Curse of the Witch: Bloodworth Family, #1

By Leigh Hatchmann and A.K. Leigh

As the cursed Berllessan – a witch with the ability to kill vampyres – Mariana Bloodworth is destined to end the witch-vampyre feud that has raged for centuries. Though she has been taught to hate vampyres, she cannot help but be intrigued by the handsome and mysterious vampyre who appears in her dreams.

Zeke feels alive for the first time since he was turned into a vampyre . . . and it's all because of the intriguing woman invading his thoughts. When he sets off to track her down, he discovers she's his sworn enemy: a Bloodworth witch.

Despite their differences, they find themselves drawn to each other. Together, they work to convince their sides of the beauty that can come from looking past prejudice and leaving the past where it belongs.

But when hidden enemies make a move, will Mariana use her powers against Zeke's kind, or will the vampyres get their final revenge?

• Language: English
• Publisher: A.K. Leigh
• Release date: Apr 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9798201705053

Book preview

About Leigh Hatchmann

Leigh Hatchmann is an international-selling romance author, writing coach, identical triplet, radical self-love advocate, beta reader, sometimes blogger, and hot chocolate addict.

She uses her postgraduate degree in counseling to create believable, three-dimensional characters. Her certificates in forensic science and forensic anthropology help the realistic crime elements in her stories.

She is currently completing her master’s degree in writing and has also finished postgraduate study in editing. When not writing, reading, coaching, studying, or enjoying nature, you can find her having fun with her three gorgeous children (plus one laid back dog, one grumpy cat, and an energetic guinea pig).

She is active on social media and encourages readers to interact with her there. She also writes fiction under the pseudonym A.K. Leigh and non-fiction as Alicia Leigh.

www.fallinlovewithleigh.com

*Characters you will fall in love with*

Books by A.K. Leigh/Leigh Hatchmann/Alicia Leigh

The Smithfield Series – A.K. Leigh

(Romantic Suspense)

See Her Run

Crave Her Touch

Trust Her Heart

The Farris Triplets Series – A.K. Leigh

(Crime Romance)

Triple Threat

Triple Terror

Triple Trouble

The Easter in Hallston series – A.K. Leigh

(Contemporary Romance)

Easter Love Connection

Easter Love Match

Easter Love Reunion

The Bloodworth Family Series – Leigh Hatchmann

(Paranormal Romance)

Vengeance of the Witch

Curse of the Witch

Sister of the Witch (Coming soon)

Brother of the Witch (Coming soon)

The Deddington Chalets Series – A.K. Leigh

(Contemporary Romance)

Coming soon

Standalone Books – A.K. Leigh

To Catch A Christmas Thief (Romantic Suspense)

The Venus Cure (Romantic Suspense)

The Million Dollar Secret (Contemporary Romance)

Rescuing Dr. Burgess (Contemporary Romance)

Standalone Books – Leigh Hatchmann

A Time to Love (Time Travel Romance)

Collections and Anthologies – A.K. Leigh

A Little Bit of Love: Short Story Romance Collection

The Smithfield Romantic Suspense Series Collection

The Easter in Hallston Contemporary Romance Series Collection (Coming soon)

The Writer’s Magic Series – Alicia Leigh (non-fiction)

The Dreaming Writer  

The Mindful Writer (Coming soon)

The Inspired Writer (Coming soon)

Find A.K. Leigh/Leigh Hatchmann/Alicia Leigh online

Website – www.fallinlovewithleigh.com

YouTube – www.youtube.com/channel/UCskieRmAicWgBXo7CgU5McA

Facebook – www.facebook.com/akleighauthor

Instagram – www.instagram.com/akleighauthor

Twitter – www.twitter.com/AKLeighAuthor

BookBub – www.bookbub.com/authors/a-k-leigh

Curse of the Witch:

Book 1 in the Bloodworth Family Supernatural Romance, Paranormal Romance, and Urban Fantasy Series

By A.K. Leigh writing as

Leigh Hatchmann

Curse of the Witch © copyright 2019 by Leigh Hatchmann

The moral right of the author has been asserted. All rights reserved.

This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including all digital and electronic, or similar, platforms and organizations), in any form (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical audible,) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise) without prior written permission from the publisher/author.

This is a work of fiction. All scenarios come from the imagination of the author. Any similarity to persons living or deceased is purely coincidental and not intended to cause harm or offense.

Curse of the Witch by Leigh Hatchmann

First Published:  2019

Cover design by:   Sarah Paige (Opium House          Designs)

Beta read by:   Anteria Hawbaker and Sarah         Maew

Edited by:    Fay Collins

Revision and proofing by:  Leigh Hatchmann

Formatting by:   Leigh Hatchmann

To report a typographical error, please visit: www.fallinlovewithleigh.com

About Curse of the Witch by Leigh Hatchmann

As the cursed Berllessan – a witch with the ability to kill vampyres – Mariana Bloodworth is destined to end the witch-vampyre feud that has raged for centuries. Though she has been taught to hate vampyres, she cannot help but be intrigued by the handsome and mysterious vampyre who appears in her dreams.

Zeke feels alive for the first time since he was turned into a vampyre . . . and it’s all because of the intriguing woman invading his thoughts. When he sets off to track her down, he discovers she’s his sworn enemy: a Bloodworth witch. 

Despite their differences, they find themselves drawn to each other. Together, they work to convince their sides of the beauty that can come from looking past prejudice and leaving the past where it belongs.

But when hidden enemies make a move, will Mariana use her powers against Zeke’s kind, or will the vampyres get their final revenge?

Acknowledgments

Though this is the second book in my Bloodworth Family paranormal romance series, the idea started with this book! Or rather, from a daydream of a mysterious man on a motorcycle . . . I am delighted that the seed of that image sprouted and grew into the book you are now holding.

I would like to thank my Beta readers and editors. You make the process of book polishing easier and less stressful. Readers should know how much credit for the final product goes to you.

Also, to my beautiful children, family, and friends: thank you for your support and enthusiasm when it comes to my writing.

To my readers, old and new, I hope you love the Bloodworth family and the journeys they go on together. Enjoy. ☺

Thank you to all the bloggers, reviewers, ARC readers, interviewers, and online tour groups who help to promote my work. I appreciate everything you do.

Finally, to all the magical people: may you find acceptance and happiness – within yourself, first.

Yours in love and romance books (and witches and vampyres),

Leigh Hatchmann xxoo

From her writing desk, 2019

Dedication

To my children,

All of you are special, magical, and unique. Always remember that.

Mum xo

Have you read VENGEANCE OF THE WITCH, the prequel in the Bloodworth family series?

What drove Maryanne Bloodworth to cast the curse that would change the lives of her descendants?

Available at your preferred Ebook seller.

Chapter 1

The sleek black motorcycle blazed through Mariana’s mind. It pulled her from the English Literature lecture on Shakespeare she should be focused on. A dizzying, euphoric thrill rushed through her body. The motorcycle had invaded her thoughts for weeks, always accompanied by this strange pleasure. Niggles of intuition warned it was a premonition of things to come.

Bad things.

So why was she enjoying it?

Habit made her toy with the silver and ruby crescent moon pendant she kept tucked under her dress. Out of easy sight of the humans. Just like me. She narrowed her focus to see if she could gather more information about the bike and the rider. The pendant sharpened her natural abilities. Sometimes. Much like her magic, the pendant could not be controlled.

She frowned as a thought came.

It’s not about control, Mariana. You must let the magic happen how it’s supposed to.

She pushed the words of one of her Witch School teachers aside and refocused.

Motorcycle. Rider. More.

The vision morphed to show a highway at night. The only light came from the headlights on the bike. She couldn’t see the rider’s face––he wore a black helmet with a dark tinted face screen and a red bandana around his neck. Previous premonitions had enabled her to sense it was a male around her age, 21.

The motorcycle zoomed past an area bordered by trees. It sparked familiarity deep in her cells. She knew the place, but the darkness made it hard to gauge exactly where it was. A flurry of questions came. Where was the motorcycle going? Who was the rider? What did he want? Why was she seeing him? Why the euphoric sensations that accompanied the images of him? This type of vision had never happened to her before. It was confusing and––

A sharp voice snapped her back, "Am I disturbing you again, Mariana?"

Mariana looked at the thin-lipped, bitter-looking woman at the front of the lecture hall. She groaned to herself at being caught daydreaming again. It was her third week attending the evening classes at the non-witch college, and she’d been chastised for zoning out as many times already.

Begging the Great Goddess for her magic to kick in, she rubbed her pendant and offered her sweetest smile. Not at all, Professor Tiege. I was . . . She hesitated, then felt the buzz in her head that hinted at something coming through. She blurted, I was connecting your point to Keats.

You were? What the bleep does John Keats have to do with William Shakespeare?

Low snickers resounded around the room. Some students sent her sympathetic looks. They knew what the professor was like. The woman would want a more detailed explanation soon . . . so she could give a smug, superior response.

Except, nothing was coming.

Why do you always run your mouth at the first sign of an answer instead of waiting for it all to come? This is why the teachers at Witch School get impatient with you.

She pressed her lips together, hoping it would stop her opening her mouth and making the situation worse.

The professor pressed, Is that so? Please, enlighten us.

Oh, flip.

What now?

Familiar frustration poured through her. She was supposed to be the Berllessan––meaning powerful one––the most powerful natural witch ever born, with the ability to kill vampyres. If that was true, then why didn’t she have control when she needed it and why was her magic progressing at such a slow rate? And why couldn’t she call on her intuition as required? Such as right now.

The words of Ms. Camdean that morning in Witch School returned: Stop trying to bend the powers to your whim. Let them come how they want to come, then use them in line with your needs. Everything happens at the right time in magic.

She wanted to scoff as she had then, but she’d already earned a stern look from Ms. Camdean for it. Who knew how the surly Professor Tiege would react?

We’re waiting, Mariana. The woman tapped her foot in a show of impatience.

I’m getting there.

I think. Mariana drew in a calming breath. Let the powers come how they want. She fiddled with her pendant and repeated to herself: Keats and Shakespeare, how are these two poets related?

In a snide tone, Professor Tiege said, Listen up everyone. We’re about to learn how John Keats can solve the mysteries of Shakespearean authorship.

A second before the professor stopped speaking, a subtle tickle teased Mariana’s brain; her synapses fired; the answer came in a flash of ripe insight. Her heart warmed with gratitude. Thank you.

Sitting up straighter, Mariana said, Keats coined the term ‘negative capability’ and correct me if I’m wrong–– Hey, she had to throw the professor a bone. It was only fair, considering she was technically cheating right now. ––But that means ‘when a man is capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason’.

Professor Tiege frowned. That’s right.

Correct me if I’m wrong again, but he was referring to Shakespeare when he said this. She made it a statement because she already knew it was true.

Judging by the lines on her forehead, the professor didn’t appreciate the confident remark. To his writing style, yes. How does that relate to whether Shakespeare or somebody else penned the well-known plays?

Because we can also apply negative capability to that question. Do we need to have the facts to appreciate the work? Can’t we be happy dwelling in the realm of ‘uncertainties, mysteries, and doubt’ when it comes to Shakespeare?

Nobody was laughing now.

Least of all the woman at the front of the lecture hall.

After a pause that seemed like it would never end, Professor Tiege gave a curt nod, turned toward the whiteboard, and continued with the lesson as though nothing had happened. The words blurred into the background as students peeked over their shoulders to flash victorious grins or a thumbs up sign at Mariana.  

She felt a nudge to her ribs that made her turn to the tanned woman with long, straight, wheat-blonde hair and crystal-blue eyes who sat beside her. Tamara Meadows. The one friend she’d allowed herself to make at the college.

Well done, Mari.

Thanks, Tam.

I didn’t know that about Keats.

Neither did I. Mariana left that unsaid, deciding instead on something neutral. He was a brilliant writer.

Like you will be.

Mariana smiled. But not as good as you.

It wasn’t a trite remark. Mariana had to work for her words, whereas Tamara seemed to pull them from the air like they were waiting for her.

Her friend beamed. Aww, aren’t you a sweetie pie?

Ha. I don’t think the professor would agree.

Yeah, well, the professor could do with a few hundred chill pills.

I cannot disagree.

Tamara smirked then turned back to the lecture.

In the three weeks Mariana had known Tam, she had grown to appreciate the woman’s sense of humor and easy-going manner. She made no demands and did not press for personal information. They were doing the same double degree in English Literature and Philosophy, so they shared the same classes. Tamara wanted to be a Bohemian poet––her words. Mariana wanted to be a novel writer. They’d bonded over their love of words, poetry, and stories.  

Despite that, Mariana kept her human friends at a minimum––and at a safe emotional distance––because she’d learned that they couldn’t handle the truth of who she was. On the outside, Mariana corresponded to all the stereotypes her human peers had about nerds. Her shoulder-length, mousey-brown hair (naturally a vibrant chestnut) and light-blue eyes (care of contacts that covered her striking violet color) topped off the physical disguise she’d assumed before starting college. Geeky bookworms didn’t get noticed (the attention of a snarky, bitter professor didn’t count).

She’d also enrolled in a college in Greenville, South Carolina, an hour and a half away from her hometown of Asheville in North Carolina because it was a place where the name Mariana Bloodworth didn’t stir whispers and ignite prejudice. As for the afternoon and night classes she’d enrolled in, they also helped in her quest to remain invisible. People expected odd things to happen in the shadows of darkness.

At the thought, her brain clicked, and the familiar motorcycle raced back through her thoughts. With no conscious effort, the mental picture slowed down. It zoomed in on the rider, who had nothing covering their face. Male, like she’d guessed. His almost white-blond hair was combed back in a more modern take on the Elvis hairstyle; his skin was paler than hers but had an ashy sheen to it; the dark blue color of his eyes held an odd luminescence. He had no facial hair and his features were angular in a way that almost looked like carved marble.  

Cute.

He smiled and reached out toward her. She was about to smile back when the reason for the unique gleam to his eyes and look of his skin hit. Vampyre! The breath caught in her lungs. She was having premonitions about a vampyre. What the heck?

Come with me . . . His words vibrated through her in a way that felt too good considering it was coming from her sworn enemy.

Professor Tiege’s voice sliced through the sensation, I want those assignments by the due date. No excuses. No extensions. No arguments.

The vision stopped. Mariana shook her head to clear the lingering fuzziness from her mind. Questions swarmed as they always did. Who is he? Does he know who I am? What I am? Where does he want me to go with him? Why is he riding a motorcycle when he’s a vampyre? Everyone knew vampyres had super speed. You’re a witch who uses a car and a broom. She frowned when another truth dawned. I don’t feel afraid. She realized now that her earlier reaction to learning he was a vampyre had been shock as opposed to fear.

Why is that?  

Vampyres and her family had a long, distrustful, and bloody history. It had started when a vampyre had killed one of Mariana’s ancestors, Emily Bloodworth. What had prompted the attack alluded her at that moment. Had anyone ever told her? She made a mental note to search for more detailed information later.

Did you get that, Mari?

Huh? She turned to Tam, who was looking at her with concern.

The assignment details.

Oh, no.

Tam gave her an understanding smile. I’ll text them to you when I get home.

Thank you, appreciate it.

Her friend shot her a hesitant look before saying, You seem distracted today.

I’m okay, just tired.

That excuse usually appeased humans and stopped further questioning. As it did now.

Tam said, Make sure you get to bed early tonight.

I will.

Does that mean you’ll walk with me to the parking lot, or are you still going to head to the library?

Wednesdays were Mariana’s usual library study night. But she had something more urgent to take care of. The mental note she’d made zapped into her head. What had prompted the attack on her ancestor? Only two libraries she knew of would be capable of answering that question: the one her family had in the secret vault at their business or the Witch School Library. This late at night, she had no access to the latter. Hopefully, whoever had been working at the family store tonight had gone home already. She wasn’t in the mood to answer questions, let alone think up a plausible lie for going into the vault.

I’ll walk with you.

She packed up her belongings and followed Tam from the classroom. Professor Tiege threw them an icy nod, which made them giggle once they were out of view.

She has no vision that woman, does she?

Mariana glanced at Tam. Ironic choice of words considering the reason for Mariana’s distracted state during the lecture. She nodded. None.

Tam inhaled then exhaled in a rush. Ugh, I am so looking forward to finishing this class already.

Mariana chuckled. We’ve only been at it for three weeks.

I know, but it seems longer. Why does time go so slowly here?

That is the question that has plagued college students since the first schools in . . . wherever the first schools were. That, and why time speeds up during exams.

Tam laughed. It’s a paradox.

You could write a poem about it?

Tam’s face brightened. That’s a brilliant idea. She tapped her forehead with her finger. At Mariana’s questioning glance, she explained, Making a mental note.

Humans did strange things sometimes. Says the witch. She grinned to herself. They walked the rest of the way to the parking lot with Tam chirping conversation at her.

After hopping in their respective cars and driving away, a sense of foreboding overwhelmed Mariana. Not the first time it had happened in connection with the vampyre premonitions. She drew in a slow breath, willing the feeling to go. It did.

She frowned. What was happening to her? What did all of this mean––the vampyre premonitions, the niggle of dread, the pleasure, and now this pain? Everything happens at the right time with magic. She frowned as one more question came: the right time for what?

Chapter 2

Zeke lowered the gears and pulled his motorcycle to the side of the road. It was dark enough now to risk uncovering himself. He placed his feet on the ground. With the bike steady, he lifted the helmet he used