by Jo Ho
Finally, he came to the reception area. A large sign suspended from the ceiling said “WELCOME”. Leading off from this area was a small office where several computers sat on tables. That must be where the administrative duties were handled.
He stopped by the most cluttered desk. Personalized items were everywhere. In addition to the compulsory pictures of an uninteresting looking middle-aged woman with her equally uninteresting children that were pinned to a board on the wall, there were also little mementos and hideous toylike things on springs. As Michael reached across to turn on the computer his arm brushed against one of those strange spring toys and the whole thing started moving in a way that made Michael itch to destroy it. Unable to help himself, he flicked his hand in the tiniest of gestures then watched as it melted into a pool of plastic.
The computer hummed to life as a greeting flashed onto the screen for Loretta, who Michael knew must be the woman in the pictures. Scrolling through folders — at least Loretta was well-organized where it mattered — he searched through each of the classes knowing this could take a while with a potential three-and-a-half-thousand freshmen files to go through. The computer beeped, processors churning until a face he recognised finally came onto the screen, the girl known as Marley.
He read her file with interest, absorbing the information. Like him, she was a recent transplant to the city. Unlike him, however, he could see that she already had quite the school record. Wherever she went, Marley seemed to get herself into trouble, alienating herself from the rest of the students until she became either a loner or a target for bullies. Michael was surprised by this as he would never have guessed by looking at her. She seemed the prom queen type, one of the popular girls. It filled him with cheer that she was neither.
The next file that came up was for the one they called Cassie. She came from a wealthy and well-known family; apparently, her parents were famous, which was something the secretary had noted down in the “other information” section. Records showed that Cassie was a quiet student who didn’t participate in school activities very much. A few teachers were concerned that she seemed withdrawn, though none had done anything about it. There was nothing else of interest on her, so he moved on to Tyler with her pathetically sad history. What a wretched creature she was. Reading about her parents’ death and subsequent upheaval, he almost would have felt sorry for her if he didn’t know any better.
When he came to the last girl, the girl with the black lips and painted eyes, he could feel the excitement surge through his blood. Her file was filled with secrets so juicy, he could almost taste them. It was everything he had hoped for and more. He rubbed his hands together gleefully.
With what he had learned tonight, he would destroy her in no time.
Chapter 3
Tyler woke with a start.
She felt like death; her back ached from the hard, unfamiliar mattress she was lying on. Shifting, she tried to get into a more comfortable position, but her weary body protested at the sudden movement.
Blinking, she opened her eyes, waiting for the black spots to recede. When they did, she realized that the room she was in was the same as hers, though everything was flipped in reverse. Hearing soft breathing in the bed above, she suddenly realized where she was and her confusion melted away. She was lying on the floor having crashed out the night before. Pushing up onto her elbows, she glanced over at Marley and Cassie’s sleeping forms.
It wasn’t quite light yet outside, but it was too early to be awake. Something must have woken her though. Clearly, it wasn't either of the two girls who were still fast asleep in their beds. Reaching up, Tyler was massaging her aching neck when her bag vibrated next to her. From her position on the floor, she could see the clock on Marley’s bedside table. The display read 4:05 AM. Far too early for anyone to be contacting her.
Unless it was Ally.
The sudden terror this thought created forced her wide awake as she scrambled to retrieve her phone from her bag. Her fingers searched frantically until they felt the cold metal of the phone. She snatched it out. Hitting a button so that the home screen came on, she saw that she had one missed call, a new voicemail and text. The call had come last night around ten but Tyler had already crashed out by then. What if there was a problem with Ally? What if something had happened, and she had left it this long to find out?
Tyler activated the recording and waited anxiously for the voicemail to play. The surly voice of Cheryl Heep, Ally’s foster mother came down the line. Rather than the terrible news she was steeling herself for, however, Tyler was relieved to receive good news. Cheryl had an appointment that day and couldn't find a babysitter for Ally, so could Tyler look after her sister for a few hours? Checking her text message, she saw that it was also from Cheryl asking essentially the same thing. Why the woman was up this early was anyone’s guess.
Thrilled that she would be seeing Ally a few days ahead of her birthday, Tyler quickly messaged back that she would be happy to take her. Although it had only been two weeks since she had last seen her sister, it felt like forever. Then again, every day away from her was like that.
Pleased to have this sudden good fortune, Tyler grabbed her bag and got to her feet. Now that she was awake and excited about seeing Ally, she knew she wouldn't be able to sleep again. Might as well make the most of her early start.
Just as quickly as her excitement had appeared, a wave of exhaustion came, so great that it left her swaying on her feet. She knew it was a result of the punishing long days she had experienced lately, what with school and her new job, then all their extracurricular activity. It was beginning to take a real toll, but Tyler would not miss the opportunity to spend time with Ally. They were together little enough as it was.
Tiptoeing to the door, Tyler let herself out, but instead of heading back to her own room, she moved down the hallway. She would go to the lab, create more of her potion.
It was the only way she could guarantee enough energy for the day ahead.
Chapter 4
The iron sign above read “Antique European Coins for Sale.”
Marley looked down at the flyer then back up at the shop sign that was clearly nothing like the description of the magic shop in her hand.
"This is the right address? Corner of Main and Court Square?” Eve asked.
The four of them had decided on scoping out the place ahead of classes today and had followed Google Maps here. Marley looked down at the phone app. The pulsating circle clearly showed that they were in the right place, yet this shop looked about as unmagical as could be. It wasn't only the sign that was boring: everything in the dusty window display was unimpressive. An old sheet that might once have been a Merlot-red but was now bleached by years under the sun was draped across the bottom of the window. On it were the European coins, each of them sitting on an individual plinth.
All in all, the place was spectacularly unspectacular.
“We might as well go inside and give it the quick once over,” Tyler suggested a little impatiently. Her shirt, Marley noticed, was buttoned up wrong, as if she had gotten dressed so fast that she hadn't paid any attention to it. That booted foot of hers was still tapping a beat on the sidewalk. How could she have so much energy this early in the morning?
Eve made the first move. Marching to the glass door, she pushed it open and went inside as the rest of them piled in. Inside, tables stood around draped in more of that fabric. Covering almost every surface were those coins. From the back of the room, a beaded curtain was pushed aside as a rich female voice with a French accent called over to them. "Can you shut the door please, you’re letting all the draft in.”
Cassie, who had been the last one to enter the shop, jumped to do the voice’s bidding despite the fact that it was such a warm day. Even if there had been any breeze today, it would have been a welcome relief in this stuffy shop. As soon as the door closed, however, the air shifted in the way the girls now knew only happened when magic was occurring.
Suddenly, everything changed.
Gone were the coins. In their place were all kind of fantastical items for sale. On just one table display, Marley could see what looked like different animal parts but these weren't the kind of thing you could find in a normal store. There were jars of what looked like eyeballs and claws and other disgusting things that she didn't want to examine in closer detail. A mountain made out of Tarot cards balanced precariously beside a glass bowl filled with runes. On yet another table, candles of every size, shape, and color were stacked into a pyramid.
This was definitely the magic shop though, though someone had gone to great trouble to disguise it. An exotic-looking woman with olive skin and smoky eyes approached them grandly. She wore a long purple skirt that swished across the wooden floors. Her feet were strapped in woven sandals and her hip-length black hair braided intricately, interwoven with strands of flowers that moved magically as if they were alive. Her arms were laced with bangles that jangled as she came towards them.
"I've not seen any of you before. My name’s Helena and I’m the owner of the store. Welcome to Juju."
Stunned by the transition of the shop, none of the girls made a move to answer her. Only Eve managed a small grunt of response. Helena smiled, showing impossibly white teeth.
"I gather this is your first time here. Possibly a first time in a magic shop,” Helena said.
"What gave it away?” Marley asked finally as the power of speech came back to her.
"Actually, my security system,” Helena answered. “The hidden cameras around the store scanned your faces, cross-matching them against my database. It's important for me to know who my regulars are because the magic spell that disguises the shop only works on humans. Only those with a supernatural ability can see the real store. So tell me, are you just here to browse or were you wanting something specific?”
Faced with the direct question, the girls went silent, not knowing where to begin. It felt strange to even start the conversation.
"We were hoping we might be to get some help or advice from you,” Cassie began before trailing off, embarrassed.
Helena studied their faces with open curiosity. “Well, speak child I don't have all day." As if to prove this, she went back behind the counter and waited, toying with a bracelet. The flowers in her hair swayed as if from an invisible breeze.
Cassie wanted to reply but she shot a look at Eve instead, remembering what had happened the last time she had let her mouth run off. She stayed silent, waiting for one of the others to pick up the slack.
Marley fished out an exercise book from her bag, opening it to the page where she had drawn the symbol revealed on the demon’s foreheads, the ones who had attacked them in the graveyard. She showed Helena the drawing of the three overlapping circles sitting inside a triangle. “Does this sign look familiar to you?” Marley asked.
Helena’s eyes flicked down to the page, then back up to Marley. “No,” she answered. “I can’t say it does.”
“What about the Five Seals, have you heard of those?” Marley asked hesitantly. She didn't want to go in so heavily, but what with all that had happened, it seemed secrecy was the least of their problems now. Michael didn't seem to be acting very covertly. It was possible the supernatural community had information that they weren’t privy to.
Helena arched a brow in question but nodded. "Yes, of course. Why are you asking me about them?"
Marley studied her, hoping to read into her body language. Helena’s arms were down by her side; she stared unflinchingly back at them. It seemed unlikely that she was hiding anything, at least from what Marley could tell.
“Do you have any idea where they might be or how we could locate them?" Tyler asked.
Helena shook her head. "Unfortunately no. Many have tried and failed. If you ask me they're better off being hidden. Why would anyone want to find them? They’ve kept us safe for so many years.”
"We think someone powerful is looking for them. He's already killed people to find them. We’ve had some dealings with him but we don't know much about him or how we can find him,” Eve supplied.
Tyler stepped in a little closer. "We actually came into some powers of our own recently, but we don't know why we have them or what we are. Do you serve a lot of supernatural beings in here?"
"Yes. There's a strict policy with places like this. The community know not to cause trouble for us. In return, we can usually provide what they need. It's a little like Switzerland. We don’t judge our customers. We don’t really care what they do with our products so long as we make money from them."
Helena’s honesty was incredibly blunt. Marley found herself a little in admiration of it. It must be nice to be able to say exactly what you thought with no concern about anybody else's expectations or response.
“Although I haven’t a clue about the seals or the person searching for them, I might be able to help you with one of your issues,” Helena offered. Bending down, she retrieved an ancient silver box engraved with a symbol of a star inside a circle that she set onto the counter.
"If you really want to know what you are or where you came from I just need a drop of your blood for a spell. I can probably find some information for you right now."
Marley felt tense. Could she really answer this question that nobody else had so far? Marley was interested but before she could respond Eve stopped her with a look. Stepping in front of the other girls Eve faced Helena head-on. “How do we know we can trust you?”
"You don't," Helena answered honestly. "But what would I gain from doing anything at this point? I don't know you. I have no history or bother with you. But what I do see are four girls looking for answers and this is an easy enough spell to do. Besides, you've intrigued me now. If you only came into your powers recently, I want to know why. Maybe the four of you will end up being my best customers."
“Do you really have to have our blood to do it?" Cassie asked. She looked a little green around the gills. Marley figured she must be one of those people who were scared of needles or blood. Her complexion had gone several shades lighter in just the last few seconds alone.
"Yes, but only one drop from each of you. You won’t feel more than a tiny sting.”
Helena opened the box. Inside sat a container of needles, a small metal dish, and several pieces of fabric. Giving each of the girls a piece of fabric, she gestured for them to hold their fingers over the top of them as she took out four different needles. “You don’t have to worry, I run a very sanitary business."
Setting the metal dish onto the counter, Helena drew a symbol into the air with her finger and a flame appeared in the dish. The girls gasped, witnessing this kind of magic for the first time. Helena smiled at their reactions as she held each needle over the flame, sterilizing it.
“How did you do that?” Cassie asked, impressed.
“I drew the spell for it while summoning the flame with my power,” Helena replied.
“Does that mean anyone who knows the spell can do it?” Cassie asked, eager to learn more.
“No. One has to have the magic within them to cast spells. It is something you are either born with or not, which is why you four are particularly interesting.”
As Marley wondered whether this was actually a good idea, Helena jabbed the needle into her finger. The sharp prick of pain made her flinch and she had to force herself not to snatch her hand back. A bead of blood pooled onto her finger.
"Press your blood onto the material," Helena instructed. Marley pressed her finger onto the piece of fabric, which wasn't any bigger than an inch square, watching as it blossomed over the beige. Taking a different needle, Helena did the same for Tyler then Cassie, though the latter had to close her eyes and look the opposite way. When Helena came to Eve, however, Eve shook her head. "No, give me the needle. I'll do it myself."
Shrugging, Helena gave Eve the needle then watched as Eve pricked her own finger. Gathering up the small squares of fabric, Helena put them into a black stone bowl. Reaching beneath the counter she pulled o
ut a jar filled with a blue powder which she sprinkled into the bowl. A cloud of fog appeared over the bowl, sizzling as if it were meat on a grill. Channeling her energy, Helena stared into the cloud. Marley did the same but could see nothing inside that cloud. Helena could, however, as she grabbed a pencil and began writing into a notebook. The whole spell only took a minute or two. Helena stared into the fog, continuing to write into the pad until four words were written on it. Finally, with a snap of her fingers and a wave of her hand, the cloud dispersed. She looked over at the girls.
“Did that work?" Marley asked more anxious than she thought she would be.
Helena smiled, preening like a cat. "Yes, it did. I found the names of your ancestors, the ones you got your gifts from. Are you ready?" At their nods, she continued. "Marley you are related to a powerful woman named Mary," She looked at Cassie next as she spoke. "You are related to someone named Catherine. Your ancestor," she said to Tyler, "is Tabitha. And finally,” she said to Eve, “yours was a woman called Esther.”
After the tremendous build up, Marley couldn’t help but feel greatly let down by the information. “Is that it? I was expecting something a little more… magical.”
“Yeah,” Eve chimed in. “And those are four pretty common first names. I’m not sure if that’s actually that helpful.”
Helena looked startled then a little peeved. “I go out of my way and that’s the thank you I get?”
Marley felt like a heel, knowing she was right. She was behaving like an entitled brat, but it was because she felt so disappointed with the results. She had really believed Helena would give them at least some kind of answer to their questions, not just four names that probably wouldn’t amount to anything. “I’m sorry—” she started to apologize, but Helena stopped her with her hand.
“I think it’s best if you all leave now,” Helena said firmly. “I’ve got better things to do with my time than to help four ungrateful girls,” she continued before disappearing back behind the beaded curtain.