Spellbound

The breeze slithered around Beau’s shoulder, down his arm, and around his waist chilling his body into frozen submission.

This isn’t some innocent wind blowing over a body of water on a cool summer’s dusky night or a tickle of air that gently blows your hair dry after a day swimming in the ocean.

No. It’s none of those things. It’s a snake wanting to choke Beau to an inch of his life.

He’s felt it before. More so in the last three months than the previous three. The first three months after her death there was just silence. Deafening silence. The only noise Beau heard was his heartbeat. Barely.

But now for the last 90 horrific days, he could hear hers. In his dreams. Around every corner. At night. Only at night. And now in real time along every street in this town. No matter where he went, there she was. Her heartbeat was in his head at all times.

She was close, and he didn’t understand why. He’s never believed in ghosts or being haunted. Or believed in having visions of those who are no longer with us. Yet. Here he was. The steady rhythm of her heartbeat he heard everywhere now was like an unfinished song that might never find the peace he started to feel in the lonely silence of those first few months without her.

The only way to escape it, albeit briefly, was his running. That might never end either. But he’ll do anything to escape the visions of her. Anything to drown out the steady and slow whisper of a breeze that taps him on the shoulder every single night now. He doesn’t understand it. He just wants it to stop. But he doesn’t know how or how to make sense of any of this.

Mostly he ran so his heartbeat was the loudest sound of all. So that the heel/toe, heel/toe, heel/toe beat pounding the pavement on the silent city sidewalk like counting out the choreographed steps to an intricate dance was the only sound that was pitch perfect to his ears.

The faster he ran the farther she felt so he kept running. And tonight was no different. Until it was.

He didn’t even see her. The young woman now crawling all over the brick sidewalk picking up the books that flew out of her tote with the word Spellbound embroidered in pink letters.

Beau crouched down to help her.

“Miss, I’m so sorry. I didn’t even see you there,” he apologized. He scanned her body to make sure none of her was at least outwardly injured. But she looked perfect. It almost seemed she glowed.

She pushed up her glasses that had gone askew on impact and looked up at him.

“Nah, it’s as much my fault as it was yours. I couldn’t help but notice you’re being chased. I was looking to see the woman who was after you.”

Beau put his hand on her forearm and stared down at her in shock.

“Wait. You can see her too?”

The girl laughed.

“Of course! Plain as day! Who is she? What did you do?” she asked with a cheeky grin.

Beau looked deep into the girl’s eyes. He needed to know if he could trust her. He needed to know if she would think he was one crayon short of a full box like everyone else in his life did.

He had to go off his gut instincts here. That’s all he had to go on. He stared just to the point of being creepy when he had to make a choice. There was something he saw there in the caramel swirls of color that confirmed what his gut was telling him. This woman was different. He nodded to himself to go for it.

“That was my girlfriend. But she died 6 months ago. For the last 3 months, every night, I’ve felt her through the breeze and have had visions of her non-stop. Not good visions or memories. And her heartbeat. I hear it everywhere. The only way to drown it out, the only moment of solace I have is when I’m running. I don’t know how to get rid of her.”

The gal stood up with her tote full again of her book bounty like she was going to the library to study. The top of her head was barely high enough to graze Beau’s chin. Her chocolate brown ponytail fell over her shoulder and bobbed a little as she looked up at him with…with…is that glee? She gave a little hop and a clap.

“Ooooh! I’ve been waiting for you!?” She whisper-shouted almost giddy from her newfound excitement at this development.

“You have?” Beau asked bewildered. He wondered if she was as bonkers as he felt for the last few months.

“Oh yes!” She clapped again and grabbed his arm.

“Come with me!” She pulled him under a green awning and with a snap of her fingers at the front door she just stumbled out of, it opened without being touched by her.

Beau got dragged over the threshold and gawked at what he saw.

The door bumped into a wind chime that continued to reverberate for several seconds. The shelves and shop tables artfully placed around the open space were filled with crystals, and blue glass bottles labeled with names he didn’t recognize as any of the typical essential oils sold at a place like this. Beau looked around like he entered another dimension. He was hypnotized by the wall of cream-colored lighted candles behind the register. Hundreds of them. They were the only light in the store. He forced his gaze to the other side to be confronted with rows of books on white shelves. Some antique looking. All different sizes. Some were brand new with titles about potions and stars and planet alignments.

“What is this place?” He whispered in wonder still gazing at all of it not knowing where to keep his attention.

“It’s my shop! It’s called Spellbound. Clearly, it’s working its magic on you! My name is Luna, by the way,” she said in a way too chipper voice for this situation.

“Beau,” he replied.

“Oh, I know!” This time she giggles. Giggles!

She knows his name?

Beau was finally able to compose himself and looked at her.

“Are you…are you…a witch?” He whispered this last word as if he was forbidden to say it. Like Dorthy’s house might drop out of the sky from Kansas and fall on Luna if she fessed up and answered yes to his question. He suspected something odd to be afoot. This place had a vibe. But to him, witches were always kind of goth, dark, broody, black cauldrons full of bubbling animal guts and whatnot. This place was entirely too pink, light, and soothing to be witchy. He had to ask.

Luna shook her head at him like she thought he was silly.

“I prefer sorceress. But tomayto, tomahto,” she shrugged as if this was no big deal.

Beau looked back as if he was deciding to run or lean into this wild place he entered into. Being in this shop can’t be any worse than being chased by his dead girlfriend. Can it?

“Hissssssss.” A black cat jumped up on the white and gray marble counter in front of the register.

Beau startled and jumped back clutching his chest.

“Oh, that’s Midnight. He’s harmless!” Luna assured him. Luna snagged the feline up from the counter and the cat snuggled into her lime green and magenta pink sweater.

Beau looked around again wondering if this was a parallel universe, a dream, or a nightmare. Maybe it was all three. He turned toward the door again.

“I wouldn’t if I were you. She’s lurking out there looking for you. You’re safe here. My shop’s protected. And no, this is not a parallel universe and this is all very real. Not a dream...or nightmare.” She sighed like she pitied Beau for having such human thoughts.

Wait, did he say that out loud? He’s pretty sure he didn’t.

“Ha! Yup, that’s one of my many superpowers. Mindmelding. So fun and it totally freaks people out!” She laughed. It was a light and airy sound that filled the shop with warmth.

Beau shook his head as if to clear out cobwebs. What…is…happening?

“Ahh, yes, this is probably very confusing to you. You’re girl out there has unfinished business in this world. She can’t fully transition to the afterworld until she takes care of it, and it looks like whatever is unfinished has to do with you.” She gave him a smirk.

“Unfinished business…? What does that even mean?” he asked, exasperated.

“Hey now, my powers only go so far and only in the human realm. My best friend, Siler, afterlife middies, now that’s his expertise.”

“There’s more than one of you? And what’s a “middie”?” Beau questioned.

“Oh, you have no idea how many of us there are. Some of us are among you to help, others to hurt, and yet others to transform. You’ll never know which one is which (witch), pun certainly intended…” She winks at Beau …” until you need one of us to come to your aid. Lucky for you, I’m a helper. At your service.” She took a deep theatrical bow. Her brown leather skirt dropped below her knees as she dipped closer to the hardwood floor.

“A middie is a spirit who is stuck in the middle between here and the world beyond,” Luna clarified.

Beau swallowed taking this all in. He looked around again shook his head, and ran his hand through his black curly hair messing it up in the process.

“So you’re here to help me with getting rid of Cassandra? And your best friend will be able to tell me why she’s haunting me?” He lifted his brows in a way only a cynic could manage.

She grimaced. “We prefer the word stuck instead of haunt. Humans have watched too many horror films and truly misunderstand spiritual matters and the afterlife. You’ve been conditioned to believe spirits and ghosts are to be feared. Quite the contrary. Spirits, while not all well-intentioned, are most usually lost and stuck, especially middies, and they just need a little help resolving whatever is keeping their soul tethered to this side of things. Nothing to be scared of really. All this running you’ve been doing. I mean, don’t get me wrong, your calves look amazing, but it’s wholly unnecessary.”

She continued.

“Cassandra, my dear, Beau, is not trying to kill you. Humans are always so dramatic."

Beau was overwhelmed with relief. He lowered his arms to his side and unclenched his fingers from the intense half-moons his fingernails were digging into his palms.

Luna handed Beau a steaming cup of tea. When did that appear?

“I always keep the kettle on. Drink up. It will help calm your nerves. It’s my special blend.”

She winked again as if any of this was remotely playful or funny.

Beau sniffed the tea. Luna drank out of her own cup and swallowed.

Okay, she didn’t keel over and die.

“Geez, Beau. I’m not going to poison you!” She rolled her eyes at Beau’s paranoid thoughts. “I’m a helper remember.” She pushed his shoulder with a soft touch followed by a giggle.

Beau took a small sip, and almost immediately felt better.

“So what does Cassandra want if she doesn’t want to kill me?” he inquired.

Luna placed her tea beside her and stood up from the table of books she was leaning against. She came over and stood directly in front of Beau. Her eyes turned soft and her touch on his shoulders was feather-light. She stared deeply into his sapphire eyes and gave a simple one-word answer.

“Peace,” she said with a solemn tone. “That’s the simple yet standard answer for all spirits in this position. What her actual unfinished business is? That’s something Siler will have to provide insight into.”

Chills once again covered Beau’s body, but not in the same way as before. This was different. Luna’s touch made him feel…safe.

Luna patted his cheek. “You’ve had quite the night. I think it’s time for you to get some rest. Siler will be here tomorrow to explain his part in all of this.”

Beau looked down at this almost fairy-like being mesmerized by her gaze. “I’m not sure of you’re role in all of this yet.”

She squeezed his cheeks with a playful pinch. “In due time, my friend, in due time. Just know I’m here to help you,” she confirmed with a soft smile.

Beau turned toward the shop’s front door once more, but Luna tugged him toward the back where there was a hidden staircase.

“I can’t leave to go home?” he pleaded.

“Nope, not until we talk to Siler. Cassandra is still out there, and we are not sure what her business is. He’ll have more clarity on her and our next steps tomorrow. Tonight, you will stay in my guest room upstairs.”

Beau stumbled a bit. The adrenaline started to drain from his nervous system. He felt wobbly.

For someone so small in stature, Beau was surprised Luna helped him up the steep steps to her apartment. She was shockingly strong. Her arm wrapped tightly around his waist.

“Come on, sleepy head. You gotta rest up for what’s coming up next,” Luna warned with a mischievous smile. “You have no idea what’s in store.”