Page 44 of The Book of Unwritten Stories

‘Then you need to get to the English Sisters’ Apothecary up the street. It’s over the road from the Witch House and just around the corner from the Black Veil shop. Get Sephy to give you some of her magic balm. She has a cream, potion or tea for everything. My mom swears by Sephy’s stuff.’

Tommy soaked a towel and wrapped it around her hand. ‘Go, now. Please, I’ll cover for you, otherwise you’re going to have to go to urgent care.’

She nodded and slipped out of the back door. The pain in her hand was unbearable but she really couldn’t afford urgent care.

* * *

She hurried up the street, eyes streaming with pain, and kept her head low, dodging the crowds as best as she could, which was almost impossible as there were people everywhere. She had never been to this apothecary, didn’t think she’d even heard of it, but it was worth trying there first. She saw a pink shop which had a garland of pink and silver pumpkins, witches and flowers around the doorway and headed towards it, hoping that was it. There was no sign outside.

She went in and immediately a sense of calm washed over her. It was cool inside the shop, and it was empty which was unheard of this time of year. The most beautiful woman Addison had ever seen stepped out from behind a velvet drape and smiled at her.

‘Can I help you, dear?’

Addison burst into tears like a six-year-old kid and held out her hand.

The woman rushed towards her. ‘Oh, you poor, poor girl. Come with me out the back and sit down, let me take a look at that. I’ll get you fixed right up, is that okay? That’s why you came here?’

She nodded, feeling like an idiot for crying in front of a perfect stranger, but she had the kindest face and greenest eyes she’d ever seen. Addison let the woman guide her to a chair where she helped her to sit down.

‘Do you mind if I take a look, dear?’

She shook her head. What was wrong with her why couldn’t she speak?

‘It’s the shock. Once we sort you out, you will feel a little better and get your voice back.’

Addison’s eyes widened. The woman had read her mind as clear as day.

‘How did you…?’

Sephy let out a small laugh. ‘Oops, I am sorry for that mild intrusion. I’m a witch, dear, but you can call me Sephy. It’s what I do. I can read your mind, your palm, tell your future, read your tarot cards, advise you which crystals will help you get your life back on track, and I can make that nasty burn feel much better and heal so fast it will be as good as new in a couple of days, if not sooner, if you allow me to. I would never do anything without your permission. I don’t usually read strangers’ minds, but you are so upset your thoughts are floating above your head as if they’re in those cartoon bubbles.’

Addison laughed. ‘Oh, wow. Thank you, if you could stop this pain I’d appreciate it.’

Sephy began to unwrap the wet towel, gently holding on to her hand, and it felt good, it felt comforting. When the blistered hand was free, Sephy tutted.

‘That is a nasty burn, but my soothe-away balm will fix it and take away the sting.’

She turned around and went to a huge pine dresser that was filled with jars of so much stuff Addison didn’t know what to look at first. There were beautiful feathers of every colour, pretty crystals, jars of herbs, some she recognised, most she didn’t. Bottles and jars with beautifully handwritten labels. Sephy opened a cupboard and took out a huge tin and a wooden spatula. She placed them both on the table.

‘I’m going to have to pat your hand dry with some gauze, dear, it will hurt but not for long. The skin needs to be as dry as it can be around those blisters for my balm to take effect. Can you bear the pain for a little longer?’

Addison nodded. She had no choice and she trusted this woman more than she had ever trusted anyone in her life. Closing her eyes, she let Sephy gently swab at the skin then sucked in air through her teeth as Sephy began to carefully spread the balm over the blistered hand while quietly whispering. The whispering was so quiet Addison couldn’t make out what she was saying, but instantly the burning began to cool down, until it eventually stopped altogether.

‘There, now, we need to leave that to soak in for a little while before I can dress it for you in a special bandage. How about I make us both a cup of tea? You’re still in shock and the tea will help with the pain and stop any inflammation and infection from spreading.’

‘Yes, please.’ Addison didn’t even drink tea, but if Sephy had asked her if she wanted to drink a cup of arsenic, she would have said yes to that too. She was enthralled by her.

When Sephy returned with two cups of tea, she put Addison’s a safe distance from her.

‘Just let yours cool a little, dear, we don’t want you to burn yourself again. Now, how did you manage that?’

‘I was distracted. I work in a coffee shop and let the steam bar get too hot for the milk, and it boiled over onto my hand.’

‘Ouch, that is painful. Are you normally so clumsy?’

She shook her head. ‘No, I was upset and not paying attention.’

Sephy blew the steam from her cup and took a small sip, then nodded.