Witch In Charge - Celia Kyle Page 0,23

regret.

“I’d like to see it like that,” Kelly said.

A nearby vine curled over, wrapping itself around the table as it sprouted a green shoot with a small pink bud.

“Oh!” Tiffany cried, reaching out to scatter some magic on it.

The plant bloomed a perfect small rosebud, which turned to face Kelly as it opened.

“It looks like she answers your wishes, Kelly,” Nathan said with some amazement.

Kelly wasn't so sure. “We’re on speaking terms, for now, but who knows how long that'll last.”

“Did you still want the biscuits?”

“Nah, I guess not.” Kelly stretched. “It is getting pretty warm out here and I don’t think the house can cover up the roof quickly enough. I say we continue this little girls' day and go to Kiki’s shop.”

“Ooh, shopping!” Aurora exclaimed. “I need some mandrake root.”

Tiffany gasped in surprise. “You use that stuff? It's so incredibly dangerous.”

“It can be. Like all things in witchcraft, it requires respect and intent to use safely.”

“Hmm.” Kelly chose not to comment. “Who’s driving?”

“I will,” Tiffany replied. “But my car's a mess. I need to make room for passengers.”

“You do that,” Kelly said. “Magic us up some space to sit on while we get changed.”

The roomies hurried off in separate directions and Nathan started to tidy up the dishes. Kelly turned back to thank him, only to find the cups floating in the air.

“Nathan, you have magic?” she asked, incredulous.

“No.” He shook his head, watching cups and plates bobbing along. “It’s the brownies. I haven’t seen them in a long time.”

“Wait, we filled up on pancakes and butternut biscuits when we had brownies?”

Nathan rolled his supernaturally blue eyes. “Not those kinds of brownies.”

“Oh, the helper spirits—some kind of lesser fae, yeah? I didn't know they acted like maids.”

He gave her a half-shrug, looking far more interested in the world around him than when they'd first met.

“They lived here a long time ago. I thought they were gone, but it looks like they've woken up to serve you.”

“Wow,” she breathed, watching the cups dance on the air as they were carried by tiny, invisible hands. “Thank you.”

There was no response, but Kelly felt a tingle all over her body, as if she were being showered in tiny sparks. Everything in this place felt welcoming and warm. She was starting to get attached to the house in a serious way. No one had ever made her feel really welcome before.

Nothing has ever felt like home. But this does. As she hurried to meet the others, Kelly found those invisible hands helpfully giving her a pair of shoes and her keys.

“Thank you, thank you.” She giggled as she hurried out the front with Aurora.

“Shotgun,” Aurora called, beating Kelly to the punch.

“You did a really great job in such a short time, Tiff!” Kelly exclaimed as she jumped into the back of the car.

“I didn’t.” Tiffany shook her head and pointed at a trash bag wandering across the yard, seemingly by itself. “I had helpers.”

As they drove to The Witch Way Supply Company, Kelly filled them in on the overly helpful brownies. Kiki Nicolaides' store was busy when they got there, with people packed close together in the little aisles. After all the strange happenings around the place, it now had a reputation for being haunted and magic workers and normies alike flocked to the shop to groove on the eerie vibes.

Aurora disappeared into the depths of the store, muttering about natural wool strings and mandrake root. Kelly frowned but didn’t think too hard about it—Aurora had a right to do her own magic, even though it sounded more like voodoo than necromancy.

Maybe it’s close to the same thing, she thought. Paganism joins to Catholicism. Wicca joins to witchcraft. Maybe voodoo is a big part of necromancy.

She considered this her best chance to learn about things like that. It had never occurred to her, but maybe the house wanted the girls together for a reason.

“Morning, Kiki,” she said brightly as she approached the counter. “How’s biz?”

“Afternoon,” Kiki said with a pointed smile. “And do you have to ask? Take a look around! The place never settles down anymore.”

“That’s great!”

“Yeah.” Kiki licked her finger and expertly peeled off a piece of dark purple tissue paper to wrap a long, decorated candle with one neat movement. “Business is great. I’d love a nice quiet afternoon sometime though.”

“Careful what you wish for,” muttered Tiffany.

“Oh, I know.” Kiki nodded as she wrapped a crystal angel. “The universe is always listening, isn’t it? That's why I worded my