Serendipity: A Bayou Magic Novel Read online

  “Yeah, I recognized him. But he and Lucien have been friends for a long time. I’ve seen him around, even though I haven’t been a practicing witch since the day you walked out my door.”

  Jackson’s eyes go dark. “You never told me that before.”

  I shrug a shoulder. “It doesn’t really matter. I just stopped. But we have mutual friends, and Millie. So, I move in the same circles. I knew as soon as I saw that photo that it was Caleb.”

  “Okay, why is he targeting witches?” Brielle asks.

  “Because he’s trying to diminish our army,” Millie replies. “If he eliminates those witches, the ones that would come and help us, we’ll be weaker when the time comes.”

  “That son of a bitch,” Jackson mutters.

  “We need to get the word out,” Millie says. “Everyone needs to get their protection spells in place. Goddess, we need to protect everyone.”

  “It’s already happening,” Lucien replies. “I spoke with Miss Sophia.”

  “I want extra protection on her,” I say, surprising the others. “No one is as powerful as Miss Sophia. Everyone knows that she is our guide, and I want to be sure that he can’t touch her.”

  “Would he dare try?” Brielle asks. “I know he’s a psychopath, but hear me out. He’s no stranger to witchcraft. He was part of a dark coven his entire life. He knows how powerful Miss Sophia is. Would he try to go up against her?”

  “He’s got an ego the size of the moon,” Millie reminds her. “Yes, I think he would. I think he’ll try to get to anyone who might try to help us. You guys, I’m even more convinced that we should all be together under one roof. We are exponentially stronger together, and we all know that. Please, please stay here. We have more space than we know what to do with.”

  “I’ll stay,” I say softly, again surprising the ones I love. “I’m scared. I’m not convinced the protection spells on my place have kept him out, and I want to make sure you’re all safe. If we’re better together, then we should be together.”

  “Agreed,” Brielle says.

  The men nod in agreement, as well.

  “Starting today,” Millie adds. “Go gather your things and bring them here. I’ve just finished furnishing all the rooms, so there are plenty of beds.”

  “What about our jobs?” I ask. “We can’t just sit here until the eclipse.”

  “No one is ever alone,” Lucien says.

  “I’m fine working at Reflections with Daphne,” Jackson adds.

  “And I always have Esme at the shop,” Millie adds. “Along with Gwyneth part-time.”

  “I’m taking a leave of absence from my lab,” Lucien announces. “Until this is wrapped up, I’ll be doing research and everything else I need to do in order to make sure we don’t fail. I’ll be able to do the bulk of my work from Witches Brew.”

  “I’m literally never alone on my ghost tour,” Brielle says. “I’m booked solid. There will be at least twenty people with me every evening.”

  “And I’ll come along,” Cash says before kissing his wife’s cheek.

  “What about you, Cash?” I ask him.

  “I’m a cop.”

  “You’re a man. One of the six. You can’t be alone, either.”

  He blows out a breath. “The eclipse is less than two weeks away. I’ll talk to my boss about also taking a little time. He knows what we’re up against. I don’t think he’ll balk.”

  “Good.” I sigh in relief and look at each of them, one by one. “I love you all so much. And we’ve already been through hell and back with this. We’ve defeated him twice. I promise we won’t fail this time.”

  “No, we won’t.” Jack kisses my hand. “Who’s going to call Miss Sophia and talk her into staying with us for a while?”

  “That means Mama’s coming, too,” Brielle says with a sigh. “It’ll be a full house.”

  “It’s a big house,” Millie says, reminding us all. “We’ll make it work.”

  “I think Millie should talk to Miss Sophia,” I say and grin when my sister turns wide eyes to me.

  “Why me?”

  “Because you’re her favorite. And she’s your great-granddaughter. Tell her she either does what you say, or she gets a time-out.”

  “I don’t think it works that way,” Millie says with a laugh. “I don’t think I can put Miss Sophia in time-out.”

  “I was kidding—sort of. But you are her favorite, and she is your great-granddaughter. She’ll listen to you. Just be honest. Explain our fears.”

  “Daphne’s right, my love,” Lucien says. “I won’t let him get to her.”

  “Agreed.” Millie sighs. “Okay, I’ll talk to her. But she’s stubborn.”

  “So are you,” I remind her.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Violent delights tend to have violent ends.”

  -Richard Ramirez, The Night Stalker

  “Those little bitches,” he growls after he picks himself up from being thrown out of his playtime with his toys. They just marched right in and threw him out.

  “They think they’re so smart,” he says. He has to curl up into a tight little ball because they zapped so much of his energy. The new energy that he’d just pulled from his toy.

  The skin peeled away so beautifully. It hadn’t been the first time he’d wished he could do it himself, with his own two hands, but watching was its own kind of beauty. She’d bled out sooner than he would have liked, but still, it was a masterpiece.

  They interrupted him before he could finish with the other toy. The six were together now, and they cast a spell on him.

  How dare they? Why did they refuse to understand—to believe—that everything he did, every single thing, was for his girls?

  “Those men are brainwashing them,” he mutters in disgust. “Women are so weak. So easy to manipulate. I have to get rid of the men, and then I’ll be able to get through to my girls. Make them understand. I got rid of Jackson once. Killed his parents, and made him go. I can do it again. I can get through to all of them.”

  Happy with that plan, he moves to his special mirror, the one he’s gained most of his energy from. When he has to wait much longer than ever before, he grows impatient.

  “Where is he?” Horace complains but waits some more.

  Hours later, when the toy hasn’t returned, Horace punches at the glass and surprises himself when it breaks.

  He’s weak.

  He has to find more energy.

  So, he leaves the mirror and decides to start early with the next toy.

  But when he tries to slip into those mirrors, a powerful spell blocks him. He tries again and again, but every mirror he attempts is protected.

  Rage surges with an energy all its own.

  “How dare they?” he demands, baring his teeth.

  This won’t do.

  This won’t do at all.

  Now he has to teach them a new lesson and search for another toy. One who isn’t connected to a coven. A random plaything.

  But as an idea takes shape in his mind, he calms.

  Oh, yes. This will be a delight.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Jackson

  “Your room is on the main floor,” Millie says to Miss Sophia after they tour the house.

  Honestly, I’m shocked that she agreed to stay. The fact that she did tells me that the thing we’re up against is scarier than any of us wants to admit.

  “Oh, this is lovely,” I hear Miss Sophia say as they walk into a room off the kitchen. “You didn’t have to put fresh flowers in here.”

  Daphne and I share a smile.

  Of course, we did. Butter her up a bit.

  “We’re just so happy you’re here,” Millie says. “I know it’s a full house of people, but it won’t be for long. I want to keep you safe.”

  “Ruth and I will be just fine,” Miss Sophia says as the three of them come into the kitchen. “I didn’t agree to come because I’m afraid for us.”

  Ruth pours herself a cup of tea an
d takes a seat next to Daphne at the bar.

  “Then why?” Millie asks.

  “Because I fear there’s more to know, more to learn than I originally thought. We’ve only scratched the surface. And now that he’s targeting witches, it sends this whole thing into a new ballgame, so to speak. I’ll be busy with research, but I also want to keep my eye on you girls. And Ruth, as well.”

  “There’s safety in numbers,” Ruth adds. “It’s smart to be together. Where are Brielle and Cash?”

  “They just left a bit ago to get started on her first ghost tour of the day,” I reply. “Cash will be with her at work every day until this is over.”

  “Good,” Miss Sophia says. “I don’t want any of you alone.”

  “We have the library set up as a workspace,” Millie says. “There are some extra desks in there, as well. It seems appropriate, and I really like the atmosphere in there.”

  “Well, that makes sense,” Miss Sophia says with a soft smile. “I’ve heard stories about the many hours you spent in the library during your last lifetime.”

  It’s still so weird to me to think that Millie and Lucien lived in this very house a hundred years ago in a previous life.

  And that Miss Sophia is their direct descendent from that time.

  It’s just…crazy.

  My phone pings with a text.

  Miss A: Hello, darlin’. Oliver and I can go home today. Would you be able to drive us?

  Me: Of course. I’ll head that way now.

  “Oliver’s being released from the hospital.” I stand and lean over to kiss Daphne’s cheek. “I’m going to go take him and Miss Annabelle home.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Daphne says, standing with me.

  “You don’t have to—”

  “No one goes alone, remember?” Daphne winks and glances at Millie. “Do you need us to stop and grab anything for dinner?”

  “Oh, no, I have everything,” Millie says. “Be safe out there.”

  We have to fight traffic to get to the hospital. When we finally walk into Oliver’s room, he’s dressed and ready to go.

  “Perfect timing,” Miss Annabelle says with a smile. With her big handbag on her arm, she gestures for us to go.

  Oliver looks fantastic. I don’t remember the last time I saw him looking so energized. So young.

  “Wow, did they give you a sip of water from the fountain of youth?” I ask him. “You look great.”

  “Feel fit as a fiddle,” he replies with a smile as a pretty nurse pushes his wheelchair. “Guess I need to drink more water.”

  “That’s it?”

  “Seems so,” Oliver replies. “Hooked me up to that IV thing for a couple of days, and today, I feel so much better.”

  “Well, it’s good to see you looking healthier,” Daphne says as she pats Oliver’s shoulder. “I was worried about you.”

  “All these pretty girls, worried about little ol’ me.”

  Oliver preens as we take the elevator down, and they all wait for me at the hospital entrance as I hurry to get the car.

  “Does anyone else feel like some beignets?” Oliver asks us all.

  “His appetite is back,” Miss Annabelle says with a smile. “Darlin’, you can have whatever you like.”

  “Then beignets it is,” Oliver says. “As long as y’all don’t have nowhere else to be.”

  “No, sir, we’re all yours,” Daphne says and sends me a smile.

  God, I love her. How did I ever think I could live without her?

  The wait for Café du Monde is relatively short. Before long, we’re seated at a table in the shade with cold coffees and a platter full of fried dough covered in powdered sugar between us.

  Oliver doesn’t wait even a minute. He just digs in, enjoying them as if he hasn’t had them in years.

  “I never get tired of these,” Daphne says with a sigh and wipes powdered sugar off her cheek.

  “What’s been happening with you two?” Miss Annabelle asks. “Have there been any new developments?”

  I share a look with Daph and then fill them in on the past twenty-four hours, keeping it as undescriptive as possible.

  “He’s going after our own,” Oliver says softly. “Well, I’ll be damned.”

  “We’ve spread the word to the others,” Daphne says, keeping her voice low so the patrons at the other tables can’t hear. “And they’re doing what they need to do in order to keep themselves safe. We’re all staying at Millie’s house because it’s huge, and we just think it’s safer to all stay in one place.”

  “Smart,” Oliver says, nodding. “That’s real smart.”

  “I hope you don’t mind,” I add, ready to take Miss Annabelle’s wrath, “but I had Miss Sophia and Millie walk through your house today to cast more protection spells and lay some fresh stones. I won’t take any chances with the two of you.”

  “I don’t mind a bit,” Miss Annabelle says. “Thank you for thinking of it. I’ll do some more things after we get home and settled. I have my mama’s grimoire. It has some good old spells in it that I’ll cast, as well.”

  “How are we going to get through between now and the eclipse?” Daphne asks. “It feels like an eternity. And I’m afraid he’s just going to keep torturing and killing innocent people. If he can’t get to the coven members, he’ll turn to someone else.”

  “You’re doing all you can,” Oliver reminds her. “This has been in the works for a damn long time. It won’t be resolved in a day. You’ll live your life—carefully. You’ll learn. And by the goddess, you’ll stay safe. That’s the most important thing.”

  “It’s sad what happened to Caleb and his girl,” Miss Annabelle says softly. “I like him very much. Didn’t know her all that well, but she seemed mighty nice.”

  “This has to stop,” I murmur and reach for Daphne’s hand. “It’s time for it to end.”

  The drive to Oliver and Miss Annabelle’s house is more somber than before, but when I come to a stop outside of their place, Oliver grins.

  “No place like home,” he says and climbs out of the car.

  I walk up beside him, and he rests his arm across my shoulders.

  “Sure do love you,” he says. Oliver’s never been one to shy away from the way he feels.

  “Same here, old man. Don’t pull that crap on me again.”

  Oliver laughs, and Miss Annabelle pulls her phone out of her purse.

  “My boys.” She sniffles just a little. “I need a picture of my boys. Smile at me now. Ah, there we go. I’m fixin’ to frame this one.”

  “I’d love a copy of that,” Daphne says as the two women walk into the house ahead of us.

  Before we can follow them, Oliver tugs me back.

  “I have a bad feeling,” he says quietly. “I don’t want Annabelle to hear me say this because I don’t want to scare her, but I have a real bad feeling. I need you to watch out for yourself and for Daphne. I know this is going to be tough, and we’ll be there every step of the way to help, but I want your word that you’ll be extra cautious, Jackson.”

  I’ve never heard fear in Oliver’s deep voice before.

  “You have my word,” I reply earnestly. “And the same goes. I want you and Miss Annabelle to be safe, as well. If this isn’t where you should be, there’s one more bedroom at Millie’s.”

  “We’re okay here,” he says and pats me on the shoulder. “But I want you to check in with me every day. I promised your daddy I’d take care of you, and I’ll be damned if this son of a bitch stops me from keeping my word.”

  “I’ll check in. I promise. Now, let’s get in there before Miss Annabelle comes looking for us.”

  When we walk into the house, Miss Annabelle already has a frying pan on the stove in the kitchen, and she’s getting ready to cook.

  “I’m making y’all a meal,” she says with a smile. “You’re not getting out of here without some food in your belly.”

  “No, that would be a travesty, given that we just ate a bunch of beignets,�
� I say with a laugh and then duck out of the way when she raises her hand to me. Not that she’s ever laid a hand on me. “You wouldn’t hit me.”

  Daphne and Oliver are in the living room, chatting. I can hear their low voices.

  “How can I help?” I ask the woman who’s become a mother to me. “I know my way around a kitchen.”

  “You can just sit and talk with me,” she says with a smile. “How are you doing? How are things with you and that precious girl?”

  “We’re doing great.” I reach over to snatch a cucumber out of the salad she’s making. “I’m going to marry her.”

  Miss Annabelle looks up at me, her face softening in a smile. “You wait right here.”

  She wipes her hands on a towel as she hurries out of the kitchen. In then less than a minute, she returns carrying a small box.

  “I can finally give this back to you.”

  I flip open the lid and look down. “My mom’s engagement ring.”

  “You gave that to me for safekeeping after things fell apart before, and you decided to pursue different things,” she says quietly and rubs her hand up and down my arm. “But it’s time you have it back. When the time’s right, offer it to that girl of yours.”

  “Thank you.” I lean in to kiss her cheek. “Thanks for keeping it safe for me.”

  “You know there’s not much we wouldn’t do for you, my boy.” She pats my cheek and then gets back to work. “Now, let’s get this food ready. I have people to feed.”

  * * *

  “I want to talk to you.” We just drove away from Oliver’s, headed back to Millie’s, and I have about twenty minutes alone with Daphne.

  I need to get something off my chest.

  “I’m right here,” she says and shifts in her seat to face me. “What’s up?”

  “You said before that you stopped practicing witchcraft the day I walked out.”

  She doesn’t say anything.

  “Why, Daph?”

  “Because it was tied to you,” she says. “Because I met you the day I went with Millie to my first coven meeting. And, honestly, I didn’t want to run into you there. I didn’t know what was happening—if you were staying or leaving. I knew nothing. But I sure didn’t want to chance seeing you there. I was too raw, and I knew I’d make a dramatic scene or something. Even though I’m not dramatic.”