Super Witch: Souls by the Sea, #4

By Cerine Talbot

(A lighthearted treat for kids set in the Souls by the Sea universe.) 

Little Lydia is a witch? Yes! Woo hoo! But she has to keep it a secret. Her wonderful big sister, Burlie, can't stand witches (for some bizarre reason) so Lydia has to sneak away to be tutored at the Magic Sodality.

Where she can't get a single spell right. Her ratbag teacher proclaims her brainless, hopeless, and useless. Well, FINE! If she can't be a witch she'll be a SUPERHERO instead! With her best friend, the amazing Bravo Unit, she'll go on a heroic quest and prove herself once and for all!

Just don't tell Burlie.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cerine Talbot
• Release date: Dec 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9781540190918

Book preview

Super Witch

Cerine Talbot

About this Book

The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the author is illegal and punishable by law. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

SUPER WITCH

A Souls by the Sea novella

Copyright © 2018 Cerine Talbot. All rights reserved.

Formerly published under the pen name Jessie G. Talbot

Lydia McLauren wanted to be the best witch she could be but she has no talent, no brains, and no hope. Her teacher said so. Well. fine! Since she's so terrible at being a witch

she's going to be a SUPER HERO instead.

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to my front line team of developmental heroes and the biggest thank you to my family for their never-ending cheer and support. Cover elements courtesy of Freepik. Excelsior!

For updates, new releases, and zero spam, follow me on Twitter @author_talbot

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Author Info

Chapter One

...

"L ionroar, you fool ! You dare defy me? No one can stop the Empress Evilra!"

The Empress's long, black fingernails clicked as she threw up her gnarled hands in disbelief. Her ugly face was under-lit by the green flames powering her bubbling cauldron. Globs of poisonous potion boiled over to hiss and sizzle on the hot stone of the floor.

Get out! the Empress snarled. Or you'll be the first to perish!

Lydia Lionroar didn't move. The unhealthy light bounced off her golden armor as she reached into her magic hold-all bag and pulled out The White Broom. It was taller than she was and glittered with diamonds. My magic is stronger than yours, Evilra, she declared. It's powered by GOODNESS. Give up now and I will show you mercy.

Mercy Shmercy! The Empress Evilra dipped her bare, ugly, hand into the potion. It didn't burn her leathery skin. She brought a handful up to her black lips...

Ramming speed! Lydia lion-roared as she jumped on the broom and flew forward.

GO GET A BALLOON IF YOU WANT ONE! the Empress screeched.

Lydia blinked.

Buh...what?

I said, go get a balloon if you want one, Lydia's big sister repeated as she filled in her deposit slip. You've been staring at them ever since we came into the bank.

Oh! Okay, Burlie. Lydia wandered over to the red, white, and blue balloons bobbing next to the home loan station. They were good ones, clear, bright, and flecked with gold stars.

Just one, Burlie said.

Okay. Lydia picked a bright blue balloon. The red ribbon tying it was curly and Lydia tried to straighten it as she ran back, her flip flops slapping against her heels, thap thap thap.

Lydia liked getting treats from the First Street Bank and Trust but she had to be quiet with them. Which was annoying. She also didn't understand the tube things that went whoosh as they brought in checks and stuff from the cars in the drive-through. Whoosh whoosh whoosh, like Superman flying through the air.

How did they work? Was it magic?

No, Lydia decided. There was no magic in a boring old bank.

Lydia knew all about magic.

Or, y'know, she would soon. As soon as a tutor could be found. And then...

Eeeee, Lydia whispered.

Shh! We're going, we're going, Burlie said and signed her name with a fancy squiggle. 

They crossed the plum-colored carpet to one of two tellers doing their thing behind an old-fashioned open counter of maple wood and brass. Philodendrons grew large and green at each end.

Hey, Burlie, the lady teller said and then she smiled down at Lydia. Morning, Blondie, you're looking especially cute today.

Lydia writhed with embarrassed pleasure. G'morning!

The teller's nametag read Emilia. She took Burlie's deposit and started tapping at her computer. Birthday money, Miss McLauren? she asked.

Burlie proudly shook her head. I've started selling tiny paintings online. Ornaments. Portraits of dogs and cats. Southern Folk Art by a Carolina Artisan. I don't mention I'm still in high school.

I do the same thing, Emilia said, laughing. Only I paint gourds. And my grandbabies help so they're a mess but some people will buy anything.

And their conversation was launched.

...paint in my clothes...

...business cards...

...taxes...

...shipping costs...

...rude customers...

...weird requests...

Lydia sighed deeply but Burlie didn't hear or pretended not to hear. Why did older people talk so much?

I mostly do acrylics, Burlie said. And blah, blah, blah.

Emilia pressed one last button. "I use weather-proof oil paints blah, blah, blah."

Burlie got her receipt and she stuffed it into her purse. Lydia was hopeful. Were they leaving now?

Blah blah this town should have an arts and craft festival blah.

I totally agree blaaaah.

No. Not leaving. Not ever leaving, Lydia was going to grow old and die in this place. I'm hungry, Lydia groaned. She wasn't but she had to try something.

Hush, down there. Burlie frowned and turned back to her talk.

Blah, blah?

Oh, Blah!

The door chimed. A tall man wearing a baseball cap and dark sunglasses slowly walked into the bank. He looked around.

Lydia was so glad. Maybe he'd pick their line and interrupt.

It's not much money but these days you gotta do what you gotta do, Emilia said.

The man interrupted. That's for sure, he said and held up his hands. Red sparks blazed from his fingers and buzzed over his head in a frightful arc.

Lydia's balloon popped and she stared as the ribbon spiraled to the floor. The entire bank glowed with red light. The other teller dove under the counter but Emilia stood firm and frowned.

The intruder was grinning. Don't nobody move!

Lydia screamed, BANK ROBBER! and then she was soaring above the counter. She felt the wind in her hair before she landed hard on her butt. It hurt! Her arm hurt, too. She realized Burlie had thrown her over. And her feet were bare. She'd lost her flip flops. Wha...Burlie? Lydia started to stand.

Stay down. Burlie pushed her back. It's a witch!

"I said don't move!"

A red bolt hit Burlie in the back and she cried out, cried out, cried a long, strange yowl, and a cat, her fur a swirl of rust and gold, tumbled down into Lydia's arms.

Buuuurlie?!

Burlie was a cat. A tortoise-shell cat and her thick fur spiked. She hissed. She jumped to the carpet. She shook her front paws and she shook her back paws as if she'd stepped in water. She swished her long tail through the air.

Wow, Lydia whispered. Wow. Wow. Just wow. One minute you're putting a few bucks in the bank and the next you're a cat.

Burlie's ears flicked back flat on her skull as she growled a low tiger growl of pure rage.

Give me the money! the man barked and Lydia jumped. She looked up. The robber was leaning over the counter and pointing a red-hot finger at Emilia's face. Lydia cringed as the first cold spike of real fear hit her. She held still, so still her eyes started to water as