A Charming Secret (Magical Cures Mystery Series Book 6) (6 page)

“It is.” I dipped the bundle in the cauldron, letting the protection mixture add to the protection the blue sage was already going to give to Petunia and her reign as Village President. “It will help Petunia keep a clear head.”

“Amethyst told Petunia you shouldn’t do the ceremony because you weren’t strong enough to keep the presidency going,” Peony said.

“Seriously? God, what a . . .” I bit my lip. “Maybe I should put a dash of something in here for Amethyst so she can keep her mouth shut.”

I held the smudging stick over the cauldron to let the extra drip off. If Amethyst didn’t reel her mouth in and change her attitude, Whispering Falls was going to be too small for the both of us.

“I’m sorry.” I regretted saying that to Peony. “I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t like being judged by someone who doesn’t even know me. You are kind and I can see you and Petunia are a lot alike.”

Peony smiled. Her eyes forgiving and not another word was said about Amethyst.

The knock at the door got our attention and we peeked out from behind the partition.

Oscar stood on the doorstep. He looked a little cold. I snapped a clothespin and the smudge stick to the shelf so it would dry and walked over to the door.

“I’m starving and Colton said he and Ophelia were going to have to cancel tonight. Something about inventory at the book store.” He pulled me into his arms and wrapped me into a warm hug. The cold air rushed behind him. “But me and you can grab a bite to eat after the ceremony. Maybe in Locust Grove?”

“Oh, yeah.” There wasn’t anything I wanted more than to be with Oscar and on a date.

Ahem.
Peony cleared her throat from the back of the store.

“Peony.” My face blushed. When I was around Oscar, the entire world seemed to melt away. “I’m sorry. This is my fiancé, Oscar Park.” She walked toward us. I said, “Peony is Petunia’s sister and here for to see Petunia take the Village President oath.”

“Nice to meet you.” Peony stuck her hand out and they shook. “I didn’t realize you were engaged to the
sheriff
.”

“She is.” Oscar informed her. He put his arm around my shoulder, giving me a squeeze.

Mr. Prince Charming darted out the door before Oscar could close it behind him.

“It’s getting really cold out there. Unseasonably cold.” Oscar did a shimmy shake. He removed his arm and blew into his hands before rubbing them together.

“I guess I better bundle up then.” Peony headed to the door. “I will see you soon. And June,” she briefly paused, “I’m sorry about Amethyst. She really is a great friend to my sister.”

“No big deal.” I waved it off. “I’m sure she’s very protective of her.”

“Nice to meet you,” she and Oscar said in unison before she left the shop.

“I’ve been waiting all day to do this.” I placed my hands on the back of his neck, pulling him to me. Our lips parted, greeting each other, moving in unison.

It was like we were meant for each other. Our bodies responding to each other, his hands pulling me as close as we could get. There was a dreamy intimacy to our kiss I was sure no one had ever felt but us.

“You are killing me,” he groaned. His eyes closed, his hands roamed. “Maybe we should skip dinner and go back to your place after the ceremony.”

“That does sound better.” I tilted my head to the side, letting his lips sear down my neck.

“Get a room,” a muffled Madame Torres spouted out from the depth of my bag. “I haven’t got all day and right now would be a great time to discuss the ever present danger to you, June Heal.”

“Danger?” Oscar pulled me away. “What danger?” He dragged me by the hand toward the glowing bag.

“You never know when to keep your mouth shut, do you?” I dug deep into the bag and pulled out my snarky crystal ball.

“What good is having a cop for your man if you aren’t going to use him when needed?” She cocked her purple brow in the air. Her face stern. “You need to watch Petunia’s family and friend. They do not have her or your best interests at heart.”

“Amethyst?” Oscar asked.

“Yeah. We sort of mixed words today.” I hated to admit I had let her get my goat.

“Colton said something about it. I figured it was a customer,” he muttered uneasily.

“She isn’t a big fan of me because I had been the Village President before.” Suddenly I was regretting letting her get to me. “I probably should’ve walked away, but I had to defend myself.”

“You don’t have to worry about them. They will all be gone tomorrow,” he assured me. “Now, what was Madame Torres saying about danger?”

“June has been having nightmares again.” Madame Torres appeared. The blue water surrounding her became cloudy and images of me sleeping filled the ball. “She hasn’t been sleeping well and it’s affecting her on a daily basis.”

“Madame Torres, since when did you become Oscar’s familiar?” I was a little pissed she just blurted out whatever she wanted.

“Fine, but don’t forget the part about Mr. Prince Charming giving you a new charm.” Her ball went black.

“Charm? What?” Oscar’s voice rose in surprise.

I sucked in a deep breath and grabbed the lighter. If we didn’t get a move on, we were going to be late for the ceremony, then Amethyst would really be mean to me.

“It’s nothing.”

“Nothing?” He grabbed me by the arm to stop me from fiddling around. “Look at me,” he ordered me. His eyes held concern. “I saw you last night. You were freaked out. How long have the nightmares been going on?”

“A month or so.” I shrugged and jerked out of his grip. I sprayed the cauldron with cleaner and decided to leave it sit overnight. “I know what you are going to say. If I would have addressed this a month ago, we wouldn’t be in this situation today.”

“It obviously wasn’t going to go away by you ignoring it for a month,” he said the words that rang true. “They never just go away until they come true in some sort of way.”

I listened to him rant and rave about all the other nightmares I had had and how they had come true. I grabbed generic potion bottles and began refilling the empty shelves from the day’s sales. There wasn’t going to be any time to make all the potions I needed to make.

Nervously, I walked around all the small tables in the center of the room, running my hands over the tablecloths that covered them, making sure everything was in order for opening tomorrow.

Smudging ceremonies were long and took a lot out of me, plus I was going to spend time with Oscar tonight, which meant I would be too tired to come in early to do all of the necessary things that needed to be done before I could open the shop.

“You are right. I should have told you,” I said what he wanted to hear. “But I didn’t so let’s move on.” I nodded and grabbed my bag. I put Madame Torres in the bottom.

Oscar grabbed my hand with my charm bracelet on my wrist.

He snapped his wand off his belt, which to most people looked like a billy club, and tapped the charm. Wizard school was teaching them how to use their wands in many situations other than casting spells.

“Third eye?” he questioned. “What is it you need clarification on? What is Mr. Prince Charming trying to protect you from?”

“I don’t know.” I hated to tell him that, but it was the truth. “Bella wasn’t able to clarify for me. She said she felt it odd he picked the third eye. And I feel it.” I put my hand on my gut and closed my eyes. “I feel danger. I feel evil. I smell death.”

Chapter Seven

“Colton.” As Oscar spoke into his police walkie-talkie, which was attached to his uniform on his shoulder, we made our way up the hill to The Gathering Rock. “Keep a look out while the town is at Petunia’s inauguration. June feels evil is lurking.”

“Got it,” Colton’s voice rang out of Oscar’s microphone.

“Nothing to worry about.” Oscar put his arm around my shoulders helping keep the chill at bay.

The Gathering Rock was up the hill near my cottage. It was a large rock and the gathering space where we held all of our ceremonies and celebrations.

“What is going on with the teenagers tonight?” Isadora Solstice noticed the fireflies swarming around Peony.

Isadora was the spiritualist who found Oscar and I in Locust Grove. She was the one who had brought us to Whispering Falls. She had always been so good to us. She was the Village President for a long time. The fireflies in the village were sweet souls of teenagers who had passed from the living world into the spiritual world. Just like the living teenager, they loved to come out at night and stay up, bugging you in the process. They were probably in love with Peony and her youthful spirit.

“I’d like to wrap my fingers around her neck.” Isadora’s hazel eyes zeroed in on Gwendolyn who was silently standing beside Petunia. Her long lashes sweeping upward, she pushed her wavy blond hair from her face and straightened her shoulders.

Izzy was always dressed so impeccably. Today she wore an A-line skirt with a spider print, black turtleneck, and her pointy laced-up boots to compliment the hunter green cloak.

“She has made that impression on you too?” I asked.

Oscar didn’t say anything. He knew we girls needed to gossip.

“She had the nerve to come into my shop and tell me I was doing it all wrong.”

Mystic Lights was filled with beautiful lighting elements. Anyone would be grateful to have her amazing designs. Her spiritual talent was crystal ball reading and all things aura, light and love. She had a truly magical spirit. As one of the oldest village members, she was smart and talented.

Every time I looked at her, she reminded me of Meryl Streep, the actress. And she always held herself to the highest standards.

“She’s a beast and I’m so glad they are leaving tomorrow.” She lowered her eyes. “This village isn’t big enough for the two of us.”

“Who are you talking about?” Raven Mortimer asked. She turned her head to the side; her black ponytail flung around whipping around her face. “Let me guess. Gwendolyn?”

That was what I loved about Raven. She was fun, young and spoke her mind.

“She’s the devil. It took everything I had not to throw a little something-something in that tart she’s eating.”

We all looked at Gwendolyn who was now stuffing the tasty pastry in her mouth. And we all knew what Raven meant by a little something-something.

“I couldn’t agree more.” Isadora rubbed her hands together. “I better take my seat.”

“Are you feeling okay?” Constance Karima moseyed up to our little group.

Patience stood behind her, both with a curious look in their eyes. “Sick. Someone’s gonna die.” Patience’s eyes grew with excitement.

“No one is going to die,” I assured them.

“Yes. Yes there is.” Constance rubbed her hands together with anticipation of the thought.

“Yes there is,” Patience repeated and followed her sister to their seats in front of The Gathering Rock.

Raven and I watched Isadora go where the Village Council sat during the ceremonies. Behind The Gathering Rock. Izzy sat next to Gerald and Petunia.

“Gwendolyn had the nerve to tell me my tart was too . . .,” she pursed her lips and sucked in, “too tart! And she hated the June’s Gem Petunia bought for her this morning.”

“I think she hates the June.” I pointed to myself. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Patience Karima sniffing everyone who walked by her. “Gwendolyn thinks people should go to the doctor and not try silly little cures.” I pounded my closed fist in my hand. “I wanted to knock her out. She even made fun of my shop. Colton had to step in.”

“He did?” She gasped. “She’s a nasty woman. Thank God she doesn’t live here. She’d never make it.”

“No joke.” My voice was flat.

Raven and I quickly shut up when Gwendolyn passed by us. She didn’t bother looking our way. Instead she bolted back down the hill with the tart in her grasp, Peony close behind her.

“IBS.” Peony laughed, batting away the fireflies from her face.

“Excuse me?” I asked.

“Gwenie has IBS. Irritable Bowel Syndrome.” She swatted more fireflies.

“Come on.” I waved my hand in the air. “Let our guest be.” The fireflies buzzed off. “Teenagers.” I rolled my eyes. I turned to Raven. “How much time do we have?”

“About ten minutes.” Her brows furrowed. “Why?”

There was probably more time than that. Villagers were still making their way up the hill.

“I’ll be right back.” I threw the edges of my cloak around my body to shield the cold as I darted back down the hill toward Gwenie.

Chapter Eight

“No, June!” Madame Torres yelled from the bottom of my bag. She flopped up and down like a rag doll with me running as fast as I could to get to Gwenie. If I got on her good side, maybe she could help me out with Amethyst.

I was good at ignoring Madame Torres from the depths of the bag. She insisted she got “bag sick”, a sort of car sick. I had fell for her antics several times, but not tonight. I had Petunia’s cousin to win over and if she had a bad case of irritable bowel syndrome, I had the perfect cure for it.

“June!” Madame Torres glowed a deep almost blood red.

“What?” I asked very loudly and looked into the bag.

Truth, potion, deceptive, manipulative.
The words floated in her ball.

“What do these words mean?” I asked her, trying to decipher her new way of communicating with me.

“How do I know?” Her red lips appeared in the black liquid within the ball. “I’m just bringing you
what I see, what I feel
.” She was so dramatic. “You are the one who is supposed to know what they mean! How did I get such a dumb spiritualist?”

“Watch it,” I warned and shut my bag up. I looked up and Gwenie was almost to town. “Gwendolyn!” I yelled down the hill and ignored my crystal ball. “Gwenie!”

She stopped in front of A Cleansing Spirit Spa. Chandra Shango, owner and palm reader, had her key in the door of the shop and stood there with a dumbfounded look on her face. Chandra wasn’t going anywhere. She was a nosy as they come.

“I think June Heal is trying to get your attention,” Chandra said to Gwendolyn in her warm and inviting voice.