Shadowhurst Mysteries

Witch of Shadows: Book 1

Welcome to Shadowhurst, where suburbia hides a secret, and that secret is me.

I’m Billie Stonewall, and people want me dead.

How I ended up as the only witch in a high school full of witch hunters is my fault.

The High Coven wanted to send me a message after I found myself on the wrong side of a shadower vanquishing. In front of a human.

Oops!

The message is loud and clear: Survive or die trying.

But Shadowhurst Academy isn’t so bad… if I ignore the rising number of students who’ve turned up dead.

The problem is, I can’t ignore it, and that’s where my life gets even more complicated.

All signs point to magic, and we all know what that means—yours truly is in deep.

Between blending in, searching for an elusive murderer, and keeping my magic under control, I’m in a world of hurt.

Who knew being a witch could be so dangerous?

EXCERPT

Prologue

It was a dark and dreadful afternoon, even by Shadowhurst standards. I walked the wide corridor of the academy with a scowl on my face and my clammy fingers wrapped around the cool silver handle of the dagger. The magic of the etched runes on the handle slammed into me with their power. By some luck, I remembered to pull out the dagger from the hidden compartment of my boot this time. Looking around the lengthy line of lockers on both my sides and the shadows that crept along them, I somehow had a feeling that dagger or not, I was in it deep this time. 

The tattered strap of my backpack dug into my shoulder and I couldn’t help but hiss and curse under my breath with each slow step. Why did I find it necessary to pack my grimoire for school today out of all days? I couldn’t very well chase the creature I followed here with two pounds of book strapped to my back. On the bright side, if I was right and a shadower was lurking on school grounds, I could always chuck the grimoire its way and hope to hit bone. Get it together, Billie! If I survived this, I would need to get my hands on the High Coven’s cloaking spell so I can leave the damn thing home next time. 

Home. Such a strange word to process after so much time spent on my own. Somehow, Shadowhurst had almost seemed like one and if I was being honest, I didn’t totally hate that fact. I might like it a little, which is saying a lot for me. I don’t even like myself on most days. 

With a grunt, I rearranged the backpack’s straps and wiped the unyielding sweat off my palms before continuing to make my way down the corridor. It was so empty and cold that I couldn’t believe this was the same place filled to the brim with students just a few hours ago. By now, those students were off the premises, leaving only me to roam the academy’s halls like I had a death wish. Why did I chase that shadower again? I mean, I could have just as easily packed my stuff and left with the rest of them. But no, I needed to be a hero as always. If only there was a spell to wipe someone’s conscience away because you know I’d use that in a heartbeat. 

As if on cue, a low growl rose from down the corridor, just beyond my sightline, and I froze in my place. My heart jumped so high in my throat I was sure I could bite right down on it. I took a deep breath and tried to wet my dry lips with whatever saliva was still left in my mouth without success. Around me, the air shifted, turning from a steady cool to an eye-reddening burn and confirming my suspicions. There was only one type of shadower that could radiate this much heat and luckily, I had my fair share of encounters with shapeshifters to know what to do. 

My fingers regained their grip on the hilt of the dagger and I used my free hand to pull an amber crystal from the side pocket of my backpack. Nothing got rid of a shifter faster than silver and fire, and I knew well enough to carry both with me at all times. 

Another growl filled the air, closer this time, followed by the sound of scurrying feet. The steps quickened, and I sped up to match their pace. This sucker is quick! 

As I ran, my messy braid bounced from side to side, catching on the studs in my leather jacket and making me curse through grit teeth each time. I rounded the corner, throwing my hands up to ready for an attack. 

The corridor was empty. 

DAMN IT! I picked up speed and ran toward the end where the door to the library was still wide open. There was only one place for this bastard to hide now and I was not letting it get away. My legs pumped, and I tried to think of the last time I went on an actual run, though judging by how my pathetic lungs were pulling air, I’d have to say it’s been a while. The dagger felt heavy in my hand and I used its weight to pick up momentum as I sliced my arms through the air. When I reached the library door, I skidded to a stop. 

The scent of iron filled my nostrils, but that wasn’t what gave me pause. There was something else at work here—something magical. I don’t know how I knew, but I just couldn’t shake the feeling that things were very wrong beyond that door and that magic had something to do with it. Better safe than sorry, I thought and reached for the power of the amber in my left hand. The crystal warmed against my skin before sparking to life. Shit! That’s hot! I yelped and nearly dropped the ball of fire to the ground. 

This definitely wasn’t the best way to start this but it would have to do. Not like anyone else was here to kill this monster. 

Frustrated, I peeked around the large, wooden doorframe to scan the room. The library was quiet which wasn’t unusual, most students avoided this place like the plague even during school hours. My breath hitched, and I forced myself to move. Nothing you haven’t done before, just keep going. Don’t be a wuss.

Step by shaky step I walked into the library, the ball of fire glowing in my palm as I held it up to light my way. As my nerves settled, the flow of the flames spread wider, brightening the dark stacks of books that spread around me like curtains. Tomes upon tomes of information that was almost redundant in a modern school such as is. Why bother keeping so many books around if no one even bothered to read them? 

My eye caught a glimpse of movement and I spun on my heels to face a row of shelves on the back wall. Without breaking my pace, I lunged for them, flipping the dagger in my hand as I ran.

“I know you’re in here!” I yelled out, pausing at the edge of the shelves. “I could smell your stank breath from the hallway!” 

I looped around only to find a whole lot more of nothing in front of me. Whatever this damn shadower wanted, it sure enjoyed playing games. Guess it didn’t account for the fact that unlike most students, I didn’t have much of a social life so I’d be open to chase its sad, little tail around all night if I had to. I hated to admit it but I enjoyed this a little too much. The chase, the fight, the magic—it was like having an infinitesimal part of my life back from before the High Coven cast me away to this dreadful, dead-end of a town without so much as a goodbye. But being here, in this library about to vanquish a shadower, brought me back to myself. This was who I was and for the first time in a long while, I didn’t have to hide it. This filthy creature did not understand that it was about to be handed the ass whooping of its lifetime. 

I swallowed hard and crept to the end of the shelf. My back pressed against the books until I could all but make out the etched words on their spines like brail against my shoulder blades. The smell of iron intensified, and I squeezed around the shelf, ready for whatever lay on the other side. 

My eyes widened as I emerged into the adjoining aisle. The thoughts rushing through my brain scrambled, and I fought against the bile that rose in my throat. There, in between two large bookcases lay a frail and lifeless body. From where I stood, I could tell it was a girl. Smaller than me and with a much fresher face. She was on her back, her thin arms spread to the side like she mimicked a cross. There was so much blood I couldn’t even recognize her and I didn’t need to move in closer to know there was nothing I could do for her. The girl was dead.

“NO, NO, NO!” I shouted and ran to her against my better judgment. 

I dropped the dagger at her feet and blew out the fireball before gripping her shoulders. My index and middle fingers found her neck, confirming I was right—there was not a pulse to be found. I jumped back from her, staggering to my feet and taking a few steps back. My hands—covered in her blood—were shaking like crazy and I had to ball them into fists just to gain some form of composure. My eyes widened in horror as I took in the familiar signs of ritual around the girl’s body. Salt, amethyst dust and burnt Peach Wood remains; your standard, very illegal, energy-draining spell. “For the love of…” I growled.

This was all wrong. Magical ritual like this was strictly forbidden, the High Coven would never allow for any witch to take the life of a human. Not this publicly. This was heresy at its finest and I was smack-dab in the middle of it. 

A guttural hiss sounded behind me and I turned just in time to see the shapeshifter lunge for my throat. It was smaller than I thought it would be—somewhere between a wolf and a coyote if I had to guess—but that wasn’t enough to stop it from knocking me on my ass. The shifters taloned teeth snapped as it fought to get a grip of my neck and I kicked my legs from under me trying to block its attacks. To make matters worse, my hair had come undone and was now fully soaked in the puddle of blood I landed in. 

I stretched my arm, straining to reach the dagger that lay a few feet away from me. The fingers of my right hand inched toward it while I used my left arm to push the shifter off me. Its body slammed against mine over and over, teeth getting dangerously close to my windpipe. I tried to call for my magic but without the crystal in my hand, it was pointless. I was strong, but not that strong. As I lay there, scrambling to kill the damn beast that refused to back off no matter how many times I kicked its sides, all I could think of was how much had changed in the last few weeks. It was only three weeks ago that I was still in Stamwick, doing the High Coven’s bidding and smoking these suckers like it was nothing. But a lot can change in three weeks. Turns out, it’s just enough time for someone to derail their life. 

The shadower lunged for my throat again and I closed my eyes. 

Screw you, Shadowhurst!