The Hidden Grimoire by Karla Brandenburg (pride and prejudice read TXT) 📕

The remaining sock monkeys on the end of the counter fell to the floor and I pointed it out. “You see that? Georgia was born with gifts, too. I can help her learn to control her temper, teach her how she’s connected to nature. Or you can deny her that option and let her learn the hard way, like I did.”

Jason lifted Georgia from the floor. He kept his voice quiet, his tone even. “You won’t be teaching my daughter anything. Thank you for finding her toy.” Once more getting the last word, he stomped out.

With a grunt of frustration, I wasn’t sure what else I could have said that might sway his opinion. Maybe in time he’d understand. I owed it to Georgia to keep trying.

I set the ‘be right back’ sign in the window, locked the front door and dashed across the street to the florist. Whether Jason liked it or not, I intended to send flowers to his wife. She should know his family cared about her and her children.

I picked out a bouquet, filled out a card, and asked for them to be delivered to the hospital today. When I crossed the street again, Kyle was waiting for me outside Windfall.

“I was worried,” he said.

“Running a quick errand,” I said as I unlocked the shop. “Busy day?”

“Accident out on the county trunk highway,” he said as he followed me inside. “Kid hit a patch of black ice on a hill and ran into a tree near Larsen’s farm.”

“He okay?”

“He’s pretty banged up. Anything happening in town?”

I debated whether it was worth telling him about Jason’s latest visit and decided against it. “Pretty quiet with Opal Larsen’s funeral.”

“Yeah, I worked that, too. Had to close intersections for the procession on its way to the cemetery.” He leaned on the counter. “Listen, I’ll walk you home after work, but I told my dad I’d stop over to help him hook up a new television and stay for the Bucks game.”

“That’s fine. You don’t have to walk me home,” I told him.

“But I want to. Otherwise I’ll be worried something might happen to you.”

I rolled my eyes. “I can call you when I get home, if that would make you feel better.”

He sidled up beside me, slipping his arms around my waist. “What would make me feel better is being with you instead of my father. Consider walking you home a compromise.”

I chuckled. “Fine.”

“I’ll see you at six, if not before.” He squeezed my arm and walked out.

I spent the rest of the afternoon making more decorations from my basket of pinecones and filling a few more orders placed on the website.

With Kyle going to his father’s, I’d have time to study the hidden grimoire. Maybe it had guidance on what to do about Georgia and Jason. I had to admit to curiosity about the “bad” spells—not that I intended to use one, but in case I might need to defend against one.

Chapter 14

With the blinds drawn in my workroom, I sat at the worktable and used my telekinesis to summon the hidden grimoire. It appeared moments later. Even though I’d touched the book previously, my instincts warned against that now. Instead, I concentrated on turning the pages hands-free.

The aged paper flipped to the page with the skull and crossbones. I braced myself and read the spell.

Close your eyes, free your arms. Turn thrice in a circle. Spit at the feet of thine enemy or upon that thing which you wish to enchant. The curse will last 30 days. BEWARE. If the target of your curse is not deserving, the curse will reverse itself upon you. It fights on your behalf for justice to provide safety but it is not meant to be misused in any way.

The warning was clear—be darn sure before you attempt to cast the spell. Message received.

The next page was the spell to guide Georgia’s dreams—or whoever the intended person was.

The following pages had drawings of keys, pentagrams, starbursts. Fire, and a spell to guard against fire.

I squeezed my eyes against the memory pushing its way forward once more, my muscles knotted with panic. I rose to my feet, coughing, gasping for breath until the restored workroom came into focus around me. No fire. No witch standing outside the windows. I flexed my hands, a tingle recalling the energy I’d sent forth to break the windows that day. Was I expected to add to the page? The energy I’d harnessed to escape Narcy’s spell?

Instead, I dropped onto the stool and concentrated on breathing.

The book will call on you as you need it. Wasn’t that the way all the grimoires worked?

“Go back,” I told the book, not wanting to read any more.

Instead, the book flipped to the spell to guide her dreams.

“I don’t know if I can,” I whispered under my breath. “Not tonight.”

The book remained stubbornly on the worktable, open to the page.

Hands trembling, I closed the book, closed my eyes and let the clouds envelop me as I mouthed the incantation.

Little arms wrapped tightly around my neck, along with the sock monkey she clutched in her fist. “Aunt Bwinn.”

“I’m here, baby.”

“I want my momma.”

“She’ll be with you again soon,” I said, hoping it was true. LeAnne was close to her due date. Hadn’t Jeannine told me the baby was due in December? That was still a month away. “Your daddy’s here, isn’t he?”

Georgia nodded and rubbed little fists in her eyes.

“He’ll take good care of you until Mommy comes home.”

“I don’t like the other lady.”

My heart skipped a beat. “What other lady?”

She clutched the sock monkey close. “My monkey. I don’t like her playing with him.”

A babysitter? Georgia didn’t appear to be neglected, and yet I understood unwanted attention from people I didn’t trust. “Don’t let her scare you,” I said, smoothing Georgia’s hair. “You play with your monkey and pretend she isn’t there.” How could I tell a three-year-old to control her temper? “Think about how happy you’ll be when