Chapter 6
972 Words
Daphne was in her element again. She was mixing up cookies for the last batch of the day. Tomorrow she also had a couple of cakes to do for a church pot luck tomorrow, but that could be handled in a few hours. While she mixed and measured, she kept thinking about Luna becoming a familiar. It wasn’t a bad idea, she just had never had a need for a familiar. She knew some spell work was easier to do with a familiar, but Daphne had always just pushed her magic through the barriers that wouldn’t have been there if she had a familiar. She was powerful enough to do it, so she did.
She turned to place the cookies in the ovens and noticed that Caleb was standing in the doorway. “Lizzy said she needs another batch of lavender cookies when you get a chance. I can help if need be.”
Caleb had been in the kitchen, but when Daphne had bumped into him a third time she kicked him out. It was also a little difficult to pay attention when he was watching her. She felt like a stalked animal with him watching her while she baked. It was like he could see right through to her soul. From what she could tell, Lizzy had put him to work doing things like stocking the glass cabinets and bringing things from the back.
“Let her know they are already in the oven. Also, will you take these up to the front?” Daphne handed him a tray of cupcakes with little flowers on the top.
“Roses? Is there a love spell in these?”
Daphne laughed, “No, but they are called self love cupcakes. They have edible rose petals baked in them. You know, a girl can buy her own flowers, and sometimes she likes a snack too.”
Caleb gave a little chuckle, “I am sure there are a lot of women who would agree.” He picked up the tray and walked back to the front.
As Daphne turned to get back to work, she felt someone looking at her through the window. She looked up and there were a set of glowing eyes gazing at her through the hedge around the back area of the bakery. The glowing red and purple wasn’t a good sign.
Daphne dropped the spoon in her hand and it clattered to the floor. She slowly started to back to the doorway between the kitchen and the front counter. “Hey Caleb,” she called.
He was beside her instantly. Before she could say anything, he grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the kitchen. There was a low growl that no one else seemed to hear, then she heard a voice.
“Run little witch, your blood is tainted with betrayals. You will never know peace, even in death.”
“Caleb, did you?” Daphne could feel her heart beating in her chest.
“Yes, but no one else will unless they have the gift like you, or they are aware like me. The familiar told its master where you are. They know where you are.”
Lizzy came around the corner, “Did you hear that?”
“You heard that?” Daphne looked at Lizzy startled.
“Ya, it sounded like a bear in the back, and what is Caleb talking about tainted blood? Is this some old joke between you two?”
“You may have the beginnings of your coven after all.” Caleb glanced down at Daphne.
“Coven? Like a witch’s coven? Like practical magic? You don’t mean me. I don’t know anything about that sort of thing.”
“Clearly you do, and we are going to need your help.”
The little bells on the front door sang out happily. “Look, I need to get back to it. Lizzy, we need to talk. Caleb, I need your help for a second.”
Daphne pulled away from him and walked back into the kitchen. She started to pull jars from under the cabinet and mixed dashes and pinches of the contents into a pot on the stove.
She stirred the pot three times clockwise and three times counter clockwise as she spoke an incantation over the bubbling pot.
Daphne turned to Caleb. “I need you to do exactly as I say. If they are close enough to do that, they are close enough to do damage as well. I need you to put each jar I give you at each corner of the property. It doesn’t have to be buried, just placed. Do the corner to the east first then the north corner and then west and south. When you place the south corner jar, walk back to the east corner before coming in.”
Caleb gave a curt nod and took the three jars she handed him without another word. She then ran up the stairs to her office. She pulled out three crystal necklaces and placed them on her altar. After pouring protection spells into them she put one around her neck next to the crystal she normally wore, and headed back down the stairs to Lizzy.
“Put this on, don’t ask questions, and don’t take it off till I say you can. I will answer any questions when we can talk. Also, we are closing early today, go write it on the board at the front, but don’t leave till we talk. Please, I know this is weird, but it has to be done.”
Lizzy took the necklace and slipped it over her head, then she turned and walked to the front to change the time. Daphne looked at the clock. Only a couple more hours and she could explain everything.
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