A Dismal Crystal Curse

A Dismal Curse by Constance Barker Copyright © 2023 Constance Barker All rights reserved. Similarities to real people, places or events are purely coincidental. 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. –––––––– Sign up for Constance Barker’s New Releases Newsletter I will never spam or sell your email address Check out my Author Page on Amazon Table of Contents Title Page Copyright Page Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two Chapter Twenty-Three Chapter Twenty-Four Chapter Twenty-Five Chapter Twenty-Six Chapter Twenty-Seven Chapter Twenty-Eight Chapter Twenty-Nine Chapter Thirty Chapter Thirty-One Thanks for Reading Catalog of Books Chapter One The night of the new moon was drawing closer. That meant the deadline for Cora to enter the Trial of the Six Crystals was also drawing near. But there had been a lot of changes in her life over the last two or three weeks, and she was no longer certain that she still wanted to enter the Trial. Lucas Whitecliff had asked her to be his steady, and she had accepted. They were happy together. Really happy. Actually, Cora couldn’t remember ever being so happy. They had only been dating for a couple of weeks, but she felt as if they'd known each other forever. It was a comfortable, easy, relaxing relationship—the kind she had always dreamed of having. Cora considered deep-diving into her own past for a while, but with learning that she was a witch from a long line of witches and that the Trial was dangerous, she seriously reconsidered her entry. And the more time she spent with Lucas, the less obsessed she became with her own past and learning about the parents who gave her up. What did it matter, anyway? She had found happiness with Lucas, she still owned her own business, and she was about to open another Bookheart store in the city. She had been thinking about doing that for a while, and it seemed like it was time to expand the business she loved so much. Riverton was the logical choice for the second store after considering three nearby cities. She knew people in Riverton, it was the closest city to the village, and she could still oversee both stores in-person. “I’m doing well, right?” she asked Hades as she curled into the corner of the sofa. From his perch on the window ledge, Hades turned to face her. “I would be inclined to agree with that statement.” He turned away again, his tail flicking back and forth like the pendulum on a clock as per usual. “Did I hear a but?” she asked, smiling. “No, but only because I didn’t voice it,” Hades said, leaping down from the ledge. “That doesn’t mean it wasn’t there, though.” “Right, right. So, what were you going to say after the unvoiced but?” She sipped tea and opened a paperback she had been reading before she found out that there was a whole magickal community in Lake Bay Village, and in the world in general, that she had never known about. The book had seemed very interesting before she had learned that she was a witch capable of all sorts of magickal acts. “Nothing that would make much of a difference, and nothing I haven’t already said about a hundred times today already.” She nodded. “The Trial.” “The Trial,” he said, stretching and yawning. It’s amazing how one’s perspective can change upon learning one is a witch, she mused silently as her gaze slid over the pages of the book without reading the words. Sighing, she closed the paperback and laid it longingly on the side table and took up her tea again. That she could accomplish. That much, she could at least do without having to remind herself to focus on her decisions. The doorbell rang. “Ali’s here,” Hades announced as he trotted to hunker behind the ottoman in front of the chair where Ali would inevitably sit. Cora didn’t question Hades’ knowledge of who was at her door. He had been right one-hundred-percent of the time. She opened the door with a smile. Ali beamed at her in return. “Hey you,” she said, bending to put the fidgeting, anxious Mizzy down. “Hi. Come on in,” Cora said, turning to watch as Mizzy the rooster ran headlong into the living room to find Hades. Hades pounced from behind the ottoman and over Mizzy, who cackled wildly and took up the chase immediately. “They get along so well,” Ali said, shutting the door. Cora and Ali went to the living room. “Would you like some tea?” Cora asked. “I was just sitting down to unwind and have a cup.” She pointed to the tea tray. “Would I ever,” Ali said. Cora poured her a cup and set the tray on the table beside her. “Sugar, honey, milk. It’s all there; just help yourself.” “Thank you.” Ali quickly put some honey in her tea and then sat back in her chair. “Three nights away,” she said, smiling over the teacup as she sipped. Cora blinked at her and shook her head. “Three nights?” Ali nodded. “Until the deadline for entry into the Trial of the Six Crystals. I just thought I’d drop by, have a visit, and remind you that the deadline approaches swiftly.” Her eyes twinkled. Mizzy and Hades stopped playing and sat on the rug in the center of the room talking and laughing. “Why, yes, I’m doing great, actually. You know, I’m still seriously considering the location in Riverton for the new bookstore. Exciting. Lucas and I, you ask...” Cora nodded, smiling. “I’m just happy