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

coffee. “I need your help.” I felt awkward broaching the subject when she was watching Judge Judy, but getting the formalities out of the way was best.

Viola’s eyes filled with suspicion. “What sort of help?”

“It’s difficult to explain.”

That obviously wasn’t good enough for Viola. “Is it the sort of help where I can’t say no and you force me to do your bidding?”

Guilt rolled into a ball in my stomach and started churning. “I would really rather not go that route.”

“You’ve done it before.” Her tone wasn’t accusatory as much as matter-of-fact. That didn’t make me feel any better.

“I have, and I regret it ... kind of.”

Viola hiked a ghostly eyebrow. “Kind of?”

“I needed help to save my family,” I reminded her. “I called you guys because I felt I had no other choice.”

“You could’ve asked. I would’ve helped even though I despise Tillie.”

“I didn’t feel I had time to ask. On top of that, I didn’t think you would say yes. You hate Aunt Tillie.”

“I like you.”

The simple statement caught me off guard. “Thank you. I really am sorry. I just ... panicked.”

Viola’s expression softened. “I guess that’s allowed. Even I’ve panicked a time or two.”

“I remember the time at that one festival when the bee flew into your bra and stung you. You were so surprised you started flapping your arms and knocked Mrs. Little into the punch bowl.”

Viola grinned. “That was a fun day. Margaret melted down and blamed the bee incident on Tillie.”

“She blames everything on Aunt Tillie.”

“In Margaret’s defense, Tillie has gone out of her way to torture her for years,” Viola said. “Margaret is a real pill — one of those horse tranquilizers that makes you gag — but Tillie has made Margaret’s life miserable. I don’t know anybody who would come out the other side of that mess sane.”

As much as I didn’t want to admit it, she had a point. That didn’t mean I would take up for Mrs. Little. The woman was horrible. She’d earned everything Aunt Tillie had thrown at her.

“You said you had something you wanted me to do,” Viola prodded, drawing me back into the conversation.

“Are you familiar with shades?” I asked.

“You have blinds on the windows,” she said.

I kept my smile in place. “I’m talking about ghost shades.”

Viola’s expression remained blank. “I don’t know what that is.”

I broke it down in simple terms. “Evil ghosts. That’s essentially what we’re talking about.”

“I’ve seen a lot of ghosts who could’ve been considered evil during their lives.”

“You’re a good person,” I said. “In life, you might’ve been a little scattered — and your association with Mrs. Little always annoyed me — but you were a good person. There are certain ghosts who can’t make that claim. They’re rotten to their core. They’re also sometimes controlled by people.

“They can take over human beings,” I continued. “They can wedge their dark souls into another person and take over, live that individual’s life.”

Viola looked fascinated. “That’s like living another life, a second one.”

“True, but it’s not a real life. It’s more of a half-life. You have to drink the blood of others to survive in this form.”

“Why is that?”

“Because the human body wasn’t designed to house two souls ... and blood is essentially power. It’s always comes back to the blood.”

Viola cocked her head in a manner that told me she was thinking hard. “I’m not one of those souls?”

“Definitely not.”

“But they’re in town?”

“At least a few. I’m guessing we’re dealing with about ten of them.”

“What do they want?”

That was the question of the day. “That’s what we’re trying to figure out. They attacked me yesterday in the middle of town. They’ve moved on me at the inn, too.”

“It sounds like they’re fixated on you.”

“I think they are. That’s likely by design.”

“Because of what you can do? The ghost thing, I mean.”

“It’s possible. It’s also possible this is payback for something else.”

“Okay. What do you want me to do?”

“See if you can find them.”

“And then what?”

“Then come back and tell me what you find.”

“That’s it? No fights or anything?”

I shook my head. “No fights.” At least not right now, I silently added. If a fight was necessary, I would broach that subject later. “I only need to know where they are ... and maybe how many of them are running around.”

“I think I can do that.” Viola flashed me a smile. “It’s like we’re partners in a television show. I’m the smart one and you’re the ... um ... sidekick.”

She was the smart one? That stung on about three different levels. “You’re the smart one,” I agreed.

“Then I shall find these shades and report back to you with due haste.” She saluted, which felt unnecessary, but I saluted back.

“Good luck.”

“I don’t need luck. I’ve watched every episode of Alias. Twice. I’ve got this.” With those words she was gone, leaving me alone in the office with only Judge Judy for company.

“Aunt Tillie really would be better at this job than you,” I mused as I turned off the television. Hexes as punishment? It sounded mildly amusing. Aunt Tillie would jump at the chance. She also would abuse her power ... and drive my mother batty.

I hummed to myself as I cut through the building on the way back to my office. Viola might’ve been a ditz of the highest order, but she was diligent when it came to assignments. She might find the shades. What would happen after that was anybody’s guess. It was also possible that the shades could stay hidden from Viola. I had no idea the extent of their powers. Still, it was worth a shot.

I was so lost in thought that I almost didn’t notice the figure standing in front of the desk in the lobby as I passed. I’d locked the door behind me — another thing Landon insisted on before separating — so nobody should’ve been capable of getting inside the building. Unfortunately, once I recognized the figure glaring holes into me, I wasn’t all that surprised.

“What