What's a Witch to Do?: A Midnight Magic Mystery Read Online Free Page A

children. Now I hope she stays gone.
    I toss the Captain on my white fluffy bed, peel off my reeking clothes, and jump in the shower. I have a special scrub of my own making to remove the stench of potions. That bat guano for the banishment spell really gets into my pores. By the time I shower, exfoliate, put on my pajamas, and do my final check of the house, it’s almost eleven. I climb into bed with a sigh. If I fall asleep this instant I can get seven hours before the Captain wakes me for breakfast. He curls up in his spot next to me on the other pillow. Always nice to have a male in bed. On a normal night I would plan for tomorrow, but tonight I close my eyes and pass out …
    But not for long.
    I don’t even have time to start a dream when the doorbell downstairs jolts me awake. It rings continuously, with a pound or two against the door thrown in for good measure. I sit up, my brain instantly booting up. This can’t be good. The Captain meows as I hurl off the covers. I glance at the clock. 11:59. Who on earth would come at this hour?
    That instinct single women living alone have takes over. Rushing over to my closet, I pull out my gun safe and punch in the code. My .38 special comes out. This is a safe town, but a gal can never be too careful. I sprint out of the bedroom into the hallway toward the girls’ room. Sophie holds Cora in bed, petting her hair in an attempt to be brave for her sister. “You two stay here and lock the door.”
    “Okay,” Sophie says as she leaps out of bed.
    As I glide down the stairs, I hear their door shut and lock. The pounding starts again, weaker this time. My heart is racing as I approach the door, my grip on the gun tightening. I really need to install a peephole. “Who is it?” I ask.
    “A—Adam Blue,” the man says through the door.
    Adam Blue? Who the … the name’s familiar. Come on, brain. Adam … oh, Jason Dahl’s Adam Blue. “Adam?” I ask, unlocking the door. When it opens, I gasp. I wouldn’t recognize him. His face is a swollen mess of bruises and cuts. His clothes are torn, smudged with dirt and blood, and he has no shoes on. He holds his right arm against his chest. I think it’s broken. “What … ”
    “Help me.” And with that, the werewolf collapses to my foyer floor.
    Hell’s bells.

Sunday To Do:
Deal with bleeding werewolf on my doorstep
Transmogrification potion
Find our unexpected visitor clothes
Drop-off/pick up Adam and send him on his way
Send girls off with Debbie
Go to work
Lunch with Tamara and Clay
Sunday supper
Hem Sophie’s damn skirt
E-mail spell for class
Dishes
Feed the Captain
Makes lunches
Grocery shopping
    Miracle of miracles he hasn’t woken any of my neighbors. That’d be all I needed. After sticking the gun in my purse, I help Adam off the floor, throwing his one good arm over my shoulders. I kick the door shut with my foot. He’s almost dead weight and is not a small man. Short yes, maybe an inch or two taller than my five six, but muscular like a boxer. I lose my balance on the stairs and fall against the banister. I hoist him up and continue on.
    When we reach the hallway, both girls stand at their door, mouths agape and eyes bulging. “Who is that?” Sophie asks, shielding her sister who pokes her head around the side anyway.
    “A friend,” I say for lack of a better word. Acquaintance is more accurate.
    “Is he dying?” Cora asks, almost elated with excitement.
    “No. Sophie, go get me a big bowl of warm water, okay? Take your sister.”
    I lead the bleeding man into the spare bedroom across from mine. He falls onto the bed, and I flick on the lights before rushing to the bathroom for the first-aid kit underneath the sink. I get a damp towel and some extra gauze as well. The girls come in the bathroom as I stand. “What happened to him?” Sophie asks.
    “I don’t know, but he’ll be fine. Thank you for the water, but now go back to bed. Now!” I holler. As I have more pressing concerns, I don’t wait