Prelude to a Witch, Amanda Lee [ebook reader web txt] 📗

I just like to call my future wife to hear her voice,” he said. “I don’t only call when something is wrong.”

“True, but we’re in the middle of a murder investigation, so I figured it was a possibility.”

“I just wanted to check on you.” His voice was soft. “Are you still in Shadow Hills?”

“No. I’m at the inn.”

“Doing what?”

“Researching.” I told him about my conversation with Helen. “I don’t know if it’s shades but it’s as likely an explanation as anything else,” I said. “Helen suggested that the shades could’ve been spelled to be invisible so I couldn’t see them.”

Landon was quiet a beat, and when he spoke again his tone was sharper. “You specifically?”

I hesitated. The last thing I wanted to do was frighten him, but now wasn’t the time to hold back information. “Maybe. I honestly don’t know.”

“Well, I don’t like that,” he groused. “If someone cast a spell so these shades are invisible that means they know what you’re capable of.”

“I don’t disagree.”

“Bay ... .”

I waited for him to continue. When he didn’t, I decided to take control of the conversation. “I’m being safe, Landon. I’m researching shades to figure out what I can do to make them visible. I’m not out running toward danger without backup.”

“And what good will that do?”

“At least if I can see them, I’ll know how many I’m dealing with. I also might be able to control them.”

“Have you tried to control them so far?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“You know why.”

His sigh was long and drawn out. “You don’t like enslaving souls. It makes you feel icky.”

“While I would hate you using the word ‘icky’ under different circumstances, it feels like the correct word now.”

He laughed. “Sweetie, I know you feel as if you’re stripping free will from the ghosts when you call on them, but that’s going to be necessary under certain circumstances. You need to get used to it.”

“I’ve been doing it.”

“Only as a last resort.”

“Which is exactly how it should be.” I refused to back down. “I don’t want to be some all-powerful oracle who uses ghosts whenever the mood strikes. That leads to bad witches.”

“I don’t think you could ever turn bad, but I’m not going to argue with you. I love you and know you’ll do what’s right. I just wanted to check on you. Terry and I are heading out with the search teams looking for Richard and Anna Gilmore. We’ve had no luck so far, but we’re hitting the woods. My cell phone might not get service out there and I didn’t want you to worry.”

That was so Landon. He always thought ahead on issues like that. “Well, I appreciate the call. Is Hannah with you?”

“No. She’s doing her own thing. She says she needs to get a feel for the town if she’s going to profile the sort of person who would carry out a murder like this in our neck of the woods.”

“Do you believe her?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I can’t decide how I feel about her.”

“No matter what you say, I think you’re feeling a bit of jealousy because she’s clearly still carrying a torch for me.”

“I don’t feel jealous,” I countered. “I know you love me. There’s no reason for me to feel jealous.”

“I agree.”

“So why do you keep circling back to that? Do you want me to be jealous?”

“Absolutely not.” I could practically see the emphatic headshake he was likely putting on display on the other end of the call. “I want you to always feel secure where I’m concerned, Bay. It’s normal human behavior to feel a bit of jealousy when an old girlfriend shows up. Your place in my heart is secure. Forever.”

“I know.”

“She never got the proposal to end all proposals, did she?”

That made me laugh. “You’re going to throw that proposal in my face for the rest of our lives, aren’t you?”

“That was my moment.”

“And you nailed it.”

“I did. I just wanted to make you aware that I might be out of phone contact for a few hours. With Hannah running around town, I want you to be careful.”

“I’m not even sure I’ll be heading to town. I’ve got my research books and am comfortable here.”

“That’s good. You’re safe there. Nothing will get past Aunt Tillie.”

“I’m pretty sure she’s in town torturing Mrs. Little. She stopped in at the newspaper office this morning. She needed a place to change into her leggings after Mom confiscated the first pair.”

“Ah. She’s shopping in bulk now.”

“Mom should stop complaining about the leggings and then Aunt Tillie will stop trying to outdo herself with each subsequent pair. Trying to control her just gives her more power when she’s in a mood.”

“That’s a Winchester family trait. I have to go. I love you. I’m looking forward to learning more about shades when I see you tonight.”

“And I look forward to telling you.”

I DUG DEEP INTO THE BOOKS, JOTTING notes on a legal pad I’d found in the drawer. It was like being back in school and cramming for a test, but this time the stakes were much higher. I was so lost in thought I didn’t realize that somebody was hovering by the door until I heard a soft throat-clearing. When I glanced up, I found Hannah watching me.

“I don’t want to intrude,” she said.

“It’s fine.” I closed the book because I didn’t want her curiosity getting the better of her. “I’m just ... reading.”

“It looks like you’re researching.” She sat in one of the chairs across from me, her eyes going to the legal pad. “May I ask what you’re researching?”

I wasn’t sure how to answer. “Oh, well ... .”

“This town is interesting,” Hannah noted when I didn’t continue. “It should be a case study for a psychology journal. I’ve been walking around for a few hours and I’ve seen any number of strange things.”

“Aunt Tillie?”

“Your great-aunt could definitely be studied. She has a few diagnosable personality quirks.”

Oh, well, I didn’t mind this conversation. “Which quirks?”

“Well, for starters, I think