Spells on Shelves

Chapter 18 || The Haunted House

Dark outer walls loomed before me, the high facade weathered and worn. Leafless ivy crept over the walls, the once-white paint cracked and dirtied from years of neglect.

The windows were barred, filthy with grime, and the two one the second floor gave the impression of large eyes watching your every move. An overgrown front yard, littered with "Keep Out" signs, led to a massive iron door adorned with two thick iron knockers.

The kids flanked me. I'd insisted they carried salt, protection gems, and a small pouch of herbs against dark magic and evil spirits. I still didn't know how Kai had managed to eat that spirit, but he'd assured me he was feeling fine.

As I squinted at the smudged windows a prickling awareness crawled beneath my skin. "So, this is where the last town witch lived?"

Kai nodded. "Yeah. We had dares to get inside all the time. The barrier glitches sometimes but you usually never make it past the front yard."

I took a step forward and hit something solid. A gray-blue translucent dome flickered around the building for a moment, then vanished.

"This should be a static ward," I said. "The house has been empty for years. You'd need a key—or really expensive materials to trick it into enclosing us. That's way beyond what we have at the shop."

"Kai broke your ward," Taji said. "Can't we just break this one with force?"

Ugh. Way to rub it in, Taji.

"The strength of a ward depends on various factors," I said. "A personal ward is powered by the resident sorcerer's magic, day-by-day, to strengthen it. A static ward by magical materials or the surroundings."

"What did Kai destroy then?"

"My personal ward."

Kai pursed his lips. "Sorry about that."

"I only had two weeks to strengthen it, so it's no surprise it didn't hold," I said defensively. "Most witches use combination wards. That's why you should never threaten them on their home turf."

Unless you were some mad, overpowered witch hunter.

I shot a pointed look at Paxton, but he ignored it, his brow furrowed as he studied the house. "I have a key."

Well, he could've led with that.

"Then why the long face?" I asked, exasperated. Weirdo.

"The last witch was... paranoid. It's more of an unofficial backup key. We'll have to go through the basement. Also, I could use another cup of coffee. Or two."

Okay, it was not my place to comment on his caffeine addiction. "How do we get to the basement?"

I eyed the overgrown front yard. Please, don't tell me he wanted to dig.

Kai grimaced. "No..."

"Yep," Paxton replied.

"What?" I asked.

Taji sauntered over, draping an arm around my shoulder. "Don't worry, if you're scared of the dark. You've got me now. I'll protect you."

I shoved him off. "It's still light out."

"Not where we're going," Paxton replied. "Let's move."

I halted mid-step, catching a flicker of movement out of the corner of my eye. It almost looked like the curtain had shifted.

"Jade, let's go," Kai called, already few steps ahead. I tore my gaze away and followed after him. But I couldn't shake the thought that we were being watched.