Muffins, Magic, and Murder

by Jessica Lancaster

  The ground opened beneath his feet and swallowed him whole, leaving very little time for him to transform. It was the only justice we could get. He couldn’t be imprisoned or locked away, the only way to get rid of a demon was to vanquish it back into the ground.

  I sank to my knees. “What happened?” I asked, staring out at the scorched brown gravel where the earth had opened.

  Eva dipped beside me. “We got justice.”

  “How did nobody see?” Allegra asked. “I don’t think I ever met him.”

  Noelia knelt to my other side. “So, who brought him into the world?”

  “Must’ve been Ellyn, she was at her wit’s end,” I said. “Perhaps that’s why she had the picture of him.”

  Tana sighed. “I never met him, not even once.”

  I was unsure whether to laugh or cry. “He asked me out on a date.” It was just my luck a man who was interested in me turned out to be a demon in disguise. “I bet that was so he could close enough to kill me.”

  “Maybe accidentally giving him the truth serum scared him off a little,” Eva said.

  “Oh,” Noelia hummed. “So I’m not allowed to be use my magic against humans but you are?”

  Allegra coughed into a fist. “We won’t get into this. We need to all know that he’s gone, perhaps take care of the real doctor, and give your mother the send-off she deserves.”

  They helped me to my feet. “After that, we need to find a fifth.”

  Noelia laughed. “Well I’m outta here once the house sells, but—” she rolled her eyes. “I can put feelers out for mature earth witches looking for a coven.”

  The consolation prize for finding the killer was satisfaction we wouldn’t be hunted down by poison pen notes attached to our doors or the prospect of biscuits laced with hemlock. I needed a long soak in the bath and a beach vacation, somewhere without rain.

  CHAPTER 21

  A Week Later

  Ellyn took the blame for everything, there was no mention of the doctor, but equally we were uncertain whether the demon was of her creation, or whether she was under his influence. The real Doctor Raymond went to work, even though he’d never started properly. There was also very little in the way of Ellyn denying it after the client book was found, and the same trace of poison in both Marissa’s stomach and a mug in Ellyn’s house.

  We were all only happy we could give Marissa the send-off a witch deserved. A witch’s burial is a sacred ceremony where witches gather to send the deceased back to the Goddess in the sky and the ether of the world. I volunteered the rear garden of my home. It was large enough to perform the ceremony in.

  We all wore whites and cream fabric, including her daughter Noelia who seemed to repel all forms of colour that didn’t include black.

  Often reserved for witches only, we made an exception for Doctor Raymond as he arrived dressed in a full ivory-coloured suit and tie.

  “Afternoon,” he said with a large smile on his face.

  It was enough to make me blush. “Afternoon, Doctor.” I gave a nod. “I hope the practice is okay without you for the afternoon.”

  He waved a hand at me. “Of course, plus, I really want to pay my respects. I have seen things a man of science should never see in his lifetime, I have experienced things a man of science has no reasoning for.”

  I hooked my arm around his as we walked through to the conservatory. “I am sure there will be more around here to keep you occupied then,” I said.

  We waited a moment as we watched Marissa’s body covered in a white cloth laid on the ground. Noelia and Eva both stood beside her while Tana and Allegra set large clear quartz crystals around her body.

  “What are they doing?” he asked.

  I contemplated telling him as I watched his face crease, observing the women outside. “You’ll see, this will be another thing your mind might not let you comprehend.”

  He hummed. “I do hope not.”

  “What are we waiting for then?” I said. “We should be outside on this lovely day.”

  It was surprisingly nice for a day in September. Dare I say it was a nice day for a burial, not fraught with wind or rain. The garden was rarely punished with wind given the large trees that surrounded the house.

  Laurie ran outside from between my legs as I opened the door. I turned to see August step back and watch, I could count on him not making a nuisance of himself, especially outside.

  “You have a cat?” he asked.

  “Yes,” August said.

  The doctor turned as I let out a large cough. “I mean, yes, I have a cat. August.” I gestured behind to the black cat with his nose in the air. “Laurie was Marissa’s cat, probably why she ran outside.”

  Laurie scratched at the white sheet over Marissa’s body, her quiet voice shaking.

  The other witches stared at the doctor on my arm. It had been a group decision we’d made to invite him.

  “Shush,” Noelia said, picking Laurie up and petting a hand across her nose.

  It wasn’t that I didn’t want him to hear the cats speaking, but it took some getting used to for a human, even if they’d already had their run-ins with demonic forces before. Talking cats were themselves on another level.

  Once all the crystals were in place, we gathered around Marissa’s body.

  “I’ll miss you, for everything you’ve done for us, for being the grounding force we required to be a great coven. Please send us someone new, because we need help finding a suitable replacement,” I said. “Bless the Goddess.”

  “Bless the Goddess,” the repeated.

  We each went around saying how we were grateful for her. Marissa was a huge part of our lives, our fifth, and she was gone because of some lower demon trying to find his footing in this world. It was something none of us dealt with before, in the sleepy seaside village of Cowan Bay, we’d never had more than an old lady slip when in the rain.

  “Any final words?” I asked.

  Doctor Raymond cleared his throat, clearly anxious as he tugged on the cuff of his sleeve. “I didn’t know Marissa, maybe on the drive to the new house, but even then, I don’t recall less than a moment I was inside that I found myself locked away. I probably waved at her as I passed by that first time, but I never met her, and I feel partly to blame.”

  “Oh, gosh,” Tana grumbled. “It could’ve happened to anyone.”

  “She’s right,” Allegra added. “The old house had been abandoned for over a year.”

  We had yet to tell him it appeared he’d been targeted, but that would’ve only made matters worse, and as a human, we quite enjoyed his spirit.

  “I’ve lived here for coming up on twenty years, the house has had many owners, it just so happens that someone got to it before you.”

  “We’ve already burned smudge sticks and added sigils around your house for protection now,” Eva said. “So don’t worry.”

  “And you’ll also be living beside me, so anything you need on the topic, I can be of assistance,” I said.

  Noelia sighed. “And I’ll be leaving for Wales, I’ve already found a buyer for the house. And I’ll be taking Laurie with me.”

  We shared a gasp, except for the doctor who had no idea to what we were gasping at.

  “You didn’t say,” I said, my hand clutching the pentagram amulet around my neck. “Who is it? How is it possible you sold it so quickly?”

  She shrugged. “Don’t worry, I did a background check and she seems really nice.”

  There was hope we’d keep Noelia around for a little while until we found a fifth, but we couldn’t keep her forever, or for much longer so it seemed.

  “It’s time,” I said after a moment of silence.

  Let the light guide you,

  Let it show you the way,

  Let peace flow through,

  Let happiness stay.

  We bring to you a witch,

  Our Goddesses to take,

  We ask you give love,

  Our Goddesses to make.

 
From the power in me,

  So mote it be.

  The ceremonial prayer was repeated three times until a warmth vibrated through our bodies, up from our legs and out through top of the heads. The blanket that covered Marissa’s body no longer laid across her, it now laid flat on the ground.

  Back into the ether.

  Doctor Raymond cleared his throat again, this time I took his arm softly. His heart pounding through him, he was nervous, naturally, every fibre in him clenched, wanting to seek control. “It’s okay,” I said, but I knew there was no science or logic to reason with.

  Now she was really gone. Her entire being vanished. She would never be gone too far, she was all around us now, and while the way she went was way before her time, being able to send her off was a blessing.

  * * *

  The next morning as I sat to eat a bowl of oat, finishing the last of the summer strawberries. I looked out of the conservatory window, the space where Marissa had been sent away seemed to sprout small white daisies. I smiled.

  I smiled. “Thank you.”

  From my dressing gown pocket, I pulled out the letters I’d collected from the post. There was a letter addressed to me, written on fancy stationary with even fancier ink. It was familiar.

  “Please, no,” I grumbled, tearing the letter.

  Dear Gwendolyn,

  This is your mother. I’ve been trying to get in touch, dear. You’ve not been picking up the messages. I’m starting to wonder if I’m even a witch anymore. Sweetie, please tell me you’re okay. I heard your coven is looking for a fifth. You know I’m a versatile earth/spirit.

  I will be in Cowan Bay in a few weeks’ time. That dreaded small village.

  I shall see you shortly,

  Celine Waterhouse

  P.S. do you still run that quaint little café thing?

  An internal sigh cried no loudly. My mother, while an incredibly talented witch, was not someone I needed. She’d been married and divorced countless times, and I knew she wanted me to find my second husband. She really took Jackie Kennedy’s saying to heart when she spoke about marriage; “the first time you marry for love, the second for money, and the third for companionship.”

  I feared my mother was on her fourth marriage and I wasn’t sure what it was for that time, perhaps money again.

  “What’s that?” August asked.

  “A letter.”

  “Your mother is coming, isn’t she?” he groaned.

  The feeling was mutual. “Yep.”

  He hissed. “If she lets that bird anywhere near me it won’t end well.”

  Her familiar was a parrot named Julian, and an awfully irritating one at that. There were no private conversations around him.

  “We’ll just have to wait and see,” I said, placing the letter back into the envelope.

  I couldn’t help but wonder why she was coming back, she never did anything for the good of the family, she may have been an earth symbol, but she was extremely flighty.

  A Note from Jessica

  Dear Reader,

  Muffins, Magic, and Murder is the re-release of A Pinch of Death. I’ve really loved going through and re-meeting the characters of Cowan Bay, and there will be more books in the series.

  Reviews are appreciated, they let me know you love these characters as much as I do. And don’t forget to share them with fellow cozy lovers.

  Please leave a review and share with fellow cozy lovers.

  Witchy kisses,

  Jessica

  MORE FROM JESSICA

  COWAN BAY WITCHES SERIES

  Continue your journey in COWAN BAY with the second instalment from the series. Join Gwendolyn as her mother arrives and stirs troubles as a dead body arrives swiftly after her.

  Start book one today.

  CUPCAKES, CRYSTALS, AND CHAOS

  BLURB

  When a dead man is found on the Cowan Bay shores, Doctor Oscar Raymond reveals the man choked on a crystal – a witch’s crystal.

  With fingers pointed at them in all directions, the Cowan Bay coven realise the odds aren’t in their favour. Add the appearance of another witch, Gwen’s mother, and it becomes too coincidental for Detective Hodge.

  It’s a race against time to find out the truth before someone is imprisoned for a murder they didn’t commit.

  BUY NOW

  WITCHWOOD SERIES

  If you’re ready to explore witchy world, the WITCHWOOD series and the COWAN BAY WITCHES are both set inside the same world. In Witchwood, you’ll find a retired witch investigator as she finds herself sucked into the mysteries surrounding her.

  Start book one today.

  CRYPTIC CURSES IN WITCHWOOD

  BLURB

  A retired witch detective, settling in a sleepy human town, what could go wrong?

  Well – dead bodies appearing in compost heaps, an old woman screaming about zombies, and blood on the ground like slug trails – but only one person has seen it, and she’s signing her one-way ticket out of town.

  Out of retirement to solve one last mystery, witch-in-residence, Evanora Lavender might find herself sucked back into the paranormal investigation game.

  Buy Now

  SILVER LAKE SERIES

  If you’re hungry for a non-paranormal book. We’ve got you covered there too! Meet Evelyn Green, a journalist at the prestigious travel magazine in the Cotswolds. There’s one small hitch, Evelyn’s rescue dog, a beagle named Charlie, keeps finding dead bodies…

  Start book one today.

  MURDER ON SILVER LAKE

  BLURB

  Dead on the riverbank. An ex-con artist.

  Hated throughout the village and neighbouring town of Briarbury.

  Suicide? Ruled out.

  Murder? Most likely.

  Revenge? Money? Power?

  In a village filled with motives, someone isn’t telling the truth.

  And someone is close to finding out how far a killer would go.

  Buy Now

  ABOUT JESSICA LANCASTER

  Jessica Lancaster grew up in England with a love for reading whodunnit murder mysteries.

  She’s loves nothing more than a good cup of tea with some chocolate biscuits.

  Named after Angela Lansbury in “Murder, She Wrote”, Jessica Fletcher; she dreamed of a day to be her own sleuth in a series. This sparked Gwen in the Cowan Bay Witches Cozy Mystery series and Evanora in the Witchwood Cozy Mystery series.

  Join Jessica’s e-mail list for new releases by signing up!

  PARANORMAL MYSTERIES

  Cowan Bay Witches Cozy Mysteries

  Muffins, Magic, and Murder (Book 1)

  Cupcakes, Crystals, and Chaos (Book 2)

  Pies, Palmistry, and Poison (Book 3)

  Treats, Tarot, and Trouble (Book 4)

  Witchwood Cozy Mysteries

  Cryptic Curses in Witchwood (Book 1)

  Secret Spells in Witchwood (Book 2)

  Monster Magic in Witchwood (Book 3)

  Reaper Rituals in Witchwood (Book 4)

  Bad Blood in Witchwood (Book 5)

  Wicked Witches in Witchwood (Book 6)

  CO-AUTHORED BOOKS

  With Hugo James King

  Murder on Silver Lake (Book 1)

  Murder on Red Rose Drive (Book 2)

  Murder at Maple House (Book 3)