Spellbound & Hellhounds, page 7
part #1 of Coven Chronicles Series
After the spill of scrolls, files, and books were cleaned and put away, Bobo and Vanessa walked Ell back to the front desk on their way out of the Coven. Vanessa had a smile on her face and had forgotten all about the woes of her day, that is, until she bumped into Leon. He was lazily leaning against the grand entrance with a duffle bag at his feet as he waited for her and Bobo to arrive. Then, the nightmare that was her life now resumed its rightful spot in the front of her mind. Her smile curdled on her face and she frowned while staring at the man that was now her temporary roommate and partner.
“Ah, that’s the lovely face I look forward to coming home to each and every night,” Leon teased.
Vanessa blushed angrily while Bobo snickered, and she brushed past them while saying, “I hate you.”
“Who?” Bobo and Leon asked in perfect unison.
“Both of you!” Vanessa snapped in a half-yell as she stormed off – while carefully watching for snow patches that would injure her backside and pride – at a slower pace than she desired.
A teleportation spell would have been wonderful, but it required her to hold hands with Leon and Bobo and, at the moment, she was not up to the task. It didn’t help that those things cost a pretty coin that her current earnings wouldn’t allow her to frivolously cast without thought or care. Besides, the cold was actually bringing her critically high anger down a notch or two as she had to focus on keeping her cloak and hood wrapped around her to fight off the winter chill more than her tenacious desire to list off reasons for said anger.
“Stubborn thing,” Leon mumbled.
“Preaching to the choir,” Bobo sung as he took notice of the growing distance between his owner and himself.
With a groan, Leon hoisted up his bagged belongings, throwing them over his capable shoulder before they both headed off to catch up with the angry witch that was storming through Tolvade’s busy streets. The usual chatter of the capital’s center market rolled through the air like a familiar melody that brought comfort and disappeared deep into the normal hustle and bustle of the city life as a welcomed background noise. Local vendors filled the streets while many workers stood outside their shops calling out the day’s sales.
The men lingered behind Vanessa, who was fuming with rage and trying to keep her mind off the day’s events that had turned from sweet and hopeful to sour and nightmarish. She marched with purpose and hunched in on herself as she muttered angrily on her way to Spellvana. Giggling children paused when they took notice of her and quickly removed themselves from her path, whispering that she was a mad woman and that they should steer clear of the obviously tainted witch.
The term ‘tainted’ reached Vanessa’s ears, and she rose slightly from her forward fold and slowed her stride while blinking her scorching anger from her eyes. It was true, if not for the polished bronze insignia on her cloak, she probably looked the part of a tainted witch, a sorceress drunk on black magic. The horribly addictive stuff that turned good witches, mages, warlocks, and more bad with just a simple spell.
If you were lucky and had enough will power to reject it, you could do black magic and walk away from it just fine. But, most, sadly, could not. Even those that could reject the urge to dive deeper into the black arts didn’t go beyond simple curses. Go beyond that and you were lost. Black magic becomes a scratch you can’t itch, a thirst you cannot quench, and you slowly fall into madness and turn into something even darker than a demon. Some invited this into their lives, others fall into it unknowingly, but no matter the case, it was because tainting could consume a magical being so quickly that she and the others fought so hard to stop it from spreading and to bring down the dark witches before they hurt or killed innocent people.
While deep in thought, Vanessa hadn’t realized that she had arrived at the shop she was so urgently trying to get to and had stopped just outside its doors. An old man peered through the window with a deep, sullen expression until he saw the familiar robes Vanessa usually wore. He beamed at the sight of her and raced to open the door.
The pealing of the silver bell woke Vanessa from her thoughts, and she saw old man Wit’ticker holding open the door with one hand and churning the air with the other as he grinned from ear to ear. “Come in child, come in! It’s frightfully cold out there!” he urged, and she couldn’t help but smile at his contagious upbeat attitude and shook off the snow from her shoulders as she stepped into the warmth of the shop.
Her boots made a thick sound over the worn wooden shop floors. She removed her hood as his short white hair and bright blue eyes came into view. “Needing anything today?” he asked with a hopeful gleam to his old gaze.
Nodding, she admitted, “Gold dust.” She opened the pouch to show that there was more bottom to her bag than powder. “I’m running low.”
He looked grave for a moment and hummed. “I see, I see. Follow me, I just received a shipment yesterday. Anything else?”
She smiled. “Maybe some nightingale feathers.” They were mainly useful in veiled magic and sleep spells as well as several other uses.
Her eyes glided over the many bottles of various shapes and sizes and colors. Fading sun from the day poured in through the large glass windows in the front of the shop and splashed over the contents of the tiny bottles therein. As if spring had bloomed within the shop, rainbows and glittering light bouncing off the bodies of the flasks and vials painted the room in a colorful and magnificent enchanting glow. Sandalwood and clove, lavender and sage, rose and dragon’s blood, frankincense and myrrh, scents that she had tied to comfort and filled her youth when she first started practicing, rolled through the senses and ignited a deep seeded excitement for magic that resided inside of her as if the smells and sights of the store rekindled a dying flame.
“How’s business been?” she asked, looking at a jar of dried rattlesnake tails.
“Slow, but not unusual this time of year. Folks are more focused on presents and preparing for the snow storms rather than spell casting,” Wit’ticker admitted as he climbed up a ladder at the back of the shop near the register and opened a few drawers before finding what he was looking for. Using a small wooden scoop, he gathered a helping from the box and dumped it into a small pouch before sliding the container back and climbing down a step or two and grabbing the feathers she had requested. “Been a lot more healing herbs purchased lately, but those are a dime a dozen and usually don’t bring in much of a profit,” he continued as he shuffled over to the counter and rung up the purchase at the register. “Thirty-five gold and seven silver,” he claimed, looking up at her still as happy as when he first opened the door.
“I wonder why that is…” she fished for her money and paid him.
“It is cold season,” he announced. “Nothing you should be worried about.” He smiled warmly as he took the money and handed her the paper bag.
“I suppose you’re right.” She retrieved her items and bid him farewell.
The cold rushed back to steal the little warmth her body had collected inside the shop as she opened the door. Shivering from the cold, she turned to face the others as she pocketed her dust. Both Bobo and Leon looked pitiful huddled close to one another in attempt to stay warm. All of a sudden, Vanessa realized that it wasn’t Leon’s fault that the Council had made the choice that they had, and that he didn’t want to be in this situation any more than her. And Bobo? He had ruined another good suit because of her innate ability to get into trouble without really trying … most of the time… sometimes… Okay, all the time.
“Sorry for the wait,” she muttered in a soft voice to them.
They turned to look at her and then to each other. Leon spoke first, “It’s about time. It’s freezing out here!”
Why? Why did he have to ruin it? She instantly frowned and narrowed her gaze at him. “Why do I even bother with you? I said I was sorry!” she shot back.
“In the future try to be quicker and then you’d have less to be sorry about,” he countered.
She stifled a scream behind tightly sealed lips and resumed her marching.
“Honestly, did you need to?” Bobo asked with a sigh.
“Of course, I did. If no one points out that she’s being rude then she’ll continue to behave like a spoiled brat,” Leon informed, starting to walk behind the angry witch again. “Besides,” he shifted the weight of his duffle bag before resuming his conversation, “It was weird having her apologize.”
Bobo chuckled, and the remainder of the walk home was relatively quiet save for some minor chit chat between the men.
Chapter 11:
“Oh, come on, Vanessa, it was funny!” Leon yelled after Vanessa as she practically ran down her apartment building’s hall.
“Funny?” She stopped and twirled around to face him so quickly that her long, ebony braid flew like a deadly weapon behind her. “Funny? I could have died!”
“You’re being dramatic, I had you. I was just teasing.” Leon said with a smile. Bobo wasn’t helping while he chuckled relentlessly into his closed fist behind Leon.
“Dramatic?” She shrieked.
“Okay, you can stop repeating whatever I say. I heard myself saying it the first time. And yes, dramatic,” Leon confirmed.
“That is a flat,” Vanessa screamed, pointing to the old school styled elevator as the man running the rope started to head back down to the main floor. “You hit me with a wind spell, and I almost fell off the edge!”
Leon looked back to the flat and giggled, remembering the little stunt he pulled. “Oh, knock it off. It was a tiny gust, and I grabbed your arm long before you ever reached the edge of it,” he rebutted.
She threw her hands up in the air and turned back around as she raced for the door. “I hate you!” she yelled.
Leon jogged to catch up to her, only to be met with a door slamming in his face and hearing the deadbolt slid into place. He stared at the door with a deadpan glare, and his smile had faded from his mouth. He reached for the doorknob and jiggled it unsuccessfully before knocking on the door. “Open up the door, Vanessa, I live here too, now.”
Bobo continued to giggle as he slowly walked down the hall and leaned on the wall next to the doorframe. After a moment, his laughter ebbed, and he started to reach for his pouch at his hip. “This might take a while,” he said, retrieving his book and glasses from his side pouch and settling in to read a few chapters.
Throwing his head back and facing the ceiling, Leon groaned and knocked on the door again. “Vanessa, open the door.”
“No,” her voice snapped back through the door. He could tell she was still nearby, probably leaning against the door. So, Leon knocked a little louder.
“Seriously, this is childish. Unlock the door and let me in.”
“Sleep in the hall!”
“This is going to take forever,” Leon whispered.
“Tooold yooou,” the singsong voice came from the ogre as he slowly turned a page.
Determination flared through Leon as he pounded on the door. “Open this door, Vanessa!”
“Not by the hairs on my chiny-chin-chin!”
“Why you little—” He balled up his fists and shook in anger for a moment. “I’ve got an ogre out here, and I’m not afraid to use him.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh, yes I would.”
Bobo’s voice was smooth, calm, and collected as he added to their bickering party, “Don’t pull me into your squabble, please,” and then turned another page.
“What is going on out here?” A woman across the hall had her arms crossed over her chest and hard glare set in place as she eyed over Leon. “Are you trying to hurt her? I’ll call the Coven on you!”
Leon went to show his Coven insignia to prove he was a member but had a wicked thought slither into his brain. A wildly crazy smile coiled on his lips as he skillfully kept the silver emblem from sight. He thumbed back at the door. “You know how girls are. Make one joke about the size of their thighs, and it’s out the door with you.”
“Oh my!” The woman touched the side of her blushing face, and her mood went from cross to understanding all at once. “I did that to my husband once.”
“I’m sure he deserved it just like I do now. Lover’s quarrels are never easy, but she never likes to forgive me right away. Wants to make me simmer in guilt.”
“That’s a good woman right there,” the neighbor replied with a giggle.
Suddenly, the door flung open, and Vanessa grabbed Leon by the back of his cloak and jerked him through the opening, leaving Bobo to waltz slowly to the front door while waving at the woman, “Have a good night, Mrs. Garrett.”
“I’m glad you two made up!” she yelled to them before she shook her head and laughed and headed back inside her own home.
Slamming the door shut behind Bobo, Vanessa barked at Leon, “Are you crazy? Don’t go telling my neighbors that you are my… my…”
“…Lover?” Leon finished while leaning into Vanessa.
Like a flare spell getting ready to explode, she turned so red she was practically purple and shoved him away from her. “Don’t spread lies through my apartment building.”
He chuckled and straightened up his cloak, “Very well. Then don’t lock me out of our apartment.”
“Fine,” she muttered and brushed past him to get to the kitchen.
The apartment front door was right next to a coat closet, directly after that it opened into the rest of the living space. To the left was the kitchen. A stretch of gold flecked black countertops raced around the left-hand side of the room making a large breakfast bar. The opening for the kitchen was right next to the small dining area that neighbored a small hall that lead back to one of the rooms. To the right was the living room, and another short hall gave way to the second bedroom and the main bathroom. The living room had a couple bean bag chairs and a couch set that was oversized in Leon’s opinion, and then he saw Bobo walk over and sit down on it. It clicked then, that the set was bought more for his comfort rather than having others in mind. Overall, the apartment was rather spacious in design, and it was a blessing considering Bobo’s monstrous size.
Candles littered the coffee table and votive candles filled the sconces on the walls and dusted the counterpaces. The scent of cinnamon and vanilla wafted through the home and caressed his senses. It was a warm and inviting scent that gave the body a relaxed and energized feeling. He found himself smiling for no reason other than finding enjoyment in the scents floating about the apartment.
“It’s a welcoming spell,” Bobo spoke up from the couch as he flipped another page before he looked up from the edge of his book, letting the glasses slide down the bridge of his nose with the aid of his large index finger. “She figured that it would make people feel more welcome to come back when they visit.”
“Does—”
“You’re the first visitor,” Bobo cut in before Leon could finish his question.
Leon looked through the home and then down the hall for Vanessa. It would have seemed that she had ran away and locked herself away in her room. That was, until she yelled from behind her door, “I’m changing out of my dirty clothes.”
“Sometimes I wonder if she can read minds,” he said, turning and walking to sit down on the couch across from Bobo.
“She’s a woman.”
Blinking, Leon tilted his head and looked at Bobo, waiting for the beast to explain his comment to him.
Rolling his eyes and shaking his head, Bobo added, “A woman always knows. Even if you don’t want them too. They are only dumb in one area, if you ask me.”
“What area would that be?” Leon asked with a laugh.
“They are clueless as to when someone is interested in them.” With that said, Bobo pushed the glasses back up his nose and fell back into the words on the page.
From down the hall, the sound of Vanessa’s door opening peeled Leon’s attention from aimlessly wondering over every knickknack, scented candle, and the artwork lining her apartment. He scooted to the edge of the couch and looked at the plush carpet below. Noticing a spec of dirt on his boot, he reached down to brush it off and spoke to Vanessa as he toiled with the mundane task, “Where am I supposed to sleep?”
“Well, not in the room with me. That’s for certain,” she said with a snort of laughter nasally escaping her.
The comment caused Leon to snap his gaze to her and opened his mouth to say something but paused with his mouth open. Vanessa stood behind the couch Bobo was seated in, her attention on the task of brushing out her hair that had been in its usual braid like it always was when she was at work. Deep ebony hair was gripped in one hand while a small toothed brush wrestled to comb through the many knots that had made a home in her long, silky locks that had become naturally crinkled by the braid. She wore a white tank top and a long, brown pleated skirt with a belt that cinched in the front through a gold emblem of the Coven symbol. It was a simple outfit, and for the life of Leon he couldn’t figure out why she looked so appealing in it.
A flash of movement caught his eyes, and he turned ever so slightly to see Bobo waving to get Leon’s attention, but trying to use his body to hide the motion from Vanessa. Bobo mimicked what Leon’s mouth looked like in that moment before he put his hand under his jaw, and pushed up, closing his ogre mouth and then gave a mock grin to the man. Leon furrowed his brow and clamped his mouth shut with a heated look in his eyes. As if, with look alone, he was telling the ogre it wasn’t what the beast thought.
Bobo just rolled his eyes and mouthed, “Yeah. Okay.” And moved on to read his story while saying, “I’ve heard the couch is comfortable.”
“Why can’t I sleep in your room?” Leon half-whined.
“Because I’m spoiled and like my privacy
Vanessa snorted with laughter and looked to the kitchen. “I’m hungry. We should order—,” The thought was broken by a soft rapping on the door.
A brief moment passed as all three gave questioning glances to one another and then the door was suddenly thrown open.
