Spell It Out (Book One of The Spellbound Series)

Chapter 9: Off With Our Heads

Joe blocks me in the doorway to the outside of the waiting room. I use an intangible any spell to walk through him. As much as I'd love to linger near him, I have to retrieve that box and vile. Once I approach Vincent office at all body bumps into me from behind. Oh for Circe's sake.

I turn around, backing up against the closed door. His devilish smirk somehow causes my breath to hitch. I've never been so transparent and desperate in my life he must be laughing at me in his mind, if anything.

"Going somewhere?"

  Damn him for suddenly taking my breath away. What the everloving fuck are they putting in those bread rolls?

I wrap my hand around the doorknob behind me. "Yes, I need something from Vincent."

He leans close to me, holding his hands on either side our friend. That's enough for me to push the door open, nearly falling back. Luckily, Joe caught me with one arm. Being so close to him induces my increasing heartbeat. He can't know about this another can Christina. It would make everything awkward between me and her.

His green eyes met mine. "You need something from the office while Vincent is gone, huh? I can be your look out."

He pulls his hand away, when I end up sitting on the edge of Vincent's desk. He walked backwards out the door, as it slowly closes on its own.

Why the hell am I so inattentive? What is wrong with me?

That box on the top shelf is covered with a beam of sunlight period as though, the angels in the sky want to make it more enticing to anyone in this room. I have to know what's so special about it. I rub my hands together, searching the room for a step ladder. To no avail. Well, I guess I have no choice but to use magic. A spell my mom taught me and Blaine two years ago pops into my mind.

Like I've got wires, lift me up higher.

Soon, my body is being lifted off the floor all the way to the top shelf. I slide the Box off the shelf in a steady grasp. My body floats back down, when the door knobs only turns.

I ran to the door of the secret room. My body and the Box went through the door before something hit the floor.

The entire room is black and white. Except for the Funhouse mirrors on the wall. The floor caved in under my feet, like a plushie quicksand. I drop down to my knees the minute the soft floor morphed to a black and white checkerboard tile complete with a purple bathtub, sink and toilet. Suddenly, I went from the center of the floor to being against the wall. The box is sitting next to me. The faint whooshing sound went away

The muffled voices outside the door rub me the wrong way. There's nothing but silence in here. How come I can't hear them clearly?

I pull back the top of my purse, and reach inside for my turquoise compact mirror. Once I get it in my grasp, I left my arm out of the bag and flip it open.

A small image of Vincent the blonde waitress, and Claire arguing appeared.

"You are going to pay for those shattered plates!" Vincent yells.

The blonde waitress held her hand up and flashes a big fake smile." She also threw food at some of the female servers. One of them being yours truly." She points her hands that other side of her chest, at a large dark red stain. A dark red stain on a white button-up shirt.

With all the problems she caused the guests, I'm surprised she hasn't been banned from the hotel. But of course, her father would help her blackmail the guess and employees into silence. Let it be a less privileged girl, and she'd get a major trouble.

Claire rolls her eyes. "Oh please. You can rid that stain from your cheap shirt period And I can easily pay you back."

Vincent scowled. "All right, that's enough! You have to pay for the damages soon. Until then you're banned from the restaurant"

Clear pouts and Crosses her arms. For once, the infamous Clair Evans finally has to take responsibility for her actions. And the outside realm, her father would bill her out and coddle her all day. Then, her mom would spew some bullshit about how anyone who wants to hold her accountable is out to get her like it's common sense.

Blonde waitress raise your hand, pursing her lips.

"Here's an idea. If her father isn't willing to pay, can she work here?"

Vincent rubs his temples and Claire gasps. God, Vincent please say yes.

"I'll get back to you later, Elfreda."

Then, the image fades away. For the love of God, why? I can't even hear their voices anymore. That can't be possible, unless the walls in here have been soundproofed. If that's the case, Vincent must love relaxing on the toilet for hours, or pretending he has muscles in his funhouse. Suddenly, a golden light traces the cracks of a doorway across the room. A couple minutes ago, it wasn't even a little bit visible.

The jiggling of the doorknob causes me to rise to my feet, holding the box under my arm. I ran across the room, yank the door open and slam it behind me in the next room. Okay, maybe not a room. It's more of a hallway, with black walls and a purple carpeted floor. The minute I check behind me for the door, it was no longer there.

On my run to the elevator, footsteps were speeding up behind me. The doors open in time for me to close them on a hooded figure in a purple cloak. When the elevator jerks up the seventh floor, the doors open to reveal Joe leaning on the wall across the hall with a white paper bag in his hand. I step out, hide in the box behind my back.

"That's a nice doggy bag you got there. Was it clear or Christina that gave you a treat?"

He chuckles. "That's cute, but I get my own treats."

I couldn't help but laugh to myself, while I walk backwards down the hall. He follows me, opening the bag and dipping his hand in. He stops in front of the room Harvey took me to, and I do the same. He pulls his hand out of the bag, and turns out to be holding a Madeline cookie. When he nudges the door handle, the door opens.

Why didn't Harvey lock the door after I left? And where the hell did he go?

He isn't in the bathroom, or anywhere else in here. So I step out to the balcony. It's vacant, and the water suddenly shining a light of fuchsia in the water fountain fascinated me. The water usually shines rainbow light all day. I almost had noticed an arm wrapping around my shoulders.

Thank God I had the box under the bed and left my purse on top of it. That way, I can enjoy Joe's touch without him asking questions.

He holds out a cookie in front of me. I take it off his hand with no hesitation. The cookies buttery sweetness calms me enough for me to lean back against his chest. A moment like this one is the kind I could embrace all day.

"Do you have any idea where Harvey might be? Claire has been looking for him." Joe says in a honeyed tone.

With all the warm air, beautiful fountain water and the closeness of our bodies, he has to bring up that vengeful cunt? The nerve she had to hold the guys at her mercy, and for what? Her desire to have power over everyone?

I swallow the cookie. "No. Why is she looking for him?"

He lowers his arm to my waist, bringing on a warm, fuzzy feeling moving from my thighs up to my chest. Instead of questioning that, I sank into the moment. Maybe, I could have an easier time swing him soon. Too bad, I don't know whether to get it over with right away, or take it slow.

Maybe time can tell.

Joe hums in my ear. "Claire's royally pissed off that none of the guests transforms into animals. It was hilarious. You and Christina are much more stable than she'll ever be."

As much as I love the scenario of Claire humiliating herself in a fit of rage, it may have ended up in flames. I'm talking actual flames. I stuff the rest of the cookie in my mouth, letting my mind wander back to the hooded figure and the potions. She and Joe must have neglected to check the potions before delivering all of them. Unless, Harvey did manage to switch out all the potions with juice drinks.

As for the fit Claire threw, one would think she'd be mature enough to handle keeping her cool in a restaurant. Considering how often she used to sneak out to eat dinner with her past boyfriends. I guess all heads will roll when she returns.