My So-Called Magical Life

by Lanie Williams

  I nodded, heading over to the kitchen table where I had dropped my purse the night before. I pulled out the printed newspaper image of my grandmother and slid it across the table. With a little gasp, my mom snatched it up, and a grin spread across her face.

  “I had almost forgotten all about this,” she said, eyes roving over the picture. “I used to go to the farmer’s market with Mother all the time... I would help her pick out fruits and veggies.”

  “And you’re sure you don’t remember anything at all about the coven she used to belong to?” I asked, taking another sip of my coffee. “Mrs. Abigail mentioned the Blackwaters...that Lilith Blackwater, the matriarch, had an exclusive gardening club that supposedly masqueraded as some kind of coven.”

  Ma frowned, her gaze settling on the center of the photograph where Lilith gazed out with an icy expression.

  “The Blackwaters,” she mused. “Trixie brought them up, too, when I called her. I knew they were one of the wealthy families here in town, but I never did pay much attention to them, even when I was growing up. I do have vague memories of this woman, though.” Her eyes narrowed further as she continued to look at the picture.

  “What do you remember about her?” I prodded.

  “I remember she scared the bejeezus out of me,” Ma responded, placing the picture back down on the kitchen table with a sigh. “She didn’t seem very nice, either, so I tried to avoid her as much as possible.”

  Chewing my lip, I made my way back to the coffee pot for a refill. So far, things weren’t looking great for the Blackwaters, and I was seriously beginning to reconsider my plan to visit Amelia this morning.

  “What did Trixie have to say about them?” I asked, sitting back down at the kitchen table. Ma shrugged.

  “Not much to go off of, unfortunately” she replied. “She said that, back in the day, it was rumored that Lilith Blackwater was the head of a powerful coven here in Clover Pointe. I assume that’s the coven your grandmother was a part of…”

  Ma trailed off with a frustrated sigh. “I don’t know why I’m having such a hard time remembering. Usually, I’m on top of all this witchy stuff, but when I try to remember anything having to do with your grandmother’s coven, it’s like my brain is suddenly surrounded by fog.”

  I frowned as a feeling of unease swept through me. Ma wasn’t one to easily forget things. She could remember all of her friends’ birthdays without having to look at a calendar and could even tell me what she had for breakfast two weeks ago. The fact that she couldn’t give me any more details about Lilith, or the supposed coven that my grandmother belonged to, sent a little chill through me. Was something more sinister at work, here?

  “Mrs. Abigail mentioned that Lilith had a daughter,” I said. “Her name’s Amelia. Would you happen to know anything about her? You two are probably close in age.”

  Ma shrugged again, giving me a helpless look. “I recognize the name,” she said. “And I know she runs the Olympia Country Club here in town, but that’s about it.”

  I mulled that over while I washed out my coffee mug. Something really wasn’t adding up. And I had a feeling that I’d need to pay Amelia a visit, whether I wanted to or not.

  “I was thinking about heading down to the Olympia Country Club this morning,” I said, placing the washed mug on the drying rack next to the sink. “I need to find this Amelia lady and ask her some questions. Maybe she can clear some of this up.”

  Or maybe she’ll turn me into a toad, I added silently.

  Disapproval flashed across Ma’s face and she pursed her lips. “I’m not so sure about this, Heidi,” she said. “Something about it doesn’t feel right.”

  I couldn’t argue with that. But I also couldn’t shake the feeling that the Blackwater family was somehow important, that they had the answers to all my questions.

  “The second I get a whiff of danger, I’m out of there,” I said, making up my mind. “I need to get to the bottom of this.”

  Ma raised a brow. “Oh?” she asked. “And what happens if you can’t run away?”

  I walked back over to the kitchen table, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

  “I’ll be careful,” I promised quietly. My mom still looked unconvinced, but she let out a resigned sigh anyway.

  “I wish I could go with you,” she said. “But the girls are coming over for lunch today.” She glanced back up at me, a hopeful expression on her face. “I could always cancel.”

  I shook my head. I couldn’t risk her getting hurt if things went south. “No way, Ma. Don’t cancel your lunch. I’ve got this under control.”

  Ma sighed again, waving me off with a hand.

  “Fine,” she said. “Leave me here. But I think you need some sort of sidekick, someone to help keep you out of trouble.” She gave me a sharp look. “Which you’ve been attracting plenty of, lately.”

  I let out a short laugh. “And you think you’d be perfect for the job?”

  Ma shrugged, examining her nails. “I may be old and without magic powers, but I still do my exercises every morning,” she said. “At the very least, I could kick some serious ass.”

  “You know what’s funny?” I said, making my way out of the kitchen. “I think I actually believe you.”

  Ma let out a cackle as I rounded the corner and headed back towards the guest room.

  The Olympia Country Club always managed to take me by surprise, especially after driving past all the ivy-covered, red brick buildings of downtown Clover Pointe. It wasn’t as big as the library, but it looked like it belonged in Ancient Greece with its towering white columns and regal stone masonry. Various classical-style sculptures were displayed near the front entrance and, if I didn’t know any better, I would have thought that the whole place was a museum of some kind.

  I attended my high school prom at the country club, but back then, it hadn’t been nearly as opulent. Over the years, though, more and more had been added onto the original structure. I had taken a few of the marketing firm’s higher-end clients there back in the day, but only for special occasions (or whenever Josh felt like showing off). I had always preferred the smaller, more reserved bistros or cafes for business meetings, but Josh insisted that we needed to treat our biggest clients like royalty. Even if it put a strain on our budget.

  Rolling my eyes at the memory, I pulled into the parking lot. It was mostly shaded by trees, which was a blessing during the hotter summer months but could prove to be a little chilly during the fall. I reached into the backseat of my car and grabbed the gray hoodie I had stashed there, before quickly checking the rearview mirror for wayward mascara smears. I had tried makeup again this morning and was pleased to see that I looked a lot more put together than I felt at the moment.

  My stomach was in knots at the thought of meeting Amelia, so I tried to give myself a little pep talk.

  “You can do this,” I told my reflection. “And the instant she looks like she’s going to turn you into a toad, run.”

  Taking a few more extra deep breaths for courage, I exited the car and headed towards the front entrance. The parking lot wasn’t exactly packed, but there were at least a dozen cars parked out front. The country club was a fairly popular dinner spot, with a fine dining area on the second floor and a bigger reception hall for weddings and other special events on the third floor. The first floor was simply a lounge area, with several plush chaises and chairs arranged artfully throughout the space.

  I pushed through the frosted glass doors of the front entrance and my eyes immediately landed on the tiered marble fountain that took up a good portion of the lounge area. Fish sculptures decorated the outer edges and water streamed from their open mouths, splashing back into the fountain.

  That’s new.

  I could hear the faint notes of classical music as I tore my gaze away from the fountain and made my way towards the reception area. A young woman with deep auburn hair glanced up at me and gave me a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

  “Welcom
e to the Olympia Country Club,” she said, her voice almost robotic. “May I see your membership card, please?”

  Membership card? Since when did they require one of those?

  “Oh, I’m not a member,” I said quickly. “I mean, I used to come here, but not anymore. I’m looking for Amelia. Amelia Blackwater.” I glanced at the young woman’s name tag, which was pinned to an almost blindingly white button-down shirt. “Julianna,” I finished.

  While I was talking, she had begun to drum impatiently on the marble top of her desk and I couldn’t help but notice her long nails, filed to sharp points, and painted a deep, blood red.

  I suddenly felt extremely underdressed as I glanced around at the other guests. Almost everywhere I looked, I spotted designer outfits. Most of the men were dressed in suits, or at least a dress shirt and slacks, while the women were dressed in outfits that would have made me look like a stuffed sausage. I glanced down at my favorite pair of yoga pants and the gray hoodie I had thrown on over my Witch’s Brew team t-shirt. Definitely underdressed. And Julianna seemed to pick up on my insecurity almost immediately, much to my dismay.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, smiling condescendingly. “Mrs. Blackwater usually doesn’t meet with...visitors.” She looked me up and down, her lip curling slightly. “Unless you have an appointment?”

  Good Lord, this was like high school all over again. I felt like I was being evaluated by the Queen Bee...and coming up miserably short. Before I could come up with some kind of retort, one of the doors near the reception desk opened and a tall, blonde woman walked out.

  “Heidi Redferne,” the woman said, her voice smooth and melodic. “I was wondering when you would show up.”

  Chapter 9

  Amelia Blackwater was not what I was expecting.

  I expected someone at least closer to my mom’s age, but the woman before me looked to be closer to me in age, if not slightly older. Her platinum blonde hair was styled in an elegant twist and she towered over both me and Julianna by at least a few inches thanks, in part, to a pair of heels that I would have definitely broken my neck in if I had attempted to wear them. There was no doubt that she was at least related to Lilith Blackwater, though. Her eyes had the same steeliness about them and when they met mine, I got the distinct feeling that they could see right through me.

  At the sound of her boss’s voice, Julianna turned around, her mouth falling open a little in surprise.

  “Mrs. Blackwater,” she stammered. “I didn’t know you were expecting someone.”

  Amelia gave her a sharp look, and, with more than a little satisfaction, I saw Julianna shrink under her gaze.

  “I’ve told you before to treat our guests with respect, Julianna,” she reprimanded. “Don’t make me have to tell you again.”

  “Yes, Mrs. Blackwater,” Julianna murmured, staring down at her desk.

  With a warm smile, Amelia returned her gaze to me. “I’m sorry about my secretary’s rude behavior,” she said. “It was unacceptable. Why don’t you follow me back to my office? I’m sure you have questions.”

  Swallowing hard, I followed Amelia back through the door near the reception desk and into what I assumed to be her private office. It wasn’t nearly as extravagant as the rest of the country club but still looked expensive. The office had floor to ceiling windows that provided a breathtaking view of the heavily wooded area behind the country club. A black leather sectional, along with a dark mahogany coffee table, took up one corner of the office. Amelia’s desk was directly in front of the windows and a coffee maker, along with a glass pitcher of water, sat on a wheeled cart near the desk. I carefully made my way across a faux fur rug that covered most of the floor and Amelia pointed me towards the sectional.

  As I took a seat, my eyes landed on a collection of framed charcoal drawings, each depicting the Olympia Country Club in various stages of construction.

  “I’ve always been fascinated by the Ancient Greeks, especially their architecture,” Amelia said, noticing my gaze. “There’s something very regal about it.”

  I wasn’t sure how to respond, so I just nodded in what I hoped was a convincing display of agreement. I never considered myself to be socially inept, but there was something about Amelia that intimidated me.

  “I trust you’ve seen some of my renovations. I had that fountain in the lobby specially made by one of the top stoneworkers in Athens,” she continued.

  “The fish were an interesting addition,” I commented. I had never actually seen an Ancient Greek fountain decorated with stone fish, but I held my tongue.

  Amelia regarded me with a slightly amused smile before pouring us both a glass of water. With both glasses in hand, she made her way over to where I sat on the sectional, heels clicking across the marble floor of the office before connecting with the rug. She gracefully sat down on the couch, tucking a foot underneath her before handing me one of the glasses of water.

  “Thanks.” I took a sip of the cool water and tasted notes of lemon and cucumber.

  “Well, I suppose you didn’t come here for small talk,” Amelia said with another one of her small smiles. “I’ve been waiting a long time for you, Heidi.”

  “How do you know who I am?” I asked.

  “I know plenty of things. For instance, I knew your grandmother. I also knew she was a witch,” Amelia responded. “She belonged to my little coven back in the day.”

  “Wait, your coven?” I asked, setting the water glass down on the coffee table. Amelia simply nodded and stood up from her spot on the couch, wandering over to the window behind her desk. She looked out at the trees for a moment before turning to face me again.

  “The Redferne line is quite powerful,” she said. “Your grandmother had an astounding command of nature. With a snap of her fingers, she could revive an entire field of dead crops. Or cause a drought.” Amelia smiled wryly. “But she never was one for embracing the full potential of her magic. It was a shame.”

  I shook my head, trying to make sense of what I was hearing.

  “I think I’m missing something,” I said. “Did you actually know my grandmother?”

  “I knew her very well,” Amelia replied, stepping away from the window and moving back towards the sectional. There was a strange glint in her eyes and as if in response, I felt a slight staticky sensation race down my arms.

  “I suppose it’s time to show you who I really am,” she continued. “This will all make a little more sense, then.”

  Before I could form a response, Amelia held out her hands to the side, palms facing up towards the ceiling. I let out a little gasp when tendrils of flickering green energy began to swirl around her hands before snaking up her arms. As the energy moved up her arms and began to surround her face and hair, Amelia transformed. Her skin, originally relatively smooth, slowly wrinkled, and, as the tendrils dissipated, a familiar face emerged.

  “Lilith Blackwater?” I whispered in disbelief as the energy surrounding her completely disappeared.

  She looked exactly like the photograph I had found at the library, if not a little older. Her hair was streaked through with pure white and her face seemed a little more gaunt. However, her steely grey eyes were still sharp, and I couldn’t repress the shiver that raced down my spine as she gazed at me with an almost triumphant expression.

  “Correct,” she said, settling back down on the leather sectional. I snapped my mouth closed when I realized that it had been hanging open.

  “How…” I didn’t even know where to start. I was in the presence of a woman who had seemingly been able to defy death. What was I supposed to say? Congratulations?

  “It’s a lot to take in,” Lilith murmured. “I know. But you have to know who I really am. Amelia never existed. It has only ever been me.”

  “How long?” I cleared my throat, as it had suddenly gone dry. “How long have you…?”

  Lilith raised an amused brow. “Been alive?” she asked. “Hundreds of years, child.”

  My head spun. I couldn
’t even fathom living that long.

  “And are there more like you...like me?” I asked and Lilith laughed, clearly amused by my ignorance.

  “Magic is everywhere, Heidi,” she stated. “For instance, my rude receptionist, whom you just had the pleasure of meeting, is a demon.”

  I felt the blood drain from my face. Julianna was a demon? Demons were real?

  “Oh,” I squeaked.

  “There are many witches out in the world, too,” Lilith continued. “Most can control the elements, like your grandmother, for instance. But there are very few witches -- those like you and me -- who are even more powerful. Who can shape and use the very energy around them.”

  She paused and regarded me with another small smile.

  “You’ve felt it, haven’t you?” she asked. “The energy?”

  My thoughts drifted to the incident at the Witch’s Brew, the buzzing in my head, the way static had surrounded my body, the way energy had pushed out from me with a force strong enough to knock my ex-husband backward. I nodded numbly.

  “That’s your magic,” Lilith said. “That energy you feel. You can use it to cast spells, to shape the world around you.”

  Shape the world around me? I shook my head. That sounded almost too good to be true.

  “Why did it take so long for my...abilities...to manifest?” I asked. “Surely I would have felt something before now if I’m as powerful as you say.”

  “It works differently for everyone,” Lilith responded. “Some are born with their powers, while others take a lot longer to access their magic. Sometimes, a stressful or traumatic event will trigger a witch’s magic...such as divorce.”

  She gave me a sly smile.

  Of course she would know about Josh, I thought to myself.

  “If magic is everywhere, then why don’t more people know about it?” I asked. “This kind of stuff should be all over the news!”

  “There are certain...higher entities...that encourage us to keep our magic secret.” Lilith sniffed disdainfully. “A silly rule, if you ask me. Why should we have to hide who we are?”