Bayou Biscuits and Black Magic: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery by Corrine Winters

Author:Corrine Winters [Winters, Corrine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-10-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

The next day at her bakery, Daisy, Zoe and Motley were getting set up to open when Lilith Fritz marched in, arm-in-arm with William. The bell above the door jangled discordantly, matching the tension that instantly filled the air.

Daisy froze, a tray of freshly baked muffins in her hands. Zoe's eyes widened, darting between Daisy and the unexpected visitors. Motley's fur bristled as he perched on the counter, his tail swishing in agitation.

"Well, well," Lilith drawled, her perfectly manicured nails digging into William's arm. "Isn't this cozy?"

William looked uncomfortable, his gaze meeting Daisy's with an apology. "Daisy, I⁠—"

"Hush, love," Lilith cut him off, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "We're not here for pleasantries."

Daisy set down the muffin tray, wiping her hands on her apron. She straightened her spine, refusing to be intimidated in her own bakery. "Then why are you here, Lilith?"

Lilith's smile was razor-sharp. "Oh, we thought we’d just come in for something sweet. William suggested we try here, although for the life of me I can’t understand why. I also wanted to ask you if you remembered anything from our chat the other day."

Zoe stepped forward, her blue hair a vibrant contrast to the tension in the room. "I think you should leave."

"Now, now." Lilith tsked. "Is that any way to treat potential customers? What do you think, William? Care for a... cookie?"

William's discomfort was palpable. He tugged gently at Lilith's arm. "Maybe we should go."

Daisy took a deep breath, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her apron. She looked directly at William, ignoring Lilith's smug expression.

"What's going on here, William?" Daisy asked, her voice steady despite the unease churning in her stomach.

William shifted his weight, clearly uncomfortable. He glanced at Lilith before meeting Daisy's gaze. "Lilith mentioned she wanted some cookies, and I... Well, I recommended your bakery. I thought it would be nice to support your business."

Daisy's eyebrows rose. "I see," she said, her tone neutral.

Zoe crossed her arms, her blue hair catching the light as she tilted her head. "And you couldn't have called ahead?"

Lilith's laugh was like ice tinkling in a glass. "Oh, where's the fun in that? I do enjoy surprises."

Motley's tail swished back and forth as he watched the scene unfold. His eyes narrowed, fixed on Lilith.

Daisy forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Well, you're here now. What kind of cookies would you like?"

William cleared his throat. "Daisy, I'm sorry if this is awkward. I didn't think⁠—"

"Clearly," Zoe muttered under her breath.

Lilith's grip on William's arm tightened. "Now, now. Let's not make this unpleasant. We're all friends here, aren't we?"

The silence that followed was deafening. Daisy felt a bead of sweat trickle down her back, her discomfort growing with each passing second. She couldn't shake the feeling that Lilith had orchestrated this entire situation.

"Friends," Daisy repeated, the word tasting bitter on her tongue. She turned to the display case, desperate for a distraction. "So, about those cookies..."

Lilith sauntered over to the display case, her heels clicking against the tile floor.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.