A Charming Secret (Magical Cures Mystery Series Book 6) Read online

  “Oh stop it.” Constance smacked my hand away. Patience followed. “You aren’t the Village President anymore. I’m telling you. Something evil is lurking. It’s the evil feeling I get when someone is about to eeck.” She dragged her stubby fat finger across her neck.

  Patience mimicked her. “Eeck.”

  I put my bag on the counter and flipped the switch on my cauldron that was hiding from the world to see behind the small partition next to the counter. I wanted to protest and assure them nothing of the sort was going to happen but the glow from the bottom of my purse confirmed Madame Torres was trying to tell me something.

  “I will look into it,” was the only assurance I could give them.

  Neither of them had satisfied looks on their faces from my answer, but it was all I had. Constance turned and huffed away, Patience puffed along behind her. With a smile on my face, I greeted each customer we passed as I walked them to the door.

  “Are you dying?” Patience asked a woman looking at the facial creams.

  “I’m sorry,” I apologized to the customer, whose face had paled. “She’s leaving.”

  I opened the door and pushed the sisters out onto the steps. Mr. Prince Charming darted in. I closed the door and peeled the curtain back on the window, watching the sisters stop everyone in their path, talking to them.

  They were probably scaring the daylights out of the tourists. I couldn’t worry with them. I had customers and nightmares to deal with.

  “Excuse me.” A young woman with a small child wrapped around her leg had a bottle of Monsters Be Gone, a homeopathic cure for children who won’t go to sleep because they are afraid of monsters under the bed. “I was wondering how I use this?”

  “Oh,” I held my hand out and she gave me the bottle.

  My intuition got nothing from her but some anxious feeling. I gently reached down and touched the child on the head. Instantly my intuition went on high alert. Not only was the child afraid of monsters, the women in the neighborhood were gossiping about the child, discouraging their children from playing with him.

  “I’ve got just what you need.” I held my finger in the air. “If you will wait right here, I will go put in the extra ingredients.”

  l walked back to the counter and behind the partition where my cauldron was ready to go. I uncorked the bottle of Monsters Be Gone and poured the liquid into the pot. I ran my finger along the shelf behind me that was lined with bottles of special ingredients. The Slippery Elm ingredient glowed to my touch, letting me know it was the perfect herb to use and add to the Monsters Be Gone to halt the gossip.

  “Ah, Passion Flowers.” My insides grinned when the bottle lit up.

  Passion Flowers was one of my favorite ingredients. It promoted a lot of things such as peacefulness, sleep, and friendship. Something the little child could use a lot of. I turned back to the cauldron where the liquid was starting to bubble.

  The bubbling, murky, thin fluid was rose in color. I used the ladle to slowly stir to a simmer before adding a dash of Slippery Elm. Instantly the fluid bubbled to the top smelling like mud. I put my finger in and took a quick taste.

  “Um.” It might smell like muddy little boys, but it tasted like rich creamy chocolate.

  That was how my potions worked. The child might be scared of monsters, but the bigger problem was the gossiping around it, the bullying from the others. The potions really made themselves and the taste was automatically what the child liked best. It smelled like mud because he loved to play in the mud or be outside. Either way, this was his special homeopathic cure and once they tried it, it would work. He would have tons of friends and no longer be scared of monsters, leaving me with a satisfied customer who would return for more cures. That was how this town was so special.

  The swirling liquid was now a deep sapphire blue. The pinch of Passion Flower sprinkled in sent little bursts of fireworks above the pot. My insides were smiling, but my soul still ached from the nightmare I had last night and I knew I was going to have to deal with it sooner or later.

  I let the mixture come to a boil while I picked out the perfect bottle. I turned back to the shelf and once again ran my finger along the empty glass containers. Like always, when I got to the one meant for this little boy and his special cure, it lit up.

  The bottle made me pause, wondering if I had gotten it wrong. But it glowed green, pulsing like it had a heartbeat. The skull on the front made me a little leery, but I went with it and took it off the shelf.

  With the ladle, I scooped out the liquid and poured it into the brown bottle with the skull on the front. Once it was filled to the top, I put the cork top on and pushed down to make sure it was nice and snug.

  “Here you go.” I walked up to the mom and son.

  When he saw the bottle, his eyes—so clouded when he walked in the shop—cleared.

  “I love it. Can I eat some now?” He grabbed the bottle out of my hands.

  “We don’t grab from people,” his mom scolded him. She bent down to his level. “The nice lady will tell us how to use it, honey.” The mom stood up and thanked me, apologizing once more for the child grabbing the bottle out of my hands.

  “It’s not a problem. It is his, just like he knows it is.” I smiled at the child. He held the bottle in his hands and then grabbed my leg.

  “Thank you, Doctor Lady.” The boy grinned from ear to ear. There was already a shift in him before he had even taken the first dose.

  “Now, just use a little at night by rubbing it on his face and neck like a cream.” I rubbed my hands together and then along my neck to show them how to apply.

  “It’s not digestible?” The mom looked confused.

  “Oh no.” I looked down at the boy. “The directions are also printed on the label.”

  “Can I use it now?” The boy asked without even waiting for the answer. He had the bottle unscrewed and was wiping it down his neck and all over his cheeks.

  “Umm. . .” Nighttime or now, but nighttime would’ve been better, but I kept my mouth shut and a smile planted on my face.

  “I guess we have to pay you now.” There was a grateful look on the mom’s face. “He hasn’t been this confident in weeks. Thank you.”

  “You are so welcome. I’m happy to help.” I took her money. “If you have any more issues, which I don’t think you will, please feel free to come back.”

  “Oh, I will be back.” The mom gathered the little boy and headed out the door.

  Meow, meow. Mr. Prince Charming sat on the counter and watched them leave.

  “Another satisfied customer.” I ran my hand down my wonderful fairy-god cat and turned my attention from the shop door to him.

  There was never a happier feeling than using my spiritual gift to help someone. Then the shift from elation to apprehension hit me like a ton of bricks when I saw the triangle-shaped charm lying between Mr. Prince Charming’s front two paws.

  Chapter Four

  “Faith,” I gasped above the crowded shop when I saw my blond-haired friend walk in. “I’m so glad to see you.”

  “I thought you were going to say that.” She smiled, meandering her way through the customers and back to me. “I had a feeling I needed to come in and help out.” She glanced around the hopping shop. “And by the looks of things, I was spot on. You could use an extra hand around here.”

  “Yes, I could.” I held the charm in between my finger and thumb. With my free hand I got my cape. “But right now I have to get down to Bella’s Baubles and need you to man the shop.”

  “Sure.” She shrugged. “I love it here. Go on.”

  Everyone helped everyone around Whispering Falls. Faith was a Clairaudience. She was able to hear things that were inaudible to the common ear. Spirit guides, angels, and hearing into the future were her specialty. I believed my spirit guide was my mother Darla. I had only seen her once in the great beyond, but knew I would see her more as I became more and more familiar with my spiritual world.

  “Excuse me.” I nea
rly knocked over a customer on their way in and my way out. I threw my cape around my shoulders. Cold crisp air danced around my ankles. The fall weather was coming. “Peony. Amethyst.” I was shocked to see Petunia’s sister and friend, especially Amethyst. Didn’t she have a shop to take care of?

  “We wanted to stop in your shop and see what you have before I leave tomorrow.” Peony said. She was so very different than Petunia.

  “But it looks like you were on your way out and fast.” Amethyst faced me but her eyes were shifting around the shop. “We can come back later.”

  “But I wanted to find out about the ceremony for tonight and see if you needed anything.” Peony generously offered. “Besides, when is later? We have the ceremony tonight and tomorrow I’m leaving. You get to stay here. Not me.” Peony huffed like a child.

  “I’m going back to Full Moon.” Amethyst shoved past us and dashed down the steps. “You can do what you want. You are a grown woman.”

  “She’s so nervous about Full Moon not being fully occupied with the ceremony and all.” Peony’s lips went into a thin line. She said, “I told her not to be a Debbie downer because everyone here would know it with our spiritual gifts and all.”

  My palm tightened around the triangle charm. I wish I had gotten a good look at it because I was dying to get down to Bella to see what it was protection over, but I didn’t want to be rude to Peony.

  “I’m not sure about other villages, but in Whispering Falls, you aren’t allowed to read any other spiritualist unless they approve it. It’s a law. So you don’t to have to worry about being read here. I guess I should say something to Amethyst.” I shrugged. I held my clinched fist in the air. “I’ve got to get going though. If you want to come back an hour before the ceremony, I’d love to have you help me get ready for your sister’s big night.”

  “Really?” Her eyes shot open. The sudden element of surprise rose on her face.

  “Sure.” I laughed.

  I never had a sibling. It must’ve made Petunia feel good her family and friends were so supportive and willing to be here. After all, it wasn’t every day your sister became a Village President. It was a pretty big deal. Petunia was up for it. She’d been training for it for a long time. She had studied every possible gift there was and was liked by many. Including me.

  “Hi, Arabella.” Peony must’ve been satisfied with my answer. She headed next door to Magical Moments.

  “Thanks for the window box flowers,” I said to Arabella and pointed to the arrangements.

  “No problem.” Arabella waved before she and Peony ducked into the flower shop.

  I shook my head. Peony and Petunia were alike in the friend department. Neither of them seemed to know a stranger. Peony hadn’t been in town a few hours and she already knew everyone by name.

  Bella’s Baubles was like all the other stores in Whispering Falls. A quaint cream cottage with a pink wood door was adorned with different colored jewels. The sun had burnt off the cold fall chill, and hit each jewel just right, showing its brilliant color.

  Bella was my landlord of the cute cottage until I found out my parents had owned it and it really belonged to me. Bella and I were good friends. When I first moved to Whispering Falls, she took the time to get me acquainted with who owned what and the entire scoop on the village. I could count on her for many things.

  Her store hours read Mornin’ to Night and it cracked me up every time I read it.

  Ding, ding. The bell above the door swayed back and forth when I opened it.

  “I wondered when you were going to be here.” Bella looked up. Her long blond hair cascaded down the front of her.

  I was used to seeing the gap between her two front teeth and balled up cheeks from her smile when I came in, but not today. She remained uncomfortably still, making me panic a little bit.

  “I was a little taken aback when Mr. Prince Charming showed up this morning and picked out the third eye charm.” She took the loupe away from her eye and stood up from the wheelie chair she used to move around the glass counter from customer to customer.

  Her smoky eyes held my gaze when her five-foot-two frame walked around to greet me. She took her hand and placed it over mine. I opened it and let the charm fall into hers.

  “In the center of the triangle is the eye we call the third eye.” She held it up for me to see. “You need to keep your eyes open at all times. You feel the evil in the air. The nightmares have returned and you aren’t getting much sleep. You need to let Mr. Prince Charming and Madame Torres do their jobs at night while you get your rest.”

  I tried to take in all she was saying and listened for a positive spin on it, only there wasn’t any sort of happy on her face or in her voice.

  “Do you understand what I’m saying?” Bella was an Astrologer. She was the expert on charts and gems.

  “Unfortunately, I do think I do.” I sucked in a deep breath and watched her unclasp my charm bracelet off my wrist. “One problem, I can’t get my rest when I suddenly wake up from these nightmares.”

  “You are going to have to force yourself out of the nightmare before it’s too late.” Her words sent chills up my spine. I grabbed the edges of my cloak and tugged it around my neck.

  Bella returned to her post behind the counter.

  “I see Petunia’s family has started to trickle in,” Bella’s voice turned chipper—much different than a few seconds ago. She grabbed a few tools and laid my bracelet out on a black cloth in front of her. She sat down in her chair and put her eye loupe back in her eye. “I’m excited to see what their spiritual gifts are. Especially her friend Amethyst since she’s now one of us.”

  “Yeah.” I was too preoccupied with the danger lurking and wondered if Eloise was right and it was Ezmeralda making good on her promise to me.

  “Listen,” Bella’s chin was tucked under as she worked on getting the charm on my bracelet. “Don’t let this hinder you from living. You never know. Wearing the charm might ward off the evil spirit and maybe nothing will happen. Believe in Mr. Prince Charming. Believe in Madame Torres. They are your familiars to protect you.”

  “I do believe in them, but how much do I tell Oscar?” I asked. “He has so much on his plate. He’s trying to work as the sheriff and going to Wizardly School at Hidden Halls. It might be too much for him to take on.” I wasn’t sure what to do. “I didn’t even tell him about my nightmares. Then he spent the night and I had one right in front of him.”

  “Oh,” The gap between her teeth I had longed to see appeared along with her balled-up cheeks and a big sympathy grin across her small face. “You two have really stepped things up. Sleepover and all.”

  “I couldn’t imagine my life without him.” A warm fuzzy feeling settled in my heart, making the chill on my spine warm. I peeled off the cloak and laid it in my lap.

  I couldn’t wait for Oscar to get off work so I could let him know what was going on. It was the right thing to do.

  “Luckily you don’t have to.” She dangled my bracelet in the air. The third eye staring right at me.

  Chapter Five

  I had taken a little longer than I wanted to with Bella. Time felt like it stood still when I was with her. The cold wind hit me as soon as I stepped out of Bella’s Baubles. I swung my cloak and wrapped it around my shoulders. I ducked my head away from the chilly wind, and made my way down the sidewalk to A Charming Cure, making a quick detour behind the shops.

  “Don’t fail me now.” I held my hands out to the side. The sleeves of my cape dangled along with my charm bracelet. I sucked in a deep breath with my eyes closed. When I felt the next cold breeze blow my blunt bangs away from my face, I whispered into the wind, “Universe, Spirits, Angels and Guides. Receive my eternal gratitude for all that is. I ask for clearer guidance, as I will listen with a sharper ear. May this talisman heighten my intuition. To receive your messages more clearly. So mote it be.”

  The branches howled as though the Universe was talking back to me, receiving my prayer, my
desires and my needs.

  I knew I should get back to the shop and let Faith go back to her job, but I couldn’t stop my mouth from chanting. My fists balled, I opened my fingers wide, my fists balled again, pumping blood through my veins. It was important as ever to hear my intuition.

  A tree branch snapped, popping my eyes open. Through a clearing behind Glorybee, I saw a couple women walking and talking.

  “I’m thrilled they have the new bed and breakfast, Maple,” the one said to the other.

  “Me too. Now we can take our time through the shops and not rush around in one day.” The two scurried off toward town.

  “That way,” I sighed and headed in the direction from where they had emerged. “Yep. That way.” I smiled as Mr. Prince Charming darted out from behind a tree and down the path leading me to the front steps of Full Moon Bed and Breakfast Treesort. Faith was going to have to hold down the fort at the shop a little longer. Not only was my intuition telling me to check out Full Moon, my curiosity was with my cat and I was going to chase him.

  “What in the hell?” My eyes squinted trying to take in the massive structure nestled deep within in the forest among other trees.

  “It’s a Treesort.” Amethyst caught me off guard. A smile upon her face. “I knew there was nothing like it around here, except Eloise Sandlewood’s home. They are very popular in the villages out west, but I’m assuming you know that since you were the Village President.”

  Ahem, I cleared my throat. I wasn’t sure I wanted to fight or run. I decided to fight when I saw Mr. Prince Charming dart up the stairs.

  “I think you have my history all wrong.” I started to say but she rudely interrupted me.

  “Since your familiar has decided to take a tour, would you like to follow?” she asked, talking about Mr. Prince Charming.

  “Yes. I’d love to.” The fight was not in me. Keeping the peace was. “This is a very interesting concept.”