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Levi was there, grabbing a beer from the fridge. I glanced around. Lots of small appliances sat on top of the black counters along with some weird pieces, like the yellow metal chicken where the eggs were placed, and the ceramic open watermelon for the fruit. On the side was a tall counter with stools that separated it from the dining room, and on the opposite side was a bay window overlooking the backyard with bench seats and a wooden table.
I did a double take at the backyard—it was snowless, the grass so green and lush and full of colorful flowers.
Levi followed my gaze. “It’s enchanted. Heidi doesn’t like the cold, so she keeps the interior and the back of her house in a perpetual spring.”
That was amazing. She probably kept the front with snow so the neighbors or anyone who drove by didn’t become suspicious.
The entire house was quaint and old and with lots of character. “I like it,” I said.
“Want something to drink, sweetheart?” Levi held the fridge open.
“Water, please.”
He closed the fridge, grabbed a glass cup from one of the cabinets—he knew where it was located—and filled it with water from the fridge’s water dispenser. He handed it to me.
“Thanks.”
He leaned back on the counter and took a sip of his beer. “What Heidi said … she doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
“Doesn’t she use magic to sense that?”
“She does, but I think she feels a sliver of good in the middle of my black heart and she holds on to that with both hands, as if she could will it to grow.” He scoffed and took another sip. “It would be easier for hell to freeze over.”
I didn’t want to get involved, but I couldn’t help my curiosity. “How do you know her?”
He offered me his trademark lopsided grin. “Wouldn’t you like to know, sweetheart? Remember, I don’t do small talk. We’re here to get your potion and then we’re leaving.”
Without looking at me again, Levi walked out the door to the porch in the backyard. I could see him from the bay window but chose to turn my back to him.
Who cared how Levi and Lacey knew Heidi? Who cared if Levi had the potential to be good? As long as I got my potion, I surely didn’t.
I found a casserole on the range and was about to lift the aluminum foil that covered it to find out what it was when Lacey and Heidi entered the kitchen.
“It’s done,” Lacey announced. “I would say the angels can’t find us for the next twenty-four hours.”
“That should be enough time to make a potion,” Heidi said. “Unless it’s more complicated than it seems.” She extended her hand to me. “Can I see it?”
I grabbed the small vial from my pocket and handed it to her. She brought it up against the kitchen’s light and looked at it. “Hm, I need to go to my shed, find out what is in here, and then make my own.”
She started for the back door and Lacey followed.
“Wait,” I said. “About payment … I don’t have a lot of money. I might be able to pay you half now?—”
“Who said anything about payment?” Heidi cut me off.
“But this potion costs a lot back home. I thought?—”
“Nonsense, girl. I’ll make as much as I can and it’s a gift.”
“But …” I closed my mouth. This felt wrong, and at the same, I couldn’t deny this was perfect. If I didn’t have to pay, it would make a lot of things easier. “I feel like I’m taking advantage of you.”
She smiled at me reassuringly. “You’re not, Ariella. I’m doing this because I want to.” She exited to the porch and Lacey went with her.
I followed them.
We passed Levi, seated on the wicker bench on the porch, and took a stone path to a large shed several yards away from the house.
“Welcome to my shed,” Heidi said, opening the doors wide.
