The Kitchen Witch Switch

by Dawn Montgomery

  He chuckles and holds open the classroom door. I see the professor and Elise staring at us, but admire the way Brandon ignores them both to walk away. The professor opens his mouth but nothing comes out. Brandon leans close enough to me that I can see flecks of gold in his dark green eyes. “I'll answer your questions in a moment.”

  Too handsome for words and smells delicious too. “Hang on a second.”

  He arches an eyebrow but stands to the side.

  “Is everything okay?” Elise asks.

  “He's going to show me his curse.” The professor's face turns pasty white. All his self-righteous anger deflates immediately and he trembles. Even Elise shows signs of fear in the tightening of her body and the sweat on her forehead. I’m starting to think this is really as bad as they’re saying.

  “You're excused from the rest of class, Ms. Stiles,” the professor mutters.

  “I'm sure she's already told you, but I'm not one of your students.” He flinches and my smile widens. “I'll excuse your rude behavior since you weren't aware of the situation, but this will be the only time anyone in this facility treats me the way you have.”

  I tilt my head at Elise. “I didn’t have time to ask before. What’s going on with my life back home?”

  “We have already enforced measures to ensure you will not be missed during this time.”

  Great. “Well, isn’t that convenient? You just snap your fingers and magic away all my efforts.”

  Elise's expression worsens. “You signed a contract.”

  “I did, but I didn’t agree to have my life rewritten while I am gone.”

  “We can compensate you.”

  The magic words I’ve been waiting for. I thumb toward Brandon. “I want his casefile. And mine. And after this is over, my casefile gets destroyed. I was in line for a bonus this year. You will pay me that bonus, plus my regular salary while I'm here. I’m sure that information is available in my file. My home and furnishings will be maintained by your organization. That includes all of my bills. Every one of them. No other instructors at this academy will treat me the way he did.”

  She nods. “Anything else?”

  “I will not cast magic, be required to do anything outside the scope of his curse, nor be used in any magical experiments. Any curses, pranks, or other mischief will warrant financial compensation.” I had no idea if the rest were like my sister, but so far, I haven't enjoyed being around the magically-inclined.

  “All medical expenses will also be covered, as will any other miscellaneous expenses such as food. I will not be wearing a uniform nor be required to participate in any class.”

  Her jaw clenches and I'm expecting an argument, but she stays silent. A real smile spreads across my face. Just how desperate were they for my help to not counter any of this?

  “We can ensure all of these stipulations.”

  My grin widens. “Brandon, is there anything else you'd like?”

  “Replace Professor Meldonna.”

  The instructor's expression turns thunderous, but I glance over at Brandon. “Is that all you want?” He nods. Easy enough to request, then. “You heard him.” I watch his smirk widen. “Do you have to take this class?”

  “Yes. It's a requirement for the classes used to suppress my curse.”

  “Is he the reason it's suppressed?”

  “Replacing him is not a problem.” Elise cuts in before the instructor can say anything. “Do you have any other demands?”

  “I need information on his curse, specifically, and any research you have on my bloodline, his bloodline, and curses in general. With research, I'll be able to find out more information.”

  The professor sneers at me. “Some of the best minds in the magic world have worked on his bloodline curse and you're just going to walk in and fix it all? You're just trying to get into the good graces of the Devlins. The moment his curse erupts, you'll be like all the rest of us. Don't think we don't know what—”

  “I've known her for less than fifteen minutes and she's already gained my trust, or does the Devlin heir’s word not matter here?” Brandon's icy voice cut through his rant. “What she does or does not do is none of your business. My grandmother is waiting. If there is nothing else...” He trails off and Elise's expression loosens slightly and color slowly returns.

  “Of course. You will have a new professor tomorrow. I'll have all of the information Ms. Stiles requires waiting for you in your room. Mr. Devlin. You're excused from your classes for the rest of the day.”

  Elise opens the classroom door and gestures for the professor to enter.

  I don't linger as Brandon turns on his heel and strides away. His stride shortens to accommodate mine. “Either your curse or your family name must be pretty impressive around here.”

  “You come from a prominent magical family and you don’t know the Devlins?”

  I shake my head. “I only know the families we did business with.”

  “Why do you think the curse or my family is impressive?”

  “I made a lot of ridiculous demands, and she didn’t bat an eye. The truth is, I only demanded all of that since that professor was such a pain. The Baba Yaga gave me plenty of compensation for filling in.”

  A low chuckle emerges, teasing my ears with its beautiful sound. “My family founded this academy. We're not a family they can ignore.”

  “Are you really here to suppress the curse?”

  “Suppress. Research. I refused another round of experiments so I could come here.”

  “Your family must be really worried.”

  He nods. “I'm the last blood-inheritor of our family line.” He glances over at me. “That means I'm the one who gets all the magic. Not all families have that problem.”

  I appreciate the explanation. “And if you die?”

  “My uncle or a remote cousin will likely inherit, but we'll lose our power in a few generations. Now it's my turn to ask a few questions.”

  “Okay. I'll answer what I can.”

  “Can you really break my curse?” His body language doesn't tell me much, but I can feel the tension between us.

  I tap my chin with my index finger as we continue our walk. “Curses don't work on me the way they should. I kind of consume them and figure out what makes them tick. After that, they don’t affect me anymore. I haven’t faced a deadly curse, but the stronger ones take one or two tries to get all the details. If everything works as it should, we might be able to figure out what triggers the magic and stop it. Or we learn nothing. I'm winging it, honestly.”

  “Your sister...” He trails off again and I huff out a small laugh.

  “She wants to be a witch. I don't. She gets into trouble and I'm forced to take her place to solve it. This isn't the first curse-based troubleshooting I've had to do.”

  “Sounds like a pain.”

  “Not as much as dealing with Professor Perpetual Sneer.”

  “We usually ignore each other.”

  “What changed?” We reached an ornate, imposing door. Food and fairies decorated the panels in intricate carvings. My fingers itched to run along the design.

  “Let's just say, things are a lot more interesting than I thought they would be.” With a mysterious smile, he opens the door to a broad, open field.

  People in capes, cloaks, and bright uniforms pepper the landscape. Tables, picnic blankets, and logs, benches, and other seating options cover the bright green grass. An explosion to my right jerks my attention in that direction, but no one else pays attention. Fireballs, electric storms, colorful smoke, and more erupt all around us, bouncing from one person to another.

  The door closes and disappears, leaving open air, no walls. Even the sun soothes my skin at the perfect temperature glare. My breath catches and I reach back behind me. The door is still there. Relief is sharp and insistent. A parade of floating food whisks by to different people, gently easing down in front of them. “Where are we?”

  “Welcome to the Kitchen Witch Academy food court.
”

  The food court? Definitely puts the one at the mall to shame.

  Magic everywhere, and me the person least suited to it, stuck until I cure tall, dark, and cursed. I might actually throttle my sister the next time I see her.

  4

  Meghan

  “Will it be safe to travel across here?” I watch one girl's sleeve catch on fire while another pats it out. Neither one of them miss a beat or even notice. I run a hand over my arm, imagining the pain a burn would bring to me.

  “Don't worry. We'll have a clear path in a moment.”

  As we take our first steps away from the door, I notice a peculiar situation. A person near him sends a signal to another and then another, until an entire wave of heads turn our way. Blankets are moved, lunches are packed up, and I'm struggling between embarrassment for Brandon and irritation that rudeness seems to be amplified every time there's magic involved.

  I mean, I’m used to rude behavior from my family, but nothing as dramatic as this. “Does this have anything to do with your curse?”

  His smile doesn’t reach his eyes, but his gaze locks onto mine. “Do you think they’re being overdramatic?”

  I swallow back the strange sensation of aching loneliness his expression shows me. No. There’s no time for this. Do the job. Go home. Never fill in for my twin sister again. Eyes on the prize, Meg.

  “How would I know? I’m a girl who occasionally eats curses and has an otherwise normal, non-magical life. Right now, I’d like to get this over with so I can get back to it.”

  Emotions flicker in the depths of his gaze and I try to ignore them. “You were right about them making room.” There is a giant path in front of us.

  “It makes traveling more efficient.”

  A surprised laugh escapes before I can stop it. How nice it would be to have this kind of thing happen when I’m aiming for the break room coffee pot first thing in the morning. “I can see how that would be convenient.”

  We reach a giant tree on the edge of the picnic area. He touches the trunk and a door forms in it.

  More magic doors. I brace myself for the crawl of magic on my skin. This is going to take some getting used to. The door opens and a woman in a serving uniform smiles at us.

  “Welcome back, Mr. Devlin. Your grandmother has been looking forward to meeting Ms. Stiles.” She smiles at me and stands to the side, gesturing for us to enter. Her expression seems respectful with just enough hope in her gaze to make me really uncomfortable.

  A quick look back at the open air food court shows me the obvious relief in the faces on the other students' faces. I'm torn between irritation and contemplation. Every single sign points to the dangers of this curse, or the power of a rumor. Since he’s not disputing their behavior, I may have to prepare for a few rounds with this curse before I can figure this thing out.

  As I pass through the door, a warm breeze lifts my hair and clothes. His does the same. In a moment, my clothes and hair settle back to their original positions. “What was that?”

  “A cleansing seal.”

  I stare at him and then at the lady standing to the side. She glances at him and then back. “This door is a special portal between the school and the Devlin home.”

  “You have your own portal?” Fancy.

  He glances over at me with a smirk. His gaze returns to the young lady. “Has grandmother waited long?”

  Her smile widens. There is a significant difference between her deference to him and the blatant fear of the others. “Not at all. I will let her know you've come home for lunch.”

  The door slams shut behind me and I spin around. Sure enough, it's gone and only a blank wall stands. I reach out, but the wall remains solid. “Is that the only way back?”

  “It is. That door is a fixed portal in time and space. We can take our time here and return within a few minutes of leaving the academy. The seal is to protect them from my curse and to give us a little bit of bonus time.”

  Time is relative to how powerful your family is. I stare up at the ceiling and the tasteful light fixture hovering in midair above the table. Of course. Magic. I squeeze my hands into tight fists and try to control the minor little freakout I’m facing.

  A warm touch on my shoulder jerks me out of my thoughts. His green-eyed gaze shows the slightest spark of amusement. “Are you okay?”

  “When I was magicked from work to the Academy, there was a lot of smoke and lighting effects. When I walked through that door, my hair got a quick blow dry.” My voice cracks slightly and I clear my throat. “There's a lot to take in. My experience with magic has been very limited until now.”

  Al popping in and out, occasional curse-based pranks, and all of Mel's antics seem so much less extreme compared to this.

  His expression softens and more of that natural amusement leaks through.

  “You have a nice smile.” It slips out before I can stop it. I want to ask him to smile more, but a part of me wants to keep that smile to myself for a little while longer.

  Surprise widens his eyes and then his warm hand drops away. I feel heat in my cheeks, but ignore it as he turns and leads the way. The woman behind me quietly laughs and I glance back. He walks through a door and I slow down slightly.

  “Did I offend him?”

  “No.” Her amusement slips into a serious expression. “He hasn't had much to smile about lately, so I think you took him by surprise. It’s also rare to see him touch anyone. The curse, you know. Let me take your jacket.”

  Should she be so matter-of-fact about his situation? I’m still a stranger, after all. I unbutton my suit jacket and hand it over. The cool air on my blouse soothes some of the discomfort within me. I get hot easily and running all over hell and gone has left me a sticky mess. Taking a shower would be welcome. “Is there a place where I can freshen up?”

  “I can use the cleanse spell again if you need it.” She waves her hand before I can stop her. Her frown makes me laugh.

  I didn’t want to tell her that the cleanse spell is a type of curse against dirt, grime, and other things and my body ate it the moment it was cast when we entered. “Magic doesn't always work on me. Is there a place I can go?”

  “Of course.”

  She leads the way to a small washroom and leaves me there. As I wash my hands and stare at my reflection, I realize I'm a lot calmer than expected. This is some really intense magic-related stuff. Flying animals, magic smoke, and random misfortune doesn’t touch the tip of this iceberg. Did Mel run because she’s intimidated by their abilities? Knowing my twin's past history, I think Brandon's tolerance of this strange situation is a testament to his endurance.

  That frustrated look in his eyes, the resignation when he's treated like he has the plague. I just can't shake it off.

  I put some cool water on the back of my neck and dry it with a hand towel. My hair will cover any damp spots, but it's a habit I've had ever since I can remember. Any time my sister gets me into trouble, I put something cool on the back of my neck to help my mind clear.

  I take a deep breath and take in my appearance. Blonde hair, green eyes, cute to some and plain to others, but I’m put together well. My makeup is stylish and simple and the iron gray of my suit always made my eyes a little less bright. My hair is still pulled back comfortably, but tendrils of my curly hair have slipped free to spring out next to my face. I don't have my purse, so the best thing I can do is use some water to try and tame them back into position.

  A few more minutes of curl wrangling has them partially tamed, but I know it's only a matter of time before my hair becomes unruly. “Remember why you’re doing this. No more contracts.” I nod to myself and leave the room, finding the young lady standing close to the door. It's a respectful distance, but I find it a bit embarrassing to have someone wait on me this way.

  “What's your name?”

  “Bianca.” She smiles.

  “I'm Meghan. Nice to meet you. Do you work for this family?”

  “Only temporarily, b
ut I’m curse resistant, sixth generation.” Pride infuses her body as she declares it. “My family’s defense and cleanse spells are some of the best in the business.”

  “Curse resistant?” Is that a job in the magical world?

  A throat clears and I realize we're no longer alone. An older man in slacks and a white button up shirt stands in the hallway. His sleeves are rolled up; his collar is unbuttoned. There are similarities between him and Brandon, but he seems too young to be his father.

  “You must be our Hail Mary.” He walks forward and holds out his hand. “I'm Viktor Devlin, Brandon's uncle.”

  I take his hand without hesitation. “Is his situation really so dire?” I ask.

  “Not at all. My nephew will beat this. I’m just thankful we found someone like you. It’s unfortunate that your sister had another engagement.”

  “Yes, I’m sure she’s upset about it.” We both smile as we lie politely. His handshake is firm, but my skin tingles slightly. I narrow my gaze at his face and see his attention shift slightly to the side.

  Did he just try to use magic on me? See, this is why I hate meeting other magic-users. They always try to feel people out using magic, and it irritates me. I squeeze his hand once more and then drop it. “My name is Meghan. Nice to meet you.”

  “It’s nice to finally meet you. I heard you’re the null child in the family.” His question grates on my nerves, but I let it slide off me. It's not the first time I've heard something like that, but it still irks me. “Are you really immune to curses?”

  “Is that what you’ve heard?” I smile at him, again. A little harder to force this time.

  He smiles back and gestures toward the room beyond. “It’s hard to find out anything about you, honestly. Your family would rather talk about your sister. The Baba Yaga, however, highly recommends you.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  He stops for a moment and faces me, concern etched deep in his face. “He is my nephew and he and my mother are the only family I have. Please don’t give him false hope. If this is a trick, or if you’re looking to use this family, then leave now or your entire family will be implicated.”