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Hundreds of realms converged at one meeting spot, the Boundary. In the center was a small coffeehouse. From the outside, it looked ordinary enough—cheerful soft blue paint and ivy trailing up one side of the building. A lamp post glowed with the light of a flickering flame, welcoming customers inside. More potted plants surrounded an ancient wooden door, rubbed with the oil of centuries of hands.

A gaunt girl with pale green skin and a flash of seaweed hair pushed open the door and entered the coffeehouse. Inside, the wooden rafters twinkled with starlight here and there. More ivy trailed behind an enormous copper espresso machine. The air smelled like magic and coffee beans. So, basically, magic twice over.

The girl was untouched by the warmth and magic of the coffeehouse. Instead, she glumly took her place in line behind a muscular woman covered in hair from head to stiletto. The woman scratched behind her ear and howled.

A cheerful young witch with dark brown eyes and cotton candy-colored hair hurried over to help. Her hair was not dyed. It had been this way since her thirteenth birthday, the same day her powers had stabilized. “I’ll get it,” she called.

The young witch, Mailey, poured steaming water in a mug and stood on a small stool to reach the glass jar on the highest shelf. The contents glowed like golden moonlight. She teetered on the stool, losing her balance, and dropped the jar.

“Careful,” she hissed. “You remember what happened last time we spilled the moonbeams.”

Mailey remembered alright. They had each slept for a week solid. Mailey had never had such vivid dreams. Her temporary replacement, a leprechaun, had brought great fortune to the shop during that week. She'd almost been fired. But, luckily, he decided to pursue a career as a traveling hail damage salesman.

She carefully dipped a long-handled spoon into the jar and scooped out pure moonbeams. She poured them into the cup and stirred twice. The hot water glowed faintly, and the outline of a full moon appeared serenely at the top.

She handed the beverage to the wolf woman with a smile. "Enjoy, and have a magical day!"

She nodded. “I think it’s really over this time. I mean, how can it have even lasted this long? I’m a water nymph, and he’s a pyrotek. We’re opposites. I’m just tired of trying so hard.”

“I’m so sorry. Do you want me to come and sit with you? We’re pretty slow right now.”

Aquatica waved away her offer. “No, it’s fine. I just want to go home and be alone. Maybe take a long dip in the river.”

An hour later, Mailey was washing dishes and thinking about Aquatica’s situation. Faren was a total hothead. He was always blaming her for stuff she couldn’t control. He was never willing to go to any of the places she liked. They should have broken up ages ago.

“What’s eating you?” Cassandra asked, eyeing the rag magically drying the plates. It was shining the same one over and over.

When Mailey noticed, she waved her hand. The rag returned to the sink, and the plate settled noisily in with the others. She leaned against the counter and sighed. “I just feel bad for Aquatica. She deserves somebody better than Faren. I wish I could help her.”

Her coworker looked at her hard-eyed. "Not again. Not like you helped Finch when he got that really bad break out.”

Mailey blushed. "It didn't turn out that bad. I mean, his skin was really clear."

She grimaced. "I had to kiss him. And, hey," she remembered. “I want that picture back!"

“This time will be different. I've been really working on my spells. Besides, I know just the guy. A swimmer.”

“Mhmm. And you can't see any reason why a water nymph and a mortal boy shouldn't go out on a date?”

“They'll be perfect together,” she sighed. “He goes to my high school. I could totally set them up.”

Mailey frowned and pointed to a sign that hung by the front door—a list of coffeehouse rules.

She shrugged. “Sometimes. In fact,”—a grin spread across her face— “there is a big swim meet tonight at the school. I’ll just finish my shift and go over. It’ll be easy to strike up a conversation after he wins.”

“Not meddling, per se. Just a smallish spell. Something to make him reach his full potential. He’s already a really good swimmer. I’m sure he’d win on his own anyway. I’ll just give him little nudge.”

Several hours later, Mailey’s shift was over. She untied her apron strings and was just about to leave when the sound of whooshing air filled her ears. She turned and saw a vortex of gritty ash-filled smoke swirling around the coffeehouse. Patrons moved hastily backward, coughing and pulling up their shirts to cover their noses and mouths.

A middle-aged woman appeared in the center of the vortex, and the winds died down. Her hair was wrapped in cloth, and her chest was covered with necklaces. One of which Mailey was sure was made of teeth—hopefully animal teeth. She carried a staff with three shrunken skulls atop it. There was no doubt about this woman’s identity; she was a voodoo priestess from the Boneyard—the realm of voodoo, witch doctors, and talking snakes.

Mailey’s coworker pointed at the house rules. “No vortexes,” she said in exasperation. “And get in the back of the line.”

The voodoo priestess locked eyes with her for a moment. Nothing happened. Cassandra rolled her eyes and pointed at the talisman hanging above the mugs. The priestess scowled and shuffled to the back of the line.

Cassandra looked around. Ash was beginning to settle on the floor and tables. “Mailey, could you—” she started.

Reluctantly, Mailey pulled her apron back on and hurried to fetch two brooms. Using her magic, she directed them toward the affected areas. They moved here and there, sweeping, but they kept brushing over customers’ feet and slamming into the walls.

“Fine,” Mailey muttered. “I’ll do it the old-fashioned way.” She swept the entire coffeehouse, carefully disposing of the ash in the trashcan for hazardous, magical materials. When she was done, she was covered in soot from head to toe and running very late for the swim meet.

Unfortunately, there was now a line of disgruntled customers at the counter, demanding their drinks be remade. No one wanted to drink cursed ashes. Cassandra shot her a desperate glance. Mailey sighed and started pulling shots from the espresso machine. Several lattes, a hot chocolate, and one herbal tea later, she was finally hanging up her apron. She shouted goodbye to Cassandra before running out the door.

The Boundary wasn’t very large—roughly twenty square miles or about the size of Manhattan. Of course, it was nothing like Manhattan. There were no skyscrapers or taxicabs here. The town was quite average in looks. Old-fashioned even.

Passing between the realms wasn’t difficult. The important thing was to know where you were going and how you would return. Portals were not marked in every realm. In many, like the Mortalverse, they remained a carefully guarded secret. If you were careless, you could be trapped in a strange land with no way to return. If you were unlucky, you could land in an ice world and be instantly frozen. Yes, knowledge was key.

Mailey’s exit was only ten minutes away. She followed the sidewalk until she reached a small park with ancient oak trees. They towered over an old wooden playground. Next to a large metal slide, a sign read, “Entrance to Mortalverse. Warning: No Magic Allowed.” Mailey climbed the stairs and sat down on the slide. She placed her bag in her lap and pushed off with gusto.

“Whee!” she cried as she soared down the slide. (Shouting in delight was not strictly necessary for inter-realm travel, but some people claimed it stopped your ears from popping.) As she reached the end of the slide, the space around her shimmered like an iridescent bubble. She passed through with a distinct pop and landed in the Mortalverse. Just on the corner of First Street to be more precise.

In no time, she was hurrying down the sidewalk toward her ordinary high school. The brick building loomed just ahead, but the lights were already on dimmers. She let out a little cry of frustration. The meet had already ended.

She pushed through the glass doors, hoping maybe the swimmer, Zack, would still be here. She met a group of stragglers in the hallway. They each had wet hair and matching duffel bags with the team mascot, a stingray.

A boy with shaggy brown hair shook the water from his face and nodded. “Yeah. He was the last one out of the pool. He’s taking the loss pretty hard.”

“Yeah,” the boy said. “You can probably still catch him in the pool, if you hurry.”

Mailey rushed down the hallway to the pool’s entrance, careful not to slip on the water the team had left in their wake. When she finally reached the humid pool area, the smell of chlorine filled her nostrils. She found no Zack, just a trail of water leading to the boys’ locker room. She knocked on the door. If he had just gone in, maybe he would hear her. There was no answer. This was useless. He would never hear her through this heavy metal door.

She bit her lip and made her decision. She cracked the door open, covering her eyes with one hand. “Zack!” she called. “Zack, are you in here?”

Mailey felt a strange tingling, and the hair on her arms lifted. Magic. Someone had used magic in here. She was certain of it.

Mailey was worried. She threw caution to the wind and strode into the boy’s locker room. “Hello!” she called. “Girl in the locker room!” Hopefully, if Zack was here, he was already dressed. What if she was wrong about the magic? And Zack was naked? She would never live down the embarrassment. She would be the school pervert.

Okay, she thought, maybe he just can’t hear me. It’s not too late to get out of here and pretend this never happened.

As she stepped backward, a blast of chilly air washed over her. The hair on the nape of her neck rose. Definitely magic. Not the good kind either.

She followed the wave, passing the showers and creeping toward the locker area. No one was here. She stepped forward to look around, and she felt an icy wind blow her long dress around her calves.

The lights flickered to darkness, and she held back a scream. Shadows formed around her, and she heard low chanting begin. Mailey tried to move, but she couldn’t cross the circle. She was trapped.

Five tiny flames sprung up, lighting the darkness around her. Candlelight. The shadows were people—witches, dressed from head to toe in long black dresses and boots. She was surrounded by an entire coven.

“We know,” croaked an ancient crumbling voice. “Why do you interfere with our practice?”

“What?” she sputtered. “But that's not allowed. Witches aren’t allowed to harm mortals.”

“We’re not in the Boundary anymore, girly. This is the Mortalverse. No such rule exists.”

In the distance, Mailey heard the shower turn off. Zack, no! she thought frantically. Stay where you are! If he came out right now, he would be taken. She wasn’t sure where, but she knew it wouldn’t be good.

In the distance, a shower curtain slid open with a rusty screech. A member of the coven stepped backward, like a snake drawn to its prey. In doing so, she broke the circle. Mailey shifted her foot slightly to the left. She could move again!

She shot back toward the pool, passing the showers on her way, and screamed at the top of her lungs, “Hello! Girl in the locker room!”

The witches were in pursuit of her now. If she didn’t think of something quick, they would catch her and return for Zack. She hurried through the heavy metal door and out to the pool area, searching desperately for a hiding spot. All she found were metal bleachers with huge gaps between the aluminum seats and footrests. They would make a terrible hiding spot. The locker room door swung open, and she dove behind the bleachers anyway.

The coven stepped into the pool area and huddled together. As if they were the heads of a hydra, they peered around as one, searching for Mailey. She held her breath and gripped the edge of the bleachers in an attempt to steady her shaking legs.

Several tense moments passed, and Mailey began to wonder if perhaps they would not find her. Then, the centermost witch pointed a gnarled finger toward the bleachers. Mailey had been spotted.

And then she had it. Still covered from head to foot in voodoo ash, she shook herself like a wet dog. Ash lifted into the air, clouding the room. She lifted her now glowing hands and directed the ash toward the other witches. It swirled around them, picking up speed. They screamed obscenities and curses at her—ones she hoped would be contained by the growing vortex.

It vanished, taking the coven with it, and Mailey was alone in the pool area once more.

The coven had been sent to the Boneyard—the realm of voodoo, witch doctors, and snake talkers. They would not be happy, but they would be gone for several days, a week if she was lucky. When they returned, she had a sick feeling that they would be looking for two people.

It was Zack, his black hair wet and disheveled and a damp t-shirt draped over his shoulder. He was bare-chested and still in his swim trunks. He ran a hand through his wet hair and gave her a halfhearted smile. “Oh, hey, Mailey, right?”

An entire coven had been seconds away from abducting him to another realm for nefarious purposes, and he “thought” he heard someone. Boys. Out loud, she said, “Yeah, that was me.”

He sat down on one of the metal benches that had been erected for the meet. “So, what’s up?”

He frowned and wiped a piece of hair from his eyes. “No luck about it. I screwed up. The scouts were here too. None of them is going to offer me a scholarship, that’s for sure.”

“Want to? I have to. My parent’s tax business had a couple of rough years. It’s the only way I can afford college.”

His mouth twitched into the hint of a smile. “Yeah, they met at a conference. Love at first calculation.”

“Anyway, we can’t afford it, and I don’t want to take out loans. My grades are average, outside of math. This is all I’ve got. I have to get my time down.”

Suddenly, Mailey had the most wonderful idea. “I know someone who could help you.”

“Yeah! She comes from a long line of swimmers. She can definitely help you get your times down.”

He nodded, a smile starting to spread across his face. “I can do Wednesday.”

Now all she had to do was make a water nymph and a human boy fall in love AND fend off an entire coven of seasoned witches. No problem. She could do that...somehow.

MAILEY WANTED TO RACE back to the Boundary to look for Aquatica, but it was already after dark. Her parents would be expecting her. So, instead, she followed the sidewalk back to Apple Valley. As she turned into her neighborhood, she saw the little houses lit up in their neat, tidy rows. On first inspection, the street was so ordinary that it was hard to believe it was only one mile from the Boundary itself.

Of course, that was by design. Most of the inhabitants of the town knew about magic and the Boundary. It was hard not to, with magic leaking over all the time. However, it was never discussed publicly. Mostly for safety reasons. Mailey could only imagine what would happen if the world learned there were other realms. Why, the town would never rest.

Yes, the only people who were unaware of the Boundary were newcomers or those who simply dismissed the idea as “superstition” ... despite the piles of evidence in their own backyard. Nearly a quarter of the inhabitants of her little town were immigrants from the Boundary and the realms beyond. Just two doors down, her neighbor Elvira read auras, a skill she used as a therapist to help her patients. In the cul-de-sac, there was a family of vegetarian vampires. The dad, with his super strength and speed, was the city's best firefighter. Being immortal also helped.

Mailey's parents, on the other hand, were humans with no extraordinary powers, except for perhaps knowing when their only daughter was lying or up to something. She had been adopted as a baby. They were very supportive of her magical gifts, and her mom had made a point of brushing up on all the magical theory. She couldn't perform a spell, but she certainly knew all about them.

Mailey opened the door and stepped inside. "I'm home!" she called, kicking her shoes off by the door.

Mailey made a beeline for the kitchen and toward the mouthwatering aroma of freshly baked sourdough bread. Her dad was already sitting at the table, reading on his phone. Her mom was stirring a large pot with a wooden spoon.

Mailey blew on the hot liquid and sipped it. "Perfect," she said. "Want me to take the bread out?"

Mailey grabbed the giant potholders and carefully eased the bread from the oven and onto a trivet on the kitchen counter.

She joined her dad at the table. He looked up from his phone. "You're running a little late, kiddo. Everything okay at the coffeehouse?"

"Well, there's this girl named Aquatica. Her boyfriend just broke up with her. She's a water nymph, and he’s a pyro. So, it was kinda doomed from the start. Anyway, she's really depressed. I thought I'd set her up with someone new. And"—she hedged—“it's been a little harder than I thought."

Her mom came to the table with three bowls expertly balanced down one oven mitted arm. She passed each bowl to the table before sitting down. "So, what's this about setting someone up?"

Her mom took a long sip of soup and nodded. Finally, she said, "Sometimes, it's best just to let these things happen on their own."

Mailey frowned. If she didn't get involved, Zack could be coven fodder. Dark magic needed a lot of terrible ingredients from mortals. The most benign was hair, and among the worst was the heart. Besides, Aquatica was still hung up on Faren. They both needed her help.

She dunked a piece of sourdough into her soup and gnawed on it thoughtfully. She'd talk to Aquatica tomorrow. It was a Sunday, so she'd have a full shift at the coffeehouse. Then, she'd worry about the coven. They were probably still in the voodoo realm. She hoped in a snake pit.

Her mother interrupted her thoughts. "Are you ready for your first Cauldron Entrance Exam? Odyssey's mom told me she was already brewing happiness potions. You don’t want to get too far behind."

Mailey noted her mom looked anxious. She knew she felt guilty for not being able to help more with her magical learning. "Things are going great!" she lied, hoping to make her feel better. "I'll definitely be ready in time."

As she said it, she meant it. She had days before the big test. Plenty of time to learn those last pesky potions and droughts. The CEE (Cauldron Entrance Exams) were a bit like the SAT but for witches. On Friday, she’d take the potions portion of the exam.

As usual, her parents saw straight through her. "Why don't you finish your soup and head upstairs? You can get started on that happiness potion. Dad or I will be happy to sample it."

“I see what you did there, honey,” her dad chimed in, waggling his eyebrows. “Happy to sample it. Hahaha.”

Mailey entered her bedroom and slouched at her small wooden desk. She opened her potions book and flipped the book to chapter eighteen, “temperaments and their tempering.” The happiness potion was advanced. It required rare ingredients and extreme precision. Of course, it couldn’t bring anyone true, lasting happiness. It was more like a temporary shot of optimism.

They sold some of the “temperament” potions as shots at the coffeehouse. If Mailey could master these potions, she could probably make some side money, working for the supplier. The extra money would be nice.

The intro to the chapter was incredibly dull, and she found her eyes closing longer and longer between blinks. Finally, she slumped over her desk and fell asleep.

Mailey woke with the sun shining through her window. Her neck was stiff. The alarm on her phone was going off. She silenced it. Then, stood and stretched. It was Sunday, and her shift started in an hour. She hurried downstairs, leaving the potion book behind but not forgotten.

A smidge of worry was beginning to creep in. When would she have time to read? When would she collect her ingredients? They wouldn’t come easily.

THE COFFEEHOUSE WOULDN’T open for another half hour. She and Cassandra set the enchanted brooms to sweeping. It went much smoother than Mailey’s attempt yesterday. The chairs were still up on the tables, and there were no customers to avoid.

Mailey frowned. Her coworker didn’t mince words and sometimes hurt her feelings, but she knew she didn’t mean to do so. She was just blunt. Mailey thought it came from carrying the weight of a seer.

“How about a shot of Pepper Picker Upper? You can be our first customer of the day.”

Mailey dragged one foot across the old, slatted wooden floor. “How about a cup of tea?”

Cassandra hated doing readings for friends. Nobody wanted to be the bearer of bad news, especially to someone they liked. “Fine. One cup,” she grumped. “But you owe me.”

Cassandra walked over to where the mugs were stored and pulled an earth hewn one down from the shelf. Mailey looked through the glass jars, trying to select a tea. Her fingers grazed over numerous fantastic options before landing on a simple oolong. She set the teabag in the mug, and Cassandra poured boiling water over it.

They pulled two chairs down and sat across from each other at a small wooden table.

“Sip slowly,” she instructed. “Think about whatever is on your mind. Whatever you’re worried about.”

Mailey sipped. When the cup was almost empty, she squinted down at the leaves. She would never understand how seers did it. They just looked like black, soggy clumps to her. She didn’t see any shapes or patterns.

“Swirl your cup three times counterclockwise and flip it over. Gently!” she added.

Mailey did so, and the remaining tea dribbled out of the cup and onto the saucer along with a few leaves.

Cassandra held up the cup and turned it ever so slightly, peering at the leaves. “Wow, your cup is full.”

“The position of your leaves means a lot is about to happen and very soon. Oh no.”

“A cross. That’s a warning. And a broom.” She grimaced. “That means there will be a mess. Sorry.”

“But wait! Here’s something good. You’ve got coins. That’s wealth. It’s a little further in the future, though.”

For a moment, Mailey was confused. Money? Was she getting a promotion at work? That didn’t have anything to do with the question she had asked. She had wanted to know about Aquatica and Zack and her potions exam. Wait! That had to be it! She would pass her potions exam, sell potions to the shop, and make lots of money.

They opened the shop, and Mailey kept thinking about the tea reading. She felt worse than before. A warning and a mess. Still, the coins were good. Maybe that meant everything would work out okay.

A few hours later, just as the lunch crowd was subsiding, Aquatica entered the coffeehouse for her usual seaweed smoothie. Mailey rushed over to take her order.

“Totally. Coming right up.” As Mailey tossed in the seaweed and seawater base, she thought about how best to broach the subject. When the smoothie was done spinning, she poured it into the glass. Then, with a spark of inspiration, she reached for the positivi-tea blaster and poured a light golden foam on top.

She brought it over to the counter and passed it to Aquatica. “One seaweed smoothie with an extra blast of positivi-tea, on the house,” she added.

Aquatica set the glass down. “Sure. Whatever I can do, though I’m not sure I’m much help to anyone right now.”

“My friend Zack is on our high school swim team. He’s really good, and he’s up for this scholarship. But he’s not quite fast enough. If he doesn’t take some time off his lap by this weekend’s meet, he might get passed over. And he doesn’t have any other way to pay for college. He really needs this. Do you think you could help?”

Aquatica gave her a small smile. She took another sip of her smoothie, and her face lightened. The positivi-tea was starting to kick in. She nodded. “Yeah, I could do that. Of course!”

“Wednesday is good. Can he meet in the Boundary? I might turn a few heads if I come to your school.” She laughed.

“Why don’t you guys meet here? Then, you can head over to the lake or wherever together.”

MAILEY WAS SITTING in the back row of her history class, pretending to listen. She had her textbook lifted upright on her desk, and occasionally she looked up at the teacher and nodded. But inside the book was her potions book. It was Tuesday now, and she still hadn’t finished the chapter on temperaments, collected ingredients, or even made a pass at a happiness potion. Her first CEE was only three days away.

She had, however, had time to hang around the coffeehouse until closing with Aquatica, listening to siren sea chanties and fairy folk music. She had asked her where she planned to take Zack. Aquatica had decided on a public pool that her sister lifeguarded at in the Boundary.

Mailey had been relieved. The Boundary was probably the safest place for him right now. There were strict mortal protection laws. The coven shouldn’t be back for several days still, but she didn’t want to take any chances.

Aquatica had explained the training schedule she had in mind. The wave pool would create resistance, which would increase his time if they altered his technique. Mailey was more interested in what she would wear, dropping hints about how good-looking Zack was. Aquatica didn’t seem to notice, but at least her mind was off her ex. She didn’t mention his name the entire time.

The teacher called on a student just ahead of Mailey, and she snapped back to attention. She looked up again and pretended to listen, before delving into the happiness potion ingredients list.

Happiness Potion

For a temporary uplifting of spirits and optimism. Best brewed on a warm summer day. Potion keeps for no longer than one month when bottled and shelved under specified conditions.

Necessary Ingredient List:

Fresh ingredients always preferred. Corked, bottled, or dehydrated ingredients can lose their potency over time. Don’t be tempted by marketing ploys and shortcuts. Home brew is best brew.

- Grass

- Freshly bottled sunshine

- Chocolate

- Butterfly Wings or Fairy Dust

Mailey sighed. This would take ages to collect. She bit her lip, considering all of the products in Witchmart that guaranteed quick results. She shook her head. Magical shortcuts rarely paid off, especially when it came to potion making. She read on.

Grind chocolate with mortar and pestle to bring out flavor. Add grass to base and repeat action in a clockwise motion, releasing the chlorophyll. Next, add fairy dust or butterfly wings in a dusting motion. Either will do, although fairy dust can induce mania if too much is added. Use sparingly. Add three cups of water to cauldron and begin boil. Add all ingredients to water but sunshine. Stir until dark murky green. After two hours full boil, reduce heat and pour freshly captured sunshine. Sunshine must be freshly captured and added with 24 hours for full-effects. Do not stir!

Allow potion to simmer for no less than twelve hours. Potion will be complete when it has turned a bright golden yellow.

Warning: Happiness fades. Act quickly with ingredients for desired effects.

Mailey sighed. She had to do it tonight. She was running out of time to practice before the exam. And tomorrow was Zack and Aquatica’s big date.

Someone tapped her shoulder, and she jerked in surprise. Her book, still standing upright, almost toppled onto the floor with the potion book inside. She caught it and accepted a folded note from her classmate.

Scouts are coming to the match this Saturday. Thanks again for setting up this thing with Aquatica. – Zack

P.S. How boring is this lesson?

MAILEY HURRIED HOME after school to change clothes and pick up a few things for her mission. Chocolate and grass would be no problem. The butterfly wings, while gross, also seemed doable. If she had planned ahead, she could have gotten some fairy dust from the coffeehouse. Many of her patrons would have been happy to provide it to her, in exchange for a free latte. It was capturing sunshine that would be truly difficult. She rushed up the steps to her bedroom and changed into an old t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers.

Over at her desk, she opened a drawer and dug through a mess of potions ingredients, pen caps, broken pencils, stamps, an old postcard, and other bric-a-brac. Finally, she found what she was looking for—a small glass vial with a corked topper and a crystal.

The crystal was covered in a measure of dust, and she shined it on her shirttail. It sparkled, and she held it up to her eye. The room appeared misshapen and odd. This would do. She pocketed both items.

Her mom narrowed her eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to be keeping your potions store full as a part of your witch training?”

That worried look crossed her mom’s face again. “Maybe, we need a little extra help.”

“No way! Don’t worry; I’ll get everything I need before sundown. I swear.”

Her mom looked skeptical but let her pass by and out the door. “I’ll have dinner waiting!” she called.

MAILEY LAY IN A FIELD just outside the school, her back pressed to the ground. She held the crystal aloft, trying to tempt the sun to shine through it. She caught a gleam of bright light, and quickly grabbed the bottle. But the ray disappeared. It had merely been teasing her.

An hour later, the sun was beginning to drop behind the trees. Mailey was worried. What if she didn’t capture any sunshine? She would have to take her test without ever practicing any of the temperament potions.

She focused all of her energy on the task, letting her other thoughts drift from her mind. She didn’t move. She barely breathed. And then, she saw it—a glimmer of sunshine, just a few inches from her left hand and the crystal. She moved with the precision and speed of a jungle cat.

“Gotcha!” she cried. The ray of light bounced inside the crystal, trapped. She grabbed her little bottle, uncorked it, and used her magic to pull the sunshine drop by drop into the bottle. The inside of the glass bottle turned a brilliant, cheerful yellow. She corked and pocketed it.

Then, remembering she still needed other ingredients, she pulled a couple of handfuls of grass up and stuffed them in her pockets.

As she stood up and dusted the grass off her backside, the sun dropped on the horizon with the speed and urgency of an anchor at sea. Without daylight, catching butterflies would be impossible.

But there was no other choice. She had to start her potion tonight. She hurried to Witchmart to retrieve her final three ingredients—chocolate, dehydrated butterfly wings, and cauldron cleaner. She really needed to scrub her cauldron before getting started.

BACK AT HOME, MAILEY stifled a yawn. She looked at the cauldron cleaner in her bag then back at the cauldron. It wasn’t as dirty as she remembered, just a little dusty. She could probably skip the cleaning.

She turned the cauldron on its automatic boil setting and dumped in several glasses of water from her bathroom sink. She didn’t bother to measure. Next, she ground up the chocolate, which turned into the sort of chocolate flakes you might use to top a cake. She fought the urge to lick her fingers. She thought of the sign at the local bakery. “I’d give up chocolate, but I’m no quitter.” A piece of chocolate and a cup of coffee were never unwelcome.

Instead, she wiped her hands on her jeans and pulled a fistful of wilted grass from her pocket. She repeated the grinding action until chlorophyll leaked from the leaves. As a final touch, she dusted dehydrated butterfly wings over the mixture.

By then, the cauldron had come to a boil, and she dumped in the ingredients unceremoniously. She stirred twice, and the water turned a dark, swampy brown. She lay down on her bed with the intention of getting a couple of hours of sleep. Her alarm would go off when it was time to add the sunshine. Then, all she had to do was wait.

THE FOLLOWING DAY, the potion was simmering, the school day was over, and Mailey was back at work. The air conditioning had given out in the coffeehouse. The air sprites wouldn’t be in to make repairs until after hours. Mailey was slumped over the counter, fanning herself, while Cassandra slurped down an enormous glass of water. It dribbled down her chin, and they exchanged miserable glances. How much longer until their shift ended?

Mailey was relieved to see Zack enter. Not just because it meant the coven hadn’t returned but also because it signaled the end of her shift. She waved him over.

“This place is awesome. I can’t believe I’ve never been here,” he said, turning to take everything in.

“Nah, my parents refuse to believe it even exists.” He laughed. “They say it’s not a mathematically sound hypothesis. So, what should I order?”

Several minutes later, Aquatica joined them and unveiled her plans for the late afternoon. She and Zack would head over to the pool a few blocks away and start lessons. “Why don’t you and Cassandra come too? You look like you could use a dip,” she offered.

Mailey opened her mouth to say no. She didn’t want to third wheel on their date, but Cassandra, dripping with sweat, cut her off, nudging Mailey hard in the side. “A swim sounds amazing! We’re in.”

Half an hour later, Mailey was laying by the pool, letting the hot summer sun scorch her skin. She felt the stress of her week begin to melt away. “Can we do this every day?”

Cassandra smiled contentedly in the chair next to her. “Yes, please! When does summer break kick-in again?”

In the pool, Zack was showing off for Aquatica. He swam a few laps to show her his form, and she nodded approvingly. Mailey couldn’t help but notice how his eyes were tracing over Aquatica’s neckline.

Zack circled back to Aquatica and stood up, the water rolling off his muscular frame. She said something, and he returned to the water, floating on his stomach for a moment. She cocked her head to the side and squinted. Then, she lifted his arm gently up and out of the water to create a better arc.

Mailey looked over and smiled, and Aquatica blushed, letting go of Zack’s arm. Ha! Mailey thought with satisfaction. She does like him. I knew they would be a good match.

Zack finished his lap and stood, smiling down at Aquatica. She gave him some encouragement and additional instruction. He nodded enthusiastically and started to swim again, ever so slightly faster this time.

Mailey closed her eyes and breathed a deep sigh of contentment. Now, she could relax and enjoy some rest before going home and checking on her potion. And she did rest... for about five minutes.

Mailey heard a group of people chanting, and an icy chill ran down her spine. Someone was doing dark magic.

She sat straight up and opened her eyes. Sure enough, the coven appeared one by one. Their eyes were locked on Zack, who was still swimming, oblivious to what was happening. Other swimmers clambered out of the pool. Aquatica swam toward Zack, hoping to get his attention.

“But! They can’t attack here!” Mailey shrieked. “The rules prohibit it.”

“What makes you think they aren’t just doing a transport spell?” Cassandra asked, sitting up and furrowing her brow.

The coven had completed their circle now, and a light wind began to rise at their backs, lifting the hair of sunbathers and the edge of towels.

Mailey searched her mind. She wasn’t strong enough to break their circle. She was just one witch! All around them, people were abandoning their chairs and towels to escape. If only there were an older witch here. Someone with more experience. Someone who knew what they were doing. But no one came to her aid. It was only her.

With her hair now whipping around her face, she rifled through her bag until her hand clasped the crystal. Because she hadn’t gotten around to cleaning it, traces of sunshine still clung to it. She hoped it would be enough.

“You’re going to have to get closer,” Cassandra shouted over the wind, which was now pushing chairs across the cement.

Mailey felt like she was walking into the eye of a hurricane. Water particles were beating against her face, but she pushed forward. Finally, she could go no further. Then, with all her might, she chucked the crystal at the circle.

It broke. The wind died, and the remaining pool water fell in a big splash. The witches stopped chanting and looked around for the source of the problem. Meanwhile, Zack and Aquatica made a beeline for the edge of the pool.

They pulled themselves out of the pool and onto the hot cement. Zack looked confused. “What’s going on?” he asked, shaking water from his ears.

Aquatica was paler than usual and shaking slightly. Zack put his arm around her shoulders. Even though he had no idea what was happening, he said, “It’s going to be alright. Let’s get out of here.”

But by now, the coven had discovered the crystal and raised it from the pool. The crystal had been washed clean of its last drops of sunshine. The circle could form once more, and the coven was on the move.

The coven had lifted up their black skirts to ankle height and began their pursuit. However, the majority of them were past their prime and more than a bit out of shape. They moved slowly.

Mailey looked back to see one of the coven slip on the wet pavement. The lifeguard was closing in. They made it through the gate and out of the pool area. They continued to run for another block before Zack shouted, “What do we do now?”

“A lay line!” Cassandra gasped, clutching her side. “We have to find a lay line then.”

“It’s old fairy magic,” Aquatica explained to Zack. Her voice was steady and even. Swimming had given her excellent endurance, and likely, she could have outrun them all. “We can move through space and even time using one. There’s one a block from here.”

They ran, nobody daring to look back. The coven wouldn’t be stopped by athletic activity or lifeguards for long. Their magic would compensate. Mailey, Cassandra, Zack, and Aquatica reached a mossy spot between several large sycamore trees. Mushrooms grew here and there. This was it.

In a sudden brainstorm, Mailey said, “My house! Everybody, think of my house.”

With this in mind, they each stepped onto the lay line. Mailey felt a pull in the center of her stomach, and for a moment, reality blinked. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them, she and her friends were all standing in her bedroom.

The coven materialized one by one, forming a circle around them. “Not so fast, boy. You’ll find it hard to outrun us.”

They turned on her. “We’ll hex you to next Halloween if you interfere, little witch. The curse business is down. And this boy will fetch a handsome price.”

“Everything is about money. We used to be very busy. Brewed the best incontinence draught this side of the realm. But modern people, they’ve gone too soft. You CAN’T dissolve your neighbor,” she mimicked in a high pitch voice. “It’s WRONG to turn your sister into a slug.”

They all nodded. “Now, they’re going to tax us out of business. If you ask me, they’re more evil than we are.” She cackled, and it rang through the room. “Barely.”

“Why don’t you just hex the tax collector?” Cassandra suggested, trying to step out of the circle. She was thrown backward into the wall.

Cassandra stood up and rubbed her backside. “I see how that could be a problem.”

“Maybe Zack’s parents can help you instead. They’re tax accountants,” Mailey piped up.

The witches snorted. “Accountants. We’ll simply sell the boy on the black market and pay our debt.”

“Girls, don’t be silly. A little water nymph and a teenage witch? Our powers will blast right through you. Besides, imagine the bounty we’ll get for not just the boy but a witch, a seer, and a water nymph as well? Can you imagine the price of a water nymph in the Deserts of Dre’gal, sisters?”

They cackled. Their faces hideous and contorted with evil as they began to close in.

“Are you sure you really want a seer?” Cassandra asked. “We’re a real pain in the butt. Always giving people news they don’t want to hear and ruining surprise parties. You could just leave me behind. In fact, you could leave all of us behind. I bet you could find kids that are way less trouble.”

Mailey backed slowly toward her desk and the cauldron on top of it. The happiness potion was barely warm. It wasn’t bright sunshine yellow but instead a sort of murky golden brown. Still, it was all she had. In one swift movement, she lifted the cauldron and tossed its contents onto the coven.

They shrieked. “We’ll kill you! We’ll—” And then, their demeanors began to change. Their hideous scowls turned disapproving. Their hunched backs straightened. “We’ll charge you for this dry cleaning, girl.”

“Quite!” agreed another witch. “We must be practical about these things.”

“It was supposed to be a happiness potion, but”—she scratched her head— “something has gone wrong.”

“This room is a mess!” one of them declared. “Cleanliness is next to godliness, you know.”

“Your happiness potion seems to have backfired,” Zack said. “It’s made them...boring? Should we run?”

Several of the witches were now straightening Mailey’s things. Two were picking clothes off the floor and putting them back on hangers. Another was making the bed.

The leader of the coven spoke, “Young lady, you’ve brewed a practicality potion. A happiness potion with stale ingredients plus the addition of chlorine and”—she looked down the end of her crooked nose— “a dusty cauldron results in practicality, not happiness.”

“Oh, several months I’d expect. Of course, I haven’t had call to brew one in many decades.”

Mailey frowned. “If you’re so good at making potions, why don’t you just sell those to pay off your tax debt?”

The witch considered with a furrowed brow. “I’m not sure. It does seem... the practical thing to do.”

At that moment, Mailey’s mother called from the hallway, “What on Earth are you doing up here?” She opened the door and looked around in surprise. “I didn’t know you were having friends over.” Her eyes landed on the coven. One of them was still fluffing a pillow on the bed. “Who are these women?”

Her mom’s expression changed to one of pure delight. “Oh! How wonderful. Are you finally getting the help you need in potions? I imagine these ladies have a lifetime of experience to share.”

Mailey’s mom looked perplexed but pleased. “Well then, why don’t I bring you all up some snacks? Fresh baked cookies, perhaps?”

The coven nodded. Aquatica, Zack, and Cassandra were still in shock. They just stared. Mailey’s mom left the room and shut the door behind her.

“So, you have a job and a plan? Are we all settled then?” Mailey asked, hopefully. “You can use the money to see Zack’s parents and get your taxes straightened out.”

MAILEY HOVERED OVER a boiling cauldron, careful not to let the sweat from her brow drip into the potion below. She had been given exactly two hours to complete a jealousy potion. When it was done, she would serve it to the master of exams for a final review. If she passed, she would have her first CEE accreditation. If she failed, she would have to take a remedial year and take the test again next year.

There were twelve other students in the room. Mailey glanced over to see how their potions were coming along. An unlucky boy in the corner had black steam rising from his cauldron. She winced.

Then, she refocused her efforts. In the last two days, she had learned more about potion making than in the rest of the year combined. The leader of the coven had explained that Mailey knew her basics. However, she had a nasty habit of taking shortcuts. In potion making, every detail mattered. A moment of distraction, a dirty cauldron, or a speck of contaminant could all foil an otherwise well brewed potion. For instance, a drop of chlorine water from the local pool could turn a happiness potion into a practicality potion.

Her potion was almost done. A full hour and a half had already passed. She stirred in her final ingredient, crushed fool's gold, and held her breath.

To her delight, the potion bubbled and turned a brilliant shade of emerald green. She took a deep breath. This potion was as ready as it was going to be.

She raised her hand to summon the master of exams. He and his assistant came to join her by her cauldron. First, he peered into the cauldron to examine the appearance of the potion. He stared for quite a long time before saying, "Exquisite color. And, of course, if I stare at it for too long, I can see the object of my desire. Excellent!"

He then wafted the steam toward his nose. "A slight acrid scent. Yes. Very good. I believe this potion is ready to be tasted.” He turned to his assistant. “Gretchen, would you do the honors?"

She nodded and carefully lifted a spoonful to her mouth. As soon as it passed through her lips, her face soured. "Ugh, disgusting."

Mailey's heart hammered in her chest. Maybe, she had added too much fool’s gold or stirred too many times? Had the instructions said to stir three times or four?

Then, the assistant crossed her arms over her chest and said in an earsplitting whine, “Why don’t my potions turn out this good?"

The master of exams gave Mailey a rare smile. "This is, without a doubt, the best jealousy potion I have seen in years. You, young lady, have a very bright future ahead of you." He waved his hand, and golden letters filled the air. "PASS."

His lips twitched, fighting a smile. "Come, Gretchen. Let's get you an antidote, my dear."

IT WAS SATURDAY, AND Mailey, Cassandra, and Aquatica sat in the stands of Zack’s big swim meet. Their team was in second, and Zack would be the next and final swimmer for the Stingrays. It was an enormously high-pressure situation.

Aquatica wore a baggy, long sleeve t-shirt to cover her green skin. She stood up, holding a large painted poster board that read “Zack Attack” with a stingray painted in the bottom corner. She yelled, “Go Zack!!” Then, waved her sign wildly in the air.

A minute later, his teammate tapped the side of the pool, and Zack dove into the water. He sped along with the precision of a shark. The competition kept pace. They were neck and neck as they went into the second lap. However, by the eighth, Zack was getting into the rhythm of things. He was getting faster. The competition was getting slower. By the twelfth and final lap, Zack had outpaced him by half a lane. He touched the side of the pool, and the buzzer sounded.

Everyone from the Stingray team stood and cheered. Down by the pool, a man in a button-down shirt approached Zack. They exchanged a few words, and the man shook Zack’s hand before walking away.

They hurried over to join Zack. When they reached him, he was toweling off by the side of the pool. A broad smile filled his face. “I just got offered a scholarship.”

She smiled up at him in surprise, and their eyes met. He bridged the gap between them, pressing his lips against hers. After a moment, they broke apart, breathing hard and smiling like they had each won the lottery. And, in a way, Mailey thought, they had.

Zack and Aquatica would make a good couple, not just because of their shared love of swimming but because they both had kind hearts. That was rare, especially in high school. She sighed in contentment.

She elbowed Cassandra in the ribs, “I told you they’d be perfect together.”