Witch on the Fritz Read online

  Witch On The Fritz

  Witches of Mystic Grove, Book One

  Isabel Micheals

  Isabel Micheals

  Copyright © 2021 by Isabel Micheals

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  All rights reserved.

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  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is coincidental.

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  This book contains content that may not be suitable for young readers 17 and under.

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  The Author of this Book has been granted permission by Robyn Peterman to use the copyrighted characters and/or worlds created by Robyn Peterman in this book. All copyright protection to the original characters and/or worlds of the Magic and Mayhem series is retained by Robyn Peterman.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Foreword

  Book Description

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Foreword

  Blast Off with us into the Magic and Mayhem Universe!

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  I’m Robyn Peterman, the creator of the Magic and Mayhem Series and I’d like to invite you to my Magic and Mayhem Universe.

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  What is the Magic and Mayhem Universe, you may ask?

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  Well, let me explain…

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  It’s basically authorized fan fiction written by some amazing authors that I stalked and blackmailed! KIDDING! I was lucky and blessed to have some brilliant authors say yes! They have written brand new stories using my world and some of my characters. And let me tell you… the results are hilarious!

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  So here it is! Blast off with us into the hilarious Magic and Mayhem Universe. Side splitting books by fantabulous authors! Check out each and every one. You will laugh your way to a magical HEA!

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  For all the stories, go to https://magicandmayhemuniverse.com/. Grab your copy today!

  And if you would like to read the book that started all the madness, Switching Hour is FREE!

  https://robynpeterman.com/switching-hour/

  Book Description

  Three witches, three wolves, one prophecy

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  Welcome to Mystic Grove and The Great Wiccan Cake Off. A competition where inventive bakers let their imaginations run riot as they go head-to-head to create cakes that are both crazy and delicious. There are no limits to what you can create in this culinary utopia.

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  The challenge has been set and the bakers have been chosen. So be sure to tune in because on The Great Wiccan Cake Off, it’s always double the fun, double the bakers and double the magic.

  Chapter 1

  Piper Patterson paced back and forth in her living room waiting for the magical call that would change her life forever. She’d been on pins and needles since last night when they had learned the finalists for The Great Wiccan Cake Off Competition would be announced today. So much so, she couldn’t sleep. It’s the reason her kitchen smelled of cinnamon rolls, bacon and fresh baked bread. When her anxiety and insomnia were at an all-time high, she turned to her first love, baking, to calm down. She had a prescription for sleeping pills, but hated the way they made her feel dazed, confused and out of control so she never took them.

  When Gus, her fearless, white curly haired, bushy tailed, brown-eyed Maltese, started running around in circles and barking uncontrollably at the door, she rushed to open it only to discover it was Henry, the mail carrier. She smiled and waved at the elderly gentleman before closing the door to continue pacing.

  Today, all of their hopes and dreams hinged on one magical note. A few words from a stranger. Could she do it? Was she brave enough to go after what she wanted? What if the message arrived before Skylar? Could she wait to learn the outcome? Decisions. Decisions.

  The doorbell rang, startling Piper out of her musings. When Gus began whining instead of barking, she hurried to open the door for her cousin. Skylar held two hot-steaming cups of coffee in a drink carrier from the Jumpin’ Beans Cafe. She was bouncing from one foot to the other. The excited look in her baking partner’s eyes told Piper she wasn’t the only one who hadn’t slept last night.

  Sky flew past her in a flurry of activity, talking a mile a minute as she headed straight for the kitchen. “What took you so long to open the door? I couldn’t sleep a wink last night. Have you heard anything yet? Wait! Are those cinnamon rolls I smell? Please tell me my nose isn’t deceiving me because I’m starving. I could eat a horse right now.”

  Sighing heavily, Piper rolled her eyes and closed the door. “Hello to you too,” she yelled before following her cousin into the kitchen. Gus was right on their heels begging for a slice of bacon. The canine knew Sky would give in to his whining. It’s one of the reasons he loved her so much.

  Piper watched as Sky grabbed a plate from the cabinet and loaded it with two cinnamon rolls and five slices of bacon, insisting that she would take some of the fresh bread home for later. It’s a good thing all witches are born with fast metabolisms or her cousin would be bigger than a house. The woman could pack away some food. Yet, you’d never know it from her curvy body. Her brunette hair was highlighted with red streaks that made her emerald green eyes pop. The same emerald green eyes that stared back at her in the mirror every morning. It was an inherited trait of The Witches of Mystic Grove Coven. Her make-up was on point and her full, luscious lips were painted a deep red that matched her nails. She wore a pair of cropped khakis that hugged her curves with a white tee and a pair of coral slide sandals.

  Skylar fed Gus a slice of bacon before taking a huge bite of her cinnamon roll. She licked her fingers and methodically chewed her treat like she didn’t have a care in the world. Piper wanted to shake her cousin, but decided to wait her out. She calmly walked over to the kitchen island and grabbed the cup of coffee in the drink carrier.

  Oblivious to her cousin’s growing anxiety, Skylar continued eating her breakfast. Once she had finished devouring a cinnamon roll and three slices of bacon, she finally looked up and spoke to Piper. “You look horrible. Did you not sleep last night? You should really eat something.”

  Skylar held up the moist, doughy treat topped with buttercream icing and a sprinkle of chopped pecans and licked her lips. “These are delicious. When we win this competition, Paddycakes will become a famous tourist attraction in Mystic Grove. People will come from around the world and fight to purchase our sweet, scrumptious desserts. You’ll see.”

  Piper wanted to throttle Sky. How was she so calm? Didn’t she realize what was at stake? Only everything they’d worked for their entire lives. But instead of yelling at her cousin, she took another sip of her coffee. The delicious brew helped her relax a little. Until a silver platter from The Wiccan Council appeared on the kitchen island and knocked the wind out of her.

  Skylar stood quickly and rounded the island. “Oh, my Goddess, Piper. Are you hyperventilating? You need to calm down sweetie and breathe.”


  Piper nodded in understanding, but continued gasping for air. “I’m... trying...”

  As Skylar rubbed her back, Piper closed her eyes and tried not to fixate on the silver platter. She thought about all the things that calmed her down. Baking. Her best friend, Liam. Her lucky rabbit’s foot. Spending time with Liam. The more she thought about Liam, the calmer she felt. He’d always had that effect on her. Instead of focusing on that revelation, she opened her eyes and returned her attention to the envelope on the silver platter. It was time to learn their fate.

  “Listen to me Piper. On the count of three, we will open the note. One. Two. Three. Ouvrir.”

  The cousins watched as the cream-colored envelope with gold embossed lettering rose in the air and revealed its contents. Piper rubbed the lucky rabbit’s foot safely secured in her pocket. The note simply read Congratulations Piper and Skylar! You’ve been chosen to compete in The Great Wiccan Cake Off.

  Both women squealed with delight as they hugged one another. Skylar was the first to speak. “Oh, my Goddess! We did it, Pipes. We’re one step closer to our dream of opening a Paddycakes in Mystic Grove.”

  Tears streamed down Piper’s face. “I couldn’t have done this without you Sky. Thanks for taking this adventure with me.”

  “My pleasure sweets. We need to call Cassie. She will be over the moon.”

  Skylar walked back around the kitchen island to grab her purse. She quickly found her iPhone and called their cousin. When Cassie answered, they immediately yelled, “We’re in.”

  The phone erupted with shouts of glee on both sides. The cousins made plans to meet later that evening at The Thirsty Squirrel for drinks to celebrate. Cassandra hung up because she needed to help a customer who had walked into her Essence shop. Skylar finished her bacon and cinnamon roll while Piper went upstairs to get dressed for work. She was covering for Elise at The Thirsty Squirrel tonight. When she returned downstairs, Skylar had cleaned up the kitchen and taken Gus for a walk. Her sweet canine was sprawled out in his crate, feet in the air, legs opened wide showing all of his business, and snoring like a drunk sailor.

  Piper turned to look at her cousin who was sitting on the sofa flipping through a fashion magazine like nothing had happened. “You really have a way with Gus.”

  Skylar shrugged her shoulders and gave her cousin a radiant smile. “What can I say? I’m an animal whisperer. Now sit because we need to strategize before the competition. I know you like to rely on your rabbit’s foot, but I’m more practical. We need a solid plan to win the twenty-five thousand dollars The Great Wiccan Cake Off is offering up as the Grand prize.”

  Piper kissed the soft white rabbit’s foot that had never let her down as she glared at her cousin. “Don’t hate on Lizzy. Everyone knows that a rabbit’s foot is a totem that represents not only good fortune, but also increased fertility and a bountiful harvest.”

  Skylar smirked at her cousin, unfazed by her death glare. “Since we’re on the subject of increased fertility, stop playing cat and mouse with Liam and give the man a chance. It’s obvious to everyone except you that he has been head-over-heels in love with you for years. It’s odd that you’d trust your life with that rabbit’s foot, but not your best friend, Liam. He’s a good, honest man with the patience of Job. I don’t know why you won’t give him a chance. Goddess knows he’s earned it.”

  Piper groaned and flopped down in the chair adjacent to the sofa. She was tired of having this conversation with her cousins. “You know why, Sky. He’s a moonshiner and bootlegger. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder. I’m an independent woman. I can stand on my own two feet without a man’s help.”

  It was Skylar’s turn to glare. “Listen to me Piper Patterson. You’re not your mother and I never said that you needed a man. Want and need are two different things in my book. Besides, Aunt Clarice is right. Grown folks got needs. In Liam’s defense, he’s trying to turn the family business around and make it legit and you know this.”

  “That will never happen if Hunter has his way.” When her cousin didn’t immediately respond, Piper knew she had made her point. But she had also made the mistake of mentioning her cousin’s nemesis by name. There would be hell to pay later, but right now, her cousin was trying to make a point. One that she had no desire entertaining.

  Piper watched with humor as her cousin scoffed in disgust like she’d eaten something sour or spoiled at just the mention of Liam’s middle brother and beta. Everyone knew their contempt for one another was their version of foreplay. She as much said so when Skylar abruptly changed the subject.

  “I spoke with Mr. LaRue this morning. The shop on Royal street is still vacant. When I told him, we were competing in The Great Wiccan Cake Off and that we would need the storefront after we won, he agreed not to rent out the space.”

  “You did what?” Piper exclaimed.

  “Oh, calm down. I told a little white lie so sue me for Goddess’s sake. It was a necessary means to an end. Mr. LaRue cannot sell our dream spot for Paddycakes. When I look into that storefront, I see an eight-burner range, a 20-quartz mixer, convection and double conventional ovens, a walk-in space, a dry storage room, stainless steel pots and pans, napkins with our logo on them, fresh flowers on the tabletops, and an amazing sitting area inside and out where customers can enjoy the fruits of our labor.”

  Piper couldn’t believe their dream was about to become a reality provided they won The Great Wiccan Cake Off. The competition wasn’t for the faint at heart. Those witches were brutal in battle where anything goes. The last competition left one witch singing the blues in a strait jacket. Her demise on the show was horrific. The last show wasn’t about who was the best baker, but more about who was mentally and physically strong enough to survive the witches’ antics during the bake off.

  “Where did you go, Paddycakes?” Skylar asked.

  “I was thinking about the dirty, underhanded games the witches like to play during the competition. This won’t be an easy win for us and there’s a lot at stake. It makes me a little nauseous when I think about it for too long.”

  Skylar rose from the sofa and gathered her things to leave before commenting on her cousin’s fears. “All you need to focus on is accepting that twenty-five-thousand-dollar check. Now, I’ve got to run. I have a hot date with Levi tonight, and I need to exfoliate, hydrate, and moisturize so that my skin is silky smooth.”

  Piper shook her head and giggled. “You are bad. Better not let Hunter know you have a date with Levi, or he’ll be pissed.”

  Sky rolled her eyes and burst into a deep, loud, hearty laugh. “So, what else is new? That man has a thorn proverbially stuck up his ass. I pity the woman who has to remove it.”

  “Be careful what you wish for Sky,” Piper cautioned as she stood and walked her cousin to the door. “We both know your love-hate relationship has more to do with love than hate. You’re not fooling anyone. If Hunter married another woman, you would be devastated. You have loved that boy since the first grade. You are just too stubborn to admit it.”

  “Well, aren’t you the pot calling the kettle black? You can use Liam’s profession as an excuse to keep him in the friend zone, but we both know you’re full of BS. You would do anything for that sexy man and he for you. Quit avoiding the inevitable and you might sleep better at night.”

  “Oh, hush and go get ready for your date. I’m covering for Elise tonight at The Thirsty Squirrel, which means more money for the bakery’s slush fund. Have a good time tonight and be safe,” Piper said as she kissed her cousin on the cheek.

  “You too, sweets. Don’t worry so much. We’re going to kick ass in a couple of weeks. I can feel it in my spirit.”

  It took Piper thirty minutes to reach The Thirsty Squirrel since Mystic Grove was located in Jefferson Parish. Most days, she didn’t mind the drive because it was a nice way to decompress after work. But lately, she’d been on edge. There were several nights she thought someone was following her. She had quick
ly discarded the notion and chalked it up to stress.

  The preliminary rounds of The Great Wiccan Cake Off had been brutal. Thank the Goddess for Lizzy! Her lucky rabbit’s foot, sometimes referred to as Old Faithful, had come through for them during each round of the preliminary competition. If nothing else, the earlier rounds had provided her and Skylar with a prelude of what’s to come in the main competition. She couldn’t wait to show off her culinary skills to the magical world. But for now, she was filling ice bins and prepping her station for the evening crowd of partygoers because every day was a party in The Big Easy.

  The Thirsty Squirrel was a lively bar with light-up signature cocktails, dueling pianos and Cajun-accented pub grub. Located on Bourbon Street, it’s a four-minute walk from the St. Louis Cathedral. People come to The Thirsty Squirrel for its mysticism, the ghost stories, the spirits and the best gumbo on Bourbon Street. It’s believed that the building was once inhabited by a barber who was a womanizer and eventually murdered by one of his mistresses.

  Piper loved working in the bar because her co-workers were like family, but it wasn’t her life’s passion. Her destiny was decided at the age of five when she received her first easy-bake oven. The smell of vanilla bean and cake rising in the oven was like coming home. It soothed her weary soul and was a source of comfort when her mother left the coven without a word and without her.