How to Snag a Shifter-The Book of Brooklyn Book One: A Young Adult Paranormal Romance Witch Series (The Book of Brooklyn Witch Series 1)

by Karin De Havin

  3

  How to Snag a Shifter

  Jennifer glares at me totally unconvinced by my lame excuse that the spark was merely static electricity.

  “That felt like an electric shock to me.”

  Brushing my hair off my shoulders, I plaster a huge grin on my face. “Just my natural magnetism.”

  She takes a bite of her apple weighing her options. I can see she’s decided to drop the subject for now. “It’s powerful.”

  If she only knew how much power I wield. I’ll save that big reveal for another day. “Don’t you know it.”

  Her shoulders relax. “Most of the guys on campus have succumbed to your powers.”

  How funny, I never noticed. The lunch bell rings and I’m thankful for the break in the conversation. I toss my half-eaten bag of carrots into my treasure chest lunchbox and flip the clasps. My curiosity about her hidden power is piqued when I see the tip of her finger holds my mark of protection—an ankh. Now there is no doubt she is of the paranormal world. My mark doesn’t work on regular people—only the supernatural. “You doing anything after school?”

  “No. Why?”

  “My mom’s out of town. I could use some company.” As soon as Jennifer leaves, I’ll text my mom if she could do me a favor and ditch the house for a while. I want Jennifer all to myself.

  Her eyebrows rise in surprise at the invitation. “Sure.”

  “Great, meet me by the flagpole after fourth period. I’ll take you to my lair.”

  Jennifer’s eyes grow huge as I open the door to my house. Her reaction is similar to my own. The bland exterior really throws people off. She scans the Bradbury and Bradbury wallpaper and stands under one of the large pieces of sari fabric that drape down from the corners of the room. She sneezes when the fragrance of sandalwood incense hit’s her nose. “Sorry, it smells good, but my nose isn’t used to such a powerful scent.”

  “No problem.” I walk over and open the side windows to get some air circulating. I want her to feel comfortable in my home, not allergic to it.

  She scans the inscriptions scrolled on the wood panels between the saris, totally oblivious to the ancient power they hold. Her mouth pops open as she continues scanning the room.

  I let out a laugh. “Now you know why I say it’s my lair. Actually, the decorating is all my mom’s creation. I call her style Pier One Imports meets Bollywood.”

  Jen laughs and looks down at her T-shirt and faded jeans. “I feel way underdressed.”

  “Easily solved.” I walk over to a carved wooden cabinet by the kitchen and pull out a turquoise embroidered caftan. “My mom keeps these handy.” I drape the caftan over Jennifer’s arm. “Relax, get comfy.”

  I glance at the Band-Aid on her finger but say nothing. By now the mark has been absorbed into her skin. That way no rival witches will be able to detect the mark.

  Jen pulls the caftan over her head, loosens the button of her jeans, and then smooths the caftan fabric down to her ankles. “Thanks, now I don’t feel so out of place.”

  I suddenly realize I am being a terrible hostess, and race into the kitchen. “My mom makes a killer spice cake with cream cheese frosting. You want a piece?”

  “Sure.” Jennifer joins me in the kitchen. “That sounds great.”

  I yank open the large double door stainless fridge. “What do you want to drink to wash it down?”

  Jennifer moves around me and scans the beverage options in the fridge. She reaches over and grabs a Coke. “Thanks so much. It’s my fav soda.”

  “No problem, I have dibs on the Mountain Dew.” As I cut each of us a big slice of spice cake, a plan pops into my mind on how to dig deeper into Jennifer’s powers. Handing her a china plate, I move back toward the living room. “How about we play a game of truth or dare?”

  Balancing the cake in her hand, Jennifer hesitates a second before following me. “I normally don’t play games on my first friend date.”

  I laugh so hard I almost drop my Mountain Dew. “Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle.”

  She gives me a coy look. “Thanks, it’s my first time.”

  Balancing my plate in one hand, and the Mountain Dew in the other, I walk over to one of the floor cushions and sit down. “No worries. I just think it’s a great way to get to know someone.”

  Hoping she won’t chicken out I decide to distract her by taking a huge forkful of cake. “Try it.”

  Jennifer sits on the pillow next to me balancing the plate on her knee. Not used to eating on the floor, she holds tight to the china plate and takes a small bite.

  Sounding a bit surprised she says, “Wow, the cake is really good.”

  “Glad you like it. My mom is proud of the recipe. It’s been handed down for generations. Well, except for the frosting. That’s a modern addition.”

  “Kudos to your family.” She takes a huge bite. “It’s yummy.”

  I take a swig of my Mountain Dew to give me the energy I need for the game. “Okay, what’s it to be, truth or dare?”

  “Truth.”

  “What color is your underwear?”

  She laughs. “It’s faded pink. They used to be white, but my dad threw his red socks in the wash when my mom wasn’t looking.”

  My turn to laugh. “Dads can be sneaky like that. Next question, how many best friends do you have?”

  Her face screws up. “Well, can I count my baby brother?”

  I smile knowing how hard it is to be friends with people that aren’t paranormal. “No. But that’s sweet.”

  “Okay, as we’re telling the truth, I really haven’t had one yet.” She nervously twirls her hair deep in thought. “I mean…not someone I could say anything to.”

  It’s worse than I thought. I’ll be sure to be the friend of her dreams. I’d be lost without my coven besties. “Really? I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. I’m just really picky. I want my BFF to be for life.”

  I smile knowing I feel the same way about friendship. “Oh, like some birds mating for life.”

  “That sounds really stupid.”

  I reach out and touch her hand. “I think it’s a great goal. Friends are everything in life.”

  Her face tells me she’s not convinced. “It’s your turn. Truth or Dare?”

  I toss my hair over my shoulder knowing my goal of snagging a shifter BFF is in reach. “I’m all about truth, shoot.”

  “What’s your favorite movie?”

  She would start with a really hard question. I give her my best pout. “Ugh, you would ask me that. I’m terrible at picking favorites.”

  “Okay, what are your top three?”

  I let out a sigh of relief knowing exactly what to pick. “I’m a huge Katniss fan, so all the Hunger Games movies. But I really love a good cry, so The Fault in Our Stars. And I’m sucker for underdog stories. So, Silver Linings Playbook.”

  She laughs. “I think that’s a top six list.”

  “Duh.” I slam my hand on my forehead. “Sorry, I always think of the Hunger Games as one movie.”

  “I hear you. Me too.”

  This is going really well. We are totally bonding. It won’t be long before she reveals her secret power. “Okay, shoot me another one. I’ll make sure my answer isn’t so lame this time.”

  “If you could switch places with someone for a day, who would it be?”

  I give her a serious look and get ready to blow her mind. “You.”

  She shifts nervously on her floor cushion. “Oh, come on. I’m sure there’s some celebrity or famous person you’d love to be.”

  I look her straight in the eye. “No. I can tell you’re special.”

  She nervously plays with the Band-Aid on her finger. It’s obvious no one has ever sensed her secret before.

  “I’m nothing”

  The grandfather clock chimes six o’clock and she shifts into freak out mode. She digs into her backpack and pulls out her phone scanning it for messages.

  She shoots off the floor cushion like a bee s
tung her on the butt. “Crap! I was supposed to be home at five. My parents are going to kill me!”

  I smile knowing my plan worked perfectly. The spell I cast on her made her totally oblivious to the passage of time. This will give me the perfect opportunity to win her trust in the future. “I doubt they would do something so drastic.”

  The second I text Mom that the coast is clear, the familiar turquoise blue mist appears next to the grandfather clock. She glides over to the sofa and sits down. “So, how did your meeting go with Jennifer? Did you uncover her secret power?”

  I join her on the sofa. “Almost…”

  Mom’s smile tells me she already knows. “Did you read her aura?”

  A standard witch trick, which of course I forgot to do. “Um…no. But we played truth or dare.”

  My mother’s laugh echoes like bird song through the living room. “I see. Would you like me to assist you?”

  Ugh. Once again, I am reminded why I’ve only earned junior witch status. Yet, mother always says it in the nicest possible way. “That would be great.”

  “Close your eyes. Focus on when Jennifer was sitting next to you.

  My eyes flutter shut and the image of Jennifer wearing the turquoise caftan floats in front of me. She sits uncomfortably on the floor cushion. Her highlighted hair catches the rays of the sun coming through the living room picture window. “I see her.”

  “Good. Now concentrate on the outline of her body. What color is her aura?”

  I focus on the outline of her head, knowing that’s where the energy is the strongest. Jennifer’s halo comes into view. It’s jagged and wavy like the northern lights. “Her aura is green on the outside fading to a pale lemony yellow on the inside.”

  “And where have you seen one similar?”

  At first nothing comes to mind, then I realize it’s because the colors are the reverse of Jerome’s. “No way, she’s a werewolf?”

  Bird song fills the room again. “No, of course not. But you are getting warm. She does indeed have something in common with Jerome.”

  I can’t believe I could be so incredibly dense in front of my mother. “She’s a shifter… but not one that turns into animals.”

  “Not yet, anyway.”

  I uncross my legs and jump off the sofa I’m so excited. “It’s my prophecy come true!”

  My mom’s smile takes over her face. “Yes! Jennifer is the shifter friend you have been waiting for.”

  I collapse on the floor, suddenly defeated. “But I could tell her powers are hidden and hardly used.”

  “True. And that is why you have come into her life. It is your destiny to teach her the ways of our supernatural world. You must also find her the right person to show her how to truly grow into her shifter abilities.”

  “Why can’t I use a spell or something?”

  My mom gets up off the sofa. “I’m famished. Can we talk about it over dinner?”

  How can she think of food at a time like this? I follow her into the kitchen and watch as she prepares a plate full of yummy leftovers. She arranged the dolma, stuffed grape leaves, artfully around the edge of a large china plate. Inside she placed four marinated chicken kebabs and two huge spoonful of tabbouleh salad and on top like a crown, she put a circle of small blocks of areesh cheese. My mouth watered.

  “Okay you win. Let’s have some dinner before we dig deeper into Jennifer’s powers.”

  My mom balances the large plate on her arm like a practiced waitress while holding two plates in the other. I bring a large pitcher full of cucumber water and two glasses. Placing it on the floor, I grab the large, silver engraved tray we use for dining and place it on top of the coffee table. I scoot two floor cushions to one side.

  My mother dishes out the food and digs right in. She is model perfect yet can pack it away just like my dad. One of the few things they had in common. I, on the other hand, have to watch what I eat. I love food too much, just like my grandmother.

  We eat in silence until our plates are clean. Then my mother wipes off her fingers with a napkin and smiles. “Much better. Now I can actually think straight.”

  Interesting. My mother uses food for energy just like Ainsley. I’m more like the average person who eats for enjoyment, not so much to keep my blood sugar level up.

  “Teaching Jennifer about the ways of the paranormal world is my destiny. What do you think I should teach her first?”

  My mom leans back propping herself with her arms. “I think you must meditate on it. The universe will guide you.”

  There she goes, getting all cosmic on me. “You know I’m terrible at that stuff.”

  She sighs. “I told you if you want to become a full fledged witch, you must tap into all energy sources. How do you think I became so powerful?”

  Ugh, I know she’s right. “Okay, I promise I’ll work on my meditation and my up link with the universe. But for now, can I just use logic?”

  “If you must.” She gets up and takes the dishes to the kitchen, her disappointment barely hidden under the surface. She returns with two slices of spice cake. “You think better with a sugar high.”

  My mother knows me well. I take two huge bites letting the cream cheese frosting mingle with the cake in my mouth. “You know you are going to have to teach me how to make this.”

  Mom smiles. “You’re right. I need to teach you how to make more than toast.”

  We both laugh. I know she’s been cutting me a lot of slack because of the divorce. “Okay, I will make you a promise. I’ll learn how to turn Jennifer into a powerful shifter and how to cook you dinner. Sound like a plan?”

  She gives me an all-encompassing hug. “Perfect. Now why don’t you go up to your room and meditate?” She taps my butt. “Do it for me.”

  One thing about my mother, she is persistent. “Fine. If I wake up Fred, you will have to deal with the consequences.”

  “Fred and I have an understanding.” She smiles and watches me as I head down the hallway and slowly open the door to my room.

  In the dim light, I sit down on the carpet and close my eyes. I try to free my mind of thoughts, but as usual I fail completely. My brain is like a squirrel on speed running through everything that has happened today like a movie. After deep breathing for a few minutes my squirrel brain slows down to the point I can concentrate. Just like when I saw Jennifer’s aura, I focus on the image of her and what steps I need to take to transform her into a true shifter and friend.

  A light bulb goes off and I carefully sit down at the desk being mindful not to wake up Fred who is dangling upside down on his perch. His wings are wrapped around his body like a blanket. I pull open the desk door and carefully pick up my brown leather-bound book. Placing it on the desk, I run my pale pink manicured nails over the gold embossed lettering on the cover: The Book of Brooklyn.

  I gently flip through the pages of my spell book until I hit the to-do list section. With my favorite black and gold flecked Mont Blanc pen, I write a heading in thick letters at the top of the page, How to Snag a Shifter—A Bestie for life. Underneath it I write:

  #1 Earn the shifters trust and friendship.

  #2 Gently coax the shifter into revealing her ability.

  #3 Find the shifter the perfect teacher to help her discover all her powers.

  #4 Ask the shifter to join the coven to earn her trust.

  #5 Once the shifter has gained all her powers, solicit her help for coven emergencies.

  I close the book and the tiny vibrations accidently wake up Fred. He stretches out his wings almost smacking me in the head. He says in his deep baritone, “What is so important to document that you must wake me from a sound sleep?”

  Ugh. Nothing worse than a ticked off familiar. “It was important.” I tap his little foot. It’s our way of doing a high five. “Fred, I did it! I snagged a shifter. Think of her powers.”

  His baritone chuckle fills the room. “No, my dear. You have a long journey ahead before that mouse of a person is anything comparable to
us.”

  4

  Wizards Have Day Jobs

  I smile when I see Derrick pull up in his tricked-out jet black Beemer. Who would think a powerful wizard of the Twelfth Order would be a Zoomer driver? Certainly not me when I first met him. I pull open the front door as he bounds up the walkway and stands at the front door. “Good to see you, Der. Glad you could fit me into your busy schedule rescuing the world.”

  Derrick chuckles and waltzes into the living room. He eyes the floor cushions then sits down on the sofa. For the first time I realize his raven black hair matches his car. He crosses his long legs exposing bright purple socks. I never noticed he was a bit of a rebel before—at least with his socks. “Okay, enough of the small talk, what’s so important you pulled me off of a major Order assignment?”

  I sit down on the other side of the sofa hoping there is enough distance between us in case he has a bad reaction to my request. “I appreciate it.”

  He waves his hand at me like a wand. “Can you please get to the point? My friend can only cover for me for an hour.”

  Great. I’ve ticked him off. I should be mad, too, with his insinuation that I’m wasting his time. But I take it in stride. When your life is full of touchy paranormal characters, you learn to let things slide.

  “Understood. Then let me get right to the point. I asked you here because I need your help. You see, my destiny is to have a shifter as a best friend. I think I’ve met the perfect candidate, but she needs work.”

  Derrick laughs. “I know a shifter who wants to be your best friend and in your pants.”

  Ugh. He would bring up Jerome. “The prophecy specifically said a female best friend.”

  He shrugs. “Just thought I’d point out the obvious. Jerome’s a werewolf, he knows a thing or two about shifters.”

  My mom has introduced me to some really cool people, but Jerome isn’t one of them. “Like I said, I think I found a girl who would be perfect, but her shifting abilities are sorely lacking. So far she’s just been morphing into toy cars for her little brother.”