Supernatural Seduction (Book 2 of the Coffin Girls Series) by Aneesa Price Read Free Book Online

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education with practical experience helped the girls learn skills
that could aid them in their search for employment and thus enable
their independence in the human world. Magick training added to
that, made for a heavy curriculum, but it was the only approach
available. Some of the girls held hopes of joining the Coffin Girls
in their fight for the good, but they had to finish their education
first and then undergo a test and trial period. The girls weren’t
happy about it, but Anais had been firm, believing that the girls
required education, choice, and the time to mature before
committing to such a heavy burden.
    Glancing at them, Sophie could detect the
myriad of emotions being emitted from them that she imagined good
human teachers intuitively gaged from experience. Some wished to be
anywhere, but in the hothouse. Others had their minds on another
end goal - that of joining the Coffin Girls and avenging their
parents. To them, this was a tick-box exercise, and then there were
the odd few that actually wanted to apply their minds to magickal
herbology.
    At their age, she had already been forcibly
shipped across the ocean to New Orleans. She’d arrived as a young,
virgin bride to a bleak future in a French colony far away from the
only home she’d ever known. She knew that the majority of the girls
would vehemently disagree, but she condoned Anais’ decision and
wished that she’d had the same opportunities and choices presented
to her.
    Hiding a grin when one of the girls visibly
shuddered at a lingering spider trapped in a humidity-moistened
web, she addressed them, “It’s not hocus-pocus, you know.”
    At the sceptical stares, she hid another
grin, lips curving slightly in appreciation. Good, she could work
with minds that wanted a challenge. “Ever heard of a
homeopath?”
    “Aye,” answered one of the more eager girls.
“It’s a doctor who studies natural substances such as plants,
herbs, and spices to treat illness.”
    “And so it is, Mary,” Sophie replied. Then
glancing over the rest of them, she focussed on the most sceptical
of them all. “How do you think it differs from what we’re doing
then?”
    The girl scowled, unhappy to be singled out.
When Sophie didn’t let her off the hook, she shrugged, unperturbed
outwardly, but Sophie’s vampire hearing picked up a thudding heart
and her inner empath picked up an anxious, insecure little
girl.
    “I guess,” replied the girl, “that I can see
that it’s the same, but then the homeopath doesn’t use plants for
magick, does he?”
    “He or she,” said Sophie, under her breath. Dieu , but even in this ‘enlightened’ age, the masculine was
still automatically referred to.
    “What is magick, but the belief and will for
something to change or remain the same? The sustainment of good
health or healing? Protection against harm or removing harm?”
Sophie probed further.
    “So, you’re saying that even the homeopath
uses magick?” asked the girl.
    “Perhaps and perhaps not. That depends on the
practitioner. But they use natural substances to heal and the
difference is that we add ‘oomph’ to our process by adding will,
paying respect to the Goddess, and by calling on our natural
talents, be it earth, air, water, or fire.”
    “So, we have a little something extra?”
clarified one girl.
    “Yes,” affirmed Sophie. “That’s exactly it.
But having magickal talent is not enough. You have to know what to
use too, otherwise there is no ‘extra oomph’ as you put it. Think
of peppermint.” Sophie handed out a fragrant, dark green leaf to
each girl. “Smell it and tell me what you feel.”
    When each of the girls had a turn to share,
Sophie nodded, lips curved gently in satisfaction. “Medicinally,
drinking peppermint tea is known to arouse our senses and boost
metabolism, while burning peppermint magickally is said to promote
happiness in self and home. Now, I don’t know about you, but when I
feel sluggish, I’m not that