My So-Called Magical Life

by Lanie Williams

  “Aidan, let me go. My magic is unpredictable and I don’t want to hurt you,” I warned.

  “I can’t let you go in there,” he repeated, grip tightening on my elbow.

  I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths through my nose and letting them out through my mouth as the static around me continued to build. By the surprised look on Aidan’s face, I could tell that he felt it, too. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that the streetlamps situated throughout the empty parking lot had started to flicker ominously.

  I willed my magic to do something. Anything.

  Come on, I thought furiously. Help me!

  Something angry burned in my chest and static shot through my arms. One by one, the streetlights around us began to pop and sizzle. Aidan’s grip loosened on my elbow as my magic shoved him backward. I yanked my arm from his grip and sprinted for the front entrance of the country club.

  Behind me, Aidan let out a curse and I heard his footsteps racing after me, but I had enough of a head start that I knew he wouldn’t catch up to me in time. There was no way in hell he was stopping me now.

  I wrenched open the frosted glass doors of the country club and skidded to a halt on the marble floors of the lobby area. My eyes sought out the source of the green glow and I gasped when my gaze landed on a figure slumped over in the middle of the lobby.

  “Ma!”

  Tendrils of green light wrapped around her wrists and surrounded her like a cage. With a soft groan, my mom raised her head to look at me and my stomach lurched at the sight of her bruised face.

  “I knew you’d find me.” Her voice was a hoarse croak and I rushed towards her, kneeling beside the cage. I reached out a hand, attempting to touch her face, and yelped when a thin tendril of green energy detached itself from the cage and wrapped around my wrist like a snake. It sizzled and I bit back a scream as the skin on my wrist burned. I managed to get my wrist free and pained tears leaked from my eyes at the sight of my blistered skin.

  “Ma,” I choked out. “What is this thing? How can I get you out of here?”

  Her eyes met mine briefly before widening in fear at something over my shoulder. With a sharp gasp, I turned around a hand connected with my face.

  I went flying and landed with a hard smack, skidding at least a foot across the slippery floor of the lobby. My head cracked against the hard marble and I saw stars. Through blurred vision, I saw Lilith’s demon secretary, Julianna, standing over me, an evil smile twisting her lips. Her eyes glowed and her hair twisted around her head violently, just as it had when she was chasing me earlier. I shuddered at the sight of her pointed nails and tried not to imagine how they would feel gouging into my skin. She raised a claw-like hand and I squeezed my eyes shut, praying that it would be over soon.

  “Stop.”

  Julianna froze at the sound of a voice as it echoed, cool and calculating, across the lobby. My eyes flew open and, with a disappointed snarl, the demon whirled away from me. My vision cleared a little more as Lilith Blackwater stepped into my line of sight.

  Panting, I dragged myself to my feet, head throbbing. I bit back the pained groan that threatened to escape from my throat while Lilith looked on with a bored expression.

  “Let my mom go,” I demanded. I willed my magic to crackle to life, but it merely gave off a feeble hum as the pain in my head grew more intense. Lilith snorted and inspected her nails.

  “Or what?” she asked derisively. “You’re powerless, here, witch.”

  As if to demonstrate, she snapped her fingers and the green cage surrounding my mom pulsed ominously. My mom threw back her head and let out a pained shriek that had the blood running cold in my veins.

  “Stop it!” I screamed, beginning to sob.

  Where the hell is Aidan?

  Frantically, I tried to access my magic, but my mom’s pained cries only made it seem to retreat further away. Tears streamed down my face as Lilith snapped her fingers again and my mom collapsed back to the floor, exhausted.

  “I’ll do anything you want,” I whispered brokenly. “Just stop hurting my mom. Let her go.”

  Lilith let out another snort and the demon began circling me again, smiling in anticipation.

  “I’ve been alive for hundreds of years, child,” Lilith said. Her blue eyes were icy as she regarded me. “Do you think I’m stupid enough to believe that you’ll stay on my side once your mother is safe? No, you’ll betray me the first opportunity you get.”

  Lilith’s upper lip curled and, with a chill, I noted that her canines had grown long and pointed.

  “I’m a patient woman, though, and I can wait for another witch who is just as powerful.” She slowly stalked towards me and I attempted to back away, but the demon circling me snarled in warning. I was trapped.

  My heartbeat painfully in my chest as Lilith continued to advance towards me.

  “It’s a shame your magic will be wasted,” she said, stopping mere inches away from my face. “But I can’t risk you turning against me and destroying everything I’ve worked so hard to build. You must die.”

  “No!” I barely had time to cry out before Julianna had me by the throat. She easily lifted me off the ground and I kicked and scratched as my air supply was cut off. Darkness swirled around the corners of my vision as I slowly began to lose consciousness.

  This is it.

  Help wasn’t coming and both me and my mom were going to die. A few more tears leaked out from the corners of my eyes as I reluctantly came to the realization that I would never speak to my mom again. I would never see Victoria or The Witch’s Brew again, either. And I sure as hell would never taste lavender tea again. With a whimper, I shut my eyes, feeling myself slip further and further into darkness.

  Just as I was about to lose consciousness for good, a vicious snarl snapped me back to attention, moments before a dark, hulking mass slammed into Julianna. I hit the floor with a smack, gulping in air past my aching throat. The demon let out a furious cry and my eyes widened when I got a good look at her attacker.

  A giant wolf circled Julianna, teeth bared. Its fur was an inky black, save for some silver streaks at the top of its head. As it snarled again, my stomach jolted at the familiar color of its eyes.

  “Aidan?” I whispered.

  Sharp blue eyes met my own and the wolf inclined its head slightly, a small nod of acknowledgment, before turning back to face Julianna.

  I guess this is what he meant by “backup.”

  An angry shriek had my eyes snapping back to where Lilith Blackwater stood. Another massive wolf had her cornered. This one had silver fur, streaked through with pure white, and the top of its head nearly reached Lilith’s sternum. Its burning amber eyes narrowed dangerously at the witch, but it was clear that she wouldn’t be going down without a fight. Crackling green tendrils of energy wrapped around her arms and she flung a single, emerald bolt of light at it. With a yelp, the wolf curled away as the bolt connected with its flank, and the unmistakable stench of burnt hair and skin filled my nostrils.

  I swallowed hard. Now that Aidan’s backup had arrived, it was now or never.

  I needed to find a way to free my mom while both Lilith and Julianna were distracted. And hopefully before one of the wolves got hurt. Keeping close to the ground, I scrambled back towards the energy cage and breathed a sigh of relief when my mom lifted her head to look at me.

  “How do I get you out of here?” I rasped.

  “You have to destroy Lilith,” she responded and I was alarmed by just how weak her voice sounded. “Her magic is tied to this cage. Once she’s gone, I’ll be free.”

  Destroy her? I can barely use my magic as it is. How am I supposed to fight Lilith with it?

  “Ma, I can’t. I’m not strong enough.”

  Instead of responding, my mom closed her eyes and slumped back towards the ground, clearly exhausted. I instinctively reached towards her and cursed when my hand was zapped by the energy cage again.

  Dammit!

  A pained yelp had me wh
irling back around, just in time to see Lilith fling the wolf away from her. It landed with a sickening thud on the marble floor and skidded before stopping a few feet away from me, motionless.

  “You!” Lilith let out an inhuman roar as she began to stalk towards me. Her sharp canines had grown even more, protruding well past her bottom lip. Eyes blazing, she pointed a single finger at me, and one of the green tendrils around her arm shot towards me, wrapping around my torso and lifting me from the ground. I screamed as my skin burned.

  “You can’t escape me,” Lilith snarled as she yanked me towards her. The pain in my torso grew in intensity and I screamed again, feeling my skin blister beneath Lilith’s magic.

  Distantly, I could hear Aidan’s snarls as he fought off Julianna and I fought the burning pain, refusing to succumb to the darkness rapidly closing in around me.

  “Heidi.” I heard my mother’s voice speaking to me as if through a fog and managed to twist my head around to face the cage. She was standing in the center, eyes burning with a ferocity that would have shocked me at any other time.

  “Ma,” I croaked out. “I’m so sorry. I can’t stop her.”

  “Shut up!” Lilith snapped. The rope-like tendril around my torso constricted and I squeezed my eyes shut at the blinding pain.

  “Don’t listen to that old hag. Focus.” My mom’s voice cut through the haze and gave me something to concentrate on other than my burning skin.

  “I can’t feel my magic,” I whimpered. “It’s gone.”

  “No, it’s not,” my mom said, her voice sharp. “Now listen to me, Heidi, you have to focus.”

  “I don’t know any spells!” I shouted and nearly blacked out as Lilith zapped me again with her magic.

  “You don’t need spells.” My mom’s voice had gotten stronger as if she was drawing on some hidden source of energy. “Just breathe and focus. You’ll find your magic.”

  “Enough!” With an almost triumphant screech, Lilith unleashed the full force of her magic on me. Bright white light exploded behind my eyelids as pain shot through my entire body. It was as if I was being electrocuted and burned at the same time, as if my skin was about to be melted right off my bones. I twisted frantically, trying to escape the excruciating pain, but it was useless.

  I was dying. And there was nothing I could do about it.

  As darkness began to close in around me once more, disjointed images and memories flashed before my eyes: Ma cooking chocolate chip pancakes in the kitchen, Victoria laughing at something I had said, Aidan’s blue eyes, me and Ma before my dad had died, laughing at something we had seen on TV, me and Ma at the kitchen table, practicing spells.

  The images swirled behind my closed eyes, faster and faster, until, as if in response to the memories of my friends and family, my magic began to wake back up. It started as it always did, a low hum, which I could barely hear over my labored breathing. As I focused on the memories, it grew stronger, and I felt static shooting down my arms and through my fingertips. Gritting my teeth, I willed it to grow stronger. Angrier.

  I will die if you don’t help me, I thought furiously. Ma will die. Victoria will die. Aidan will die. Everything and everyone I love will vanish. So wake up and help me!

  I felt a powerful surge in my chest and, suddenly, the pain that had been wracking my body stopped. My eyes snapped open and I was face-to-face with Lilith, who looked more monster than human. Her hands had transformed into ferocious-looking claws, tipped with needle-sharp nails. She bared her teeth at me, flashing her fangs.

  For once, though, I wasn’t scared. I was mad.

  “Leave us the hell alone!” With a furious cry, I focused all my energy into my hands. Sparks shot out of my palms and I gritted my teeth, concentrating harder. The sparks slowly transformed into purple tendrils, which snaked their way up my arms, and Lilith’s eyes widened in surprise.

  “No,” she said, disbelief and doubt clouding her face. “You’re too weak!”

  I could feel her magic pushing uselessly at me and I let out an exhilarated laugh.

  “I think you’re the weak one, here,” I hissed. With one, final mental shove, I directed all my magic at Lilith, willing it to destroy her, to free me and my mom once and for all.

  Lilith shrieked as purple tendrils snaked around her arms, torso, and neck. Where my magic touched her, she glowed bright red. I fell to the ground as Lilith’s magic released me and, through narrowed eyes, I watched as my magic continued to wind itself around Lilith until all I could see were her piercing eyes.

  The tendrils of energy burned brighter and brighter around Lilith until it was practically blinding. It crackled and fizzed as static rolled off my body in powerful waves.

  “You’ll regret this!” Lilith screamed.

  “Doubtful,” I muttered. Sweat began to bead at my temples with the effort it took to concentrate on containing Lilith.

  “Come on, magic,” I whispered as my arms started to shake. “Help me out, here.”

  With a deafening crack, the energy surrounding Lilith exploded, and I threw my arm in front of my face as the shockwave knocked me backward. I landed on my butt and watched with both fascination and horror as the purple tendrils slowly dissipated. Lilith’s body had completely disappeared and a large heap of ash was left on the floor where she’d been standing.

  I let out a breath and winced as the pain seemed to return to me all at once. My stomach felt like it had been wrapped in flaming ropes and I was certain I had several other scrapes, bruises, and burns that would need to be taken care of. I glanced down at my wrists and cringed at the sight of the red, blistered skin. Something told me I’d need a lot more than aspirin to recover from this ordeal.

  I felt a light touch on my shoulder and I glanced up to see my mom smiling down at me. She was slightly pale, but I was relieved to see that she was able to stand. Her wrists were burned as well from Lilith’s magic and tears filled my eyes at the thought of the pain she had to endure.

  “I’m so sorry you were hurt,” I said. “I should’ve been here sooner.”

  “Nothing Trixie’s balm can’t fix,” she said soothingly, patting my shoulder. “And a stiff drink.”

  I snorted out a laugh and hauled myself to my feet, grimacing as my muscles protested. I was definitely going to need something stronger than aspirin. I slung a loose arm around my mom’s shoulder and hugged her to me gingerly, fighting back more tears.

  “I’m so proud of you,” she said, hugging me back. “I knew you’d be able to send that hag back to Hell.”

  “I couldn’t have done it without you,” I responded, wiping at my wet eyes.

  “I guess I make a pretty damn good sidekick, then,” she said and I smiled.

  Something large and dark moved in the corner of my vision and I turned to see Aidan in his wolf form, along with the silver wolf who had initially been fighting Lilith. I let out a relieved breath when I saw that both wolves were only a little scratched up. I scanned the lobby and when I didn’t see Julianna in all her hellish glory, I wondered if she had turned to ash like her mistress, or if she had fled once she realized Lilith was gone. I’d have to ask Aidan once he was back in human form.

  Aidan slowly padded up to me and I reached out a tentative hand to touch his head. He closed his eyes and I grinned as a low, pleased sound rumbled in his chest.

  “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that werewolves exist,” I said, marveling out how soft his fur was. “Although, it would’ve been nice if you had told me before we were almost murdered by an evil witch.”

  Aidan made a noise in his throat that sounded suspiciously like a snort before turning away from me and sauntering towards the front entrance. The silver wolf looked between me and my mom curiously for a few moments before following Aidan.

  With a sigh, I turned back to Ma who nodded towards the silver wolf’s retreating back.

  “I wonder what he looks like in human form,” she mused. “You know, I was all for Team Jacob when those Twilight books came
out. There’s just something sexy about werewolves, you know?”

  I groaned and resisted the urge to smack the palm of my hand against my forehead. “I think I’m ready for that vacation now.”

  Epilogue

  One month later…

  Four layers of spongy chocolate cake smothered in whipped lavender frosting took up the majority of Ma’s dining room table. It had taken two people to maneuver it out of Victoria’s backseat and into the kitchen, and I was pretty sure it was at least three times bigger than my head.

  “Victoria,” I said, unable to tear my eyes away from it. “I asked for a small cake. I don’t even think this will fit in the fridge.”

  She waved a dismissive hand. “We’ll cut it into smaller pieces,” she said. “Besides, your mom invited all her friends. This thing’s gotta feed at least a dozen people.”

  I stifled a groan. “So much for a quiet birthday.”

  “Oh, stop your complaining.” Ma bustled into the kitchen, decked out in what she dubbed her “party” outfit: a pantsuit covered in so many sequins, she looked like a walking disco ball.

  For the most part, Ma had recovered from her ordeal at the hands of Lilith. There was still some slight bruising on her face and, from time to time, I noticed her looking more pale than usual, but she always waved me off when I expressed my concern.

  “Nothing I can’t handle,” she would say. Today, she looked healthier than she had in a long time, which had me breathing a little easier.

  “Forty’s a big birthday,” Victoria said, giving me a small wink. “I’d be a terrible best friend if I didn’t throw some kind of party for you.”

  The Witch’s Brew had reopened a few weeks ago without a hitch and Victoria had added various lavender-flavored pastries to the menu in order to celebrate. They always sold out within the first couple of hours of opening and Ma was already bugging Victoria for the recipes.

  Ma nodded her agreement, admiring the cake. “You’ll have to give me the recipe for this lavender frosting,” she said, sticking her pinky into a dollop of frosting near the side of the cake.