Silver Bells, Curses & Spells
by K.M Thompson, M.S. Murray
Publication Date: December 11, 2015
Purchase: Amazon
Andrea Benezier is a clumsy witch who can’t seem to control her magic. Setting someones hair on fire and messing with the weather are everyday mishaps for her.
Eryx Castille is a pretentious billionaire who has come to claim what is his—the stores run by Andrea and her neighbors.
After the death of her parents on Christmas Eve three years ago, Andrea now hates the holidays and anything associated with it. When Andrea receives an unwanted gift, The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, she is sure Eryx is behind the book that keeps mysteriously appearing.
When Eryx questions her magic abilities it's the last straw in an already horrible week. In a fit of defiance she casts the Christmas Carol Curse and curses them both for seventy-two hours.
Will they survive this curse without killing each other? Things will get heated but will it be enough to melt the snow built up around their cold hearts? Or will they learn the true magic of the Christmas season?
EXCERPT
“Come to remind me of my
eviction date again, Mr. Castille,” I sneer.
“Actually, I’ve came to
apologize for yesterday. I was rude and it was uncalled for. I’m
sorry,” he says in a soft tone. I tap my foot rhythmically on the
tiled floor, while pretending to examine my cuticles. “Miss
Benezier?”
I look up suddenly. “Oh I’m
sorry, I was waiting for the punch line.”
“I guess I deserve that,”
he mutters.
“I got your package by the
way.”
“What package?”
“The book and the
incantation.”
“You’ve lost me.”
“You were the only person in
my shop yesterday,” I say and go to retrieve the book. “You’re
also the only person I know who quotes Scrooge,” I continue and
show him the book.
“That book has nothing to do
with me. I haven’t read ‘A Christmas Carol’ in years,” he
replies, seemingly distracted.
“God, you’re an ass. Why
bother lying, no one else could have left it,” I state to him.
“I might be an ass, but you
are completely crazy. You should be locked away in a mental
facility,” he argues back. “Magically appearing books and
incantations? You actually believe in all this hocus pocus stuff. Do
you actually believe you can do magic?” When I just continue to
stare at him, he laughs. “Oh, this is just too funny.”
“I can
do magic. I’m a witch and I’ll show you,” I say as I move to my
Samhain altar, picking up the two large altar candles and bringing
them back to the register.
“What are you doing?” he
asks, his tone full of humor.
“You thought it’d be funny
to play pranks and make fun of me by leaving a spell inside a book
and leaving it for me to find,” I state.
“I didn’t-” I interrupt
him—I’m too angry to listen.
“Let’s make fun of the
crappy witch, shall we?” I stop my train of thought to concentrate.
Letting my energy flow, I stare at the candles and with a puff of
smoke, they light on their own. Eryx jumps back about a foot, while I
quickly sweep the store with my eyes. Wow,
it worked and nothing else is on fire.
“Maybe you should stop now,”
Eryx laughs nervously.
With a new found confidence I
decide to continue. Besides it’s funny watching him practically wet
himself. “You mean you gave me a spell, but don’t want me to use
it? Where’s the fun in that?” I ask, pulling the parchment paper
from the book.
“I’ve already told you-”
he starts.
“I know, I know, you didn’t
leave me the book,” I say sarcastically, playing along. I open the
paper and read over the incantation. “Pater
noster qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum, adveniat regnum
tuum,” I begin.
When the flames from the candle flare up, Eryx and I both jump
slightly. Me in excitement that my magic is working, and him more
than likely in fear.
“Stop!” he yells but I
don’t.
“Fiat voluntas tua, sicut
in caelo et in terra, panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie,”
I finish pleased with myself. In the wake of my words there’s a
flash of lightening and a clap of thunder. A moment later the lights
flicker and the candles go out. After a moment, the lights come back
on. We stand there staring at each other, unsure of what just
happened. When the wall clock chimes we both startle. Eryx is the
first to break the silence.
“That wasn’t funny Miss
Benezier. You’re crazy. Now I really can’t wait to tear this
place apart,” he snaps, obviously shaken by what just happened.
“You know what, I’m done
being bullied by you. Get out of my shop and don’t come back until
the third of January,” I demand.
“That really isn’t a
problem for me, trust me!” he laughs, but it lacks any humor, and
then turns to leave. He makes it as far as opening the door, but
doesn’t go any further.
“You have to walk through
the door,” I say slowly.
“I’m not an idiot, I know
that,” he growls. “I just can’t go any further.”
“For a billionaire, you sure
are stupid. Let me show you,” I say as I walk towards the open
door, passing him and smacking straight into an invisible barrier.
“What the hell?”
“Haha, very funny, you got
me, now let me out,” he commands.
“This isn’t my fault,” I
argue. “You must have given me a shady spell.”
“I. Didn’t. Give. It. To.
You.” His voice grows louder with each punctuated syllable. I
really don’t think he’s lying to me now.
“You’re telling me the
truth, aren’t you?” I peer at him nervously. Oh
no, this can’t be good.
“Yes!” he shouts sounding
exasperated.
“Oh no.” I back away.
Running behind my counter I pull out my laptop I use for my store
from the cupboard beneath the register. “That means the curse was
real, it worked and I don’t even have a clue what it was or what it
did.”
“Oh great!” he exclaims.
“Just what I need, a negligent witch. What are you doing?” he
asks.
“I’m searching for The
Christmas Carol Curse on the Elder witches’ website,” I tell him
as I fire up the search engine.
“What does it say?” he
asks impatiently in my ear as he peers over my shoulder.
“The Christmas Carol Curse
places a spell over the witch or warlock who performed the spell and
the intended recipient of the curse. The curse lasts for seventy-two
hours, where the pair will visit their Christmas past, present, and
their Christmas yet to come. The curse will place a barrier around
the area the spell was cast in, with the cursed two stuck inside the
area until it has run its course, blah, blah, blah.”
“What does that mean?”
“We’re stuck in this shop
together for the next seventy-two hours.”
“How do we get out?”
I shrug because even I haven’t
got a clue how to get out of this.
ABOUT K.M THOMPSON
ABOUT M.S. MURRAY
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