive a moment with my mother. How amazing is that?"

  Gareth gave me a faint smile. "Bloody amazing."

  I moved onto my stomach and tried to raise my body in a plank position. From out of nowhere, I felt a twenty-pound weight on my back. Claws dug into my skin and I yelped in pain as I collapsed flat on the floor.

  "Magpie," Gareth scolded him. "That was not an invitation to attack."

  The cat scampered to the floor beside me. I rolled onto my side and fixed the mangy hellbeast with my hard stare. "Did you mistake me for dead and come to feast on my carcass?"

  Gareth chuckled. "I wouldn't put it past the little scoundrel.”

  “I have a new pain in my back that disputes the word ‘little,’” I said.

  Magpie hissed and raced out of the room.

  "I think he’s due for another play date,” I mused. “We should invite the familiars over soon."

  "No pawty, though." Gareth gave me a pointed look. "You promised."

  I straightened and held up my hands in acquiescence. "No pawty. Maybe just a little light entertainment."

  “Swear on your love for the Winged Wonder,” Gareth said.

  I rolled my eyes. “Gareth, you don’t swear on the living.”

  “Fine, swear on someone dead. The devil knows you have enough to choose from.”

  My expression hardened. “That’s not very nice.”

  “It wasn’t,” he agreed. “I’m a wee bit grumpy this morning.”

  "What are your plans today?" I asked.

  Gareth pretended to stretch his arms over his head, as though he actually had muscles to move. "I plan to head over to the country club and see who’s working out in the gym. If I'm lucky, maybe it will be one of the incubi brothers."

  "I met one of them at Olympus," I told him. "The night of Elsa's bachelorette party. Did I tell you that?"

  Gareth shook his head. "No, I believe you were distracted by other events at the time.”

  That was an understatement. I'd been trying to stop the wedding between Daniel and Elsa. Any other details had faded into the background.

  “Which one did you meet?" Gareth asked. “Was it Magnus?"

  "No, he said his name was Jackson.”

  Gareth sighed dreamily. "Yes, he's a wonder to behold, as well. I suppose he tried to flirt with you."

  "Not for long. I was so focused on Elsa that he could see I wasn't going to fall prey to his charms. He immediately redirected his focus."

  Gareth shrugged. “Can’t blame him. They do need to feed."

  No surprise that a vampire would empathize with the incubi’s need to feed. “Speaking of the need to feed, I told Dr. Hall that Lord Gilder goes to the Blood Bank on Tuesdays at nine. That’s good intel, right?”

  “What are you now—a vampire spy?” Gareth asked, amused.

  “More like a vampire matchmaker,” I replied.

  “It’s good intel,” he said. “Though I’d advise you to stick to your own budding relationship. You’ve only just been able to start your relationship with Daniel. Don’t get distracted by the needs of others. Tend to your own garden while the seeds are young.”

  “I won’t. Have fun at the club,” I said. "Let me know how it goes. I'm meeting Daniel for lunch to tend to my garden and then I have an appointment at the office."

  Gareth’s brow lifted. "An appointment at the office? And you know about it in advance? Is Althea on vacation?"

  I laughed. "No, but I happened to run into Astrid yesterday, who told me that I have a new client and when the meeting is, but that’s all I know.”

  "I'm looking forward to the committee meeting next week," Gareth said. "You’re still hosting it here, right?"

  I nodded. "Rochester will be here, and a bunch of other VIPs.” It was a long overdue meeting to discuss revising the sentencing guidelines for convicted criminals in the town. Now that Mayor Knightsbridge had been removed from her post, the town council had agreed to move ahead with the committee.

  "And you’ll have Kassandra come to interpret for me?" Gareth queried.

  I held up two fingers. "Scout’s honor."

  "You weren’t a scout, but I'll take your word for it anyway."

  “Are you sure?” I asked. “Maybe I need to swear on a dead loved one’s grave. The devil knows I have plenty of options.”

  His face soured. “I said I was sorry.”

  “You didn’t, actually, but I forgive you anyway.”

  Daniel and I were enjoying a leisurely lunch in Toadstools when the door opened and Hugo clopped his way inside, followed by his campaign manager and a few volunteers.

  “So much for my appetite,” I said, wiping my mouth with my napkin.

  “Why is he stumping in here?” Daniel queried. “I would think campaigning in restaurants would be considered bad form.”

  “Hugo is all about bad form,” I said.

  The centaur spotted us and stalked over to our table. “Love in bloom. How nice for you both.” He inclined his head toward Daniel. “No sign of a shiny new halo yet. I suppose you’ve still got a lot of work to do.”

  “Decades, no doubt,” Daniel replied coolly. He wasn’t shy about his need for redemption.

  “In that case, maybe you should consider keeping different company,” Hugo said. “This one is sure to lure you into trouble.”

  Daniel reached for my hand. “The only kind of trouble Emma is going to lure me into is the good kind.” He gave Hugo a pointed look. “The kind that is none of your business.”

  “Jumping from a near-wedding to an intimate relationship out of wedlock.” Hugo clucked his tongue. “Your moral compass is showing signs of wear and tear, Starr.”

  “The near-wedding wasn’t even his choice and you know it,” I objected. “And what we do in the privacy of our own homes is personal information.” The truth was that Daniel and I hadn’t yet consummated our relationship. We’d discussed it, of course, and com
e close a few times, but he was still raw from Elsa’s betrayal and I was…well, still a virgin. Not that Hugo needed to know that level of detail.

  “It’s residents like you that make me want to be mayor,” Hugo said. “It’s time for Spellbound to get back to its roots as an upstanding community.”

  “You mean the upstanding community that pissed off an enchantress so much that she cursed the whole town?” I queried as politely as I could manage.

  Hugo narrowed his eyes at me. “I’ve wasted enough time here. I’m moving on to greet real voters now.”

  “Have at it,” I called after him. “I’m sure everyone will enjoy their meals seasoned with a little centaur spittle.”

  “You really don’t like him, do you?” Daniel asked, suppressing a smile.

  “Neither do you,” I replied.

  “Yes, but I’m expected to have difficult relationships. It fits with my reputation. You, on the other hand, are Little Mary Sunshine.”

  I straightened in my chair. “I most certainly am not Little Mary Sunshine.”

  Daniel laughed. “You act like it’s an insult.”

  “It’s not that…” I trailed off. “It makes me sound too stupid to dislike people.”

  Daniel burst into laughter. “I can’t speak for the human world, but I don’t think anyone here thinks of you as stupid.”

  My cheeks burned crimson. “I didn’t mean to make a big deal about it. It’s just that my grandmother used to say things like that. She acted like it was a negative quality.”

  “She probably didn’t want you to be surprised when life turned out to be imperfect,” he said.

  I studied him for a moment. “I lost my parents at a young age, Daniel. I’m pretty sure I already knew life was imperfect.”

  He gave me a rueful smile. “Of course you did. How thoughtless of me. I’m sorry.”

  I squeezed his hand. “Don’t be silly. I know you didn’t mean anything by it.”

  I told him about the memory spell Dr. Hall was going to administer.

  “Are you sure you’re up for that?” he asked.