The Witch's Complement: A Bite of Magic Saga, #1

Bite of Magic – Book 1

Lucille Yates

The Witch’s Complement

Copyright © 2021 Lucille Yates.

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations em- bodied in critical articles or reviews.

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

Book and Cover design by Maria Spada

Edits by Black Lotus Editing

First Edition: May 2021

eISBN: 9781736969700

Kitty Hex Press

www.lucilleyateswrites.com

DEDICATION

To my husband and son.

To my mom and my sister.

Thank you for always believing in me and supporting my dreams.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

The Wolf's Return

Acknowledgements

About the Author

CHAPTER 1

The bells on the door clattered as it swung open. Jesi pushed inside, closing it behind her. She leaned her back against the door, her eyes closed. The scent of sage and lavender filled her nose, overpowering the other aromas. She inhaled it slowly. The pounding of her heart faded from her ears. Her breathing slowed. She pushed herself off the door, straightened her blazer, and pulled her bag back onto her shoulder. She inhaled once more and opened her eyes.

The store before her was as it always was. Display racks stood on the hardwood floors filled with bags of assorted teas, herbs and spices, gifts, and jewelry. Shelves lined the partial brick walls filled with rocks, crystals, and books. All organized by Maggie, her cousin and the owner, who was shooting quick glances at Jesi from behind the counter.

Jesi gave her a tight smile and began walking toward her. Maggie held her own forced grin as she spoke with the customer she was helping. Maggie’s light purple choppy bob blended in with the brightly decorated store. She drummed her fingers on the counter that had books stacked high above her head.

Thank you so much, Hayley, Maggie said. I’ll be sure to remember that when Roger makes his next order.

They smiled at each other, and Hayley turned to walk toward the door. As she passed Jesi, she gave a fake smile. Jesi veered away from Hayley right before she bumped shoulders with her. She rolled her eyes as the door closed behind her.

She used to be so nice, Maggie said as Hayley left the store.

I remember, Jesi said. What happened?

I don’t know, but Roger spends enough money for me to ignore her. Want some tea?

No. Just a chair, Jesi said, taking a seat behind the counter. Anyone else here? She glanced around the empty shop. Her eyes lingered on the door labeled ‘The Magic Room’. Anyone not familiar with the supernatural read the sign as ‘Employees Only’. Being part of a long line of witches, Jesi saw through the glamor.

No. Only Hayley and her new tattoo so far today, Maggie said.

That’s why she looked extra smug.

Yes. Roger did it himself. ‘It’s runic for Gift. Roger says I’m a gift to the world. But you wouldn’t know much about runes’. Maggie’s impression of Hayley was spot on. Looks like a bunch of crisscrossed lines if you ask me. Anyway, what happened?

I don’t know what you’re talking about, Jesi said. She wasn’t sure she wanted to share her morning with anyone. She wanted to digest it all first.

Really? Maggie said. You barge in here, slam the door, practically sling the bells across the room, and end up panting against the door. But you don’t know what I’m talking about. Maggie looked back at the door. Were you chased? Did Mr. Fuller’s dog get off his leash again? I know Bunny looks fierce, but his name is Bunny and he just wants to lick you.

No, Jesi said. She leaned back into the chair and looked at the ceiling. How could she explain this to Maggie? Or anyone else, for that matter?

Then something happened at the police station? What did you find out?

Not much. Jesi put her head in her hands. It’s so embarrassing.

Really? Maggie dragged out the word. Her southern accent came through. She leaned forward and rested her head on her hands. Start from the beginning. Jesi stared at Maggie. She knew she had to tell her. But did Maggie have to look so eager?

You can tell me or you can tell Aunt Sylvia, Maggie added. Aunt Sylvia was the coven leader. Jesi never wanted to tell Sylvia about her fiasco at the police station.

Fine. I’ll tell you. Jesi crossed her arms over her chest. So, I walked into the precinct. I have my suit on that surprisingly still fits after sitting in my closet for a year, I have my bag, my business cards, and a plan. I walk up to the desk and request to speak to the detective in charge of Aiden Jacob and Pattie Nelson’s disappearances. After explaining that I was the families’ attorney, they pointed me towards two desks on the right side of the room.

Okay, I’m going to stop you right here and say your suit is on point. Go ahead.

Thank you. I go to the desk. There I met a Detective Thompson–tall, dark, and pervy. He kept looking me up and down. From Thompson, I learned that they know little about the case. We actually have more information than the cops right now. Also, he isn’t really working on it. Detective Chuck Massey is the lead on the case, but his assigned partner just had a baby, so Thompson is filling in when needed. Then, Detective Massey shows up while I’m trying to get Thompson to stop shaking my hand. Massey is tall, blond, blue eyes, and has way too much confidence. Typical detective.

I like him already. Go on.

You would. First, I ask if he has any updates. He says no. I explain that my clients want to be in the loop. He pushes back on sharing information and we banter back and forth. I hand him my card, which he doesn’t look at, and I shake his hand. And I find out nothing.

That’s it? How is that embarrassing?

"No. I saw nothing. No vision, no past, no present. There was no gleaning. When I shook Thompson’s hand, I saw his entire life story. His mom, sisters, the partner he actually works with, how he likes his coffee. I shook Massey’s hand and zilch. For the first time in a year, I touch someone and don’t see anything." Jesi rubbed her face with her hands. She only got the power to glean a year ago. She saw the past of anyone she touched. Even the briefest of nudges filled her head with a person’s history. If her skin touched another’s skin, she could write their biography. What if she was broken? Hope filled her for just a moment. She could get her life back.

Wow. I don’t know what to say. Do you think he’s a witch, too? But how is that embarrassing? Maggie’s eyebrows bunched together.

I kinda didn’t let his hand go. I actually grabbed on with my other hand. I kept looking from our hands to his face. Back and forth. Back and forth.

No, Maggie whispered.

Yes, Jesi said. I was so flustered. He actually pulled away. My brain kicked in and I let go. I thanked him for his time and I ran out of there. I raced here. What’s going on?

Maggie was looking at Jesi with wide eyes and an open mouth. Well, there are several, uh, reasons this could happen, she said breaking the silence.

Like what? Jesi asked. You said witch, but I was thinking demon. Or maybe I’m hopeless as a witch and should retire early, then go back to my regularly scheduled life.

Unlikely, Maggie said. He could be a witch that has a charm to reject other’s magic. What did he smell like? When you touched him, did you feel anything at all?

Well, he smells amazing. Like cedar and spring rain. And when we touched, there was a little static and a feeling of warmth moved up my arm.

Cedar and spring rain? Did you hug him?

Jesi shook her head.

Maggie continued, Tell me about the static. Was it a lot of static? Anything else you noticed in that moment?

Normal static, but instead of making me jerk my hand back, I just latched on and I couldn’t look away from his eyes.

He could be a demon. You said his eyes were blue. Did they flicker while you were holding his hand?

No. I’m sure. There was something about him I couldn’t tear my eyes away from.

Well, there is a thing, but I want to look into it first.

Out with it, Jesi said, pointing at Maggie.

I don’t want to give you the wrong idea, in case I’m wrong, Maggie said, drumming her fingers on the counter.

Jesi stared at Maggie. Out with it, she said again. Maggie had an annoying habit of never being wrong, yet she always second guessed herself. She was a bit of a research queen. Normally, Jesi appreciated her thoroughness, but right now, she needed answers.

He could be your complement, Maggie said with a small shrug.

What’s a complement? Jesi asked.

Maggie’s drumming stopped. Really? She stood up and went into the room behind the counter. Maggie had a workshop there where she put together teas, potions, and spell bags.

Jesi didn’t move. She was overwhelmed. She was sinking. Law school fooled her into thinking she would never feel overwhelmed again. Even at her first job as a lawyer at the local law firm, Goldstein, Moore, and Smith, she never buckled under the load. Being the lead on a case for the first time was empowering, not overwhelming. Then a year ago, Jesi’s great-grandmother, Gigi, passed away.

Gigi was a force all her own. She was the leader of the Moonlight Oak Coven. She had respect and knowledge and opened this shop decades ago. Most importantly, Gigi had the witch power to glean. Many viewed this as a dangerous power, to know everything about a person with a single touch. Invasive powers, like gleaning, were only gifted to one witch at a time, or so the old books said. Once that witch dies, it moves on to another one, usually one within a different coven. Often a different country. When Gigi died, the ability to glean, much to everyone’s surprise, went to Jesi.

As a kid, Jesi was happy she didn’t get a witch power. She and Maggie were the first children in three generations to not develop one. She stopped paying attention to all the coven lessons, not that she had paid much attention before. She grew up and pursued a career. Then Gigi died. When Jesi woke up that day, everything felt energized. Her hair cooperated; all the lights were green on the way to work. She got a good parking spot. She felt vibrant. Then she shook a colleague’s hand and everything stood still. She dropped to the floor, flooded with images of his past, good and bad. She couldn’t breathe as everyone started touching her, trying to help her up. Asking what was wrong. That was the day overwhelming took on a new meaning. Jesi ran to her office and barricaded the door. She called the first person who came to mind – Gigi. But Gigi didn’t answer. Maggie did and came to her rescue. She brought her gloves and a hat, ‘just in case’. Maggie was the one who deserved this gift. Jesi thought it was a curse.

Today, she thought gleaning would become that gift everyone told her it was. She could help find the missing children and she failed. It failed. And here she sat, disappointed in herself and delighted at the same time. She felt like the worst sort of person.

Maggie came out of the back room with a stack of books in her arms.

I didn’t know there were books in there, Jesi said.

There aren’t. Maggie put the books on the counter. They’re from the library connected to it.

I always forget about that room, Jesi muttered, grabbing the book off the top. Old Magik and Companions by Joseph Starland.

And where are the books you took home last night? asked Maggie.

In the car, Jesi said. She turned the page and skimmed. All I found was a good collard greens recipe.

Okay, said Maggie, so, a complement is a person perfectly suited for an active witch, one with a witch power. It’s like a familiar that’s humanoid, Maggie said as she flipped through the next book on the stack.

How come I’ve never heard about this? Jesi asked.

Well, for one, you didn’t pay attention to the lessons, Maggie said. "And not many witches find their complement. The only pair I know about were Gigi and Gramps. Oh, here is one description. ‘If a witch is pure and has the luck of old,