Ghostly Curse

by Cadie Snow

  The kids would be home from school in a few minutes, so Jaime went inside to wait. She needed to get it together, so she could explain this. If she didn’t want them to get upset, she needed to maintain a calm demeanor.

  Andrew burst through the door first. “What happened to the window?”

  Jaime waited until the other two came in, then she told them that she’d just discovered the damage. “I don’t want to point fingers or accuse anyone, but clearly someone is enraged about our family of witches.”

  “I don’t get it,” Landon said. “We aren’t bothering anyone.”

  “It’s my fault,” Andrew said. “I bet it’s because of what I did to Lester. But I completed the days of suspension. How can he still be upset?”

  “We don’t know for sure that the Thompsons are responsible,” Jaime said. “I haven’t had any reports since that one day, so I assumed the situation had calmed down. Has anything happened since?”

  Andrew shook his head. “No, I swear.”

  “All we can do is get this cleaned up,” Jaime said. “Otherwise we look like a sore thumb in the neighborhood.”

  Abigail walked over to the window, glass crunching under her feet.

  “Be careful, honey,” Jaime said. “I don’t want you to get cut.”

  One good thing about living in a small town was that it didn’t take long to get anyplace. By the time the kids had dumped off their backpacks and grabbed a snack, Ava had arrived with her husband. Tom was a friendly fellow with an infectious smile.

  “It’s good to see a happy face,” Jaime said.

  “I heard you could use my services,” Tom said. “A couple of my guys are meeting me here shortly. Mind if I scope out the damage?”

  “Please,” Jaime said, waving her hand at the hole in the window.

  “Let me guess,” Ava said. “The incident with Andrew has ignited new fervor for banishing witches.”

  “That’s my theory,” Jaime said. “How did you guess?”

  “I work in the school system,” Ava said. “I know how it goes. I teach at a different elementary school, but I’ve heard about the Thompsons. It’s not just you; Lester’s father is difficult to deal with. He gives the teachers a hard time—thinks he owns the town because he runs the bank.

  “Is everything else okay?” Ava said, squinting through her glasses. “I can tell when something is wrong, you know. Spill it.”

  Jaime hesitated, not wanting bedlam to break out in the family before the coven meeting. “You have to promise not to tell a soul…or let anyone read your mind.”

  Ava crossed her heart. “Witch’s honor.”

  Jaime gave her a brief overview of the past few weeks, ending with the fact that Aunt Iris had been murdered. She was going to share the news with the family shortly, so it wasn’t as though it was a secret. “I intended to tell everyone at the meeting, and I will. I want to present the facts I have, then get everyone’s input on how to proceed.”

  “We’re a family,” Ava said. “We stick together. This is really bad news, though. I dread to think what it means.”

  “I’m going to need help,” Jaime said. “We’ll band together, like we always do in a crisis.”

  Ava agreed, and she hung around to have tea while Tom and his crew were on damage repair. Before dinner, Ian showed up. He came in without knocking. “I came by to check on you. It looks like I didn’t come soon enough.”

  Ava launched into an explanation of what had happened, saving Jaime the trouble.

  Ian wasn’t pleased. “That’s vandalism. It’s a crime.”

  “And it’s an offense against good people,” Ava said.

  It didn’t take as long as Jaime had thought to repair the damage. With the right tools and a trained crew, Tom had the job done quickly. “Can’t have the cold air whipping through your front window,” Tom said. “Or having any suspicious people coming by in the middle of the night and walking right in.”

  Jaime gave him a hug. “You have no idea how much I appreciate what you’ve done.”

  Tom beamed. “Glad to help.” He was a supporter, after all. He’d been married to Ava for a long time. He wasn’t magic but thought Ava was amazing. Witches were good in his mind; he’d married one.

  “We’re going to take off,” Ava said.

  “Would you like to stay for dinner?” Jaime said.

  “That’s okay,” Ava said, then glanced at Ian. “We’ll leave you two alone.”

  “And I need to go clean up,” Tom said. “I’m not fit to sit at a dinner table.”

  When they left, Jaime turned to Ian. “I’m glad you don’t hate witches.”

  “Nope, I don’t,” Ian said. “In fact, I have a good friend who is a witch.”

  Jaime grinned. “You don’t say.”

  “I’ll stay for dinner, though. What are we having?”

  “How are you at grilling hot dogs?” Jaime said.

  “You came to the right guy.” Ian headed for the kitchen.

  The kids were drawn to the kitchen, because Ian was there. He was a big attraction, somehow way more interesting than Jaime. They could see her any day. But Ian had lots of tales to tell about cases in the department. Jaime knew he didn’t share anything confidential, but he was a good storyteller.

  It was good to have Ian around for the evening meal, as he helped lift the mood. The kids nearly forgot about the damage to the house—yet not completely. Once the hot dogs and fries were gobbled up, Jaime served vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup.

  Through a mouthful of dessert, Andrew said, “I’m going to get him back. I know it was Lester.”

  “You will do no such thing.” Jaime had to stop this before it got started. She had to explain that some people would not accept witches. There was no way to change their mind.

  But Ian stepped in. “I tell you, Andrew, that’s probably not a good idea.”

  Andrew listened with rapt attention. After all, Ian was a man, someone to look up to. He seemed to heed the caution better than he would have if Jaime had offered it.

  “When I was a kid,” Ian said, “I was small for my age, so I got pushed around a lot. I’ve lived here most of my life, but not all of it. We’d just moved to town, which made me an outsider. I was called names and bullied.”

  “What did you do?” Andrew said.

  Landon and Abigail were listening too.

  “I didn’t do a thing,” Ian said. “I didn’t let their words or actions get to me. I didn’t believe any of the bad stuff they said. And you know what happened?”

  “No, what?” Andrew said.

  “They knocked it off,” Ian said. “I gained respect. After my first year, no one bothered me. In fact, others came to me when they had trouble. You see, the bullies only do it because it upsets you.”

  Andrew seemed to think that over. Jaime glanced at Ian and gave him a tiny smile. She didn’t have to do the mom thing and ask the kids not to make the situation worse. Ian had covered that subject very nicely. In the end, Jaime would put a stop to the aggression. But if Andrew used his powers at school to put Lester in his place, it would lead to another visit to the principal’s office, or worse.

  When the kids went off to watch television, Ian stuck around to help with dishes.

  “Thanks for handling that.”

  “I understand,” Ian said. “You son wants to protect you, wants to fight back. I would too. But I also know there’s a right time, a right way.”

  “Yes, the Thompsons haven’t won…not by a long shot.”

  The next day, Jaime decided to mediate again. The last time had been productive, so she hoped to get through the barrier again. She chatted with Olivia for a few minutes before going upstairs. “If this goes well, I could learn more about the murder…find something that could help us.”

  Jaime had worked most of the day, so had just enough time for a session before the kids would be home. The boys had gone to Abigail’s school that day for an outing. The middle school allowed the soccer team to use th
eir field sometimes, since it was larger.

  Jaime went to the room and prepared, hopeful that she’d make new discoveries. The long bed and the crystal had been conducive to psychic flows, so she tried the setup again.

  Reclined, Jaime cleared her mind before attempting to cut through the force that had mentally blocked her. The barrier was still there. The originator might have realized that she had cut through it before, but it hadn’t been removed. Once more, she successfully carved through the wavelength, using her incantation.

  She allowed the vibrations to flow through her. Only there were no images similar to the ones she’d seen before. It was possible that she wouldn’t be able to access more about the murder. Yet a new scene came to mind.

  As Jaime waited, letting the future come to her, she saw something new. Her heart skipped a beat. It was Abigail leaving school. She looked afraid. Jaime stayed calm to see what had alarmed her daughter. Then the threat appeared in living color.

  It was Elijah. He towered over Abigail and was saying something to her. She pulled back, shaking her head. Then Elijah grabbed her arm to forcibly remove her, and Abigail yelled. Other students looked on, but no one did anything.

  Jaime’s pulse raced. She couldn’t get there in time. It was better to wait and see what happened. If Elijah took Abigail, she could see where they went. Before Elijah could drag her away, Abigail kicked the back of his knee, causing him to buckle.

  But Elijah didn’t fall; he only got madder. Jaime couldn’t hear what he was saying but could tell that he was shouting. He grabbed Abigail’s arm and leaned over, as though he intended to pick her up to carry her off. Then a rock slammed into Elijah’s head, and his hands flew up to the injury.

  It was Landon. He stood behind Abigail, focusing his eyes on Elijah like laser beams. Then Elijah noticed him and lurched that way. But another rock, a larger one this time, struck low.

  Elijah fell to the grass when the force impacted his ankle. He yelled out, and Landon grabbed Abigail’s hand then ran. The children were out of the scene, leaving Elijah rolling on the grass holding his bleeding ankle.

  Jaime breathed a sigh of relief that Abigail had escaped. But that reprieve was followed by the realization that Landon had powers. From the looks of it, he had telekinesis ability and had just used it to save his sister.

  After coming out of the altered state, Jaime opened her eyes. She took a deep breath then grabbed her purse and raced from the room. She had to be there when the kids got home. Elijah had ignored the restraining order, and she had no idea what he was capable of.

  Jaime was furious. She waved to Olivia on her way out. “Gotta run…issue at home.”

  “Call me,” Olivia said.

  It was just too much. Ian had offered to send a security patrol for the neighborhood to protect against more vandalism, or another harmful act. The patrol hadn’t arrived yet but wouldn’t have done any good. The incident had happened at school.

  Nowhere was safe. Jaime’s children were at risk. It wasn’t bad enough that a killer was after Jaime, and her family might get caught up in the danger. Her ex-husband had to step in and cause more trouble, threatening Abigail. It made Jaime sick to think of what he’d planned to do with her daughter if he’d successfully taken her from school.

  Jaime intended to see that her kids were secured behind locked doors, then she’d give Elijah a piece of her mind. She got home and parked the car, then checked the mailbox. She pulled out several pieces of junk mail, a couple of bills, and a letter.

  The letter was from a law firm, which was odd. Jaime didn’t have any dealings with attorneys, except for her divorce attorney. Puzzled, she ripped the envelope open before going inside. After unfolding the letter, she scanned the contents.

  It was from an attorney representing Elijah Abernathy in the matter of an inheritance. After reading, Jaime was livid. If there was anything else that Elijah could do to disrupt her life and terrorize her children, he certainly would.

  This was going too far. Jaime stormed inside and called Elijah without waiting for the kids to get home. Even if he was in agony with his injured ankle, he could answer his dammed cell phone. She had something to say and it couldn’t wait.

  “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “Why are you calling?” Elijah said. “Unless it’s that you received the letter. But I believe my attorney explained everything.”

  “That letter is trash,” Jaime said. “You cannot take half ownership of my aunt’s home. You didn’t even like Iris.”

  “That’s beside the point,” Elijah said. “I should have received half of everything in the divorce settlement.”

  “Have you lost your mind?” Jaime launched into a tirade. “The divorce is already final; any settlement is done. You have no right to take something that I inherited after we split up. This is harassment, pure and simple.”

  “You defrauded me in the settlement,” Elijah said. “You knew that you’d inherit that house, and you’re aware of its value. Yet you withheld that, hoping to cash in later.”

  “What?” Jaime said. “I didn’t know that my aunt would be…” She caught herself just in time. “That my aunt would die.”

  “I’m going after you for half ownership,” Elijah said.

  “You are in big trouble,” Jaime said. “You violated the restraining order. I could have you thrown in jail.”

  “Oh, I see the kids got home,” Elijah said. “You’d better get Landon under control. And furthermore, there is no evidence that I violated anything. The kids are minors. The court doesn’t listen to the testimony of children.”

  “Meaning that you’ll deny what happened?” Jaime prayed that a few parents had witnessed the incident. Children’s testimony indeed.

  “I think this call is over,” Elijah said. “You can follow up with my legal counsel.”

  The call ended and Jaime paced, fuming. Monster didn’t begin to describe Elijah. He couldn’t get away with this. He might think that he could have his way, but there were laws—courts that would say otherwise. He could not take Iris’s home; it had been in the family for generations.

  On the heels of the attacks, her fury at Elijah still simmering, Jaime met with her sisters. She had more important business than her ex-husband’s vendetta. She’d informed the school about the restrictions against Elijah, and that she was the only person allowed to pick them up. She’d arrive before classes were over to give them a ride home.

  Meanwhile, Jaime was with her sisters at Iris’s home to tend to an important matter. Since Jaime was the coven leader, she was in charge of the Book of Shadows. The precious book contained all the spells from generations back.

  Her aunt, her mother, and her ancestors had written magical keys and spells in the special book. It was a heavy volume and more valuable than Jaime could imagine. No monetary amount could be assigned to it. The book was irreplaceable.

  The book lived under the protection of Iris’s home, as it had for Jaime’s ancestors. The house possessed magic of its own, hiding the book from unwelcome eyes. If the book was at risk, it was only to powerful witches, and there were no witches in Blairsville more powerful than the Sanders family.

  Jaime, Olivia, and Harper stood before the fireplace in a circle. They closed their eyes then held hands. As the new owner of the Book of Shadows, Jaime chanted the traditional verse to make it appear. “I am your new owner. Your magic rightfully belongs in my hands.”

  Jaime continued, reciting the full incantation. Then she opened her eyes to find the weighty volume hovering in the air within the circle. The three of them reached out to place their hands beneath the back cover, so the book rested on their palms.

  After setting it on a tall stand, Jaime touched the cover. She felt the magic imbued within the volume. While Olivia and Harper looked over her shoulder, she flipped through a few pages. The ancient sheets of parchment held the secrets of the coven.

  It was vital that Jaime took possession of the book prior to the coven meet
ing. She traced a fingertip along a page, then flipped to another. All the notes in the book were handwritten, as they should be. Jaime would contribute to the knowledge during the years of her leadership.

  Olivia and Harper read silently as Jaime spoke a few of the incantations aloud. She didn’t read any fully, as she didn’t want to create magic. But a wealth of education and training was available in the huge volume. Jaime’s primary duty—in addition to running the coven—was to protect the Book of Shadows and keep the traditions safe for future generations.

  Jaime closed the book and admired the ornate leather cover. The title was embossed in gold, and the intricate design reflected the book’s immense value. The book had existed for centuries—and would exist for that long again—without showing signs of wear. The cover and the magic within its pages grew richer with the years without degrading over time.

  After leaving the book on its pedestal, Jaime sat on the sofa to admire it. Olivia and Harper sat across from her, clearly in awe of the treasured volume.

  “I’ve only seen the Book of Shadows a few times before,” Jaime said. “My mother and my aunt showed it to me and stressed its value. One day I would take possession of the centerpiece of our witchcraft…and that day has come.”

  “It’s difficult to conceive of how much magic it holds,” Harper said.

  “That book will be of great help to us,” Olivia said.

  “Magic must be used wisely,” Jaime said. “And only for good. Spells used for evil can reverse and harm the witch who dared violate their purpose, or to use magic only for personal gain.”

  “I have no interest in either,” Olivia said. “But I’d be willing to use anything from those pages to assist in solving Iris’s murder.”

  “I have every intention of doing that,” Jaime said, “right after the coven meeting.”

  Dazzled by the Book of Shadows, the three of them chatted about the implications of having its power available. Deep in conversation, Jaime didn’t hear anyone enter the home. Without warning, a tall man in a dark outfit swooped into the room.

  The man lifted the Book of Shadows with both arms then turned to run.