My first impression of Abigail Kavanaugh as she answered it was wary welcome. She was around thirty, five foot seven, with light blonde hair and green eyes. She was strikingly attractive around the face, and sumptuously beautiful on the voluptuous side.
“Kyra, I assume? Come on in and we’ll talk.”
I nodded, “Nice to finally meet you, Abby,” as cautious in my acceptance as she was in receiving me.
Her lips quirked as she backed up and I entered the house. The wards were very light as I’d said, which was a good thing, it didn’t read past my glamour. I suspected that had a lot to do with her welcome and invitation, they’d have tried a lot harder if I was uninvited.
The inside of the house was clean and cluttered. The floors were a medium brown oak and there were throw rugs in the hallway as well as the living room to the right. The house was clean but cluttered, smelled of incense, and felt warm. I relaxed a little at that.
The living room looked cozy, with a single couch, a couple of rockers, and a modest television. The end tables and coffee table were made of glass with a silver colored metal frame. We didn’t go in it though as she led me down the hallway and into the kitchen.
The kitchen was a large bright space, with table and chairs for six, lots of counter space including an island. The stove was gas, and there were knickknacks and small appliances all over the place. There was also a backdoor out into the yard.
She gestured at a chair as she continued to the coffee maker.
“Want a cup?” she asked, as she made her own.
I said, “Yes, thanks. Didn’t get much sleep on the bus last night. Dash of milk.”
She smiled over at me, as she put quite a bit of sugar and cream in her own coffee, then brought them over. She seemed friendly enough, so far, almost seemingly despite herself. The conversation paused until she’d sat across from me, and we both took a sip of the coffee. A lot of witches were tea only, but I wasn’t one of those. Modern witches tended to have a coffee addiction, just like humans.
“It’s very good.”
She smiled, “Thanks. Let’s get the hard stuff out of the way. Why were you looking for a new home and group?”
That was blunt enough, so I returned the favor.
“I’ve been on my own for four years, since I was sixteen. The last place I stayed I made the mistake of starting an affair with a new member before truly getting to know him. He wasn’t evil, but he was controlling, or tried to be. It caused friction in the group, so I left before it got violent.”
She frowned, “Not the new member?”
I shrugged, “The leader of the group was a male, and took his side in too many of our loud conversations. We’d also butted heads on occasion, but until then not enough to make me leave.”
She snorted, “Got it. Or enough anyway. Our old brewer died of old age just about a month ago, and our stock is getting a little low. If you’re staying, I’ll show you the curio shop attached to the stables and what potions are expected, as well as typical sales so you know how many to make.
“Any potions you make for the shop, I’ll purchase the ingredients, herbs, crystals, and more esoteric ones, and I’ll supply the potion vials. You’re free to make as many personal potions as you’d like, provided you keep the inventory up to standards, but not with the group’s supply. You’ll purchase, grow, or gather those on your own.
“The proceeds from potion sales will be fifty-fifty. You supply the expertise and time, but I supply everything else including the storefront and an already built list of customers and contacts. There’s a brewing room in the back of the shop which you can use, as well as equipment.”
I shook my head, “All that’s fine, except I won’t use another witch’s mortar, pestle, or cauldrons. I have my own.”
Those items absorbed the power of the witch, even as she imbued the potions with power and brought out the power of the various herbs and other ingredients. Not a whole lot, it was subtle, but enough that trying to use another witch’s equipment would be a mistake. A witch’s cauldron almost took on a personality of its own, and quirks, becoming almost an extension of the witch.
She nodded, “Do you know how to brew healing potions?”
I frowned, “I thought you said you avoided the black market?”
She waved that away, “For us, the group, not to sell. Just in case, it doesn’t hurt to have a healing potion available. We do have a few enemies in the area, other private groups in the suburban and rural areas surrounding Chicago, though we aren’t currently at war with any of them. I’d also supply the ingredients for that.”
I nodded, and I berated myself from jumping to conclusions.
“I can. I can also brew rejuvenation potions, which would be better for Vic.”
Shifters healed fast, or appeared to, by shifting away their wounds. It was far faster than any healing potion worked to heal a wound or sickness. The catch was they needed magic to do it, after a shifter spent all their magic they couldn’t heal anymore, or shift, until they recovered. A rejuvenation potion would restore their magic very quickly, it was also much harder to brew, and took days instead of hours, but it would be worth it.
Assuming I could get him to part with a little blood. It was also the type of potion that had to be tailored to the individual. The really powerful healing potions were that way too, but generic healing potions would be good enough for anything short of a mortal wound.
I could tell that I’d surprised her when she was struck silent for a moment. She didn’t doubt my word, air witches were very good at picking up lies in the air, almost as good as a shifter was. We all had our strengths and weaknesses.
She said, “That will work, where did you learn that?”
“My grandmother was part of a council, before our family fell out of favor. I bet you can guess how. I have our family grimoire.”
She snorted, yeah, having a mutt as a daughter hadn’t been good for the family name, having me as a granddaughter had been the final straw. On the good side, they all thought my line was extinct. As long as I avoided going near Seattle, they’d never learn I was still alive.
Unlike my mother, and grandmother.
Point was though, most brewers didn’t have the knowledge to brew such a potion, witches guarded their family knowledge jealously.
She nodded, “I think we have enough for a start, a trial period. We’ll see where we are in a couple of weeks, if you fit into the group or not. There’re four free bedrooms upstairs. I have the master and Vic is in the other. John has a suite in the basement, it’s best if you don’t go down there at all. John and I are also involved, so hands off.”
She winked playfully, but I knew she’d meant it.
She continued, “This is an active horse ranch. We have many horses here of our own for breeding and selling, as well as riding lessons for those that don’t own their own. There’s also boarding for horse owners that live in the city. There’ll be plenty of humans around coming out to ride on the trails, and they shouldn’t trouble you. If they had a problem with the supernatural, they’d have left by now.
“The ones that work for me never come to the mansion, but you’ll see them in the shop and stables. Vic is my manager out there, but not yours. If you fail to live up to expectations, I’m the head of the group here. Vic’s not a bad sort, so I don’t expect you’ll have any problems that way.
“Breakfast is at the crack of dawn, lunch at noon, and dinner between six or seven. The kitchen is open to you at any time of course, if you want to make a snack. Your own work hours are your own, brew when you like, as long as it gets done and the potions we offer are available, I don’t overly care.
“There is one more thing, but do you have any questions first?”
I shook my head, “I might have some in a day or two.”
She nodded, “There’re four other groups around Chicago, three of them aren’t a big problem, because they don’t do potion sales, so we don’t find ourselves at odds. Everything else I
earn money on out here is related to the horse ranch, and the occasional divination for the local cops, so we don’t directly compete for customers. We aren’t exactly friendly to each other, but we live and let live and avoid their territory.
“The fourth is a fire witch, Adele. She’s a total pain in the ass, deadly with fire, and at influencing people with passions, and she’s a mediocre brewer. I suspect she dabbles with the left-hand path, and she has three shifters in her group. A sadistic tiger shifter, Cerise. A wolf shifter, Jacob, who has alpha potential. And Jason who’s both a wolf shifter and half fae. They’re all rabidly loyal, which makes me suspect she has control over them somehow, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they were all sharing a single bed. Sex and fire magic when misused, can be a powerful way to bind others with blind passion.
“She hosts fights in the city once a week, shifter fights. Kind of like an underground human fight club, but for supernaturals. The council looks the other way, and she takes care of all the bribes, as well as the human and supernatural clientele that come to enjoy it.”
Abby shrugged, and was obviously self-conscious about this. Maybe a little guilty as well, for not mentioning this little snag before I’d made the trip out here.
I wasn’t too fussed, all groups had enemies, and by joining this group I’d be making enemies. There was no such thing as safe in my world. Everyone had baggage, even me, but my baggage thought I was dead.
She said, “At first I refused to participate, when she invited us all. As did other groups of us in the area. She needed other fighters, besides her three shifters and the occasional wandering supernatural. There used to be seven groups of us in the area, not five. Two of them were destroyed as an example, the two that were foolish enough to decline and be rude about it.
“It’s not all bad, Vic actually likes the outlet for his instincts. Shifters can be violent, and when not part of a pack where they can assert their dominance and mix things up a little, that violent instinct kind of builds up in them. It’s not a pack, but there’s a sort of pecking order at the fights, between the shifters of all five groups. We also get a cut of the money earned, though as the promoter, organizer, and taking care of the council bribes she gets the lion’s share of the profits. We get even more, when Vic wins his bout.”
I took a sip of my coffee as I thought all that through. It didn’t sound all that bad, but I was wondering if she was trying to convince me of that, or herself.
“Are you expecting me to participate?”
She blanched at that idea, which made me feel better, “No. You’d be torn apart without shifter healing, a death of a thousand cuts. Deaths are extremely rare, because everyone fighting is at least part shifter. The fight ends when one of the fighters is drained fully of magic. No, no fighting for you, but you do have to join us, as part of the group. You’ll also be selling potions at the event, so John will watch your back. I already have tonight’s potions set aside, so you’ll know what to bring next time. I also have lists for both the store and the for the weekly fights, including how many we sell per week.”
I frowned, “Where will you be?”
She sighed, “The five leaders stand together, I’ll be safe enough. Just keep your head down, and don’t start any fights, you’ll be fine. A few might try to bait you, don’t react, and follow John’s lead. He’s one of the good ones, as vampires go, and he feeds exclusively from me, or bagged blood.”
I backtracked, “Divination for the cops?”
She smirked, “Air witch. I specialize in weather and divination. The cops will request my assistance at times, for a fee. Usually for missing persons, kidnappings, or a manhunt. Obviously, only for human criminals.”
I nodded, obviously. The councils in the city policed the supernaturals in and around the cities. It’d been the deal worked out between humans and supernaturals when we’d been exposed four years ago. All hunter teams had a human observer assigned, and they had to submit reports for every takedown and arrest to a human agency that tracked such things, but otherwise were left alone.
I wasn’t all that thrilled with the idea of going into the city once a week, on their territory, to participate in a technically illegal underground supernatural fight club. On the other hand, this council had no idea who I was, nor a way to find out. Assuming Adele kept her bribes current, I doubted I’d even see them, or them me.
She said, “That’s it, as far as dangers to be aware of, though we’re always vigilant about our territory. Passers through and forming groups are always an unknown danger.”
“I’ll get started, if the potion inventory is getting low, I should check it.”
Abby replied, “Sounds good. Thanks, Kyra, and welcome.”
I finished off the coffee, and then got up.
Chapter Three
It didn’t take me long to pick a room, since there was only one empty one left with a private bath. It was in the back of the house. The window view was of the large backyard and open field before the trees and riding trails took over. The room itself was spacious, with a queen-sized bed, short and long oak dresser that must’ve weighed a ton, with a mirror over it. There was also a vanity, along with a modest walk-in closet.
It took me about an hour to unpack my clothes and get them hung up, and to take a quick shower. I’d been clean, but I felt a little grimy from the night-long bus ride and sleeping upright. The hot spray felt luxurious, plenty of water pressure, and my homemade soap and shampoo had a very light sent of lilacs and freesia. Shifter friendly light scent.
I pulled on a casual pair of blue jeans, my black boots, and a stretchy black top. I didn’t use makeup, any accents like that I took care of with a light glamour, then I headed back downstairs. A quick self tour told me besides the kitchen and living room, that there was a formal dining room, an office which I just barely glanced inside, and a laundry room. There was also a sunroom, with both free weights, a workout machine, and sparring mats.
Lastly, was Abby’s private work room, where she practiced her own brand of witchcraft. Like her home office, I didn’t cross the threshold, and just peered in before moving on. I wouldn’t intrude on either of those spaces, if for different reasons, without a direct invitation. Then I headed out to the stables and curio shop.
The curio shop on the back of the stables had everything you’d expect in a horse ranch. Tack, saddles, listings for the horses on sale, as well as pedigree for racing or jumping, and a hundred other things. But it also had crystals, candles, incense, creams, and most importantly for me potions.
I scanned the shelves lightly, noticing all the different kinds. Some for pain relief, some for beauty, ones that would fight depression, suppress allergies, minor protections, various creams for health and beauty, and performance enhancers in the sack, which made me snicker. The witch version of the little blue pill. It was all generic, no rare or powerful potions that the local council would take notice of and shut down. A lot of the shelves were bare, but it didn’t look like she’d run out of anything, there was at least one or two of everything.
No outsider witch would dare compete with the council level witch covens, not to mention they required licenses in the human world. There was too much money in true healing potions, but that didn’t stop the stupid ones from trying and risking supplying the black market. I was also pleased to see there were no questionable potions, no love potions or poisons.
In short, I could brew them all in my sleep. None of them would take more than a half hour to brew a very large batch. I headed toward the back of the store.
Behind the counter at the register was a man in his early thirties. He was cute, wiry at six feet with black hair and gray eyes a few shades lighter than my own. He was also obviously human. Don’t ask how I know, most supernaturals outside of wolves can’t really tell without a spell, but I’d always been able to identify race with a glance.
Call it a passive ability of my hidden nature, one I couldn’t turn off.
He smiled, as I walked arou
nd the counter. He checked me out too, but not in an obvious or disrespectful way. I was used to that sort of thing, the fae were attractive as a rule, even minimized with my glamour it was rare that I went unnoticed. I wasn’t arrogant about it, or entitled, my life was far from perfect, it just was. More often than not, it just got me in trouble, being noticed and desired wasn’t always a benefit.
“You must be Kyra. I’m Jayce. I work the store and handle reservations and horse-riding lesson setups,” he said in a casual tone, while waving his hand around as if to show off his kingdom.
I smiled politely, “I am. Good to meet you, Jayce.”
He said, “Let me know if you have any non-witchy questions, I’ve been working here for almost ten years now, there’s not much I don’t know.”
My lips quirked, “Non-witchy?”
He nodded with mock gravity, “Technical term.”
I laughed, it was a strange sound to me, warm. I hadn’t had all that many reasons for mirth lately. The man was welcoming, uncomplicated, and unthreatening. He clearly wasn’t intimidated either, which said good things about Abby and her group. My group now too, if I decided to stay after getting to know them.
“I’ll do that, thanks.”
I slipped by him into the back room, and I took a moment to look around. The back room was split into two sides. One side had a worktable with a couple of old saddles on it, leather working tools, and stock room shelves. The other side was my domain, obviously so, with a shelf along the wall containing all manner of herbs and other potion ingredients, from feathers to ground crystal dust. They were all labeled with dates in the future, some of them were close to expiring but none were expired. It was all very organized, which I approved of.
I took a few moments to clear off the worktable, of all the cauldrons, mortars and pestles, cutting knives that their last brewer used, and stored them all in a box. I had no problem using the same Bunsen burners and other equipment. There was a list of potions above the worktable including inventory, how many there were in the store, and how many there should be. There were only a few that were in danger of being sold out, and I could have them up to full inventory before lunchtime.
Hexes and Hellfire: Kyra Bell: Book One Page 2