Free Repossessed by Shawntelle Madison

She was in the middle of checking out a broken bird feeder when her cellphone rang in her backpack. Rob fed her dirty looks as Tessa searched frantically for her phone. She set the noisy pest to vibrate mode. To keep Rob quiet, Tessa didn’t bother to check the caller ID. It wasn’t like she did repo work everyday. What did he expect?
    A pile of bricks from a discarded masonry project partially blocked a set of ornate oak doors. Rob finagled with the locks a few times, then with success, walked around the pail, shovel, and bricks. He placed his index finger over his lips then mouthed the words, “Wait here.”
    Tessa nodded, happy to stand outside until Rob secured the first floor. Something about this place rubbed her the wrong way. Chills on the back of her neck gave her the persistent feeling they weren’t alone. After a few minutes, the door opened, and he motioned for her to come inside. The darkness beyond the door left her wary, wondering if anything malicious lingered beyond the threshold. A gust flowed through the porch, making the door bang against the wall.
    In the stuffy home, cobwebs and white sheets covered the furniture. A fine layer of dust concealed portions of the oak floor. Based on the many footsteps along the floor, Rob had explored the bottom floor quickly and efficiently.
    “Is it all clear?” she whispered.
    He nodded.
    Tessa followed him from the foyer to the great room on the right. Before the furniture was had been protected and heavy maroon-colored curtains hung over the tall windows. Behind the covered sofas and tables, an elaborate marble fireplace and grand piano sat in the back of the room.
    A few twig-shaped lumps under one of the side table covers caught her eye. Curious, she lifted the dusty fabric and peered at what lay hidden underneath. Someone had lined up wands by length across the table. She touched one, expecting a soft hum, and found nothing, almost as if it was nothing but a regular piece of wood.
    “Leave them alone,” Rob said. “They’re tainted and useless.”
    Tessa placed the cover and moved on. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen one. Aren’t they supposed to be sent to the Warlock’s Guild for disposal?” Every family had that oh-so-special someone who ended up cursing their wand due to negligent use. Angry wives cursed mistresses with death. Back in Illinois, she remembered a bitter PTA mom had blackened her staff when she tried to off another zealous mother who planned the best school functions. Certain spells shouldn’t be cast and, as such, the wands were drained of magic.
    “Yes, but apparently whoever owns the piano doesn’t care about that,” Rob replied.
    Silence settled over them, but the quiet ended abruptly as a tree brushed against one of the windows. Rob’s head turned to the sharp tapping, and he stopped for a moment before continuing slowly to the piano. She’d never played before, but she knew a fine instrument when she saw it. Her mother had wanted a ballerina, but Tessa danced poorly. In the end, Tessa excelled in violin throughout high school until she accidentally changed the expensive string instrument into a cheap plastic bucket.
    During her lessons, her teacher would use a grand piano similar to the one in front of her. As her eyes adjusted to the dark room, she noticed the piano didn’t have a sprinkle of dust. Cobwebs abruptly ended half a foot from the legs. There should’ve been a cover over the piano, but somehow the fabric had been defiantly tossed to the floor. For some strange reason, her fingers itched to touch the smooth wood and read the peculiar writing carved into the sides. Columns of ancient magical glyphs only witches and warlocks could see.
    “Don’t touch it! The piano’s cursed.” His fingers caught her wrist before her curious fingers touched the top board.
    “It’s beautiful.” The compulsion had been so strong. She had to back away to come to her senses.
    “Everything around it’s dead.” His