AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The witch is about my height, maybe an inch or two shorter, with golden locks of hair that frame her round face.
“It’s nice to meet you. And you can just call me Josie.”
She dips her chin in a nod. “It’s an honor to meet you.”
Me? An honor?
Before I can respond, something long and white serpentines through my legs, brushing against my ankle and making me jump back a step, spinning to see what the heck the creature is.
Rat? Snake?
I didn’t get a good enough look to make it out.
“Don’t worry,” Elara says. “It’s just my familiar.”
When I turn back to her, the fuzzy white thing has wrapped itself around the witch’s neck like a scarf.
“Is that a weasel?”
The creature blinks at me as if offended, and Elara chuckles. “Tavor is a ferret.”
Right. Of course.
I’ve been away from witch society for too long. I’ve also never had a familiar of my own. Grand-Mère always said a truly powerful witch could get by on her own merit rather than rely on a familiar.
I don’t know, I think having a cute little animal companion would be cool. Especially the whole telepathic communication thing.
Wicked cool.
Once, when I was thirteen, a witch came to us looking for a complicated potion–Miss Paula. She stayed in our guest room for three days while Grand-Mère brewed up the requested potion, and I played with the fluffy tabby cat that followed Miss Paula around.
She told me familiars aren’t pets to play with, but Keres seemed happy enough to chase me around the yard.
“Elara,” Adelaide calls from the back, “have you gathered everything I asked for? We’re ready to go.”
“Almost.” The younger witch dumps her armful of stuff onto the table and sets to work, plucking the colorful petals from their stems.
Adelaide comes back with little mesh sachets and she and Elara fall into a practiced routine with quick, efficient movements. I barely get a response when I offer to help.
While the two of them get everything together, I bring out my phone and text the number on the card, asking for a meeting. Hopefully, the warlock can squeeze me in before my flight tomorrow evening.
If necessary, I wouldn’t be opposed to changing my flight and staying an extra day or two…
No. It’s a nice thought, but I can’t put off going back home forever. Eventually, I’ll have to face the empty house and figure out how to operate on my own.
But there’s also an empty house here I have to deal with. Man, if there’s an entire house I didn’t know about, what else don’t I know?
There is so much to do in the short time I’m here—just thinking about it makes me exhausted. I stifle a yawn. “You wouldn’t have a coffee machine, would you?”
Elara frowns at me, cocking her head to the side.
“I haven’t been sleeping well,” I explain.
“Are you sure it’s only lost sleep affecting you?” she asks, tilting her head as she regards me. “Your aura is off.”
I look down at myself, holding out my arms, but see nothing. Then again, I’ve never been able to see or feel auras.
“I’m good. There’s been a lot on my plate recently and I haven’t caught my breath.” It feels like I’ve been running for a week straight while getting nowhere.
