How to Become a Badass Witch: The Book of Brooklyn Witch Series, #3

By Karin De Havin

Become a Badass witch or face certain death? That's a no brainer.

 

Life should be great. I'm officially a full-fledged witch. My boyfriend is a Scottish werewolf who is a romantic at heart and always has my back. My mother is a High Priestess and one of the most powerful witches in the world, as well as my coven leader. Things should be perfect…but they aren't.

 

A powerful force is turning everyone's life upside down. The vampire king, Murdock, is determined to take down Los Angeles and the world will be next. My prophecy places me right at the center of the pending battle. The only way I can survive and protect the people I love is to become even more powerful.

 

With Murdock creating havoc on a daily basis, can l become a badass before the world I love is lost forever? 

 

Find out in How to Become a Badass Witch, the final book in the Book of Brooklyn Series by author Karin De Havin.

 

If you enjoy young adult urban fantasy stories that are filled with magic and adventure that keeps you turning the pages, then one-click your copy of How to Become a Badass Witch today!

 

**For more paranormal adventures The Shifter Vampire Alliance Series takes place in the same world as the Book of Brooklyn Series.**

• Language: English
• Publisher: Karin De Havin
• Release date: Nov 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393522416

Book preview

1

Memory Eraser

The sound of screeching car wheels recedes from my mind and something far more ominous takes over. Derrick’s last words haunt me— to save us all . My witch senses tell me I won’t even have a few days to relax and enjoy my victories. Not when a much bigger challenge looms just around the corner—Murdock.

Hard to believe a crazy British vamp that is several hundred years old could cause so much havoc in such a short amount of time. Yet, Ainsley did warn us that his creator was the most despicable creature on Earth.

Jerome races into the room holding two pills in his palm. Sorry it took so long.

I force a smile. It’s okay, my headache is going away. Which isn’t a lie. It vanished as soon as Derrick left my mind. I take the two pills and pretend to put them in my mouth knowing I don’t need them anymore. Instead, I tuck them under a pillow. Even though my headache is gone, our romantic night is ruined. I’ll have to get my big romantic surprise another time.

I tighten the kimono belt and get out of bed. Once again, I’m forced to lie to Jerome. I can’t tell him Derrick committed the ultimate violation and entered my mind without permission. He would hate Derrick—maybe even punish him somehow. Yet, I forgive him knowing desperate times cause friends to take desperate measures. While you were gone my mom sent a text. She’s calling the coven together.

A look of disappointment crosses his face, yet he doesn’t question my news. Let me throw something on and I’ll drive you home.

I bend down and reach for my clothes I left heaped on the floor. Thanks, sorry we never got to have any quality time together. A feeling of loss washes over me as I toss my clothes on the bed and kiss him lightly on the neck. I run my hand down his still bare chest. You’ll have to give me the big surprise another day.

He gives me a devilish smile and pats me on the butt. Don’t worry you can count on getting your surprise soon.

I glance over at the kilt tossed on the chair and know I have to demand he wear it for the surprise reveal. He catches me eyeing the kilt. Our time together is going to be precious until Murdock is dealt with.

I’m so tired of hearing his name. When the time comes to take him out, I want to personally bleed him dry.

Jerome strokes my face and kisses my cheek. You are one badass witch.

Badass witch. I like the sound of that. It would look good on a T-shirt.

Jerome gives me a wink. It’ll look good on you whatever you’re wearing—or with nothing at all. He hugs me, then throws on a T-shirt and jeans and heads out to the living room to grab his car keys.

As I finish dressing, I realize Jerome has given me a new project. How to Become a Badass Witch. Despite what he thinks, I’m not a badass—not yet. Yeah, I kicked Kimberly all the way back to Nova Scotia and into a Canadian prison, but she was just a novice wizard. Murdock is a king among vampires. The oldest on Earth according to Ainsley. No, taking him down is going to require that I really up my game and become a true badass witch like my mother and Tara. My life and those of my friends depend on it.

I walk through the door to find my mom in the kitchen. The aroma of soy sauce and ginger fills the air. Must be Asian cooking is on everyone’s mind today. Brook, I didn’t know if you had time to eat while you were at Jerome’s, so I made you some stir fried veggies.

I try not to laugh at the way she phrased her comment. Guess, she figures all we do when we are together is spend time in bed. Our chemistry together must be beyond obvious. I’m okay, actually. Jerome made me a yummy dinner of sesame tofu and rice.

She chuckles. I guess we both know you like Asian food.

The need to start a badass handbook literally makes my fingers twitch. When is the gang coming?

They’ll be here in about an hour. I hated to call them back, but we have another issue to deal with.

Normally I’d ask what it was, but I’ll find out soon enough. Right. I’m going to say hi to Fred and relax a bit before they come.

I head to my room and collapse on my bed. My body is so tired all it wants to do is go to sleep. I’ve already done so much magic today, the thought of doing more makes me cringe. But I’m a full-fledged witch now, so I need to pull myself together. Besides, what badass would ever shirk their duty? None.

Fred opens one eye as I sit down at the desk. I pull open the drawer and leaf through the papers until I find my spare study notebook. No need for this now that I’m done with school. In bold letters I write on the front,

How to Become a Badass

Fred stretches out his wings and creeps across his perch until he can see what I’m writing.

You’ve conquered Kimberly and tamed a werewolf, so you think you are an expert on being a badass? I beg to differ.

Leave it to Fred to try and bring me down to size. I point to the title. It says how to become a badass, not that I am one already.

He scans the cover of the notebook again. My mistake. Reading upside down does have its disadvantages.

I bet. I flip open the cover and write the title again and then my goals for becoming a badass witch.

---

1. Have an arsenal of spells memorized for every possible situation.

2. Up my physical game. I need to work out like a demon.

3. Learn to meditate to clear my mind. The stress in the coming weeks is going to be unbearable without it.

4. Make sure to grab every moment of happiness I can. Balance is the key to becoming a badass.

5. Be brave. Push past my self-defense instincts and go further than I thought I ever could.

6. Have complete faith in yourself. A badass never second guesses themselves. They make a decision and go for it!

---

Putting the pen down on the desk, I look up at Fred. So, what do you think?

It is a good start, but I think you will find you are missing a few things.

And you’re not going to tell me are you?

He nods. I’m your bat familiar, not Yoda.

I burst out laughing so loud my mother races to my room. Are you all right, Brook?

I gulp for air as Fred sits innocently on his perch. I take in two deep breaths and say, Yes, Fred just told me a really funny joke.

My mother cocks her head like a parrot. That is interesting. I never thought bats had a particularly refined sense of humor. Fred in particular seems quite serious.

Fred flaps his wings but doesn’t take flight. High Priestess, you would normally be correct in your assumption about bats. But in the service of your daughter I find I must amuse her with my wit.

My mother smiles. Well then, I stand corrected. She turns to me. The coven is going to be here in a few minutes. Why don’t you grab a few bites of food? It’s going to be a long night.

I’ve learned not to refuse food when my mother offers it twice. She never commands me to do anything, but she takes her cooking very seriously, especially when she’s made something special for someone. I’ll be right there. I need to let Fred out and freshen up.

She nods and leaves the room. Fred snickers as soon as he knows my mother is gone. Your mother thinks bats don’t have a sense of humor. She should come to comedy in the park one night.

Fred is always full of surprises. You’re telling me that bats do stand-up routines in the trees of Wilson Park?

His eyes twinkle. You know how female humans are attracted and want to mate with musicians?

It’s a bit of a stereotype, but yes.

Female bats have the same attraction to stand-up comedians.

I chuckle. Female bats sure are different than humans.

Of course. They are far more discriminating. He flies over to the window. Wish me luck. There is a particular female I hope to impress.

Fred, the Don Juan of the bat world. Good luck. Hope you make her laugh so hard she falls out of the tree.

One by one my fellow witches walk through the door. I stuff the last bit of veggies in my mouth and put the bowl in the sink. Tara races over to me and whispers in my ear. Tell me everything. Was Jerome’s surprise amazing?

I sigh. Never had a chance to find out what it was. Mom called this meeting before anything happened.

Tara actually looks sorry for me. That really sucks. Jerome was so excited about surprising you.

I force a smile. He promised to revel his surprise soon.

Tara eyes my mom as she pours through her Book of Shadows. This Murdock situation is causing nothing but grief for everyone. Look at the dark circles under your mother’s eyes. The responsibility to help save Los Angeles weighs heavily on her.

I feel like a complete heel for not noticing how run down she looks when I was eating dinner right next to her. So much for my promise I would take better care of my mother. After you guys are gone, I’ll sneak a sleeping potion in her water.

Tara smiles. That would be perfect.

Shana taps her side as she sits down with her fox familiar. Vexy, in your bed, now!

I walk over and sit next to Shana. Sorry, we haven’t had much of a chance to talk lately. How’s things going with the wizard boyfriend?

She lets out a breath. I haven’t seen him very much. The Order is keeping him really busy with the exterminate Murdock project.

Tara is right, the vamp’s evil is rippling through everyone’s lives. The sooner he’s gone the better. Yeah, everyone is on edge because of him. And once again we have an emergency meeting to deal with something he’s done.

Glenda and Tara move the cauldron into place as my mother stands next to the gold platform. Tonight, we must deal with two things involving memories. First, we need to cast a spell to wipe all memory of the Echo Park incident from the citizens of Los Angeles’s consciousness. The reporters and detectives refuse to stop their pursuit of Murdock, as well as implicating Jennifer, and now Ainsley.

Glenda pulls out her wand and fills the cauldron with liquid. Excuse me for asking this question but wouldn’t the Twelfth Order be better equipped to deal with this situation? Couldn’t they conjure up some memory loss gas and spread it across Los Angeles?

My mother purses her lips slightly offended. They have their hands full dealing with all of Murdock’s victims. The number is over a thousand now. Which leads me to the second half of our task. We must come up with a potion to restore the people’s memories.

Glenda nods. Understood, High Priestess.

Shana and I get up and join the coven that has gathered around the cauldron. Despite my fatigue, I need to pay very close attention to everything my mother does in case I am called to execute the spells on my own. Who knows how hairy things are going to get when the battle heats up against Murdock and his followers?

The Book of Shadows hovers next to my mother and in her Coptic language she whispers a spell. The cauldron liquid raises to a vigorous boil. She holds her jeweled wand over the bubbling liquid. My sisters, please concentrate on the city and its inhabitants. I will need all of your power for the spell to work.

I swallow hard knowing my mother has never attempted a spell of this magnitude before. As my mother tosses ingredients from her spell bag into the cauldron, I focus on the vast city of Los Angeles. From downtown, to the beach cities, to the valleys, I try to think of them as one vast unit of minds.

My mother chants repeatedly in the background until the sound of the cauldron churning stops. I open my eyes to find my mother reaching for her phone. She punches a number on auto dial. Exalted Wizard, it is done.

Why am I surprised she has coordinated a whole series of events behind the scenes? My mother is the most organized person on the planet.

His voice pierces through the receiver. We will commence verification. Hold on one moment.

My mother wobbles on her feet and Tara grabs her elbow and leads her to the sofa. Rest, High Priestess.

The color has visibly drained from my mother’s face. While we wait, I scroll through the sleeping potions I’ve memorized. The one called Sleeping Beauty sounds perfect. After tonight my mother needs to sleep all day tomorrow.

The Wizard’s booming voice comes through the receiver. "Very good, High Priestess. Operation Memory Erase has been accomplished."

My mother lets out a deep sigh of relief. Her reputation as a powerful witch was at stake. I look at her in awe. She just wiped the memories of the Echo Park event from the minds of a city of millions.

Glenda races to the kitchen and brings back a large glass of my mother’s favorite water, Perrier. Here, High Priestess. You must stay hydrated. We have the potion to complete.

Tara glowers at her. The High Priestess is well aware of her duties.

Wow, the tension in the room is palatable. Moving next to my mother, I reach out and hold her hand. We can do the potion tomorrow if you need to rest.

She pushes her hair back over her shoulders and straightens her back. Derrick is on his way to pick up the test potion.

So much for taking a break. Tara helps her up off the sofa. I will gladly lead the way on this one, High Priestess.

My mother nods. I will send the book to you.

Her Book of Shadows floats across the room and into Tara’s out-stretched hands. Invisible fingers flip the book’s pages. Tara scans the spell and motions for us to gather around her. When I place the herbs into the cauldron, please repeat the incantation after me.

We nod in unison as Tara opens her bag and tosses several ingredients into the cauldron. Then she pulls a small empty glass bottle out of the bag and it floats over to the center of the cauldron and levitates in mid-air.