The Witch's Handbook to Hunting Vampires (Southern Single Mom Paranormal Mysteries 1)

by Amy Boyles

  Stone clicked his tongue. “Why don’t you like magic?”

  I sighed. “You’ve hit all the personal questions today.”

  He chuckled. “Right. Only me. You haven’t done any of that.”

  “Got me there.” I sighed. “Okay, when I was little, around four or so, my mom summoned some evil that killed her and nearly took out my aunt Dot and her three sisters. To remain safe from the thing that was pursuing them, they split up. My grandma, the only sister who wasn’t a witch, hid me away, hoping to keep me in the dark about the family lineage.

  “Well, that didn’t work. My powers surfaced while I was at school one day. I had no idea what was going on because she kept the truth from me. It was frightening. After that, I decided to embrace my power. So at eighteen I went to hunter school. Everything was great up until almost three years ago, when magic and evil took away something very precious to me.”

  I glanced down at my wedding band. “From that point on, I decided I was done with it. At least until Gabby got her powers. My plan there was to let her know about magic so that she’d be ready when or if she received her powers. On that day, I was going to shift gears and accept certain aspects of magic back into my life. Now all that’s changed. And yes, before you ask, my family escaped the evil.”

  I exhaled. Stone grabbed my hand. He gave me a smile that warmed me all the way down to my toes.

  I shrugged. “It’s okay. I’m okay.”

  He nodded. “Your turn,” he said quietly.

  “Can you ever get back into heaven?”

  Stone nodded. “It will take some work, but it’s possible. I have to get back into God’s good grace, and that will take a lot of proving myself.”

  I tapped my hands on the table. “Your turn.”

  “Why Normal?”

  I smiled broadly. “Because everything’s in a name. This town as exactly as it says—normal—and that’s what I was looking for when I found it. It’s my turn again. Let me think… So you fly?” I said, lowering my voice. I didn’t need all of Normal thinking I was crazy. Well, no crazier than I already was.

  Stone flashed me a smile that made my lips quiver. “Are you finished with your lunch?”

  I nodded hesitantly.

  “Let’s go find out.”

  We drove into the Bankhead National Forest about twenty minutes later. Trees blurred past my window.

  “We need to get back to finding your angel,” I said.

  Stone nodded. “Vampires sleep during the day. She’s safe for now.”

  “Where are we going tonight?” I said. “Any ideas?”

  Stone rubbed his thumb over his bottom lip. “I have a great idea.”

  “Where?” I said.

  “I’ll tell you when we get there. Meanwhile, you can tell me about your husband.”

  I choked on a cough. “How do you know about him?”

  “You wear a wedding band.”

  “Oh. Right. Was that supposed to be a transition into getting to know me better?”

  Stone turned toward me. A grimace flashed over his face. “I didn’t do a very good job, did I?”

  “Not really.” I hacked the rest of my cough up. “It’s okay, though. Really. It’s fine.” I got ahold of myself by nabbing my lipstick from my purse and slathering some on, because when you look good, you feel good—that’s what Grandma always used to say.

  “I met Dex in hunter school. I was eighteen, he was twenty. It was love at first sight for both of us.” Yes, I know that’s a lot of info, but I didn’t think angels could have romantic feelings for humans, so I figured I didn’t risk anything telling him the truth.

  “I graduated when I was twenty-two. I was assigned to be Dex’s partner. We got married not long after and worked for years—mostly for the supernatural tribunal, but oftentimes we worked freelance for extra cash. We were on an official mission—had a lead on a lord vampire. Killing him would wipe out the bad vampires for good. After months of searching, we finally found him.”

  Stone turned onto a dirt road and killed the engine. “Do you take your books with you?”

  I got out of the car and followed him into the forest. Leaves crunched beneath my heels. The smell of fall surrounded us—leaves, smoke and crisp, clean wind. I smiled.

  “The Witch’s Handbook? Yes, if you want to use it, you’ve got to take it with you. So yes, Dex had the book. Anyway, he faced off against the lord vampire. They wrestled, becoming a tangle of bodies. Dex staked him; I saw it. Saw the lord vampire fade. We were on a cliff, a ravine. As the lord vampire sank over the edge, he pulled Dex with him, down into the rushing water below.”

  I wiped a budding tear away. “We never recovered his body. Gabby was born eight months later.”

  “She’s a beautiful girl,” he said.

  “Thank you. I would do anything to protect her.” I shot out a stream of air. “So there you have it.”

  Stone paused. “If Dex killed the lord vampire, how is it we have another surge of vamps in Normal?”

  I smacked my lips. “Must be several lords. Our vampire must be from a different lineage. From what I understand, most of the vamps are registered with the tribunal. It helps keep the peace within the supernatural community.”

  Stone stopped. He hooked his fingers into his belt loops.

  “I think we’re in far enough.”

  “Far enough for what?”

  He crossed to me and took my hand. Energy zinged down my spine. My bones fizzled at his touch. Stone guided my hands around his neck.

  “Far enough that no one will see us,” he whispered. “Grab hold. I’m going to pick you up.” He hooked an arm under my knees and lifted me like he was about to carry me over a threshold.

  I didn’t think that, right? I didn’t just equate this moment with being a newlywed.

  I did, didn’t I? So, sue me.

  “Hold on,” he repeated. Half a second later we were propelling into the sky at a speed that made everything shift and blur. Wind rushed through my hair, rippling my skin and clothes. My head swam as the world below whirled past.

  The whole time all I could think of was how tightly I was holding on to him and how he was grasping me.

  But to be honest, the flight nearly made me sick. No wonder Stone drove like a maniac; his flying was like riding a rocket.

  We landed a few minutes later. He settled me back on the ground.

  “Whoa,” I said. “That was intense.”

  “It’s not something for the faint of heart, but you wanted to try it.”

  He let me down gently, and for half a second I was terribly disappointed about being released from his arms. I’d have to tell Kate what we did. Crap. I couldn’t tell her. Oh, then I’d tell Vordrid, and I’d make it sound very, very good.

  Of course Vordrid wouldn’t care. “Remind me that I don’t have to do that ever again, and I’ll still be okay.”

  He smiled. “I’ll try.”

  I stared into his eyes and felt an intensity curl its tendrils around us. “Don’t you have wings?”

  He smiled. “I don’t need them, but I have them.”

  I winked at him. “We should get back.” I took a wobbly step forward and dipped down.

  Stone grabbed me before I had a chance to hit the ground. “There’s a little bit of a recovery period. Here. I’ll carry you back to the car.”

  “You won’t hear me complaining,” I said.

  “It can also make you feel a little woozy. You probably shouldn’t sign any legal documents for the next thirty minutes.”

  “So no getting married?” I said.

  “Let’s get you home,” Stone said. “You need a nap and then you’ll be good to go.”

  “But we have to find the angel,” I insisted.

  “We will.”

  Stone opened the car door. I slid onto the seat, sinking down toward the floorboard. He hoisted me back up. “Let’s get this seat belt on you.” He held me down and strapped me in. I stared into his eyes, licking my lips as
he clicked the buckle.

  “You’ll be fine in a few minutes.”

  “Great.”

  While he was walking around the car, an idea hit me.

  He slid into his seat and studied me. “How’re you feeling?”

  I smacked my lips. “Great. Listen, we have a man murdered by a vampire, and a missing girl who was clearly dating him, but our victim didn’t want anyone to know—case in point the hidden picture. Said missing girl appeared at my house, and according to my great-aunt Dot, she may have attacked my daughter. I think we need to dig deeper into Charlotte.”

  Stone keyed up the engine. “Okay. You got any ideas how we’re going to do that?”

  “Mmm. Let me think on it some.”

  My phone rang. I fished it from my jacket pocket. HOME flashed on the screen. I thumbed it on, afraid something had happened to Gabby.

  Not that that was a rational thought, but you know, when you had a kid and had lustful thoughts about some guy, it just would figure that some sort of emergency would pop up to prove to me that I needed to keep my focus on my kid and not some hot angel sitting beside me.

  Boy, did his skin look really smooth in that moment.

  “Hello?” I said, shaking the thought from my head.

  “Andie.”

  “Vordrid? What are you doing calling me? It’s bad, isn’t it? You never call unless there’s something awful going on at home.”

  “It could be worse,” was all he said.

  I shot Stone a worried look. He frowned at me. “What is it?”

  “Dot’s invited over a few people.”

  “Okay,” I said slowly. “What’s wrong with that?”

  “They’re all in the front yard.”

  “Oh,” I said. “Are they being too loud? Do you think they’re disturbing the peace or something?”

  “No, Andie, it’s worse.”

  “How?”

  “She’s teaching them magic.”

  “No!”

  “Yes, Andie. She’s teaching them magic, and the entire neighborhood can see.”

  SEVENTEEN

  “Hunters are witches, and as such are subject to the justice of the masses—meaning death by burning at the stake.”

  —The Witch’s Handbook

  * * *

  “So what’s so bad if everyone sees the magic?” Stone asked.

  I gripped the edge of my seat, willing him to go as fast as he could. For once.

  “Dot has lived her entire life among witches. She forgets that regular people aren’t used to magic—especially people in small towns who may start to think about other things, like Satan.”

  Stone quirked a brow.

  “I don’t need people in my town running me out because they think I’m a devil worshipper, or attacking my house at night or even worse. People don’t like what’s different or weird. I’m trying to be normal.”

  “In Normal?” Stone said.

  “Exactly. If I’ve got to get rid of a few vampires to make that happen, then fine. But I don’t want my family to be hurt because people don’t understand me.”

  We reached my house within fifteen minutes. If Stone’s flying didn’t turn me into a total wet noodle, I would’ve suggested traveling that way, but I wanted all my brains about me.

  ’Cause let’s face it, I was about to need them.

  We reached the house, and it was exactly as Vordrid said.

  Dot stood on the lawn with a gaggle of women, including Kate. She was walking around pouring them what looked like hot cocoa from a silver coffee set.

  As soon as Stone shifted into park, I flung my door open.

  “Now remember, ladies, the pixie dust I gave you will enhance what’s already there. If you think you’ve got longer lashes, that’s what you’ll have.”

  I swept up the stairs right as Kate said, “My lips are full. My lips are full.”

  I froze as my best friend’s lips swelled like they were being inflated with a bicycle pump. “Oh yes, they are,” I said. “Maybe you should stop thinking about them being so full, because they are big and gorgeous.”

  Dot was walking around with a mirror. “Does anyone want to see?”

  Kate raised her hand. “I do!”

  I snatched the mirror from Dot before Kate had a chance to take a quick peek. “No, you don’t need to look. Trust me, they’re gorgeous.”

  Kate leaned on one hip. “But I want to see.”

  I took her hand and smiled. “Kate, trust me. You look great. They couldn’t get any better.”

  I swung around to Dot. “What are you doing?” I hissed. “You could get us all in trouble.”

  Dot dismissed me with a wave. “What are you talking about?”

  “No one knows what we are. You could get the whole town down on us.”

  Just then, a black pickup truck gunned by. “Andie Taylor’s having a party on her lawn,” Missy Burke shouted. Her dark hair blew in the wind as she eyed our little soiree. “And it looks like they’re doing makeup!”

  My heart sank. Great. Now everyone would know. There would be questions. But as long as no one’s use of pixie dust went horribly wrong, we should be fine.

  Stone sidled up to me. I could feel his energy wafting off him. It was almost like the guy was made of electricity. “What can I do?” he said.

  I bit down on my lip, trying to hatch a plan that wouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings.

  “Dot, you have to get rid of them,” I said. “Something’s bound to happen.”

  “Nonsense, Andie. When has playing with pixie dust ever gone wrong?”

  I raked my fingers through my hair. “Now. It’s going wrong now. Kate’s lips are the size of lemon wedges.”

  Dot’s eyes sparkled with interest. “Oh! You don’t say. There may be hope for her yet.” She slipped away from our conversation and headed to my best friend.

  “I guess there’s no way to do this but the hard way.” I sneaked up to Dot and snatched the pouch of magic dust from her. She smirked over her shoulder at me but said nothing.

  “Wow, Kate,” one of the women said, “your lips swelled all up.”

  Kate’s fingers flew to her mouth. “Have they? Did I do it? Did I work magic?”

  “They’re huge,” another woman said.

  I cut in between the women and put on my thickest, most welcoming Southern accent. “It was so wonderful having y’all here. Thanks for coming and chatting, but y’all are going to have to go now.” I started ushering them toward their vehicles. “We’ve got to start cleaning up and all that, y’all understand. But we so much enjoyed having you here.”

  I pretty much shoved them into their cars. They had confused looks on their faces, but what could they do? I was kicking them off my lawn. Thankfully the pixie dust hadn’t taken to them. At least, not while they were here. If they got home and it started to work—well, I prayed that wouldn’t happen.

  I hoped God was listening since Dot had pretty much taken things into her own hands with this magic stuff.

  “Oh no! My lips are huge,” Kate shouted.

  I clenched my fists to my sides and headed back toward my friend. Dot stood in the way, blocking what was going on. I brushed her shoulder as I walked around.

  “They weren’t that bad a minute ago—oh dear Jesus himself,” I shouted. My eyes flared wide.

  Kate looked like she’d had a reaction to something she’d eaten. Forget about her lips being the size of lemon wedges.

  They were now the size of lemons.

  “What happened to my lips?” she gasped. Her words were garbled; her tongue must’ve been thickening at the same time. “It must be an allergic reaction. Do you have any Benadryl?”

  I shot Dot a look that would’ve set her hair on fire if it could have. “Come inside.”

  I led Kate toward the house. I reached for the door right as Gabby started wailing. The sound knocked me back. Strong, sinewy arms caught me. My breath hitched.

  “You okay?” he said.

  I nodd
ed. “Yeah,” I mumbled.

  Kate’s face twisted in confusion. “Is that Gabby?”

  The wailing started again. It rattled the house. I needed to get inside and see what the heck was happening to my toddler, but at the same time I was scared to death. Her cries were so loud I was pretty sure Missy Burke was about to be driving down my street again, shouting about it.

  I glanced at Dot. “Where’s Gabby?”

  “She was napping so I left her in the crib.”

  I took a deep breath and flung the door open.

  “Mommy! Mommy!”

  Gabby’s cries filled the entire house.

  “Oh my Lord,” Kate said. “Y’all, I think we’re witnessing some sort of unnatural phenomenon.”

  Everything in my living room was levitating off the floor about three inches.

  I stared in disbelief.

  As Gabby screamed my name one more time, Kate crossed one arm over the other and said, “I knew I had some powers, but I had no idea I could do this. Andie, I’m so sorry. I don’t know how to fix it.”

  I glanced at her, a knot of air blocking off my lungs. I gulped it down and said, “I do.”

  I raced into the house and found Gabby standing in her crib. Tears streamed down her face. I scooped her up. “Mommy’s here, honey. Calm down.”

  After a minute or so of taming my toddler, all the furniture sank to the floor.

  Dot entered the room. “She got scared because she woke up and no one was here.”

  I nodded. I sat with Gabby in the rocking chair until she was just sniffling. I pushed her amber curls from her face and kissed her forehead. When she was calm and happy, I put her down and she wandered off.

  I went back into the living room, where I found Kate with one arm crossed over the other. She tapped her foot and glared at me as if I’d stolen her candy bar.

  Which sounded really good at the moment, I had to admit. I’d probably just settle for a squirt of chocolate sauce in my mouth—you know, old faithful.

  “Andie Taylor, you’ve been keeping secrets from me,” she said.

  I shook my head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Y’all have a poltergeist and you never even told me.”