by K E O'Connor
A thin smile crossed his lips. “I see you’ve heard of me.”
“Can’t say I have. What are you doing hanging around my old home?”
“I’m here to give you this.” He drew a sheet of paper from his inside jacket pocket and held it out.
I knew better than to take anything from a member of the Magic Council without learning what it was. “Is that another order to send me back to prison? You can’t do that. I’ve done nothing wrong. I’m here because you insisted I come.”
“Providing you pay the debts listed on this docket, you won’t go back to prison.”
“You’re out of luck if you think you’re getting all that money out of me. I’ve got nothing.”
His dark gaze lifted to the house. “That’s not strictly true.”
“You strike out again. Even after I’ve sold it, I’ll probably still owe money.”
“Then give me something else.” Olympus extended his hand, and a coil of magic spun from his palm. It looped around me and tightened against my throat.
I grabbed the magic, fighting to get free from its fierce hold as it stung my skin like lemon juice in an open wound.
Russell and Nugget stood to one side, and what may have been anxiety marred their faces. Nope, they weren’t worried. They didn’t care about me. Hilda had vanished.
I dropped to my knees as the remains of my magic drained from me. It was only when black spots appeared in my vision, that Olympus withdrew his magic bind.
He shook out his hands. “Your re-education appears to have been successful. I expected to obtain more from you.”
“Go away! Nobody likes a magic leech.” I pulled myself upright, my throat burning and my insides shaking.
“You had nothing else to offer. Call that a partial payment for this debt.” He waved the paper at me.
“That’s all you’re getting,” I said. “You need to leave.”
Olympus didn’t move, just stood there looking smug and tall and annoying. “Or what? I don’t see a queue of long-lost friends waiting to welcome you home. There’s no one to help you get rid of me.”
“That’s only because they don’t know I’m here.”
He arched a brow. “And why is that? Why didn’t you let your friends know you were returning home?”
“As if you can’t guess, wise guy.” I jerked my chin up. “Was there something else you needed?”
Olympus’ gaze ran over me. “Don’t linger in this place, Indigo. You’re all alone and have no one to protect you. A lone witch is vulnerable to unpleasant things, especially a witch as hated as you.”
“I had no plans to stay. But thanks to your buddies at the Magic Council, I had no choice. I’ll get what magic items I need, sell this place, and forget I ever lived here.”
“That’s not acceptable.”
I raised my hands to the sky. “Then you guys have your wires crossed. I was ordered back here. What do you expect me to do with the place?”
“Once you break the wards, the house and its toxic power will be destroyed. That’s why I’m here, to ensure it happens,” Olympus said.
Nugget hissed softly, and his eyes narrowed.
I looked at the building that housed so many happy memories. My gut cramped at the thought of it gone. I should be glad it was about to be destroyed, but this had once been an amazing home. Things had only turned rotten at the end.
I clenched my fists. This was my house. I should be the one who decided if it stayed exactly as it was or was pulled to the ground.
I turned back to Olympus. “You’re making a mistake.”
“There’s no mistake. The Magic Council has decided to wipe this place from history.”
“Then they’re as stupid as they are inefficient. You may want to take down the house, but you can’t erase everyone’s memory. There are people living here who remember what happened.”
Olympus scrubbed a hand against his chin. “Those with long memories won’t last forever. Witch Haven doesn’t want this dark stain lingering. We plan to remove all evidence that Magda Ash ever lived here.”
“Not yet, you’re not.” I drew back my shoulders. I may be a powerless witch with no friends, no money, and no prospects, but I had this house. I was only letting it go when I decided it was the right time. “This is my home, and I’ve got the paperwork to prove it. Magda left this to me. You don’t get to decide what happens to it.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. With the debts you’ve accrued, and your inability to pay them, this can be seized as an asset.”
“I’ll pay the debts. Once I’ve sold this place, I should have enough to clear what you’re owed.” I hoped I’d have enough, but there was no guarantee.
“Why would anyone buy a residence with such a dark past?” Olympus said. “The only people who’ll view this place are those with a taste for the macabre. I suppose you could let it out to ghost hunting parties. They may try to conjure the evil spirit of your stepmom.”
“They wouldn’t dare,” I said through gritted teeth. “And I’m not turning my home into a playground for weirdos.”
He was silent for a few seconds. “What will you do if you can’t sell?”
“You let me worry about that.” It had once been a beautiful home and stood on a great plot in a secluded part of the village. Someone would be interested in buying it. Most likely someone who didn’t do the proper background checks. Even if I didn’t secure the market rate, I’d get something, and get the Magic Council off my back.
“The clock is ticking,” Olympus said. “These debts need to be repaid quickly.”
“I know! That’s why I’m here. You lecturing me is only slowing me down.”
Olympus took a step closer, hovering right by the gate.
Russell took off, squawking, and circled around his head. His talons stretched out as he swooped lower.
Olympus blasted out magic, almost hitting Russell. “Keep your tainted familiars away from me.”
“They’re not mine. I don’t have familiars.”
Nugget muttered something under his breath I didn’t catch. It was probably rude.
Russell circled again and fired something out of his beak. It landed with a sloppy plop on Olympus’s expensive long black coat and slid down the arm.
I stifled a laugh as Olympus scowled at the mess. “It’s time you left. I have no control over these animals, but they clearly have good taste since they don’t like you.”
He tossed the papers on the ground. “Don’t be late repaying your debt. The interest grows daily.”
“As soon as I have any money, you’ll be added to the long list of those who’ll get some.” I left the papers where they were. If they blew away, I could claim I’d never been given them and didn’t know the debt existed. It wasn’t a mature move, but I was tired and hurting from being drained of my magic.
Olympus frowned at me. “And since you can’t be trusted, I have backup to keep an eye on you.” He clicked his fingers, and a few seconds later, two large leather-clad trolls stomped into view.
I tipped back on my heels. They were over seven feet tall, broad, with tough gray skin and pudgy faces. “I don’t need babysitting. I have no plans to misbehave.”
“None of us realized Magda’s plans until the two of you attempted to annihilate this village,” Olympus said. “We need to make sure you don’t try anything like that again.”
“For the love of all things broomstick, I’ve served my time. I’ve been re-educated. And as you felt when you rudely invaded my magic reserves, I’ve barely any magic left. I can’t even conjure a simple light spell anymore. I’m barely a witch.”
“It still doesn’t make you safe to be around,” Olympus said. “The trolls are here to ensure you maintain order. And they’ll remain here until you leave.”
The trolls glared at me.
I had no problems with trolls. They could be quick to anger and used their fists before thinking, but so long as you stayed out of their way and didn’t rile the
m up, you were fine. But these two looked like they wanted to kill me. They must know my history. If I tangled with them, I’d be lucky to get out of here with all my limbs still attached to my body.
“Let me know if she causes trouble,” Olympus said to the trolls. He turned toward the village.
“Oh! You’re leaving so soon? I was about to invite you in for a cup of tea and ask about your day.”
Olympus jabbed a finger at the papers that fluttered in the wind. “Pay your debts and leave Witch Haven.” He walked away.
I didn’t move as I watched the trolls settle into place by the gate. I huffed out a breath and stamped on a sheet of paper that floated past. I hadn’t wanted to come back to Witch Haven, yet Olympus made it sound like I was being deliberately nefarious, and only back to cause trouble. I’d been living a quiet life, skimming so far below the radar that I wasn’t even a blip on anyone’s screen. It was the Magic Council who’d dragged me here thanks to their demanding letters and insistence I repay debts that had nothing to do with me.
Hilda clambered up my arm and stopped on my shoulder. She dabbed one long leg against my cheek. “Are you ready to work together now?”
“I don’t have a choice. Thanks to that jerk, I’m so tired I can barely keep my eyes open. Doing magic on my own is impossible.”
“I knew you’d see sense and realize you need us.”
“I never said I needed you. I don’t need anybody.”
“We all need friends.”
I blinked my gritty eyes. Was that true? I’d been friendless for such a long time, that it felt natural.
A soft laugh came out of the spider. “Now, how about we work together, crack these wards open, and get inside? I’ve never liked the smell of trolls. They remind me of sweating mushrooms, all mossy and earthy.”
I glanced back at the trolls, who had their backs to me. “Fine. But this doesn’t mean we’re a team. I don’t play well with others.”
“It’s good to be independent.” Hilda waggled her legs at Nugget and Russell. “Come join in the fun, you two. It’s time we got inside.”
Russell soared over my head, and I flinched as he settled on my shoulder, expecting another painful jab from his beak.
“If you peck me, you’ll be my next meal,” I said.
He shuffled from foot to foot and fluttered his wings.
“Let’s all get along,” Hilda said. “Everyone’s tired and cold, but there’s no need to be mean. Open your magic and let’s join together.”
I had barely any magic to offer, but threw out what I had. Russell opened his wings and a blast of silvery gray magic shot into the wards, mingling with my own pathetic pale pink flow.
Nugget muttered and grumbled, before adding his own magic to the mix. It was orange and had jagged sparkles running through it.
I was most surprised by Hilda’s magic. It blasted out of her fangs in an impressive rainbow arc, twirling and spiraling round the rest of our spells, before punching into the wards. It felt more like dragon magic than arachnid power, but I’d take it.
After several minutes of pulsing magic, the wards wavered, bending beneath the combined power of our spells.
Sweat slid down my cheek and my arms shook. I was out of practice when it came to using magic. I barely used it from one month to the next, and thanks to Olympus, my depleted, rusty reserves were exhausted.
“Keep going,” Hilda said. “The wards are bending. We’re almost in.”
“I can smell the cat food from here,” Nugget said.
I concentrated and gave it everything I could. There was a blast of light, and the wards crashed down. Magda’s magic seeped across the yard in a silver river and trickled away.
I staggered to one side, making Russell alarm call and fly off.
“Steady now,” Hilda said. “Magda left behind strong magic to protect your home. It may not be the only thing in this house you need to be careful of.”
“I hope it is. I’ve had enough surprises for one night.” I staggered up the porch steps and shoved open the door.
I leaned against the frame as my gaze flicked around the hallway with its sage green walls, bunches of dried herbs, and exposed floorboards.
A sigh of exhaustion slid from my lips. Home sour home.
Chapter 4
I hadn’t expected to feel anything when I walked through the door of my old home again. I’d been away for so long that most of my childhood memories were blurry and indistinct.
But my heart raced and tears blurred my vision as I looked around the living room, the memories punching into me like jackhammers. There was the old yellow chair by the open fireplace Magda used to sit in and read to me. There was the wonky, handcrafted wooden seat I’d used when I was younger to sit at the table and eat my meals.
I could just see a glimpse of the oak work surfaces in the kitchen where I’d spent hours brewing spells alongside Magda. She’d always sing when we worked on our spells, old tunes about forest witches and love.
I had a terrible singing voice and sounded like an angry tomcat with a sore throat. But she never complained when I joined in, getting the words wrong and missing the right key.
Nugget barged past me. “This place is a dump.”
Russell swooped in over my head and settled on a cobweb covered wooden branch in the corner of the room.
I looked around again, shaking off the memories flooding my thoughts. Nugget had a point about the state of the place. Dust covered every surface, and furniture was overturned, capturing the day the Magic Council had burst in and grabbed Magda and me. It was like a time capsule of the worst moment of our lives. The day everything was turned upside down.
There was no point in having a pity party. I needed to get on and clear out anything useful, then I had to get this place on the market.
Despite what Olympus said, this house would sell. It was a quirky house with a ton of character. Someone would want it. They had to. I needed them to buy it. The option of me staying here wasn’t one to dwell on. There was no home for me in Witch Haven.
Hilda tapped the back of my hand. “Is it good to be home?”
“This hasn’t been my home for a long while.” I glanced down at the spider. “Did you choose to live here?”
“I did. We all did. It was a happy home.”
“My bedding is moldy. It needs airing.” Nugget sat on a pile of old towels in the corner of the room.
“Then find a better place to sleep,” I said. “Maybe sleep outside since that’s what you’re used to.”
“I’m staying here,” he grumbled. “Go find me food.”
“Go find a mouse. There’ll be huge families of them living in the cupboards.”
“I don’t catch mice!”
“And I’m not your server for the evening.”
We had another glaring competition. Nugget won this time.
I’d just wandered into the kitchen, my hunger making me beyond irritable, when the front door blasted open.
I rushed out to find the trolls standing in the middle of the living room. “What are you doing? I didn’t invite you in.”
“The boss said we have to take out the junk.” The larger of the two trolls made a grab for the yellow chair.
I ran at him and smacked his hands until he dropped the chair. “Leave it! That’s not yours. I get to decide what’s junk and what stays. All this is mine until I say otherwise.”
He shrugged. “The boss said it’s got to go.”
“Your boss is a smug jerk who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” The next time I saw Olympus, we’d be having words. Mainly cuss words.
The troll grunted as he looked around. “It’s a mess in here. You won’t be able to clear this on your own.”
“Yes, I will. I don’t need help from the Magic Council.” I pointed at the door. “You two stick to watching my every move, but keep your hands off my things. And do it outside, so you aren’t in the way.”
The other troll made a grab for another pie
ce of furniture.
My hand landed on one of Magda’s broomsticks and a wave of familiar magic ran through me, making my skin tingle. Before I realized what I was doing, a blast of magic slammed into the troll.
“What the...” He staggered away, rubbing his arm where the magic had whacked him.
I stared at my hands, not sure of the spell I’d used. I had to bluster this out, or the trolls would get mean. “That’s your final warning. Get out of my house, or I’ll do much worse to you. Don’t you know I’m the dark witch’s apprentice? I eat trolls for breakfast.”
They looked at each other, confusion clear on their squishy faces.
“He said you didn’t have magic.” The troll who’d been whacked with the spell backed away. “That really stung.”
“Olympus doesn’t know everything.” I glared at the other troll. “Do you want a piece of me, too?”
He shook his head, and they lumbered out.
I ran over and slammed the door shut. I stared at my tingling fingers, stunned into silence by what just happened. I couldn’t do magic like that. It was impossible.
“Well, you are full of surprises,” Nugget said. “Where have you been hiding that power? You barely made any effort when we were getting through the wards.”
I stared at the broomstick leaning against the wall. “From that, I think.” Had Magda infused items with her power before being taken? I shook my head. No, it had to be a fluke. But even if I had untapped power left, I had no plans to use it. I’d seen first-hand what having too much magic led to. And even if Magda had left secrets behind before she’d been arrested, I wasn’t here for that. This was a last farewell to a place I no longer considered home.
“I’m still hungry,” Nugget said.
“And I’m sure there are still mice lurking in the cupboards.” I turned away from the broomstick.
Hilda, who was now riding around on my shoulder, tapped my cheek. “Manners cost nothing.”
“They do with Nugget. How do you put up with him?”