Chapter One

(Former title: Book of Rosethorns)

Cherish thought she'd escaped her past years ago--settled down in some forgotten, sleepy town, gotten a steady job at the local library, and subtly hidden the witchcraft books donated from the local covens from the public.

Cherish Harmond was wrong.

Her cedar tree had screamed at her before dying on her front lawn that morning. Cherish hadn't even realized trees could scream.

Faced with the desperate plea for help from a stranger, the past she thought she had successfully outrun has returned, and she must come to terms with it, to use her powers for good--because if she doesn't, she might unleash a curse onto her sleepy, normal hometown forever.

**Submission for ONC 2021