As the first light of dawn painted the town of Stonebridge in hues of pink and gold, June Morgan hurried back and forth behind the counter of the local café, The Corner.
She snatched a ceramic mug from the shelf and scooped dark coffee grounds into a filter—the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the warm, buttery scent of pastries.
“Double espresso, two sugars,” Lucas called out.
His gruff voice cut through the early morning rush for caffeine, both a command and a question, and June nodded, carefully tapping down the grounds. She could anticipate every order in Lucas’ rundown of daily demands, having spent enough morning shifts to know what kind of mood he’d be in that day. After six weeks behind the counter, taking orders and cleaning tables, she’d only just been allowed to touch the coffee machine.
“Coming right up,” she replied, her lips curling into a smile, her thoughts briefly wandering to the string of lights she’d seen him untangling earlier.
Christmas was fast approaching, as was the first snow of the year.
It was a time that Stonebridge was always at its finest, the entire town dusted with a magical allure that could distract anyone from its darker truths. It was also a time of the year that June dreaded, its festivity magnifying her loneliness, her isolation, and the memory of her parents who were no longer there to celebrate with her. But the thought of spending the holidays in her childhood home for the first time in a decade sounded nice.
As she poured the steaming espresso into a cup, she peered out of the frost-covered window. The town was slowly waking up, unaware of the darker secrets that lurked in the corners and under the cobbled streets. Secrets that she carried with her each day.
June was a witch, born into the Stonebridge coven and destined to wield great power. But her parents had neglected her education in favour of darker forces, leading to their own tragic demise, and resulting in her fleeing from the town.
Now, after ten years of ignoring the legacy that flowed through her veins, she found herself struggling to control the wild currents of magic and was forced to seek help. That’s how she’d found herself back in the very place she’d run from.
Now, with the help of her one-time mentor, Alistair Blackthorn, June was now a fledgling member of the coven and tasked with learning the craft, starting from the basics. Unfortunately, there were those in the coven that almost expected her to fail, but June refused to follow in her parent’s footsteps, determined to use her abilities for good rather than succumbing to the temptations of evil.
But the past was an unwelcome ghost, and its whispers seemed to follow her everywhere. During her battle against the shadow entity that’d attacked Stonebridge and possessed Lucas, it’d hinted at secrets surrounding her parent’s deaths. Were they simply a casualty of their own reckless ambition? Or was there something more sinister at play—a truth hidden from her by those she trusted?
June glanced at Lucas as he took the customer’s money, thankful that he didn’t remember what’d happened to him.
“Hurry it up, June,” he said, his rough voice pulling her out of her thoughts.
As she handed the espresso to him, a bell chimed through the café, the door pushing open to welcome the biting winter air and another early customer.
Harriet Fortune bustled through the door, her cheeks flushed from the cold. Her chestnut hair bounced as she made her way inside, the warm brown of her eyes brightening as they found June’s.
“June!”
“Morning,” June said with a smile. She glanced at Lucas, who was already pouring Harriet’s hot chocolate, topped with milky froth and a dusting of cocoa. He grumbled something about the freezing weather, but his grumpy exterior didn’t fool June. Underneath his rugged appearance, Lucas held an affinity for the townsfolk of Stonebridge, a fact he tried to hide with the occasional growl or roll of his eyes.
“Here,” he said. “There’s a lull. But the moment it picks up—”
“I know,” June interrupted. “I’ll be right back behind the counter.”
“You better,” he grumbled.
“Thanks boss!”
Harriet laughed in response to Lucas’s moaning and slipped out of her winter coat. “Going to be a cold one today,” she said, taking the hot chocolate from him with a warm smile and turning to their usual table in the corner.
“So,” June began, slipping onto an empty chair with a relieved sigh. “What’s new with you?”
“Nothing much,” Harriet replied, taking a careful sip of her hot chocolate. “Just the usual chaos at the bookstore. The holiday rush is already starting.” She set down her mug. “But don’t worry, I’m not overdoing it. The last thing I need is another fainting spell.”
June tensed, remembering the night she’d found her friend on the floor of a magically hidden room at the rear of the bookstore…and the dark shadow figure that’d been held inside. An image of the bone amulet that’d been used to trap the entity by witches unknown flashed in her mind.
June leaned in closer, lowering her voice. “But you should tell me if you’re feeling anything strange, all right? Promise me?” She watched Harriet’s face for any sign of recollection.
Harriet’s brow furrowed slightly as she paused, the cup hovering before her lips. “Sure.”
“If you ever need any help, just ask.” She glanced at the counter where Lucas was glaring at a woman wrestling with a pram laden with a crying child. The spells she’d cast in the wake of the battle with the shadow were still holding firm almost two months later, but a part of her kept doubting her ability.
“I will,” Harriet said, her attention already drifting. “Speaking of which, have you heard about the Christmas market they’re setting up in the square? It’s going to be amazing this year. The pantomime is The Wizard of Oz.”
June half-listened as Harriet prattled on about festive plans and twinkling lights, but her mind was elsewhere, tangled in memories darker than the winter night. She recalled the shadowy figure’s silhouette, the way it moved like smoke as she’d ripped it out of Lucas in the woods, its voice a low hiss that still haunted her dreams. What had it said? She’d been marked.
Marked by what?
“June?” Harriet’s voice pulled her back to the present. “You’re miles away. Everything okay?”
“Fine,” June assured her, offering a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Just thinking about work.”
“Ah, I get it,” Harriet chuckled. “You’re so busy these days, it’s hard to get a hold of you. Well, if you need a break, let me know. I’m going all out with the decorations at the bookstore this year. I’ve got a big tree and book themed decorations. I’m thinking of having a colouring contest for the kids and Christmas-themed story time.”
“Sure,” June said, her response automatic. Her gaze drifted past Harriet to the window where frost etched delicate patterns on the glass. Outside, people bustled by, wrapped in their own worlds, oblivious to the magic that lingered just beyond their sight.
“June, I need you up front!”
Lucas’s voice cut through the cosy hum of The Corner. His brown eyes, sharp beneath furrowed brows, beckoned her from the quiet corner she’d claimed with Harriet. With a reluctant nod, June pushed back her chair and stood, the warmth from their easy conversation dissipating.
“Sorry,” she said, tucking a stray lock of blonde hair behind her ear. “Duty calls. Rain check on the Christmas decorations?”
“Of course,” Harriet replied, her smile unwavering as she waved June off. “You know where to find me.”
She made her way behind the counter, slipping into the rhythm of the rush. Steam hissed from the espresso machine, the scent of roasted beans thick in the air. She poured, steamed, and served with mechanical precision, her hands moving from task to task—yet her mind was elsewhere, tangled in thoughts of shadows and secrets.
“Two lattes on table three!” Lucas barked, snapping June back to the moment. She nodded, reaching for the cups but misjudging the distance. One wobbled dangerously close to the edge before she steadied it, her heart skipping a beat.
“Hey,” Lucas said, his voice softer now as he caught her eye. “You’re not here today. What’s going on?”
“Nothing. Just trying to keep up, boss.” She offered a half-smile, trying to mask the worry that knotted her stomach.
As she carried the tray to table three, her gaze lingered on Lucas. He’d been through so much that day in the woods, when the shadow had taken control of him, it seemed almost impossible that no memory or mark remained.
Suddenly, the heel of her boot slipped and the tray began to topple, the three coffees teetering. Startled, June gasped as a cup tumbled, heading for a shattering fate on the wooden floorboards. Instinctively, her fingers twitched, her magic rose, and the cup halted on the edge of the tray, suspended for a heartbeat before it righted itself and softly landed back in place, unscathed.
“Wow, nice catch!” exclaimed a customer, impressed by what they believed to be a miraculous save.
Her heart hammered, not from the near accident, but from the slip of magic. She felt Lucas’s gaze drilling into her back, and she turned to see his brows furrowed, eyes sharp with something like disbelief.
“Uh, yeah,” June stammered, forcing a laugh. “Lucky, I guess.”
She quickly retreated to the relative safety of the counter, feeling Lucas’ gaze burn into her.
He watched her, eyes narrowed, as if piecing together a puzzle. The moment hung heavy between them, filled with unspoken words and lingering questions, before he turned back to the register, shaking his head slightly as if to clear it.
Maybe she was wearing herself too thin. Working at The Corner, studying with the coven, maintaining friendships while keeping her magic secret—it was a lot. And it seemed like every dark corner held a lurking shadow, waiting to spin her world into chaos.
One day at a time, I suppose, she thought.
With every new spell she learned, control was more and more within her grasp. The untamed magic inside her seemed to be calming, the fiery storm more of a steady flame, its warmth reassuring. And if she kept at it, there’d be no more accidental slips.
She just wished she could share the most important part of herself with her closest friend.
June glanced at Harriet, who was lost in a novel as she sipped on her hot chocolate. Harriet, who would probably faint for real if she knew her best friend could do so much more than pour a semi-decent coffee.
She sighed softly as she watched Harriet laugh at some amusing passage she’d read, her contagious laughter causing several customers to look up from their drinks and smile. It was moments like these that June wanted to share with Harriet, her magic not a secret but a shared adventure.
The door opened, bringing with it a familiar tingle of magic. She looked up as Alistair Blackthorn entered, his deep-set eyes twinkling behind wire-rimmed glasses. He gave her a small nod of acknowledgement, one witch to another, before glancing at Lucas and Harriet. His gaze lingered on Lucas for a moment too long, causing June’s heart to flutter, but he looked away just as quickly.
He took a seat at the counter and ordered a coffee, his calm demeanour giving no indication of the swirling magic beneath his skin or the secrets he was privy to. June served him, their conversation limited to the mundane.
“Busy morning?” he asked.
“The usual rush.”
“Ah, the holidays are approaching,” he mused. “Candle season is upon us!”
June chuckled at the mention of one of Alistair’s best-selling items. He owned the apothecary, a store devoted to everything from New Age paraphernalia like crystals, talismans, dried herbs, and tarot cards, to natural skincare, soap, essential oils, and scented candles. Christmas was always their busiest time of the year, and it was not uncommon for people to flock to his shop for fragrant gifts that bore a touch of magic.
“What time do you finish today?” he asked as she set his coffee down before him.
Glancing at the clock on the wall, she replied, “I’ve got about another hour. Why?” She didn’t think they had a lesson today, since they’d finished up on basic spell construction the night before.
“I spoke to Mirabel last night,” Alistair told her. “I informed her of your excellent progress and she’d like you to talk to Elaine Parker.”
“Elaine?” June blinked and lowered her voice. “But I thought herbalism was next?”
“It’s the perfect season to practise certain elements,” he murmured, sipping at his coffee. Alistair’s eyes shifted from the liquid in his cup to meet June’s. “Elaine is one of the best elemental witches we have. She can teach you a thing or two about harnessing the power of nature, especially during winter. Remember, witchcraft isn’t just about herbs and potions. A lot of it is more instinctual than that.”
“So, she wants to meet with me today? Does that mean you and I…?” she trailed off.
“You’ve graduated from my immediate care. Congratulations.” He raised his cup, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses. “You’re ready for your next challenge, June.”
“And it’s an upgrade,” she murmured.
Alistair chuckled at her remark. “Far from it. You’ve simply progressed to a new level of understanding, but every witch has their own strengths and areas of expertise. Now,” he checked his watch and sipped at the last of his coffee. “When you’re finished, come see me at the apothecary. I’ll give you a ride to the glade.”
June nodded, watching as Alistair left. There was a twist of nervousness sinking in her gut. From beginner lessons with Alistair to elemental magic with Elaine seemed like a leap much too big. But Mirabel, the coven’s matriarch, wouldn’t allow her to progress if they didn’t think she could handle it, right?
She shook her head and turned back to the counter, dusting off a lingering sprinkle of cinnamon. Elemental magic, huh? She supposed it was just another new adventure in the secret life of a fledgling witch.