The Halloween Pumpkin Spell: The Kitchen Witch, #11

CHAPTER 1

Ilet out a bloodcurdling scream as soon as I saw the figure looming in the door to my bedroom. Adrenaline coursed through me. The hair stood up on the back of my neck.

Willow and Hawthorn ran out of the room in terror.

But it was only Alder, half naked, towelling off his hair. What’s wrong? he shouted, the towel around his waist dropping to the ground.

I forgot I was married for a moment. I lay a hand over my thumping heart and sighed with relief.

I’ve got to tell you, Amelia, most men get a little offended when their wives scream upon seeing them naked. Blushing a furious pink, he scooped his towel off the floor and wrapped it around himself once more. Two years ago I’d been shot and was in a hospital in Melbourne, and last year I was distracted because I was plucking up the courage to propose to you, but this year I’m not going anywhere, mentally or physically.

I yawned and stretched. What do you mean?

Two years ago when Marina Mercer came to demand her spell, I was away and someone tried to murder you. I won’t be away this year.

Well, it wasn’t Marina two years ago. It was someone pretending to be Marina’s sister, I pointed out.

Alder pulled a face. You’re beginning to sound like Ruprecht.

I waved one finger at him. You should be pleased about that because he’s on your side about this whole Marina Mercer yearly spell thing.

Alder grimaced. I just don’t like it, Amelia. Something terrible happens every year and it’s all because of that spell. There must a way you can get out of it. He swiftly crossed the room and kissed me thoroughly. I’m not going anywhere, he said for the umpteenth time, before walking to the door.

Where are you going? I thought you said you weren’t going anywhere.

Alder frowned. I didn’t mean it like that. I have to go to work.

I rubbed my forehead. I hoped Alder wasn’t becoming as strange as my other friends. I had to get some caffeine into me. That would make everything all right.

I yawned and stretched again, pulled on my bathrobe, and staggered into the kitchen. I hurried over to give my Nespresso coffee machine a big hug and a kiss. As much as I enjoyed drinking coffee when I was out, there was nothing quite like the way I made it myself. I switched on the machine and listened to my favourite sound in the world.

When the light stopped flashing, I made to pour the coffee, but a loud knock on the door forestalled me.

Not Marina Mercer already! I said to myself. Isn’t it a bit early?

Both cats fixed me with a glare and blocked my way. Oh all right then. I topped up their bowls with dry cat food and then hurried to the front door just as another knock came.

I flung open the door. There, on my doorstep, was a giant pumpkin. A terrifying face was carved into the front of it.

CHAPTER 2

C amino! I cried as the giant pumpkin wrapped its leaves around me and squeezed me hard.

Stop it, Camino. Amelia can’t breathe.

I looked up to see the owner of the voice of reason. It was, of course, Ruprecht.

I opened the door for them. Come in. Camino, can you fit through the door?

She squashed past me by way of answer, shook the rain from her onesie, and waddled into the living room. Ruprecht produced a tray of polystyrene cups. Here’s your coffee just how you like it, he said, handing me a cup. I was sure you needed it. I know you arrived back from your honeymoon in the middle of the night.

We can’t wait to hear all about it, Camino said in a gushing tone. What exactly did you do on your honeymoon?

Ruprecht’s face turned deep red. Camino! he admonished her. You can’t ask questions like that.

Camino also turned red, although it was hard to tell as bright orange material covered most of her face. Oh, Ruprecht, sometimes I wonder about you. I was asking Amelia where she went. If you recall, it was a big secret.

In that case, you shouldn’t ask her to reveal the secret, Ruprecht said in a stern voice.

I threw my hands in the air. Alder was keeping it a secret from me before we left, but obviously it’s not a secret now. We went to Hamilton Island. The weather was lovely, and now we’ve come back to all this driving rain.

Both made delighted sounds. In the Whitsundays! Camino clasped her big green leaves to her chest. Wasn’t that near where we sent you for that cooking school. Remember? That cooking school on a tropical island?

How could I forget? I said in disgust. There was a murderer on the loose and more than one person was murdered. I was trapped on a tropical island because of a hurricane. The memory made me tremble.

Ruprecht patted my shoulder. Quite so, quite so. Well, all that’s in the past. As for the future, I expect Marina Mercer will be here at any minute. Are you prepared, Amelia?

Just then, the house turned up the television. "Every time I came over to feed the cats while you were away, the house was watching A Discovery of Witches, Camino informed me. The TV series, that is. The main actress is an Aussie."

I loved the book. And have they got to the yoga part yet? I asked.

Camino looked confused, and Ruprecht pushed on. Amelia, this is a serious matter. Are you prepared for what Marina Mercer will ask you to do?

I shrugged one shoulder. How can I prepare? I’m bound to do whatever she asks me, thanks to you, Grandmother! I ended my sentence on a raised voice.

There was no response. The volume on the TV did not change one bit. I hoped that meant my grandmother felt guilty. Still, I supposed I would have done the same in her place. She likely didn’t have any other options.

It really would be good if there was some way around this, Ruprecht said, but I don’t think there is. Jasmine Walters, whose ghost appeared last Halloween, was the one who paid a powerful sorcerer to put a spell on your grandparents so they couldn’t be together in the hereafter. Your grandmother’s friend, Nama, fixed it so they could be together, but part of that deal was that Nama’s descendants could come here once a year on Halloween. Thelma’s descendants would have to grant them one spell.

I know that! I said in a voice a little louder than it should have been. We go over this every year. I can’t see how it helps. What am I supposed to do?

My agitation was growing. I’d had the most delightful honeymoon, and now I was back facing the harsh reality of having to grant yet another Halloween spell. Something had gone wrong the past two years and I didn’t expect this would be any different.

I think we need to be very careful, Ruprecht said, echoing my thoughts.

I nodded my agreement. I wonder what sort of spell it will be this year? I don’t like doing love spells, but last year Marina wanted me to do one to remove obstacles from her relationship with Alex Waring, and they’re still together.

Yes, you are correct, Ruprecht said. I do see this as a conflict.

I had finished my coffee. What do you mean? I said absently. I realised I shouldn’t have spoken only after Camino shot me a warning look.

It’s like the Euripidean conflict between Law and Nature, or as I’ve told you before, Antigone’s conflict between duty to the state and her familial duty to her brother. He tapped his chin. It’s like the conflict of Orestes and Electra. They must avenge their father’s death. However, as their mother had killed their father, by avenging their father’s death, they would have to kill their mother. That was as great an evil as not avenging their father’s death. Do you see what I mean?

No, to be honest, I said. My head was spinning. Ruprecht said pretty much the same thing every year and I was no closer to understanding it this time.