CHARMEDIMSUREFINAL_edited_Eleanor

by rose@rosepressey. com

  We were all sitting around the dining room table waiting for Uncle Fitz to bring in the food. Nicolas was beside me and Liam sat across from us. It seemed like ages ago when the men had been in this room pretending not to know each other. They should have known that it wouldn’t take long for me to discover their secret. We’d been through so much together in such a short time.

  I was thankful for all the time I’d had with them. I looked over at Nicolas. He smiled and lightly squeezed my hand. Annabelle was next to my mother sipping on her orange juice. My mother was checking her makeup in her compact mirror. Finally Uncle Fitz stepped into the room. He had a tray piled high with pancakes. He also had bacon, fresh fruit and eggs.

  “The food smells delicious,” Liam said as he jumped up to help Uncle Fitz. Uncle Fitz sat with a smile on his face when we started stacking food on our plates.

  Nicolas poured syrup over his pancakes. “I still can’t believe the vampires agreed to help Charlie get the book from you.”

  “Nothing surprises me about the need some people feel to steal the book,” I said as I placed strawberries on my plate. “I hope we are finished with their crazy accusations now.”

  Liam finished his bite of food and then said, “It probably won’t last long until they think of something else to be mad about.”

  “They can be mad all they want as long as they leave us alone,” I said.

  “They should have known that Charlie would turn on them,” Nicolas said as he cut the pancakes with his fork. “She was going to leave them with no help at all once she’d agreed to help them.”

  “That’s because she figured she could do it all alone. It didn’t take long before she realized she really did need them,” Liam said.

  “I had no idea she was such an evil person,” Uncle Fitz said. “I wouldn’t have been nice to her.”

  “That’s okay, Uncle Fitz. We all thought she was nice at first. It’s easy to be tricked.” I winked. “She placed the spell on you as soon as she saw you. How could you fight against something like that?”

  The Book of Mystics had made my witchcraft more powerful. That was why Charlie had to give me the necklace. It had been her only chance of getting the book away from me. Of course she’d allowed her aunt to keep her magic, and then used the spell she’d discovered at the shop against the Enchantment Pointe Coven. Of course now we knew that Charlie was really Chelsey. She had just changed her identity so she wouldn’t be caught. Too bad for her that didn’t work out.

  I doubted I’d ever fully trust anyone again after what I’d been through since finding the book.

  “It still doesn’t make sense why she had an address in New Orleans,” I said.

  Liam continued cutting his pancakes without looking up. “Like she said, she was living in New Orleans because she wanted to take over as coven leader there. She wanted revenge on a lot of people that was why she had all those files.”

  “How did she possibly think that would ever happen?” I took another bite of my pancakes, trying not to let the syrup drip on my shirt.

  Annabelle pointed with her fork. “Well, she did think she could get the book and be the leader.”

  “That’s true.” I nodded.

  “I’m just glad that it all worked out,” my mother said.

  After everything had happened I was confused how Annabelle had known to get the necklace. It had seemed hopeless and Annabelle had known just what to do.

  She was the best friend anyone could ever ask for. She’d completely overcome her fear of the paranormal. She’d fought off the vampires with the witches. She’d definitely shown me that I had to have more confidence in myself if I ever wanted the magic to work. How had I expected the magic to work when I’d surrounded myself with all that negative energy?

  Charlie had held Annabelle and Uncle Fitz at her aunt’s shop. Lucky for all of us that they got away and went to my mother’s house. I’d told my mother about the necklace. Nicolas happened to sneak a call to my mother from the graveyard. That was when he’d told them to go get the necklace and bring it to us. How they’d found it was beyond me. Apparently Nicolas had described where we’d buried it and I guessed they’d seen the fresh soil.

  Pluto jumped onto the table and meowed. I offered him a bite of pancake but of course he turned his face away as if it was the most revolting thing he’d ever seen. It was his gourmet food or nothing. We finished the food until there was nothing left on the tray.

  “Uncle Fitz, the food was amazing,” I said.

  “You’re an excellent cook, my man,” Liam said.

  “I’m afraid you will have to do the dishes,” Uncle Fitz said.

  I laughed. “You’re excused from kitchen duty.”

  Uncle Fitz stood from the table. “It’s time for old Fitz to hit the road.”

  “What? You’re leaving?” I asked.

  “You just got here,” Annabelle said.

  “Why don’t you stay awhile?” my mother asked.

  “My friend is expecting me in New Haven, remember? I’m already late.” Uncle Fitz walked to the door and we stood and walked toward the door too.

  Uncle Fitz continued out into the hallway. He didn’t look back at us as he walked through the house toward the front door.

  “I’ll come back for a visit very soon.”

  “You promise?” I asked.

  “You couldn’t keep me away,” he said over his shoulder.

  His luggage was already sitting by the front door. We stopped in front of the door.

  “Well, I guess this is goodbye.” He reached out and hugged me and then kissed me on the cheek. “Take care of yourself.” He looked at Nicolas and Liam. “Gentlemen, it’s been a pleasure. Look after my niece.”

  They nodded and shook his hand.

  Uncle Fitz hugged my mother and then went over and planted a kiss on Annabelle’s lips.

  “Uncle Fitz!” my mother and I said in unison.

  Annabelle looked shocked but then she chuckled as Uncle Fitz picked up his luggage. I opened the door for him.

  “Here let me take that for you.” Liam took the luggage from Uncle Fitz’s hands. “It’s time for me to get back to New Orleans too.”

  “You have to leave so soon too?” my mother asked.

  He nodded. “I have to deal with a couple witches fighting back in New Orleans.”

  We stepped out onto the front porch.

  Liam set the luggage down on the ground. He looked around. “Fitz, where is your car? How do you plan on getting to New Haven?”

  “I figured you could give me a drive,” he said.

  “Uncle Fitz, Liam has business in New Orleans. I’ll drive you there.”

  Liam picked up the luggage. “Come on, Fitz. I have time to drive you.”

  I shook my head. Had Uncle Fitz planned to hitch a ride? He wasn’t exactly the type to plan his trips well. It always seemed to work out for him though. He had a natural knack for traveling.

  “Bye, Uncle Fitz,” I said as he walked down the steps.

  As Uncle Fitz climbed into the passenger seat of Liam’s car, I heard him ask, “Can you pick up my lady friend Mary Kay? She’s going with me.”

  The sun was peeking out from the clouds that had covered it earlier in the morning. It was going to be a beautiful day. Finally, I felt as if the craziness of the last few weeks had come to an end. I would get much-needed rest and relaxation. Nicolas and I could spend time together without being chased by witches, vampires, or demons.

  Liam patted Nicolas on the back and they gave each other a half hug. They’d certainly come a long way. It made my heart feel good to know that they were getting along. Liam reached out and wrapped his arms around me. I always felt safe and secure in his arms. After another moment longer and stepped back, but then leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. His lips lingered for a fleeting moment and my body tingled. Nicolas didn’t say anything about the kiss and I didn’t look over to read his expression.

  Liam hurried over to his car and climb
ed in. Uncle Fitz smiled and waved as they pulled away.

  Annabelle looked at her watch. “Are you ready to get to the shop?” she asked my mother.

  “Oh yes, we should go. I’ve completely lost track of the time.”

  They grabbed their purses from inside and then hugged Nicolas and me goodbye.

  “I’ll be there soon,” I said.

  My mother winked. “Why don’t you take the day off? Nicolas and you need the rest.”

  I couldn’t believe she was letting me off for the day, but I would accept the offer. My mother and Annabelle drove away. Now it was just Nicolas and me… for now.

  About the Author

  Rose Pressey is a USA Today bestselling author. She enjoys writing quirky and fun novels with a paranormal twist. The paranormal has always captured her interest. The thought of finding answers to the unexplained fascinates her.

  When she’s not writing about werewolves, vampires and every other supernatural creature, she loves eating cupcakes with sprinkles, reading, spending time with family, and listening to oldies from the fifties.

  Rose suffers from Psoriatic Arthritis and has knee replacements. She might just set the world record for joint replacements. She’s soon having her hips replaced, elbows, and at least one shoulder.

  Rose lives in the beautiful commonwealth of Kentucky with her husband, son, and two sassy Chihuahuas.

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