Life's a Witch

by A. M. King

  The music play list popped up on the screen.

  A jolt of excitement rushed through her.

  I did it.

  It was one thing when things happened without her intending them, like when the door slammed shut on its own that time she felt threatened by her ex. But it was surreal that she could command things to just happen. Just like that without any physical interference.

  Then she realized the spell was not quite complete. There was no sound, even though the iPod appeared to be playing. Then it stopped again and the Wi-Fi that had momentarily popped up vanished.

  Crap.

  She must have looked totally ridiculous standing in the middle of the café lounge staring at the tiny screen of a five-inch device propped up on a dock a few feet away while she spoke to it. Good thing she was alone or else people could think she was stark crazy. If anyone had told her a year ago that she had magical powers and energies that could make things happen and that it was a gift in her family line, she would have thought they were stark crazy.

  The Summer Café, which boasted the most delicious gourmet sandwiches and pastries in North America, would be opening soon. It was no use.

  She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath and counted to three and spoke the words, “Commanderio turn yourself on.”

  Nothing happened.

  Crap.

  She was so new to this. She must have said the spell wrong. “This is all about telekinesis, right?” she mumbled to herself, trying to remember what Madam Techer had taught her so far.

  According to Telekinesis 101, or commonly known as psychokinesis, it was all about movement. The psychic ability allowing a person to influence a physical system without physical interaction.

  Febe concentrated for a minute. She then commanded again. And still nothing happened. How embarrassing. Her heart pounded in her chest. Perhaps she wasn’t good at magic like the rest of her family, after all.

  Her heart fluttered in her chest. Could she really do this? Was it just a fluke that she was able to make things happen in the past when she was royally peeved?

  She then concentrated her energies to make it work. She remembered what her witching teacher Madam Techer once told her about focusing her emotional energies.

  Nothing happened.

  She then relaxed and decided not to try too hard.

  She then pointed her finger to the iPod.

  “Commanderio play the song list,” she whispered louder this time, putting more belief into what she was doing and directing her energies in a positive flow as she pointed to the device.

  She then felt the energies magically move through her body and a zinging sensation tickled her body. Suddenly, the iPod came alive and sound erupted through the speakers

  A wide grin curved her lips in surprise.

  “Sweet,” she whispered proudly to herself. So there were some things she could do without messing up.

  She knew she wasn’t supposed to practice magic in public as Blackshore Bay was a magic-free town, but this was okay, wasn’t it?

  The sound of a man clearing his throat startled her and she spun around quickly.

  There standing at the door was her ex-fiancé, Jonathan. He stood tall in white shirt and dark jacket. He wasn’t in his usual business suit that he wore to the office at the advertising agency where she used to work. That was until she got fired, thanks to him. She noticed he looked as if he hadn’t even shaved. He sported a five o’clock shadow.

  Still, he was a creep.

  The man who’d broken her heart not too long ago. He was the reason she didn’t have a job in the big city and left her apartment. It was a huge complicated mess.

  “Jonathan? What are you doing here?” she asked, surprised to see him there in Blackshore Bay and at her family’s café so early in the morning.

  “The door was unlocked.”

  “Right.” Febe forgot to lock the door when she came in.

  “Nice going with the iPod. I heard someone say the Wi-Fi was down in the area. Something to do with a responder malfunction. But are you allowed to practice magic here?” He arched his brow.

  “Practice...what? How did you...?”

  “Relax. It’s a long story. I know what you are. I figured it out even before you knew it.”

  “Y-you did?” Well, this was a surprise.

  “Yes. And I knew about Amanda.”

  “You what?”

  “You see, it was hard to explain to you then, but...I’m not just an ad executive. I used to work part time as an undercover agent with the supernatural division of the federal agency.”

  Febe’s heartbeat pounded in her throat. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

  “I couldn’t. I was sworn to secrecy. Anyway, I’m really sorry about what happened.”

  “You mean for cheating on me with our boss, Amanda, and breaking up with me on my birthday?”

  “I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I really had to let you know how sorry I was about all that. Anyway, I needed to see you for two reasons.”

  “What are the two reasons?” she asked, knowing she would probably regret it.

  She proceeded to fix the chairs around the café’s tables while she spoke with him. She knew she shouldn’t even give him the time of day. But as her mother always told her, it was nice to be important but it’s even more important to be nice. She had that nice gene flowing through her veins and Jonathan knew it.

  “First, I need to apologize. I’m very sorry that I’ve hurt you, Febe. You need to know that. I need you to know that.”

  “Noted,” she said, trying to sound casual. The fact was he had really hurt her badly. Stabbed a knife in her heart. How could she just forgive him so easily as if nothing happened?

  “What’s the second thing, Jonathan? I’ve got to open up shop soon. The other staffers will be here any minute.”

  He sighed deeply, his hands shoved in his pants pockets. He then rubbed his five o’clock stubble and looked directly at Febe.

  “Well?” she asked. “Are you going to tell me what else you came here to see me about?”

  “Yes. I need a favor from you.”

  She looked at him, stunned. “A favor? From me?”

  He sighed again. “I know I have no right to ask you this. But you’re the only one I can ask this. You’re a good girl, Febe. You always have been and I never deserved you. You didn’t deserve what happened between us.”

  “Okay, cough it up. What favor do you want from me?”

  Just then Febe heard a car door slam outside the café in the parking lot. It was her sister Janvier coming in to help her.

  “My sister will be here soon, so you’d better hurry,” Febe said. “And by the way, my family knows what you did to me, so they may not be warm and friendly towards you. Just thought I’d let you know.”

  “I know. I deserve that.” His tone was low and deep. “Anyway, I need you to find out something for me.”

  “Find out what?”

  “Who killed me last night?”

  Febe’s heart stopped beating.

  Chapter 2

  “Did you just say you need me to find out who killed you? Last night?” Febe asked, incredulously.

  He nodded slowly.

  She regarded him carefully. “B-but. Y-you’re here. Y-you’re not d-dead, are you?”

  Again, he nodded slowly.

  Janvier opened the front door and door chime sounded. “Hey Sis, I thought you would have had everything set up by now. What are you doing here talking to yourself?”

  Jonathan arched his brow as if to say ‘see, I told you,’

  Febe drew in a deep breath, trying to calm her fast beating heart. “I’m so dead.”

  “What?”

  “I mean...I...” What she meant was Jonathan was so dead. And she didn’t know how to explain that to her sister.

  Febe glanced at Jonathan then Janvier and back to Jonathan. It was clear that Janvier couldn’t see Jonathan.

  Febe kne
w that all witches had their own gifts and abilities. Janvier could read the minds of cats and other domestic animals. Her aunt was somewhat clairvoyant and could foresee the near future. But Febe was also a medium now? She could communicate with the dead? Okay, so she saw Madam Techer, but that was different, right?

  Febe thought she only had the ability to move things with the right amount of emotional energy. She didn’t think she could also see all ghosts as if they were real people.

  She sighed deeply. Her life was about to become more complicated.

  “Um, Janvier,” Febe said.

  “Yeah, what’s up? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost, girl.”

  “You remember when I told you I told Jonathan I didn’t want to see him as long as he lives?”

  “Yeah, so what?” She shivered. “Ooh, is there a chill in here or something? Did someone leave the window open?” Janvier began rubbing her arms.

  Febe narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Jonathan. “Well, um...he made good on his promise,” she said slowly.

  “What on earth are you talking about, Febe?”

  Febe sighed again. “He’s here.”

  “What?” Janvier spun her head around. “What do you mean he’s here? Where? Febe, I hope you’re not going to get back together with that lying, cheating son of a—“

  “Janvier!”

  “What? Febe, what’s going on?”

  “Jonathan came here to ask me a favor.”

  “And you said no, right?” Janvier folded her arms across her chest. Her lips were pinched in defiance.

  “I haven’t said anything yet, but...”

  “What does he want from you now? Money? A new job? A booty call? Girl, please don’t tell me it’s that!”

  “No. He came to apologize and asked me if I can help him find out who...who killed him.”

  There was no other way to break it to her sister.

  Febe watched as Janvier’s jaw fell open. “What. Are. You. Talking. About?”

  “He’s dead. I told him I didn’t want to see him as long as he lives and well, he’s not living anymore so he thought he’d pay me a visit.”

  Janvier spun around. “So he’s actually here? Where?”

  “I guess you can’t see him.”

  “I’m right here, Janvier. And I’m really sorry about what I did to your sister. You’ve got to believe me.”

  “You’re sorry, huh?” Janvier said with sarcasm, still looking around.

  “What?” Febe said, surprised. “You can hear him?”

  “Yeah, I heard something all right. I heard a weak man’s voice whisper to my ear.”

  Jonathan didn’t look very impressed right now.

  Febe fought the urge to grin, given the seriousness of the situation. Her sister was only standing up for her. Janvier knew how much Jonathan had broken Febe’s heart and smashed it into a million tiny pieces. Family stuck together closer than friends in Febe’s world.

  “I do not have a weak voice, for your information. I was just getting over a cold.”

  “Just getting over a cold, huh?” Janvier said, not looking at him. “Seems to me that’s the least of your problems, buddy.”

  Jonathan rolled his eyes.

  Febe couldn’t believe the tension in the café. It was palpable. Electric. Chilling.

  “Okay, guys, let’s not argue over whose voice sounds what. We have a serious problem here.”

  “I’ll say. We’re supposed to open up the café soon and Johnny boy here is holding us back. Speaking of back. We don’t want you here. So go back to wherever you came from on the spiritual plane.”

  “Janvier!” Febe was aghast. “He’s a guest here right now. He came for our help.”

  “Your help, Sis. And I hope you told him to go ask someone else. That no good...”

  “I can hear you,” he said. “I’m right here.”

  “Please don’t remind me,” Janvier said.

  “Listen, Jonathan, I’d love to help you. Really. But what can I do?”

  “You can for starters find out who...”

  “She’s not going to be helping you, wherever you are, got that?” Janvier seemed frustrated that she couldn’t see Jonathan, she could only hear him.

  “I think Febe can decide that for herself,” Jonathan said, defiantly. Now he had his arms folded across his chest. This was turning out to be some sort of weird spirit showdown.

  “Okay, guys, please stop arguing.” Febe held her head with her hands. “Enough.”

  “Fine. But please don’t be sucked into this, Febe. Dead or alive, he’s still a notorious womanizer.”

  “No, I’m not. Well, not really,” Jonathan defended.

  “Who was talking to you?” Janvier said.

  “Jan. John. Please guys.”

  Febe hurried over to the cash register and started to get the till ready for business.

  “I’m going to the kitchen to get the ingredients ready. You coming?”

  “I’ll be right there, Jan. Just give me a second.”

  Janvier eyed her sister suspiciously. “Just remember, Sis. Once a player, always a player. Even in the afterlife.” She then made a gesture with her fingers pointing to her eyes and then pointing outward to where she thought Jonathan would be standing. As if to say she could see him, even though she technically couldn’t see him physically. She’d be watching his moves.

  “Better not do anything foolish, Johnny boy. You hurt my sister again and you’ll have me to answer to. And trust me, you won’t like what I can do to you. I have connections everywhere.”

  “Ooh, I’m shaking in my celestial boots.”

  Janvier was about to come at him when Febe stood in front of her. “Jan, it’s all right. He didn’t mean it. Besides, you can’t really see where he’s standing.”

  “But I can feel his presence. A nasty chill.”

  Jonathan was getting impatient and didn’t like that one bit. Febe gave him a look. He calmed himself down and went over to the table near the door and sat down.

  Janvier went to the kitchen through the swinging doors. Febe glanced up at the large clock in the dining room. The other kitchen staff would be there shortly to help get set up for the first round of orders.

  “Now,” she said moving over to Jonathan speaking in a low tone so that her sister couldn’t hear her. The last thing she wanted to do was to raise an alarm with Janvier. She wanted to see if she could figure this thing out on her own first.

  “Can I get you anything before we begin? Some coffee?” She stopped herself and felt foolish, realizing it was just an automatic response. “Um...I’m sorry, I...”

  “It’s all right. I tried to grab a cup of decaf this morning from Starbucks only to realize that the barista wasn’t ignoring me. She just couldn’t see me or hear me. Then when I saw a cup on the counter, I tried to pick it up but nothing happened. It was still there.”

  “Oh, no. How awful for you.”

  “I glanced at my reflection in the mirror on my way out and when I couldn’t see myself, I realized then that I was...”

  “Dead?”

  “Yeah. Dead as a doorknob.”

  “Damn, that really sucks. Well, okay, let’s get down to business. What’s this about?”

  “Well, I don’t know what happened to me.”

  “You mean you just woke up...dead?”

  “Not quite. I remember hearing the screeching sound of tires speeding off, but nothing else.”

  “Okay, where were you when...this happened?”

  “Here.”

  “Here?”

  “Yeah, I was in the area.”

  “What were you doing in Blackshore Bay?”

  “I think I was coming to see you.”

  “Why were you coming to see me? We broke up, remember?”

  “I just needed to tell you sorry, face to face. And, okay, I was also in town for something else, but I don’t remember what.”

  “I see.”

  “Anyway, I remember hearing a lot of laug
hter and music playing in the background.”

  “Laughter?”

  “Yeah, like some club or bar or something.”

  “Okay, that’s a start.” Febe took out her cell phone and began making notes.

  “Can’t you just wave a wand or something?”

  “Jonathan!”

  “Sorry, but don’t worry. No one else can hear me, except you and your sis.” He sighed.

  “Okay, we need to find out who killed you fast. They could kill again.”

  That thought sent shivers down Febe’s spine. Blackshore Bay was a nice small coastal town, but after the murder of that tabloid gossip reporter recently and now Jonathan, she was sure not everyone was sweet and harmless.

  “Wish I knew how I died.”

  “The cops didn’t tell you?” She stopped herself cold. “I mean, of course they didn’t tell you. I mean, you didn’t overhear them talking over your body?”

  He shook his head. “Nope. Nothing.”

  Laughter and music playing in the background. There were quite a few bars in the area but what if he was at a house party?

  The information he gave was not much to go on, but she would have to make do, she supposed. But the question still needed to be answered. Who on earth killed Jonathan? And why?

  * * *

  An hour later, the café had just opened and the staff were already in full swing in the kitchen. The scent of freshly baked gourmet donuts, eggs and bacon were permeating the air. And the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted to Febe’s nostrils. She loved the atmosphere of the Summer Café. She used to enjoy hanging out there when she was a kid and her late mother had just opened up shop.

  Then Febe heard the sound of a car pulling up outside. She heard the car door slam shut. In walked Sergeant Will Heart from the Sheriff’s office.

  “Morning, Sergeant. Here for your usual breakfast?”

  Febe was getting used to Sergeant Heart now. He was a bit difficult at times, but she was more into his nephew Trey Heart, who was a newly qualified detective on the force. Sometimes Sergeant Heart would be a bit of a bully to his own nephew and to anyone who crossed his path, but as Trey said, he was just being himself. He didn’t mean anything by it.

  “I’ll have a double double this morning and a chocolate chip custard donut.”

  “Sure thing.” Febe rang up his order then plated his freshly baked chocolate chip custard filled donut and grabbed a coffee cup and filled it with hot steaming coffee.