Sleigh Bells and Dragon Spells (Whispering Pines #8)

Chapter 7

SEVEN

A s evening fell, Briar made her way to the Bewitched Bakery for the witches’ gathering. The bakery’s windows glowed with an otherworldly light, and the scent of fresh-baked goods mingled with the unmistakable tang of magic in the air. Briar paused for a moment, smoothing down her hair and adjusting her new snowflake pendant. Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door and stepped inside.

The interior of the bakery was a wonder to behold. Overstuffed armchairs floated a few inches off the ground while small tables set themselves with steaming cups of tea and plates of cookies that sparkled like edible gems. Strings of fairy lights danced across the ceiling, changing colors in time with the soft music that seemed to emanate from the walls themselves.

“Briar! Over here!” Celeste’s voice called out from a large table near a fireplace where blue flames crackled merrily. Briar made her way over, ducking under a tray of cupcakes that zoomed past, frosting its contents mid-flight.

“I’m so glad you could make it,” Celeste said warmly, pulling Briar into the circle. Her auburn hair shimmered with tiny sparks of earth magic. “Everyone, this is Briar Rhee, the new manager at Enchanted Essences for Kids.”

A chorus of greetings rose, and Briar found herself surrounded by a diverse group of witches, each radiating their own unique magical energy.

Molly Hues, the bakery owner, stepped forward first. Her curly red hair was dusted with flour that occasionally sparkled and rearranged itself into tiny constellations. “Welcome to Bewitched Bakery, Briar. Try one of these, won’t you?” She offered a plate of cookies that not only looked like real autumn leaves but actually crunched and swirled in the air when bitten.

Mari Sinclair, Molly’s sister, conjured a chair made entirely of sweet-smelling bread. “Have a seat, dear. Don’t worry, it’s quite sturdy and won’t get stale. I own the dessert store in town, specializing in sentient s’mores and prophecy pies.”

Ellie Theren cradled a sleeping baby surrounded by a soft, pulsing aura of calming magic. “I’m Ellie, married to Reed, our town sheriff. This is little Rowan. He has a habit of teleporting when he sneezes, so we’ve had to babyproof the whole town.”

Sera Haskett waved her hand, and suddenly everyone’s drinks were topped off with shimmering, color-changing liquid. “I handle the town festivals with my husband, Lark. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen our Midsummer Night’s Dreamsicle event.”

Tabitha Hartley bounced forward, her long blonde hair defying gravity and forming itself into an intricate braid. “Briar! You must try some of Bram’s latest brew. It makes you speak in rhyme for an hour and gives you the most delightful hiccups that sound like bird songs.”

Daisy Bloom, her pink hair now studded with tiny, blooming flowers, grinned widely. “Watch this!” She snapped her fingers, and suddenly a trio of translucent, pearlescent ghosts appeared, harmonizing a welcome song for Briar.

Fia Barlowe winked at Briar. “A bit overwhelming, huh? But wait, there’s more…”

Luna Nightshade, seated in an armchair that seemed to be made of living shadow, smiled serenely. “Welcome, young one. Don’t mind Herbert; he’s harmless.” She gestured to what Briar had assumed was a coat rack but now realized was a tall, gangly creature that gave her a friendly wave with one of its many arms.

Ivy Sullivan approached with a steaming teapot that whistled a jaunty tune. “This is my famous Empathy Earl Grey. One sip and you’ll literally be able to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes... though I do advise you to be seated when drinking it, just in case your tea partner is currently climbing a mountain or something.”

Celeste clapped her hands, sending a shower of sparks into the air. “Now that we’re all here, let the meeting commence.”

What followed was the most unusual and entertaining gathering Briar had ever experienced. Molly’s baked goods did somersaults on the table, competing for attention. Mari’s bread chair occasionally made contented humming sounds. Ellie’s baby Rowan woke up and giggled, causing all the lights in the room to flicker in delight.

Sera conjured up miniature illusions of past festivals, tiny fireworks exploding over the table. Tabitha’s hair kept changing styles every time she made a point, while Daisy’s ghostly friends provided sound effects for particularly dramatic stories.

Luna’s shadow chair seemed to be taking notes of its own accord. Ivy’s tea caused everyone who drank it to momentarily speak with each other’s voices, resulting in much laughter and confusion.

As they discussed the upcoming holiday season and the challenges the town had been facing, the magical antics continued. Celeste’s concern about the “heaviness in the air” was punctuated by the lights dimming slightly while Ellie’s mention of struggling Christmas spirits caused the fairy lights to droop comically.

When Briar suggested combining their efforts for special Christmas events, the room erupted in magical excitement. Molly’s cookies rearranged themselves into a Christmas tree shape, while Mari’s bread chair grew mistletoe. Sera’s drink topped itself off with miniature fireworks, and Tabitha’s hair formed itself into a star.

Daisy’s ghosts began humming Christmas carols. Luna’s shadow chair grew twinkling lights, and Ivy’s teapot started whistling “Jingle Bells.”

As they brainstormed ideas, their magic intertwined in delightful ways. Briar’s suggestion of a magical ornament workshop caused shimmering, illusory ornaments to appear around the room. Celeste’s winter solstice ritual idea made the blue flames in the fireplace dance in celestial patterns. Daisy’s “spirit walk” proposal had her ghost friends acting out scenes from Christmases past.

Molly and Mari offered joy-infused treats, and Ellie suggested magical lullaby night causing baby Rowan to coo softly, sending waves of peaceful vibes through the room.

Luna’s reminder about the true magic of the season coming from within caused everyone’s magical auras to glow brighter for a moment, intertwining in a beautiful display of community and friendship.

As the night drew to a close, Briar found herself yawning, the events of the day finally catching up with her. She bid farewell to her new friends, promising to meet again soon to finalize their plans.

Each witch offered a parting gift: a never-melting ice cream cone from Molly, a tiny vial of “instant sleep” powder from Ellie (with a warning not to use it around any temporal rifts), a bottle of rhyme-inducing cider, a ghostly good luck charm, mood-matching lipstick, and a tea bag from Ivy that promised to brew the perfect cup for whatever ailed you.

The walk back to her cottage was anything but peaceful, as Briar’s gifted items kept trying to outdo each other with magical antics. The bread serenaded her with a song about yeast while the lipstick and the ghost charm played an enthusiastic game of tag around her head.

As she finally settled into bed, surrounded by her new magical gifts (the ice cream cone now contentedly frosting her bedside table), Briar felt a sense of belonging she hadn’t experienced in years.