"Careful, you'll blow the bulb," she warned. "Hmm... We need a spell to protect the witch casting these other spells..." Her voice trailed off as she returned to squinting at the small writing and making notes.
Simon entered the library to see her bent over the desk. Her hair shone like orange-gold flame in the lamplight. The look of concentration on her face endeared her even more. This was his woman, his life's mate. He knew it as if it were carved on his heart. Simon smiled as she glanced up at him. Not long until daylight, he wondered exactly what this Halloween day would bring.
Trudy stood and went to meet Simon. The soft smile he offered helped give her strength. What she needed to confess was not going to be easy and, by his smile, she knew he sensed it.
He pulled her into his arms and gave her the kiss she asked for earlier. His lips sought hers eagerly. Warm, moist heat met his mouth as she opened to him, accepting and responsive. Simon felt his head spin at the wild passion exploding between them. The sparks which passed between them before were nothing compared to this instantaneous combustion. His need became urgent. He slid his hands down her back to her hips and pulled her closer as his tongue delved deeper into her sweet mouth.
Moaning deep in her throat, Trudy met Simon's demands while making a few of her own. Her hands stroked across his broad shoulders then crept up into his short hair. When he would have drawn back, she insisted on more. Her tongue played with his as her clever fingers teased his ears and curled around the nape of his neck. She felt the ridge of his desire press against her stomach through their layers of clothing. A thrill of sensual pleasure traversed her spine. His hands cupped her bottom bringing her more tightly against him and she delighted in feeling how much he wanted her.
The lights flashing on and off failed to break their embrace, but several books flying from the shelves thudding onto the floor did the trick.
"If you weren't already dead, I could gladly kill you, Ghost," Simon growled, struggling to get his breathing to return to normal. He reluctantly let Trudy slip from his arms.
"We need to talk, anyway. I have to explain..." She took his hand and led him to a chair. "Maybe you should sit down." Trudy pulled a straight chair near and crossed her arms defensively over her stomach as she perched on the edge. "I'm afraid I really am a witch, Simon. But not a bad witch," she added before he could say anything. "I mean, I don't put hexes or curses on people and I never even killed a toad on purpose. Though, I think I did run over one with my car once, by accident."
She stood and paced in front of his chair, wringing her hands, as she continued, "Well, anyway, for years I tried to help others with my spells and potions. That's what the Simple Shoppe was before we, Mina and I, made it into a vintage junk shop. It was an herbal, charm, and potions shop, but I didn't do much business. People were mostly afraid of me. The sad thing was I kept seeing all these other women getting married and having babies and I wanted that too. More than I wanted the magic. So a year ago, on Halloween, I took a vow to close the shop and give up my powers. I thought if I could just be normal I could find a guy to love—have a family. Mina helped me with the ceremony and it really seemed to be working, at first. I felt normal and the shop is doing so much better. The staring stopped and people actually began to smile at me on the street or in the market. But then, I began to have trouble remembering things. I started losing stuff and I can't keep appointments anymore. It seems my common sense left too, along with what little courage I had. I've turned into a total ditz and that's not me at all. I'm afraid I've made a real mess of things with you and, now this," she waved her hand as her voice broke, "with the ghost..."
Simon caught hold of her hand and tugged her onto his lap. "All this happened because you wanted to be loved? My poor, sweet, little witch," he whispered and lowered his head to press a gentle kiss to her trembling lips.
Trudy pushed back against his chest and looked into his beautiful, sky-blue eyes. "You mean it doesn't... My being a witch doesn't bother you? Simon? Pay attention!" She shoved his head from the curve of her neck where he currently nibbled at her tingling flesh. "You don't believe me! You think I'm talking about a few teenage girls having a secret coven and playing with Ouija boards while they recite spooky poetry." She scrambled to get off his legs.
Holding her in place, Simon told her, "Trudy, stop. Please sit still. It's okay, I do believe you. Hon, listen to me." He caught her chin and turned her face to his. "My grandmother was Wiccan. She was... Well, her name was Marta O'Dea. Granny Marta came from—"
"She came from Ireland and started a coven here before she married. Marta really was your grandmother? She was my mother's Priestess in her coven. Priestess Marta presided over my dedication. Oh, Simon, you do understand. You really are almost perfect," Trudy cried with delight then threw her arms around his neck before smothering him with kisses.
Simon chuckled then took over with a deep, intimate joining of mouths which seemed to reach his very soul. He couldn't wait to get this woman naked and willing in a bed. Heck, on a table, the floor, here in the chair—he wouldn't be picky about location.
This time a strong, chilly breeze blowing across them separated the two.
"Okay, okay. I'm on it," Trudy reassured the ghost. She moved back to the desk and her notes. She began another list. "I'll have to get Mina to help me reverse my vow first thing, or we'll have to find another witch to help perform the spells. Then I need to gather up all the essentials." She paused and looked up, speaking to the room in general, "Gilbert, you will have to trust me and let me out of here to do this stuff. I cannot do all these things from here."
The lamp flashed erratically.
"Hmm... I don't think he likes the idea," Simon said. He rose from the armchair and crossed to lean a hip on the edge of the desk, anxious to see how his new love would handle a recalcitrant ghost.
"Fine!" Trudy firmly closed the old book and leaned back in the chair. She stifled a yawn. "I'm tired anyway. I'll just head off to bed and he can figure it out for himself. After today we won't hear from him again until next Halloween and then he can be someone else's problem. Good luck finding another witch next year."
Books and figurines flew off the shelves of the library and the light blinked off and on until the bulb blew out.
Trudy deliberately held back the 'I told you so' threatening to escape over the burned out lamp.
Simon hurriedly stepped around the desk to shield Trudy from flying objects with his broad body. "Is this a ghostly tantrum?"
"Seems so." Trudy formed a vee of her first two fingers and laid one on each side of her nose. "On my honor as a witch, I will return before dark falls again. I will attempt to release you from your curse and reunite you with your love. Now, how's that?"
The books stopped falling and a wall sconce came on to shed a soft light on the trashed room.
Trudy gathered the old book of witchcraft and her lists. Stepping carefully to avoid broken glass, and with Simon following along, she walked through the large house, stopping at the front door.
Creaking and groaning, the door swung open to reveal the glimmer of daylight breaking from the East.
Simon picked up her overnight bag he dropped in the foyer earlier and escorted her from the house.
The door quietly closed behind them.
* * * * *
They met at the shop after a quick call to Mina. Mina prepared the back room for the ceremony to ask that Trudy's vow be reversed. Then she and Trudy disappeared for several minutes. When the door opened, Simon peeked in to find them both sitting on the floor, pale and shaken, but unharmed.
He helped them to their feet and asked, "Did it work?"
Trudy waved her hands before her face and felt the familiar tingle she missed more than she thought in previous months. She focused on a small cardboard box and held out her hand for it. The box shifted a bit and she concentrated harder. It lifted, floated across the small space, and came to rest on her hand. Her magic was back. Trudy looked up to check Simon's re
action.
A wide grin met her gaze. "Now that would definitely be handy when you need the remote or a bag of chips and a drink."
Trudy and Mina laughed at his typical maleness as Mina blew out the candle in the center of a pentagram drawn on the floor.
"We only have an hour before we have to open the shop. We'll need to gather several things for tonight. Shall we take turns leaving to pick them up? First, let's go over the list and make sure I haven't forgotten anything we'll need. No, first, we really need to go over the spells again to make sure I didn't miss any of the details. So much to do..."
"No, first, I need a minute alone with you," Simon insisted to Trudy as he hustled Mina out of the room and firmly closed the door. He turned back to grab Trudy into his arms and kiss her thoroughly until they were both gasping for breath. He nestled her against his chest, inhaled the wonderful cinnamon-vanilla scent, and told her, "You had me worried. When I saw you on the floor looking so pale, I almost had a heart attack. Does this stuff happen often?"
Trudy chuckled into his neck. "No, but this is Halloween and it tends to get a bit weird for us. Tonight's going to be a whole new experience." She drew back enough to gaze into his blue eyes. "Are you sure you want to be involved? I'll do my best to protect you, but..."
"Protect me? Just how dangerous will this be, Trudy?" Simon glared at her now.
"There may be spirits who don't want him released...or reunited with his love. I don't know how powerful they might be. Mina and I will cast protection spells. I hope they'll be strong enough to cover you too, but since I only got my powers back... Well, I'm not sure..." She nibbled her lower lip and frowned up at him. "It might be safer for you to be somewhere else, Simon. I don't want anything to happen to you. I just found you."
"No! I know I have to be there. It's important... I can't explain, but I just know it is. I'll be fine." He kissed her again, a tender touching of the lips as he smoothed his palm over the tangled mass of her hair. What he really wanted to do was lean her back on the table and have his way with her. The hot, intense desire he felt whenever he touched this woman was unreal, a definite distraction. He deepened the kiss. His tongue stroked hers and his hands slid toward her breasts.
A light banging on the door, preceded a shouted, "All right, you two. We don't have time for this right now. We've got work to do."
"She's right, you know." Trudy gave Simon a quick kiss on the nose and reluctantly pulled away. "A witch's work is never done."
Chapter Seven
Simon followed behind Trudy and Mina as they drove to the Gambrell house. Dusky dark faded into night and they saw lit candles in pumpkins and decorations glowing from stores and homes along the way. Costumed gremlins and fairies walked the sidewalks in packs seeking treats before it would be time for the older kids to be let loose to have their fun. Toilet-papered trees, porches, and cars would show their efforts come morning, with a few graffiti-marked signs and buildings thrown in. More than one house revealed signs of Halloween parties and a large Haunted House, hosted by the fire department, boasted long lines snaking around one street corner.
The candles were lit in the pumpkins along the front of the Gambrell house and several lights were on throughout the first floor as they pulled into the drive. They loaded their arms with the tools of their craft and made their way to the front door. The door groaned as it opened wide to let them enter.
"Cool!" Mina breathed in awe at meeting her first real ghost. "Hi, Gilbert. I'm Mina. I'll be helping Trudy tonight. Hope that's okay with you."
The light above her head in the entry flashed and Mina laughed. "This is way beyond cool."
Simon placed a large barrel of candy on the veranda for the trick-or-treaters to help themselves then closed and locked the front door. He didn't want any innocent by-standers wandering in during an inopportune moment.
Trudy was trying to decide where best to set up for their evening of witchcraft. "Shall we do this in the library, Gilbert?" Trudy waited to see what the ghost would do.
The foyer lights went off and a light came on in the back hallway leading to the library.
"Okay, gang, be sure we have all our stuff. We're going this way," Trudy announced.
In the dark, dusty library they piled their miscellaneous objects in a corner and started setting up. Working together they soon had a table Simon located for them situated in the exact center of the room and all the candles and herbs laid out in the order they would need them. A large, carefully drawn pentagram decorated the floor and a navy silk cloth emblazoned with a silver pentagram covered the table.
Mina painstakingly performed the cleansing spell to oust any evil or playful spirits which might interfere with what they were about to do. She placed sea salt across the doorways and on the window sills as she chanted,
"Mother Earth and Father Time,
Spirits of Good and Power sublime,
Cleanse this room of evil and strife,
May this salt protect and preserve life.
Blessed Spirits, be our guest,
Grant peace and power for the quest.
Grant this, God, we ask of thee,
Blessed be, blessed be."
She sprinkled rosemary and ground bloodroot on Simon's shoulders and repeated the chant. "No matter what you see or hear, you stay wherever Trudy puts you or you could do more harm than good," Mina insisted.
"Yes, ma'am," he humbly agreed. This reminded him of things he'd watched his Granny do when he was a small boy. He'd always been fascinated, but never had any powers.
Trudy removed a small silver bowl and a short dagger from a box and passed them to Mina before turning to Simon. "I want you to stand behind me. Please stay there unless I tell you to move. Once we start, we must finish or the magic will be broken. And we have to complete the spells before midnight to use the added powers of All Hallow's Eve."
"I understand. I'll stay put unless you tell me otherwise," Simon agreed then moved to stand where she indicated.
Mina and Trudy took their places, facing across the small table. Mina held up the small dagger and silver bowl as she turned to the four true compass points while whispering. Then she passed them back to Trudy who also held them to the four true compass points, the four corners of the Earth, and asked,
"Blessed be, blessed be,
Mother Earth and Father Time,
Spirits of Good and Power sublime,
This night, please come to me,
I, your daughter, have need of thee."
A soft breeze ruffled Trudy and Mina's hair, though no window or door opened. Trudy placed the bowl and knife on the table, then also placed one white and one black candle on the table, one to the East and one to the West.
Mina closed her eyes and spoke,
"Mother Earth and Father Time,
Spirits of Good and Power sublime,
A spell was wrought many years ago,
A curse spoken after blood did flow.
We, your daughters, beseech thee now,
Help us remove the curse and break the vow."
The candles flared to life, set aflame at the same moment.
Trudy sprinkled acacia, ground bloodroot, and sprigs of foxglove, nettles, crushed pennyroyal, and dried rosemary between the lit candles. She chose pieces of crystal quartz, jasper, and moonstone and held them cradled in her palms. She cupped the stones in her hands and requested,
"Blessed be, blessed be,
Mother Earth and Father Time,
Spirits of Good and Power sublime,
A soul was bound and cursed before,
Tonight we ask, be he cursed no more.
Protect us, Blessed Ones, as we cast,
These spells to right the wrong of the past.
Blessed be, blessed be."
The stones in Trudy's hands turned to powder and she sprinkled a bit along the pentagram design on the table. A breeze ruffled first Trudy, then Mina, and finally Simon's hair as it wafted through the library once more.
; Trudy carefully placed white candles on the points of the pentagram and lit them. Then she added black candles, also on the lines of the pentagram, but inside the white candles. "The white candles plead for protection, for the powers of good to sustain us, and to aid us in remaining pure of heart. The black candles are to signify the breaking of the curse, the reversal of a spell, and to release the binding of one wrongly bound."
She then placed a silver candle in the center of the pentagram and slid the dagger and the small silver bowl to rest on either side of it. The silver candle was the thirteenth placed on the table.
"Blessed be, blessed be,
Gilbert, come forth, I command thee.
Make thy presence before me known,
Petition the Spirits, thy curse to be gone."
As the misty figure of a male appeared near the table, a strong wind, cold and menacing, and muddy gray in color, whirled through the room, stirring dust from the floor.
Engulfed in what appeared to be a mini-tornado, Trudy's hat flew from her head and her clothing whipped against her body. Trudy reached across the table to join hands with Mina. The air crackled around them.
"Simon, don't move from that spot no matter what happens," she whispered over her shoulder.
Then she and Mina chanted together,
"Blessed be, blessed be,
Your faithful ones are serving thee,
Share thy wisdom and thy light,
Protect us, here and now, this night.
Blessed be, blessed be."
They repeated the chant over and over until another whirlwind—a glowing, gray-blue twister blew about the room.
The girls could hardly stand, caught between the two forces. Their hair and clothes were blown back and forth.
Even Simon found himself having difficulty standing upright.
Yet no furnishings or books were caught up in the winds. They seemed to have no effect on the room at all.
Finally the dark, gray, cold wind faltered and receded to a corner of the room.
"Mina, we have to go on," Trudy insisted when she got her breath back.
Mina picked up the dagger with her right hand and held the blade above the white candle to the East as she made the sign of the pentagram with the tip. Then she did the same over the black candle to the West. She took Trudy's left hand in hers.
Becca's Paranormal Collection Page 5
