Bake or Die

by January Daphne

  “But it did,” Misty said. “Tell him.”

  “I’m under the knot spell, aren’t I?” Willa whispered, blinking. “That’s why I came here. That’s why I said all those things to you, Sammie. I’m so sorry. Connor, I’m sorry I hurt you.”

  Misty shook her head. “Finally you get a taste of your own medicine. Doesn’t feel good to be on the other side, huh? Now, tell him. Then I’ll put you out of your misery.”

  Willa squeezed her lips shut, but she couldn’t fight it for long. Her eyes settled on the sheriff. “Connor, the spell that I’m under now, I cast it on you twelve years ago a few months before I moved away. The only reason you like me is because of the spell. Before I cast it, you didn’t even know I existed. You’re still under the spell. The things you said to me yesterday were because I made you say them. All the feelings you have for me are because I force you to feel them. You haven’t been fully in control for twelve years. I tried to undo it. I’m sorry. I was a kid. I made a mistake.”

  A muscle pulsed along Connor’s jawline but his profile was otherwise eerily still. “You made a mistake?”

  Misty grinned, looking triumphant. “Finally, you know. That alone was worth killing Rebecca for. You see, Connor, I would’ve accepted our breakup if that had been what you wanted. But something didn’t add up. It was as if you fell out of love with me in an instant. I even used my siren magic to get you back. Nothing worked. That’s when I suspected you’d been placed under another more powerful form of magic. Over the years, I spent a lot of time pouring drinks and talking to people. It’s not a bad gig for someone like me. As a siren, I had control over every person who sat down for a drink. I could make them tell me all their secrets. I could even make them do things for me. I turned Rosie into a bonafide alcoholic. She gave me the keys to the Craven’s properties, and I broke in and got the knot spell. I also found something even more precious.” Misty reached into her pocket and held something up for Connor and me to see.

  It looked like some kind of hemp macrame.

  Misty jerked Willa’s chin up. “Tell him what this is.”

  Willa’s lip trembled as she spoke. “It’s your hemp necklace, Connor. I stole it from you and tied a knot in it, but you probably figured that out at this point.”

  Misty adjusted her grip on Willa. “George Huber is another regular at the bar. I used my siren influence to get his belt the other day and I made him my knot spell guinea pig. He was the one who stole Willa’s boots. He swooped in and snatched them with his beak and flew them over to me. I’m forcing him to keep that a secret. I’m sure he wants to tell you. In fact, Rosie noticed him acting strange and began to suspect me. I used my siren abilities to get her to drown herself in a bathroom sink while I extracted all her memories relevant to my plan. I didn’t need to kill her. I merely needed her to forget her suspicions. I wouldn’t want to make more work for the town sheriff. As for Willa, I cast the knot spell on her the day of the party. I let her think she was in control while I stood in the background, waiting for my moment.”

  “How did you even know about the knot spell? No one knew except Willa and me,” I said, shooting an anxious glance towards Connor.

  What was going through his mind? Did he believe all this? Was he still willing to save Willa? I had no idea how we were going to get out of this.

  Misty smirked. “Oh, please. I knew it had to have been some kind of spell. Why would anyone be interested in her? She’s rude, awkward, selfish. Her hair is always messy. Not to mention, she’s a total spaz.”

  “Says the serial killer,” Willa interjected.

  “I’ve only killed one person,” Misty pointed out. “Rebecca Craven was the most difficult. She had magical barriers in place to protect her mind from creatures like vampires and other witches. I had one thing on my side though—she didn’t know I was a siren. I’ve kept a low profile all my life. No one ever pays attention to the bartender. One night, she came into the bar upset. She ordered the hard stuff and didn’t stop. Her mind softened to the point where she walked into that lake willingly—just like her pathetic daughter is going to do. In the end, I got what I needed from Rebecca—the location of her daughter’s favorite hiding spot. Her unconscious mind offered it up to me as her life drained away. Her death was the most important part of my plan. I knew that would bring Willa back up to Denali.”

  I couldn’t say quiet any longer. All of this was so senseless. “Why now? Why did you wait twelve years to do this?”

  Misty’s expression soured. “Because I can’t stand seeing Connor go through this pain anymore. Last month, he was crying at the bar.” Misty grimaced. “Tears were streaming down his face while he sat on his phone googling Willa Craven.”

  “Yeah right,” Willa muttered.

  Misty gave Willa a hard shake. “It’s the truth, and it breaks my heart.”

  I snuck a look at Connor, curious to see if he’d deny it.

  Connor shifted his stance. “I had a lot on my mind.”

  Misty shook her head. “You have Stockholm Syndrome, and this is for your own good.”

  Connor’s shoulders heaved as he took a deep breath. “Misty, I’m responsible for keeping the peace in this town. I understand you have good intentions, but you’re putting me in a difficult spot. Don’t do this. You’re bringing a lot of unnecessary trouble on yourself. This isn’t about Willa. Let her go. This is between you and me.”

  Misty’s eyes clouded over. “You’ll never be able to love me or anyone with her around. Look how powerful this knot spell is. Look what it’s done to Willa. That’s what she’s been doing to you for twelve years. You’ll thank me later, Connor.”

  Suddenly, Misty and my sister dropped straight down, disappearing into the murky lake water.

  Connor cursed under his breath.

  Hastily, he turned to me, holding out his gun. “You know how to use this?”

  I stared at the shiny black piece of metal and shook my head. “No.”

  “Point and shoot,” he said. “I’m going into the lake. I’m hoping Misty won’t use magic on me. If she does, and if I do something to put Willa in danger, you shoot. Do you understand?”

  I nodded, accepting the weapon. My fingers trembled as I copied the way I’d seen Connor hold it. “Please don’t hurt her. I know what she did was terrible, but—”

  “My job is to keep the Craven witches safe. Nothing else matters right now.” Connor grabbed my shoulder, forcing me to look into his wild eyes. “Use that gun to protect yourself and your sister. Do not hesitate. Promise me?”

  “No,” I said resolutely. Heat surged through my body. “This isn’t your fight, Connor. This was my spell, and that’s my sister.”

  The gun slipped from my hand as my arms burst into blue flames.

  Connor stepped back. “Samantha, what are you doing?”

  “I’m ending this right now.”

  I waded into the water, shifting through the memories from my childhood. For what I was going to do, I needed every ounce of power I could get. I looked over the lake but couldn’t see any sign of Willa or Misty. Willa was underwater. Was she still alive?

  I knelt down and plunged my fists into the water.

  I latched onto the one memory I’d done everything I could to block out. Tonight, I ripped open the locked door in the farthest corner of my mind.

  I let the terror wash over, inviting it in.

  Images of my past flashed in front of my eyes. I was six years old, playing hide and seek with Willa in the forest across the street from the bakery, just behind the Moose Creek Pizza. I had been searching for what felt like forever, but it couldn’t have been very long.

  To a six year old, it was an eternity.

  I got upset and started calling for my sister. I listened back, only hearing the screeching of ravens and rustle of leaves. I felt so scared and alone. I panicked, working myself into a full-blown tantrum.

  Blue witch fire shot out from my body in every direction. In seconds, it climbed up the tre
es and blanketed the forest floor. Through the trees, I watched it zig-zag towards the restaurant. Somewhere in the distance, sirens howled, but I barely noticed.

  All I felt was terror.

  Out of control.

  And the chaos was exhilarating.

  It was Willa who had pulled me back from the ledge. At eight years old, she had hopped down from her hiding place in the tree branches. She didn’t know the blue flames ravaging the forest were my magical handiwork. Neither of us had experienced any magical outbursts.

  For all we knew, we were normal.

  Poor Willa shouted for me to get on the ground. She thought I was getting burned in the fire. She thought she’d burn, too.

  But that didn’t stop her from barreling through the flames and attempting to drag me somewhere safe. She couldn’t understand why that just seemed to cause the witch fire to spread.

  Finally, she gave up as the flames closed in around us. The air was black with smoke. The flashes of blue light were blinding. The roar of the fire drowned out everything.

  Everything but the sound of my sister’s voice in my ear.

  Willa wrapped me up in the fiercest hug an eight year old could muster.“Don’t be scared, Sammie. It will be OK.”

  Her voice pulled me back from the ledge. Her unyielding arms calmed my panic. She held me, flames crackling all around us, until the last of the witch fire had burned out.

  Without opening my eyes, I knew what was happening in the present day. I’d unleashed my witch fire into the lake and it would consume anything and everything that wasn’t made of the same stuff I was.

  It could destroy everything it touched—except for Willa.

  I didn’t know how to stop it once I’d let out the magic. I didn’t know how much of the forest it would destroy or if it had spread over to wherever Connor was.

  My full power was unleashed, and it felt utterly intoxicating.

  23

  I felt the sizzle of witch fire all around me. It replaced the frigid water with cracking heat. Misty, who had her arms clamped around my neck, let out a muted shriek. Streams of bubbles darted towards the surface. I couldn’t see what was happening, but I knew what witch fire on my skin felt like.

  Misty didn’t last two seconds once the flames took over the lake.

  I kicked to the surface, my lungs burning as I got a full breath of air.

  It startled me to see the shadowy forest lit up with an unnatural blue glow. The witch fire was everywhere—on the trees, in the water, even blasting up into the starry sky.

  The last time I saw anything like this was…

  The day in the forest—the day Sammie realized she had the power of a thousand easy bake ovens in her tiny hands.

  I had to get to Sam before the whole mountain range went up in smoke.

  I swam in the direction I believed Sam was, guided by intuition more than anything else.

  I felt my feet touch the slimy bottom of the lake. As I stood up, my eyes landed on what appeared to be a Samantha-shaped fireball.

  My sister looked like some kind of comic book superhero as she jammed her fists into the water. Her wild blonde hair glowed blue as it swirled around her face. Her black dress was soaked through, clinging to her hips. Her Ugg boots were dark with muddy water. Blue witch fire surged over her body, flicking over her arms and legs like a second skin. I noticed then that her witch fire was slightly different than mine—brighter with an indigo tint.

  Samantha Craven was a human volcano—a force of nature. She was giving it all she had, her eyes squeezed shut, veins pulsing on her neck, teeth clenched. Sparks spiraled out like Kamikaze fireflies.

  Ladies and gentlemen, my sister, the goddess of fire.

  What would that stuffy Los Angeles fiancé say if he saw her right now?

  Sam had never used her witch fire after that day in the forest, and I was starting to think I’d never see it again.

  But Samantha always came through. She was good like that.

  And now she had to pull it back.

  I trudged over to her and knelt down. Curling my fingers around her wrists, I said, “Sammie, you did it. We’re safe now. Everyone’s safe.”

  Her eyelids fluttered, her pupils dilating, then contracting. “Willa?”

  “It’s me.” I yanked my sister’s wrists out of the water. “You did so good. You look like Captain Marvel. But you’ve got to pull it back now or you’ll traumatize the nice sheriff.”

  Wherever he was.

  She was disoriented. Her lips quivered and her eyes settled on me. “Is it over?”

  “Yes.” I wrapped her up in a hug. “I’m so proud of you. I wish Mom could see you right now.”

  “Willa, you’re OK!” she said, understanding finally setting in. She pressed my face into her shoulder. “And you’re hugging me,” she said, her voice muffled by my shoulder.

  “I owed you one,” I said. “Just don’t go telling people.”

  Sam and I squeezed into the front seat of the pickup with Connor. We hadn’t said much after the witch fire went out, and that was just as well.

  I remembered everything that had happened while I was under Misty’s knot spell.

  Connor knew.

  It was a relief in some ways.

  Maybe he wouldn’t want to talk about it again. Maybe we could all pretend this never happened. Better yet, maybe I could get my hands on some of that memory dust and we could forget for real.

  When Connor pulled up to our cabin, I thrust open the door, attempting to make a quick getaway. Samantha grabbed my arm. “Connor, Willa, I think we all need to talk about this.”

  “I’ve got nothing to say.” Connor leaned forward resting his forearms on the steering wheel. “The mystery is solved. The murderer is… neutralized.”

  “Who turned out to be your ex-girlfriend,” I added, earning me a glare from my sister.

  Connor ignored it, staring out the windshield to where the truck headlights illuminated the cabin porch.

  “I burned down an acre of forest,” Sam said, picking at some dried mud on her leg. “I think part of that was on George Huber’s property.”

  “It will grow back,” I said. “Or someone rich like Logan Graves will build a resort on it like last time. Either way, it happened. Can’t take it back.”

  Connor cleared his throat. “No, you certainly can’t take it back. The damage is done. Good night, ladies. I’ll be in contact if another supernatural case comes up.”

  Sam nudged me in the rib cage. “Willa, do you have anything else to say to Connor?”

  I shrugged. “I’m good.”

  I caught a glimpse of Connor’s scowl in the rearview mirror and felt a wave of uneasiness.

  “I’m good, too.” He jerked the stick shift. “Now get out of my truck,” he said. “Please.”

  “You heard the man. Let’s go.” I tried to slide out, but once again, Sam stopped me.

  She looped her arm around my waist. “No. Come on, you two. We all have to make this work. This isn’t a temporary job. We’re in it for life. You both need to address your issues now.”

  I rubbed my hands over my face. “It’s three in the morning. I’m tired. I don’t feel like talking. I’ve avoided it for twelve years. Why start now?”

  “You are unbelievable. Do you care about anyone but yourself?” Connor muttered. He wrenched the door open and stomped around to the passenger-side door. He held out his hand. “Let me help you out of my truck, Willa. I insist. I’m tired, too, and I’ve got better things to do than listen to you whine.”

  I exchanged glances with Sam before taking his hand, half expecting him to yank me forward and push me down the hill.

  But Connor held his arm steady as I climbed out of the pickup. I staggered a bit, still wobbly in Sam’s very muddy heels.

  Without letting go of my hand, Connor held his other arm out to my sister. She hopped down as gracefully as a gazelle and headed towards the cabin.

  “Good night, Samantha.” Connor slammed t
he door with his shoulder.

  I tried to follow her, but Connor’s hand was still locked around me. His grip grew tighter, his fingers digging into the inside of my wrist.

  “Connor, why aren’t you letting go?” I asked, giving my arm a shake. He was hurting me, but there was no way I’d let him know that.

  “Because I do have things to say to you,” he growled. “And you’re going to listen.”

  I felt the first sharp pricks of fear as I looked up into Connor's burning stare. I’d never seen him this mad. I’d never seen anyone this mad before. I could control him through the knot spell, but not now when my emotions were so scattered. Connor was a big man, and he had a temper. I’d seen him battling it the last couple days, and that primal, hateful look in his eyes made me wonder if tonight was the night he’d let his anger win.

  His hand was legitimately cutting off my circulation.

  “Sam,” I called, leaning around the burly sheriff. “Do not leave me alone with this guy. He’s really pissed.”

  Sam pivoted, her tired blue eyes questioning. When she saw Connor was gripping my arm, her eyes sharpened. “Hey Connor, let go of her. You’re scaring her.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. She’s not scared.” Still, Connor released my arm and studied my face. “Are you?”

  “No.” I hugged my arms across my chest. “Maybe.”

  Connor pointed at his chest. “You’re scared of me?” He looked incredulous. “What do you think I’m going to do?”

  I clasped my hands behind my back to keep them from trembling. “I don’t know, dude. You got kind of alpha for a minute there.”

  “Willa.” Connor stepped back, his shoulders slumping as his entire demeanor changed. “No,” he said, in a softer tone. “No, I’d never—how could you even think that?”

  Sam stepped between us. “So… are you two good?” Her eyes moved between Conner and me.

  I shifted my weight, feeling stupid for letting my mind go to that place. “Yes, we’re good, Sam. You can go inside. I’ll be right in.”

  “OK.” She nodded slowly. “I’ll check on you in a few minutes.”