Serendipity: A Bayou Magic Novel

by Proby, Kristen

  “I never went back either,” I reply and feel myself settle when she reaches for my hand. “I packed my shit and enlisted. I wanted out of here. It was like a driving force, making me go. I couldn’t leave fast enough.”

  “I wasn’t a very good witch anyway. I never did the homework. I couldn’t cast a spell if my life depended on it. And right now, it kind of does.” She clears her throat. “Miss Annabelle gave me some clippings off her plants, and a bracelet that she says was her mother’s lucky charm. They’re worried about us.”

  “Yeah, I know. But don’t change the subject.”

  She laughs a little. “I’m not. There’s not much more to say.”

  “Did you miss it?”

  “Some of the people, yes. I did. But I saw most of them anyway because of Millie. I’m not lying when I say I wasn’t good at it, Jack. I always felt like an imposter, so it was easy to stop going. To just let that part of me slip away.”

  “You were never an imposter.” I glance her way and squeeze her hand. “Not everyone is super-gifted like Miss Sophia, Daph. Her knowledge comes from a literal lifetime of studying and honing her craft.”

  “I know,” she says. “But it just comes so naturally to Millie.”

  “And now we know that Millie has been honing her craft over a millennium.”

  “You have a point. But she says that we’ve all lived through the same lifetimes. So, wouldn’t that mean I should have been learning over a millennium, too?”

  “No. Because she said there were many times that you and Brielle didn’t believe or understand. It was always part of Millie’s path, not yours.”

  “So, our defeating him this time isn’t necessarily linked to the coven,” she says, thinking it over. “Yet he’s targeting coven members? That doesn’t make sense.”

  “Only with the aid of the craft will we be able to defeat him,” I reply and park in front of Millie’s house. Neither of us makes a move to leave the car. “He’s too powerful an entity at this point to even try to defeat him in any other way. In fact, there probably isn’t another way.”

  “Good point.”

  “And he knows that. So, yeah, he’s taking out our army. And that really pisses me off, Daph.”

  “I know.” She pulls my hand to her face and nuzzles her cheek against it. “I know it does. We’re going to figure all of this out, Jack. One more thing about me being part of the coven... I’ve been considering going back to it. Since all of this started happening, it’s been really nice to have a close community around us. And I find a lot of it fascinating, even if I’m not especially gifted at it.”

  “It just takes time,” I repeat. “And if you want to practice magic, who am I to say that you shouldn’t?”

  “Would you consider going back?”

  I lick my lips, thinking it over. “I think so. I don’t have anything against it. I just couldn’t stay with it back then. It was too painful because my parents loved it so much.”

  “I know. And I’m not saying you have to because I want to.”

  “No.” I lean over and kiss her gently. “You wouldn’t say that. I think it’s something to think about.”

  Someone knocks on the window, startling us both.

  “Stop making out in the driveway and come in for dinner,” Brielle says and gestures for us to come inside.

  “I guess she’s home from work,” Daphne mutters. “Although, I’m not hungry. Between beignets and Miss Annabelle cooking enough for an army, I may never eat again.”

  “Let’s go in with the others.”

  The dining room is big enough for all of us to fit around the table. Platters are passed back and forth, and there’s a lot of chatter and laughter.

  It’s as if we do this every week.

  Maybe we did in another lifetime.

  “You have a strange look on your face,” Millie says across from me. “What’s on your mind? Why aren’t you two eating?”

  “We already ate.” I shrug a shoulder. “I have questions about these past lives.”

  Everyone around the table quiets and listens.

  “You can ask anything,” Lucien says. “I remember it all.”

  “That is an incredible burden to carry,” I reply. “I was just thinking that we all fit together here as if we’ve done it many times. It’s not awkward at all. No adjustments. So, I guess I was just curious if we’ve done this before.”

  Lucien swallows his food and purses his lips. “Well, in some lifetimes, we all lived together under one roof. It was the culture of the time. So, yes, we’ve done it before.”

  “Explains a lot,” I say with a nod. “Also, is it horrible that I’m finding it hard to wrap my head around it?”

  “Not horrible at all,” Millie replies. “I’m still sorting it out, and I have memories. We’re in an unusual situation.”

  “How is Oliver?” Miss Sophia asks.

  “Oh, he looks so much better,” Daphne says. “Like a whole new man. I was so relieved when we walked into his room and found him smiling, looking refreshed, and appearing at least ten years younger.”

  “Oh, that’s so great,” Brielle says.

  “Who knew that being dehydrated could do so much damage?” Millie asks.

  “Oh, there’s Miss Annabelle now,” Daphne says when her phone pings with a text. “She sent over the photo she took of you and Oliver at their house today. It’s really a great picture. We’ll have to frame it.”

  I glance down at it, nod, and then do a double-take.

  “What’s on him?” I ask.

  “What do you mean?” Daphne says and looks closer. “It looks like shadows.”

  “There are no shadows on me.” I take the phone from her and zoom in on the image. “Jesus. Oh, God.”

  “What is it?” Miss Sophia holds her hand out for the phone, and I pass it down.

  Oliver is covered in handprints. His face, his arms. It looks like someone slapped him over and over again.

  “What is that?” Brielle asks, looking over Miss Sophia’s shoulder.

  “I know,” Ruth says quietly, her voice shaky. “I know exactly what that is. He’s drawing his energy from Oliver. He’s using him.”

  We all stare at each other in horror, and I immediately pick up the phone and call Oliver’s number. But he doesn’t pick up.

  So, I call Miss Annabelle.

  “Hello?” she says.

  “Where’s Oliver?”

  “Oh, he went back to the restroom to take a shower. Do you need him?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Please go get him. Now.”

  I can hear her walking through the house, opening a door.

  “Ollie? Jack’s on the phone for you. Oh, honey. What’s wrong?”

  “What is it?”

  “He’s on the floor. Breathing hard again. Oh, Jackson, something’s wrong.”

  “Pack your bags,” I say as I stand from the table. “You’re coming to stay here. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

  “Coming with you,” Lucien says as he and Cash both hurry behind me.

  “That son of a bitch,” I growl as I roar my engine to life. “That motherfucking asshole. I’m going to make him pay for this.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Daphne

  “How?” I demand once Oliver and Miss Annabelle are settled in their room. Miss Sophia and Mama are with them, helping to soothe exposed nerves. “How in the hell is this maniac able to get to Oliver, even with the protection spells and crystals in place?”

  “He took the crystal down,” Jack says and rubs his eyes. He’s exhausted. “He said he took it down from above the mirror to cast another spell. It was just long enough for said maniac to make a move and get his hands on him.”

  “Poor Oliver,” Brielle whispers. “He doesn’t deserve this. He hasn’t done anything.”

  “He loves me,” Jack speaks up, catching all of our attention. “Daphne and I, we’re the focus this time, right? Well, Oliver loves me, and that means Horace is fucking with him.”


  “Oliver and Annabelle are here now,” Miss Sophia says as she and Mama join us in the library. “And they’re safe. I’ve covered the mirrors in their room just in case I missed anything, but I know I haven’t. Horace can’t get to anyone here in this house.”

  “Thank you,” I say and reach out to take her hand. “Thank you so much for helping us.”

  “It’s what I’m meant to do,” she says simply. “What I was born for.”

  We blink in surprise and share glances.

  “That’s a big statement,” Cash says.

  “Isn’t it, though?” Miss Sophia just smiles softly. “I’m here for you, for all of you, to help in any way I can. First, there’s a spell I want you all to memorize. If he gets to you when you’re not here, if he gets in your head, you can cast him out.”

  She begins to recite it, and Millie smiles at Lucien.

  “That’s the one we use,” Millie says as Sanguine jumps into Millie’s lap for some attention. “And it does work.”

  “Keep it in your toolbox,” Miss Sophia instructs us. “It’s powerful. Now, I think I’d like to go get some sleep.”

  “Goodnight, my sweet loves,” Mama adds with a smile, and the two women leave the room.

  “I need wine,” I announce.

  “Me, too,” Brielle adds.

  “That makes three of us,” Millie says and sets her familiar down so she can walk to the antique bar in the corner that holds all of their alcohol and glasses. “Lucien wanted to put this in the dining room or even the sitting room, but I wanted to have it handy in here since we spend so much time in the library.”

  “Good idea,” Brielle says as Millie passes us each a glass of wine.

  “While you three relax for a while—which you totally deserve—I’d like Cash and Jack to come with me.” Lucien gestures for the guys to follow him.

  Jackson leans over to kiss my cheek before he joins the others. Doing what, I have no idea.

  Nor do I really care at this point.

  I need an hour, just one measly hour of relaxation with my sisters.

  “I’m tired,” I admit with a sigh as I sip my wine. “Not in the normal, oh, it’s been a long workday kind of tired. But the kind that settles deep in your bones when your soul is tired, you know?”

  “Yeah,” Brielle says and moves to sit next to me on the couch, taking my hand in hers. “I know. And it’s pretty shitty.”

  “What if everything we’ve done up until now is wasted?” It’s my worst nightmare, and it’s a whisper. “You both worked so hard and defeated him twice. What if I screw this up for all of us this time?”

  “Not possible,” Millie says with way more confidence than I feel. “We’re going to kick his sorry ass.”

  “Agreed.” Brielle squeezes my hand. “Have you had any more dreams about Daddy?”

  “Every night,” I confirm. “Like clockwork. Though it’s not quite as scary since it was pointed out that it might not even be Daddy. It could just be him messing with me. Because aside from murder, that seems to be his favorite thing.”

  “I’ll give you something for tonight,” Millie says. “You’ll sleep without dreams. Give your subconscious the night off.”

  “That sounds wonderful. Just don’t put it in my wine.”

  “You can drink it as a tea just before bed,” Millie says and then turns to Brielle. “I’ve been meaning to ask, do you still see the old lady shadow in our house?”

  “Oh, yeah. She’s not particularly thrilled that so many people are here. She just follows us all around like she’s making sure no one steals the silver.”

  “You still haven’t dropped your shields enough to see her?” I ask Millie.

  “Nah. I don’t need to. Brielle can see her. I’m just impressed that with as old as this house is, the old woman is our only ghost.”

  “Don’t forget about the baby who cries,” Brielle reminds her. “I hear her periodically. But I don’t think that’s an intelligent ghost—more of a residual echo is all. Aside from that, I don’t see anything.”

  “Impressive,” I agree. “And I can also say that when I touch things, the doorknobs and such, I don’t pick up on anything bad. I only see happy memories. Families enjoying the house. Babies being born. That sort of thing.”

  “Can you see us?” Millie asks softly. “From before?”

  I bite my lip because I’ve wondered how much to say about this since the first time I was here and Millie showed us the hiding place in the attic, where she found the box of treasures she’d hidden up there in her past life.

  “I see all of it,” I admit softly. “Bits and pieces of scenes in each room. Especially in your garden. I know that what’s planted there now is new because Lucien added it after he rebought the house a few years ago, but you loved the gardens before. Spent a lot of time there.”

  “I did,” Millie says with a nod.

  “And you were so frustrated with Brielle and me,” I say and smile when Brielle turns a surprised look at me.

  “Us? Why us?”

  “Because we didn’t believe,” I reply. “We didn’t understand what was going on. Therefore, Millie and Lucien failed each time—and lost another lifetime.”

  “Well, that sucks,” Brielle says. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s happening the way it’s supposed to,” Millie insists and refills our glasses.

  Without even leaving her seat. No bottle needed appartently, as my glass is magically full again.

  “I think you just like to show off your witchy skills,” Brielle says, making our sister laugh.

  I narrow my eyes on Millie as she sips her glass of merlot. “You got your hair done.”

  “Actually, I didn’t. I just have a new tool. It’s one of those blow dryers with a brush thingie. And I have to tell you, it shaves lots of minutes off my hair time. And it looks like I went to the salon for a blowout.”

  “I think my curly hair would just get tangled in it,” I say with a pout. “I like the highlights, too.”

  “Oh, I used the purple shampoo this morning,” Millie says, brushing her fingers through her long, blonde hair as Brielle looks on, sipping her wine. “It was getting brassy, and I don’t like brassy hair. I know that because my veins are blue. I’m supposed to look good in warm tones, but I like the cool tones better.”

  “What color would your veins be if they weren’t blue?” I ask with a frown.

  “Greenish. If your veins look green, you should wear cool tones,” Millie informs us as we stare at our wrists, trying to figure out if our veins are blue or green.

  “I’m sure it’s not an exact science,” I say philosophically. “So, if you like cool tones, go for it. I like it.”

  “Speaking of that,” Brielle says, “Did you know that the perfect shade of lipstick for you is the same color as your nipples?”

  We blink, stare at each other, and then all three of us lift our shirts to look down at our breasts.

  That’s how the guys find us seconds later.

  “Are we interrupting something?” Cash asks lazily.

  “Apparently,” I say, not looking up at him, “my perfect shade of lipstick is the same shade as my nipples.”

  There’s a stunned silence.

  “I think you all need to stop drinking the wine,” Jackson says at last.

  “It’s true,” Brielle says. “I read it in Cosmo.”

  “Well, then, it’s definitely true.” Lucien scoops Millie up and plops her down on his lap. “Let’s go to bed, my beloved.”

  “Will you check out my nipples for my perfect lipstick shade?”

  “It’s a burden I’m willing to carry.”

  * * *

  “It’s so slow today,” I say with a frown. It’s been a few days since we all settled into Millie and Lucien’s house, and it’s been quiet. Maybe too quiet. “I’m never this slow on a Saturday. It’s just…weird. There’s not even any traffic on the street.”

  “Maybe there’s a festival or something goi
ng on that has everyone’s interest,” Jackson suggests.

  “We’re already past Mardi Gras,” I remind him. “Ah, well, I guess we can use this time to rearrange some things. I need to dust and vacuum the rugs under the furniture. It’ll be a catch-up day.”

  I turn to find my dust wand and glance up at the wall of mirrors, then gasp in horror.

  “Oh, Goddess.”

  “Daph?”

  “Oh, hell no. Just go away.”

  I’m backing up, but suddenly, Jackson is behind me, his strong arms wrapped around me.

  “Talk to me, Daph. What do you see?”

  “My father,” I whisper. He’s in every mirror, grinning at me in that horrible way he does, with those awful teeth. But he’s different in every one. In some, he’s laughing. In others, he’s angry. “And none of them are the same. Shit, Jack.”

  “I got you,” he says. “Remember the spell Miss Sophia told us to use last night?”

  I nod, but I can’t take my eyes off those mirrors.

  “What if he comes through?” I ask. Every cell in my body is cold with fear. “What if he can get to me?”

  “He can’t,” Jackson assures me. “He can’t hurt you, Daphne. Say the spell with me.”

  “I-I-I don’t remember it.”

  “Yes, you do. I’ll start, and then you join me, okay?”

  “Okay.” I try to take a deep breath. “Okay.”

  “Lord and Lady, lend me your might.

  Guardians of the watchtowers, make this right.

  Ancestors and guides, hear my plea.

  Toxic energy there will no longer be.

  Evil and darkness be out of my life.

  Leave my space with only light.”

  We recite the spell over and over again until, finally, he’s gone from every mirror.

  I spin in Jack’s arms and cling to him, nauseous and overcome by fear.

  “That’s an image I never needed to have in my head.”