by Ainsley Shay
I pulled off onto Carousel Lane. There was only one car in the lot. But there were several motorcycles blocking the path into Carousel. I maneuvered my way around them. Most of the shops were still closed, including The Warlock’s Workshop, which was still dark. The neon sign in Dude’s Diner’s glowed, proclaiming they were open. After I parked the bike against the brick wall, I went inside.
Everyone looked up as the bells on the door jingled. I caught myself from putting my hand up to give a short wave. It was a diner straight out of a 1950’s movie. I felt as though I should have been wearing a poodle skirt instead of ripped jeans. Mentally, I patted myself on the back for at least getting the Converse thing right—one for me.
The group of rugged bikers sitting in the round booth in the corner turned their attention back to each other. I took a seat at the counter, two stools down from a man who looked like he was permanent fixture for breakfast, lunch, and dinner here. Hell, maybe he was Dude, the guy who owned it. I was the only female customer in the whole place. A waitress approached me. She propped an elbow on the counter, almost knocking off the salt shaker.
“You’re new.”
It wasn’t a question. It was never a question. “Yep. Fresh into town. Fresh like I hope your coffee is.” She apparently didn’t get the hint because she continued to stare at me. “May I please have a cup of coffee?” I restated.
She popped her gum. “Sure. You want cream or milk?”
“Cream, please.”
The man next to me set down the paper. The headline blared as loudly as it had earlier.
“Do you mind if I read that?”
He slid the paper to me. “Nonsense. Nothing worth reading, but you can be the judge of that.”
The waitress set the steaming cup of coffee in front of me, along with a tin cup of cream. “Thank you.”
“Can I get ya anything else?”
“No, thanks.”
She left to help another customer.
After I doctored my coffee, I began to read.
What most would call a bizarre phenomenon, others would categorize as downright freakish. But the real reason is far more terrifying. The last time it rained in our desert was in 1946. It was a storm that crossed from the oceanside of town toward the desert.
I hadn’t really thought about it until Aunt Juju stated the fact last night. But I had been on the desert side of the church when the storm let loose.
Not only did the wicked storm tear up certain areas, it also created odd, shifting lights in the sky. An iridescent rainbow surrounded the fading sun. The scientific meaning is that we are in store for more storms. However, those of us who have lived in Veil Rock for a decent amount of time or read the Legend of Veil Rock, know exactly what the halo implies—they are returning soon. The Undying Moon will reveal itself in exactly two months and eleven days. You should take cover. Make sure to stock up on supplies, hide your children, and lock yourselves in your homes.
They will try to stay hidden in the shadows of our beloved town, but keep your guard up. For whatever the reason, they are arriving earlier than usual. So, let this be your warning: WHEN THE UNDYING MOON RISES, SO WILL THEY.
Chill bumps coated my arms, causing me to shiver. I refolded the paper, then gave it back to the man. “Thanks.”
“See what I mean? Complete and utter nonsense.” His gruff voice was full of agitation. “I’ve lived here for over fifty years, and I ain’t never seen what that crazy fellow is talkin’ about.”
I had to admit, it was like reading an article from a tabloid magazine. Even so, there had been a few weird things I couldn’t explain while I’d been in this town. “I’m going to go with being a newbie on this one.”
Nodding, he scratched his gray beard. “I’m Dude, by the way.”
I smiled to myself. Nailed it. I held out my hand. “Everly Shade. It’s nice to meet you.”
He shook my hand. “Likewise.” His grip was soft, like he didn’t want to hurt me. We released our hands. “Well, you take it for what it’s worth, and you’ll be fine. You got nothin’ to worry about.”
The gnawing pit in my stomach told me I wasn’t so sure about that. “Thanks.” I glanced over my shoulder at The Warlock’s Workshop, noticing the lights had been turned on. I left money on the counter for the coffee, thanked Dude for lending me his paper, and left the diner. I rode around the circle, then jumped off the bike when I was in front of the witchy shop. My heart was beating a little too fast, and it wasn’t from the quick bike ride. I was nervous about how Isla would react. Possibly even more than that, I was apprehensive about what she would tell me when I asked about the preacher.
As I propped the bike against the side of the building, I noticed another entrance to the shop I hadn’t known was there. In fact, I’d looked for another way to leave when Cameron had come in. The mystery door was barred shut. That was a question for another day. Today’s question was much more important.
Boone peeped when I entered the shop. At least I was becoming old news to someone/something in this town.
“Isla,” I called out.
“Back here, dear.”
I set my bag behind the counter before heading for the back. Getting this over as fast as possible was best. As I came around the corner, Isla was cooing into the face of a snake. Its sleek black body was wrapped around her arm. Its tongue darted out to take a sniff. I jumped back in response. Isla rubbed her hand down the length of the reptile.
“Everly, this is Scotty. Scotty, meet Everly.”
I could add this episode to my list of Veil Rock oddities. “Um… hi.”
Isla came closer to me. The snake turned in my direction. I backed up.
“Oh, dear, Scotty won’t bite ya.” She kissed the top of its head, nestling the thing under her chin.
“Ok—yeah. See… here’s the thing. I don’t handle cold-blooded creatures like that very well. I’m more like a kitten kind of girl, not a the-thing-that-eats-them… girl.” The pressure building in my veins was heart-attack worthy.
“She’ll get used to you one day,” Isla told the snake. After uncoiling Scotty from her arm, she placed him in a glass tank under the desk. “He likes the dark,” she said.
That explained the reason I never saw it before.
Isla glanced at her watch. “Why are you here so early?”
I took a breath to calm my nerves. They were frenzied before I saw the snake, and now they wanted to jump out of my skin. “Isla, I’d like to ask you something—and I know by asking this, it may go against the confidentiality you have with this person. But, it would mean a lot if you told me the truth.”
Isla’s head tilted to the side. Her brows creased. “I must tell you I’m very intrigued. But I’m also afraid I may have no choice but to break that pretty little heart of yours.”
Hearing those words, my hope seeped out like air out of a punctured balloon.
“Go ahead, spit it out,” she prompted.
“Magic and Macias… is that a thing? Do they go together?” Her body tensed. That was not how I planned to ask the question. “I mean—”
Isla held up her hand to stop me. “I know what you’re asking.” Her postured relaxed a little.
I blew out a breath.
“Macias is of a special sector of the church. He preaches about the universe and love. His magical side is small, but can be remarkably effective if it is for the right reasons.”
The right reasons? I wanted her to continue. I could tell by her expression she was holding back. “I’m not sure I understand.”
The older woman smiled. “I think you may understand more than you think.” She grabbed the broom from the corner of the storeroom, then began sweeping the floor.
Were we done? Was that all I was going to get out of her? It was like talking to the preacher all over again. I bit my groan back. “Isla, he knows things about me.”
“I know, dear. That is his job.”
“Job? I thought he was a preacher.”
�
��He is.” Isla stopped sweeping. Her light arctic eyes softened as they found mine. “But he’s also a protector.”
11
A protector?
There had to be a limit on the amount of weirdness someone could encounter.
“Okay, yeah… so he’s like some guardian angel or…” I trailed off as Isla slowly shook her head.
“Macias is a spiritual being who has extraordinary gifts.”
“Gifts being like… making specials bracelets?” I tried to sound nonchalant, but knew I failed miserably.
Her lips curved upward. “Yes, those kinds of gifts.”
More questions popped in and out of my head. Yet, I couldn’t seem to grasp onto any of them. I glanced around the shop. Magic surrounded me. I did believe in magic; at least, I had always wanted it to be real. Now that there was a possibility it was, I wasn’t sure how I felt.
“Magic has always been a part of your life, Everly. It’s part of everyone’s. You just didn’t know it.”
I rubbed the chills on my arms away. “I’m not sure what I believe anymore.”
Isla patted my cheek. “I’m here if you have any questions. Macias will also tell you whatever you want to know.”
I wasn’t going down the Macias road again, but maybe one day I would be able to talk to Isla. “Thanks.”
“Why don’t we get this place straightened up? If we have time, we’ll redo the front window.”
Hopefully, the menial tasks would take my mind off things. “Okay.”
Several hours later, my head was still flooded with questions. It didn’t help that each item I touched in the shop made me envision witches and warlocks, black kettles of brew, spell books, and potions. There were only a few more things before the shop would look better than it had since I began working here.
Cameron came in around two. His russet hair was unruly as usual, and his skater-grunge style looked especially interesting with the eyeglasses he wore.
“I didn’t know you wore glasses,” I said.
He propped himself against the counter. “There are a lot of things you don’t know about me, Everly Shade.”
“I’m sure there’s nothing too earth shattering to know.”
“Don’t be so sure.”
His smugness made me want to launch him into space.
Boone hooted.
Hartley stood in the doorway. Her sly smile and cocked hip caused me to jump completely out of character. I gave her a once over—the slow kind that made people want to cover themselves even when they were fully dressed. She dropped her hand from her hip. Resting my hand on Cameron’s shoulder, I leaned in close to him. My lips were only a breath away from his ear.
“Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I get the feeling that she really and truly hates me.”
Pulling back, I gave him a warm unwavering smile.
He chuckled under his breath. “I think you’re right.”
My smile was as bright as the sun. “I knew it.”
“Why don’t you come with us to the party we’re headed to? It’s in the desert, and they usually get crazy. I’m sure Isla won’t mind,” he suggested.
I pretended to think about his offer, even though I had no intention of going. But riling Hartley was more entertaining than I could have imagined.
“Come on, Cameron. We’re going to be late,” Hartley scolded.
He glanced over at her. “You can’t be late to a party in the desert.”
My insides were giddy as I watched their exchange. Mina opened the door of the store. Boone hooted, and Hartley jumped a little.
“Excuse me,” Mina said as she passed the redheaded princess.
Hartley turned her nose up at the punkish girl, moving to the side as if she would catch a fatal disease if she rubbed against Mina.
Boone’s head was in constant motion. He was a silent witness to the ridiculousness below him.
Mina picked up a glass vial of oil, opened it, and took a whiff.
Her nose scrunched at the scent. “Yuck.” Replacing the lid, she set it down. She took her time to take in the three of us. “What? Did I interrupt something?”
I stifled a giggle.
“Are we making plans to go to the “after the storm” party in the desert?” she asked innocently.
“There’s no “we” that the two of you are involved in,” Hartley commented, sneering at Mina and me.
“Be nice,” Cameron interjected.
Hartley began to argue, but then closed her gaping mouth.
It was time to end my facade. I focused solely on Cameron. “Thanks for asking, but I’m going to stick around here. Isla wanted to redo the store’s window today.” I raised an eyebrow at Hartley. “Maybe next time.” Then, I smirked.
Exasperated, Hartley huffed and pushed through the door so hard Boone’s wings flapped and the bird had to catch himself from flying off the branch.
Cameron rubbed his forehead. “She can be a little—”
I put up my hand. “Don’t defend her. Just go.”
He gave a slight nod. “See ya around, then.” Pushing off the counter, he headed toward the door. “Later, Mina.”
“Later,” she returned. She looked at me. “What the hell was that all about?”
“Drama. Drama, and more drama.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “So, you’re not going to back down from Cameron, are you?”
I scoffed. “Trust me, there’s nothing to back down from.” At least, I didn’t think there was. He was just as aggravating when he was nice as he was when he acted like an ass.
Mina dropped her head, peering at me through mascara-layered lashes. “Are you sure?” she drawled
“Positive.”
“If you say so.”
I raised my chin. “I do.”
“Everly, can you please shake out the rugs?” Isla called from the back.
“Sure.”
She must have heard the entire exchange. I wasn’t sure how much I cared about that, but there wasn’t much I could do about it now.
“Are you going to go to the party?” Mina asked as I went around the store collecting the smaller woven rugs.
“I wasn’t planning on it. You?”
She followed behind me. “You wouldn’t catch me dead at one of their parties.”
I’d thought that would be her answer. Even though Mina and I were still fairly new friends, I knew I liked Mina because she was real. She never tried to impress anyone to make them like her.
“I’ll be right back.” With the pile of rugs in my arms, I went around to the side of the building to shake them out. I dropped them in a heap. From where I stood, I was out of sight from people walking by. Picking up the first one, I shook it. Dust floated around me. It threatened to get in my eyes, up my nose, in my mouth. Coughing, I closed my eyes. The minuscule particles tickled my arms.
A light gust of wind blew around me. Afraid to open my eyes for fear of dust flying into them, I squeezed them even tighter. My head swam in the idea I had created it, and that I could control it. I had to be losing my mind. But what if I wasn’t? What if this was really happening, and all of this was real?
In my mind, I imagined having control of the dust. From somewhere within, I gathered up the force to push it away from me. My hair lifted off my shoulders.
I opened my eyes. The dust danced in a cyclone of air around me. It was like I was in a tube.
“Holy shit,” I whispered. This was really happening.
I stood as still as a stone column in the center of the whirlwind. There were no other thoughts fighting for space in my head. It was just me and the want to transform and move the air as I wished. It was as if I was one with the element—The Artisan of Wind—just like the book.
“What the hell?”
The controlled cyclone of air vanished. It was like it just fell out of existence. I whipped around as dust floated around me in no particular direction.
Cameron stood at the edge of the small alley. His faced
had paled, and he no longer wore his glasses.
“What did I just see?” he asked. His arm came up slowly, and he circled his hand in a circle. “You… were—the air was—”
“Nothing! It was nothing.”
He lowered his hand. “That definitely wasn’t nothing.”
My freak-out senses kicked in, and I didn’t know what to do. So, I picked up a rug and started beating it against the wall. Closing my eyes, I asked, “Why are you even here?”
“I forgot my phone on the counter.”
His voice was closer than it had been a minute ago. My nerves felt like they were still the cyclone, fraying more and more on every rotation. Cool fingertips touched my hand, and I jumped. My eyes flew open to see Cameron only inches from my face. I had no choice but to look at him.
“Everly.” My name was like a curse coming off his lips. “You know I don’t believe in all that witchy shit. But what I just saw was witchy shit.” His voice was low and filled with trepidation. “Please explain that to me.”
I moved my hand from under his. “There’s nothing to explain. A breeze kicked up, and it made a little funnel thingy.”
“A… funnel thingy?”
I went back to shaking the rug. “Yeah, a funnel thingy.”
From the corner of my eye, I watched him back away. He didn’t take his eyes off me until he could no longer see me when he turned the corner. Blowing out a long breath, I relaxed against the wall of the building.
The sensations I felt only a minute ago, rushed back. I smiled to myself in the alley. The feeling of the element had been amazing. It was real and pure… It was magical. Acceptance, understanding, and a respect for the craft seeped into the crevices of my mind and soul. Overwhelmed with knowing what I was capable of, I wanted to know more, to feel more. I wanted to do it again and again and again.
Magic was real.
