Spells and Spooks (Witch Haven Mystery - a fun cozy witch paranormal mystery series Book 1)

by K E O'Connor

  I joined her and saw a group of teenagers racing away from the house. “You see. That’s not exactly a welcoming party. I should put the wards back up. Trust me, people throwing pumpkins through my window will be the least bad thing to happen if I stay too long.”

  “It was just teenagers in high spirits. They probably heard the gossip about you and wanted to see if it was true.”

  “That’s not reassuring. Kids getting egged on by their parents gossiping about the arrival of the killer Ash witch. It’ll only get worse.” My gaze shifted to the trolls, who seemed to be asleep upright. That was a nifty skill to have. “Let’s go see why my guards did nothing to stop the vandalism.”

  “Maybe you shouldn’t bother them. They were surly with me, even though I gave them my best smile.”

  “What’s the point of having them guarding my home if they don’t stop this kind of thing from happening?”

  Luna hurried along beside me as I headed outside and over to the trolls.

  “Hey! Why didn’t you stop that mob from smashing my window?” I yelled.

  The trolls didn’t even look at me.

  “Why would we do that?” Burly troll number one finally said.

  “Because someone could have been hurt. There’s glass everywhere.”

  He grunted. “We’re here to protect the village and everyone who lives in it from you, not you or your house.”

  A flare of indignation made my cheeks burn. “Then you’re in for a boring time. I have no plans to do anything bad while I’m here.” Although I was tempted to do something horrible to these trolls. I could spike their coffee with laxatives, or think terrible things about them. Yes, that was about the extent of my powers.

  “Let’s forget about it.” Luna tugged gently on my arm. “And just think, we’ve been gifted the key ingredient to make a delicious pumpkin pie.”

  I couldn’t help but smile at her sunny nature, but as I ran my gaze over Luna, I could see fear and stress hovering beneath the surface. Whatever was in her apartment terrified her. And she must have been desperate to come knocking on my door.

  I left the trolls to their lazy lounging, and we headed back inside.

  Nugget was perched on top of the pumpkin, while Russell pecked at one side.

  “Oh! Don’t spoil it. I’m upcycling this gift.” Luna hurried over and rolled the pumpkin so the creative etching on the side couldn’t be seen. “I’ll make us a pie with this. You’d all like that, wouldn’t you?” She smiled at Russell and Nugget.

  Russell squawked loudly and flapped away. Nugget hopped off the pumpkin and returned to his moldy bedding without saying anything.

  I remained in the doorway, watching Luna. Having her here brought back too many memories. I’d slammed the door on my troubled past, and I couldn’t pry it open, no matter who asked. And it wasn’t my place to help. She should find someone better able to deal with the evil spirit in her home.

  Luna looked up at me after she’d finished inspecting the pumpkin, and her gaze lowered. “You’re not going to help me, are you?”

  “I can’t help. I’m no use to you. I probably wouldn’t be able to detect the ghost, let alone do anything about it.”

  “You won’t know until you take a look. Half an hour. Just see if you sense anything dark or if you know what he wants. Once I figure out what the ghost needs, I can send him on his way.”

  I flexed my hands. “I don’t have time to help you. And my magic is broken.”

  “It’s not! I can feel—”

  “No! The Magic Council made sure I can’t cast anything stronger than a weak light spell. Even if I could figure out what your unwelcome ghost wants, I couldn’t do anything about it. You need to find someone else.”

  “I could loan you some of my magic, or we could combine magic. We used to do that when we were younger, and we were scarily powerful when we combined strengths.”

  “I’m really sorry, Luna, but I need to get on. I’ve got my own problems to deal with, and I’ve only got a few days to sort through this whole house. And as you can see by the hulking trolls outside, I’ve got the Magic Council watching me. One wrong move, and I’ll be back inside.”

  Luna stood and brushed down her knees. “I don’t know where else to turn. I... I guess I’ll figure something out.”

  “You should move. That’ll get rid of your ghost.”

  She bit her lip. “And leave him with the next person to tackle. I don’t know. Maybe I should. I just love it there. It was heaven until the ghost appeared.”

  Gah! I hated turning her away, but there was no other option.

  I grabbed the pumpkin. “Take this with you. You can make that pie. I bet it’ll be delicious.”

  Luna shook her head as she headed to the door. “The pumpkin is probably rotten. See you around, Indigo.” She walked out of the living room, and the front door shut softly as she left.

  I blew out a breath, trying to sort my churning emotions into order. I didn’t care Luna needed help. We’d been out of each other’s lives for a long time, and I didn’t owe her anything. So why was I feeling so bad? If I didn’t care about Luna and her ghost problem, I’d have shut the door in her face the second she’d shown up.

  I looked around the room, frustration fizzling through me. I glared at Nugget. “You lot also need to get out of here. I’ve got work to do. And why did you let me fall asleep?”

  “We aren’t your personal alarm service,” Nugget said.

  “You need to leave.”

  “Someone rolled off the wrong side of the armchair. Why can’t we stay where we are while you work?” Nugget said.

  “Because you’ll get in the way. Out. Now.” I pointed at the door. I wanted to be on my own, and I didn’t need more reminders of my past bothering me.

  Russell, Nugget, and Hilda simply stared at me.

  I grabbed a dishcloth and flapped it at Russell. He squawked at me and headed to the door. I pulled it open and waved the cloth until he shot out. “You too, Nugget.”

  Nugget turned in a circle and settled on the moldy towels.

  “Don’t make me grab a broomstick and chase you,” I said. “Out.”

  Nugget hissed at me, before jumping off the towels and strutting to the door. “You’re not as nice as I remember. Being away from Witch Haven hasn’t done you any good.”

  “Being here didn’t do me any good either.” I gripped the edge of the door, my knees shaky. It was a mistake to come back here. It was overwhelming. I should have given up everything, all the memories and Magda’s magical artefacts, and let the Magic Council do whatever they liked with it.

  I turned from the door. “You too, Hilda. I saw you hide behind that jar on the mantelpiece.”

  She scuttled out, across the ceiling, and out the door.

  I stalked back to the kitchen, grabbed food for them, and slung it outside, before slamming the door shut.

  I let out a sigh and rolled my shoulders. No more distractions. I had to stay focused on my mission. Fix up this place, then get out of Witch Haven as quickly as I could.

  ***

  It was heading toward dusk as I stood with my hands on my hips surveying my progress. I was certain I’d discovered at least two new species of venomous spiders while sorting through the junk left behind by Magda. Fortunately, none of them had bitten me, but I was still covered in dust, my throat was dry, and I had cobwebs stuck to my hair. And I’d only cleared two rooms. This job was bigger than I’d expected.

  There was a huge pile to my right that I considered trash, a pile in the middle was for recycling or sending to the goodwill, and another pile that would most likely be burned on a huge bonfire.

  My stepmom had been a hoarder. That meant she had several copies of the same spell book, spare wands, and numerous broomsticks that kept appearing as if out of nowhere. She also had an enormous closet of clothes that I hadn’t even dared look at.

  It was tempting to burn the lot and be done with it, but I couldn’t be that callous. I had a frag
ment of heart left, no matter what the residents of this place thought.

  I ran a hand through my hair, grimacing as my fingers stuck in the cobwebs. My stomach grumbled, reminding me I’d barely had anything to eat all day.

  I’d have a couple of hours off, clean up, grab something to eat, and then keep on working.

  There was no point trying to keep a low profile anymore, not with two hulking great trolls outside, the Magic Council shouting that I was home, and my best friend turning up on the doorstep. So, I’d use the extra time, and just grab a few hours of sleep here and there until everything was sorted and I could leave.

  I was hunting through the tins in the kitchen cupboard, looking for something inoffensive to eat, when there was a shriek outside. It sounded like someone had stepped on Nugget’s tail.

  I hurried to the front door and pulled it open. Luna’s uncle, Albert Black, stood by the gate. His wild gaze shifted to me, and he jabbed a finger in my direction. “I should have known there’d be trouble. The second I heard you were back in the village, I got a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.”

  “Thanks for the welcome home,” I said. “I’m not here to cause trouble. I’ve come to sort out my stepmom’s house.” I walked down the porch steps.

  Albert was shaking, his face sweaty, and his shoulders tight. “You should never have come back.”

  “Believe me, I debated that with myself for a long time. I’ll stay out of your way. I won’t even come into the village.” The guy looked a wreck, much older than his sixty something years. I guess that’s what grief did to you.

  “It’s too late for that. You’ve sealed Luna’s fate.”

  I tilted my head. “Sealed her fate? I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “She was here, wasn’t she? I told her not to come, but she said you’d help and always looked out for each other.”

  My stomach dipped as I stepped closer. “Yes, Luna was here, but I sent her away. I can’t help with her problem.”

  “That’s what I’m talking about. You sent her away. By doing that, you as good as killed her.”

  Chapter 6

  The world felt like it tilted beneath my feet as I stared at Albert. “Luna’s dead?”

  He barged past the trolls, who looked on with interest, but made no move to intervene. “What did you say to her when she came here?”

  “I’ve already told you, I said I couldn’t help her. What’s happened to Luna?”

  “She was trying to be like you. Luna looked up to you when you were younger and wished she had your abilities so she could be like an Ash witch. I always told her she had enough magic and to be grateful. Luna didn’t need to compete to be like you, but she never listened to me.”

  “You still haven’t answered my question. What’s happened?” I grabbed his shoulders and shook him.

  Fear flashed into Albert’s eyes. “She confronted the ghost, just like she asked you to do. She tried to drive it out of the apartment, and it attacked her. You should be the one who’s been hurt. She came to you for help and you rejected her.”

  I swallowed against the lump in my throat. “How badly is she hurt? She’s not...” My eyes blurred with tears. My best friend couldn’t be dead.

  “Luna’s alive, but barely. This is your fault. You need to fix this. She’d never have gone up against that ghost on her own if you’d said you’d help.”

  I pressed my palm against my forehead, massaging the growing ache. “Where is she?”

  “At the hospital. The doctor’s not sure what to do. The ghost has drained her powers. She’s just a shell. My beautiful Luna is dying.” A sob shot out of his mouth. “I’ll lose her because of you.”

  “Hey! That’s enough blaming me. I made it clear to Luna I couldn’t help.” The words sounded hollow to my ears. Guilt sliced through me. My best friend could die because I’d turned my back on her.

  Albert turned away. “Because you don’t care about her. You’re still rotten to the core, just like Magda.”

  “If you think I’m so rotten, why are you here pointing the finger? You should be afraid I’ll take you down next.” I narrowed my eyes and stepped closer.

  Albert trembled some more, but he didn’t back away. “You have to help. The ghost has drained Luna almost completely, and the only way to get her back is to destroy it, then her abilities will return. She’s being held prisoner by that thing, and it’s all because of you.”

  “First off, it’s not. I don’t control this ghost. And second, I can’t destroy it. I’m not strong enough.”

  “You can. I witnessed your power for myself when you took my wife away.”

  I opened my mouth to protest, but I had nothing. “I’m sorry. For everything. But I don’t have that power anymore. It was taken from me. Why can’t you banish this ghost?”

  “My powers don’t lie in destruction and death. I bring light and happiness into people’s lives by filling their world with magic and cupcakes. Nothing I could do would touch this creature. A twisted beast like that only responds to darkness. The kind of darkness that lives inside you.”

  “I’m not that bad,” I muttered.

  “Yes, you are.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut for a second. I may not have shot out the killing spell that killed Luna’s aunt, but I was guilty as charged of being an accomplice.

  “What about going to the Magic Council? They’re more powerful than me and have better resources. They’ll deal with this ghost,” I said.

  “I suspect you know the way the Magic Council operates much better than I do, but we both know they’d debate their actions for weeks before doing anything. Luna doesn’t have that long.” Albert sucked in a shaky breath and dabbed at his top lip. “The ghost has attached itself to her and is continuing to drain her. She’ll be dead in a few days if you don’t do something. It has to be you. Or are you willing to let another innocent die by your hand?”

  “I... I can’t. You don’t understand. I’m not—”

  “You’re not interested in helping your friend?”

  I huffed out a breath. “It’s not that.”

  “Even after everything you and Magda did to this village, Luna still cares for you. She still thinks there’s goodness in you. And it just about broke her heart that you never replied when she reached out.”

  “That was a misunderstanding. I didn’t know she’d written to me. I never got her letters.”

  “So you say,” he said. “But now this. She turns to you when she needs you the most, and you shove her away.”

  “I didn’t shove her anywhere. This isn’t my problem to repair.” I gestured behind me at the house. “I’ve already got enough going on.”

  Albert puffed out his cheeks. “Luna didn’t say anything after seeing you, but she’d been crying. And she ate three of my maple cream pies when she got back. She always eats those when she’s upset.”

  A small smile crossed my face. I remembered those delicious pies. We used to sneak one out of the huge refrigerator in the bakery and eat it in her bedroom.

  “Then she told me she was going back to her apartment,” Albert said. “I had no idea she’d tackle that ghost on her own. I’d have gone with her if I’d known. She only did it because you let her down.”

  “I’d have helped if I could. I don’t want Luna getting hurt. But she didn’t mention she was going after the ghost if I didn’t step in.” I lifted my hands. “Besides, my magic doesn’t work that way, anymore.”

  “I suppose you’re only interested in the really dark spells. Helping other magic users in distress isn’t of interest to you.”

  I gritted my teeth and squeezed my hands together. No matter what I said, Albert wouldn’t believe me. I could tell him I had no magic ability left and the Magic Council had drained me of everything, but he wouldn’t get it. My heart went out to him, but there was nothing I could do.

  “You need to go,” I said. “I can’t be involved with this. I’m sorry about Luna, and I wish it hadn’t en
ded this way for her.”

  His top lip curled. “I should have known I was wasting my time by coming here, but I was desperate. I wanted to believe what Luna said about you, that there was still some goodness inside you and that you made a mistake all those years ago. She was wrong. There’s nothing good about you.”

  I turned away, angry tears shining in my eyes. “You’re right. There’s nothing good about me. So you’d better leave before bad things happen to you, too.”

  “You’re an evil witch,” he muttered. “I’ll never forgive you if Luna dies.”

  I didn’t turn around until his footsteps had faded. The two trolls looked at me.

  I glared right back at them. “Is there something you want to say?”

  They both grunted and turned their backs to me.

  I stamped into the house and shut the door, before leaning against it. There was no point in getting involved, I’d only make things worse. I didn’t have the power needed to make this right. I should stick with the label I’d been given. I was a bad witch.

  I stopped in the doorway of the living room. Nugget, Russell, and Hilda sat in a line in front of me. “I thought I told you lot to get out?”

  “You’re making terrible decisions,” Nugget said. “So we decided to ignore the one about leaving us outside. Besides, it’s getting cold. What do you expect us to do, sleep outside all night?”

  “It’s what you’ve been doing ever since Magda was arrested. You must be used to it by now.” I strode into the room and sank into a chair.

  I wasn’t being difficult, but I really couldn’t help Luna. If I had the ability, I’d drop everything and go after that ghost. But I’d only let Luna and her uncle down if I tried with what was left of my magic.

  Hilda scuttled up my leg and came to rest on my shoulder. She pressed a leg against my cheek. “You feel bad.”

  “I feel terrible. I’m the worst best friend in the world. Although Albert had no right to come here and guilt trip me.”

  “He’s a man in a lot of pain. He only has Luna left.”

  “Yeah, there’s no need to remind me about that. His wife was killed thanks to me.”