by Unknown
I didn’t want to want it. I didn’t want any of this. But it was here, he was here, in front of me, breathing the same air as me, taking up space in my home and I wanted it. I wanted him.
He didn’t kiss me. He drew an imaginary line down my cheek and traced the corner of my mouth, before taking his seat once again.
I gave myself an internal shake and a stern talking to, turning back to my candy making.
“We should find your color and flavor.”
“Is it important?”
“Of course it is. Doesn’t everyone have a color and flavor?”
“Yes. At least, to me they do.”
“Then so do you.”
“Are you a high ranking demon?” I asked, changing the subject completely. I didn’t want to talk about me and what I liked. That wasn’t what my magic or my purpose was about. I was here to help others and do right by them.
“Not too high, but definitely not at the bottom of the hierarchy. I have within my command several legions of demons and hellhounds. In the mortal world, I’d be an Earl, perhaps.”
“What about Barry?”
“He would be my first cat.”
“You really should let him out of whatever deal he made with you. He doesn’t know what he’s doing. He doesn’t have a cruel bone in his body.”
“And you think I do?”
“Isn’t that an inherent trait of a demon?”
“No, but it is one that is cultivated and coveted. Cruelty. Evil. Wickedness. They can’t be taught. They can be fostered in some, but in most, they cannot. You are either born with them, or not. And you believe Barry is none of them?”
“He isn’t. He’s just looking for his place in the world. He thinks because he doesn’t have a witch or warlock, that he doesn’t have anyone and doesn’t belong.” I paused as an idea skittered across my mind.
“What? What are you thinking? I don’t think I like it.”
“I know what it is for him?”
“Oh?”
“He’s not your minion or whatever you call those like him. He’s your companion. He’s your familiar.”
“Demons do not have familiars.”
“Well, whatever you have, he’s yours.”
“No. Absolutely not.”
“Oh yes. This is brilliant, Morgan. Don’t you see? Don’t you understand?” I was fairly bursting at the seams with happiness at my idea. I can’t believe I didn’t think about it before. “You are his demon.”
“I am your demon. Not his.”
“Of course I don’t mean in that way, but this is fantastic. Wait til’ he learns of it. He will be thrilled.”
“You aren’t listening to me, are you? He’s not my anything.”
I was listening, and I wasn’t exactly serious. I enjoyed the banter, the play, the uncertainty in Morgan’s eyes. He was a little off balance at my insistence regarding Barry the Cat.
I kept the smile in place as I turned back to the stove to check the candy thermometer. It was near the temperature I needed before I added flavor and color, then poured the liquid sugar into the always prepared cooling pans.
Morgan said raspberry. In my mind, I conjured the small fruit, splitting it apart to let the juices run freely.
I caught the color, the scent and flicked my fingers over the sugar water. Bright pink-red flowed across the surface and the aroma of fresh picked berries wafted through the kitchen. Behind me, Morgan hummed his approval.
My magic had returned, and I couldn’t get over how ecstatic I was. I was able to create freely with it now.
With a wave of my hand, the pot lifted and poured its contents onto the cooling pans.
“What happens now? When can I taste it?”
“It has to cool.”
“I’m a demon.”
“My candy will still burn your mouth. It’ll take a few hours to cool and harden enough so that it can be broken and smashed into powder.”
“I suppose you know best, but what will we do for the length of time it takes for it to cool before I can try it?”
“We can walk into town and get you a room at the inn and you can meet Broo. You’ve already met Amir. And, you can assist us in setting up the pop-up shop.”
“A room at the inn? I cannot stay here?”
“No, you cannot stay here.”
“But the closeness will help us get to know one another.”
“My cottage isn’t big enough for you and me and the two cats.”
“We can expand it for the duration of my stay.”
“Or you can stay at the inn and leave my cottage alone.”
“Very well. I will abide by your rules, of course.”
I set the pot in the sink to be washed and grabbed a small black cauldron of candy I’d made at odd hours of the night before after Broo had left. I had butterscotch wheels and cherry licorice wands. There were lemon drops and orange drops and caramel pumpkin chews. Cinnamon lollipops and sour apple rings rounded out the selection. I hope I’d made enough for however many people we would see, but there would be much more in the days and weeks to come.
Morgan walked out into the sunshine and a crisp Autumn breeze floated into the kitchen. I smiled. It was most definitely my favorite time of year.
Chapter Nine
“Broo! Pay attention! Your side is sagging and about to fall.”
“Sorry,” she said, shifting the lollipop in her mouth and pressing harder on her end of the pop-up store.
“What do you think, K?”
I stood back and cocked my head to the side. I walked around and cocked my head to the other side. Something still looked a little shifty about the structure, and I lifted my hand, palm facing out, and with mind and fingers in sync, I angled Broo’s side up near the top. Once that was done, I nodded to Bethilda, who lowered the orange and white striped covering over the four corners. I made a cone shape with my fingers and raised my hand toward the center and it popped up.
“That’s kind of like a barn raising. Not that I ever had a chance to do go to one. They don’t usually raise barns in the middle of Brooklyn.”
“I suppose it is. I’ve only participated in one of those and it didn’t really end well. We weren’t used to what it physically took to do it the human way. Magic took over the next day and we had a feast well into the night.”
“Can you teach me how to do that? Lift and lower things with my fingers and mind?”
“I can try. Why not ask Amir? It’s something pretty basic.”
“I don’t like when he teaches me things. He gets frustrated too easily and starts huffing and sighing and then starts kissing me to distract me from using magic.”
“That’s warlock for ya. They get so impatient, always thinking we’re the slow ones. I’d be glad to teach you. And I promise not to kiss you.”
“Make sure she’s not lifting anything breakable,” Bethilda said in passing, to which Broo stuck her tongue out at her aunt.
“It’s got to be easier than spells.”
“Not when you’re unable to do level one spells without something exploding.”
“Not my fault. Maybe I just have a lot of pent up anger.”
“Then go out in the woods and blow up something until you it out of your system or go to Leon’s and use one of the rooms.”
Broo tilted her head one way and then tilted her head the other. “Broo?”
“What if she has a point? What if that’s what I need to do to clear my head or psyche or whatever. Maybe my real magic is clogged up somehow.”
“I hadn’t thought about that, but maybe. I guess anything is worth a shot at this point.”
She nodded, her face still a study in concentration. “I think I’ll go talk to Leon when we’re finished here.”
“Has he forgiven Barry and Morgan yet?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t talked to him since that day.”
I took a step toward the pop-up shop, but stopped and glanced around for Morgan. I hadn’t seen him since we arrived
and Broo was buckling under the pressure to hold up part of the structure.
As I slowly spun in place, I finally spotted him staring at the empty spot where the bakery had been.
“Your friend did this?” he asked when I stepped up beside him.
“She did. She was practicing a spell that went horribly wrong and the whole place exploded.”
“I heard there were warlocks here and a hag that were done in. They wanted her magic?”
“They wanted the magical elements of her empathic abilities. She can freeze, set fire, cause wind and rain and snow and ice, and apparently blow things up.”
“She’s powerful.”
“She is, but I think she’s scared of it.”
“I can understand that. What about you, sweet witch?”
“What about me?”
“What are you scared of?”
“Nothing anymore. Not now that I have my jar of magic back and am able to use it.”
“A witch without magic. You told Barry you didn’t feel you were worth anything as a witch without it.”
“I’m not a witch at all without it.”
“Witch is a state of being. Not the powers you hold. Same as demon, warlock, wizard, or any other magical being. It is all a state of being, a belief, mind over matter. Not the other way around.”
“Still... That magic has been passed down through generations and without it, without being able to use it, worthless is what I felt.”
“Then I’m glad you have it back. I would not want you to feel any way other than powerful, strong, and beautiful.”
“You think I’m beautiful?”
“Completely.”
“Thank you. I don’t remember the last time anyone said that to me.”
“I’ll tell you every day.”
Heat filled my cheeks and I looked away. The street was teeming with people decorating for Fall. The leaves would be in full, riotous color soon and with the help of a little magic, the town would be able to keep them colored for longer than the human world could.
“Can Wilhelmina be tamed? Can any Wickeds be tamed?”
“No. They are their own entity. They cannot be made into pets or have the chaos tamed. It can be bound inside them, and eventually they will go mad trying to break free.”
“That sounds horrible.”
“I don’t imagine it’s pleasant, no.”
“Is that what you meant when you said she would be better off in the cage for now?
“Yes.”
“That’s cruel.”
“I know.”
“Let her go.”
“I cannot. I do not know what she would do if I did. Other than try to harm you or me or the people of this town you seem to love so much.”
“Maybe she needs love.”
“Not everything or everyone is meant to be loved, little witch.”
“You don’t know that, Morgan.”
“If I let her out and I am right, I will never be able to catch her again.”
“And if you let her out, maybe I can help.”
“I am not willing to risk it, Kandy. I do not want you hurt or your magic manipulated again.”
“Maybe she wouldn’t come after my magic.”
“No. She would come for your life. Same as mine.”
“That doesn’t sound gracious.”
“A Wicked is not at all gracious. Never, ever forget that.”
“Tell me about her.”
“Why do you want to know?”
“I don’t know. I just do. Please...”
“Oh. Please.” He smiled like the devil he was. “For please I will do many things.”
Inside the pop-up, I set the cauldron on a makeshift countertop and waved my fingers a little for a frill of lights over it. It wouldn’t be long and the residents of Blue Balls Falls would be lined up for candy. I love this. Doing and sharing from myself to make others happy, if only for the length of time a lollipop or Witchin’ Stix lasted.
“A Wicked can move so fast you’d never see them, only feel a sudden puff of air nearby. They have immense power to cause chaos and are driven to it, driven by it for nothing more than a thrill.”
“Barry said she thought you were hers because she was yours?”
“They can be extremely territorial and many are kept as servants and magically bound. I didn’t do that to her. She latched onto me and I never had a reason to put her away.”
“Until me.” I didn’t like that a small creature, even one bent on chaos, was caged because of me.
“Yes. Until you. I don’t know how she knew to target you, that you would be important. But she did, and it couldn’t go unpunished.”
“Witchin’ Stix? Do you have some?”
I turned at the small voice, somehow glad to have the conversation with Morgan interrupted. I saw nothing and no one.
“Please, Miss?”
I looked down over the edge of the counter. A dark-haired little girl stared up at me with expectant golden eyes. She held the hand of a little boy with the same features. “Hi,” I said.
“Hi,” the little girl replied.
“My name is Kandy with a K. What are your names?”
“I’m Pip and he’s my brother, Peep.”
“Lovely to meet you Pip and Peep. I do have Witchin’ Stix. Orange Cream. Raspberry Swirl. And Blackberry Lime.”
“Can we have one of each? How much are they? I have a little money and so does Peep.”
“They are no cost to you. And yes, you may have one of each.” I winked toward the cauldron. “Stix, if you please.”
Three of each flavor lifted and floated toward the two children. They caught two apiece easily, but the remaining two, swirled and whizzed around their heads. Pip and Peep giggled and jumped, trying to catch the candy in their hands.
“Thanks,” they said, running off to chase the flying sugar sticks.
“That was cute and kind of you.”
“What?”
“You didn’t charge them.”
“I don’t charge for the candy. I never have. I’m a baker and I work for Broo. Or I did work for Broo. I guess I’m a party planner now, too. The candy I make, though, I make for the fun and enjoyment of those who eat it. That’s why it was so important to get it back. It’s not for me. It’s for what I can do for others.”
“Even if one of them is a demon?”
“Yes. Even if one of them is a demon. I never put a limit on who may consume it. That would be unkind.”
“You’ve a big heart, Kandy with a K.”
“I’m a good witch, Morgan.”
“Maybe that’s why you’re fated to mate with a demon such as I, then.”
Could that be it? His words actually made a little sense. I was a good witch. Caring, generous, helpful. He was a... Well, he was a demon in charge of legions of other demons and... What else did he do? I hadn’t seen him try to hurt anyone at all or do any evil. “Do you believe in causing chaos?”
“Like a Wicked? No. I don’t do things in that way. I tempt. I manipulate. I trick. I don’t do anything overt or noticeable. I don’t want your powers. I want you. What I do mostly affects humans and how very weak willed they are. They will do anything for money, for fame, for the man or woman they want. And it’s so easy to give them a glimpse.”
“That’s mean.”
“A human would’ve charged those two children for that candy.”
I shrugged as though the thought didn’t bother me, but it did. Why charge children for something as simple and pleasant as candy? Admittedly, I didn’t know much about human nature. Broo did, but I didn’t. I’d lived in my own little bubble for all my life and I liked it that way. I’d read about faraway places, like Paris and London. I’d read books and watched movies and had my own taste in music and a deep, abiding love for espresso. But for the most part, I spent my time with my sisters and visiting with friends, making candy, working on new magic.
I admitted as much to Morgan. If he saw me as unworldl
y, maybe he wouldn’t want me as his mate.
“I don’t believe, now that I’m getting to know you, that I could want anything less than all of you, sweet witch. You’re the perfect blend of innocence, beauty, kindness, and generosity. You’re the opposite of me.”
I disagreed. In at least one area. He was beautiful. Dark and mysterious and beautiful. He’d haunt me for all my days, those eyes, that smile.
“K!”
I was jolted from my musings by my sisters flying toward us on broomsticks. They didn’t need them. None of us did, but we all liked the fun of them and wind blowing through our hair. “What are you two doing here? And why do you have goodies?”
“We made some for the shop, but thought we could spare a few plates. Kind of like a celebration of our new business venture.”
“Awww... Thank you. I—”
They were no longer paying me any mind. They were focused on Morgan and he smiled a dashing smile that would make even Baba Yaga’s knees weak. Of course, she’d deny it, but he could do it. Just one flash of those perfect, pearly whites, and her knees would be jelly.
“Kaydence, Kyla, this is Morgan. The demon.” They didn’t even acknowledge I’d spoken. After a few very uncomfortable minutes, I waved a hand in front of them, then resorted to a partition to break the staring.
My sisters shook their heads from whatever spell looking at him put them under and both had the grace to blush when they met my gaze. “Sorry,” they said, sheepishly and in unison.
“He’s just... He’s mesmerizing.”
I nodded to Kyla. I was in full agreement with her assessment of him. Part of me, a small but growing part of me wanted to tell her to keep her eyes and her sticky fingers off him. I wouldn’t, though. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. His deep chuckle inside my head told me he already knew.
“You can lower the screen.” I glanced at Kaydence, trying to hide any annoyance from my face because it wasn’t for her and I didn’t want her reading anything into it.
A flick of my hand and the divider dropped, revealing an empty space where Morgan had been. I spun around, looking for where he might have gone, but found no sign of him.
“Oh damn. Now we’ve done it, Kaydence. We’ve made her demon disappear.”