Read Online A Sprinkle of Magic (A Sugarcomb Lake Cozy Mystery Book 4) by Alaine Allister - Free Book Online

gave me.”
    “Which potion is it?” Matilda asked.
    “I need to make a truth serum,” Clarissa said.  “I need answers from someone, but I have no way of knowing if he’ll be honest with me.  Thankfully, I found a lovely little concoction near the back of the book of potions you gave me!” she chirped brightly.
    “Clarissa, I warned you not to dabble with the advanced spells yet,” Matilda reminded her.  “You’re a new witch.  Stick to the spells near the front of the book.  They’re the easier ones.  If you mess them up, the consequences won’t be too dire.”
    “What’s the worst thing that could happen if I mess up the truth serum?” Clarissa asked.
    “Death,” Matilda replied.
    Clarissa’s eyes widened.  “Are you serious?” she gasped in alarm.
    “Well, only if you mess up in a really epic way,” Matilda clarified.  “I mean, if you accidentally put poison in the potion and had someone drink it, then death would be a very real possibility.  Or if somebody choked while drinking it…that could result in death as well.”
    Clarissa sighed.  “What’s the worst thing that could reasonably happen?”
    “It’s different for everyone,” Matilda replied, giving as vague an answer as ever.
    Well that was no help whatsoever.  Clarissa didn’t know why she even bothered to ask her aunt things anymore.  She should know by now that doing so was an exercise in futility.  It wasn’t as though the answers Matilda gave were ever clear.  Usually they weren’t even helpful. 
    “I don’t want you using the truth serum!” Matilda blurted out suddenly.
    “What?  Why?”
    “It’s dangerous.  You wouldn’t play with a loaded gun, would you?” Matilda asked.
    “Huh?”
    “The spells you have been doing are inconsequential.  Think of them as water pistols.  They’re not particularly powerful and they can’t do much damage.  But a loaded gun, on the other hand…that’s best left for the experts.”
    “Okay, but I really need to use the truth serum,” Clarissa insisted.  Sometimes people called her stubborn.  She preferred to say she was determined.  But truthfully, she could also be as stubborn as a mule sometimes.
    “Promise me you won’t use the truth serum!” Matilda ordered.
    Clarissa was silent.
    “You’re going to do it no matter what I say, aren’t you?” Matilda sighed.
    “Probably,” Clarissa admitted.
    “Clarissa!”
    “Can you please just help me?” Clarissa begged.
    “Even I don’t use that particular spell, and I’ve been casting spells a lot longer than you have,” Matilda said.  Then she sighed again.  This time it was a sigh of defeat.  “Okay, here’s what I know:  the truth serum can only be used once every moon cycle.”
    “What?  Why?”
    “That’s just how it works.  If you try to use the truth serum more often than that, it won’t be effective.  And whatever you do, only ask one question!” Matilda cautioned.
    “I can only ask one question?  That seems kind of silly.  Why can’t I ask a bunch of questions?”
    “Why can’t you stop asking a bunch of questions?” Matilda shot back.  “You asked me to help you, so I’m telling you what I know.  Now quit arguing with me and listen! 
    “Sorry.”
    “It’s okay.  But Clarissa, it’s very, very important you only ask one question.”
    “Can you at least tell me why?” Clarissa pressed.  She hated all the arbitrary rules her aunt imposed on her.  Worse yet, Matilda was rarely very clear about why Clarissa had to follow specific rules.  It could be pretty infuriating sometimes!
    “If you ask too many questions you will probably wind up sick,” Matilda explained.  “You can’t be too greedy or self-serving with magic.  It’s available to enhance and enrich your life, but you can’t expect it to do all the heavy lifting for you.”
    “Huh?”
    “Use magic sparingly – especially while you’re still just learning,” Matilda advised.  “If you