Sorcery and Spells: Melancholy Maine Magicks, #1

By Ciara Graves

Melancholy, Maine. Home of the Moonfall sisters.

 

Hadley's had to make herself a new life. One that doesn't involve Edric, the love of her life, who was living it up in London now. Oh, she knows he is because she went there herself and checked the veracity of it.

 

Until he isn't. Because now, Edric's shown up on her doorstep and he wants answers.

 

Hadley wished she had answers herself. Like why her sister Heather's missing. Why Hedrina's possessed by a demon. Why she and Helena can't have regular lives, well, except for the magic part, because, let's face it, the Moonfall sisters are witches.

 

Seems Edric didn't show up alone. He's been followed by crows, risen dead, and a mysterious fog. Not to mention that it's raining frogs and a dangerous vine seems to be overtaking the town.

 

What were we saying about regular lives? Nope, it doesn't look like the Moonfall sisters will be having that.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CiaGra
• Release date: Aug 9, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393963042

Book preview

Chapter 1

Hadley

The timer dinged, echoing around the warm bakery kitchen. I hummed as I slipped bright blue oven mitts over my hands, turned off the timer, and opened the oven door.

Ah, there you are, I said to the fresh batch of blueberry muffins which I’d imbued with the essence of confidence.

They smelled delicious, as always, and I plopped them on the counter to cool. Still humming, buzzing with a dash of cheeriness, I took a sip of the dark roasted coffee to which I’d added a dash of the essence of confidence and snapped my fingers. The ingredients on the counter behind me rose into the air and dumped themselves into the large mixer, one after the other. Flour puffed into the air in a small, white cloud as I snapped again and twirled my fingers. The mixer turned on and went to work on the next batch of muffins.

What to add this time? I mused, tapping my chin and holding the warm blue mug.

Dark clouds blocked out the rising sun. Rain was coming. I could tell that much by the small thunderstorm swirling around the weather mirror in the shop front. A dreary day on the coast of Maine wasn’t that unusual. Most people were used to it, but a touch of optimism as a bonus ingredient never hurt anyone.

I flicked my wrist and the solid wood, double door cabinet swung open. Inside were shelves filled with glass vials of glowing, sparkling liquids, glittering bowls of powders, and several bits of varying crystals of color and size. I searched the shelves for what I was looking for and nodded when the bright yellow vial slid to the forefront.

There you are. Into the mixer, please. Another nod, and the small vial rose into the air, floated to the mixer, and tipped itself over. A bit more than I intended went into the mixture, but I wasn’t sure what I expected. Optimism was always a bit over-excited at being used. Well, everyone in town will feel chipper today.

The vial returned to the cabinet and I refilled my coffee.

Once the next batch of muffins was ready for the oven, I snapped once more, and without looking up from my handwritten recipe book, I waved. Pans clanged, and eventually, the oven door opened.

I heard the familiar sound of a muffin pan sliding inside to bake. Muttering about one of Nana’s old recipes I hadn’t tried yet, I set the timer for the muffins and wondered if today would be the day I finally tried that recipe. Mom had given me all of Nana’s recipes when I opened the bakery attached to our magic shop. Out of my four sisters, I was the only one with a knack for baking without burning the whole place down.

Leaning back against the wooden island, I appraised the photograph of our family hanging by the back door. Well, most of our family. Nana had passed away ten years ago. Mom and Dad were still around, simply retired, along with some other witches from our coven. All of them were living in Arizona now. They went from Maine to a desert.

Still made me chuckle some days when Dad would call to complain about the heat. Mom was always in the background yelling it was a dry heat, and he needed to suck it up. I wanted them to be happy after all they’d been through. My sisters and I decided to stick around after the tragedy.

Melancholy, Maine was our home. Nothing was going to make me leave it. Not one damned thing.

My blue eyes lingered on the face in the photograph. I hadn’t seen that face in years and probably never would again. Her eyes matched mine in that picture, dark blue like when the sea raged during a storm. The last time I saw our eldest sister, that color had been replaced by a violent violet. There’d been so much evil in her, it was like I’d been stabbed through the heart. Then she’d turned her back and walked away. Absently, I rubbed my chest as an echo of that pain came back to me.

She made her choice, but in truth, it would always be my fault she left. I hadn’t been there for her when she needed me. I hadn’t been able to save her from turning. I failed her as a sister, something I was apparently good at.

Distant thunder rumbled, and I peered out the windows. A storm was definitely on the way today. Taking my coffee with me, I hustled out of the kitchen, passed through the storeroom, and into the shop. The weather mirror was perched on the wall to the right, above a collection of elemental crystals sparkling and crackling with power. Rain battered the glass, and lightning flashed every few seconds within the mirror. I smirked when the first few drops of rain pattered the sidewalk outside. Within minutes, the skies opened, and rain poured over our small town.

The bell over the back door jingled, and I heard the grumbling voices of Hedrina and Helena.

I spared a quick glance around the shop, noting the books which needed to be sorted and that the herbs along the shelves to the left of the store required resupplying then headed back to join them. Being the baker in the family meant I was up around half-past three every morning. Hedrina had never been much of a morning person, but lately, she’d become almost unbearable before eight o’clock. Helena was fine as long as she had something to eat right away.

Did you two enjoy your shower? I teased as they shook out their wet jackets and hung them on the coat rack by the door.

Helena smiled. Not much could put that girl in a bad mood. Her brightly colored blouse of violets and greens matched the beaded necklace at her throat and the mix of bangles on both wrists, jingling when she moved. Studs of the same colors spread up both ears, and there was another in her nose. Her bootcut jeans were soaked to the knees, and her black boots were covered in flecks of mud.

Hedrina, on the other hand, glowered at my comment. Her stormy grey eyes shifted to a light blue that was nearly white then back to their natural color. She wore dark skinny jeans, knee-high black boots, and black sweater that hung off her right shoulder. Her auburn hair was pulled back in a clip, though now it was soaking wet and falling out. Hands twitchy with annoyance, she hastily redid it, glaring at me the whole time. You’re funny, you know that? she muttered and traipsed to the coffee pot.

I glanced at Helena, who had been waving her hand over our sister’s head. Her eyes went wide, and she mouthed something, but I had no idea what she was trying to say. Although her pixie-cut auburn hair was flattened to her head from the rain, she seemed her typical put-together self. Her blue eyes slid from Hedrina then back to me as she kept trying to relay a message silently and without any luck.

She’s trying to tell you I’ve been a bit on the grumpy side all morning, Hedrina said without turning around.

Helena’s hands went to her hips as she scowled at our youngest sister.

Don’t give me that look. Hedrina poured peppermint creamer into her coffee and stirred it with a twitch of her head, making the spoon come to life. You’re lucky I got out of bed this morning. Lucky I’m moving around at all, so just let it go, alright? I’m going to check the shop. She stormed to the storeroom, slamming the kitchen door shut behind her.

Thunder rumbled overhead, shaking the pans and glassware on the shelves.

I exchanged a concerned look with Helena. I didn’t think this storm was predicted for today.

She woke up screaming. Helena sighed and rubbed her forehead. She’d been doing so good.

I know. I frowned at the door leading to the storeroom. She say what she dreamt about?

Nope. You know how she is. Have to pry everything out of that damned girl with a crowbar… or a truth serum, she added with a twitch to her lips. Once or twice, more than that actually, we’d used truth serum on our little sister. She had been an introvert before the incident. Now, it was a hundred times worse. A sister had to do what a sister had to do. I mean, I’m ready to deal with the backlash if you are.

How about we hold off for a few hours? I suggested. I’d like today not to be terrible.

Thunder boomed outside as lightning flashed through the windows. The power flickered but stayed on, not that we’d ever truly be in the dark.

Helena’s brow rose. Uh-huh. I’m not sure the town can handle another one of her moods.

Lightning cracked just outside, and we jumped. I spilled coffee all over my dark blue apron and cursed when it burned my hand. Damn it. What the hell did it to her this time?

You sure you want to wait? Helena asked as she checked over my burnt hand. It was just a little red, nothing I wasn’t used to. Then she handed me a towel, and I dabbed at the coffee wetting my apron and navy button-down flannel shirt. Maybe she should stay in the back today.

It might be best if she just goes home.

The door to the kitchen swung open, and Hedrina walked in, holding her hand to her forehead. I think… I, uh… Whatever else she tried to say was lost when she toppled forward.

I rushed forward with Helena to catch our sister and got her to a chair.

Sorry. Took more out of me than I thought. Hedrina’s voice was weak.

It’s alright, no harm done, I said and smoothed a few loose strands of hair away from her face. You feeling sick at all? Headache?

Just the headache, she replied, then groaned quietly. Damn it.

You want to talk about the dream now? Helena pushed, and I rolled my eyes. What? It’s better when she talks about them.

Says who? Hedrina winced, holding her face in her hands.

I don’t understand what keeps triggering it, I said quietly, more to myself than them.

Clearly, the presence firmly attached to my baby sister was paying very close attention because the air changed, making it hard to breathe as it always did when the monster stirred.

Hedrina raised her head and cackled, the sound dark, like gravel being crunched underfoot. Her eyes were nearly white as they narrowed. First at me then at Helena. Her lip lifted in disgust as the screeching laughter poured out of her mouth.

The first time I heard it, I’d been terrified. Not anymore.

Aw, come on, the gravelly voice said as Hedrina winked. You know I still frighten you. Make the hair on your neck stand on end. Send a shiver creeping down your spine.

No, you don’t, I affirmed. Why don’t you go back to whatever hole you’ve been sleeping in and stay there. Leave her alone for good.

Afraid I can’t do that. Unless, of course, you want your precious sister to die.

You know we don’t, Helena snapped, her hands shaking. I took hold of them to help steady her nerves. One day, though, we’ll find a way to get you out of her for good.

Hedrina shrugged and leaned back in the chair. No, you won’t. Besides, I’ve grown to like it here. So cozy and warm, so powerful. She tilted her head, and everything sitting on the counter levitated. The cabinet with my secret ingredients shook violently as the storm picked up a few notches outside. Rain slammed into the windows, and the wind howled as if it was a vicious animal trying to get inside. One day, your sister will decide the fight isn’t worth it, and then the real fun will begin. You should have let her die.

I gulped as Helena cursed. You bastard.

The cackling returned, then choked off. Everything that had been hovering in the air crashed down as Hedrina sucked in a pained breath and shuddered. Her eyes fluttered, and the dark grey returned for just a second. Then they rolled back into her head, and she slumped in the chair.

Call Roger, I told Helena. Tell him to come and get her. She needs to be at home today.

Helena went to grab the phone as I pressed my hand to Hedrina’s forehead. She was burning up, but that was normal after an episode.

You should stop worrying so much, she whispered. I did this to myself, remember?

How about we not talk about it right now? Helena popped her head back in the doorway with a nod then disappeared again, still talking on the phone. Roger’s going to pick you up and take you home. You need to rest. We can handle the store without you today.

No, I can work, she insisted and tried to stand. Her legs wobbled, and she fell into me.

The weakness afterward was normal, too. Another sharp pain shot through my chest as the guilt piled on. Once Heather had turned and abandoned us, I became the oldest sister. I was supposed to look out for Helena and Hedrina. I should’ve been able to stop this from happening. Instead, I was as much to blame for the situation, if not more than my little sister.

The oven timer dinged, startling me. I’d forgotten I had another batch baking.

Go on, I’m fine here, Hedrina said, waving me away. Promise I won’t move.

The good mood I’d been in all morning evaporated. I removed the muffins from the oven then turned it off. I planned to make a few more batches of cupcakes and try out some other recipes today, but