Better Witch Next Time Page 14

I caught a look between the three teenage girls. The look meant that they were ready to act. They were done being prisoners and playing this game. Unfortunately, I wasn't in on the plan, but I knew I had to be ready to fight. I took a second to undo my handcuffs. With my hands hidden behind my back, Mary was completely oblivious to what was going on right in front of her. Then, I touched each of the others girls’ handcuffs, releasing them as well.

  Irene gave a nod and while Mary was still adding her own blood to a vile, Melody wiggled her arms free and shot out a forceful orb shield that knocked everyone backward except the six of us, who were safe within the circle for now. Essentially, we were trapped inside a strong protective bubble. The shifters had fully changed, and they were snapping and snarling, trying to penetrate the bubble. I didn't know how long we had until they broke through.

  The electrical cord did nothing to bind us together. Once Melody loosened it, it fell off with ease. I took advantage of this newfound weapon and plugged the electrical cord into a nearby outlet. Using my power to manipulate electricity, I turned the cord into an electrically charged lasso. It was time for me to wrangle a bad guy.

  At that moment, Lexi and Nuala broke through the front door. The timing couldn't have been more perfect if we had planned it. True to their special abilities, Lexi had been able to locate me with the extra senses she had been blessed with, and Nuala immediately got to work kicking some werewolf butt. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Lexi hurling objects telepathically through the air. The toaster oven, coffee pot, and frying pan all flew off the kitchen counter and beat one of the werewolves into submission. Nuala showed off her boxing skills, using the other werewolf like a punching bag. He was down for the count in thirty seconds flat.

  Mr. Hendricks took cover under the small table. It wasn’t large enough to protect his whole body, and his feet stuck out from under it. The three witches each took turns throwing magical ailments Mary's way. It turned out Mary had powerful fire capabilities as she hurled fireball after fireball at the lot of us. Melody's shield of protection popped, and the chaos from outside the bubble flooded in.

  I circled my lasso above my head and directed it toward Mary. The look on her face when the cord made its mark was priceless. A look of shock registered, followed by anger as she still managed to flip her palms forward and throw off fireball after fireball.

  At that instant, Michael walked through the door. He was in full cop mode, gun drawn, and ready to take someone down.

  Knowing she would be going down, Mary took one last shot, aimed at Michael. His attention was drawn to the werewolves Nuala and Lexi were still engaging in hand-to-hand combat. The moment one went down, another one came too. What did I say? Shifters were tough to keep down for long.

  I simultaneously threw a lightning bolt while diving in front of Michael, getting hit with the fireball that had been intended for him. The orb blasted through me, and it felt like being stabbed with a hot poker. Fortunately, my lightning bolt was a bull’s-eye and Mary crumpled to the ground. Not so fortunately, so did I.

  Michael rushed to my side while my fellow witches subdued the werewolves once and for all.

  "Isn't it a little early in a relationship for us to be saving each other's lives?" Michael said with a half-laugh. He placed his hand under my head so it was no longer resting on the wood floor.

  "Man, it burns so bad," I replied.

  "Shhh," Michael said, placing his hand on my stomach where the fireball had hit me. He began chanting under his breath, and little by little I felt a coolness wash over me. It didn't take away the burning pain entirely, but I didn't feel like my insides were boiling anymore.

  "Remind me to send your sister a thank-you note," I replied as I struggled to sit up. I looked around the room. The place was destroyed. Scorch marks were burned into almost every surface. Tables and chairs were overturned. The couch was smoking. Not to mention the werewolves who were passed out on the floor.

  In the entryway, the trio of witches stood. Mrs. Hendricks was hugging each one of them and fussing over their appearance.

  “You can marry whoever you want. I don’t care!” I heard Mrs. Hendricks say. I had a feeling she would never take her daughter for granted again. I also had a feeling that these three girls would be best friends for life.

  True to her character, Nuala had taken off before I could properly thank her, and Lexi followed suit shortly after. If I knew my bestie, she wanted to be gone before the Clean-Up Crew (the Agency's supernatural scene cleaners) arrived because boy, they were going to be pretty ticked with the mess I left them to deal with.

  The only thing I couldn't figure out is why the werewolves had been willingly assisting in killing off their own.

  Michael had the answer to that. "Mary promised the stone to them when she was finished. She only wanted to use it to heal her mother. Then she was going to pass it on to them," he said.

  "How do you know that?"

  "Penny. She went back to the billiard hall for answers and managed to flirt the truth out of a shifter."

  Ah, so Penny had been successful.

  Michael helped me up.

  "Case closed?" he asked me.

  "Yep, case closed."

  "If you want to take Mary in, my people will take it from here," I said.

  "Are you sure?" Michael asked me.

  "Positive."

  "Well, at least let me call a uniform. They can arrest Mary, and I can give you a lift back to the city. You still have my keys, don't you?"

  "Um ... they're in my purse, and I have no idea where that is right now."

  "Okay, then I'll wait."

  "Michael. I don't think it's a good idea. Listen—" Again, I was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

  "What?" he asked.

  But I couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth. I took the easy way out. "You don't really need your keys to start your car, do you? Head on home. I'll catch up with you later," I said, even though I knew there would be no later.

  "Okay, later then." Michael turned to leave, but not before casting a look over his shoulder.

  I replied with a weak smile. Sometimes my job really sucked.

  With the scene under control and the Clean-Up Crew descending at any moment, I knew my time was up. I walked outside into the starry night and headed down to the water's edge. The lake was flat and calm, and I used that peace to center myself and speak the words that would send me home.

  From this time I must depart

  I've done my job and time can restart

  Bring me home cosmos I ask thee

  In my own time is where I need to be

  My stomach was still queasy, and the room wasn't completely in focus when a knock came at the front door. I placed my hand on the kitchen table to steady myself. Agatha rolled over and looked at me. She was already back asleep after sending her life-saving message.

  The knock came once more.

  "I swear on all things witchy, that had better not be Andrew," I said, taking a calming breath and walking to answer it.

  I yanked the door open, ready to tell Andrew off, and stood there dumbstruck.

  It was Michael.

  "What? How?" I stammered.

  "You think you're the only witch who's mastered time travel?" he said with a smile.

  "What? No. It's just ..." I was at a loss for words.

  "I had to see for myself where to find you. Oh, and to give you this." He leaned across the doorframe and kissed me. It was sweet and warm and had my heart doing a little pitter patter.

  "See you around, Vee," he said as he stepped back and disappeared into thin air.

  And darn it if I didn't wish it would be sooner rather than later.

  <<<<>>>>

  Hey Reader,

  Do you like mystery games? What about a free story? Turn the page for your first clue!

  Scavenger Hunt

  We're going on a scavenger hunt!

  Collect one code word in the back of each of the five Witch in T
ime Mysteries and unlock bonus content from your favorite time-traveling witches.

  Your first code word is: Time

  Good luck!

  Are you ready?

  Dear Reader,

  You've followed Vee Harper through the streets of Manhattan as she's tracked a missing person and fought of witches and shifters along the way--but that's nothing to the perils facing Felicia Octavia Geraldine Warner the Fourth, "Flick," is about to face in 1999.

  Are you up for the journey?

  Pack your bags because we're headed to London. A dead body has been discovered in the Old Bailey and it's going to take more than a little magic to solve this case.

  Read Book 2 in the Witch in Time Mystery Series today!

  About the Author

  I'm a mystery author with a soft spot for romance and humor, too. I love all things girlie with a dollop of danger, have a strong affinity for the color pink (especially in diamonds and champagne), and, not to brag, but chocolate and I are in a pretty serious relationship.

  My books are fun and flirty, and feature smart and sassy sleuths. If you love books with a dash of spice and twist of whodunit, you're going to love my work!

  Also by Stephanie Damore

  Beauty Secrets Series Order

  Book One: Makeup & Murder

  Book Two: Kiss & Makeup

  Book Three: Eyeliner & Alibis

  Book Four: Pedicures & Prejudice

  Book Five: Beauty & Bloodshed

  Book Six: Charm & Deception

  Short Story: A Ring to Die For

  Spirited Sweets Series Order

  Book One: Bittersweet Betrayal

  Book Two: Decadent Demise

  Book Three: Red Velvet Revenge

  Boxed Set: Spirited Sweets

  Multi-Author Series

  Better Witch Next Time

  Mourning After