A Witch In Time (Eira Snow Cozy Mystery 5.5)(Paranormal Women's Midlife Fiction)

A WITCH IN TIME AN EIRA SNOW COZY MYSTERY SHORT STORY Victoria DeLuis For J. Published in 2023 by Deryn Publishing United Kingdom First Edition © 2023 Victoria DeLuis @ Deryn Publishing www.victoriadeluis.com All characters, places and events are fictional. Any resemblance to real persons, places or events is purely coincidental. The moral rights of the author have been asserted. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, stored, or distributed in any form, without prior written permission of the publisher. Contents A WITCH IN TIME Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter One I glanced around. People were everywhere. More than I’d ever seen in my life. Countless billboards flashed with lights, bombarding me with images. Movement filled my eyes, and noise filled my ears. Amongst the crowded chaos, I picked out the sound of someone singing. “Country Roads... Take me home. To the place I belong.” The familiar song and melody drew my attention to a man wearing nothing but his underwear, cowboy boots, and a cowboy hat. He played the guitar and sang in the street to a gaggle of excited onlookers. My eyes widened at the sight. Something I certainly never expected to see. For a moment, I wished I was home and reached my mind out to Niles. Despite the thousands of miles between us, my familiar responded and sent me a mental hug, along with the image of him prowling our quaint village home of Caerleon in South Wales with another cat. A soft purr rumbled inside him, and the fallen leaves and grass crinkled beneath the delicate pad of his paws. The tranquillity conveyed by his mind allowed me to breathe and centre my thoughts amongst the bedlam of Times Square. Gemma pulled close and linked her arm in mine. “You okay?” she asked, shouting to be heard above the surrounding noise. I sighed and nodded. “It’s just... a lot.” “I know what you mean. It’s like nowhere I’ve ever been.” “I love it!” Susan said, linking with my other arm. “The energy makes me feel super alive. It’s almost... electrifying.” She yelped and pointed as one of the billboards flashed an image of a lion’s head on a bright yellow background. “I can’t wait to see The Lion King tomorrow.” Susan had convinced us all to come to New York for the show. A once-in-a-lifetime experience, she’d billed it. Kate was meant to come too but had to work last minute. Such is the life of a Detective Inspector. It was a shame she couldn’t make it, but murderers and criminals rarely considered how their crimes might affect the holidays booked by the police when committing them. My idea of a vacation was getting away to relax and unwind. I imagined laying on a beach where the waves gently lapped at the shore, or walking in a picturesque valley surrounded by a mountain range where the fresh scent of grass and wildflowers assaulted my nose with their delicious fragrance. I wasn’t entirely certain that the high-energy weekend Susan had planned for us in New York was quite my pace, but had vowed to give it a go and enjoy myself. It was always a learning experience to push my boundaries, get out of my comfort zone, and do something new. We had tickets to a gala at the hotel tonight, which Robert Hendy, a lawyer friend of Susan’s partner Jane, had managed to get us. Then there was a full day of sightseeing and shopping to enjoy tomorrow, followed by the Broadway show. But for now, we were set to bask in a little pampering. Taking a deep breath, I searched the street for our destination. A place I hoped would be a calm oasis amongst the mayhem. With its glass front surrounded by vines and plants, it certainly looked the part. “Over there,” I said and pulled my friends in the direction of the salon and spa. As soon as we stepped through the doors, I let out a deep sigh of relief. A heady mix of lavender, citrus, bergamot, and eucalyptus drifted on the breeze, making me feel more at home, and the doors were surprisingly adept at blocking out the pandemonium outside. “Welcome, welcome.” A lady who looked to be in her early thirties came from around a bamboo panelled counter decorated with a bouquet of tulips and orchids and an array of lighted tealights in glass candle holders. She raised her hands in the air in welcome. A long chain of beads dangled around her neck, and she wore a long, flowing floral dress. Her hair was an elegant mass of curls that trailed down her back and had me reaching for my head, wondering how on earth she kept them so tamed and so free looking at the same time. The smile that split her face was warm and inviting as she rushed over to us. “Susan, Gemma, and Eira, I presume,” she said and pulled us each in for a deep hug while we confirmed which of us was which. “I’m Amelia. Me and my girls are here to take care of you and make you feel like a million dollars. If I forget who’s who, just give me a nudge and correct me,” she said in an accent that turned the word forget into fughet , and girls into goils . “Mr Hendy said to take great care of you, so you’re in for a treat. Mani-pedis, facials, massage therapy, body wraps. You name it, we got it. Why don’t we start by unwinding in the spa pool with a glass of champagne, and figuring out exactly what will make you ladies the happiest?” “Sounds like a dream,” Susan said before we all followed Amelia through the reception area and into the spa itself. “This place is so relaxing.” Soft music drifted through speakers in a pristine