Sinful Sundaes 3
 

 Join us again as we bring you sweetly erotic tales with candied desires that take place in and around Sinful Sundaes Ice Cream Shoppe. Kick back and enjoy a few hours of sinfully scrumptious deserts and other delectable delights from Spellfire’s most favorite deli and sweet shop.

Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi, Contemporary, Erotica

PDF Ebook
HTML Ebook 
Print Version

Sundae: Anna Fallon Syrup, Dumplings, & Saucery
Libby must perfect her seducing saucery, but she is busted preparing it by the very man she is trying to attract.

Mondae: Munchies & Hot Monsters, Leanne Strange
When a young witch doctor attends the annual Mad Scientists Treasure Hunt Bash, she unearths monstrous passions in the most improbable place meant for desire.

Tuesdae : Taffy & Hot Things, Leanne Strange
Things get even hotter as Manny and Taffy unearth clues that lead to surprising results in their passionate search to find lasting happiness.

 Wednesdae: Wonton Wishes & Vamperic Delights, Megan Hussey
For hardworking divorcee Madeleine, days are the same; but Wednesday escapes to Spellfire brings magic, pleasure, ice cream, and an affair with a hunky vampire. 

Thursdae: Tidbits & Theatrical Passions, Mae Powers
What’s a fairy author to do when her mental juices aren’t flowing. Get her physical ones revving, of course. 

Fridae: Frappucinos & Fantasies, Mae Powers
Can a long-time friend help Damien Spellfire get over the loss of his old flame; or will a freaked-up fantasy spell be their undoing? 

Saturdae: Sandalwood & Sassafras, Emery LaRue
Jacob is in Spellfire to build a bridge over the falls. He never expected the healer Amira to help him burn a few bridges in the process.

__________________

Sundae: Syrup, Dumplings & Saucery
By   Anna Fallon  

“Holy Shoot!” Libby never cursed, she thought it crass. “Shoot, shoot, shoot…I need to try again.” She watched her magic potion bubble up and over the sides of the pot. “I’ll never get this syrup dumpling sauce right.” She’d spent all day at her kitchen table. It was her only workspace. Her apartment was…cosy. Some would say poky, but Libby had no need for a huge living space. After all she lived alone.

This dessert was to be her signature dish in the Sweet Love Competition, and the entries had to be in by nine Monday morning, tomorrow.  These dumplings would have magic for love in the sauce. Libby liked to call it Saucery. Right now this muck wouldn’t seduce a sex maniac. “Snuff it! I’ll likely give him food poisoning, not a love buzz.”

“Who are you poisoning on this fine Sunday?”

Libby jumped, startled because she knew exactly who it was by the voice. Holy Mary, Mother of God. I’m busted. “Chance Chandler, don’t you believe in knocking?”

“I knock on the doors of people I don’t know, but not my best friend.”

“I’m not your best friend. You have men friends for that.” Libby could feel him behind her, peering over her shoulder. His hard body so close to her, the spicy scent he wore made him seem tastier than ever. She didn’t have to look at him to know his dark hair would be flopping over his sky-blue eyes. And he’d brush it away with his large, smooth hands. Hands she wanted on her body.

If this potion worked, she’d be turning their friendship into love. If he ate it, and he loved her, her feelings would become clear to him. If he didn’t love her, then he would be none the wiser. But it would only work if both people truly loved each other. Sometimes you could think you loved someone, but they might not be The One for you.

“You are my best friend, Libby. Those assholes don’t understand me wanting to specialize in magic. They think I should be more manly, and become a were, or a vamp. Since when does being a wizard mean I’m not fucking masculine?”

“Language! You know how I feel about swearing. The only people who swear are…”

“People who don’t have enough brains to think of another word…” he stood beside her, still peering into the saucpan. His broad shoulders seemed to fill her small cooking space easily. She eyed him with suspicion. “Are you mocking me?” She looked up at him. Most of the doorways he went through he had to duck so as not to knock his head. When he hugged her close, his heartbeat beat leveled with her ear. Now, if he would only admit he loved her everything would be alright.

“No.” His wide grin told her otherwise. “I’ll get you to curse one day, Libby.”

“Like hullabaloo you will.”

“Finding words to replace words means you have the curses bubbling in there dying to get out.”

“You are entitled to your opinion.”

“What is this mess? Sundays are supposed to be for relaxation.” He Pointed his finger at her messed up saucepan.

“It’s my Sweet Love entry. It’s snuffed. And I had nothing better to do. I can’t stand doing nothing all day, even on a Sunday.”

“Maybe I can help. What is the spell in it?”

Libby spun around on him then, “Nothing! I mean…nothing special, just a feelgood buzz. This sticky goo wouldn’t attract a fly.” Libby couldn’t dare let on the potion was meant to seduce him. Or at least see if he felt the same as she did. No way on God’s Green earth did she intend to set herself up for a fall if he didn’t feel the same. This way she would have control of the situation. And having control was important to her. She didn’t like lying either, but desperate times…

“Tell me your ingredients, and how you put them in, maybe you missed a step.”

Move away from me. I can’t concentrate. “I’ll be fine, I’m sure you are busy.”

“I was busy, but the bloody Wizards Guild cancelled on me. Tossers.”

“Language. Please, you know I’m sensitive.”

Chance leaned down into her ear and whispered, “Sensitive, huh? Me too.”

Then desire hit her like a freight train. Why, oh, why did she have to fall head over heels in lust with Chance Chandler? He goaded her, swore in front of her, generally made a complete  nuisance of himself. But still, Libby wanted to have him. Chandler never mixed friendship with personal stuff. He was a damn good wizard, one of the best Spellfire, Texas had ever seen. Problem was, he came in during an ebb in popularity for wizards. Everyone wants to be the dark and sexy villian type these days. Not the guy with long wavy hair, a kaftan and a star-covered, pointed hat.

__________________________________

Mondae: Munchies & Hot Monsters

by Leanne Strange 

Chapter One

Evylenda Deviltree couldn’t wait for the annual Monster Bash Treasure Hunt. Each year the League of Spellfire Mad Scientists gathered at Sinful Sundaes to start it out, then it ended at the Mad Scientist Convention Center situated at the west end of town. All the students from the Alchemy Academy, of legal age of course, were allowed to participate in finding where the professors hid body parts of a non existent monster and the team or person who had the most parts to build a monster won. Sometimes bits of treasure instead of monster or creature parts were used.

It was open to all former students and alumni too of the Alchemy Academy, but mad scientists and monster makers from around the globe often attended. Everyone filtered in and out through the first day of the events, getting their first clue and then they would start the next day hunting for monstrous treasures or body parts, depending on what the clue said.

A few years she teamed with some of her former classmates. However, this year, she was alone in her endeavor. Her parents were no longer residing in Spellfire, but had retired to Galveston and most of her friends were off on a honey moon or getting top-notch positions around the world at some of the more prestigious companies that often hired mad scientists.

So she was fiftieth in her class of 2002, and still had yet to find her a good position with some monstrous conglomerate, but she wasn’t doing too bad, working as an understudy with Doctor Igoran BloodFest, who was the lead monster doctor in Spellfire. He had patients from all over come to him for fixing them up. She felt she only got the position as his assistant since he was a good friend of her father’s.

Building monsters and repairing their wounds wasn’t her ideal job, but she’d found a niche for it for the last few years she’d been working with Doctor BloodFest. Some of his patients in fact, often donated some of their old parts for the Monster Treasure Hunt. Even monstrous monsters had a sense of humor, most the time.

Some monsters and creatures liked hunting themselves for the treasures or body parts. She’d known one of them, Fangor Freeky who found one chesty part and gave it to his girlfriend so she wouldn’t have to get a plastic boob job. The girl had come in to Doctor BloodFest’s office and the weirdly doctor exchanged the new, dead bigger boobs for Fangor’s girlfriend’s old ones.

Spellfire really did have some of the most oddest creatures visiting and inhabiting it. Still she loved the town most the time; though she did often want to do some traveling beyond her own back yard. She lived on a lane just down the street from Boodoirs, in a house her parents left to her after their retirement. It wasn’t large, but she loved it’s spacious rooms and how the wind howled so frighteningly it made a blood curdling sound when the windows were open and the winds gush through the house.

Now here it was Monday, and at 10 am she’d get her first clue to the treasure she had to find. Or the body part she’d have to unearth somewhere here in or around Spellfire. Since most weekends were always busy in town and especially at Sins, the day for the gathering was always scheduled on Sunday in the early am and part of the afternoon. Then, at the end of the second day of the event, or Monday, the person or team would bring their parts or buried treasures found to the Mad Scientists Convention Center where the Board Trustees would tally them up. Then the team or person with the most body parts or treasures, won a trip to wherever they wanted to go in the world.

Be it a human destination or paranormal, or out of this world, they got an all-expense paid trip to wherever they wanted to go. She sighed as she twirled on the booth, waiting for Professor Plummet and the others on the Monster Squad Board to get there. She and a few of her friends had come in second place once and won a weekend in the Gulf, well under the Gulf really at Serpentville, hundreds of feet below the surface water in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico.

That was quite an experience. She shuddered and brightened when the Professor entered. The room was packed that morning with the participants eagerly lined up. Most had been sipping on shakes or sodas or some other deliciously magical concoction that the Sins workers made. She’d just had a Munchie Mango Sundae, with extra whipped cream. It reminded her of her late boyfriend Kyllmon Bawdyperts, who like that flavor of sundaes and was always munching on something or another.

________________________________

Tuesdae : Hot Taffy & Things

by  Leanne Strange

 Chapter One

     Taffeta Trueheart, non-practicing tooth fairy, took a seat at the counter in Sinful Sundaes Ice Cream Shoppe. Her boyfriend Mano A. Mano, whom everyone called Manny, hopped off her shoulder and onto the counter. No one minded that Manny rested on top of the counter because he was a disembodied left hand.

=Taffy pulling contest,= Manny tapped on the napkin dispenser in Morse code, and then slid a flyer across in front of her.

Taffy laughed. “I doubt they'll let us enter. I don't have a sprained wrist this year.”

=Can't hurt to ask, if you want to do it.=

“Sure, why not?” She pressed her fingers to Manny's and squeezed. “We came in third place last year and won a pint of ice cream. Electra was good enough to put a charm on it.”

Electra Spellfire Ruveaux, the missing owner of Sins, called the special ice cream Manifestival Mocha. When a little was spread on top of Manny's wrist, it temporarily replicated his real body. The effect lasted about an hour. They'd eventually realized the spell was depleting his DNA, using it to create the rest of his body instead of merely replicating it. Eventually, if used too often, he would just disappear altogether. Taffy had noticed that his wrist area was a little shorter than when they first started going together, and he'd only used the ice cream a dozen times or so in the past year.

=Too bad it didn't work like we wanted,= he tapped against her hand.

“I know,” she said softly. “Electra tried, but she explained it's very difficult when creating a spell that works with DNA. I know you were expecting to be able to use the Manifestival Mocha more often so you could have your body.”

=I wanted to be normal.=

Manny's taps were sad. Somehow, she came to know his emotions even though he didn't have a voice to inflect or a face to register his feelings. She sensed them, especially when he was touching her.

“What's normal?” Taffy tried to cheer him up. “Here in Spellfire, it's normal to be different. I'm a tooth fairy, and there are sorcerers, witches, elves, ogres, Munchkins, vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and too many other supernatural creatures to mention that live in this town.”

=I know...but there aren't any other beings who are just hands.=

She lifted him and brushed a kiss across his knuckles. “That just makes you special. And you are a very special man.”

He rubbed her cheek with his forefinger, but she sensed he was still unhappy. She set him down on the counter again.

“Hi, Taffy, Manny. How's it going?” Damien Spellfire greeted them as he came from the back. He was Electra's twin brother and had been helping to run Sinful Sundaes since his sister disappeared. Damien held out his hand to Manny, who gave him a quick low five then formed a circle with thumb and forefinger indicating A-OK.

“Great,” Taffy answered, although life would be better for Manny if he had his body. She totally accepted Manny as he was, but he would be happier if he knew his name and where he came from and was a whole body instead of only a hand.

“Here you go, Manny.” Damien opened the cash drawer. Manny hopped in and started counting the day's receipts. Damien looked at Taffy. “Can I get you anything?”

“Seltzer with a twist. It's one of the few things you serve that doesn't make me tipsy.”

Damien grinned and started filling her order. “Yeah, Harpy told me to watch you and milkshakes. I didn't know sugar made tooth fairies drunk.”

“It's true even though I'm no longer a working tooth fairy. The tooth fairy queen booted me out last year. But it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I got a job at the Spellfire Wax Museum. Best of all, Manny and I got together.”

Manny gave a thumb's up then continued counting the money.

“How's your job at the museum going?” Damien set a glass filled with sparkling water, topped with a wedge of lemon in front of her.

“I just received a promotion.” Taffy took a sip of the refreshing drink.

“Congratulations.” Damien leaned over the counter and rested on his elbows. “So you won't be guiding tours anymore?”

“I still have a schedule of tours to guide, but not as many as before. I'll be going out in the field to pick up donations and do research. When they add a new wax dummy, they need physical descriptions, pictures, and portraits, when they can get them, if the person is deceased. I'll be helping to track them down.”

“Sounds interesting.” Damien glanced at Manny who had just finished counting the money and jumped to the counter, picking up a pen to write the amount on a pad. “Thanks, Manny.”

Taffy sipped her seltzer water. Manny stood expectantly on tip-fingers, angled toward Damien.

___________________________________----

Wednesdae:

Wontons, Wishes & Vampiric Delights
by Megan Hussey

Chapter One

“My new day off is Wednesday? Nothing ever happens on a Wednesday.”

Sighing deeply, Madeleine Moonraker regarded her new work schedule with obvious ire.

Jodi Deane, her best friend of seven years, closed the door of their compact cubicle at Superior Office Systems in Houston, Texas. Then she faced her friend with hard, assessing eyes.

“Maddie, you’ve complained about every schedule I’ve suggested,” she shrugged helplessly. “Just what day off would work for you?”

 “Who knows?” Madeleine rolled her eyes heavenward. “Saturday, the most obvious choice, just didn’t work. The movie theaters are too crowded, you have to wait in line at the misleadingly named Shop n’Go until time immemorial. And last weekend I hit a white sale with tragic consequences. Some little old lady and I nearly duked it out over the last booster bra…”

“So wouldn’t Wednesday be an improvement?” Jodi cocked her head curiously.

Heaving a second heated sigh, Madeleine plopped down unceremoniously behind her desk.

“Honestly, Jodi, I don’t think any day would work for me right now,” her tone lowered to a confidential whisper. “A free day only gives me the opportunity to mope, to reflect on the divorce, and…” she pursed her lips thoughtfully, “well, pathetically speaking, not that much else has been going on in my life lately.” She shifted uneasily in the face of this admission.

Smiling supportively, Jodi took a seat beside Madeleine and gestured toward the troublesome schedule.

“Next Wednesday, why don’t you take a day trip?” she said. “Why don’t you go back home?”

“To Spellfire?” Madeleine arched her eyebrows. “It’s been ages since I’ve been back home.”

Leaning forward, Jodi fixed Madeleine with an assessing gaze. “Yet you remember every person, every place, every detail of your life in Spellfire.” She nudged Madeleine, who gave her a small but sincere smile in response. “A trip to Spellfire may be just what you need.”

* * * *

These words echoed through Madeleine’s mind the following Wednesday, as her sleek ruby red roadster made its way through the tree-lined streets that lead to the place of her birth.

The sun today illuminated the emerald green leaves that graced the stately oak, which in turn oversaw golden fields and sparkling azure brooks.

These scenic backdrops, Madeleine reflected, had first inspired her parents, both artists who selfishly refused to pass on one speck of artistic talent to their daughter, to move to Spellfire when she was a child.

At age 18 Madeleine left the picturesque community, and its most unique populace, for the sake of a big city business college, and a big city boyfriend who eventually became her husband.

The couple visited Spellfire several times during the course of their married life. Yet, when she was 25, her father died. When she was 29, her mother passed. At age 30, her marriage died.

Plagued by memories and mental exhaustion, her body ceased its trips to Spellfire more than two years ago. Still, her mind and psyche continued to visit nearly every night.

Her dreams were filled with nocturnal visions of fairies and elves, sprites and vampires, sumptuous ice cream sundaes and sinful secrets. For eight blissful hours she felt no pain nor doubt; only a seamless reverie that captured memories of a happier, easier time.

She really hoped that a visit to Spellfire would bring succor to her soul, or at least a pleasant diversion to lighten troubled days.

The sound of a small, but forceful voice broke Maddie’s meditation, causing her to slam the brakes and stare with wide eyes at the road before her.

Standing at the center of this road was a tiny blonde fairy, who now regarded her through narrow, gem blue eyes. Although Madeleine grew up around paranormal creatures, seeing one in the middle of the road was a shocker; even with no one else on the road this time of day!

“Easy, lady,” she pointed a condemning finger in Madeleine’s direction. “Although admittedly a ravishing sprite, even Mairead would not make pretty road kill.”

Madeleine shook her head, clearly overwhelmed by this assertion.

“Do I know you?” she cocked her head.

____________________________________________

Thursdae:

Tidbits & Theatrical Passions

by Mae Powers

“…Christina flew swiftly away from the cloud monster hurling lightning down toward her. She dodged all of his sizzling bolts and then, just as the next bolt of weathered energy shot out toward her with dire threat she…”

Taylora Moonfire twined her curly blonde hair around one long, elegant finger while her other hand drummed for a second on the desktop. She glanced away from the screen momentarily and caught her reflection in the decorative mirror on the wall near the door of her den. Her hand dropped from twirling her hair as she surveyed her short, lithe frame, and then studied her pale face. Her blue eyes and heart-shaped face looked haggard. Too much frustration trying to write lately.

She tore the sheet of thought-paper out of her mystic machine and blew the contents from it clean. She was having a hard time processing her next best seller. Why the hell couldn’t she just get her brain in gear and write lately? She hadn’t been able to write anything for the last three months and her editor expected something…anything really, like an outline and sample chapters soon...on Taylora’s next fairy tale romance.

Well, the next in her lust and love filled Moonfire Magic series. They’d been her best sellers for about ten years now, since she started submitting to the top-notch publishing company in Faetown.

Paranormal Press dwelt in the mystic realms on the edge of the Spellfire Caverns just where the Fae Realm bordered Mystic Meadows. There lay a whole city within the plane of existence between the fairylands and the human world. Her father came from Faetown, one of the bigger Fairy Realm metropolises, while her mother was from Spellfire. It was Tay’s own knowledge of both worlds that made her writing so popular in Faetown and other fairy planes of existance for the fairy folk who actually liked to read.

She wrote of human and paranormal adventures in forgotten, real, and make-believe worlds. She threw action and mystery, as well as sizzling romances and nasty villains, into her books. And the fairy folk adored her real-life style writing with soap-operarish tidbits in them.

But for the life of her, she hadn't been able to write a blasted thing for the last few months. Maybe what she needed was just a day out; she’d been cooped up in her apartment for months now, hardly ever going out. She needed something different to write about. What about, she had no idea, but perhaps a day out in town. While the nice weather held, she might just pick up on something if her damn brain would get out of it’s writer’s blockage.

She threw on some fresh togs, slipped into her walking shoes, then headed into Spellfire. She lived in the same townhouse sector as her prankster friend Shai, so she didn’t have far to walk to reach downtown. Taylora liked keeping fit the human way, and unlike most fairies, she didn’t need wings to fly--if she wanted to fly.

Her father was a wingless fairy, and her mother being only half-Fae meant she had been born with no wings. The two were retired in Faetown and loving it. Which was fine with Taylora, since both used to take such an avid interest in her life while growing up. Now, she breathed a sigh of relief, because they let her do as she pleased.

And it pleased her right now to get out and get some of the stifling Texas air. Still, born here and living here a long time, one got used to it. When she reached the main street, she turned and walked into Sinful Sundaes Ice Cream Shoppe to stop for the Thursday Tibits Special. She came at least once a month here on Thursdays for the little take-out morsels made of flour and cheese and bits of pepperoni, that her friend Harpy Collins made for the specialty diner and dessert place. Sinful Sundaes, to most in Spellfire was more than an ice cream parlor. They had other great items on their menu.

She walked in and saw several people she knew, amongst them Horrible Henry teasing some elderly witches. She shook her head and went to the main counter to place her order. Within a few minutes, she received her tidbits to go. They were good cold or hot, so she liked to munch a few at a time to savor their tasty, mouthwatering flavor of fried dough, cheese, and pepperoni.

After popping a few of them, she stuffed the bag in the pocket of her lightweight jacket and went across the street to peruse another shop.

Her next stop was Trinket’s, and she browsed their fine selection of spell books and novelties. She said hello to the owners, but didn’t make a purchase.

Nothing new happening there. After about half an hour, Taylora left with still no idea of what to write. Maybe she just wasn’t feeling the inspiration the things, places, and people once gave her in Spellfire. Maybe she needed a trip outside of Spellfire to get her juices flowing again--her mental juices.

She sighed, her mind occupied by those thoughts. A sudden gush of wind zipping past her nearly knocked her down. A being in an old 1900’s getup stopped dead in front of her. Dead, yep, for quite some long years now. Horrible Henry, the raunchiest ghost in most of Spellfire made her halt in her tracks.

“Oh, sorry about that, Taylora. Got’s a hot watch to see.”

She quirked an eyebrow at him. “You peeping in on someone’s fun, Henry? You’re into voyeurism?”

_________________________________

Fridae:
Frappucinos & Fantasies

by Mae Powers

Chapter One

Maejika liked her Friday outings. Her first stop after leaving the Spellfire Spawn Newspaper office in the hands of her capable assistant Fangard Ramirez was to stop in at Sinful Sundaes and have a brew of Freaky Frappucino. For years, at least a decade anyway, she would stop in there early and visit with Electra Spellfire. Old habits were hard to break and old friends were sorely missed.

People had been lost in the battle on New Year's Eve, but they lost Electra in a final battle with LifeCore. Maejika had no problem imprisoning Frieda for that dastardly deed. Now, it had become her habit of late to stop in at Sins in the early morning and have a Frappucino with Damien Spellfire, Electra’s twin brother.

Since Electra’s disappearance (she hated to think of her friend as dead), she and Damien Spellfire had started having their morning brew together. Besides his sadness over losing his sister, he’d broken up with Shai, his fairy lover. From the small amount of info Damien told her, Maejika learned that Damien broke up with the fairy because Shai and Morgan LeHavoc wanted to marry. The threesome became a twosome. Maejika and Damien had been friends for a long time. He confided in her as much as Electra had, more at times.

She’d do almost anything for him. Walking into Sins, she noted only Harpy Collins-Spellfire on duty at first. Harpy waved hello to her then pointed upstairs. Maejika went toward the back of the ice cream shop and up the stairs that led to a spacious apartment above the novelty diner.

Electra had turned the place over to Harpy and Derek Spellfire when Electra and Alex had opened Garnets. Currently, Derek and Damien Spellfire often helped Derek’s wife Harpy run Sinful Sundaes.

Damien, Electra’s twin brother, had taken over his sister’s potion business, which she’d run from the apartment above the shop. Maejika and he sometimes took their frappucinos up to Electra’s old workroom.

She entered the main living room and not seeing him there or in the kitchen, she went to the back room that served as Electra’s workshop. She saw Damien sitting at a desk and perusing a large book. She figured it might be a potion spell-making book since she also noticed some half-filled vials in front of him.

At her soft knock on the open doorway, he put the book to one side and looked up at her. “Hi Maj,” he smiled and stood up.

She liked the soft sound of the pet name he always used for her. Damien stood tall and had dark hair like his twin, but was fairer of skin like his mother, instead of the soft toasty brown skin-tone like his father and sister.

He moved away from the desk to greet her with a warm, friendly hug. His powerful arms felt even warmer than she’d felt before from him. Funny, she’d never noticed how sensually comfortable his hugs felt. She shook the thought off and returned the embrace.

Moving apart, she smiled up at him. You look a bit more rested, Damien.”

“You mean less drawn out, I’m sure. It’s only been a few months since both things happened, Maejika. I’m holding up well. You look a little less stressed yourself. Ready for a frappucino? I’ll make them up here today.”

“Up here is good. Come on, I’ll help.” She turned and left him to follow her into the kitchen.

On a nearby counter, Maejika left her handbag and shawl, and took off her oversized shirt she often wore for a jacket. She laid that on a chair in front of the kitchen table. The room was very large and always in use somehow.

“You look like you’ve lost weight.” Damian pulled out a chair then sat down. “Usually you wear those loose, long dresses with all those frills on the edges. That scoop-neck T and brown slacks flatter you.”

“Thanks, Damien,” was all she could muster as a reply.

 She felt a little self-conscious about the change of clothing, but not when she’d put them on earlier today. On Fridays, she usually wore slacks or a skirt with pockets, as she liked comfortable clothing in which to run her errands. Friday was her personal day and having her visit with Damien. They drank at least two frappes on Fridays and then one the other days of the week as they had time to visit.

Electra had never cared for frappes and barely had coffee, but the woman loved tea. When she and Damien realized they both liked Freaky Frappucinos, they started a regular time to meet on a regular basis, just after Electra’s disappearance. However, they’d met off and on over the years to have one without Electra. Now, it just seemed a special thing that brought them closer together.

She opened the fridge, pulling out t a variety of ingredients. “Do you want extra Freaky today? Or just a regular flavoring.”

“Extra Freaky can be nice, Maj. Have you ever tried it?”

_______________________________________

Saturdae: Sandalwood & Sassafras

by Emery LaRue

Amiria Sanchez enjoyed her delicious breakfast of Sassafras Lemon Tea and buttered, berry scones at Sinful Sundaes Ice Cream Shoppe. At least one Saturday a month she got up a little early before opening her healing and herbal shop and had breakfast at the town’s most popular delicatessen.

This particular Saturday morning she’d had things to ponder over while she ate.

Amiria just finished dressing for the day and started to prepare for the short walk to town when she first saw him. Rumors had been circulating for the last few weeks about the man hired to build the bridge over Selkie falls.

Jacob McMasters was his name, and they say he possessed no magical talent. It mattered little to, Amiria. If the town itself felt threatened by the man, he wouldn’t be down on the riverside. Spellfire, unique in every way, had a way of weeding out the bad and embracing the good.

Stepping from her porch, she watched the new comer from the corner of her eye. He certainly was tall. At her five foot four inches, he would tower over her. In his frame, she could see a man who was not afraid of hard work. Even from the distance that separated them, she could see his handsomeness.

Since her small cottage was located on a street not far from the falls and which further led into town, her path to town brought her closer to the man and the small crew hired to help him in the project. The helpers were locals, some with magical talent and some without. The closer she came, the more her cheerful mood began to fade.  As a healer, she knew the difference between pain and grief. What she felt was most definitely grief, but it came from the new comer. It ran deep inside of him, and the feeling made her want to cry. To anyone else, he may seem just a man. To Amiria, he was a man in pain.

Their eyes met and she lost her breath, only now realizing she had stopped moving and stood staring at him. Only when he smiled and nodded did she tuck her head and continue walking. She had experienced the emotions of others before, but never on that level. Whatever hurt him, made him ache inside, it ran deep.

Amiria paused once she was out of his site, and tried to control her breathing. She’d immediately gone to Sins, where she ordered Sassafras Lemon Tea and buttered, berry  scones. Both helped her to calm down at first, but after she’d eaten and drank her tea, her mind instantly came back to her momentary meeting with the man. And how she’d felt afterwards when she’d walked away, her back to him.

Her hands had shaken and tears gathered in her eyes. Even now, as she left Sins and made her way to her shop, at the other end of the town’s main plaza of shops, she could still feel his pain; still feel his need to shout his anger to the world. Why would his grief remain with her after she had broken the contact?  She had lived in Spellfire all of her life, and she knew everything happened for a reason. Her need to reach out and heal him had been strong. Something told her he was here for more than the building of a bridge.

Taking another deep breath, she quickly finished making her way to the herbal and healing shop she owned called Sandalwood & Sassafras. The moment she opened the doors, the calm she needed washed over her. Besides home, this was her domain. Her own little part of the Spellfire community, she offered healing treatments and healing touch. She also sold the Sassafras herb to Sinful Sundaes so that they could make their delicious sassafras teas. They often used her handmade Sandalwood soaps too to clean the shop’s linen’s with.

She turned the sign to open and went about her morning routine of watering the trees and plants. She spoke to each in turn, knowing it would be something most would find odd. However, to Amiria, they were more than just plants.

“What do you think, Sassy?” She asked of the newly blooming Sassafras tree. “I see no reason why he would affect me more than any other.” She turned to the small pots of herbs in the large picture window. “Though I am calmer now, his pain ran so very deep.” She picked up her spray bottle and began to wet the leaves of the various plants. “Oh, I know what you’re all thinking, but I am telling you, this felt different.”

“Who are you talking to?”

The deep voice startled her, and she spun around, seeing none other than the object of her thoughts. So deep in thought she hadn’t heard the bell chime over the door. She groaned, knowing he’d heard her speaking to her plants. Images of his height and good looks were following her first thought fast. His dark hair, clipped in the back and longer in the front gave him a boyish charm, framing dark eyes that almost looked black. In those eyes, she could still see the pain.

 “Can I help you?” She prayed her voice sounded steady, because she felt anything but steady.

PDF Ebook
HTML Ebook 
Print Version