A Charmed Cauldron

by Rose Pressey

  This was far from any old book. It was unique—it held special power. I hurried up the steps into my bedroom. Once at the closet, I went through the process of unlocking the safe doors, turning keys, and twisting combinations. Finally with the book in my arms I rushed back down the stairs. It always made me nervous to have the book out in the open. I never knew when someone might rush through the door and try to take it from my me. Perfect example… the werewolf who’d decided to enter without an invitation. Liam, my mother, and Thomas jumped up when I entered the room.

  “Oh, now I’m excited to see what it says,” Thomas said.

  “Don’t get too excited,” I said. “I have a feeling it won’t tell me much.”

  I placed the book on top of the coffee table and flipped open the cover. The thing was huge with a big leather cover and gold scrollwork. Blank pages were all that filled the book when I’d first discovered it. Only after some time had the writing finally appeared and only when it wanted me to know something. Everyone leaned over my shoulder and tried to read the words, but they couldn’t see them. It was for my eyes only.

  I searched the book from cover to cover, but there was nothing about a mystery man appearing to the leaders.

  With a heavy sigh I closed the book, and said, “Nothing.”

  “Sorry, dear.” My mother patted my back.

  “I think the mystery man was the one who sent me the text and asked me to meet him at the Bubbling Cauldron,” I said.

  “That makes the most sense,” my mother said.

  “I agree. I think that he did it,” Thomas said.

  “Though I don’t know the reason for the visit. He got me there and then didn’t say anything.”

  “Is there anything else we can do to find him?” My mother paced across the floor.

  She always had a lot of nervous energy once she got a boost from the bottled blood. Or any blood, for that matter. As far as I knew she’d never actually bitten anyone.

  I bet if I had the other brooch I’d be able to understand this. With just one brooch I was definitely missing part of the puzzle. But would it unlock the mystery if I had the other one? The brooch I had now had given me Thomas.

  “There’s one thing that I wonder if it would help,” I said, touching the brooch pinned to my shirt.

  “What’s that?” Liam asked.

  “Nicolas’ mother. She came to me once to talk, so maybe if I asked her again she would have information about the mystery man. Did the mystery man visit her?”

  “I believe he did,” Liam said.

  “And what came of that?” I asked. “Was he around when she was killed?”

  My mother stuffed her fingers in her ears. “La, la, la… I don’t want to hear this.”

  “Are you suggesting that we cast a spell that brings Gina back?” Liam asked.

  “Well, that was the thought. Of course, you all don’t have to be involved with this spell. I can do it on my own.”

  My mother scoffed. “Isn’t someone cocky now that she has good magic.”

  I shrugged. “It’s true… look at all the people I brought back and I didn’t even want to bring them back.”

  Liam stood from the chair. “Sorry, but I just remembered somewhere I need to be.”

  I frowned. “Where?”

  Liam walked back toward the foyer. “It’s a meeting. Just a meeting.”

  He was being vague, and I knew why. Liam didn’t have a meeting. The real reason he was hurrying out of the manor was that he didn’t want to see Nicolas’ mother. When Gina Rochester was the leader of the Underworld Liam had been in charge of protecting her. After repeated attempts to take her life, Liam was sent as a bodyguard. His magic and spells hadn’t been enough to save her.

  Chapter 22

  Now that the mystery man had been lurking around outside I was totally nervous about going out there to cast any kind of spell. Plus, a mist of rain had started and that didn’t make an ideal environment for magic anyway.

  I stood and said, “How about we go to the kitchen and do a spell with the cauldron?”

  Actually, I would prefer doing the spell without them, but since they seemed so intent on helping me I didn’t have the heart to say no. Thomas and my mother followed me into the kitchen. I gathered the ingredients for the spell.

  When I’d first started out with the Book of Mystics I had accidentally brought people back from the afterlife. There had been no spell needed. Well, technically I had been trying to cast spells for other things when technical errors caused the little mishaps. Or big catastrophes depending on who you asked. Those spells had ended up bringing people back. Thank my lucky stars that it had been quite a while since that happened.

  I had to admit I was a smidgen nervous that the magic still wouldn’t work when I actually wanted it to bring someone back. Maybe it was just something that happened when I didn’t want it to occur. Nevertheless, I had to give it a shot.

  As the water bubbled, Thomas, my mother and I held hands. We stood in front of the cauldron and recited the words for the spell. The wind stirred as we chanted. Just as the water had started to settle down the sound of footsteps echoed through the manor. We exchanged a look.

  “Do you think that’s her?” my mother whispered.

  “Either that or Liam returned,” I said.

  “I hope it’s not one of those werewolves,” Thomas said.

  I hadn’t thought about that scenario. Now I was shaking in my sneakers—no, I didn’t wear black pointy-toed boots.

  I motioned for my mother and Thomas to follow me. “Come on, let’s go see if it’s her.”

  I hoped she wasn’t angry with me for bringing her back. She’d been nice the first time I’d done it, although that had been her idea. Now I wasn’t so sure if that would be the case this time.

  I eased the kitchen door open and peered around the side. No one was in the parlor. I knew I’d heard footsteps and it hadn’t been my imagination. Where they’d come from I wasn’t sure. I stepped out the kitchen with Thomas and my mother trailing closely behind me.

  We inched through the parlor like we were trying to sneak up on a burglar, which for all we knew could be the case. When we reached halfway through the room I paused and motioned for my mother and Thomas to do the same.

  Gina stood in the foyer with her back facing us. I knew it was her because she wore the same lace-covered dress she’d worn the last time I saw her. With her big hoop skirt, dark brown hair pulled up, and ringlets of curls falling on each side of her head she looked every bit the belle of the ball.

  Nicolas’ mother had been half-vampire just like him. At the age of fifty-eight she’d been turned. That had been in the 1800s, so her ghostly attire reflected that time, although she’d lived for many years after that period and had been the leader of the Underworld up until a short time ago. Gina’s sister, who had also been turned, had finally found a way to get rid of Gina once and for all.

  Her sister had murdered Gina. Liam had never gotten over the fact that it had happened when he was supposed to protect her. There was nothing he could have done. Nicolas said he didn’t blame Liam for what happened, but I knew Liam couldn’t let it go.

  Nicolas and Liam had different mothers and the same father, so they were half-brothers. A lot of women would avoid visits from their future mother-in-law, much less bringing them back from the dead.

  We stood perfectly still, waiting for her to realize that we were in the room watching her. The sun had set and darkness was quickly taking over the manor. The rain pounded against the windows now. I had just taken one more step when she turned around and looked at me. There was only one problem though. Something had gone terribly wrong with my magic. This was not Gina. It was obviously someone pretending to be her. The mystery man was wearing Gina’s gown.

  Thomas screamed and said, “This is like the horror version of a drag queen show.”

  My mother’s hand covered her mouth as she gasped. “Oh, what is it?”

  We all took a few s
teps back, not taking our eyes off the man.

  “What are you doing here? And what have you done with Gina?” I asked.

  I wasn’t holding out hope for an honest answer. I wouldn’t deny that my fear had skyrocketed. A wicked smile spread across his face. I had no idea what his next move would be. But then all of a sudden, his face changed, and it was Gina right in front of us. She stared at me with her wide brown eyes. Momentarily, I was speechless.

  “Halloween, how are you? I’m surprised that you brought me here,” Gina said in her soft voice.

  Not as surprised as me. I still didn’t know what to say.

  “Is that really you, Gina?” Thomas asked.

  She gave him a confused look.

  “Gina, I don’t know if that’s really you,” I said.

  “Of course it’s me. Why would you ask?”

  “When I brought you back just now it wasn’t your face.”

  “Whose face was it?” Gina asked.

  “A hideous man,” my mother answered.

  Gina’s eyes widened.

  “That’s the reason why I called you back here—the man,” I said.

  “I’m confused,” she said.

  “It’s okay. It’s easy to be confused around Hallie,” Thomas said.

  I glared at him. “There’s a man who visits the leaders of the Underworld. I called you back to ask if you visited you as well.”

  “He came to see you?” she asked.

  I nodded. “Yes, he’s been following me, I think.”

  “No one’s ever figured out where he came from, but I suspect he’s a demon. As far as I know he never harmed anyone, but he does harass. That’s why he’s stalking you.”

  I wasn’t sure what I had expected her to say, but it wasn’t this. This was just weird. But I had to know where he came from for sure. I didn’t suppose he would answer me if I asked.

  “You just have to do the spells to try to get rid of him. Ask him to leave you alone. He’ll go away for a while, but he will return.”

  I didn’t know if I should bring this up or not, but I was curious.

  “When you left this world, was he there? Was it because of him?” I asked.

  “Oh, I don’t think so. There was a lot of evil in my sister. A demon attacked her, but I don’t think it was him.”

  She didn’t know for sure. Now I was trying to piece this all together in my head.

  “Where’s Nicolas?” Gina peered around the space.

  “He’s on a trip,” I said, hoping she wouldn’t ask for further explanation.

  Before she had a chance to ask any other questions she started to fade. Her image became less visible. A second later she was gone.

  “That happened fast,” my mother said.

  “Do you think that guy is gone?” Thomas asked.

  I blew the hair out of my eyes. “I hope, but now I’m worried that he’s in the manor for good.”

  Chapter 23

  Rain fell steadily out my bedroom window as I tried to fall asleep. It was so quiet and lonely in the manor. Sure, I had Pluto, but he was curled up in a ball fast asleep at the foot of the bed. He wasn’t exactly a great conversationalist, although I tried to talk for him sometimes. He just gave me dirty looks in return.

  I’d thought the sound of the rain against the window would lull me to sleep, but it hadn’t happened yet. So many thoughts whirled in my mind that I just couldn’t relax. It was no wonder though with everything that had happened.

  I pulled the cover up close to my chin, hoping to snuggle under there and relax. However, there was something else that was making me uncomfortable. An uneasiness that I couldn’t quite explain. I tossed and turned a few times but ended up staring out the window again. Perhaps if I had some hot chocolate? Yes, it wasn’t exactly the weather for it, but I didn’t like warm milk and I wasn’t in the mood for tea.

  I climbed out of bed and slid into my slippers. Since it was a warm evening I wore my pajama shorts and a white T-shirt. As I shuffled over to the door a noise stopped me in my tracks. Pluto hadn’t budged so obviously it hadn’t been him. It didn’t seem as if he’d heard the noise either. Which made me wonder if I’d actually heard it as well. Pluto was keen and picked up on stuff well before I ever heard it. I shrugged, thinking it was nothing and that I had just imagined the sound.

  I continued to the door. Just as I wrapped my hand around the doorknob the unmistakable sound echoed from outside. It was definitely howling, and it most certainly came from outside. I raced over to the window to see if I could spot the werewolves. The dark room would conceal me so that no one would detect me standing at the window. The werewolves likely knew I was home.

  With my body pressed against the wall, I peeked over out the window. I hoped they wouldn’t see me. With the lights shut off it would be impossible, I reminded myself. My anxiety kept telling me otherwise.

  I scanned the surroundings below but saw no signs of the werewolves. If they had changed to human form already, then they were doing a great job of hiding. Moonlight lit the backyard. With any luck the light would allow me to spot them. They could be hiding from me and I would have no way to know. They could also be in the graveyard, crouching behind one of the headstones or giant oak trees. Maybe they had retreated to the woods.

  For a bit longer I surveyed the surroundings but decided that whatever had made the noise was gone now. I’d go to the kitchen for my hot chocolate. With any luck that would help me be able to sleep. I’d put the thoughts of werewolves to the back of my mind.

  Stepping out of the bedroom I eased into the hall—I never knew if that werewolf had gotten back inside. With each of my steps a spike of anxiety surged through my body. I’d never felt this alone. The house seemed bigger and dark than ever. Thomas had gone out. There was no telling where and when he would return. Why couldn’t he just hang around the manor like Pluto? He was always out prowling around.

  My anxiety remained even when I reached the bottom of the stairs. It was even spookier as I walked through the house. Silence engulfed me. My footsteps were the only sound as I walked across the hardwood floor. When a board groaned under my feet I momentarily lost my breath.

  Once inside the kitchen I released a deep breath. Time for my drink—a comforting hug from chocolate. There was no need to use my magic for this because I had one of those coffee machines that made it in an instant. Why waste my magic energy on something like that when it was almost like magic using the maker? I placed the mug under the spout and inserted the little hot chocolate pod. Now I just had to wait for the chocolatey goodness to appear like magic.

  Before I could retrieve the mug, the sound returned. Howling came from the backyard again. It was even closer this time. I rushed over and switched off the kitchen light. I hoped they hadn’t seen the kitchen all lit up. Next, I dashed over to the back door.

  When I peered outside I saw them. The werewolves surrounded the manor. There were a lot of them too. I couldn’t even count how many. Plus there were probably some I couldn’t even see in the cover of night. I assumed this was an act of aggression. Maybe they were ready to take over the manor and kick me right out the door. Unfortunately for them that wouldn’t be possible. As long as I had possession of the Book of Mystics, then the manor was mine. No doubt the book was what they wanted.

  Unfortunately, they had gotten through the spell that I’d placed around the manor. It just wasn’t lasting long enough. I wasn’t sure how they were so strong at breaking it. I suppose that wasn’t something they would divulge to me. Was there another witch helping them break through the spells? And if so how would I find out who was doing this?

  They stood on guard, staring at the manor. Their bright yellow eyes glowed in the dark. I wondered if they were in the front too. I was willing to bet that they were. I didn’t think they knew I was watching them. Then again, they may have seen the light on in the kitchen. For all they knew I could have someone else in here with me. At least they wouldn’t think I was alone. How long would the
y stay out there?

  I wasn’t sure what to do next. Should I call someone? No, I didn’t want anyone to come over here and engage with the werewolves outside. How long would I stand here and watch them? Surely they would be gone by daylight, but that was still hours away. I needed to do another spell that would get rid of them right now. And I hoped that would keep them away for a while longer—at least until I could figure out how to make them stop permanently.

  A few more seconds ticked by and then one of the werewolves turned and walked away. He had been in the front of the pack. Was he the leader? Next, a few more werewolves followed the first one as they headed for the wooded area. Before I knew it they were all leaving. I released a deep breath. Thank goodness they were gone, but I knew they would probably come back soon.

  I wanted to call someone and tell them what happened. Should I call Nicolas? No. I didn’t want to worry him while he was away. I picked up my phone to call Liam. I hit send, but just as it started to ring, I clicked off the call. He would just want to come over here. And that was definitely the last thing I need it right now. Besides, it would take him an hour and a half to drive here. I hoped that the call hadn’t gone through because then he would think something was wrong and call right back.

  I stood there for a while longer staring out the window, wondering if they would come back. After ten minutes and no sign of them, I decided I should just go back to bed. I needed sleep and it looked as if they would leave me alone tonight. I left the hot chocolate in the mug under the coffee maker. It would be cold now. I probably hadn’t needed it anyway.

  I shuffled through the silent and eerie house. I was still shaken by what had happened. Back up the creaking staircase I went toward my bedroom. Once in the room I went over to the window. I’d just take another quick look. I hoped that they hadn’t returned. I peered out into the darkness. There was no sign of them. With momentary peace I slipped back under the covers. Pluto still hadn’t moved, but he shifted a little when I pulled on the cover. A short time later I managed to doze off. My dreams were full of werewolves drinking hot chocolate.