by Trim, Brenda
My Magical Life to Live
Midlife Witchery Book 4
Brenda Trim
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
EXCERPT FROM Forged in Magical Fire BOOK #5
Authors’ Note
Also by Brenda Trim
Copyright © June 2021 by Brenda Trim
Editor: Chris Cain
Cover Art by Fiona Jayde
* * *
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writers’ imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction of this work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
All rights reserved. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the authors.
Created with Vellum
This is my life, my story, my book. No one else will write it and I won’t apologize for any edits or decisions I make. It’s mine.
Chapter 1
“I am ready for life to settle without chaos and fighting evil.” I loved having my best friend living full-time in Cottlehill Wilds for the past eight months, even though along with Fiona came trouble.
"You do realize you’ve jinxed us now. You’re part of the magical world now. You can’t go around inviting the bad guys to surface.” I locked my bookstore and scanned the street. Ever since the first murder in our small town, I had a hard time walking home at night.
“We killed the evil King. There’s no one left to attack us.”
“Fiona Grace Shakleton. Watch your mouth. That’s asking for trouble. Besides, we still have a murderer out there,” Isidora, her grandmother, said in the background. It was still odd to hear her voice and see her. I was with Aislinn when we discovered her dead in the living room. None of us understood what Fiona did to bring her back to life or how long she would remain alive. All spells lost their power eventually unless you continued to feed it energy. You couldn’t add to what you didn’t understand.
Fiona sighed. “That’s exactly what Violet just told me. Did Mae stop by today?”
I stuff my free hand into my purse and clutch my pepper spray. My magic had been acting up ever since I was injured in the battle in Eidothea, so I didn’t want to rely on it in an emergency.
“She did. Apparently, Lance is stumped over the murder of that human months ago. It's no surprise that he is frustrated by the lack of leads. While the supernatural office of investigations is inundated with evidence. Gardoss reported that his office is analyzing as fast as they can. Mae said Gardoss told her they’d detected Dark, demonic magic.”
“That’s not surprising. Did any murders occur after we killed Vodor? Bas assured me his lackeys would have felt his demise and given up and gone into hiding.”
“I didn’t get a chance to ask her for more information. A customer came in, and she left. Did Isidora hear anything useful while we were gone?” The night closed around me like a cloak. Close and all-encompassing. It wasn’t a pleasant sensation.
“She lost her connection to the dead when I resurrected her. The last thing she discovered was from Tunsall’s sister when she crossed to the afterlife. Her murderer had grey skin and black horns on his head and red scales on his arms. Grams thought she was confused.”
“A bilge changes their appearance and mimics other creatures when they kill, but they don’t leave evidence behind. They wouldn’t be the best assassins if they did. It doesn’t make any sense.” We were convinced the culprit was a bilge, one of the King’s assassins. Now, it seemed unlikely. I was torn between hoping it was one and wanting it to be something else. Neither option was appealing.
“I never considered it as anything other than the bilge. What Grams described sounds like a demon to me. Please tell me they don’t exist.”
“Unfortunately, they are real creatures. However, they don’t cross through the veil that often,” I said at the same time Grams responded in the background on Fiona’s end of the call. “Of course, demons exist. And I would bet there is one stalking supernaturals in Cottlehill Wilds. Our town is a veritable buffet for a creature from the Underworld.”
My heart picked up speed, making me dizzy for a split second. The skin where I had my new marking prickled and stung. During the fighting in the Fae realm, a Dark elf’s spell sliced into my chest. When the skin healed, the image of a burning bird was left behind. Now it flared to life anytime my blood surged through my veins.
“That doesn’t sound very good. Is there a system in place to deal with rogue demons on Earth? It sounds beyond Gardoss’s ability to handle. He seems like a competent cop, but he isn’t all-powerful or anything.” Fiona wasn’t wrong about that. Most in our law enforcement didn’t have experience with anything demonic.
I looked into the shadows along the road as I walked past closed businesses. I had lived here all my life, yet it felt like a foreign town now. There was an energy in the night that I couldn’t identify. At times, it seemed to be coming from me. And others, it was foreign magic outside of my body.
“Maybe it isn’t a demon. We could be dealing with a sloppy bilge. The deaths have all looked as if various creatures were responsible. First, it seemed like a werewolf was the culprit. Then we found the dragon scale. Mae mentioned one with fang marks as if a vampire had drained her. That fits with our original theory. The Dark magic calls that into question. They don’t mimic anything demonic.” My head ached, and I wanted to forget all about these cases.
I wasn’t a member of either the human or supernatural law enforcement. This wasn’t our responsibility. And yet, ever since Fiona moved to Cottlehill Wilds and became the new Guardian of the portal, I had joined her and Aislinn, and we’d fallen into that role. Gardoss wasn’t the only one that didn’t like us sticking our noses into each of his cases. I was getting pretty tired of it, as well.
Investigating cases excited me before I accompanied Fiona and Aislinn to Eidothea. Now, my body was changing, and my magic was on the fritz. I didn’t have time to deal with this crap. An out-of-control witch was dangerous. Suppose Camille or Gardoss discovered I was having trouble. In that case, they’d want me incarcerated until they could be certain I wouldn’t blow something up.
I pulled my hand out of my purse and tried to conjure a fireball on my palm. The flames sizzled and sputtered. Instead of going out, they shot into the air. I curled my fingers which should have smothered the fire. They were beyond my control and hit the bark of a tree in the distance.
“What was that? Are you alright?” Fiona’s voice penetrated my mind and snapped me to attention.
“Yeah, sorry. I was just wondering if it could be someone trying to force us out into the open. Many paranormals have tried over the years, claiming we should be in positions of power over humans. Maybe it’s someone trying to get Lance’s attention.”
“If that were the case, Lance would have been called to the scene of the deaths. The culprit would have made sure he became involved. Without him investigating, the existence of supernaturals wouldn’t be revealed,” Fiona countered.
“Good point. I feel like we’re spinning in circles. The investigations are best left to Gardoss. We could all use some downtime seeing as we had already saved one realm. This one will have to wait until we’re all one hundred percent again.”
Fiona chuckled. “What did you tell me months ago? Something about evil not waiting for me to be at my best and to get off my ass and learn everything I could. You’re my best friend, and I can’t imagine facing this world without you. But if you need rest, you don’t have to help with this. Aislinn, Bas, and I can handle it.”
I considered that for one second. I wanted to tell her it wasn’t a matter of getting sleep. My magic was on the fritz. The Fae realm fight did something to me that I couldn’t figure out, and I wasn't working right now.
“As if you could handle this without me. Someone has to be the voice of reason here. Plus, when the witch elders objected to bringing the SEA or Supernatural Enforcement Agency in on the deaths, they cited you as their reason. They agreed you are a force to be reckoned with. Plus, for as long as anyone could remember, the Shakleton’s and their Guardianship have extended to the town.”
Isidora made a hmph sound. An image of her hovering next to Fiona as she listened to our conversation popped into my head. “Our family had always solved disputes and stepped in before disagreements got out of hand. We’ve earned the town's faith, but I don’t think your elders want Fiona to handle the case out of the goodness of their hearts. It’s about money. They don’t have to pay her like they do Gardoss and SEA. They’re cheap bastards.”
A noise in the park up ahead froze my blood and my feet. I was on freaking edge and about to jump out of my skin. “There’s something in the park,” I whispered into the phone.
“What?” Fiona’s whisper-yell echoed from my cell like a foghorn.
“Be quiet. I’m going to investigate. I sure wish I had driven to work tonight.” About ten years ago, when my husband left me, I started walking to work as a way of getting back in shape. Middle age had a way of creeping up on you and blindsiding you with random hair, body aches, hormone surges, and hot flashes.
As if I conjured the symptoms, heat barreled through my body, starting in my feet and heading for my scalp. Sweat dotted my skin in its wake. I resembled one of those hot dogs that roll around on a heater all day waiting for some unsuspecting victim to buy it.
I was breathing so hard I swore it was shining a light on my crouched position at the edge of the pavement. Walking toward the park while staying hunched down was slow going. The park was suddenly a mile away.
My thighs were burning like the pits of Hell by the time I reached the break in the hedges. I was steps away from the path into the park. Moving forward went against my desire to not get involved in the investigations. I’ve never waffled over decisions like this before.
On the one hand, I wanted to stand up and run in the other direction. While on the other I was ready to march into the park and stop whatever was happening. The malicious intent thickening the air and choking me told me whatever was happening wasn’t a sexy rendezvous between lovers.
I placed my hand over my chest and poked my head around the bushes. At first, I didn’t see anything. It was as I turned to vanish behind the shrub that I caught one glowing red eye. I sucked in a breath and ducked behind the plant to hide my presence.
It was definitely demonic. Or the Dark Fae bilge we had assumed from the beginning. Their specific power is the ability to mimic others.
The second presence registered when I acknowledged there was no way to know what the creature was without closer inspection. The second being was prone on the grass. At first blush, they weren’t engaged in a torrid love affair in the middle of an empty park. I was basing that assumption entirely on the malevolence choking me.
Walk away! I tried to turn, but my feet wouldn’t obey. There was someone in danger in the park, and I could do something about it. With a curse, I tiptoed into the area. The beast hovering over its victim turned scarlet eyes on me.
My chest started burning as adrenaline dumped into my bloodstream. Specifically the bird on my chest. It was on fire and taking my breath away. Before I passed out, energy sizzled to the surface of the blood racing through my veins. It supercharged me, making me feel powerful.
“Took you long enough,” the creature announced in a voice that sounded like metal grinding against stone.
I cast a quick glance around, searching for another enemy. Nothing moved, but I didn’t dare take my eyes off the demonic being much longer. “What do you mean?” His statement made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. His comment insinuated he was waiting for me, which seemed ridiculous.
“You smell sweet. Far tastier than this pathetic excuse.” He kicked the being with a foot as he stood up to his full height of over six feet tall. He had dark hair, caramel skin and was dressed all in black. His clothing looked more like liquid silk as it moved over his body and made me think of a snake.
My stomach turned as he licked his lips. It wasn’t a sensuous gesture. Instead, it shouted hunger and the desire to devour every ounce of my being. “I’ve been looking for you ever since your presence popped up three days ago.” He tilted his head. “Something is missing. You’re not all there.” He sniffed the air.
I swallowed bile and tried to shut down my gag reflex. Once the watery mouth started, I was a goner. I’d vomit, and I couldn’t afford to leave myself exposed like that. Analyzing his statement helped.
We had returned from Eidothea three days ago. I was certain he was the one killing in our town for months now. Why was it a few days ago I had sparked his interest? My hand crept up to the burning bird then fell away. I had no idea what was wrong with me or if that is what caught his attention, and I didn’t care.
“If you’re hunting me, you’re doing a piss poor job of it. I had no idea you were even here.” Taunting the demon doesn’t seem like the best idea, Vi. “Leave me alone.” I tried to infuse my voice with the siren traits of my ancestors. I didn’t have that much siren in me and had never wished for more until that moment.
“My messages were pretty clear. Perhaps, you’re slow. Or, you just don’t know how to interpret dreams.” My heart stopped when he said that.
I had been plagued with nightmares of my friends being torn apart by a hungry monster with red eyes. He looked nothing like the guy before me. I wondered if he wore human skin to hide his horns and grey leather-like flesh. Had he sent me the dreams?
A part of me was drawn to him, and my feet were moving before I knew it was happening. I stopped myself a few feet away and got a better look at the person on the ground. It was Faye. One of the witch elders.
Bile filled the back of my throat. Her stomach was cut open, and I could see the ripples of her intestines. They glistened in the moonlight, and her chest didn’t rise and fall that I could see. Oh, Goddess. She couldn’t be dead.
“Your messages are pathetically cliched. Death is expected from demons and not attractive in the least.”
His smile was revolting and almost made me lose control over my stomach. “Good thing all I want is your power.” I wondered if it was really Fiona that he was hunting. He might have zeroed in on me because I was connected to her. I needed to ask Aislinn if she was experiencing anything out of the ordinary. Perhaps that was why she’d been sick lately.
I called up my power. It surged when I called. The winds whipped around me, sending the demon’s dark hair flying around his handsome face. I wanted to pump my fist when a blast hit him and caught him off-guard.
The rain started next, and the ground rolled beneath our feet. I had to brace myself so I didn’t fall over. The elements raged harder as my heart rate increased. The two seemed connected. That frightened me more than the demon. The e
lements shouldn’t respond to me like that. Witches used the elements, and we drew upon their power. But we weren’t able to control them. And we certainly didn’t influence them.
The demon glanced around as he tried to shield his face from the rain and wind. I took deep breaths and tried to calm my fear and rage. The more I felt, the more the elements raged. I had to get control of this and fast.
Power filled my chest, making it feel close to bursting. I shook my hands and imagined flinging the terror away from me. Energy flowed from the ends of my hands like sparks from a firework.
They landed on the ground and started fires. The winds continued, but the rain stopped. The tiny lightning bolts continued to fly from my fingertips. I wasn’t able to control the power from leaking from me like I was a sieve.
One bolt hit the demon in the chest, leaving a gaping hole in its wake. Black blood dribbled down his chest as he screamed. He batted at his injury and backed away from me. His red eyes wide, and his face pinched from pain. He gave me one last look and took off.
I didn’t have time to consider the energy still pouring from me. I landed on my knees next to Faye and groped for a pulse. There was nothing for several seconds. I cried out when a pulse beat beneath my probing fingers. It was barely there.
I looked around for my phone and saw it next to my purse. "I’m getting you help, Faye. Hang on.”
I crawled toward my phone as fast as possible. There was no telling if the demon was coming back, but I didn’t want to take any chances. I needed to get in touch with Gardoss and call Zreegy to help Faye.
