Spellbinding Starters

by Annabel Chase

  "At least people here seem to like to read," Marley said. “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”

  Delphine broke into a wide smile. “A Benjamin Franklin fan, are you? Some coven members are convinced he had access to magic. Well, I’m very excited to welcome you to the library, young lady. You’ll make a fine addition to Starry Hollow."

  Marley beamed like someone had just given her the key to the city.

  "You should really get those passports taken care of as soon as possible," Delphine said. "If you’re new in town, you're going to need ID for many purposes. Starry Hollow likes its bureaucracy almost as much as it likes its magic."

  She finished typing on the keyboard and I heard the whirring sound of a printer.

  "Let me get these laminated for you and you’ll be all set," Delphine said.

  "Can I check out a book today?" Marley asked.

  "You may as well go look now," Delphine said. "By the time your card is ready, I expect you'll have found something to borrow."

  “Do you know where I can find books about witches and their familiars?” Marley asked.

  Ah, the cat obsession was intensifying.

  “If you stand in that section over there”—Delphine pointed to the far right of the library—“and say a few keywords like ‘witch’ and ‘familiar,’ a selection of books will glide over to you.”

  Marley’s eyes sparkled. “Glide over to me?”

  Delphine nodded. “That’s right. No more reading spines with your head cocked to the side. You simply announce the type of book you’re looking for and magic should help you find what you’re looking for.”

  I didn't even have a chance to say anything before Marley skipped away and disappeared into the stacks of books.

  “I was told I could find you here.”

  I whipped around. “Florian?”

  He glanced around the library like he’d never seen it before. “It’s nice in here.”

  Delphine nervously brushed the hair out of her eyes. “Good afternoon, Florian.”

  “How did you know I was here?” I asked. “Did one of you tag me with a tracking device?” I wouldn’t put it past Aunt Hyacinth.

  “It’s called magic,” Florian said. “A simple locator spell using a piece of hair from your brush.”

  I squinted. “You were in the cottage?”

  “Mother sent Simon to fetch it.” He chuckled. “Simon gets all the sophisticated jobs.”

  “So what’s the emergency?” I asked. “Marley is checking out a few books.”

  “Mother has arranged for you to start your job this afternoon,” Florian said. “I’m tasked with giving you the details. Mother likes to keep me occupied, you see.”

  I glanced at the clock on the wall. “Now?” I shook my head, trying to process. “What job? Why has no one discussed this with me?”

  Florian clapped me on the shoulder. “Welcome to Mother’s world. The rest of us just drink in it.”

  “Okay, where am I going?”

  “Vox Populi,” he said.

  “It sounds like you’ve named a disease. What is that?”

  “A weekly newspaper. Mother owns it.”

  Ah. “I don’t really have administrative skills,” I said. “I type at my own pace and I’m terrible on the phone. I have this bad habit of hanging up on callers that annoy me.”

  “Good thing you won’t be an assistant then,” he replied. “She’s instructed the editor to offer you a place as a reporter.”

  I laughed in his face. “I’m not qualified to be a reporter.”

  “You need a job, don’t you?” Florian queried.

  “Yes, but something more…me.”

  He rested his elbow on the counter. “What’s more you?”

  “I don’t know.” I struggled to come up with a suggestion. “Do paranormals have their cars repossessed or is that a human thing?”

  His blue eyes softened. “Ember, you’re being given the chance to climb out of the hole you managed to dig for yourself and your daughter. Don’t waste it.”

  “Hole? Well, that’s just insulting.”

  Florian sniffed. “Go to the newspaper office, cousin. I’ll take Marley back to the cottage.”

  “Fine,” I huffed, and pointed a finger at him. “But you tell that Simon to keep out of my underwear drawer.”

  He made a symbol with his fingers. “Wizard’s honor.”

  The newspaper office was located right on Coastline Drive. Although my experience in newspaper offices was nonexistent, this seemed like a pretty nice one. Any place with an ocean view was luxurious as far as I was concerned. The office was what I would call Goldilocks-sized, not too big and not too small. Six desks filled the room, as well as two private offices with closed doors in the back.

  A woman fluttered over to me, her green wings glistening in the afternoon sunlight that streamed through the front windows. Her smile was nearly as bright as the sparkle of her wings.

  "You must be Ember Rose," the fairy said, pumping my hand. "My name is Tanya and I’m the office manager here. I keep everything ticking along nicely.”

  “Good to meet you, Tanya," I said. I wasn’t convinced I would ever get used to seeing people with wings on a day that wasn’t Halloween.

  She gestured to the room. "Why don't you follow me and I'll introduce you to the associate editor?” She fluttered toward the closest desk, where a young man was in the middle of a phone conversation.

  "No, completely off the record," he said. "You know me, Larry. My word is as good as a blood oath. Garland, did you say?” He typed notes into his phone at lightning speed. “She was her herbology partner? Well, that’s useful, since she died from hemlock.” He glanced up and saw me standing there. "Listen, I gotta run, but thanks for this. I’ll be in touch." He hung up the phone and smiled. “I’ve got a lead about the dead Maiden.”

  “Are you covering the murder?” I asked.

  He nodded. “It’s a big story in town. Prominent young girl with a bright future.” He scanned me. "And then there’s you. A legacy hire. I haven't seen one of you since Florian got a job here."

  “Wait. Florian works here?" I queried. Why didn’t he mention that?

  "Not anymore," the editor said. "So obviously you can see how that worked out. I imagine you'll be much the same."

  I took an instant dislike to him. "Aunt Hyacinth knows I have absolutely no experience. I'm not trying to fool anybody."

  "Good thing," he said. "Because you’d have to die trying around here. We don't suffer fools gladly in this office." He stood to shake my hand. “I’m Bentley Smith, by the way."

  "So are you my new boss?" I asked.

  He grinned. "You’re the FNG. We’re all your new bosses, even Tanya.”

  Tanya gave me a sympathetic look. "Bentley is yanking your wings," she said. “There's only one boss around here and that's Mr. Hale."

  "I thought it was Aunt Hyacinth. Isn’t she the owner?“

  Tanya cringed. "Yes, of course. Her, too."

  At that moment, the door to one of the back offices swung open and a man appeared in the doorway. He wore a crisp, cream-colored linen suit and a pale blue tie. He looked like he belonged on the cover of a men’s fashion magazine. His golden blond hair was slicked back, amplifying his chiseled jaw and piercing green eyes.

  My pulse began to race. Oh, my. Come to mama.

  "Mr. Hale, impeccable timing as always," Tanya said. "I'd like you to see me about…”

  Mr. Hale crossed the room with surprising grace for a man of his six-foot-two-inch stature.

  "Interesting," he said, inspecting me. "I don't see the family resemblance. The Rose genes are usually so…apparent.”

  I couldn't decide whether that was an insult. "I take after my mother, or so I’m told.”

  Mr. Hale’s mouth twitched. "We shall see about that."

  What did that mean? "So I understand you’re my new boss." I stuck out my hand. "I have no idea what I'm doing, but I'll do my best at what
ever it is.”

  He glanced quickly at my hand before accepting it. Was he looking for germs? Because I was pretty sure those were not visible to the naked eye. Unless he was some kind of magical creature that could see molecules and crap like that. Did a creature like that even exist?

  "I'm a vampire," he said, as though answering my unasked question. "And you should learn to shield your thoughts around us.”

  My mouth dropped open. "Wait. You're a psychic vampire? That's a thing?"

  "We cannot read minds in the way that you imagine," he replied. "But if the thinker is open enough, we are able to glean flashes of information. It certainly helps in the information-gathering business."

  No doubt. “I hate to ask, but how exactly do I go about shielding my thoughts?" Because I was having a hell of a lot of thoughts right now and I didn’t want Mr. Hale to get flashes of any of them.

  "I suspect you should speak to your aunt about that. The coven is very adept at providing such tutelage."

  A sharp dresser and fifty-cent words. Mr. Hale was not going to be my typical boss. Hilda generally came to the office in sweatpants and a tank top in the summer, and a spare deodorant in the drawer. She wasn't concerned with appearances, as long as she got results.

  "So what exactly will I be reporting on?” I asked.

  Bentley’s hyena laugh was cut short by a sharp look from Mr. Hale.

  "We thought you could start with school sports," Mr. Hale said. "Citizens always like reading about their children's achievements."

  "Does it matter that I don't know anything about sports?"

  "Really?" His brow raised a fraction. "Nothing at all? How unusual for a human."

  "My husband was a football fan," I said. "I never got into it myself. Too violent with all of that sacking and whatever else they do.”

  Mr. Hale observed me coolly. "Violent? American football?" He clucked his tongue. "Miss Rose, you and I have very different views on what constitutes violence."

  "Violence is in the eye of the beholder, I guess," I said.

  "I do believe that is beauty," he said. And you certainly have that in spades.

  I blinked. I swore he just complimented me, but I didn't see his mouth move. How was that possible? I thought he was the psychic. Now I was psychic, too? I pressed my fingers to my temples.

  "Is something wrong?" Tanya asked.

  "No, sorry. I suddenly felt lightheaded," I said.

  "I'll fetch you a glass of water," she said, in an attempt to mother me. “Do sit down, Miss Rose."

  "Call me Ember," I said.

  “Ember," Mr. Hale said. "Such an unusual name for a witch."

  I forced a smile. "I found out recently that I was called Yarrow when I was born. I'm glad that name never gained a foothold." I didn't get into the fact that my father changed my name when he left Starry Hollow. Mr. Hale didn't need all the sordid details of my past.

  "Welcome to the staff,” Mr. Hale said. “Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an appointment elsewhere."

  "It was nice to meet you…um,” I said. "What should I call you?"

  He frowned at me. "I'm not sure I catch your meaning."

  “I’m Ember,” I said. "What do I call you?"

  He inclined his head. "Mr. Hale, of course."

  He strode out the front door without a backward glance.

  Bentley burst into laughter. "Boy, you've got a lot to learn." He rubbed his hands together. "You’re going to provide endless entertainment, if nothing else.”

  Bentley was suddenly becoming the brother I never wanted. Tanya handed me a glass of water and I drank it greedily. I hadn't realized how thirsty I was until I felt the cool liquid slide down my throat.

  "Salty air will do that to you," Tanya said.

  I nodded, swallowing. "It will definitely take some getting used to, but I like it."

  "I do recommend learning some shielding techniques," Tanya said, lowering her voice. I wasn't sure why she bothered, since Mr. Hale was no longer in the building. "If he wants to extract information, it's difficult to stop him. On a normal day, though, it's best to have your defenses up. You never know when you might think something inappropriate. Goodness knows how many times I've grumbled in my head about working overtime and thanked the gods he didn’t hear me."

  Definitely good to know.

  “Did you know that I’m on the sheriff’s list of suspects?” I asked. “He interviewed me because I found the body.”

  Bentley looked interested. “You’ve suddenly become useful, Rose. Tell me everything.”

  I made myself comfortable and launched into the story.

  Chapter Eleven

  “We’re ready for you, Ember,” my aunt’s voice called.

  The two missing members of the Council of Elders had finally returned from their vacation, so the process for obtaining passport approval was fast-tracked by one of the key council members—you guessed it—Aunt Hyacinth.

  The Council of Elders didn’t meet in a town hall like I expected. Instead, they met in a cave located on a secluded beach on the edge of town, not far from Fairy Cove. My aunt had escorted me there on horseback. For a woman partial to silver platters and a driver, she rode a horse like nobody’s business.

  I entered the cave and was surprised by how light and airy it was. I ran a hand along a stone wall until I reached an even larger opening. An enormous round table sat in the middle of the room surrounded by paranormals in cloaks.

  “Come and sit next to me,” Aunt Hyacinth called, gesturing me over.

  “That’s only if she doesn’t have anything nice to say,” a man joked. Based on his tiny stature and slightly green skin, I was betting on a leprechaun.

  Aunt Hyacinth shot him a dirty look. “Control yourself, Mervin O’Malley. Save your jokes for comedy night at the Pot of Gold. This is my niece and I’ll not be disrespected in front of her.”

  Mervin sank lower in his chair, which made it difficult to see his face.

  I settled in beside my aunt and tried not to feel intimidated by the seven cloaks around the table. I noticed that each cloak was a different color—red, green, brown, black, blue, and yellow. My aunt’s cloak was silver, cinched together by a lapel pin of a red rose.

  I squirmed in my seat. This was worse than the time I got called to the principal’s office for smoking in the girls’ bathroom. I’d only been holding Caitlin Anton’s cigarette while she flushed. I swear. No, the principal didn’t believe me either.

  “So is this a normal Tuesday night for you guys?” I asked. “No poker?”

  “Poker is Thursdays,” the man in the brown cloak said. Based on the multiple hair violations, including the length of his nose hairs, my money was on werewolf.

  “Arthur Rutledge, she was making a joke,” Aunt Hyacinth said. “My niece seems to have a particular brand of humor.”

  I gave her a serious case of side-eye. ‘Particular’ did not sound like a compliment.

  “Let’s get started, shall we? Now that we’ve established your lineage and you’ve been welcomed by the coven,” Aunt Hyacinth said, “it’s time to make it official and sort out your paperwork.”

  “That involves a little Q&A session,” Mervin said. “We like to get to know our new residents. Make sure they’re a good fit for the community.”

  “Like an immigration interview?” I queried.

  “I suppose,” Aunt Hyacinth said. “We do reserve the right to reject people.” She placed a hand over mine. “But not you, dear. Not to worry. You are a Rose, after all.”

  I caught the discreet roll of Arthur’s eyes. Apparently, my aunt used this line a lot.

  I placed my hands on the table, palms down. “So what kinds of questions do you have for me? Height? Weight? Place of birth?” I laughed. “Oh, wait. Place of birth was here.”

  “Where have you been living since you left Starry Hollow?” the woman in the yellow cloak asked. “I’m Misty Brookline, by the way.” She shrugged off her cloak for a moment and her wings sparkled in the
dim light of the cave. “Fairy.”

  I nodded. “I’m from Maple Shade, New Jersey. My father raised me on his own.”

  “He never remarried?” the woman in the black cloak asked. Her pale skin was offset by thick, mahogany-colored hair. When she spoke, I detected a set of fangs.

  “This is Victorine Del Bianco,” Aunt Hyacinth said. “She’s the leader of the vampires in this town.”

  “No, Ms. Del Bianco,” I replied, feeling a lump in my throat. “He was devoted to my mother. He never got over her death.”

  “And you have a child, we understand,” Victorine said.

  “A ten-year-old daughter called Marley. She’s amazing.”

  “And your husband is deceased?” the elderly woman in the red cloak asked. With her heavily wrinkled skin and flabby arms, she appeared more of a crone than the Crone. I guess that’s why she served on the Council of Elders.

  “Amaryllis Elderflower, I already told you he was dead,” Aunt Hyacinth said sharply. “Don’t belabor the point. My niece has suffered enough in her short life.”

  “That’s okay,” I said. “I don’t mind answering. He died four years ago in an accident.”

  “What was his name, dear?” Amaryllis asked.

  “Karl,” I replied. “Karl Holmes.”

  The man in the blue cloak held up a finger to speak. “Oliver Dagwood here, former High Priest of the coven. I’d like to know where you met this Karl Holmes. Was he a paranormal?”

  “No, at least not that I know of.” To be fair, I didn’t know I was a paranormal until recently. “We met in high school, in ninth grade, but didn’t start dating until the end of tenth grade.”

  “Spell’s bells, you were just children,” Amaryllis said.

  “Yeah, we were,” I agreed. But we’d been fairly happy. Not puppies and rainbows happy, but still…who was?

  “Tell us about where you’ve been living,” Arthur said, leaning forward. “Were you really being pursued by the mob?”

  I shot a quizzical look at my aunt. Was she revealing all my secrets to the council?

  “I had a run-in with a member of a New Jersey crime family,” I said carefully.