Chapter 1

Stopped at the red light, Catlyn Hennessey glanced across the street. A mass of bodies stood impatiently waiting for the “walk” signal to begin their day at the amusement park. Movement, weaving through the traffic, and headed toward the crowd, caught her attention. “Not again! I can’t be seeing this!” She squeezed her eyes shut and fingered her pendant. Please don’t be there. Please don’t be there. She cracked one eye open.

The ugly creature continued to scurry across the street on its mismatched legs. Fascinated, she tilted her head, puzzled at how it moved with one leg hoofed like a goat and the other a skinny crow’s foot. The bells tied around its squat, barrel-shaped body jangled as it ran-hopped to the throng at the crosswalk.

The crowd ignored the creature weaving through them, as if they couldn’t see it. Using its sharp two-pronged stick carried in its lobster-claw appendage, it poked a burly man wearing a loud tropical shirt. Catlyn shuddered at its bone-chilling cackle as the man jumped and rubbed his buttocks. He turned to glare at the man in a business suit standing behind him. The creature skittered in front of the businessman, and blue electrical pulses flashed on the end of the creature’s other appendage. Electricity arced from it to strike the tourist in the chest. He roared with rage and threw a heavy fist at the businessman, catching him squarely on the jaw and knocking him back.

The businessman tottered backwards from the blow. Using its stick, the creature knocked the man’s feet out from under him, making it appear that his foot had slipped off the curb. As he lost his balance, the burly tourist desperately tried to catch him, only to brush the businessman’s suit with his fingertips. Aghast, the tourist watched the businessman tumble in front of the semi-truck rumbling up the road. With another cackle, the creature disappeared.

“No!” Catlyn screamed. But unless she had magic—which she devoutly wished she had, and not for the first time—she couldn’t stop the accident.

The stoplight changed, and she eased through the intersection. As she passed the incident, the burly tourist stood shaking, his face twisted into horrified incredulity.

By the time Catlyn found a place to turn around and returned to the scene, the police had arrived. She pulled into the nearby lot and parked. Her hands shook as she turned off the ignition and opened the car door. Putting on her big, floppy hat to protect her pale face from the autumn sun—she didn’t need any more freckles—she walked to the gathered crowd.

Catlyn passed the burly tourist, who sat on the curb in handcuffs. He muttered repeatedly, “I didn’t mean to hurt him. I tried to stop him from falling. What the hell happened?”

A woman stood behind the tourist, sobbing and staring at the sheet covering the man hit by the truck. Two children clung to her legs. Catlyn’s heart ached for the family. Their visit to the happiest place on earth had turned into terror and tragedy.

Several people huddled around the police, talking. Catlyn stepped toward them, then halted, touching her gold seven-pointed star pendant with a small diamond in the center like a talisman. She wanted to help, but how could she explain what she’d seen? The police would never believe her if she told them some evil creature had caused the accident. They’d haul her away and test her for drugs, or worse, throw her in a psychiatric ward.

Before she could turn back to her car, a young policeman approached her, notepad in hand. “Did you see it too?”

“Yes, Officer, I saw what happened. I was at the stoplight.” Catlyn pointed across the street. “I had a clear view. The tourist thought the businessman struck him with a Taser, and he hit back. When he realized the man was falling into the traffic, he grabbed his shirt and tried to pull him to safety, but he couldn’t.”

The officer’s forehead puckered. “I’m sorry, ma’am. Are you sure? Everyone else says the man just started acting erratically and pushed the victim into the truck.”

Catlyn put her hands on her hips. “I know what I saw. That man didn’t push the businessman. It was an accident.”

The policeman raised an eyebrow, clearly disbelieving her. The quiet muttering of the tourist drew her attention. Sympathy welled in her chest. She couldn’t let him go to prison for something he didn’t do. Especially when it’d been that evil creature’s fault. “A strange creature caused it,” she blurted. “It knocked the businessman off his feet and into the truck.” The officer rolled his eyes at her, then shooed her off. When she tried to approach the tourist to offer him support, the police blocked her way.

Trembling with frustration and anger, Catlyn tromped back to her old green Honda Civic, climbed into it, and turned it on. Over the last few weeks, she’d started seeing some weird things, but this was the worst.

The first episode had been two weeks ago while she was waiting in line at the coffee shop. The woman in front of her tucked her hair behind her ears, revealing their pointed tips. When Catlyn leaned forward to get a better look, the woman’s ears had returned to normal. A few days later, a young man at the grocery store had morphed into a satyr and gave Catlyn a suggestive leer. She’d blushed and averted her gaze when his dark fur didn’t hide his erection. When she’d turned back, he’d been nothing more than an attractive young man, grinning at her. When he approached her, she’d been so embarrassed, she’d hurried away.

A few nights ago, when she’d taken her garbage to the dumpster, she noticed her neighbor walking his dog. But the dog had three heads, and her neighbor had long black hair curling around his waist. As he passed her, she swore she’d heard the hissing of snakes. Tossing her trash in the bin, she’d glanced back at her neighbor, who was once again his normal bald self, walking his pit bull.

Catlyn left the parking lot, pulling back onto the busy street, then took the on-ramp to the 5-South freeway. Her hands shook on her steering wheel. Taking deep breaths, she tried to calm down before she reached the metaphysical shop. It would be impossible for her to do any energy healing work or tarot readings as rattled as she was by the accident—and the ugly creature. She fingered her pendant, the only thing she had of her mother’s. Touching it eased her nerves as she maneuvered through the heavy Southern California traffic.

Thirty minutes later, Catlyn turned into the parking lot of Mystical Enchantments, the metaphysical bookstore where she rented a room for her healing work. She couldn’t have clients visit her in her little one-bedroom apartment located on the edge of a dicey barrio. She also worked the cash register and was one of the tarot readers for the store.

Catlyn parked her car in the rear under the shade of the trees. Even though Costa Mesa was only a few miles from the Pacific Ocean, it was still hot in the middle of September. As she reached to open the shop’s back door, she jerked her hand away with a gasp, blinking. A fiery salamander slept curled around the handle.

Feeling silly, Catlyn muttered, “Excuse me, Salamander, I need to get into the shop.”

The creature opened its ruby-red eyes and examined her a moment before uncurling from the handle and slithering down the door. With a swish of its long tail, it climbed onto the hood of her boss’s car, turned around in a circle like a cat, and laid down. It winked at her, then disappeared.

Catlyn rubbed her eyes, unsure she’d actually seen the magical creature. But when she touched the door handle, she jerked her hand back, hissing at the intense heat left by the mysterious salamander. Wrapping the handle with the fabric of her long skirt, she opened the door.

The welcoming blast of the air conditioner blew into her face. She lifted her damp hair off her neck and turned around, letting the air cool her down. After unlocking her healing room, she tucked her purse into a cubbyhole and wandered into the shop. Shelves filled with books were mixed with glass display cabinets, holding crystals, figurines, candles, and other “witchy” products. The scent of a light incense lingered in the air. Rainbows glinted across the large room from the crystal pendants and wind chimes hanging in the front window.

Michelle Vandaley, the shop’s owner, leaned over the glass counter. Her long, light-brown hair falling over her face as she showed a customer some jewelry. A thrill went through Catlyn, when the customer held up the piece. It was one of hers. Crossing her fingers, she hung back. When the woman purchased the wire-wrapped amethyst and matching earrings, Catlyn darted behind a display and did a silent, happy dance. She needed the sale. After the customer left, Catlyn approached the counter.

Michelle smiled at her, the corners of her pale-blue eyes crinkling. “Hey, Catlyn. Is it that late already?”

“Actually, I’m later than I wanted to be.” Catlyn walked through the store and leaned against the front counter, fiddling with the pendulums on display. “There was a horrible accident on Harbor Blvd where someone was killed. I saw it happen.”

“That’s awful! You still look pale, honey. Let’s clear off that nasty energy hanging around you.”

Michelle picked up a bundle of white sage leaves tied together and a lighter from the counter as she walked around it. She gestured for Catlyn to stand in front of her. Lighting the herb, Michelle blew on it until it smoked. Starting at Catlyn’s head and working down her body to her feet, she waved the smoking sage through Catlyn’s aura. Catlyn turned around for Michelle to do the same for her back. Lightness filled Catlyn as the smoke cleared the negative energy clinging to her. She breathed in the clean smell, and with a whoosh, exhaled, releasing any lingering distress of what she’d seen.

“There, much better. Go sit down, and I’ll fix you a mug of tea.” Michelle gestured toward the small table which held an electric teapot, mugs, and an assortment of teas. Customers could pour themselves a cup of tea to sip while they wandered the store. Comfy chairs sat near the table for customers to sit while they waited for their tarot reading or healing session.

Catlyn settled on a chair and a few minutes later sipped from the cup Michelle handed her, savoring the calming chamomile tea. She considered telling Michelle about the creature she’d seen that caused the accident, but hesitated. Michelle was a gifted clairvoyant and claimed to see all manner of strange things. But everything Michelle mentioned were friendly faeries and unicorns, or elementals, or even the Goddess in one of Her many forms. She’d never talked about seeing anything like the evil beast Catlyn had witnessed earlier. When Catlyn told her about the accident, she left out the creature.

The tea and talking about the incident settled her nerves. Catlyn put her empty cup down, then took a deep breath. “Did you know you have a salamander hanging around your shop?”

Michelle whooped. “You saw her! Lorgandy is my friend. She protects the shop.” She leaned over the table and hugged Catlyn. “I’m so proud. Your third eye is opening. You’ve been working on it for a long time.”

“She isn’t the only thing I’ve seen recently,” Catlyn confessed. “I’ve also seen someone I’m sure is an elf and another person who is a satyr.”

“Have you told Jade yet? She’d be ecstatic.”

Catlyn made a face. “No, I haven’t.”

“You know you’re acting like a child, refusing to speak to Jade as long as you have.” Michelle placed a hand over Catlyn’s. “Jade has always had your best interests at heart. She was only trying to protect you.”

“More like put me in a glass bubble and not let me out,” Catlyn huffed, jerking her hand back, and crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m twenty-five years old, Michelle, not fifteen. I moved out of my Aunt Lucy and Uncle Robert’s house to be on my own and make my own choices. My godmother doesn’t need to monitor my every move—or to scare away my boyfriends.”

Michelle raised an eyebrow. “Doug used you and treated you like shit. You deserve better. I’m glad Jade scared him off.”

“Doug was just the last straw for me! What about Phillip or George or any of my other boyfriends she intimidated? They weren’t all assholes.”

“None of them were right for you either.”

“But I want to make my own mistakes and not have Jade rescue me all the time.”

“Remember, no matter what, your godmother loves you and would do anything for you. You’re the daughter she never had. You should forgive her.”

“Okay, I’ll think about it.” Catlyn glanced at the clock. “Enough chatting. I have a client coming in for a healing appointment in a few minutes. I need to get ready.”

Maybe she should call her godmother and talk to her about the weird things happening to her. Catlyn dug her phone out of her purse, her finger hovering over the call button for Jade’s number. But did she want to get into another argument with her? Rolling her eyes at the thought, she tossed the phone onto a small table. Other than the evil creature this morning, none of the things she’d seen appeared harmful. Although the satyr was a bit shocking, the incident was more embarrassing than anything else. If that changed, she’d talk to Jade.

As she prepped her room for her first client, her conversation with Michelle floated through her mind. Was it simply her third-eye opening, allowing her to see the magical in the world? Or was something else going on with her? In the past few weeks she’d had twinges where she felt like something inside her was pushing to be let out.