by Ainsley Shay
Isla turned off the burner, picked up the teapot with a cloth, and poured water into the mugs. “Let it seep for a few minutes,” she said as she handed me a mug.
Ironically, the lavender tea was the one with the red beaded tea ball. Had Isla known somehow that my bracelet with the red glass bead was important to me, or was she just observant? Or was it just a coincidence?
Again, I followed her through the store. In the farthest corner were two chairs surrounded by books. She sat in one, while I dropped into the other. We sat comfortably in silence, sipping our tea. When Boone hooted, Isla set her mug on the table between us. “Be back in a moment, dear.”
She rose, then headed toward the front of the store. “Boone,” she scolded. “Let the man in, would you?”
I scanned the stacks of books in the corner, then turned to the ones on the shelves behind me. Most were old and used. Their titles ranged from Spells from the Orient, Be the Perfect Castor, Dark Magic, Using Candles in Magic to local books about Veil Rock. I wasn’t sure how much could be written about such a small town, but one caught my eye. Legend of Veil Rock. As I reached for it, I heard scuffling at the front of the store. Forgetting about the book, I craned my neck to see what was going on. Isla was kneeling. When she stood, Boone was on her arm like she was picking him up from off the ground. A man wearing a black shirt and black pants went around her.
Boone opened his wings, and I swear he was trying to hit the man.
Isla shooed the bird back onto a branch. Boone hooted, then screeched.
“Hush, you old bird.” Isla turned to the man. “Will you two ever make friends?”
“I’d like to say yes, but I’m thinking the answer is never,” he said.
His voice was calm and kind. I leaned further toward them, almost knocking over a stack of books. Catching them just in time, I righted them. Curious to know what people came in this kind of store for and what they actually did with this witchy stuff, I strained to hear what Isla and the customer were saying. I was only able to catch bits of their conversation… “New to town… I don’t know yet… Just came in…”
Okay, so I wasn’t a good snoop. I had no idea what they were talking about—not that it was any of my business.
I caught a glimpse of the man through the branches. He was about a foot taller than Isla, had dark hair, and appeared to be in his twenties. His face was handsome and smooth.
“Then, I’ll be in tomorrow,” he said to Isla.
Isla patted him on the shoulder. “I’ll have it ready for you then, Father Macias.”
Father? Like preacher—father? I wasn’t an active churchgoer. In fact, the only times I had gone to church was with my friend Cheryl and her family. Most of the time, it was only for pancakes on Pancake Day. But I knew enough from movies to know magic was believed to be evil—not something preachers supported or used. Right?
Father Macias glanced up just in time to see me peeking through the limbs of the tree. Crap! I ducked, then hurried back to the chair.
My heart raced as Boone hooted and flapped his wings. The chimes hanging from lower branches clinked together.
“Everly, dear, come hither,” Isla called.
Heading to the front of the store, I made sure to keep my distance from Boone. I didn’t trust the owl yet, and I wasn’t sure if I ever would. Isla gave me a quick tour and brief explanations of some of the items she stocked and what they were used for. We ended up behind the checkout counter that was situated next to the trunk of the tree. Under the glass display was an array of crystal pendants and sparking stones.
One by one, Isla picked up boxes from the floor and set them on the counter. She left the larger one; I assumed it was for you-know-who to put away. Although I didn’t know who he was, I had a feeling I’d find out soon enough.
Isla opened each box. One had a collection of vials, labeled as different types of animal blood. Gross. The second had key chains. Not so bad, I thought… until I saw what was attached to them. Chicken feet. Disgusting. I wasn’t sure I was the right person for this job.
“You’ll be fine,” Isla said.
My head snapped up. Had she just read my thoughts?
Laughing, she shook her head. “No, I’m not reading your thoughts. Anyone who hasn’t been around magical paraphernalia before would have your same reaction.”
Okay—that just made it creepier. “Are you sure it was just my reaction you read?” I couldn’t help but ask.
Isla smiled. “I promise.”
I relaxed slightly.
Nodding to the box of vials, she said, “Grab that, so I can show you where to put these.” She picked up the box of key chains.
“What’s in that one?” I pointed to the third box on the counter.
“I’ll take care of that one.”
Like that didn’t raise my curiosity. “All right.”
After Isla gave me instructions, she said she needed to step out for about fifteen minutes. Since the preacher was the only one to come in so far and it was almost three, I didn’t worry too much.
I finished putting away the items before going to check my phone behind the counter. Boone hooted. His flapping wings sent the delivery papers on the counter floating to the floor. Crap, a customer. I stiffened as I glanced up to the front of the store. The guy who had invaded my personal space at school and caught me off guard at the bluff was standing at the entrance. Boone was perched on his arm.
“What the hell are you doing behind that counter?” he asked in a snarling tone.
Since I had every right to be behind the counter, and I was tired of him questioning me every time we “ran” into each other, I crossed my arms over my chest, leaned against the counter, and said, “I work here. Can I help you find something?”
“Yeah, my grandmother, Isla.”
4
Seriously? What was it with this guy? I wanted to ask him if he was you-know-who, but refrained; I knew he was. “She’ll be back in a few minutes,” I said instead, then began to busy myself with unnecessary tidying.
He lifted Boone up toward the branch. The owl jumped onto it, then settled in his usual spot. The bird’s head swiveled from left to right before he shut his eyes. You-know-who hiked up his backpack further on his shoulder. “Why are you even here?”
He started in my direction. I threw out my arm, forcing him to keep his distance this time. He stopped just before the tips of my fingers touched his chest. A chest that seemed larger and more muscular than before. The eight or so inches he had on me caused me to have to look up at him. I should have seen the resemblance in his and Isla’s eyes. Both were ice blue with slivers of gray. Taking a deep breath, I said, “I already told you; I work here.”
“Not anymore. Why don’t you take your little ass out that—”
“Cameron Hunt! You better watch your mouth before I put a spell on it.” Isla came up behind us. Boone hadn’t hooted to alert that someone had come into the shop, so I was stunned to see her, but also grateful.
I lowered my arm. “It’s okay, Isla—”
“No, it most certainly is not okay.” Isla scowled in her grandson’s direction. “No one talks that way to a lady.” She grabbed hold of Cameron’s ear, then yanked him through the store to the chair in the back.
I overheard her harsh whisper. “First, you are going to apologize to Ms. Shade, then you are going to introduce yourself to her properly, like the gentleman I know you can be.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Cameron muttered.
“That’s my boy.”
Cameron stepped out from around the stack of books. I desperately—well maybe not desperately—but I tried to keep the smirk from riding my pursed lips. His eyes narrowed on mine.
“I apologize for being rude.”
“Are you sure you mean that, Cameron Hunt?” I asked in a murmur.
Giving a half shrug, he looked away from me. “Since you already know my name, I guess there’s no need for an introduction.”
“Nope,” I agreed.
“Whatever.” He picked up a bookmark from the collection, then played with the tassel. “Anyway, thanks for helping Isla while I’m at school—” His head jerked in my direction. “Wait…” Raising his brows, he pointed his finger at me. “How come you weren’t at school today?”
Now I really did give him a full-on grin. “Did you miss me?”
“Hardly.” His voice was deep and cold.
I didn’t think he cared. But it had raised his interest. So, of course, I fed on it. “Well, since you seem so concerned with my schedule, I’ll tell you. I only have to go on Tuesdays and Fridays.”
“Are you like in special ed or something?” he huffed.
I smiled. “Or something.”
Cameron shook his head. “That’s what I thought.”
Ignoring him, I went to look for Isla. It was only three, but it had been a long day and one that had not gone in any direction I’d planned. I hadn’t called my aunt, but if she’d been worried, she would have called me. After thanking Isla for the job, I said goodbye.
I wanted to go home, take a bath, and go to bed. I had a feeling tomorrow was going to be another bizarre day. On my way out of the store, I glanced over my shoulder to Cameron.
He raised his head from his phone without any expression on his face, but his stupid mouth once again took charge. “I’d say I’ll see you tomorrow, but I doubt it. Your kind isn’t in classes like mine.”
Knowing what class I had tomorrow, my lips twisted into a wicked grin. “You’re probably right.”
Aunt Juju was on the porch when I pulled into the driveway. I stared through the windshield at her, not knowing if what I was seeing was actually happening. Maybe I had been wrong—no, hopefully I had been wrong about the flowers in the hanging skulls. I had sworn they were fake. Aunt Juju was tilting a silver watering can into each. Water streamed from the bottom of the skulls, puddling on the wooden slats.
“How was your day?” she asked. “Did you enjoy Carousel?”
Enjoy wasn’t the exact term I’d use. “It was interesting.”
“Did you eat at Dude’s or Poe’s? Burger or pizza?”
I got so caught up in Warlock’s Workshop that food hadn’t been a thought. But now that she mentioned it, I realized I was famished. “Actually, neither. I got a job today.”
She lowered her watering can. “Are you sure that was a good idea?”
No, I wasn’t sure. I shrugged. “It’ll give me something to do.”
Aunt Juju went back to watering her fake flowers. “You’re a smart girl. I’ll leave it up to you.”
I nodded.
“So, who’s the lucky shopkeeper?”
I didn’t know much about my aunt, but I hoped she had an open mind. “Isla—”
“The Warlock’s Workshop?” Aunt Juju covered her heart with her hand. “I do love that woman. She’s as sweet as Dude’s homemade pudding pie.”
“Yeah, she’s nice.”
Aunt Juju set down her watering can. “Let’s go inside and make some dinner. You’ve had a big day, and you’ve got another one tomorrow.”
My alarm chimed at eight the next morning.
There was only one goal that mattered—avoid Cameron Hunt. Although I intended to stay away from him at any cost, I hated myself for waking up thinking about the dweeb. There had been a ton of swoon-worthy guys at Winston High, but only a handful could come close to Cameron’s attractiveness. I wasn’t sure if he knew he was hot and used it to his advantage, or if he was a jerk by nature. It didn’t matter.
I pulled my hair into a knot on my head, then took a quick shower. Dressing in a cropped jean skirt, plain T-shirt, and my Converse, I considered leaving my hair like it was, but then thought better of it. I pulled out the tie. Light brown waves with hints of blonde spilled down to my lower back. I took one more glance in the mirror. My green eyes looked tired, so I dabbed a dot of concealer under each and ran a thin line of brown eyeliner along my lower lashes. In my other school I’d spend an hour getting ready in the morning. Here, I couldn’t find a reason to.
Aunt Juju called out from down the hall she’d be ready to go in five minutes. I grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl, then wolfed it down.
Aunt Juju dropped me off at school before she headed to work. Since I’d be leaving in an hour, we brought the bike for me to take home so I wouldn’t have to walk. It was nine, and classes usually started at seven-thirty. Together, we took the bike out of the trunk. She handed me a lock.
“Thanks.”
My aunt hugged me, telling me to have a good day. She got into the driver’s seat, waving as she drove away. Feeling slightly abandoned, I walked the pink bike to the bike rack and locked it up.
Taking a deep breath, I opened the door. Students bustled around the halls, trying to make it to class before the bell rang. If the time on my phone matched the bell schedule, I had a minute and a half to find my class. The classroom numbers were in order, starting at H1. I assumed the H stood for ‘high school,’ but I didn’t know for sure. The odds were on the right and the evens on the left.
Room H5 was around the corner and halfway down the hall. I stepped through the open doorway, glanced around the room, and cringed. Out of only ten people in attendance, who would be one of them? You-know-who.
“Good morning, you must be Everly Shade,” said a man wearing burnt-orange pants held up with yellow-striped suspenders.
It took a lot of control not to look him up and down, more control still not to ask if he owned a mirror. “I am. Good morning.”
“Welcome to advanced physics. I’m Mr. Greer.” His slick comb-over didn’t do a particularly good job hiding his mostly bald head. “We haven’t gone over too much, but if you need help with anything to get caught up, I suggest you hook up with Cameron Hunt, right there.” Mr. Greer pointed at Cameron. “He’s a natural in the world of physics.”
“Thanks, but I should be fine.”
“I’m sure you will be.” He motioned to the desks. “Why don’t you take a seat, and we’ll get started.”
I avoided Cameron at all costs, picking a seat near the window.
“Cameron!”
To my left, a redheaded girl hissed Cameron’s name.
Cameron ignored her, continuing to stare at me. I turned away to set my notebook on my desk.
“Cameron!” she hissed again.
He dropped his gaze from me to acknowledge the girl.
“I thought you said she was special.”
I glanced at her in time to see her make air quotes around the last word. My blood began to boil as I glared at them. The red bead on my bracelet was getting a workout as I twisted it around and around the silver band.
As if I wasn’t in the room, Cameron answered her. “I thought she was. When I talked to her, that’s what it sounded like.”
“Well, apparently she’s not,” she shot back.
“Sitting right here.” I waved as they both looked in my direction.
Cameron rolled his eyes, then slid down in his seat.
The redhead slapped a quick, faker-than-my-aunt’s-flowers smile on her face. “Hi, I’m Hartley King.”
“So you are,” I said.
Her smile fell. “And you are?” Her voice was sharp.
“Everly Shade, but I think you already knew that. Just like you know that I’m special.”
Hartley flinched. Her eyes narrowed, and her jaw clenched. I was afraid she might pop a blood vessel.
The bell for class to begin rang, and she turned to face the front.
Lowering myself to their level had made me feel slightly better.
Halfway through class, a waded piece of paper landed on my desk. I didn’t bother looking around to see who was watching me open it. In red ink and all capital letters, it said, STAY AWAY FROM CAMERON. The note was signed with a heart.
Gag. I shoved the note into my bag.
As soon as class was over, I shot from my seat and headed to the door. Hartley jutted out from her aisle to stan
d directly in front of me.
“You may think you’re all that, coming from a big city and all, but you’re nothing here.” Her eyes brimmed with fury.
Cameron edged around her and out the door. She glanced at him over her shoulder. Her breaths shortened as her anger grew.
“Doesn’t look like you’re anything either.” I gave her a half shrug.
Hartley dropped her hands, purposefully hitting my books. They fell to the ground.
“Not sorry,” she said, then spun on her heel.
Wishing I could tackle her from behind, I knelt to pick them up instead.
I left school with a ton of homework to catch up on, a migraine, and anger issues that could have me committed. Instead of going home, I went to The Warlock’s Workshop. Boone hooted when I entered.
“Everly, is that you, dear?”
“Yes, Isla, it’s me.”
She rushed out to the front of the store. “Oh, good.”
Stray hairs had escaped her braid, and were flying around her face as she came toward me. “I need to visit Father Macias; do you mind watching the shop?” Quickly, she covered her mouth. “That was not meant to be said aloud,” she said behind her hand.
“It’s out there now, but I promise to keep it to myself.” I smiled in the hopes of reassuring her I wouldn’t tell a soul.
She lowered her hand. “You’re a lifesaver.” Grabbing a small package from the counter, she hurried out the door.
Putting my bag behind the counter, I stewed over the day’s events. I really missed having my mom to talk to about how shitty my day at school had been. For years now, she had been the one I went to for everything. Now, when I needed her the most, she decided to go on an excursion with Dad. How could they leave me in this backward town for the last half of my senior year? I felt the tears coming. Squeezing my eyes, I refused to let them fall. At least for now, while I was at work. The more I thought about my parents and what I had to endure today with Hartley-Bitch and Cameron, the more frustrated I became. Spinning the red bead on my bracelet did nothing to soothe my irritation that was quickly growing into anger.
