The Mark (Toil and Trouble: Book One)

By Charisma M. Cole

Jade Murray is a necromancer, a witch that can communicate with the dead. After a run of the mill summoning goes haywire, it sets off a double murder with one thing connecting the gruesome acts: Jade.
To clear her name and avoid the Watchers on her tail for crimes against humanity and the magical community, she'll have to enlist the help of her vampire boyfriend, a fairy with a penchant for blood, and her neurotic mother.
Will they find the real murderer before it’s too late?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charisma M. Cole
• Release date: May 23, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476013442

Charisma M. Cole

Charisma Cole is a reader, a writer, and a devourer of Lifetime movies. Connect with her online at [e-mail].

Book preview

THE MARK

Toil and Trouble: Book One

Charisma Cole

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * * * *

The Mark (Toil and Trouble: Book One) Copyright 2011 by Charisma Cole

Jade Murray is a necromancer, a witch that can communicate with the dead. After a run of the mill summoning goes haywire, it sets off a double murder with one thing connecting the gruesome acts: Jade.

To clear her name and avoid the Watchers on her tail for crimes against humanity and the magical community, she'll have to enlist the help of her vampire boyfriend, a fairy with a penchant for blood, and her neurotic mother.

Will they find the real murderer before it’s too late?

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Table of Contents

Chapter One: A Summoning to Remember

Chapter Two: Temptation is Good for the Soul

Chapter Three: Ink, and Blood, and Fairies…Oh My!

Chapter Four: High Rise Grave

Chapter Five: Worrywart

Chapter Six: Endless Optimism is for Suckers

Chapter Seven: A New Client

Chapter Eight: Handler for a Night

Chapter Nine: Forever Ever?

Chapter Ten: Cold, Hard Bitch

Chapter Eleven: The Mark of the Cursed

Chapter Twelve: Making up is Hard to do

Chapter Thirteen: Probation

Chapter Fourteen: Shop Away the Pain

Chapter Fifteen: The More the Merrier

Chapter Sixteen: Dinner Party

Chapter Seventeen: Blast From the Past

Chapter Eighteen: Shotgun Summoning

Chapter Nineteen: The One he Chose

Chapter Twenty: Just a Kiss

Chapter Twenty-One: Moral Support

Chapter Twenty-Two: Playing Nice

Chapter Twenty-Three: How They Met

Chapter Twenty-Four: A Little Help

Chapter Twenty-Five: Welcome to the Great House

Chapter Twenty-Six: A Surprise

Chapter Twenty-Seven: He Loves Me

Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Trial

Chapter Twenty-Nine: After Party

Chapter Thirty: The Truth

Chapter Thirty-One: A Revelation

Chapter One

A Summoning to Remember

The ghost licked his bruised lips, popping the collar of his overpriced polo. The Cartier at his rest had lost its brilliance, but his bleached white teeth gleamed with desire. Yuck.

Most who believe in ghosts think they’re these foggy apparitions that move stuff across rooms and make spooky noises; or they’re at the other end of an Ouija board, a connection to the other side. They’re partly right. Seasoned ghosts or those with a grudge can cause quite a ruckus with physical objects. But as far as appearances go, ghosts look awfully close to the way they did in life, even down to rocking the same clothes they wore when they met their end. Most have the stereotypical parlor, but nothing freakishly supernatural--they just look like they would benefit from a bottle of self-tanner. And when it comes to contacting a ghost, don’t waste your hard earned money on a board game. The only way someone can really have a sit-down with a dead person is through a true necromancer--a witch that is born with the gift to see and communicate with the dead. Like me.

I flipped a mess of mahogany hair over my shoulder, stepping closer to the line of salt that was drawn, but still at a safe distance. Ectoplasm was a bitch to get out of clothes.

Oh, honey bunny, I cooed with a saccharine smile. I miss you so much I can barely stand it, Brooksy. I gripped my neck and let my hands trail slowly down my throat, hovering near the opening of my skin tight dress. Instantly, his pale blue eyes widened in anticipation.

You’re just roleplaying, I thought to myself as a pang of nausea hit me. It’s not like he even sees you. And it was the truth. A little spell work and necromancers can control what ghosts see as well, kind of like a glamour. My glamour was based on his favorite piece of tail on the side—Candi Wilson. In his eyes, my ebony skin appeared pasty white. My shoulder length, kinky locks now flowed in stick thin waves down my equally stick thin back. Well not my back--I never got the appeal of a man being able to see all the bones in my body. I wore my curves proudly when I wasn’t on the clock. When I was on said clock, I was a witch and I used my special skills in necromancy for the Necromancy and Communicating Agency, or NACA. Those skills meant I used my ability to see and communicate with dead people to deal with those in the beyond. It wasn’t without its risks, ghosts could become unruly even violet. And when they thought, it came out in images that flooded my mind. Sometimes it was sweet things, like memories with loved ones they left behind, other times it was…not so sweet.

Oh what I would give for one more night with you, baby, the ghost said, sighing with longing. I need you, kitten.

My life is an endless ocean of sadness and loneliness, I continued dramatically. And things have been hard lately. Really hard.

The ghost took a step closer. What’s going on?

I looked down at the tacky white patent pumps I’d put on for the occasion. I lost my job over at Macy’s.

I could barely say the last bit with a straight face. When I scoped out the other woman’s place of employment after I accepted the gig, Candi was so obviously made for the job that I was in awe. From the way she held the glass bottles like they were precious treasures to the cavity inducing sweetness of her smile and southern twang, I had a feeling as long as she didn’t develop a habit of clocking in late, she had a job for life.

You got canned? the ghost said in disbelief, stepping even closer to the barrier. What happened?

I… My mouth hung agape as I mentally slapped myself. In a rush to schedule my first client in several weeks, I hadn’t even thought up a back story or researched her contacts at the company. Magic is most powerful on the full moon, and since there’s usually one full moon a month, I should have been more prepared.

It was cockiness, I guess. My boss, Brontes, who rarely gave out any sort of compliments or encouragement, finally admitted that my glamours were the best he’d seen in decades. It may have gone to my head a smidge, considering the fact that I barely had to break a sweat to create a solid façade. My usual work routine consisted of popping a button or two and the location of the ghost’s hidden treasure or any other information that I wanted to know came spilling out.

But this ghost apparently talked to his mistress. Just my luck.

My, uh, manager, I said finally, clearing my throat. He-

You mean Stacy?

Yeah, I corrected smoothly. She got kinda grabby. But I told her I was all yours Brookey, baby. Even in death, I’m all yours.

The ghost’s brow furrowed in confusion. That born again psycho that always gives customers an earful about how great Jesus is?

Yeah, I said, shaking my head like it was the greatest tragedy ever conceived. She had us all fooled.

I swayed as a rush of images bombarded me, a mad torrent of thoughts flowing from the ghost. He was picturing Candi and this Stacy doing some very unholy things.

I glanced at the Mickey Mouse watch at my wrist. I only had five more minutes. If he didn’t spill soon, I’d have to wait until the next full moon to summon him. Goodbye bonus. So that’s why I came to this agency, I continued, trying to get us back on track. I saw their commercial while I was watching Lifetime the other night and decided I’d give them a call.

Ah, okay.

And I wouldn’t have bothered you if it weren’t really important, I added. If I didn’t really need the money.

Well shit, he said crossing his arms. His face went serious as he took another step forward. He grimaced as his body hit the invisible wall that barred him from coming any further. You haven’t blown through all the money, have you? My body’s not even cold.

Of course not, I said indignantly, giving him a pout. Hell, I don’t even know where the money is.

What? he snapped, anger spreading across his face.

I winced as his outburst rung in my ear. Imagine the emergency alert signal and fingernails against a chalkboard and multiply that by ten. For a guy that had only been six feet under a little over two weeks, he was already packing quite a punch.

Ow, I whined, nursing my ringing ears.

Sorry, he said, his face softening. His penny loafers squished around the circle as he paced back and forth, lost in thought. You went to Kenny, right?

Yeah, I saw your lawyer, I lied, nodding eagerly. He told me the only way I’d get the money was if I’d… I stopped, clasping my hand over my mouth. What the hell was I doing? We were never, ever supposed to mention outside mortals that ghosts could go shooting for.

That son of a BITCH! the ghost roared, grinding his fists. He was imagining beating the guy to a bloody pulp. He was thinking about taking his fist and putting it right up-

This is bad, I thought frantically, wringing my hands. The last necromancer who slipped up and name dropped was tried and convicted for the murder in the Great Hall. She’d told the ghost that his brother had been sleeping with his wife. Instead of going back to the All, the places ghosts go when they die, the ghost pulled some strings and looked up his brother instead. The ghost haunted and hounded his brother until the poor guy finally ended it, by putting a .45 in his mouth.

I swallowed hard, making a mental note to google the lawyer and make contact. If he had a visit from Casper the Unfriendly Ghost on my account, it was the least I could do. I didn’t want anyone’s blood or mental instability on my hands.

But right now, I had more pressing issues. Not only was the ghost slamming me with images of all the horrible things he had planned for Kenny, his anger was affecting everything in the room. The two desks that sat at the corner shimmied and shook, the computers flickering on and off ominously. The old grandfather clock whirled like a washing machine, the pendulum swinging so rapidly I needed a Dramamine.

Calm down, honey bunny, I urged, flashing him an uneasy smile. I can’t add all this shit to my tab. I can barely afford rent. Without the money. Without you taking care of me. I laid it on nice and thick. I could tell from the ghost’s eyes that he was no stranger to Candi employing the almighty guilt trip.

Sorry, he said, his eyes on his feet. What was this power that this petite woman held over him? He kicked ass all the way to the top of his company, but in front of me now, he was two feet tall.

You know I never asked you for anything, right? I said softly.

He nodded. I know. It was one of the things I loved about you.

I forced a smile. That would have been a lot sweeter if he wasn’t a two-timing douchebag who cheated on his wife of twenty years.

If I could go back- He stopped. He didn’t need to finish. I’d heard this sad song a million times. The shoulda-coulda-wouldas. As romantic as he was attempting to be, I knew the truth. Just like every other ghost I’d come across in my line of work, he wanted to have his cake and eat it too.

I know baby, I said, crossing my arms. You worked so hard all your life and you made so many sacrifices. You deserve to rest…and if I hadn’t lost my job, I wouldn’t have even bothered you. I leaned in close, lowering my voice. I just need a little something, just a bit to get me through.

He tapped his foot, mulling it over. And you said Kenny didn’t give you the account numbers?

I shook my head slightly.

He cracked his knuckles and let out a loud sigh that rattled everything that wasn’t nailed down. I’d been at this for almost an hour and I was no closer to getting the information now than when I first summoned him. Time to go to plan B.

You know what? I said suddenly, smoothing the front of my mini dress. I shouldn’t have come. I’m a pretty girl, right? And I’m all alone now so… I let a perfectly depressed sob escape from my lips before I continued. I don’t have anything now that you’re gone. I just want to thank you for the little time we had, Brooksey. I turned toward the exit, walking briskly, but not too much so, hoping he didn’t call my bluff.

Wait! he erupted behind me.

I released the door knob, but didn’t turn around. I didn’t want to seem too eager.

Get a piece of paper, he said finally, his voice resigned. I’ll give you all the information you need.

I snatched a notepad and a pencil from a nearby desk. Go ahead.

I’m assuming if Kenny didn’t give you the info, he’s already drained the account.

Probably, I agreed. But maybe you should give me that number too, just in case.

Right, he said, crossing his arms. Okay, the number for the account I left for you is…

I scribbled down the information with a flourish, glancing at my watch. 1 more minute.

And if that one doesn’t work? I said, batting my eyes.

I have one more account, the ghost said, scratching his chin. Kenny, Melissa, no one knows about it but me and the bank manager in the Caymans.

Jackpot, I thought excitedly. Okay baby, I’m ready.

After I finished writing it down, I blew him a kiss. Thanks so much.

That’s more than enough, he said, with an edge to his voice. 5.5. I’m sure Melissa has already picked the bones, so you’ll have to make do.

Oh I will, I said, walking over to the door. Since he was already pretty powerful, I didn’t think my usual shtick was a good idea.

Normally as my last hoorah I’d release my glamour and the guy or gal would realize they were duped. Hilarity ensued.

While the ghost certainly didn’t deserve any sort of peace, I figured no harm, no foul if he flitted back to the All thinking his small fortune was going to this chick instead of his very, very angry wife. Who was waiting in the lobby.

Adio-

I gasped as the door slammed open. His wife, Melissa Brooks, stood in the doorway, clutching a can of Morton’s.

Missy? the ghost said, visibly shocked.