A Modern Witch - By Debora Geary Page 0,7

Some are good with growing plants or healing people, some can mindspeak or feel emotions. Some, like Nell’s son Aervyn, have more unusual talents—he can transport things. Moira has a cousin who is a very powerful elemental witch, particularly with air and water. He can make the biggest storms you’ve ever seen.

Lauren: Do you all have witches in your families? I can promise you, there are no witches in mine.

Nell: Some of us are overrun with them. About half the people in my family tree have at least small amounts of power. Similar story with Moira’s family, although I don’t think the power runs quite as strong in all branches of her family. We’d be hereditary witches, where the power is passed from generation to generation.

Sophie: And I’d be the other kind of witch, where power shows up with no obvious family connection. As far as I know, none of my close relatives are witches. It’s hard to know sometimes, though—not everyone is accepting of witches, so many people keep their talents fairly hidden.

Moira: Power calls to power, Sophie. You’d know by now if you had any family with talent, I’d think. Lauren, it sounds like you would be a non-hereditary witch, then. Back in the day, we used to track more of you down as youngsters, but it’s difficult now.

Lauren: Pretty sure I’m a hereditary non-witch. It doesn’t sound like my pasta sauce qualifies me.

Nell: You said you’re good at selling real estate. How does that work?

Lauren: I meet clients and try to match them with property for sale. Good research, good connections to stay ahead of the competition. No magic involved.

Nell: You’re good at it?

Lauren: Damn straight.

Nell: Hmmm. There are negotiations involved in closing a real estate deal. Perhaps you have some skills at mind reading?

Lauren: That would be amazingly handy, if somewhat unethical, but no, I’ve never heard the conversations in someone else’s head.

Nell: Do you pick up any feelings? Sorry for all the questions. Sometimes people use power without realizing they do. Just trying to take some guesses.

Moira: If only we could scan you in person, dear, wouldn’t it be so much easier to figure this out...

Lauren: Scan?

Sophie: People like Moira, who have experience training witches, can do a simple scan to read basic power levels. They can also conduct some simple tests to see where someone’s talents might lie.

Nell: Moira, that’s not a bad idea. Chicago’s a long trip for you, even if you weren’t in Ireland right now, but perhaps Jamie could go. Lauren, Jamie is my baby brother. He’s a talented witch and an experienced trainer—most in my family are, with all the witchlings around. Would you be open to meeting with him if he’s free to travel?

Lauren: Is he cute?

Nell: He’s my brother; don’t ask me that.

Sophie: He’s very cute.

Lauren: Sounds like the weirdest blind date ever.

Moira: He’s a very skilled witch, Lauren. You’d do well to trust him to test your powers.

Lauren: So guys can be witches? Sorry, still stuck on the pointed hats and broomsticks stuff, I guess.

Moira: Many of history’s most talented witches are men. The world fears a powerful woman most, so it’s women who have been most noticed, and most hunted.

Nell: Uh, oh. Don’t get Moira started. We’ll save the history of witching for a new day.

Sophie: Lauren, we hope you’ll be back. We’re planning to chat every Wednesday night.

Moira: How will she do the login spell then, if she can’t consciously tap her power?

Nell: For now, Lauren, if you want to join us, just go to your grocery site again next Wednesday. I’ll set up the spell to fetch you from there. Keep an eye out for Jamie; he should find you in the next couple of days.

Lauren was back at her master grocery list—Phish Food, Karamel Sutra, and Mud Pie ice cream all added. She shook her head. It had almost been like falling into an online role-playing game, without the visuals.

Three interesting but completely loopy women were going to send her a tall, dark, and handsome stranger. To test her for hidden witching powers. Yeah, that was going to happen.

It had the makings for a good virtual-reality game, though. They had been oddly amusing. Some people might think it would be fun to be a witch.

And that is why you shouldn’t skip dinner, girl. Lack of food causes serious detachment from reality. Lauren squinted at her computer and dared it to misbehave again.

Given the empty state of her cupboards, she had a grocery order