Page 49 of Herbs & Hex-breaking

“Like creek water siphoning off into a pond?” Circe asked.

“More like a creek during a flash flood. It can only hold that rising water for so long,” Lorna corrected. “Eventually the water will come up over the banks and spill over into the surrounding area.”

Circe began to pace as she thought it over. “So, the spillover as you called it was Hattie’s accident, then Kate’s close calls?”

“Yes,” Lorna said. “Kate hit the hex once and slowed it down. Which is a damn good thing, because Hattie, while injured, did survive.”

“But the hex—while still active—is starting to peter out,” Lorna said. “And not to downplay our Kate’s injuries, as she did get bruised and scratched up, she also walked away.”

I sat there, bandaged and sore, and felt lucky all over again that my injuries weren’t any worse.

“Do you think you are up for working today, Kate?” Lorna asked me.

“I had planned on it,” I said. “That, and I don’t want anyone to know or even guess that I’m injured. I think it’s best not to show any weakness, and to go about my day as usual.”

Lorna nodded. “I agree. Choose an outfit that’s comfortable, and a top with long sleeves to hide the bandages.”

“I have a swing dress,” I said to them both. “It’s dark green with long sleeves and very comfortable.”

“I can help you with your hair and makeup,” Circe said.

I nodded. “Thanks Circe. I’m not up for holding my arms up to deal with my hair today.”

Circe patted the top of my head. “By the time I’m done with you no one will ever suspect that you’ve been hurt.”

“I’ll see you both downstairs in an hour,” Lorna said, stepping back. “We’ll keep at this, ladies. The three of us working together simply can’t fail.”

***

The Apothecary Shoppe was as busy as I’d expected with it being the day before Thanksgiving. I perched on a stool behind the front counter ringing and bagging up sales, while Taylor worked the sales floor. Dex dropped by and gave me a blueberry muffin and a cup of tea.

“Thank you.” I smiled up at him. “Did you know that blueberries are good for protection?”

“I did,” he said, dropping a brief kiss on my lips.

Dex had never kissed me in public before. My eyes shot over toward Taylor, who was grinning and suddenly making herself very busy.

“See you later,” Dex said, after running his hand over my hair. He then returned to New Moon Books.

“Hey Kate?” Taylor asked as she walked over a few minutes later.

“What’s up?” I responded, trying to sound casual, but I was mortally afraid I was blushing.

“Have you noticed that there’s a ton of spider webs on the left display wall? I swear I wiped them all out with a duster—you know the fluffy one on the long handle—like two days ago, but they’re back.”

I sighed. “You know I’ve been seeing a lot of webs too lately. My homemade spray doesn’t seem to be working. I’m wondering if I’ll have to call in an exterminator.”

“It’s weird,” Taylor said. “I never see any spiders, but there’s all these webs. Seems like we have an infestation.” She shrugged. “It’s gotten worse since Halloween. That’s not a Witch thing, is it?”

A Witch thing...

Goosebumps broke out on my arms. “Oh, I’m an idiot,” I muttered as realization dawned. Spider webs...like the energetic shawl of webs I’d first ‘seen’ on Hattie.

My heart rate picked up as I recalled all the times in the past few weeks that I’d seen webs around the shop. They’d been in the windows, coating bottles in the display shelves, and even draped on the metal railing outside my apartment. Then there was that weird nightmare I’d had about spiders only the night before!

Whoever had cast the hex was working with spider magick.

“Taylor?” I asked. “Could you hold down the fort for a moment? I need to make a quick call.”