“So, which of you little rascals is responsible for this mess?” she asks sweetly.
Even though there’s no censure at all in her voice, the children seem to recoil and I struggle to hold back a laugh. The usually bratty and confident Castalia is hiding behind Amon like a skittish rabbit.
“You dear,” Evanora says, pointing in Castalia’s direction with her trotter.
Castalia visibly gulps, pushing Amon further in front of her. He has a smirk on his face like he finds the whole thing highly entertaining. He’s so used to being the one to cause trouble. With a gentle nudge, he forces Castalia out of her hiding spot, encouraging her forward.
“Yes, you dear,” Evanora continues, “come here, please.”
Castalia steps forward hesitantly. “It was an accident.”
“Of course, it was,” she agrees. “I didn’t imagine for one second, dear, that you would do this to your family intentionally.”
I grin at the way Evanora calls us a family. I’ve always thought that myself, but it’s nice to have someone else agree, someone outside the family.
“First, what potion did you make?”
“Just a little undone potion. Nothing dark. Some beetle eyes, belladonna seeds, dandelion root, dittany, eye of newt…”
“Alright, it sounds harmless enough,” Evanora says with a slight nod of her head. “Let’s deal with the more pressing issue first.”
“The fact that I’ve turned the whole town into pigs?” Castalia asks nervously.
“Not yet. We’re not quite pigs yet.”
“I guess…” Castalia glances around the room.
“Everyone out,” Evanora says. “You can stay Lupine.”
My mates don’t look impressed at the idea of leaving me alone in a room with the two witches, but they do as Evanora says, gathering the children and leaving the room. Amon hesitates in the doorway, looking back to Castalia as if he wants her to ask him to stay too.
The way he wants to protect her is adorable.
I take a seat at the table, not wanting to get in the way. I haven’t got a clue about this magic stuff. Not really. Not enough. I try to learn about all the different species that live in the orphanage, but there’s only so much that you can learn from books. It’s nothing compared to actually living their experience.
My entire body is tingling and I’m sure we don’t have much time left. I don’t want to put them under pressure though, so I keep that thought to myself.
Evanora begins to speak to Castalia, telling her all about the power behind her magic. It feels like some sort of lesson in the history of witchcraft or something. I want to tell them that we don’t have time for this, that they can have their little lesson tomorrow once the town is back to normal.
I might be anxious, but Evanora doesn’t seem to be at all. Earlier, when we were in her house, she was in a rush to get here, but now that she’s here with Castalia, she’s taking her time as if every word has more meaning than I can possibly understand. And in fairness, although I understand each word that comes out of her mouth as she ties them together into what should be coherent sentences, she loses me. I can’t fathom what she’s talking about.
With a squeal, I call out to Evanora as my body begins to wobble in ways it never has before, my belly rippling with new layers of fat.
“Hush, dear,” Evanora says sternly.
Apparently, it doesn’t matter that I’ve gained about twenty inches around my waist or that my body is getting shorter with every passing second.
“You have to say the words, Castalia.”
“I…” Castalia hesitates. “What if it goes wrong?”
“Castalia,” I cut in as calmly as I can, “you’ve got this.”
“But it always goes wrong.” Her voice is sheepish, and the frown on her face looks really strange next to her piggish features.
“I believe in you,” I say gently, coming to stand beside her. I try my best to ignore the way my flesh is now trying to force its way out of my clothes. The only positive is that my mates are in the room next door. I really wouldn’t want them to see me like this. It isn’t so much the extra weight, but the way my clothes are tight across my body. No doubt, the tiniest of movements could rip the shirt off my back and not in a sexy way.
Castalia smiles impishly at me before uttering a spell that I’ve never heard before. Although she says it quietly, there’s an assurance in her tone. Perhaps for the first time, she believes in herself.
The effects of the spell are instantaneous. I feel my body begin to change once again, the fat ripping as it shrinks back before disappearing completely, leaving my belly flat once more. My hands immediately go to my ears, checking that they’re no longer obscenely large or hairy. Relief floods me as my hands touch the slender, ladylike ears that I’ve been missing all day.
“You did it, Castalia!” I tell her proudly.
“Of course, I did.”
Evanora laughs gently before turning to Castalia. “Well done, child. I think you would do well to study your magic properly.”
“More lessons?” Castalia replies glumly.
“If you hope to become the superb witch that you were born to be, then yes, you need more lessons. Many more.”
Castalia doesn’t refuse even when Evanora suggests that Castalia visit her three days a week after school. I’m pleasantly surprised. I would have expected Castalia to put up a fight. When I say as much, Castalia laughs before saying, “I can’t go turning the townsfolk into pigs every other week, can I?”
“No. Definitely not. Once is more than enough.”
Trick or Treat
F inally no longer pink and hairy, I hug Evanora thanking her.
“It was nothing at all, dear.” She shrugs off my appreciation before telling me that she will ensure that the townspeople will think today was just some grand Halloween prank. I almost find myself asking her how she intends to do that, only to stop myself when I realize that I’m not sure I actually want to know.
It’s enough to know that Castalia and I won’t end up on the high school moms’ bad sides again.
“Can we go trick or treating now, Piney?” Kendall asks from the doorway. His tone suggests that he doesn’t really care for my answer. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think the other children had convinced him to ask the question. But knowing Kendall, he’s probably just as excited as his friends. He just doesn’t show his feelings the way the others do.
I grin at the small reaper boy. “It’s not Halloween yet.”
“But…”
“Tomorrow night we’ll go trick or treating.”
His disappointment is evident, leaving me feeling guilty. If I could magically speed up time for him, I would, but that’s not possible. So instead, I recommend that we order some pizza, telling him that I’ll let them stay up late tonight. The other children burst through the kitchen door, all wearing wide smiles at the idea of pizza.
Just behind them, Wren pulls out his phone to order the food as I turn to face Evanora once again.
“Will you stay for dinner?” I ask her politely.
She hesitates, and I’m certain that she’s about to say no. It’s a well-known fact that the witch in the wood isn’t particularly sociable.