CHARMEDIMSUREFINAL_edited_Eleanor

by rose@rosepressey. com

  So Nicolas’ mother had just come to give the warning. I looked around the room.

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  I hoped that she heard me. I stared at the book for a while longer, waiting for something more to appear, but it never came. Slowly the words began to disappear from the page. I closed the cover and stared at the book again. Who knew something as simple as a book could have this much effect on my life. It had definitely changed me forever. Maybe my Great Aunt Maddy had been right. Maybe this had been my destiny.

  Since nothing else had shown up in the book I figured it was time to give up and go back to bed. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to sleep though after seeing Nicolas’ mother. And after the message about the vampires. I wouldn’t be able to turn off my thoughts, but I really needed rest. I pushed to my feet, yawned, and tucked the book under my arm. As I reached the edge of the room, I turned around and scanned the space. Nope, no sign of her or any other ghosts. That was probably for the best.

  I tiptoed up the stairs, not that anyone would hear me in my bare feet, but those loose floorboards were noisy. I’d almost learned where each and every squeaky spot in the floor was, but it was hard to avoid all of them. An uneasiness always followed me as I walked through the dark house. I suppose that feeling would never truly go away. Once at the bedroom door I eased it open. Nicolas was still sleeping. He’d kicked the sheet off, exposing his muscular legs. As quietly as possible, I placed the book back in the trunk and slipped into bed next to his warm body.

  I looked over at Nicolas’ handsome face. Should I tell him that I’d seen his mother? Or would that only upset him? My thoughts ran a million miles a minute. Nicolas reached over and draped his arm around me. I was sure he was still mostly in a sleep state and never knew that I’d even left the bed. I snuggled up next to him and tried to cleanse my mind of all thoughts. Maybe I could count flying witches to fall asleep. That was what Aunt Maddy had told me to do when I was a kid and complained of not being able to sleep.

  Chapter Eleven

  I’d finally fallen into a peaceful sleep. No dreams of evil witches or vampires chasing me so they could suck my blood. Although the dream of the male high heel wearing vampires chasing me was rather funny. When I finally roused myself awake, I realized that I was hearing music. Not the soft sounds of a piano either. It sounded as if a nightclub had moved into my downstairs.

  I reached over and shook Nicolas’ arm. “Do you hear that?”

  “It’s kind of hard not to, huh?” Nicolas sat up in bed. “I can go see what it is.” He pushed the cover from his legs.

  “I’ll go with you.” I jumped out of bed.

  When we made it to the hallway the music had grown even louder. I glanced over toward Uncle Fitz’s door. It was closed, so I didn’t know if that meant he was in the room or if he was roaming around somewhere else. He’d better not have left to hitchhike to town. If it wasn’t Uncle Fitz downstairs then who was it? Would Uncle Fitz listen to Beyonce? Yeah, I figured Uncle Fitz would like all music. If it was him though, then he needed to turn it down.

  “Is you Uncle hard of hearing?” Nicolas asked.

  I shook my head. “No, I don’t think so.”

  I followed Nicolas down the stairs. The closer we got to the bottom, the louder the music grew. I was sure I heard voices and laughter too. A woman and a man laughing. Was someone having a party at my house and they hadn’t invited me?

  “I think it’s coming from the parlor,” I said.

  Nicolas nodded. “I think you’re right.”

  My heart rate increased. I hoped it wasn’t another ghost. I’d started to let my guard down thinking I wasn’t bringing any more ghosts back. Maybe I’d done that too soon. First Gina and now what?

  Nicolas and I stepped across the foyer and over to the parlor’s entrance. I stopped in my tracks when I spotted Uncle Fitz dancing. He was shaking and swirling his hips all the while his hands were flailing through the air. If he started twerking I would have to stick a fork in my eyes. Uncle Fitz hadn’t looked back to see that Nicolas and I were watching him. Of course Nicolas was laughing beside me. I was too stunned to laugh. That would come later. Uncle Fitz wasn’t alone. He was putting on a show for someone… a lady friend. Finally, the song stopped and I cleared my throat.

  The woman sat on the edge of the sofa. I wasn’t sure if she was terrified from Uncle Fitz’s dance moves or if it was because Nicolas and I were standing there. Her curves filled out the red silky wrap dress she wore. The fire engine red heels matched her dress. Dark hair with hints of gray roots formed a perfect halo around her head. The color of her lipstick made her dress seem dull in comparison.

  Uncle Fitz turned to see us. “Oh, good, you decided to join us.”

  Another song started, so I marched over to the radio and flipped it off.

  “What did you do that for?” Uncle Fitz asked like a whiney child.

  He frowned and then looked at the lady and laughed. She smiled in return, so apparently she had been enjoying his little performance.

  “What is going on here?” I placed my hands on my hips and stared at him.

  He wrapped his hands around his blue and red striped suspenders and offered a sheepish grin.

  “My lady friend and I were just having a little bit of fun.”

  “Do you have any idea what time it is?” I glanced over at the clock. “Some of us have to get up early in the morning.”

  “Sorry, dear. This is Mary Kay.” He motioned toward the woman perched on the sofa.

  “Charmed, I’m sure,” she said with a crackly voice.

  I stared at her for a moment, as if there as something vaguely familiar about her. Suddenly the music returned at an even louder volume. Mary Kay flashed a smile at Uncle Fitz. Had she done that? Oh, if it was a spell contest she wanted then she was on. It was late and I was cranky, but I wouldn’t let her get by with that.

  “Look, I don’t buy into that whole the witching hour thing. Besides, midnight is long since past and the party is over.” I stepped over and unplugged the radio.

  Now I’d like to see her use magic to turn it back on. She’d need electricity for that.

  “Hallie, we were just having a little fun.” Uncle Fitz looked at me with his big puppy dog eyes.

  “Uncle Fitz, I understand your problem, but maybe you should arrange to take your friend somewhere on another evening. Maybe out to a nice dinner,” I said.

  He raised his hand and pointed his finger toward the sky. “That’s an excellent idea.”

  Uncle Fitz strolled over to Mary Kay and offered her his hand. “Shall we go, my fair lady?”

  I rolled my eyes. It was cute that he had a date, just not so cute listening to the loud music.

  Mary Kay took his hand and they strolled toward the foyer. “Hallie, I am sorry for waking you.”

  “That’s okay, Uncle Fitz,” I said as I followed them to the door.

  When I reached the porch, I looked around. “How did you get here?”

  He pointed to the right and I spotted a little silver car.

  “You didn’t drive, did you?”

  He shook his head. I wondered if I was embarrassing him. Maybe I needed to give him some space.

  “Well, we’ll just let you say goodnight.” Nicolas placed his hand on the small of my back and we stepped back into the manor.

  “Do you think I embarrassed him too much?” I asked.

  Nicolas leaned down and kissed my cheek. “Yes.”

  Ugh. “I didn’t mean to. I’m not used to having a teenager dating.”

  Nicolas laughed. “He’ll get over it.” Nicolas touched my chin.

  “Where have I seen Mary Kay before?” I asked.

  Nicolas yawned. “I don’t know. Maybe she came into your mother’s shop.”

  I waved my finger. “Yes, I bet that’s it. Thank you.”

  I had been worrying for nothing. My mother had a lot of customers. Of course that had been where I’d seen her. We crossed the foyer
and reached the staircase, but I paused. “You know, I just can’t shake this vibe I have now.”

  “Do you need a midnight snack?” Nicolas leaned down and nibbled my neck.

  As hard as it was to resist him, I laughed and said, “No, it’s that woman.”

  “What woman?” Nicolas asked as he continued to lick my neck.

  “Mary Kay.”

  “You’re just a little antsy still because of everything that’s happened.” Nicolas ran his tongue down the length of my neck.

  I nodded. “I suppose.”

  Now Nicolas moved up my neck and to my lips.

  “I should look in the parlor,” I said moving away from him.

  He groaned, but followed me as I headed toward the parlor. I stood at the entrance of the room with my hands on my hips. “There’s something about this room.”

  Nicolas wrapped his arms around my waist as he stood behind me, pressing his hard body into mine. “Yes, it’s a dark room, and that means it’s bedtime.”

  I moved away again and when I reached the middle of the room I stopped, looking around. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, but I knew it was something. I sensed it, but now I just had to find it.

  When I looked to my left toward the sofa, I spotted a small black velvet bag.

  “I knew it,” I said as I crossed the room.

  I retrieved the bag from the floor.

  “Do you think she left it on purpose?” Nicolas asked.

  “I am sure of it,” I said. “How will I tell Uncle Fitz that his new friend left a spell here?”

  “Maybe you shouldn’t tell him.”

  “I don’t want him to bring her around here. I have to know who she is and why she did this.”

  Uncle Fitz walked back through the door and I hurried over to him. “Is she still here?” I asked.

  “No, honey, she left.” He didn’t look happy about that.

  I held the bag up. “She left her spell pouch. She was casting a spell against us.”

  He stared at the bag. “Now don’t jump to conclusions, Hallie, maybe she just dropped it.”

  “Uncle Fitz, no offense, but I’ve been around some not so nice people lately and I have to be skeptical of everyone.”

  “Mary Kay is a lovely lady.”

  “Where did you meet her?” I asked.

  “We met at the grocery store.”

  “Well even so, I don’t trust her.”

  Uncle Fitz flashed me a hurt look, but I couldn’t let that sway me. “We need to do a spell against her spell.”

  “If there is a spell,” Uncle Fitz reminded me.

  I didn’t have a spell pouch, but I knew a lot of witches used them. Basically a witch could take her spices and herbs with her in order to better cast a spell that she needed on the go. Like a spell to go. Maybe I needed to get one of those after all.

  “We’ll go to the kitchen and get what we need,” I said over my shoulder.

  I didn’t care if the men believed me or not. Call it women’s intuition, but I knew Mary Kay was up to something. Nicolas and Uncle Fitz gathered around me as I took out my dish and sprinkled the herbs on top.

  I called to the elements, earth, air, fire, and water. I sprinkled more herbs onto the dish and said, “Block the spell in the house that is meant to do us harm.”

  Uncle Fitz took the pouch from where I’d placed it on the counter.

  “Let’s hope that takes care of things,” Nicolas said.

  The next thing I knew I smelled smoke. I looked over and Uncle Fitz had lit the pouch. The flame rapidly moved upward toward his hand.

  “Uncle Fitz why did you do that?” I yelled.

  He ran over to the sink and tossed the pouch in, then turned on the water.

  “Whew. I burnt my finger a little,” he said as he shook his hand.

  “You shouldn’t have done that,” I said.

  Nicolas stepped over and peered down at the sink. “The pouch is finished.”

  “Do you want to tell me why you did that?” I asked, placing my hands on my hips.

  “I figured if we destroyed it then the spell couldn’t hurt us.”

  “If that was the case, Uncle Fitz, I would have done that thirty minutes ago.”

  He scratched his head. “I suppose you have a point.”

  “Yes, I do.” I reached down and gathered the remnants of the bag. “I suppose there’s nothing we can do about it now.” I tossed the charred bag into the trash can.

  Uncle Fitz yawned. “I just hope this doesn’t hurt my chances with Mary Kay.”

  I stared at him with my mouth open. “You still want to date her after that?”

  “Until I know for sure why she left it I figure why not. I mean, did you see her big… big eyes? She’s gorgeous.”

  “I think that’s enough for tonight, Uncle Fitz.”

  Nicolas patted Uncle Fitz on the back. “Why don’t you get some shuteye?”

  Uncle Fitz nodded. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’ll do.”

  After Nicolas and I cleaned up the kitchen, we headed back to bed. When I reached the bed, Nicolas pulled me close. “Everything will be okay.”

  I gave a half-hearted smile. “Yes, I suppose you’re right. I have to remain positive.”

  “That’s the best attitude. One of the many reasons… one of the many reasons why I love you.

  Nicolas stared me in the face. Of course I was speechless.

  “I love you too,” I said softly.

  I wasn’t just saying that. I did love him. I loved Liam too and I knew I always wanted the brothers to be a part of my life.

  Nicolas kissed me with passion that I’d never felt before. His lips traveled across mine with urgency. When I was lost in the moment, his mouthed moved to my neck. His lips pressed gently over my skin. The tips of his fangs teased my neck. I felt his hunger. I didn’t stop him, but I wondered if he would actually bite my neck. He stopped and looked into my eyes, then lowered me onto the bed. Only the sounds of our passion remained. LaVeau Manor had fallen quiet as we slipped into slumber. As usual, it was the calm before the storm.

  Chapter Twelve

  The next morning I attempted to make breakfast for everyone, but when Uncle Fitz stepped into the kitchen and spotted my version of an omelet, he snatched the skillet away from me. Liam had taken off before breakfast and before even saying goodbye. I supposed he would call me as soon as he found out anything about the vampires.

  Nicolas and I stood beside the front door. He leaned down and kissed me on the lips. “I’ll call you as soon as I find any information.”

  “Thank you,” I said, remembering to thank him this time.

  Liam and Nicolas were going to find out about the vampire, but that still left Charlie. She still hadn’t returned and I knew the board would be at the manor soon demanding an answer that I didn’t have. I needed to do everything I could today to find her.

  The only plan I’d come up with so far was to go to the address listed on her driver’s license. That was honestly all I had to go on at the moment. After dressing in my favorite dark denim jeans and a blue sweater over a white t-shirt, I grabbed my purse and hurried out the door.

  I didn’t bother to tell Uncle Fitz where I was going. He needed to stay behind and rest anyway. I didn’t need another repeat of the Bubbling Cauldron incident.

  It was a beautiful morning and I enjoyed the wind coming through the open window of my car as I headed toward New Orleans. I’d entered Charlie’s address into my GPS and drove right to the place. I pulled up in front of the three-story brick building. Accordingly to the address on the license she was on the first floor. I shoved my car into park and climbed out.

  No one was on the sidewalk as I stepped up from the curb. It was a quiet morning. The building had two balconies and a patio area for the first floor. The second- and third-floor balconies had items on them like chairs and plants. The first-floor patio had nothing. Not even a single potted flower.

  I stepped up the small main porch and ope
ned the door. Once inside the foyer, the door marked one was to the left. This must be the place. If Charlie answered the door she would be surprised.

  In front of the door, I raised my fist and knocked. No sound came from the other side, not a TV or a radio. I knocked again and waited, but still there was nothing. I’d come all this way. I hated to just give up and go back home. I didn’t think it would be so terrible if I tried the doorknob to see if it was open. Maybe Charlie was there and just hadn’t heard me.

  With my hand on the antique knob, I twisted. To my surprise the door opened. It creaked as I pushed it just a little. I wanted to believe that maybe Charlie was home, but now I began to worry that something might have happened to her. I doubted she just left her front door unlocked.

  “Hello, is anyone home?” I called out.

  This was making me more uneasy by the minute. I called out again, but still got no answer.

  Like I said I just couldn’t let this opportunity go to waste, so I decided to go inside her apartment. I eased inside the door and then pushed it almost closed behind me. There was a large window to the left that allowed in a ton of light. Charlie had a beige sofa in front of the fireplace with cream-colored upholstered chairs sitting on each side. To the right and down the hallway was what I assumed was the kitchen. Somewhere nearby a clock ticked, but that was the only sound.