Mystic Hallows Harem Box Set Episodes 1-4: Paranormal Reverse Harem Romance

by Nikki Landis

  Chapter 8

  “How long has she been like this?”

  Aunt Gwen’s voice faded in and out while I struggled to remain coherent. My body was beset with tremors as I shivered and trembled violently. Lying on my bed under my comforter and two additional blankets, my core temperature didn’t seem to rise fast enough. Gabriel sat on my left side, holding my hand. Damian was on my right, holding my other hand. Ryder was at the foot of my bed, his expression filled with concern. All of them were worried.

  “About five hours,” Damian answered quietly.

  Aunt Gwen paced the floor as Gypsy ran in the room. “What happened? Cassie, are you hurt?”

  She didn’t wait for an explanation but launched herself onto the bed, hugging me fiercely as I groaned. The pain was less but still present. At least the ringing in my ears was gone.

  “You’re going to suffocate me for sure this time, Gyps,” I croaked, my throat dry.

  “I’m so sorry!” Tears slipped down her cheeks as she hiccupped. “Forgive me, Cas.”

  “There’s nothing to forgive,” I rasped. Damian lifted a cup of water and placed it against my lips as I took a few sips. Once he was finished and returned the cup to the nightstand, I continued, “I was wrong, and you were right. Magic is never used to intentionally harm.”

  “Seb was being an ass,” she admitted. “I never should have made you feel like shit.”

  “He wasn’t himself, babe.” I inhaled a deep breath and released it slowly. She wasn’t going to like what I had to say. The news would be devastating. “He’s under a spell. Jadis is controlling him.”

  “What!” Gypsy exploded.

  Aunt Gwen paused and turned to me with concern. “You’re sure?” At my nod she sank into a vacant chair. “I was hoping it wasn’t this serious, but I see now we should have investigated sooner.”

  “None of us knew it was this serious,” Gabriel added. “It’s no one’s fault.”

  “But it is a problem that needs dealt with right away,” Ryder concluded.

  Gypsy turned to me with a sad expression on her face. “If Seb is being controlled then that only means one thing. Jadis tore a hole in the veil.”

  “Yes,” I answered, “and there’s no way she acted alone.”

  “Because she was never that powerful before,” Gyps agreed. “We both know that.”

  We’d reached the same conclusion. “She has to be stopped.” I pulled my hand from Gabriel and squeezed Gypsy’s. She held back tears and I knew why. “I’m sorry about Seb.”

  She smiled softly, something close to regret in her eyes. “He doesn’t know how I feel.”

  Aunt Gwen crossed the room and hugged Gypsy, her eyes meeting mine. We both knew what had to be done. “Sebastian will know, if he doesn’t already,” she assured Gypsy as she brushed her hair behind her ear. “The ancestors will protect him, but Jadis . . . she’s fair game.”

  “You didn’t answer, Cas. Are you okay?” Gypsy’s voice wavered but she sat up straighter.

  “I think so. I’m just tired.”

  “You need to rest.” Aunt Gwen patted my cheek lightly and stood, gesturing to the door. “We’ll all give you a chance to recover.”

  Ryder and Gypsy both left quietly as my aunt hovered by the door.

  “I’m staying.” Gabriel’s voice was firm.

  “As am I,” Damian added.

  Aunt Gwen shook her head but smiled as her footsteps echoed down the hall, the door left intentionally ajar.

  Five minutes later my eyelids drooped, and I fell asleep with two handsome protectors, one at each side of the bed, their close presence soothing my troubled soul.

  * * *

  By the early afternoon, I was feeling much better. As I sat up, the room didn’t spin, and my energy levels were through the roof. Like I had a sudden injection of pure adrenaline. I knew of a certain vampire to thank for that. Our eyes met and Damian grinned wide, his fangs peeking through his gums.

  ‘You look ravishing, pet.’

  I gasped, shocked at his voice in my head. He smirked, pleased that I heard him.

  ‘A rather fun side effect of my blood in your system.’

  Shit. Damian inside my thoughts was the last thing I needed.

  ‘I heard that. I could tell you a lot worse.’

  Scowling, I turned my head. “Don’t piss me off.”

  He chuckled lightly as I slipped from the bed and made my way to the bathroom, flipping him off as he shoved Gabriel, waking up the snoring wolf.

  A few minutes later, after a quick shower, I heard a voice on the other side of the door. “Cassie, you in there?” My aunt sounded concerned.

  “Be right out,” I assured her.

  “You look much better,” she observed as I exited and sat on the edge of the bed.

  “I’m feeling better, as good as new.” Lightheaded, but almost back to normal. It could have been much worse.

  ‘Thanks to me, pet. Maybe you should tell her.’

  Nope. I ignored the vampire.

  Aunt Gwen tugged me into a quick hug, a grim smile on her face as we separated. “We have work to do. Are you feeling up to it?”

  “Yes, no time like the present.”

  “I agree, sweetheart. We need clarity.” Aunt Gwen led us downstairs and began to gather the ingredients for her secret ‘Psychic Tea’. Rose petals, thyme, yarrow root, cinnamon, and cloves were gathered in a little metal infuser inside the Japanese-style cast iron teapot. It was my favorite and one that had been in the family for years.

  Once the water was steaming, Aunt Gwen poured the hot liquid into the pot and we awaited the spices and leaves to steep before she filled three ceramic mugs. Each of the mugs had little witch hats and our names scrawled across the front. A gift from Gypsy last Christmas. Glancing at my name, I smiled.

  “By the power of three, so let it be.”

  Aunt Gwen, Gypsy, and I all sipped the tea until it was gone and then closed our eyes. It never took long for the visions and feelings to emerge. Sometimes they were strong and insistent. Others, they were more like intuitions or simple nudges in the right direction. A witch was dependent upon these basics. Our auras lined up our purposeful intent with the correct choice or choices for our future. We sought to walk a specific path that aligned with our ancestors.

  Any competent witch sought the guidance of her coven. In essence, all thirteen families were part of one large coven. But some of the younger generations aligned with other witches that complemented their gifts and formed their own ‘mini covens’. That was what Gypsy had done. All witches in Mystic Hallows answered to the elders of the Salem bloodline. Aunt Gwen and Willow held positions on the coven council.

  Such was the way of the witch.

  The effects of the tea soaked into my consciousness.

  Within minutes, I began to have clear images and thoughts but this time something was different. Everything was so vivid and bright, full of color and incredibly clear. There was no distortion or mirage. No barrier was erected between my mind and the vision I saw. It was like an ultra-high definition television with 4k resolution and greater pixel density compared to an old black and white.

  In these visions I often walked a path or stood at a crossroads that helped me understand the importance of the future. It was a typical commune as I sought guidance. Not this time. A sense of urgency propelled me forward . . .

  .

  The graveyard was eerily silent so late at night. A full moon was high in the sky, her glow an amber shade that seemed to bleed into a dark crimson. The color oozed downward as droplets of blood leaked into the cluttered sky. Dark clouds hovered around the cylindrical shape but as my eyes wandered lower, I saw a horrifying and disturbing sight.

  The clouds formed a face. To be precise, the visage of a skull appeared and rested low in the sky above the carved headstones in the cemetery. As I watched, snakes coiled and slithered in and out of the eye sockets as if they were swimming in the droplets of blood.

  Two
familiar auras joined my own.

  I was no longer alone. Gypsy and my Aunt Gwen stood on either side, to my left and right. We gazed up at the moon and joined hands. The power of three. I knew instantly that the Howe bloodline was in danger as the skull morphed into a snarling and demonic expression. Rage trembled the earth beneath our feet as the entity lunged forward – straight for me. My soul was what it desired, the evil being intent on destroying me completely.

  I screamed as Aunt Gwen and Gypsy strengthened their shields and aligned with mine. Our magic combined into an impenetrable barrier. We were bombarded with attacks as a dark cloud descended upon us. Sinking to my knees, I glared defiantly up at the skull and declared with venom as my voice spoke clearly and without falter, “Free from the three, so mote it be.”

  I separated from my aunt and Gypsy and lunged forward, ready to confront my enemy . . .

  .

  My eyes opened and I gasped. Gypsy and Aunt Gwen were breathing hard, both their gazes locked on mine. We all knew what this meant. The Howe legacy had been targeted, but more alarming was the obsession this unknown evil had with me specifically. I could tell my aunt was freaked out.

  “We need to contact the ancestors. I’ll not fight this battle without their help. Maybe we can gain some insight from Liz.”

  “That was so strange. We’ve never connected like that in a vision before.”

  Gypsy was right. This was a bizarre experience. I was grateful for their presence but how was it possible? My palm lightly smacked my forehead as I turned to Gypsy. “The Samhain blessing.”

  Her eyes widened.

  We both understood why everything was different this time.

  Third Sight.

  The ancestors blessed us the first night of Samhain. I nearly forgot.

  Not only were we given a clearer and more concise vision, but we were now able to use the power of three and join together. This was a powerful connection that not many witches could boast. Our bloodline made this possible since we were gifted in divination. The original Salem witches weren’t especially strong with this ability. Our ancestors sought and developed our skills until we perfected the gift of sight.

  Aunt Gwen tipped her cup upside down on the table, followed by Gypsy, and then I tipped mine over last. This action ended the vision and prevented any other individual from discerning our secrets. With my Aunt Gwen’s next words, we were bound to one another and this vision, dependent on each other to protect the Howe bloodline.

  “As above, so below. As within, so without. As the universe, so the soul.”

  With those words spoken so clear and concise, I knew a war was coming.

  The veil was torn. A gate had been opened.

  Evil was unleashed.

  And the wicked presence in Mystic Hallows was only the beginning.

  Chapter 9

  We would seek the ancestors this evening. Until then, I wanted to visit the graveyard from the vision Aunt Gwen, Gypsy, and I shared. Rolling Rock Cemetery had been in the same location for centuries. The Salem family crypts were located in the southern end, far beyond the headstones that held the remains of Mystic Hallows residents.

  Dual ravens perched on each side of the main black wrought iron gates that swung open into the cemetery. Known for these ravens and their presence inside the cemetery, many believed spirits walked the graves and headstones often. This was especially true during Samhain. Another reason people flocked to the cemetery and hoped to commune with the dead. Visitors and tourists found the atmosphere festive and spooky. Ripe for ghost hunters and those who believed in the paranormal.

  I could say it was an unlikely event that spirits appeared, but it happened in the past.

  Besides, I spoke to my dead mother when I sought the ancestors. Seemed kind of ridiculous to dispute these claims. When you lived your entire life with magic and the unexplainable, nothing much surprised you. And when society was familiar with supernatural beings, anything was possible.

  You’d think that would make people less curious. It didn’t.

  The cemetery was different in the light of day. Less intimidating and spooky. I was unconcerned while I walked among the graves and headstones. As I passed my family crypt, my palm lightly touched the rugged, cool exterior and I smiled wistfully. I was luckier than most. My parents may be dead but at least I still interacted with my mother.

  Sitting in the grass a short distance away, I closed my eyes. I often came here to be close to my mother and commune with her spirit. My greatest fear was failure, but it was coupled with the thought of losing anyone else that I loved. A heavy burden rested on my shoulders, passed down from my female heritage. I knew my mother never meant for me to assume the role she vacated, especially at so early an age.

  Sometimes life threw us more than we were capable of catching.

  I’d wallowed in self-doubt and pity long enough. Brushing off my jeans, I stood and headed toward the front of the cemetery. I was only halfway there when I felt the same presence as last night.

  Jadis was here.

  And she wasn’t alone.

  Sebastian’s sneer was inhuman as he stared at me from beyond the headstones to my left. Jadis appeared in front of me seconds later. To my right was a thick line of trees that bordered the grounds. Behind me was my family crypt and more headstones with row after row of graves. I was essentially closed off from easy escape.

  “What do you want?” There was no point in delaying. She was here for a reason. I was certain she wouldn’t resist making an appearance and I was correct. Pride was a terrible sin.

  Maybe I should goad her with it?

  “It appears I killed you too quickly last night.”

  Shrugging, I didn’t reply.

  “Sebastian didn’t have any fun.”

  So? I thought buried deep inside Jadis would have sufficed, but hey, who was I to judge? “Guess you were less than satisfying,” I smirked, thinking of him thrusting inside her without emotion. “Maybe you need a spell for a tighter twat.”

  Her screech of outrage was satisfyingly perfect.

  “Of course, you’re already a cunt, so . . .” I drifted off, pleased I riled her up so easily.

  “You bitch!” she roared.

  Yeah? That was actually a compliment coming from her. “Why don’t you run along and play with your new toy?” I suggested, moving slowly backward as they closed in. “I’m pretty sure you’ve got a lot of spellcasting to master.”

  That last remark was a deliberate dig. She always struggled while she was in school and I thought it odd a Salem descendant would have any trouble with basic witchcraft. Unless Jadis wasn’t who we thought. Maybe her bloodline wasn’t pure. Oh, I couldn’t resist bringing that idea up.

  “You know,” I began casually, taking a few more steps, “you sure aren’t a very talented witch. Is your bloodline tainted?”

  I swore her screech of anger and hatred would wake the dead from these graves. “I’m going to enjoy your suffering. It’s time to die, Cassandra Howe, for real this time.”

  “I’d like to see you try.”

  They both lunged forward at the same time. I was no coward, so I didn’t run. Instead, I immediately sent my extra energy to my shields while I mumbled a spell under my breath, “fall and falter scrambled feet, let no harm upon me meet.”

  I watched with glee as Jadis stumbled and tripped over a headstone, her body landing in a twist of limbs as she cried out in rage. Too focused on her, I didn’t pay attention to Sebastian. The slam into my side knocked the breath from my chest as I fell on my back. His hands were around my throat and began to squeeze before I could move.

  Something wasn’t quite right about this. Other than his hands around my neck.

  They both should have been unable to reach me, but Sebastian didn’t have any trouble. In fact, he seemed immune to the spell. That wasn’t possible. He was a Salem witch.

  The air turned bitterly cold as I felt a sinister and evil presence blasting my shields. I was once more
being targeted with a crushing and dark magic. It was so intense and painful that I tried to yell, clawing at Sebastian’s hands as he squeezed tighter. My vision faded in the corners while my lungs ached from the lack of oxygen. Bright spots of light darted off to the left and right.

  Then something in the air shifted. A piercing howl shattered the silence as I recognized Gabriel’s aura. His scent saturated the air as Sebastian’s body was pulled from mine. Coughing and sputtering, I leaned over and sucked air into my desperate lungs.

  “Cassandra?”

  “I’m fine, Gabe!” As soon as I was able, I jumped to my feet and turned to find Gypsy and Jadis blasting magic at one another like some scene from a Harry Potter movie – gusts of wind, lightning bolts, fireballs, you name it. When the hell did Gyps develop her powers like that?

  Gabe and Sebastian were wrestling around on the ground and throwing punches. I couldn't keep up with their movements as they fought, my vision slightly blurry. I wanted to join in, but the dizziness increased. Falling to the ground, I heard Gabe call my name.

  “Cassie!”

  The next few minutes seemed unreal.

  Gabriel turned his back on Sebastian, ready to run in my direction while Gypsy screamed in warning. I was consumed with fright as I saw the sinister intent on Sebastian’s face. He was accessing dark magic. I felt it flow through his body, used as a conduit.

  Jadis laughed and ran from the cemetery, her sharp words echoing in my ears. “Tonight, Cassie, you’ll meet your doom!”

  Sebastian snarled and blasted a wave of magic into Gabriel that caused the wolf to freeze, his face contorted in pain.

  Gypsy appeared in front of Seb and held up her hands, her fingers glowing with pale aqua light. “See me clearly, dream no more. Head and heart, I do restore.”

  Sebastian blinked and sank to his knees, reaching for Gypsy. She fell into his embrace as he held her tight, apologizing as tears filled his eyes. “I’m so sorry, Gyps. Please, forgive me.”

  “I know,” she whispered, hugging him tightly. “Goddess, I know.”

  Gabe regained function as he sprinted forward and picked me up, cradling my body close. “I’ve got you, my Cas.” His lips pressed to mine in a brief kiss as he trembled. His aura was incredibly unstable. Whatever dark incantation was used, it drained him almost instantly. That level of power was only possible through blood magic. I knew of no other option.