by K. T. Black
Wicked Magic
Spellbound, Book 1
K.T. Black
Published 2015
ISBN: 978-1-62210-193-1
Published by Liquid Silver Books, imprint of Atlantic Bridge Publishing, 10509 Sedgegrass Dr, Indianapolis, Indiana 46235. Copyright © Published 2015, K.T. Black. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
Manufactured in the United States of America
Liquid Silver Books
http://LSbooks.com
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.
Blurb
Magic is in the air after Chandler Gray silently wishes for her predictable work-filled life to change. When a mysterious woman, fascinated with beautiful images, moves in next door, Chandler finds herself falling under the spell of the last person she expects to make her happy. There’s just one problem: an ex-girlfriend with a grudge and the power to curse her happiness.
Dedication
To Christine and Valerie, my dear friends and sisters, and my special friend Troy. Thanks for making me laugh and always believing in me. My life would be less interesting without you.
Acknowledgements
Thanks so much to the excellent staff at Liquid Silver Books. I’m grateful for the opportunity you’ve provided me. A special thanks to my editor Chrissie. You’ve helped to make me a better writer.
Chapter 1
An odd energy swirled in the evening air. It was like something was coming, about to happen. The only thing was, Chandler Gray couldn’t tell whether or not it was something good or something bad.
About two weeks ago, she'd started to feel a restless need to do the unexpected. Random exotic ideas often consumed her thoughts, which made it impossible for her to sleep or do her work. Soon the push and pull between exhaustion and nervous energy was almost more than she could stand.
“This is ridiculous!” Chandler sighed in frustration and turned away from her computer screen. She glanced over at the clock and saw that it was 6:45 p.m. It felt much later.
Removing her reading glasses, she pinched the bridge of her nose and yawned. Moments later, she shook her head and grinned as she recalled the suggestion her friend Kara had made to her the last time they saw each other.
“Chandler, you need to get laid. Not just a one-night sort of thing, but a whole weekend event. Find some young stud with a beautiful body and a ton of stamina. A few dozen toe-curling orgasms later and you’ll feel much better.”
Sex was always Kara’s answer to any problem. Tired of being stuck in her funk, Chandler began to consider it as a possible solution.
Exhausted, and more than a little bit hungry, Chandler put her glasses back in their case and shut down her computer. After she took a few minutes to straighten up her desk, she headed into the kitchen to see if there was anything in the house to eat.
As she stood in front of her open fridge, she scanned its meager contents. Old containers of Chinese food and a few other questionable items occupied the shelves in a haphazard order.
Chandler grabbed the closest container and took a whiff. She scrunched up her face as the pungent aroma found her nostrils. She opened a few more containers before she determined that almost everything belonged in the garbage.
Grabbing the trash can from under the sink, she began to empty the contents of the fridge until all she was left with was a packet of Swiss cheese and a couple cans of soda. Clearly, if she wanted something decent to eat tonight, she would have to go out and get it.
Once she decided upon her favorite bar and grill, Chandler grabbed a jacket, her purse and her car keys. As she maneuvered her Jeep Cherokee out of her neighborhood, she followed the winding road until she reached the main street that led to downtown Castleton. After she passed by the local college, The Regal Bar & Grill came into view. For a Tuesday night, the parking lot was full of cars. When Chandler looked up at the marquee, she understood the reason. A band was scheduled to play tonight at seven-thirty.
Chandler hated large crowds of people, and considered going somewhere else, but her mouth was all set for her favorite burger. When she wanted something, she found it difficult to deny herself, even if it pushed her comfort level.
One of the reasons Chandler had made Castleton, Massachusetts her home was because it was the opposite of where she’d grown up in Boston. It was a small coastal town with a community of friendly, laid-back people. Full of trees and close to the ocean, the environment tended to keep her feeling grounded and relaxed. At least it had until recently. Now, something was missing. She had a few good friends who more than made up for her estranged family, but it wasn’t enough. She felt lonely.
Exiting her vehicle, Chandler hit the lock and started to head toward the front door. She stopped moving and looked up when something from the corner of her eye caught her attention. It was a shooting star. Not caring if it made sense or not, Chandler wished upon the star. She closed her eyes and silently asked for something to happen. She didn’t care what it was as long as it was something more exciting than what her life had become.
She was still staring at the sky when her stomach growled. She grinned and patted it. “Okay, okay,” she said and started walking again.
As soon as Chandler stepped inside the building, she was ambushed by a mass of undistinguishable voices. If she’d hoped to deplete her nervous energy, this was probably the wrong place to come. When the fragrant smells of French fries and pizza found her nose, she knew there was no turning back.
Since the main dining area was packed with people, Chandler headed into the bar and found an empty bar top table to sit at. After she placed her food and drink order, she watched as the band finished setting up. In the dimly-lit bar, surrounded by all the people, she settled into the mood of the evening. Perhaps this was what she needed.
It wasn’t long before the waitress walked by with a tray of drinks carefully balanced in one hand. She stopped long enough to give Chandler her rum and Coke before she continued to make her rounds.
She was about to take a sip when a woman looking to be in her early sixties came up to her and asked, “May I share your table? Everything else is full.”
Chandler surveyed the room to validate the truth of her statement. When she found that it was accurate, she took a moment to study the woman before she gave her answer. She knew a good portion of the town’s inhabitants, but this lady didn’t look familiar. The woman was tall and sinewy with long silver hair that hung to the middle of her back. She was dressed in skinny-leg jeans tucked into knee-high boots, and a loose-fitting tunic-style shirt that hung just above her knees. Around her neck she wore a unique crystal pendant attached to a thick silver chain. It sparkled and changed color as it caught different angles of light.
The woman didn’t appear to be anything out of the ordinary, but there was something different about her. She was eccentric, that was clear, but there was something more. A word popped into Chandler’s head the more she tried to figure it out. Magic.
As Chandler studied her, the woman grinned. A few minutes passed before she broke the spell by saying, “I can figure something else out if not.”
“No, please, have a seat.” Chandler gestured to one of the empty chairs. She felt embarrassed for having hesitated so long.
“Thank you, my dear,” the lady said as she began to haul herself up onto the tall bar stool. She’d just gotten situated in her chair when the waitress from earlier returned. This
time she stopped and placed a chilled bottle of hard cider on the table. The older woman nodded and then turned to focus her attention on Chandler. “I suppose introductions should be in order. My name is Zee.”
“Nice to meet you, Zee. My name is Chandler.”
“Chandler.” Zee cocked her head to the side as she regarded her. “That’s an unusual name for a girl.”
“I think my father wanted a son. He’s the one who named me.”
“That’s a silly thing to do. But, nonetheless, the name appears to suit you.”
Chandler chuckled. “Definitely makes me unique.”
“Nothing wrong with being different. In fact, I believe it is quite crucial. Keeps people on their toes.” Zee winked. Then she reached for her cider and took a sip.
“So, Zee,” Chandler slowly began, toying with her glass. “I don’t remember seeing you before. Are you new to town or just passing through?”
“I’m here for now. Hard to say how long.”
“What do you do?”
“I help people with things.” The answer was a bit cryptic.
“What kinds of things?” Chandler raised her drink to her lips and took a small swallow.
“Just things people need, things they desire.”
The vagueness of Zee’s answer appeared to be done on purpose. It only made Chandler more curious.
“And you procure it for them?”
“I provide the opportunity for them to acquire it if they so choose.”
“So I take it that you’re getting something for someone in this town, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Someone I know?”
“Quite well, in fact.” Zee’s smile grew.
“Really? Who?”
“Why, you, my dear.”
“Me?” Chandler tilted her head, feeling confused. “How is that possible? I’ve never even met you before tonight. And even if I had, what could I possibly want that you could obtain for me? I have everything I need. I have financial stability, a nice house, good friends, and a career I enjoy.”
“Yes, all fine things for sure, but you’re missing one very vital thing.” When Chandler didn’t reply, Zee continued by saying, “Love.”
“Love?”
“Yes, love.”
Chandler shook her head, amused by the direction of the conversation. This lady was more eccentric than Chandler realized. “You can tell all that in the short time you’ve spent with me?”
Zee nodded. “I see a good deal about you.”
“I’d like to believe in love, I really would, but—”
“It has disappointed you.”
“My life is less complicated without it.”
“And lonelier.”
“You can be with someone and be lonely.”
“Only if you’re with the wrong person.”
“Well, I’ll tell you what. If such a person out there truly exists, I will be more than happy to let them in and allow them to complicate my life.”
“Good.” Zee appeared pleased by Chandler’s admission. “That’s all I was waiting to hear.” Then she stepped down from her chair.
“Are you going somewhere?” Chandler looked between the full bottle of cider and the woman.
“Not to worry, my dear.” Zee gave her a reassuring smile. “I enjoyed our visit. Thank you for humoring an old woman.”
Before Chandler could say anything else, the woman was gone.
The evening had taken an unexpected turn that Chandler couldn’t have predicted. If anything, she had an interesting story to tell.
Chapter 2
The next morning, a loud crash from next door woke Chandler up. With a groan, she rolled over onto her stomach, pulled her pillow over her head, and attempted to go back to sleep. Her pillow did little to conceal the sounds coming from outside her bedroom window. She cursed under her breath and moved the pillow so she could look at the time on her bedside clock. It was 8:15 a.m.
“Son of a bitch!” she complained as she rolled onto her back. It was too early to get up. She tended to begin her work day closer to ten a.m.
With some reluctance, she got out of bed and stumbled across the room to look out her window to see what the hell was going on. As she pulled back the curtains, Chandler looked down into the neighboring yard. The house, which had stood vacant since she’d moved in four years ago, was being prepared to be inhabited. A landscaping crew was getting ready to mow, prune, and plant, while another group of workers were unloading equipment so they could do work inside the house.
That was a bit of a surprise. Chandler didn’t know the house had been up for sale. There had never been a sign displayed. If her neighbors, Kara and Jake Simons, knew anything, they hadn’t mentioned it the last time she saw either one of them. They always knew what was going on, whether it was in the neighborhood or the town.
So focused on what was going on below her window, Chandler jumped when her front doorbell sounded.
“Who the hell is that?” she grumbled, and glanced once again at the clock. When the doorbell sounded again, she headed out of her bedroom, dressed in pajama bottoms and a T-shirt, and made her way downstairs toward the front door.
After she unlocked all the locks, Chandler pulled the door open just wide enough to look around it. On the other side of the door was Kara, her next door neighbor, and she wasn’t alone. Standing next to her, heavily panting, tail wagging, was Maggie, her yellow lab. Even though she was restricted by her leash, Maggie managed to pull forward enough to push up against Chandler, pressing a cold, wet nose against her hand.
Smiling as she reached over to pat Maggie’s head, Chandler took a moment to take in her friend’s appearance. She was a short, plump brunette in her mid-thirties with an interesting sense of fashion. Chandler suspected hippie was somewhere in Kara’s family lineage.
“Morning, Kara.” Chandler attempted to appear more awake and cheerful than she felt. She wasn’t much of a morning person. Having been woken up didn’t help her mood.
“Good morning, Chandler. I hope I didn’t wake you.”
“No.” She stepped back, and pulled the door open wider so Kara and Maggie could enter, and then shut the door behind them.
“The workers?” Kara asked as she unhooked Maggie’s leash.
Chandler nodded. “Would you like some coffee?”
“That would be great.”
Maggie ran ahead of the two women, already knowing their destination. Once they were all in the kitchen, Kara took a seat at the kitchen table while Chandler pulled a bag of coffee beans from her cupboard and proceeded to grind enough to make a pot of coffee.
“You look tired, Chandler,” Kara observed. “Working hard on your new video game?”
“Trying to. The last couple of days I’ve been a bit distracted.”
“By what?” Kara’s attention focused on her dog. “Maggie, come over here.” The dog instantly obeyed, leaving the item she was sniffing to come and lie down beside her chair.
“I don’t know how to explain it. I’ve been having trouble focusing on my work. I feel like something’s off.”
“The way you stay locked up inside your house, I’m sure it’s just a case of going stir-crazy. It’s not good to live like a hermit, away from everything and everyone.”
“I know.” Chandler turned on the coffee maker, and then went to the cupboard to get two coffee cups and a container of sugar. After she’d carried them to the table, she walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out a small carton of cream and set it on the table next to the other items. “But that’s how I get my work done.”
“You’d probably be better off working in an office instead of out of your home.”
“Doesn’t mean that my hours would be any less than they are now. Only harder to focus with the distractions of other people.” She stood in front of her pantry, searching for the package of chocolate doughnuts she’d bought last night.
“But you might be mingling with said people,” Kara pointed out.
“You can’t meet anyone hiding in your house. What are you, about twenty-five, twenty-six?”
“I’m twenty-six,” Chandler answered, as she walked over and sat down in the chair opposite Kara. After fiddling the package open, Chandler offered a doughnut to Kara before she set the box on the table and took one for herself.
“When’s the last time you went out on a date? Did something just for the hell of it?” Before Chandler could answer, Kara said, “It’s obviously been a long time.”
“Well—”
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Um—”
“Don’t even try to deny it. I’ve never seen you with anyone since you moved here.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“That’s an excuse. If you want to do something, you find ways to make time for it.”
“Why has my romantic life, or lack of one, suddenly become everyone’s business?” Chandler shook her head, thinking back to last night and her meeting with Zee. Before Kara could ask, Chandler got up when she saw that the coffee was ready, and then poured two cups. “First a total stranger and now you.”
“You’ve lost me,” Kara said before she put the last bite of the doughnut in her mouth.
Chandler proceeded to tell Kara about her evening out last night and her curious encounter with Zee, but left out the part about the wish. By the time she was finished with her story, Kara was sporting a huge grin, trying to refrain from laughing at her and failing.
“What’s so funny?”
“I’m sorry, Chandler. I don’t mean to laugh at you, but you have to admit it is rather amusing.”
“Am I really that obvious?”
“A little bit.”
“It’s not like I want to be by myself. Unlike what other people think, I do consider having someone in my life.” Actually, quite a bit, she thought.
“You’re the type that has a hard time letting someone else in. It’s scary, I know. Wondering if that person you trust with your heart and soul is someone who won’t eventually hurt you.”
“My father and stepmother weren’t the best examples.”
