Read Online Broom with a View by Gayla Twist, Ted Naifeh - Free Book Online
Authors: Gayla Twist, Ted Naifeh
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more like a bit of cheese cloth wrapped around some potpourri to air out the linen closet. “This is just what you need.” The Witch pressed the small bundle into the girl’s hands.
“How does it work?” Violet asked, giving the bundle a slight sniff. It smelled of dried orange peels.
“It’s quite simple. You activate it with a few drops of blood then just slip it into the pocket of your heart’s desire or possibly leave it in his shoe. Anywhere in his wardrobe will do, but the connection won’t be as strong.”
Violet wasn’t at all sure about the practicality of pricking a man with a needle in the hopes of making him fall in love. “But how am I to get his blood?” she asked.
“Oh,” the little Witch said with a chuckle. “I never specified it had to be his blood. That would make things more complicated to be sure. Rest assured that any blood will do. And it really only takes a few drops. In fact, you should apply the blood sparingly, if you don’t want the charm to be too strong. There’s a fine line between devotion and obsession.”
Violet paid for her purchase on the ground floor and was happy to escape the shop. She would have to be careful, she cautioned herself ; if all the merchants in X were so aggressive, her trunks would be filled with useless charms and talismans. Stopping at a newsstand, she purchased some stamps and selected a few picture postcards. Noting the time, she thought she’d better hurry back to the pensione. Vera was sure to be back at any moment.
With all the sights, sounds , and smells of X swirling around her, Violet found it nearly impossible to rush. Her footsteps lagged as she crossed the main square, her eyes practically spinning like pinwheels in her head, trying to take in every fresh experience. She’d known X was a place of magic, but she hadn’t expected it to be practically in the air she breathed.
The square was crowded with locals and tourists alike. Violet found that she had to watch her step or she would bump into someone accidentally. A group of Crafters that seemed to be in rather a hurry rushed past her. She caught a snatch of their conversation . “It’s just so unheard of. Nothing like this ever happens in X. If you ask me, it’s all the refugees making the trouble.”
“What trouble?” Violet wondered aloud. Didn’t magical folk come to X to avoid trouble?
The voices in the square grew louder. There was obviously some kind of argument that was spreading through the crowd. Violet thought she’d just better quicken her pace and get back to the Pensione Belladonna as fast as she might.
The square went from a loud crush of voices to absolute silence. There was a brief moment when everyone appeared to be frozen in their fury. Then a flock of pigeons took wing, madly flapping at the air. That’s when a ball of blue fire shot across the square, hitting a man in a green velvet cape directly in the chest. There were several screams as the man collapsed.
The world started spinning very fast. Everyone was running and shouting. The Warlock, who had shot the flame, was snatched off his feet by a large Vampire and torn in half right before Violet’s eyes. Blood sprayed across the square, and the Vampire buried his mouth in the gaping wound. Repelling charms were directed at several Vampires. Another Witch was cut down only three or four yards away from where the girl stood. She tried to run, but each time Violet turned her feet in a direction that appeared to be a clear path to safety, her way was immediately blocked by the battle. Horrible shrieks of pain and death cries filled her ears.
A powerful Witch climbed upon the fountain and began directing sun rays with full concentration at anyone baring fangs. Members of the undead to receive one of these blasts were instantly incinerated. The sky grew thick with ash , and Violet had to cover her mouth with her handkerchief to keep from choking.
The cobblestones of the beautiful square were covered in
“How does it work?” Violet asked, giving the bundle a slight sniff. It smelled of dried orange peels.
“It’s quite simple. You activate it with a few drops of blood then just slip it into the pocket of your heart’s desire or possibly leave it in his shoe. Anywhere in his wardrobe will do, but the connection won’t be as strong.”
Violet wasn’t at all sure about the practicality of pricking a man with a needle in the hopes of making him fall in love. “But how am I to get his blood?” she asked.
“Oh,” the little Witch said with a chuckle. “I never specified it had to be his blood. That would make things more complicated to be sure. Rest assured that any blood will do. And it really only takes a few drops. In fact, you should apply the blood sparingly, if you don’t want the charm to be too strong. There’s a fine line between devotion and obsession.”
Violet paid for her purchase on the ground floor and was happy to escape the shop. She would have to be careful, she cautioned herself ; if all the merchants in X were so aggressive, her trunks would be filled with useless charms and talismans. Stopping at a newsstand, she purchased some stamps and selected a few picture postcards. Noting the time, she thought she’d better hurry back to the pensione. Vera was sure to be back at any moment.
With all the sights, sounds , and smells of X swirling around her, Violet found it nearly impossible to rush. Her footsteps lagged as she crossed the main square, her eyes practically spinning like pinwheels in her head, trying to take in every fresh experience. She’d known X was a place of magic, but she hadn’t expected it to be practically in the air she breathed.
The square was crowded with locals and tourists alike. Violet found that she had to watch her step or she would bump into someone accidentally. A group of Crafters that seemed to be in rather a hurry rushed past her. She caught a snatch of their conversation . “It’s just so unheard of. Nothing like this ever happens in X. If you ask me, it’s all the refugees making the trouble.”
“What trouble?” Violet wondered aloud. Didn’t magical folk come to X to avoid trouble?
The voices in the square grew louder. There was obviously some kind of argument that was spreading through the crowd. Violet thought she’d just better quicken her pace and get back to the Pensione Belladonna as fast as she might.
The square went from a loud crush of voices to absolute silence. There was a brief moment when everyone appeared to be frozen in their fury. Then a flock of pigeons took wing, madly flapping at the air. That’s when a ball of blue fire shot across the square, hitting a man in a green velvet cape directly in the chest. There were several screams as the man collapsed.
The world started spinning very fast. Everyone was running and shouting. The Warlock, who had shot the flame, was snatched off his feet by a large Vampire and torn in half right before Violet’s eyes. Blood sprayed across the square, and the Vampire buried his mouth in the gaping wound. Repelling charms were directed at several Vampires. Another Witch was cut down only three or four yards away from where the girl stood. She tried to run, but each time Violet turned her feet in a direction that appeared to be a clear path to safety, her way was immediately blocked by the battle. Horrible shrieks of pain and death cries filled her ears.
A powerful Witch climbed upon the fountain and began directing sun rays with full concentration at anyone baring fangs. Members of the undead to receive one of these blasts were instantly incinerated. The sky grew thick with ash , and Violet had to cover her mouth with her handkerchief to keep from choking.
The cobblestones of the beautiful square were covered in
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