Page 13 of Night Magic

“Of course. As long as you know how much I enjoyed the evening, I’m satisfied.”

“I had a nice time. Thank you.”

“I’ll call you, and we’ll start all over.” He kept his tone low, not wanting to sound desperate, his throat tightening. Tunnel vision altered his perception. A quivering specimen of a man was the last thing a woman wanted.

“I understand,” she returned.

“Thank you. Have a good night.” He forced a breath, thankful for her response.

“You too. Bye.”

Maybe he still had a chance. With a heavy heart, Jon pulled up into his driveway and turned off the car. Darkness surrounded the immediate area. His body ached and a sensation of hopelessness trickled over him as if it owned him. Law school and years of practice didn’t help him in finding the answer to the most important task of his life. How long would his mother suffer a never-ending hell on earth? He slammed his hand on the steering wheel, his brow tightened, and anger built in his gut. Nothing was going to stop him from making it up to Krista and giving her the love she deserved.

After a few minutes, he got out and went inside. Tossing his keys on a table under an oversized mirror, he heard a disturbing moan coming from the back of the house. His gut wrenched as he ran down the hallway. As he approached his mother’s room, the sound got louder. Her door was open, so he rushed inside, finding her sprawled across the bed.

“What’s wrong?” he shouted.

She sat up, sobbing. “A vision came to me. The witch who cursed me stood before me.” Terror rang in her words.

“The witch was in our house? How did she get in?”

“No, she was here in spirit. She’s dead, but she came to tell me I’ll never rest.” His mother raised both hands to cover her eyes and sobbed.

“No way. She’s not going to win,” he yelled. “I’m going to find a way to help you if it kills me.” His heart flipped as he rolled his hand into a fist.

“Son, please calm down. I never meant to hurt you.” She lifted a quilt to her neck.

“I know. Leave it up to me.” He stormed out of the room and into his bedroom, furious over the intrusion. Even in her death the rotten witch wouldn’t quit. Nothing would stop him now.

He moved over to the window, opened the shutters, and looked up at the sky. The deep blue backdrop made the stars look three-dimensional, as if to guide the way. Freedom would fall upon his mother soon. Surprisingly, a bolt of lightning struck, and he backed up. Maybe he’d hit another dead end. It wasn’t like him to depend on another person to solve his problems. Monique hadn’t called yet, and his impatience grew. Another search on his laptop wouldn’t hurt. There had to be someone out there who could help.

He grabbed his laptop, sprawled out on the bed, opened it, and signed on. He began a search. He needed answers…anything…there had to be a way. He shook his head and exhaled. Nothing held promise. Various websites on witchcraft, spells, and curse removal popped up, but most of them looked shady. He had visited similar sites over the years. New ones surfaced regularly, yet nothing looked remotely legitimate. Was he being overly cautious? Should he take a risk and work with one of them? Frustration ripped into him. He logged off, with no answer in sight.

His mother’s Book of Shadows sat on his nightstand. She had insisted he keep it in his room to offer hope and guidance. He grabbed the book, opened it, and flipped through the pages, desperate to find a clue. Tucked away in the back of the book, he found an envelope postmarked 1898. How had he overlooked something this unique? He gently opened the yellowed envelope, held his breath, and removed the contents. Had he found something of significance? He shuddered at the thought of missing an important piece to the puzzle. Years of suffering stood in front of him. Was the mystery about to unfold? His head spun, his eye twitched.

When he saw the heading and realized it was a letter from his great-grandmother, his hope slowly dissipated. Correspondence between family members had no relevance in his quest for a solution. Despite his doubts, he scanned the letter. He reached over and turned on a Tiffany lamp he kept on a night table. He needed a brighter light, since the letter was tattered.

The wise words of his great-grandmother sounded familiar. She had passed before he was born, but his mother had kept her beliefs alive in her practice. Photos, trinkets, and remnants of her life had come in handy over the years. The women on his mother’s side of the family had wisdom and strength he’d always admired. Comfort fell upon him.

Just as he was about to fold the letter, he reread the last sentence.The answer lies in the pendant. He who holds it will have the power to reverse a curse.Uncertain of the meaning, his body shook…then he remembered. He recalled his mother reciting those words so very long ago. The memory surfaced with a fresh meaning. With his practice and studies, he must have blocked a piece to the puzzle. The hair on his arms stood up. Goosebumps traveled up his arms, sending a chill down his spine. His mother had forgotten the one thing that could offer hope?

It was far too late to reach out to Monique, but he vowed to make the call first thing in the morning. Did she know about the pendant? With a lingering hope, he was sure she’d help him locate the precious piece of jewelry.

Once he got out of his clothes, splashed water on his face, and guzzled a cold glass of red wine, he went to bed. Sleep didn’t come easily. The wind picked up and the sound of the shutters clattering kept him awake until dawn.

The persistent buzz of his alarm made it impossible to stay asleep, even though he craved rest. He yawned and turned over to check the time. He’d overslept. Never in his career had he been late to the office.

He’d thanked his lucky stars for his secretary. She was a member of a coven and was the only person he’d told about his secret. A stickler for details and organization, Mindy always rearranged appointments as needed to meet his schedule. He knew she was aware he’d been at his wit’s end for months. Mindy had warned him he’d breakdown eventually, but she managed to juggle his schedule like a pro. Wednesday was the one day he didn’t have to show up in court.

Staggering to the bathroom, Jon remembered the letter. With a light schedule in the office, he’d have time to call Monique for an update. After a quick shower, Jon got dressed and headed to the office.

When he went downstairs, his secretary greeted him cordially.

“Good morning.” She wore a fixed grin.

“I overslept. Thank you for taking charge. I really appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome. How was your date?” she asked.

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