Prelude to a Witch by Amanda Lee (free novel reading sites TXT) 📕

I couldn’t help but notice Aunt Tillie had opted for standard blue leggings today instead of her usual loud ones. That likely meant she was hungry.

“Something happened last night.” Landon didn’t stand on preamble, but he did dart a look toward the door to make sure Hannah wasn’t approaching. “You’re not going to like this.” He laid it all out for Chief Terry, who frowned throughout the entire tale.

“Well, that’s just great,” Chief Terry rumbled. He didn’t yell, but I could tell he wanted to. “That doesn’t sound very smart.”

I shrugged. “She knew.”

“She suspected,” Landon corrected. “It’s done now. We have to deal with it. I just wanted you to be aware before she comes down.”

“It will be fine,” Aunt Tillie waved away his concern. “She’s not evil.”

“How can you be sure of that?” Chief Terry challenged.

“Because I’m me. I know things.” She tapped the side of her head. “You guys need to stop getting worked up about things like this. Worry about the big stuff.”

Landon, from his spot by the door, swiped his hand across his throat to silence Aunt Tillie. It didn’t work.

“Is that a gang symbol?” Aunt Tillie demanded. “Did he just gang signal me?”

“No.” I shook my head. “He just wants you to stop being you.”

“Fat chance.” The smile Aunt Tillie pasted on her face when Hannah appeared was straight out of a horror movie. “Welcome to the wonderful world of witches. If you open your big, fat mouth, we’ll curse you to within an inch of your life. We’re having bacon for breakfast, though, so there’s that to look forward to. If you want some, you’ll have to get in there fast before the glutton steals it all.”

I briefly shut my eyes. Only Aunt Tillie would think that was appropriate.

Landon cleared his throat, discomfort rolling off him in waves. “Ignore her.”

“I don’t think that’s wise.” Hannah returned Aunt Tillie’s smile. “I see everybody is caught up on where we stand.”

“Not everybody,” I said, shooting a worried look toward the kitchen. My mother’s reaction was yet to come. “We thought it best to tell Chief Terry, though.”

Hannah poured herself a glass of juice and focused on Chief Terry. “And how long have you known?”

“Since ... forever.” Chief Terry’s expression didn’t change. “She’s always been my little sweetheart. Even though she’s an adult now, that hasn’t changed. It won’t ever change.”

“And you want me to be aware that you’ll be working against me if I blab,” Hannah surmised.

“He doesn’t think you’re going to blab,” I offered awkwardly. “He’s just ... .” What? How could I explain it?

“He’s her second father,” Landon volunteered. “In some ways, he’s her first father. Everybody here will go to the mat for everybody else. You should be aware of that.”

“I’m aware.” Hannah took a seat at the table. “I have no interest in ruining this family. Everybody is delightful.”

“Have you met Aunt Tillie?” I pointed to the woman in question. “And what about Aunt Willa? She’s not delightful at all.”

“Well, I guess she’s not delightful.” Hannah smirked. “She is, however, a concern. What does she know about your family?”

“Not enough to matter,” Aunt Tillie replied. “We grew up together, but she was always separate. That was her choice. My mother tried to include her, but it never went well. Willa was always ... Willa.”

“She knows you’re a witch.”

“She knows I’m the queen of witches,” Aunt Tillie snorted. “I’m the super witch of super witches. Don’t worry about Willa. I have plans for her.”

Hannah’s eyebrows hopped. “That sounds ominous.”

“Oh, you have no idea.” Aunt Tillie’s lips curved. “Willa isn’t a concern for us.”

“Well, she’s somewhat of a concern,” I hedged. “Her association with Brian isn’t good.”

“And what’s the deal with him?” Hannah asked. “I assume you told me only part of that story.”

“He’s a schmuck,” Aunt Tillie replied. “That’s all you need to know about him. He’s not a concern either.”

“He is a concern,” I countered. “He knows enough about us to cause trouble if anybody bothered to believe him.”

“He knows very little,” Landon said. “He believes Aunt Tillie cursed him.”

“I made his tiny man parts itch ... and turn green ... and there might’ve been some puss balls,” Aunt Tillie said.

Hannah wrinkled her nose. “Well ... that’s lovely.”

“I’m good with a curse,” Aunt Tillie said. “Just ask these guys.” She jerked her thumb at Landon and me.”

“You’ve been cursed?” Hannah sipped her juice. “Do tell.”

“Some curses are worse than others,” I explained.

“And some are delightful,” Landon added. “There’s this bacon curse that makes me warm and tingly all over.” He took on a far-off expression.

Hannah pressed her lips together, her eyes dancing with delight. “You like smelling like bacon, do you?”

“Oh, not me. Aunt Tillie curses Bay to smell like bacon. That’s like Christmas for me.”

“Yes, and I attract every derelict man in town,” I said. “Not so fun for me.”

“It’s tons of fun for me,” Aunt Tillie said. “Just out of curiosity, you don’t seem surprised that we’re witches. Why is that?”

“I’ve met a witch or two in my time,” Hannah replied. “I’m careful who I admit that to for obvious reasons. You’re not the only witches I’ve crossed paths with.”

“We’re the strongest.” Aunt Tillie sounded so sure of herself, all I could do was smile.

“We have a certain reputation,” I explained at Hannah’s quizzical expression. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out going forward.”

Hannah turned serious. “We need to talk. You’re obviously holding things back. I can’t help if I don’t know everything.”

“As I told you last night, we don’t know anything.”

“I know that you’ve seen things.”

“Images in windows.” I flicked my eyes to the dining room window. It was empty. “I don’t know why I can’t see them anyplace else.”

“Can you see ghosts regularly?”

I hesitated.

“It’s okay.” Hannah prodded. “I know that some witches can communicate with the dead. One of the other witches I’ve crossed paths with explained it. She said it’s a rare gift, passed down in families. Can all of you see and talk to ghosts?”

“Just me.”

“Um, and