Waiting For The Beast (Lucifer's Clock Series, Book 1)

Witchcraft Please

 Connie groggily rolled over in her bed to a plate of pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage patties, and fresh fruit on her nightstand. She gasped and sat up. Unless she could cook in her sleep, someone had been in her place. Connie quickly glanced around her studio. No one was there. From the look of things it looked like she had slept through the night. She still had on her clothes from the previous day. She looked back at the steaming plate and her stomach growled in response to the delicious smell that came from the plate. It also didn't help that she felt as if she hadn't eaten in days.

Connie cautiously moved closer to the plate. Again her stomach responded. She did a quick detection spell over the food. She didn't find any hint of poison or potion. Obviously whoever had left the food didn't mean her any harm. She reluctantly nibbled at one of the perfectly round, golden pancakes. They were so good she felt as if she'd died and gone to Caelus. Without a second thought, she devoured the scrumptious food.

As she took the last bite she heard her cell phone ringing. She dug it out from the bottom of her purse. Connie's stomach flipped when she saw Robinette's number flashing on the screen. What if Robinette had seen what she'd done? No, that wasn't possible. She was sure Robinette had been unconscious. Taking a deep breath she answered the phone.

"Hello."

"Hey Connie, is everything okay?" Connie thought that was an odd question for Robinette to be asking, especially when she should be the one asking her that.

"Yes, everything's fine, how about you?"

Robinette paused, then answered, "I'm great. Are you coming in today?"

"Oh, I didn't know you needed me on the weekend. I thought we agreed that my hours were Monday through Friday, nine to five," said Connie confused.

Robinette laughed. "Yes, those are your hours, which is why I thought you would be here. Today is Monday."

"Today is Monday?" repeated Connie.

"Look who's a party animal," said Robinette chuckling. "Get yourself together. I'll expect you here in a couple of hours."

"Okay," said Connie still puzzled. She checked the date on her cell phone and sure enough it read Monday. She stared at her bed and then at her clothes. She had been asleep since Friday. It had to have been the spell. She had never done a spell of that magnitude before. She heard movement behind her. When she turned around Adaira was on top of her computer desk staring at her. Connie now knew who had brought her breakfast.

"Thank you Adaira."

She just stared at Connie expectantly.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was leaving home. I guess I wanted a normal life so badly; I didn't want to have any part of my previous life. I made a mistake, I should have told you. You are and have always been a good friend to me. I was stupid to think that I could escape who I am. Please forgive me," Connie said with her head hanging.

When Connie looked up, Adaira had disappeared. Connie sighed. She knew it would take Adaira awhile to forgive her. Nympharum were respectful, loyal creatures and they expected the same in return.

Connie showered and dressed quickly. She looked at her bike. She was not in the mood to pedal a million miles. She wondered if she could do a teleportation spell. She remembered her older cousins doing teleportation spells and being reprimanded by her mother and her sisters. They believed that the younger witches were straying away from the old ways of the coven, by not using brooms. She was for anything that would defy her mother, so maybe she should try this. Connie closed her eyes and spoke the words "Levitas Celeritas." She felt a breeze and then nothing.