Cupcakes and a Casualty by Kat McGee

Author:Kat McGee [McGee, Kat]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: paranormal cozy mystery
Publisher: Towering Pines Publishing
Published: 2020-01-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

“Pardon?” Odd how the pain faded, and numbness invaded. A detached sense, as if unconsciousness tried to reclaim me, slowed my blinks and lagged my thoughts. “What you just said.” I managed several heavy blinks. “As a seven-year-old, I…”

“You didn’t mean to, but you absorbed every ounce of magic from everyone around you. Then when you let loose the power, you left destruction and devastation in your wake.”

“If that happened, I would remember it.” I fluttered my eyelids in rapid blinks. The move caused my vision to waver and blur. Clamping my eyes closed, I sagged against the pillows.

“Miss CeeCee, maybe we’d better do this another time.” Bethany lowered her voice.

“I realize this is difficult, but please go on.” CeeCee’s tone held an edge.

“But—”

“Just tell it, Bethany.”

“Apparently, it’s like a bandage and not one of those cute, colorful ones.” I fisted my free hand. I flinched as the injury in that arm sent a sharp stab that raced from wrist to shoulder. “I don’t remember a lot about my childhood.”

“Your mother’s conjuring was meant to make you better. She was so proud of you. She meant well.” My aunt stroked my hand and shared a genuine, if sad, smile.

“But whatever she did, I ended up making a mess of things?”

“You could say that.” Bethany nodded with enthusiasm. “You know the gazebo on the courthouse square? Where they perform weddings and have mini-concerts.”

I half-nodded and ended up hunching my shoulders in a wince. “The community garden flowers there are beautiful.”

“That used to be the location of the movie theater. We went to all the animated kid’s movies. Remember?”

I rested my head on a pillow and stared up at the ceiling. “Except for a vague impression that what you are saying is true… Nothing. I can’t even recall going to a movie. Don’t most people have times in their childhood that are blank? I mean, there must be uneventful parts. Right?”

Her eyes reflecting more than a little pity, Bethany leaned in. “Destroying the Majestic Magic Movie Palace was definitely an event.”

“What?” I tugged free from Aunt CeeCee and clasped Bethany’s wrist. “No way.”

“Way.”

“The boys in the row behind us were flipping our ears, tossing popcorn kernels at us, and pulling our ponytails.”

“They sound like real brats.”

“That’s what you called them back then. Right before you sucked the energy from every witch in the place. I kid you not. Your tantrum tore the building down. Everyone got out, but the theater wasn’t so lucky.”

“I did that?”

“Folks talked about it for years after your family moved away. They still do.” Bethany grinned. “Despite the devastation, it was an amazing sight to watch the place implode under your power.”

CeeCee let out a deep breath. “You were only seven. Your witching development seemed, well, stunted. Your mother performed a conjuring to boost your magic. And it did.”

“Far beyond expectations, it would seem.” A sound stuck somewhere between a bark of laughter and a sob burbled from my throat. “So, before I tore down the theater, I wasn’t very good at magic.

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