Back Room Bookstore Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 - 12

by Susan Harper

  “We’ve got a lot to tell you guys,” Holly said, laughing. “For starters, Weston’s a warlock, Norah’s a witch, and your lives are about to get a whole lot more interesting.”

  Monica landed abruptly on the ground. “I have a license from the Sorcerer’s Council, sort of like the government for witches and wizards, and I can only reveal our world to citizens of Bankstown.”

  Joseph looked like he was going to pass out. “I married a witch?” he asked.

  Norah put her wand away and approached him, putting her arms around his neck. “Yes, and I married an immortal being with amnesia.”

  “Huh?” He blinked.

  “It’s a lot to take in, I know,” Norah said, wiping her eyes. “But we’re going to explain everything, I promise.”

  Roczen was watching Monica, bewildered by her broomstick. Monica smiled. “Do you want to see it?” Monica asked, holding it out to him.

  He took the broom, examining it. “It looks just like a normal broom?” he asked. It suddenly jerked out of his arms, smacked him on the head, and flew off back toward Monica’s cottage.

  “It’s very sensitive,” Monica told him.

  Joseph looked at Anniston. “Did you… Did you know?”

  “Dad, I’m part-witch too,” Anniston said. “But since you’re immortal, Angel and I were Ibeji like Holly and her twin.”

  “Ib… Ib what?” Joseph stammered.

  “It’s a mystical being created under very specific circumstances,” Holly said. “Anniston and I are both Ibeji. But that might be something we need to keep under wraps, even from the mystical community. We’ll have to explain that one later, I think. It might be a little bit much for right now having to explain Anniston and Angel’s relationship.”

  “Yes, let’s not overwhelm your father,” Norah said.

  Weston was standing near Tora, his face beaming. “What do you think of all this?”

  “I’m not sure,” she said, blushing. “It’s…odd.” She smiled at him. “You always were so unusual. Why haven’t you told me this before?”

  “Another long story,” Norah said sadly. “But it comes down to some decisions we made when we were young and stupid. Weston and I couldn’t get what Monica has, what’s called a reveal license—permission from the Sorcerer’s Council to share our world with our spouses. If we told you, they’d erase your memories and take you away from us.”

  Tora looked alarmed. “Are we in trouble now?” she asked, looking at Weston like she thought a bunch of witches were going to show up and take them away from each other.

  “No, that’s the beauty of it,” Weston said. “Monica…” He smiled, looking at her like he believed her to be the greatest thing to ever grace the face of the earth. “She has a reveal license that allows her to tell five mortals who live within the city of Bankstown. That’s why we had you all sign the deed for the cottage.”

  “You found a loophole,” Tora said, looking proud.

  “I’ve wanted to tell you for so long,” Weston said. “I’m so sorry I have had to keep this from you.”

  “I’m just mad you haven’t been more prone to doing chores around the house if all it takes is a wave of your wand!” Tora said, punching him in the arm.

  He laughed. “Sorry…”

  Norah laughed as well. She smiled back at Joseph. “I love you, and I’m so thankful for your daughter’s friend that she would do this for us. Are you… Are you okay? This isn’t… This isn’t too much for you?”

  “No, I think I’m all right,” he said, rubbing his head.

  “No one is loving all over me,” Roczen grumbled. “I think I’m a little worse for wear. I just got assaulted by a broomstick.”

  Anniston laughed and came over and hugged him. “You guys are going to love this new world. Oh, I’ve always wanted to go to the land of the mystics, Mom! Can I take them now that they know?”

  Norah smiled. “Maybe not today, but one day. We need to cover some ground rules. Your father being part-immortal puts him at risk, and if we want to go to the mystic world, we need to make sure everyone is aware of what we can and cannot talk about.”

  “Mystic world?” Joseph asked.

  “There is a whole other world out there, Dad,” Holly said. “And I can’t wait for you to see it. It’s… It’s your world too.”

  “You all keep calling me an immortal. What does that even mean?” he asked.

  Monica clasped Holly on the shoulder. “Sounds like you and your family have a lot of catching up to do, but I got to get back to the shop to relieve Aunt Wilma. I’ll catch up with you all later. Enjoy your new cabin!”

  “I’ll see you later,” Holly said, smiling thankfully at Monica.

  Monica called for her broom, told it to turn into a bicycle, placed Abigail in the front basket, and rode off. She soon arrived at Backroom Books, feeling relieved to finally be back there. Aunt Wilma was inside, busying herself with some dusting.

  “Welcome home!” Aunt Wilma said. “How did things go with Holly’s family at the cottage? Did they sign the papers?”

  “They signed the papers,” Monica said. “Holly, Norah, and Weston are filling the family in and teaching them about the mystic world.”

  “That was so sweet of you to use your license on them,” Aunt Wilma said.

  “I still can’t believe Abigail came up with this idea,” Monica said. “I’m really impressed, Abs.”

  “Anything for you, my witch,” Abigail said dramatically and quite formally. “You still have two more people you can tell. I’m assuming you’re using the next one on Brian?”

  Monica’s face flushed. “Yes. It’s going to be crazy… He’s got this big date night planned. We’ve been texting about it. I think I’m going to use that as an opportunity to tell him. I hope he takes it as well as Holly’s family did.”

  “I’m sure he will,” Aunt Wilma said.

  “So, how was watching the shop while we were gone? Hope it wasn’t too much trouble,” Monica asked as she settled down behind the shop counter.

  “No, the shop was fine. But…I think you need to watch out for that Isaac fellow,” Aunt Wilma said.

  “Huh?”

  “He broke into your house. Your ghoul scared him off and told me he’s been investigating you. I believe he thought you were an alien,” Wilma said. “And don’t get me started on what happened in Chicago.”

  “Chicago?” Abigail asked, jumping onto the counter.

  “He flew all the way out there to look into you,” Wilma said. “But I set him straight. By the way, now I have a sister named Wanda, if he asks.”

  “Oh, gracious,” Monica said, slapping her forehead. “You’re going to have to fill me in so I can keep this new story straight… Seriously, Isaac…”

  15

  It was just another perfectly normal day at Backroom Books. Monica and Holly spoke with customers, chatting about the news and the weather and about the latest books that had come out. Holly, as usual, was left to attend the barista station in the back because Monica was still rather poor at making the drinks. Monica skimmed through the classical section. She had been working her way through a number of mortal classic reads. Growing up on the mystic side, she didn’t have much of a knowledge on what mortals read and had been steadily studying up on famous fiction works. She had just finished reading Don Quixote and was trying to decide her next read. Eventually, she settled on To Kill A Mockingbird.

  “What an interesting title to a book,” Monica said as she placed it on the back counter.

  “Oh, I just love that book,” Holly said.

  “But why would anyone want to kill a mockingbird? Such a sweet bird. They don’t do anything but provide lovely songs for us…”

  Holly stared blankly at her. “How is it you get the giant ongoing metaphor for the whole book without even knowing what it’s about or even opening it?”

  Monica shrugged. “Lucky guess.”

  “You ready for your big date tonight?” Holly asked her, changing th
e subject. The clock was ticking down for Officer Brian to arrive.

  “I’m nervous,” Monica said. “Tonight, I’m going to tell him everything.”

  Abigail jumped up onto the counter. “Brian is a sweetheart. I think he’s only going to find you even more interesting.”

  “I hope so,” Monica said. “I mean, the reaction that Holly’s family had was just perfect. They were so sweet with each other. I just hope I don’t scare him off. I’ve heard horror stories of people having to erase memories of loved ones when they do the big reveal because it freaks them out.”

  “That was the way it was when I was growing up,” Abigail said. “I mean, if someone you knew found out you were a witch, they were ready to watch you burn. Literally.”

  “Shut up, Abigail. Everyone knows no one was burned during the Salem trials,” Holly said.

  “No, just strangled to death or pressed by large stones,” Abigail said. “Yes, please, make light of my childhood trauma.”

  “Sorry,” Holly said. “I spoke too quickly. I know you’ve suffered a lot because of what happened in Salem.”

  “That is a large understatement,” Abigail said. “I’m a cat now because of it.”

  “Only twenty more years to go,” Monica reminded her. “That’s not so bad, now is it?”

  “Since we started the year off with over a hundred and seventy years left in my sentence, I suppose twenty more years doesn’t sound so awful,” Abigail said. “Twenty years… I can practically taste my freedom after serving about three hundred already!”

  “Do you think the Sorcerer’s Council would reduce it again?” Holly asked. “If you requested another court hearing?”

  “They might,” Abigail said. “I’m a little worried that I’m pushing my luck, but the thought of being a witch again makes me want to try.”

  “We’ll do some more research on the legalities surrounding your sentence this time around,” Monica said. “Who knows, maybe we can find something to help argue your case?”

  Abigail nodded approvingly. “Thank you, Monica.”

  “I have a question,” Holly said, and Monica turned to look at her.

  “Sure?”

  “What happens to you once Abigail goes all witch again?” Holly asked. “I mean, I don’t really understand the whole relationship between witches and their familiars. I notice a lot of wizards and witches I’ve met don’t even have them.”

  “All witches and wizards have familiars when they’re young,” Monica said. “For natural witches like my sister, the familiars just sort of show up one day because they sense their magic. For me, I was assigned my familiar.” Monica patted Abigail on the head. “Unnatural witches don’t have enough magic in them for real familiars to sense. Basically, a familiar’s job is to help ground the witch’s power. To keep them from getting out of control. To be a companion. But, unlike Abigail, most familiars are just…normal animals with a little bit of a magic mark on them. They don’t live forever. My Aunt Wilma had a familiar growing up, but it died when she was in her thirties. I know Mona’s boyfriend Deimus still has one, but his has gotten old and stays at home most days.”

  “Is your need for a familiar greater if you’re an unnatural witch?” Holly asked.

  Monica nodded. “Yeah, pretty much. The presence of your familiar is supposed to help with control. Usually, unnatural witches are assigned familiars like Abigail—ones who aren’t really animals. Abigail is serving a prison sentence. I’m kind of her charity to get a reduced sentence. She’ll live longer, obviously, than a regular housecat, which means I’ll have longer to tame and master control of my magic.”

  “So Abigail isn’t the only familiar walking around who’s actually a witch?” Holly asked.

  “I’m probably the only one walking around who was given multiple life sentences,” Abigail grunted. “Usually witches and wizards in my predicament are given something like a fifty-year sentence—enough time to help an unnatural get well into late adulthood to keep their magic under control.”

  “Have you had other witches you’ve been a familiar for, Abigail?” Holly asked.

  “Several,” she said. “Though Monica is the first completely unnatural witch. I’ve done this for witches with lower magical levels, but Monica is an unnatural. She’s got so little magic in her that her parents thought she didn’t have any at all. That’s what makes her an unnatural.”

  “I never liked that word to describe me, you know?” Monica said. “Unnatural.”

  “It does seem a little crude, doesn’t it?” Holly asked. “Thanks for explaining. I’ve been wondering about all of that for a while now.”

  The door to the shop opened, and Abigail abruptly jumped down from the counter and went full cat mode, meowing and scurrying off to a corner. Monica smirked, and she glanced up to see who was walking into the shop so close to closing time. She beamed. It was Brian. “Sorry, I know I’m early,” he said. “Got off work early and didn’t have much to do once I got myself dressed.”

  “Why don’t you go ahead and get ready?” Holly suggested to Monica. “I can handle closing down shop. And I got Abigail, too.”

  Monica smiled. “Give me five minutes,” she said, and Brian nodded excitedly. Monica slipped into the broom closet, and there was a flash of light. She stepped through the threshold to the other side of Backroom Books, where her sister Mona was ringing up a couple of vampires who had purchased books on sunbathing safety.

  Once the vampires were gone, Mona spun around, grinning. “Let me guess…”

  “Quick makeover for my date with Brian? You know it’s a big one…” Monica said.

  Mona laughed and pulled out her wand. Monica had never really mastered the makeover spells. She could usually accomplish a nice hairstyle with a bit of magic but conjuring up a full-fledged new look was beyond her abilities. “I got you,” Mona told her and waved her wand at Monica.

  Starting at her feet, her attire changed completely. She went from tennis shoes to sparkling black heels. Her shirt and jeans became a lovely, rich purple dress topped with a layer of black lace. She was wearing long, dangling silver earrings with a matching bracelet and necklace, and her hair braided itself up, hanging down on one side just perfectly. “Well?” Monica asked, doing a turn for her. “How do I look?”

  “Like a gorgeous little witch,” Mona said. “You sure about this?”

  “You’ve met him. What do you think?” Monica asked nervously.

  “I think you really lucked out with that mortal, and that’s really saying something coming from me,” Mona said. “You know I don’t like mortals all that much, but Brian is special. And he is totally in love with you.”

  Monica smiled. “Thanks, Mona.” The sisters hugged, and Monica went back through the door, reappearing behind the counter.

  Holly had been talking to Brian, evidently about a book she was holding. Brian glanced up in Monica’s direction, and his cheeks flushed. “Oh… You look…amazing…” he said, and Holly elbowed him.

  “Close your mouth, you’re drooling,” Holly teased him, and his face went even redder.

  “Oh, leave him alone, Holly,” Monica said, and she hooked arms with Brian. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  “See you then,” Holly said, and she shot Monica a thumbs-up for luck as she and Brian headed out.

  He took her to dinner, which was very nice, but she was eager to get him alone and away from people. Brian kept looking at her longingly, reaching out and holding her hand and telling her how beautiful she looked. They talked about books—one of Monica’s favorite subjects—and to her surprise, Brian had read To Kill a Mockingbird. “You’ve read it?” Monica asked.

  “Seriously. As much as you read, I’m surprised you haven’t,” he said. “I’ll be honest and say it was required reading in high school, but I really enjoyed it. You’ll have to let me know what you think when you finish it.”

  As they were wrapping up dinner, their conversation had shifted to Monica’s adventure with Holly and
discovering her father. She left out some of the magical details, of course. “What did you do while I was gone?” Monica asked.

  Brian shook his head. “Chase Isaac around. He was acting like a nut… I suppose I should tell you. He…picked the lock on your house.”

  “So I heard,” Monica said with an eyeroll. “Aunt Wilma told me.”

  “Didn’t realize Isaac told her he did that,” Brian said. “Must have felt guilty. He swears there was some sort of monster in your house. Must have gotten himself worked up.”

  Monica grinned. “I can show you what he saw. Are you curious?”

  “A little bit,” he admitted.

  After they paid the check, Brian drove Monica home. Usually, he dropped her off at the door, but she invited him in. “It’s really dark in here,” he said, and she lit an oil lantern. With the wave of her wand, the chandelier and all the candles in the house lit, providing them with a decent amount of light.

  “Whoa, how did you do that?” Brian asked, not having noticed the wand but merely the candles that were suddenly lit.

  “Magic,” she said, though she knew this wasn’t exactly a reveal. He laughed, thinking she was teasing him.

  They sat on the couch in front of the fireplace, which Monica lit with the wave of her wand. He looked at her curiously. There she was, performing magic right in front of him, and he thought it was some sort of parlor trick. Mortals were so innocent sometimes. She felt his arm go around her as they settled into the couch, and he brought his face close to hers and kissed her. He was so sweet and gentle. His free arm stroked her shoulder, and she felt herself melting into him.

  “I need to tell you something,” she said at last when their lips parted.

  “Oh?” he asked playfully, trying to kiss her again.

  She gently coaxed him back, and he smiled at her, waiting to see what she needed to say. Monica stood up. “I’ve got something to tell you, and it’s really big…like…big secret kind of thing.”

  Brian’s smile was slightly less enthusiastic, but it was still there. He must have realized she was being quite serious now. “You can trust me,” he promised her.