Forever Charmed

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Isabeau ate Liam and Nicolas’ breakfast. Apparently they had business and skipped breakfast. They did that often. Should I take that as a hint of my cooking ability? Maybe I should try the magic more in the kitchen. But at the rate Isabeau was stuffing pancakes into her mouth, I wasn’t sure I really needed it.

  When Isabeau wasn’t looking, I slipped out of the house. I hurried behind the wheel and cranked the engine. If she found out that I’d left without her, she’d be furious.

  As I drove down the driveway, the ghosts followed behind the car. They stared and scowled. I was pretty sure they were plotting against me. I punched the gas and pulled out onto the road before they had a chance to catch me.

  On my drive to the store, I called Annabelle and asked her to meet me there. Annabelle pulled up behind me just as I’d shoved the car into park. I was happy to have her with me when I broke the news to my mother. She might faint and I’d need help lifting my mother off the floor. Annabelle looked bright and cheerful in her red sweater and jeans.

  “You got away from your unwanted guest?” she asked as she approached my car.

  “It wasn’t easy. I made a batch of cupcakes and left them out where she could see them.”

  Annabelle laughed. “By the way, I did more research this morning.”

  “What did you find out?” I asked.

  “Nothing,” she replied.

  My stomach sank. “Nothing?”

  “Nothing. There was no death certificate for anyone by that name. Not that I could find anyway.” She sighed.

  I didn’t want to question her research abilities. After all, she had done this for me out of the kindness of her heart.

  “I even searched the birth certificates too. Of course it could be so old that it’s hard to find or doesn’t even exist. It may be hard to find out anything without more information.”

  I sighed. “Yeah, and I doubt she’ll be willing to give me any more info.”

  Annabelle huffed. “You should tell her to tell you more details about her life or to get out.”

  It wasn’t quite that simple, but Annabelle was right. I needed to demand more information.

  “I’ll have to do more research on the house too. Maybe I can find out if there’s any connection.”

  “It’s worth a shot,” Annabelle said.

  Why would she be haunting LaVeau Manor? She didn’t just pick it at random.

  “Come on. Let’s go inside,” I said.

  “So what’s going on? Why did you need me to be here?”

  “I want to tell both of you something. I figured it was better to do it at once. You two can support one another.” I offered a big smile.

  “You’re scaring me,” Annabelle said as I held the door to Bewitching Bath and Beauty open for her.

  “Don’t panic. It’s just something I need to share with the two most important people in my life.”

  I tried to soothe her fears with a smile. She gave a weak smile in return.

  My mother rushed toward us when we walked through the door. “Well, what happened?” she asked impatiently. “Did they come to see you? I heard Misty Middleton was there?”

  I tried to read my mother’s expression. Apparently, they were keeping her in the dark about what was truly happening. Didn’t she know about the book that Aunt Maddy had hidden?

  “What’s going on?” Annabelle asked as she sniffed an aromatherapy candle.

  “Why don’t you both have a seat?” I pointed at the stools.

  Annabelle looked at my mother. They both walked over and sat on the stools behind the counter. I stood in front of them, searching for the right words. My mother waved her hands, telling me to get on with it.

  I shrugged then said offhandedly, “The Coven just had some questions about my new magic skills.”

  My mother’s face was all smiles.

  I stared at her. “Do you know about the books?”

  She smiled wider and nodded. “I just found out. I am so proud of you.”

  I frowned. “For what? I didn’t do anything? It’s not like I made the books or something.”

  “What’s going on? What books?” Annabelle’s brow creased with worry.

  I didn’t answer and my mother continued.

  “Don’t you see, Halloween? You were chosen for this. That’s why your magic was bad for so many years.” She pasted on smile of nonchalance.

  I shook my head. “I don’t believe that.”

  My mother shrugged. “Well, believe it or not, it’s the truth.”

  “Will someone please tell me what’s going on?” Annabelle frowned.

  “There’s an Underworld. As far as I can tell it’s not really underground,” I said, trying to sound casual.

  My mother shook her head.

  “Anyway, it’s like the overseers of the paranormal world. And yours truly is now the leader of it.”

  Annabelle started choking. My mother handed her a bottle of water and I patted her on the back.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  When she finally caught her breath, she said, “Are you kidding me? Is this a joke?”

  I shook my head. “Unfortunately, I am not joking. I don’t even want this.”

  “But you can’t turn it down now,” my mother said in a panic.

  “What if I gave someone else the book and let them be the leader? I just want a normal life.”

  My mother gasped. “You can’t do that. No, no, no.”

  “You’re not the one thrown into this crazy world,” I said.

  “I realize that, but if you’re meant to do this, then you need to give it your best shot. Now I know I didn’t raise a quitter.”

  She always threw that line at me.

  “So what does this leader of the Underworld do?” Annabelle asked.

  I shrugged. “How am I supposed to know? I didn’t get an orientation packet. I have a couple of strange men running around, one telling me not to accept it, and the other one saying the same thing but he wants the book for some reason. He claims he’ll destroy it.”

  My mother shook her head. “No way, don’t let him have that book. I wouldn’t trust him.”

  I let out a deep breath. “Don’t worry. I didn’t give it to him and I don’t plan on it either.” I looked at Annabelle, then to my mother. “Part of the special skills is that I can reanimate the dead.”

  “That’s the part I don’t like,” my mother said. “You should stay away from that.”

  “I’m trying to stay away from all of it. But I accidentally turned the ghost that was living in the manor back into a living, breathing annoying snot of a person. It’s like the freakin’ pet cemetery at my house,” I said.

  “What? There’s a ghost in the manor with you?” My mother swayed a little then sat back down on the stool.

  I rushed over and steadied her.

  “Well, she’s not a ghost any more. It was the woman I brought by here. Her name is Isabeau and she is a pain in the butt.”

  “Can’t you get rid of her?” Annabelle asked.

  “Well, I haven’t found the counter spell. Besides, I don’t think the spell lasts forever. Soon enough she’ll be gone.”

  My mother shook her head. “No, you need to get rid of her. I’ll come over today and help you find the spell that gets rid of her.”

  I picked up the sampler for the new lip gloss that my mother had made. I smeared it across my lips then puckered in disgust. “This stuff is terrible.”

  She snatched it from my hands. “Well, it’s not finished yet,” she said defensively.

  I didn’t even try to argue with my mother about finding the counter spell for Isabeau. When she set her mind to something there was no stopping her. Must be where I got my stubbornness from.

  “There’s something else I want to tell you,” I said looking at my mother.

  “I don’t know if I can handle much more, Halloween.” She clutched at her che
st.

  “I think you’ll enjoy this news.”

  Her eyes brightened and she sat a little straighter. “I’m listening.”

  “The Coven has asked me to host the annual Halloween Ball,” I announced.

  My mother gasped and clasped her hands together. “I can’t believe it. My one and only daughter is finally being welcomed by the Coven.” She waved her hands in front of her face to fend off the tears.

  This was what made her proud? What about that I’d started a small business? I didn’t need the approval of some club. Or did I? Why was I so excited about hosting the Halloween Ball?

  Annabelle sat up straighter. “I don’t know, Halloween. I don’t think you should give them the time of day.”

  I cast a glance at my mother. She would not be happy with Annabelle for that statement. I gave a warning glare to Annabelle, but she didn’t take the hint.

  Annabelle scoffed. “They didn’t want you before, so why should you allow them into your life now?”

  There was no way I could let my mother down now. The look of happiness on her face was priceless. As much as I’d disappointed her with my magic in the past, I owed her this one. Besides, I couldn’t deny that I liked being wanted for a change. I was popular and it felt good.

  “I see your point, Annabelle, but this way I can show them I am in charge. I can finally prove myself.”

  My mother beamed. Annabelle shrugged. She’d come around to my way of thinking soon enough. I gestured with a tilt of my head for Annabelle to look at my mother.

  When she noticed my mother’s smile, she nodded in understanding. “Well, I guess now that you’ve explained it, the party at the manor does sound like a good idea.”