Magic & Murder (Starry Hollow Witches Book 1)

by Annabel Chase

  "Do you have any money?" I asked. "I don't want to stiff my landlord for the rest of the lease. He's an old man and it's his only source of income."

  Florian frowned. "Money is not a problem." He snapped his fingers and a check appeared in his hand. "Say the amount and it will appear here."

  "But will the money appear in my bank account?" That seemed to be the pertinent issue.

  Florian nodded. "You can trust us, Ember. We’re your family."

  "Trust is earned," I said firmly. "Family or not."

  Linnea broke into a broad smile that brightened her beautiful face. The Rose-Muldoons certainly seemed to get the lion’s share of the attractive genes. "You will not regret this choice, Yarrow Rose.”

  I pressed my fingers to my temples. "Listen. I go on two conditions. One is that you stop calling me Yarrow. My name is Ember. Two is that my dog comes, too. He's nine and we can't leave him behind."

  Three white-blond heads turned toward the dog sitting in the doorway. I had to admit that he looked pathetic with his overgrown brown hair and deep, sad eyes. But Prescott Peabody III was ours and I refused to leave him.

  "I am sure your new home can accommodate a small dog," Aster said. She extended her hand. "Come now, before the man returns."

  "How do we get there?" I asked. "Do we fly on broomsticks or something?" I couldn't believe the words coming out of my mouth. Did I seriously just ask about riding on a broomstick?

  "We use magic," Florian said. "Like a magical wormhole. The spell transports us from one place to another."

  "A magical wormhole,” I repeated.

  "That sounds cool," Marley said. For once, she didn't sound scared.

  I glanced down at my fuzzy pajamas. "What about our clothes? Our belongings?"

  "We can take anything that you can't live without," Linnea said. She surveyed the nondescript bedroom. "But I suspect there aren't too many items that fall under that description."

  She was right. There really weren't.

  "Join hands," Linnea instructed. "As long as you keep hold of the dog inside the circle, he will be transported with us."

  I linked my arm through Marley’s and we all joined hands as my three cousins began to chant. I didn't understand a word of what they were saying, but I felt the energy around us change. The air began to feel heavy and crackled around us. Without warning, I felt like I was falling. Then I was weightless and everything around me turned to inky darkness.

  When the darkness finally receded, I found myself standing on a footbridge overlooking a river. The cousins stood in front of me and Marley was beside me, clutching the dog and looking green around the gills.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  She nodded her pale and sweaty head but didn’t speak.

  I looked around. “Where are we?”

  “We have to stop at the border and show ID before we can enter the town,” Florian said. “Standard procedure.”

  “Border patrol,” I repeated. “But we don’t have passports. You said we were going someplace in North Carolina!”

  “Calm yourself, Yarrow…I mean, Ember,” Linnea said in her soothing tone. “We haven’t left the United States. Starry Hollow regulates its borders. For one thing, we need to keep unsuspecting humans from entering.”

  “How many humans end up at the border on a daily basis?” I queried.

  “Not many. It’s the paranormal tourists that keep border patrol busy,” Aster said. “Thanks to its location, Starry Hollow is a premiere destination. My sister owns a busy inn that caters to the trade.”

  “Can’t you use magic to hide the town from Muggles?” Marley asked.

  “What’s a Muggle?” Florian queried.

  “A non-magic person. It’s a Harry Potter reference,” I explained. “Marley’s a big fan.”

  “Yes, I suppose she’s right then,” Florian said. “We do use magic to keep the town veiled from humans, but we get the occasional drunk or magic seeker who wanders too close to the border.”

  “We don’t have ID,” I said. “How will we get in?”

  “Mother sent word to the border agents,” Linnea said. “It won’t be a problem.”

  “And they’ll just take her word for it?” I asked.

  The three cousins laughed.

  “Oh, yes,” Florian said. “You’ll understand when you meet her.”

  I suddenly felt ill at ease. Aunt Hyacinth sounded like a big deal in Starry Hollow. “Will I meet her tonight?”

  “At supper. She’s hosting at seven,” Linnea said.

  “But it’s already nine,” I said.

  “Not anymore,” Florian said. “Magical wormholes sometimes set you back an hour or two.”

  Could it set me back a lifetime so I could start over?

  Linnea looked me up and down. “You’ll need suitable attire.”

  I glanced down at my pajamas. “What? Fluffy bunny slippers won’t cut the mustard?”

  The cousins exchanged uneasy glances.

  “Mother is…” Florian heaved a sigh. “A force to be reckoned with. She will expect you to look a certain way.”

  “And talk a certain way,” Aster added.

  I narrowed my eyes. “I can’t help my Jersey accent. It’s where I’m from.”

  “Yes, that’s unfortunate,” Aster said. “While we can’t tackle the accent, we can tackle the clothes. And I know just the place.”

  Linnea rolled her eyes. “Don’t you dream of taking her to Milly Howlitzer. It’s perfectly clear that’s not her style.”

  “It could become her style,” Aster said. “Pink and green is a lovely color combination with her complexion.”

  I waved my hands in front of my face. “No, no. Sorry. I don’t do pink.”

  “Me neither,” Marley said, folding her arms.

  “Very well then,” Aster said. “I’ll whisk her over to Shining Stars then.”

  Linnea’s nose wrinkled. “I didn’t say dress her like a prostitute. What about The Pointy Hat?”

  “Perfect,” Aster agreed. “They have a tween section there as well.”

  Marley brightened. “I get an outfit, too?”

  “Of course,” Aster said. “Mother will expect both of you to be presentable.”

  Florian handled the female border agent with his boyish charm. By the time we passed through, she was tripping over herself to get his number. Not that it was a surprise. They were ridiculously attractive siblings. I felt like a wet washcloth standing next to them. I hoped not everyone in Starry Hollow was as good-looking. I’d be forever known as ‘New Jersey pretty.’

  A black car pulled up and the doors popped open.

  “Oh, good,” Linnea said. “Mother sent her driver.”

  Wow. Aunt Hyacinth had a driver?

  “We’ll take the car to The Pointy Hat,” Aster said.

  The driver’s side window rolled down and a man poked out his head. “I’m afraid your mother insists on no detours. She’s anxious to meet her niece.”

  Aster muttered under her breath. “Fine, I’ll have to use magic.”

  “Is it a problem to use magic?” I asked. I didn’t want to cause trouble the moment we stepped over the town border.

  “No, no trouble,” Aster replied. “Just not as much fun.”

  “Not from where I’m sitting,” Marley said, her blue eyes shining.

  “A simple shift dress,” Linnea said. “And a floral dress for the girl.”

  Aster studied us a moment before waving her hand and saying, “Vestio.”

  I glanced down at my clothes. My pajamas were replaced with a tasteful navy blue dress and a pair of pumps. A string of pearls rested around my neck.

  “Pearls, Aster?” Linnea queried.

  “You know how much Mother likes them,” Aster said. “I’m just trying to give Ember her best chance at a first impression.”

  “I love my dress,” Marley said, fluffing her floral skirt. “I’ve never owned a dress before.”

  “You did once,” I said.
“You just don’t remember.” I remembered it all too well. How could I forget the dress she wore to her father’s funeral?

  Prescott Peabody III yelped at our feet. I scooped him up and he licked my cheek.

  “Yes, it’s still us, buddy,” I said. “Don’t worry.”

  “Let’s go,” Linnea said, jerking her head toward the car. “Mother doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

  Chapter 4

  “Welcome to Thornhold,” Florian said, as the car pulled into a semi-circular driveway.

  The house was…not a house. It was a sprawling manor straight out of a Jane Austen novel.

  “How do you not get lost in there?” Marley asked, her eyes popping.

  “We grew up in this house,” Aster said. “We know all of its nooks and crannies.”

  We stepped out of the car and followed the trio up the sweeping staircase to the oversized front doors. A butler was ready and waiting in the foyer. He was bald and wore an unbecoming pair of glasses that only served to make his head appear rounder.

  “Welcome home, Master Florian,” he said. “Miss Aster and Miss Linnea.”

  “Good evening, Simon,” Linnea said. “This is our cousin, Ember, and her daughter, Marley.”

  “And Prescott Peabody III,” Marley added, holding up the dog.

  Simon gave us a friendly smile and patted the Yorkie’s head. “It will be nice to have a dog around for a change.”

  “Now, Simon,” Aster said. “Mind yourself.”

  “I’ve been instructed to escort you to the dining room,” Simon said.

  “Very good then,” Florian said.

  The dining room was the size of my entire apartment. A huge oval table sat in the middle of the room with a chandelier directly above it. At first glance, it appeared to be made of crystal, but the flashes of colorful light emanating from it suggested magic was at work.

  Hyacinth Rose-Muldoon swept into the room wearing a hot pink kaftan. Her white-blond hair was pulled back in an elegant chignon and she wore a pair of tiny kitten heels that matched her frock. At first, I thought the design on the kaftan was floral, but upon closer inspection, I realized that it was decorated with faces. Fluffy, white faces, every single one the same. I was rendered speechless, which happened almost…never.

  Marley pinched my hip. "Mom, she’s covered in cats. She's the ultimate cat lady."

  I quickly shushed her and prayed that Aunt Hyacinth didn't overhear her. I didn’t know what kind of witchy powers she had. The last thing I needed was to raise a toad instead of a child. I wasn’t overly fond of amphibians.

  "Now this is a momentous occasion," Aunt Hyacinth said, crossing the room to greet us. She cupped my chin in her hands and studied my face intently. "Well, you inherited your father's nose. That's a shame. Your mother's coloring is also a loss. No one will believe you’re a Rose without proof."

  "Proof?" I queried. "Like a DNA test?"

  Aunt Hyacinth tittered. "Yes, why not? Like a DNA test." She moved on to inspect Marley. "A pleasure to meet you, young lady. We were not even aware of your existence. A shame that you’re only half a witch, but we shall take what we can get." She gripped Marley by the chin and jerked her head from side to side, like she was inspecting a mare. I expected her to check Marley’s teeth and gums, too.

  “You’re squeezing my face,” Marley said, through gritted teeth.

  “Good bones, despite the unfortunate taint of human genes,” Aunt Hyacinth said. “How old are you?"

  “Ten,” Marley replied.

  "Too young for the Black Cloak Academy," Aunt Hyacinth said. "She’ll enroll in the middle school for now. Hopefully, she'll come into her magic within the next year, and then we’ll see her transferred to the academy. All Roses attend the academy. It’s tradition.”

  A longhaired, white cat trotted in behind Aunt Hyacinth and sat at her feet, staring at us with bright blue eyes. She was a gorgeous cat and she seemed to know it.

  "Is that the same cat as the one on your dress?" I asked, inclining my head.

  "Who else would adorn my clothing except my Precious?” Aunt Hyacinth said, scooping up the cat in her arms.

  I laughed. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a Lord of the Rings fan.”

  Aunt Hyacinth’s expression shriveled in a way that Marley and I called ‘stinky sock face.’

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Oh, her name is actually Precious?” I said, blinking. "I thought for sure her name was going to be Crystal or China.” The cat was so beautifully delicate.

  Aunt Hyacinth gave me a look that would have withered an oak tree. "She's not a stripper, for Nature's sake. She's my familiar."

  Linnea step forward to intervene. "You'll have to excuse her, Mother. She knows nothing of Starry Hollow or witches, for that matter. She’ll have to learn everything from the ground up."

  Aunt Hyacinth appraised me coolly. "Yes, in some ways that might be a benefit. Her bad habits won't be magical. Therefore, they will be easier to break."

  "What bad habits?" I asked. I didn't bite my nails or leave the lid off the toothpaste. Okay, I had a major sweet tooth, but I didn't think that qualified as a bad habit. Just a bad diet.

  Aunt Hyacinth snapped her fingers and a tiny silver bell appeared in her hand. Although she rang it, I heard no sound.

  "Why don't we sit for supper?" Aunt Hyacinth said. "Food will be served in just a moment."

  The bell disappeared as quickly as it had materialized. Aunt Hyacinth took her place at the head of the table and gestured to the two seats adjacent to her. "Yarrow, you will sit to my left. Marley, you will sit to my right."

  Marley shot me a baleful look before taking her seat across from me. I knew she would have preferred to sit beside me. The table was so wide that, even though she sat across from me, she seemed a mile away.

  “My name is Ember,” I said.

  Aunt Hyacinth gave me a blank look. “That’s absurd. Who would name a child Ember?”

  Because Yarrow was so popular? “My name has been Ember for as long as I can remember,” I said. “My father must’ve changed it.”

  Aunt Hyacinth sniffed. “I see. Well, I suppose it will have to do.” Her expression brightened. “First, a toast to our new additions,” she said, raising her flute of what appeared to be champagne.

  I lifted the flute to my nose and listened to the soothing sound of fizz. I’d never tasted champagne before.

  “Carpe noctem,” Hyacinth said.

  Everyone else raised their glasses and repeated the phrase.

  “What’s the saying here?” I asked, after I’d taken my first sip of champagne. It was more tart than I was expecting.

  “Carpe noctem,” Florian repeated.

  “Carpe diem means seize the day in Latin,” Marley said. “So carpe noctem must mean seize the night.”

  Aunt Hyacinth gave her an approving nod. “Well done, young lady. Are you studying Latin in school?”

  Marley snorted. “Not exactly. There’s this movie my babysitter let me watch called Dead Poet’s Society. Carpe diem is the theme of the story.”

  “The theme?” Aunt Hyacinth repeated, clearly impressed.

  “Why do you say this before meals?” I asked.

  “It’s our family motto,” Aster replied. “It’s also on the family crest you see over the fireplace.” She pointed above the mantel where an enormous banner adorned the wall. It had a dark blue background and featured a full moon and stars with a red rose in front of the moon. Carpe noctem was embroidered along the bottom.

  “It’s so cool,” Marley said. “So that’s my family crest, too?”

  “Apparently,” I said.

  At that moment, several silver trays floated out of the neighboring room, presumably the kitchen, and came to rest on the table. It gave free-range food a whole new meaning. Once all of the silver serving platters were on the table, Aunt Hyacinth snapped her fingers again and the lids popped off. The smells alone were intoxicating. I've never been what you
would call a foodie. My idea of a fancy meal is the top sirloin at Applebee's, but for some reason, I could smell every herb and spice in the dishes. It was both overwhelming and incredible.

  "Mom, are you okay?" Marley called from across the table.

  My head snapped to attention. "What? Why?"

  "Your eyes are watering," Marley said. "I thought you might be crying."

  "No, of course not," I said, using my cloth napkin to wipe away the tears. "It's all of these amazing spices." I felt bad that Marley thought I was upset. It was a very rare occasion for her to see me cry. In fact, the last time would have been four years ago when her father died. My own father didn't raise any crybabies.

  "I imagine your mother is adjusting to her new experience," Aunt Hyacinth said. "The door has been unlocked and now her inner magic is pushing it wide open."

  "Why is this happening now?" I asked. "I've been in plenty of stressful situations in my life. None of them resulted in a release of magic."

  Aunt Hyacinth ignored my question. "What would you like to eat? Roast chicken? It has lemon and salt and some other lovely spices that I won't divulge. Secret recipe, you see."

  "It all looks delicious," I said. "I'll try a little of everything." I glanced quickly at Marley. She was not what you would call an adventurous eater. If it wasn't breaded or wrapped in a hotdog bun, she was disinclined to eat it. "Marley, why don't you try a few pieces of chicken?" I hoped she wouldn’t embarrass me in front of our newfound family.

  Marley wrinkled her nose in disgust. "It has the skin on."

  "The skin is the best part," Florian said, ripping off a layer of skin and popping the crunchy bit into his mouth.

  "Then you can have my portion," Marley said. "Because I'm not eating any of it."

  "Marley," I snapped. "Remember your manners."

  Marley looked at me scornfully. "What manners? We’re from New Jersey."

  I tried in vain to kick her under the table, but my foot wouldn't reach. I found myself sliding off the base of the chair in an effort to reach her. It wasn't until I actually slid onto the floor that I realized I was making a complete fool of myself. So magic didn't cure that personality trait then.