Sauvignon Secrets - Magic in the Vineyards: Vines Feathers and Potions, #2

By D.N. Leo

Receiving a gift that explodes in front of everyone isn't a good way to start the day.  

Jasmine has left her complicated past behind, but the supernatural world doesn't want to leave her alone.  

Her perfect life in a small quiet town will end if she doesn't respond to the questions from the supernaturals. But doing so will expose her past, reveal her profile, and destroy her hope for a new normal life with a relationship she longs for.  

She can fight.  

She can protect those she loves.  

But everything comes at a cost.

Does she have what it takes to earn her happiness?  

Sauvignon Secrets - Magic in the Vineyards is the second installment of the Vines, Feathers and Potions paranormal mystery series. If you like small-town charm, supernatural mystery, and romance this is the series for you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Narrative Land Publishing
• Release date: Jun 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201335144

Book preview

Chapter 1

Jasmine observed the wooden box she had placed on the table in the back garden of her house. Observing was an understatement for what she was doing, because the way she had been staring at the box for the past ten minutes, she was surprised she didn’t burn a hole right through it. It was a simple, unpolished wooden box, ten inches on each side. A single piece of wood placed on top served as the lid.

Vines & Soul, the restaurant attached to the vineyard and resort she managed, was at its busiest time of the day, late morning into lunchtime. But she could afford another half hour or so here, with this box.

She couldn’t be careful enough after what had happened at her house. She had accidentally invited a hybrid vampire inside, and that mistake had almost cost not only her life but the lives of her dear friends. Beatrice and Mia were more than her friends. They had been her family for as long as she could remember.

Lisa, the site manager of the restaurant, had given her this box when she arrived earlier in the morning. A mundane human would see it as a harmless box, inside of which was a black piece of rock atop of a bunch of tangled grapevines. As a witch, however, she saw a difference. The vines were the same, but the rock was the beating heart of a supernatural.

Someone left this at the front door with a note addressed to you, Lisa said when she handed Jasmine the box and then got on with her morning business.

Saying nothing to Lisa, she grabbed the box and made a beeline back home.

And there she still was, staring at it.

Maybe the box and its contents were harmless after all, because if there had been a single movement, or if magic had come out of it, she would have seen something. But the note said, To Jasmine.

I’m in the back, Jasmine called out when she heard a sound at the front gate and sensed Beatrice’s and Mia’s anxiety looming in the air.

Jasmine could read people’s emotions, whether she wanted to or not. It was a perk—but also a curse—of her unstable psychic ability. Right now, she wanted to focus on her own emotions to get the most accurate feeling she could about this mysterious box. It seemed as if the quiet moments she needed to do so had gone with her friends’ arrival. Beatrice and Mia offered support, friendship, and a lot of expertise, but Jasmine’s peaceful time would be compromised with her dear friends there.

A beating heart in a box? Beatrice exclaimed with a wince. "Is this some kind of Pirates of the Caribbean reenactment?"

Save the movie quotes, Beatrice, Mia said with a quirk at the corner her lips. This isn't funny.

Beatrice wagged her finger. See, you think it's funny yourself. There’s no harm in a little laughter. The heart is beating, so no one died. Plus, I think it’s romantic. It’s a declaration of love for Jasmine, food, and wine. A perfect combination! she said with a grin.

Not if you combine what you can see with what the humans see.

The smiles vanished from Beatrice and Mia’s faces.

Jasmine walked around the table, keeping her eyes locked on the beating supernatural heart. She hoped none of what she said would come true. While Beatrice wasn’t born a witch, but with practice and her innate ability, she had gained supernatural vision. Mia was born a werewolf, but the trait never surfaced in her, so the tribe referred to her as a deadliner. But apart from not being able to shift, Mia had perfect supernatural eyes. The downside of possessing their supernatural abilities was that neither Beatrice nor Mia could see what a human could see.

That ability was unique to Jasmine, and she had no idea why she could do it. She could see what both supernaturals and humans could see, and she could switch to whichever perspective she wanted. Jasmine smiled and spoke calmly. The last thing she wanted to do was freak out her friends.

The humans see a black stone on top of tangled vines, and the supernaturals see a beating heart on top of the same vines. But those are not just ordinary vines. They’re ancient. One of the oldest kinds in the world.

Mia’s eyes darkened, and her analytical mind kicked in. A heart of stone … someone was hurt because of something brutal that happened in the ancient past.

Beatrice's eyes widened. It’s directed at you because you are the only one who can see both the stone and the heart. Someone is blaming you for—

Being a coldhearted B about something that happened in the past, Jasmine cut in. The ancient vines might mean this happened in the past, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be in ancient times because I wasn’t born then, and I don’t believe in reincarnation.

This is a threat! Beatrice said.

Mia shook her head. The only thing you’re capable of killing is the bugs that harm your vines, Jasmine. Maybe the symbolic gift means something else, not the heart and stone matter.

No, this is what it means. I’m sure of it. Nobody knew what she’d done in the past. She did it for the greater good, and she didn’t regret it. But in reality, you won some, and you lost some. She couldn’t be friends with both good and evil. I killed a vampire in London before it fed on a homeless human.

You were with supernatural enforcement in London. That’s like the police, and you were doing what you were supposed to do. If everyone working with paranormal law enforcement received a threat, not only would we be at war with the criminal supernatural, we’d be at the sharp, losing end of the sword, Beatrice said as she paced, hands waving in the air. She lost patience easily, especially when it came to the people she cared about.

Mia’s voice lowered. That vamp wasn’t an ordinary vamp, was it?

Jasmine shook her head. It sedated the homeless person. Not only did it plan to feed, but it wanted to capture the person and keep him for long-term needs.

What do you mean? Beatrice asked, her eyes filled with fear even before Jasmine could give her an answer.

Jasmine sighed. It was a young vampire, the son of one of the leaders in a powerful club. It was young and inexperienced. It needed to feed slowly so it wouldn’t kill the human, and it wanted to use the human to learn and grow its killing skills. I had followed that club for a long time. I knew what they did. The young vampire begged me not to terminate him. But I was young, too, and idealistic—and I was furious. You can guess the rest of the story.

Mia frowned. Sure, but still, I think—

It’s them, Mia. The tangled vines aren’t a random choice. They’re shaped into the club’s logo. When I first looked into the box, I saw bits and pieces of things. But I didn’t put it all together until Beatrice mentioned the movie.

"Pirates of the Caribbean?"

Jasmine nodded. It’s not exactly like that, but one of the reasons the young vampire gave me to not terminate him was that he was in love with someone, and because of that, he needed to be stronger. He went on about being a lonely heart in the paranormal world. But none of what he said gave him the right to put another being through a slow death just so he could use him as an educational tool . So, yes, I terminated him. And yes, I admit I’m coldhearted when it comes to these criminals. But the club he belonged to probably didn’t see things my way.

So what now? Mia asked.

If they’re seeking revenge on me, the best they can get from me is my life. But I won’t go down without a fight.

Chapter 2

Bertram walked out of the common area of the police station in Melbourne city. More accurately, he was walking out on Grace. He didn’t normally find himself in this location, but he had to come here to file some evidence for a case in Gisborne, one he had just partially solved. His chief had given him the week off, as the doctor still hadn’t cleared him of the long-term effects of the concussion he suffered on the case, but he wanted the case closed. Over. Finished.

Grace trailed right behind him. You know I don’t handle silence well, Bertram. If you have something to say, just say it to my face.

He ignored the buzzing activity of the police station’s front office, the complete opposite of the equivalent office in Gisborne, and turned toward Grace. She wanted to talk, so he would just have to hash this out with her.

I don’t do silence, Grace. But it’s a lot nicer than what I have to say.

You’re angry with me because I ruined your chances with Jasmine.

This has nothing to do with Jasmine. It was an awkward situation in Gisborne. Nothing more to it.

You should hear your voice when you say her name. You should see your face. You should see the spark in your eyes when you look at her.

What happened between Jasmine and me is irrelevant. You and I, we have a situation, and that is what matters here.

You didn’t say you weren’t angry at me. If there’s one thing I know well about you that I can be certain will never change is that you’re not capable of lying, Bertram.

I … wasn’t angry. I was disappointed.

I left you for two seconds, and you fell for another woman …

It wasn’t two seconds. It was three months and six days, Grace.

She paced back and forth in the narrow corridor. I told you I needed time to think.

I understand. I needed time, too. And it has worked out for the best.

Yes, see, time heals all wounds. I thought about it very carefully. I came back to accept your proposal.

He held her shoulders so that she would stand still. He looked into her beautiful eyes, which had begun to tear up. She was smart, and she knew what was coming. She just wanted him to say it.

Grace, the proposal is no longer there. You know that.

I never said no. A tear rolled down her face.

But you didn’t say yes, and you walked away from me for more than three months.

No one likes rejection, and I understand that …

So you’re saying the fact that you walked away from a marriage proposal after a three-year relationship was indeed a rejection!

Don’t play with my words, Bertram.

I’m not. It is what it is. I proposed, you said no, and that’s it. If we handle this well, we can still work well together as colleagues. You’re one of the most competent detectives I have ever worked with.

So are you saying there was never any love between us?

I proposed. If there was love, it came from me. But I don’t blame you for being hesitant. It was a big decision and a big commitment for you. And if marriage didn’t fit into your five-year career plan, that would be a problem. You’re ambitious, and I don’t want to stand in your way, Grace.

And you’re not ambitious? So what’s with the impeccable case-solving record you have? What’s with the fact that you accept nothing substandard? If all that isn’t for career ambition, then what drives you?

Bertram shook his head. You wouldn’t understand, and that’s why we’re just too different to make this work. In a way, I’m glad you took the time away. We can work together. If you want …

No. She wiped the tears off her face. You don’t understand, Bertram. If we break up, I can’t work with you. I’ll ask for a transfer, effective immediately, she said then walked away. That was the Grace he knew. She had to be the one who left. She never held the sharp end of the knife.

His phone buzzed.

Yes, Glen, and before you ask, no, I’m not taking the week off.

Then do you want another case in Gisborne?

His stomach did a somersault, and he didn’t like the feeling he had. He brushed it off, but it bothered him. In a small town, when something happened on a scale that prompted them to call central police, it usually involved everyone he knew. That was why he preferred big city cases. They were less personal. But he had taken the last case in Gisborne, and there was no changing that. Everything to do with that town now involved him at a personal level.

But Glen didn’t know that, so he played it cool. What’s the case about?

I just got a call. Body found at a vineyard. The message I got was pretty rough, like their connection wasn’t stable when they left it.

Was it the same vineyard where I stayed?

"I don’t know. They didn’t say. The message just said a body was found at a vineyard about ten minutes outside Gisborne. The vineyard has some kind of accommodation attached