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I’D BEEN LOOKING AT SPAM entirely too long. My eyes were crossing and there was a pain going from the front of my head all the way ‘round to my neck. I reached up a hand and massaged the muscles there, twisting my head to the side and popping my neck.
Picking up my phone from the table beside me, I chose Lynlee’s name from the quick-dial list then tapped out a message: Doing a backup of SPAM. Don’t get into it until I tell you it’s done.
I’d started working for Lynlee Lincoln after she enlisted me to help her break a curse. I didn’t even know I was a witch back then, but when I found out it was my ancestor who created the curse I knew I had to help. Of course, there was also the thing about the super cool magic in my blood to encourage me too. That was way too enticing not to explore.
My boss doesn’t have phenomenal tech skills so when she discovered I did, she offered to teach me about magic in exchange for helping her create a database of sorts. Spells, Potions, Apothecaries and Magic, SPAM for short, was an idea she’d come up with before we met. But believe you me, when I saw what a mess she’d made of the project, I figured it was providential she found me.
I received a curt Yes ma’am in response from her. Setting my laptop aside, one corner of my mouth ticked up into a partial smile as I uncrossed my legs and hopped up from the couch.
I nearly fell over a second after my full weight landed on my feet. I’d been sitting so long my legs had gone completely to sleep. I flinched and scrunched my toes up to try to relieve the pins and needles. My stomach grumbled, and I put my hand to my abdomen as I considered what ingredients I had that would whip into something for dinner.
I shuffled into the kitchen, little stabs of pain still working up my calves from my heels as I went. The fridge was pitifully bare, the only things that might possibly be combined for a meal were some ham and cheese for a sandwich. A glance over my shoulder at the counter saw that I only had once slice of bread. I grabbed the ham and opened the self-seal packet, but one sniff revealed a stench that made me gag in reaction.
“Blech,” I held the offending item at arm’s length, and rushed it out to the trash can back by the garage. When I’d moved away from it a sufficient distance, I pointed my finger at it and zapped it with my magic, vaporizing it into a puff of smoke...
... that smelled about ten times worse than the spoiled ham. I coughed and hacked, falling over my feet to get away from it. But the little bubbling cloud of green was following me, seeking out my nostrils in an attack on my nasal passages. I began to sneeze then, grabbing the neck of my shirt and tugging it up over my face as I made a run for the door.
Once safely in the house, I peeked out to be sure the stinky cloud was locked out, but it sank towards the bottom of the door where I was afraid it might gain entrance to the kitchen. In panic, I grabbed some dish towels and stuffed them along the seal to block any of the nastiness from getting in.
“Way to go, Rolayna. Real swift there,” I grumbled to myself as I leaned against the door with my butt, sliding to the floor in exasperation.
I knew I was a newbie witch, but I’d always been a quick study in school. I’d graduated salutatorian in high school and summa cum laude in college. It rankled me when things went awry, and it seemed to me that where magic was concerned, they did more often than not.
Lynlee argued that I’d learned a lot considering my late start. She wasn’t much older than me, but she’d known she was a witch and had been under her ancestor’s tutelage since her teen years. Still, I was disappointed in my progress.
I heard a vibrating noise and frowned, cocking my head to the side to detect where it was coming from. A half second later there was a ringing and I realized it was my cell phone, still in the living room where I’d texted Lynlee earlier.
“Hello?” I answered without even checking the screen to see who it was.
“Surprise! Guess who’s on your doorstep?”
About that time my doorbell rang, and a little chuckle bubbled up from my belly, “What are you doing here, Rhiannon?” Walking through the living room towards the front entryway, I unlocked all of the bolts and then opened the door.
“Holy crap, girl. I still don’t understand what the hell you’re afraid of,” Rhiannon fussed, motioning to all of the locks.
“What was she scared of?” I quipped, referring to my great aunt, the woman whose home I’d inherited the year before. “I just figure if they were there then she must have thought the house needed them and I ain’t taking any chances.”
My friend snorted, then cringed, rubbing her big pregnant belly, “Hey, sprout, take it easy there,” her eyes were downcast in a frown for her unborn baby.
“What are you doing here?” I asked again.
“Well, I had a call nearby. You remember that chick Tatiana? Well she’s got some kind of elven virus or something. So, since I was in your neck of the woods, and Sprout’s hungry...”
“And you hate to eat alone and all... “I nodded, then turned towards the stairs, “Just let me change into something else and we’ll go to that Italian place you like.”