Punkin Strudel Mayhem by Jodi Rath

Author:Jodi Rath
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: cozy mystery, holiday, halloween, novella, short fiction
Publisher: MYS ED LLC
Published: 2021-10-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

I wasn’t aware I could fall asleep in the spiritual world until I woke up and found myself back in my bedroom where Mick lay napping.

I smiled and began drifting toward him when a long-legged, pouty-lipped, Italian beauty with dark curly hair appeared, lying at his side. My rage burned so hotly that I saw wisps of smoke forming around my ankles.

“Imelda,” I growled, “what are you doing here? Don’t tell me my greatest wish has been granted and you’ve been shanked in prison and are now here in the spirit world.” I know—mean of me—but I wasn’t myself with this witch. I was beginning to understand all of the fire and ice metaphors from the books I’d read over my lifetime.

“This must be a dream your simple mind has conjured up because I’m alive and well—you’ll soon find out how well,” she purred, tracing my husband’s shoulder with her long, manicured nails, moving slowly down to his hip and down his leg, grinning lasciviously at me.

“You don’t realize it yet—dream or no dream, spirit world or not—I’ll cut a bi—” I lunged toward her as flames flared up around me.

Imelda held up a well-manicured hand. My flames dissipated instantly and my body froze. She went from lying on my side of the bed to bending on her knees, leaning over and kissing Mick on his cheek—then, she glanced over her shoulder with narrowed eyes just to make sure I caught it.

I willed myself to move but to no avail.

“Yooooooou are ssssssssssooooo predictable,” Imelda transformed into a long, sleek, scaly serpent that undulated toward me, slithering up around my legs to my torso, gliding her head in front of mine as she squeezed my body.

Her head changed back to human form while her body remained a snake, continuing to constrict my paralyzed figure. “You do realize even IF you survive this, you and those little imps living in your stomach—” Imelda made a point to squeeze my midriff tighter, “—won’t survive for much longer. Why prolong it? Let go. Be free to be with Mike and find out more about your Great-Granny Esme. I promise to take care of Mick for you.” A devilish grin split her face, teeth gleaming in the flickering lamplight.

I couldn’t move, but I had an idea. I wondered if she would take the bait. I suspected I would be “spending” a huge chunk of my spiritual energy to do this, but it might be well worth it. I stared at the water glass on my bedside table, overlaying it with my memory of the golden goblet, willing them to mesh. To my surprise, the water glass shimmered and transformed into a facsimile of the goblet. I felt exhausted, depleted, but I kept going. I gritted my teeth and used my mind to lift the goblet, making it hover over her head.

It didn’t make sense that her or her ancestors would know my family and have anything to do with Great-Granny Esme’s murder, but I needed to be absolutely sure while I had this opportunity as time was running out.

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