31 Spells for October: A month of horror stories to conjure.

STAY AND SIT A SPELL

"Don't take to the moon, much. I don't care if it is full. Prefer my feet grounded and head out of the clouds, thank you very much," said Adélaïde Rieux.

The old witch glared at the werewolf. His fur was matted with drying mud and scum from the swamp outside. He glared but couldn't growl. He couldn't do much of anything after her spell.

The werewolf was paralyzed and rigid, yet completely aware of his surroundings. His arched form was comical - suspended in midair and frozen in the moment of his attack. Adélaïde laughed at him.

"Look at you. Scary ole beasty come down to eat up an old lady. Some old ladies won't take to that, either. Me being one that can do something about it," she scolded.

The eyes of the werewolf followed her. The pure animal hatred had left. There was a touch of humanity in them now. And fear.

Adélaïde said, "Maybe I should eat you. How'd you like that?"

The werewolf whined. It tugged at her heartstrings. "Ahh, you silly thing. I don't have the heart to eat such a lovely creature. But I sure put a whammy on you, I'm afraid. Take a month to wear off."

The werewolf whined again. Adélaïde sighed. The monster had startled her and sometimes she just didn't know her own strength.

"I'm sorry. I don't have a counter spell. Just have to wear off. But, the good news is that I'll finally have me some company whilst I cast a few spells."

The old witch walked up to the werewolf, gently stroking his dark fur. She took a withered old tea towel and dipped it in her boiling cauldron, currently only heating water for her laundry. Adélaïde lovingly wiped muck from the werewolf's thick coat.

"I tell you what I'm going to do, wolf. So you don't get bored, I am going to tell you a story about each of the spells I am going to cast. One a day until Halloween. How'd you like that?" she asked.

Though the werewolf couldn't reply, she could swear she saw a twinkle in his eye. Adélaïde grabbed her spellbook and opened to the first page.

Things were about to get hairy, but were dispelled just in time. How enchanting!

Explore these spells of short stories, haunting tales begging to be read by the firelight underneath a

witch's cauldron. Bubbling spells out story after story for each October eve right up to Halloween!

31 magical maladies. 31 scary spells. 31 creepy cauldron concoctions.

31 SPELLS FOR OCTOBER