Page 181 of Evil Hearts

“Now onto the transfiguration. Follow me.”

She leads me down to another room and we enter a workshop with different benches set up around the room. They’re covered in plants of all kinds that are set out to dry.

“Now then. The last test is to turn this chair into an animal. Any animal will do. You have ten minutes. You may begin.”

Ah, shit. Okay. I’ve got this. Any animal. A chair into a hare? That is such a tacky rhyme. But simple, it is.

“Hanc sellam in leporem verte.”

I concentrate on envisioning the chair as it transforms into a rabbit. Simple and yet effective. The chair shakes and then shrinks into a rounded body. Whiskers sprout outward and a small tail appears. Two long ears perk upwards as the rabbit shifts its body. I did it. I fucking did it.

“Excellent. The test is now over. You may go and we will be in touch with your results soon. Have a wonderful evening, dear.”

Just as I went to reply, my body pulls me in a new direction and I’m whisked back to my home. Standing in the kitchen and staring at my familiar while he glares at me. Probably woke him from his nap or something.

I can’t believe I did it. I think I actually passed the test and I may finally get my Witch’s License.

Chapter 6

Ienter the townlibrary with a light heart for the first time in years. The test went so well. Now I just have to do something about the damn ghost in my house. I contacted some of my aunt’s friends and asked around about someone who could help me.

I got lucky and someone said the librarian in town knows how to handle stubborn ghosts that refuse to leave. I called her and she suggested I come out and she can give me some tips on how best to go about handling this thing. She didn’t have a lot of time to talk yesterday, so I didn’t have time to tell her how strong this thing really is.

The library is two stories and houses everything you can think of. There is a section for computer usage, a section for reading comfortably, and a little kids’ section in the far corner. This place is far bigger than I remember when I was a child.

There is a petite woman waiting behind the counter. Her hair is thrown into a messy bun and her glasses sit sideways on her nose. She looks like she could use one hell of a long vacation somewhere.

“Hi. My name is Lila Evans. I think we spoke on the phone.”

“You are correct. I’m Fiona. I hear you have somewhat of a ghost issue you need to solve. Tell me a little about it.”

“It’s a woman. She is stronger than I’ve ever seen a ghost. She can touch and bruise the body.”

“Oh, dear. Did she hurt you?”

“A little. At first I thought it didn’t want me in the house, but now I think it may have just been trying to grab my attention. It doesn’t have a feeling of malice in it. It feels familiar almost. I’m not sure how to describe it.”

“Sounds like you have an anchor in the house somewhere. Perhaps your aunt brought something home with her from one of her trips. The best thing you can do is find the anchor. When you do, there is a spell I can give you that will help release the spirit’s hold. Only then will it even be possible for it to move on. Until then, strange things will continue in the home.”

“Is there a way to find the anchor other than just searching the entire house and hoping I guess what it is?”

“That’s the kicker. Ghosts that are attached to an anchor won’t let you get close without a fight. Find the one place the ghost fights the hardest to protect and you will find it in that room. As for knowing if it’s the right thing, you will know. There is a particular energy that surrounds the anchor and the ghost will be very unpleasant.”

Fiona hands me a slip of paper with a spell on it. I glance over it before stuffing it in my pocket.

“Thank you so much for all your help. Hopefully, this doesn’t take forever to fix. I’d like a nice night of sleep.”

“Good luck. Some ghosts are stubborn as hell.”

I wave as I retreat out the way I’d come. Stepping into the cool air outside, I walk down the sidewalk and find myself lost in thought, letting my feet take me where they want.

Before I know it, I’m pushing a door opening and a bell is chiming above me, bringing me out of my head. I look around and the coffee shop with its warm interior and great smelling coffees greets me. My eyes find hers without even trying. Cat.

She’s behind the bar and serving an older couple. I can’t help the gravitational pull toward her as I fall in line. I should headhome to take care of this damn ghost, but here I am fawning over the girl behind the counter.

I wait my turn in line and when I get to her, I nearly freeze again. Recovering far quicker than last time, I utter the only word that comes to mind.

“Hi.”

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