Cast Away

by Annabel Chase

  Begonia looked thoughtful. "I don't know. I keep waiting to see what I'm good at." She paused. "I'm still waiting."

  I gave her arm a quick squeeze. "Begonia, you are good at so many things. That's why it's hard to choose. Not because you're not good at any."

  "Like what?" Millie challenged me. “Be specific.” Sometimes I really wanted to smack her, even when she was being helpful.

  "Begonia is very personable," I said. "She would make a great liaison with other paranormals in town. She puts everyone at ease."

  Begonia smiled. "Thanks, Emma. That means a lot coming from you."

  "That's something that's missing from our classroom experience," Sophie said.

  "You mean a personable head of the coven?" Millie asked. "I agree with that."

  Millie was right that Lady Weatherby was not the warm and fuzzy leader that some people would prefer. She was, however, fair and smart and, when push came to shove, she supported her coven. While it was true she was a tad on the rigid side, that was probably the result of being raised by Agnes, her mother and the former free-spirited leader of the coven.

  "I think it would be a great idea if we took time to focus on our strengths as individuals," I said. "Sometimes that's how you find your purpose in life. You don't always know how other people perceive you until they tell you." It was worth thinking about.

  "Okay, girls," Millie said. "I think I'm ready."

  My stomach clenched. The moment of truth.

  "We'll give you room to work," Sophie said.

  "Especially you, Sophie," Millie said. "I don't need you bumping into the coffee table and knocking all the ingredients over. We don't want to turn the whole secret lair invisible."

  "I don't know," Laurel said. "That actually sounds like a good idea. It is secret after all."

  We laughed. It seemed it was really the not-so-secret lair. The more witches I spoke to, the more who seemed to know about its existence. It didn't matter, though. As long as they weren't turning up and eavesdropping, it was fine. We got to keep our own space without worrying about older members of the coven supervising us.

  We moved behind the sofa and watched Millie work from a safe distance.

  "Shouldn't you be closer to her?" Begonia asked, nudging me.

  "Not yet," Millie said, answering for me. "Let me get the spell prepped first, then I'll summon Emma over."

  It sounded good to me. The door was right behind me in the event I wanted to make a last minute run for it. I knew I couldn't back down now, though. There was too much at stake. As frightened as I was to be invisible again, I trusted my friends to help if things went south.

  “Light as air, thin as a breeze/Imbue this wand with the power of invisibility.” Not quite a rhyme, but it didn’t matter. A puff of smoke appeared above the coffee table, a hazy swirl of purple and grey. Millie waved her wand around the cloud, capturing the essence of the spell.

  "Do you think it worked?" Begonia asked.

  Millie peered at me over her shoulder. "Only one way to find out."

  Chapter 3

  I rode on the broom in front of Millie. We decided it was the best way to get into town, despite my fear of heights. My only real concern was that if I fell off the broom at any point, Millie wouldn't even know it.

  "If you vomit while you're invisible, will I even see it?" Millie asked. "Why did I bother asking you that? It isn't like I can hear your answer."

  That was one of the downsides to the invisibility spell. No one could see me or hear me. I could, however, manipulate objects. That was how I managed to communicate last time. Good old-fashioned quill and ink.

  I gripped the broom until my knuckles were taut and sore. Invisibility didn't make me any less scared to be hundreds of feet in the air on a wooden stick an inch in diameter. It didn't matter that Millie was our expert flyer. I kept my eyes closed until I felt the broom began to lower. We landed in a field of daisies not far from Elsa's house. It was an expert landing, not that I expected anything less from the star pupil of the remedial witches.

  "Thanks, Millie," I said. "Even though I know you can't hear me, I appreciate what you've done today."

  As though she heard me, Millie said, “Good luck, Emma. I know I don't always act like it, but I’m rooting for you."

  Millie waited a couple of minutes to be on the safe side before taking off again. I stood on the edge of Elsa's neighborhood, gathering my courage. I knew from countless minutes of stalking that Elsa left the house at approximately nine o'clock two mornings a week to have her glitter done at Glow. It seemed to be a fairy thing—it was like a manicure/pedicure except they dusted your body with glitter. It seemed to be part of Elsa’s regular routine rather than reserved for special occasions.

  Sure enough, Elsa emerged from the house, her blond hair twisted in a French knot at the base of her neck. I cringed. Even to go to the salon, she managed to look amazing. With dark circles under my eyes and a tangle of dark hair, I usually looked like a distant relative of the trash panda.

  I crept toward the house, watching for signs of Daniel. He was the uncertainty here because he didn't keep to a fixed schedule. Even if he were in the house, I'd find a way to work around him. I wasn't going to be put off by his presence. After all, I was doing this for him.

  The charming house looked the same as the last time I’d been here. The front door was unlocked. Slowly and carefully, I pushed down on the handle and moved the door forward. Once the crack was big enough to see through, I surveyed the front rooms of the house. There was no sign of Daniel.

  Since it was morning, Elsa would have just given him his dose of the Obsession potion before she left the house. Morning was when the obsession was at its strongest. It seemed to wane as the day went on, so I was pretty certain she had a method for topping him up throughout the day, though I wasn’t sure what it was.

  I squeezed through the gap in the doorway and closed it softly behind me. Walking through the house itself was easy. As long as I didn't bump into anything and knock it over, I was good. I went straight to the kitchen where I suspected she kept the potion. I'd already given a lot of thought to where she might hide it. It had to be close to the gossamer tea that she gave Daniel every morning.

  I stood in front of the wide array of cabinets, trying to decide which one was the most likely. Gareth was a stickler about keeping teabags and coffee in the cabinet next to the sink. I seemed to recall that was where Elsa had taken the tea from when I’d been in the house before.

  I opened the cabinet door and began rifling through the contents, careful not to make a mess. If Daniel suddenly appeared behind me, I didn't want him to see coffee filters and teabags scattered everywhere. I had no doubt that Elsa ran a tight ship.

  The tea itself was easy to spot. It was right in the front and easily accessible. I was looking for a vial at the very least. The shelf was full of health tonics and beauty boosters. It was a stark contrast to my therapist’s cabinet, which was only filled with booze and tonics.

  A canister in the shape of a heart caught my eye. It was gaudy and seemed out of place amongst the rest of Elsa’s minimalist, sleek belongings. I lifted it carefully with both hands and realized why it seemed familiar. It was made from the Mad Potter's shop, the same place Daniel took me to make the pot that sat on my mantel. I knew without a doubt this was where I would find the potion. She and Daniel had probably made this monstrosity together back when they’d dated the first time and she’d kept it all these years. Now this ugly heart housed her revenge plan. It was oddly poetic.

  I removed the lid and peered inside. Jackpot. There were at least ten vials of clear liquid. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't take the entire heart canister because I couldn't let Elsa know that anyone had discovered her secret. Instead, I removed a single vial and hoped that she wouldn't notice. I slipped it into my pocket and placed the lid back on the heart. I put everything back in the cabinet exactly as I'd found it. Just as I turned to leave, Daniel padded into the kitchen. My heart stoppe
d and my mouth became dry. His blond hair was slightly unkempt and he wore the dazed expression that I associated with Elsa's potion. I stood rooted to the floor. Even though I knew he couldn't see me, I felt paralyzed. I watched him reach for the canister of grains and oats and pour them into a bowl. His white wings were folded carefully behind him. Even tucked away, he couldn't hide their wondrous beauty. His wings were the ultimate reminder of his true nature. He was an angel, fallen or not. He deserved to have his halo restored, not simply because I loved him, but because he wanted so badly to make amends for his past transgressions. He was willing to earn it and Elsa would undoubtedly undo all of his efforts, all because of her selfishness. Daniel didn’t deserve that fate. Yes, he'd wronged her once upon a time, but he'd also tried to atone for it. And even though Elsa didn’t deserve to have her heart broken, she wasn't exactly an innocent. The success or failure of a relationship rested on both parties, not one.

  Daniel popped a piece of bread into the toaster and raked a hand through his hair. A regretful sigh burst from my lips. Those arms. I remembered how it felt to have them wrapped around me as we danced at the Spellbound High School dance. I found myself staring at his lips and remembering how they felt brushed against mine. My pulse began to race. It had been a good kiss. Really good. The thought of never kissing him again was almost too much to endure.

  I touched the vial in my pocket for reassurance and forced myself to snap out of it. Standing here lamenting what may or may not come to pass was not a productive use of my time. I had to prove Elsa’s treachery and free Daniel. That was my mission and I chose to accept it.

  He smeared his toast with honey, humming to himself.

  “Wish me luck, Daniel,” I said, moving to stand beside him. “I love you.”

  He bit into the toast, not a care in the world. I, on the other hand, felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders. I refused to fail him.

  I blew him a kiss and sailed out the door.

  Chapter 4

  As I made my way down the front porch steps, I realized the small wrinkle in my plan. I didn’t ask Millie to wait for me. Now I needed to walk all the way back to the secret lair to have the invisibility spell reversed. We should have arranged to fly back together. As much as I hated flying, my feet would have appreciated the lift, if not my stomach.

  I passed through the heart of town, all too aware of the spring in my step. With the evidence on my person, I felt more confident than ever that people would believe me. More importantly, we could set to work on the Anti-Obsession potion. Once we tested the contents of the vial and confirmed its composition, then we could get right to work on the antidote. I was far more concerned with restoring Daniel to his natural state of mind than I was with punishing Elsa.

  I passed Brew-Ha-Ha and briefly regretted my current state of invisibility. I wouldn't have minded a latte with a shot of ‘silver linings’ right now. I paused briefly at the window and peered inside to see who was there. It was still morning, so the place was heaving with customers. I saw Britta, the deputy sheriff and Astrid’s sister, sharing a table with two werewolves I didn't recognize. I took a moment to appreciate the fact that I could now recognize a werewolf on sight even in human form. I was becoming a true resident of Spellbound. Then again, maybe it was my sorceress powers kicking in. At another table sat Juliet Montlake, the Amazon who ran the bookstore and served as a member of the town council. She sat with Maeve McCullen, the banshee and fellow town council member. In the far corner of the room was Stan, the town registrar. He was deep in conversation with another elf and Donna Montrose, the new town building inspector.

  As I stepped away from the window to resume my walk, the shop door opened and Markos emerged, accompanied by a young witch called Beatrice. She was probably in her late twenties. I'd seen her around at coven events, although we’d never officially met.

  "I think you'd be a really good fit for the company, so just let me know when you've made your decision," Markos said.

  He must have interviewed her for the available office manager role. His previous office manager recently died after trying to kill me. She'd been stealing from Markos for years and killed Ed Doyle, the town building inspector, to cover her tracks. When I got too close to the truth, she came after me as well.

  "I made my decision," Beatrice said, smiling up at him. “I’m ready to start tomorrow if you'll have me."

  It was the way she said ‘if you'll have me’ that caught my attention. It was more flirty than professional. I studied her closely and immediately recognized the glint in her eye. Beatrice had a crush on Markos. I wondered whether he saw it too. That did not bode well for a productive employer-employee relationship. The office manager shared the penthouse space with Markos. They would be working in close proximity to one another with few people around them. Not that it was any of my business. Although he'd made his interest in me very clear, I assured him that I was only interested in his friendship, especially now, so close to securing Daniel's freedom. I patted the vial in my pocket. I still didn't know what it would mean for our relationship, but it didn't matter. As long as my heart belonged to Daniel, I was incapable of giving it to anyone else.

  "Great, then I’ll see you tomorrow at eight o'clock sharp," Markos said. He appeared pleased and that only elevated my good mood. I wanted Markos to be happy.

  I turned away and continued down the cobblestone path. I heard a happy whistling song and realized it was coming from me. The prospect of getting the real Daniel back was so close that I could taste it. I smiled broadly as I passed Wands-A-Plenty where I found Tiffany, my beloved wand. I waved to the clock tower as I passed in front of the town square. I'd grown so comfortable here. It was the home I never knew I wanted. I waved to Paws and Claws where I met Sedgwick, my cantankerous owl familiar. Then there was Ready-to-Were, the best clothing shop in town run by the most pleasant wereferret you'd ever hope to meet. With his penchant for bright colors and loud patterns, Ricardo was one of the most fashionable residents in Spellbound. I relied on him greatly whenever I needed a special outfit. I’d heard through the grapevine that Elsa had requested a wedding dress from him, but he politely declined to provide one. I wasn't sure if the rumor was true. Ultimately, it didn't matter. I was going to stop this wedding.

  By the time I reached the forest, the arches of my feet were aching. I slowed my pace and tried to enjoy the tranquil scenery. The fragrant flowers. The tall, majestic trees surrounding me. They made me feel protected. Up ahead I heard the soothing sound of a babbling brook.

  As I drew closer, the shrill chirping of birds began to drown out the pleasant sound of the brook. I wondered what had worked them into a frenzy. Maybe a dead animal had upset them. I grimaced. I wasn't eager to see the carcass of a fox or a rabbit.

  It didn't take me long to figure out what the birds were so worked up about. On the ground was a figure about three feet in length. Had a child gotten lost in the woods and been hurt? I sprinted to the body and the birds scattered.

  "Are you okay?" I asked.

  I dropped to my knees beside the body and quickly saw that it was a troll, not a child, and he was definitely not okay. His eyes and mouth were wide open, as though shocked by his own fate. When I touched his arm, I realized that he was frozen solid. I reached for my wand but remembered that I didn't have it. Not that it would have done the troll any good. I was fairly certain he was dead.

  I touched his leg and his head. Everywhere on his body was completely frozen. Had he been out here all night? Even if he had, it was unlikely he would have frozen to death. The temperature in Spellbound never fell that low. I sighed. If it wasn't due to natural causes, then we likely had another murder on our hands. I glanced around the forest. There was no one in sight. Who knew how long the troll had been here? I debated returning to town and finding Astrid, but it would be difficult in my invisible form. I would need to hurry back to the secret lair and tell the other witches. I hated to leave the troll like this, but it was the best option
. The girls could turn me visible again and fly back to the sheriff's office to tell Astrid where to find the troll’s body. I couldn't even close his eyes out of respect because his eyelids were frozen open. Poor troll. I glanced at the bridge over the brook and wondered whether he had been hiding there. I knew it was a violation of the town ordinance for trolls to reside under bridges, but I also knew that not all residents were following the ordinances. More and more, it seemed that residents were starting small rebellions. If it was in a troll’s nature to live under a bridge, then I could understand the resistance.

  I stood and placed my hands on my hips, contemplating the troll. It was best not to move him at all. I took a deep breath and began to run. I raced across the bridge and through the forest until the trees grew few and far between. Once the trees disappeared all together, I knew I was nearly at the foothills where the secret lair was located. Periodically I checked my pocket to make sure the vial was safe. I couldn't risk losing the one piece of evidence in my possession.

  When I reached the hidden door of the lair, I realized that I wouldn't be able to get in the usual way. I could place my hand on the stone, but because my hand was invisible, the stone didn't register my palm print. I chuckled to myself. Not quite the foolproof plan I thought it was.

  "Hello," I shouted, knowing perfectly well that no one could hear me. I looked around for a decent sized stone and threw it at the exterior of the lair. I repeated this multiple times until, to my relief, the secret door opened to reveal Millie.

  "I'm going to assume that’s you Emma," she snapped. "Just come in and don't throw any more stones. I don't feel like being knocked unconscious."

  I hurried inside and placed the vial on the coffee table. The other witches gasped.

  "I can't believe it," Sophie said, nearly breathless.

  "We should never have doubted you, Emma," Begonia said.