Enchanted
Page 7
I wonder if he knows what the envelope contains, but don’t ask him.
Once we’re all back in the office, Tate closes the door and makes sure the painting is straight. “Shall we see if they’re naughty or nice?”
* * *
Andrew and Sam flank me as we wait for Tate to answer the door. I can feel the tension rolling off of Andrew’s shoulders on one side, while Sam vibrates with nerves and disbelief.
“Who is it?” Tate asks with a wink. “I hope you’re not here for tricks or treats because Halloween was almost two months ago.”
“How can he be joking?” Sam asks through gritted teeth.
“He’s lightening the mood,” Andrew explains.
“I’m not sure it’s working,” I say, squeezing his hand tighter.
“That’s because he’s not directing it at us.” Andrew tilts his head toward the door.
“It’s your friendly community coven,” a familiar voice replies from the other side of the door.
“We have brownies,” another familiar voice chimes in. “Double-chocolate.”
It’s Sarah and Martha, from the Black Book, our favorite coffee house. The Black Book. It has to be a coincidence that the book I found is also black.
Cold air twines through my hair and over my skin when the door finally opens.
Sarah pours a straight line across the threshold with a box of salt. When she catches me staring, she says, “Extra precaution to keep out the bad energy and any uninvited guests.”
Her voice lowers, sounding more somber as Sarah casts a spell. “Salt of the earth and salt of the sea, protect all those who are granted entry.”
One by one the familiar members of Salem’s coven ask Tate for permission to enter. He repeats his welcome to each person before they cross the line of salt.
“Andrew, do you mind lighting a fire or two to warm up the old manse?” Tate asks while herding everyone into the library.
Andrew nods and steps close to the fireplace.
I recognize Mr. Bishop by his cane as he escorts Mrs. Howe to a seat close to the fireplace. They’re followed by the Wardwells and the Good sisters. The Parker sisters fuss over Sam, who they recognize from Mabon in September. No sign of Dr. Philips, but he’s probably at The Nutcracker tonight.
Martha sets a large tray of brownies on the console table below the large library window.
“Eat, you must be starved.” She pats my cheek.
I can’t remember eating anything but donut holes earlier. How is this even the same day? Is it possible the bonfire where Andrew broke the curse was only a week ago? I’m losing all sense of time.
Sarah takes a brownie and bites into it. “Martha, your baking is pure magic.”
The group laughs at the joke. Even Sam seems to relax now that the coven has arrived. She knows these people, having danced in the harvest moonlight with them. Or whatever it is the Wiccan do in the woods.
“Did you find the book?” Sarah cuts through the polite chatter.
I seek out Andrew for confirmation we should share this information with the others. He nods.
“We did. It’s safe,” I speak quietly.
“What’s safe?” the elder Parker sister asks, peering at me through her red-colored readers instead of over them, making her eyes appear extra large.
“Our history,” Sarah responds.
“Good, because I was beginning to doubt your prophecy about the Bradbury girl.” Mr. Bishop sneaks two brownies into a napkin and shoves them inside his tweed jacket.
“Corey-Bradbury,” I correct him.
The voices in the room all go quiet at once.
“That changes everything, doesn’t it?” Mrs. Howe asks the group. “We’ve all noticed the change, whether we want to admit it or not.” She frowns at Mr. Bishop. “Sarah’s been talking about this prophecy for a decade now. If our magic is fading, the time has come.”
“For what?” I ask.
“The changing of the guard. We’ve maintained peaceful relations for decades. Now dark magic is growing and our ability to shield has weakened. At first, we worried it was all magic ebbing away as the family lines diluted over the generations.” Mrs. Howe assumes the role as group spokeswoman.
Others join the conversation as they begin to discuss a new age for the Salem Coven.
“Madison?” Sarah draws my focus to her. “I know it’s been a whirlwind, but this is your birthright.”
“Ghosts and spells and curses and visions and magical books?” I ramble a list of everything I’ve encountered since Halloween.
“Ghosts? That’s delightful,” Mr. Bishop says dryly.
Sam and I meet gazes, and she starts to laugh. “What’s in these brownies, Martha? Magical herbs?”
Tate chuckles. When Sam glares at him, he lifts his hands. “Not my doing. Some things are just funny.”
“I think this evening calls for champagne,” Martha suggests.
My jaw drops with disbelief. “What are we celebrating?”
“For one thing, champagne is always a good thing and I suspect the Winthrops have a very nice bottle or two in the wine cellar. Second, we’re toasting to the four of you.”
“Why?” Sam asks, vocalizing my same question.
“You’re the next generation of the Salem coven,” Sarah says, pride shining in her eyes as she focuses on Andrew, Tate, Sam, and finally, me.
He gazes down at me. “I tried to warn you. Life will never be boring with me. Are you ready for all of this?”
My decision is automatic. This is my fate; my future is with him. Whatever that means.
Nodding, I stand on my toes. In response, he presses the softest kiss to my mouth.
As we stand wrapped up in each other, I glance around the room at this unlikely group of witches.
We could be having a book club meeting. And in some ways, I guess we still are.
Somewhere outside lurks our enemy, perhaps a whole coven of old enemies who wish us harm. The balance between good and evil is once again at risk.
* * *
~*~*~
Thank you for reading this novella. I have the best time with these young witches in Salem, intermixing history and magic.
Look for Charmed in 2018.
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Also by Daisy Prescott
Bewitched
A magical Halloween novelette set in Salem, Massachusetts
Spellbound
A magical sequel set in Salem, Massachusetts which continues the Bewitched story
Enchanted
Love with Altitude:
Next to You
Crazy Over You
Wild for You
Wingmen :
Ready to Fall
Confessions of a Reformed Tom Cat
Wingmen
(a boxed set of Ready to Fall & Confessions of a Reformed Tom Cat)
Anything but Love
Better Love
Small Town Scandal
Modern Love Stories:
We Were Here (prequel to Geoducks)
Geoducks Are for Lovers
Wanderlust
Short Stories Collection:
Love, Laughter and Happily Ever After
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Subscribe Now
About Daisy Prescott
Daisy Prescott is the USA Today bestselling author of the Modern Love Stories series, which features thirty-somethings and forty-somethings falling in love and the all male POV Wingmen series. Occasionally she writes about witches in Salem.
Born and raised in San Diego, Daisy currently lives in a real life Stars Hollow in the Boston suburbs with her husband, their dog Mulder, and an indeterminate number of imaginary house goats. When not writing, she can be found in the garden or kitchen, or on social media usually talking about hot, bearded men.
Her work has been translate
d into multiple languages, including Portuguese and Turkish.
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