The Chancellor Fairy Tales Boxed Set: Books 1-3 by Poppy Lawless

Author:Poppy Lawless [Lawless, Poppy]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Published: 2016-05-19T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17: Julie

“Coven?” the word tumbled out of my mouth with more shock attached to it than I had intended.

“Julie, you’re a hearth witch at heart. Haven’t you always been good with herbs and spices? Don’t you understand how to make magic with ingredients? Emma Jane was the best hearth witch we’ve ever seen. We are, of course, good witches,” Violet said then began pointing to the others. “Stitch witch,” she said, pointing to Tootie, “soap witch,” she said, pointing to Betty, “And I’m not so bad at healing. We practice good magic, and clearly, you belong with us.”

I looked at the broom I was holding. The handle, much like the broom in Mrs. Aster’s house, was engraved.

“It’s too much for her to take in right now,” Dr. Franklin said. “She should just watch tonight then decide on her own. Let’s not put any pressure on her.”

“Agreed,” another woman, Mrs. Bradley, said. She’d given me a brochure for makeup sales at the meeting. “Let her come to it in her own time, Tootie. We loved Emma Jane, but she isn’t Emma Jane. We have to remember that…forget-me-not and all.”

Tootie nodded. “Of course. Well, how about you have a seat and watch then, dear?” Tootie said, motioning for me to take a stump. “Do you mind?”

“N…no,” I stammered, not sure if I should laugh, run off in fear, or hoist my broom and join them. I always ran pagan, but witchcraft? That was a new one even for me.

“Okay, girls,” Tootie said, “let’s have at it.”

The women came to stand in a circle around the reflection pool.

“Sacred Grove, we witches of Chancellor gather under your limbs and offer you our love and protection,” Betty called.

“Let no axe fall thee,” Violet added.

“Let no machine shake thee,” Dr. Franklin intoned.

“Let no man touch thee,” Mrs. Bradley said.

“We sweep mankind’s coveting eye away,” Tootie added then nodded to the girls.

“Forever protected may you be,” called the ladies as they began moving in a circle around the pool, sweeping the ground as they walked. “With love and magic, we protect these trees! With magic we entwine. With magic we enwind. With magic we bring here. Let no foulness enter here! So mote it be. Thank ye!”

And just like that, the women’s auxiliary of Chancellor, who were, apparently a secret coven, finished casting what appeared to be a protection spell on the little grove.

I sat there in stunned silence.

A moment later, the ladies relaxed and began clasping one another, hugging, offering kisses, and chatting about their next get-together.

Several ladies stopped to say good-bye, leaving one by one, until Violet, Tootie, and Betty remained.

“You see, nothing to it,” Tootie said.

“But who are you praying to? God? A witch goddess? The devil?”

At the last part, all three of them laughed. “The universe, my dear, is infinite in its love. We pray to love, to compassion, to gratitude. We evoke the mystery of love and magic, which is all. You should join us. You have the gift. Thank you again for the cupcakes.

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