Arrest, Search and Séance : Book 1 of the Fringe Society R.D. Hunter (pride and prejudice read .TXT) 📖

“My Grandpa always said that my Dad liked to collect things,” I answered. “I always thought he meant model cars or stamps. Apparently, he was talking about magical items.”

“Some of these look really old,” Denise said, bending over to examine a glass ball that swirled and formed cloudy images.

“Some of these are wrong,” Amelia said, hugging her body and looking around anxiously. “Be careful with these, Melanie. Some of these things are aware, and they don’t like us. They’re very angry.”

“Well, they’ll have to take a number,” I said with more confidence than I felt. “Come on, we’ve still got another room to check.”

As we walked to the next room, Beth pulled up alongside me and whispered, “You really didn’t know this stuff was up here?” I shook my head.

“Over the years, I’d thought about coming up here and poking around, but something else always dragged me away. I’d get busy or have a new case or just…just forget.”

“Yeah, I get that stuff happens and one thing drives out the next but, come on, this is a treasure trove in your own house. Don’t you think it’s kind of weird you didn’t even know it existed until now?”

It was beyond weird. To tell the truth, I was severely creeped out by it. Looking back, it was like something had deliberately been set in my path every time I’d so much has thought about coming up here.

Jackpot. I felt it as soon as I touched the doorknob. A hum of power coursed into my body, setting my teeth to vibrating in their sockets and my hair to stand on end. Inside was the biggest collection of crystals and jewelry I’d ever seen. Rows of tables and shelves held rings, amulets, and crystals of all shapes and designs. The ceiling was one large skylight, which meant that moonlight had been steadily charging them all this time.

The girls came in behind me.

“Wow,” Beth breathed. “Would you look at that? I think we’ve solved our crystal problem.” I nodded, unable to say anything.

Amelia quietly brushed past us and came up to a round table in the center of the room. On it, was a single piece of jewelry; a bracelet, made up of a dozen or so rounded crystals, each polished to a luxurious shine and held together with a silver clasp. It was beautiful, and I gasped when I saw it.

“This is yours,” she said in that same dreamy voice. “It used to belong to your mother. But now it’s yours. You should take it.”

I’d totally forgotten about my mother’s bracelet. Dad gave it to her on their five-year wedding anniversary. He’d made it himself, from crystals he either mined or collected. There was turquoise to augment psychic abilities, peridot for protection from harmful spells, and bloodstone for energy and bravery. There were others too, but those are the ones that caught my eye.

Amelia gathered it up in both hands, then reverently wrapped it around my wrist. I started to pull back, almost out of reflex. That didn’t belong on me. It belonged on my mother’s wrist. She should have been buried with it.

“She wants you to have this,” Amelia whispered. “Trust me.” I did, and let her finish closing the clasp.

As soon as she did, I felt a delicious new strength flow into me. It was like a warm embrace from someone close, telling you everything would be all right. I closed my eyes, savoring it. Up until that moment, I hadn’t been aware just how scared I actually was. Hawkins was a beast; a supernaturally charged monster who wouldn’t think twice about ending my life and those close to me. And I was about to go up against him, alone, unaided, and with only my training and my magic to aid me. Anyone would be scared.

When I opened my eyes, Beth and the other girls were all looking at me. They knew something had happened, but weren’t sure what. I smiled to let them know everything was all right.

“Ladies, I believe we’ve solved our crystal problem,” I said. “Let’s gather what we need and get this thing done. Time waits for no witch.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

A dedication ceremony is a big deal for a witch. Usually, it takes place when they’re just a child, similar to a baptism. There’s a little ritual, a little food and a big party afterward. A re-dedication, though, that’s a much more solemn affair.

It’s when a witch who is a grown adult announces her intention to live her life according to the rules and laws of magic. It affirms their commitment and acknowledgment of their power, and their chosen role in the universe.

Like Janice had pointed out, it’s usually done by close family and friends. But, seeing how I was dangerously short on both, Beth and her entourage stepped in to fill the void. I could have done worse.

The ceremony took place in the back yard, near the old gazebo. It had to be outside under the eyes of whatever gods and spirits happened to be watching. I wished I’d had time to prepare the place. Weeds and roots were everywhere, the grass was entirely too long and the garden where my mother planted and harvest herbs was just a tangle of twisted and gnarled plants.

Looking at it, I felt a pang of loss and regret. I’d really let this place go in my pursuit of career-minded happiness. I’d have to do something about that.

Denise started mixing together several of the herbs into a fine paste, then added them to a jar of sacred oil, while the other girls started sweeping and clearing off a place for the ritual to take place. I knelt down in the gazebo and began to meditate, focusing on regulating my breathing