| |
The kitchen looked... Alright? Decent? Half-assed... I’m going with that.
Piper is still down for the count, thank the gods for drowsy blessings. Lucas is even more on edge after I hung up the phone. Poof me into a monkey rolling in dung if I lied about feeling the same. My call was to Heidi Nightshade, our witch friend who is expecting us at Lucky Cauldrons, a potion ingredient, knick knack shop she runs with her three aunts. It’s located at the edge of the other side of town so sweatpants, a ratty shirt and a shifty expression is not the best outfit in front of many. I relayed to her about ingesting a shit ton of Viper Spit—wow, that sounds gross as hell, automatically she agreed to help. Every supernatural knows the dangers of that drink.
My hope is she has a quick fix spell on one of the shelves of Lucky’s to regain our memory.
And counter the trembles in my hands.
I can’t take other medication in case whatever Heidi gives me mixes wrong.
“Can you drive?” I ask Lucas when I meet him on the porch of our cabin domicile. He has on a dark blue tank, pairing it with khaki shorts. His tan complexion and shaggy dirty blonde hair make up his beachy theme. I clone his perfect outfit for the warm weather with faded jean shorts and a pink tank top. I show him my vibrating hands.
“You think I’m any better?” He compared his. They were just as bad as mine.
I sigh. Then groan.
“I guess we’re walking.”
***
“You drank, what?!” Onyx had every right to look at us like we’re the biggest fucking idiots on the face of this planet.
Because we are.
And should be locked in a stockade, wearing cone hats, words across it saying—We’re the biggest fucking idiots on the face of this planet!
“Viper—oh, you know what I said.” I cross my arms, silently fuming and waiting for Heidi to come back with a temp potion one of her aunts is making. Lucas and I arrive at Lucky’s twenty minutes ago, after a near hour hike through The Forest of Vida and into town near Hallow Circle. Once we came in, jingling the silver bells above the entrance, Heidi, our purple haired friend, went to check on the potion while I faced the half disappointing and half humor-full expression of her boyfriend slash panther shifter slash familiar, Onyx Numair.
Oh, and that temp potion her Auntie Momo is whipping up in the back? It’s just to provide enhanced awareness, nerve relaxation and gear up the memory area in the brain. It’s a low dosage and not the actual remembrance bomb we need. Simply, a minor and required part one till the real liquid spell, part two, is complete later.
For now, we wait as buddies with patience even though I’d like to throttle it with my bare hands.
“I’m sure Heidi, will fix... your little problem.” Onyx covers a smirk by rubbing his jaw. I growl at the feline. That only fuels laughter to sparkle his bi-colored eyes. One blue, the other green. All he and Heidi know are much needed events of last night are unaccounted for. I refrained and elbowed Lucas’s gut so he could also leave out the burning reason as to why we were desperate to know. Although, our faces most likely show the lack of sanity, and gnawed lips point to something crazy going down.
Lucas wanders to a set of shelves, holding miniature carved figurines, hand crafted by Onyx who is a carving beast. Some of the wood decor in the cabin is the creation of his talented hands. I stand next to a blue clothed table that has different sized crystal balls displayed. The globes palmed in metal bird talons are in a sea of glitter and more funky ornaments. Lucky Cauldrons is mystical and unique. Its air smells of herbs and spices; burning incense in each of its three rooms—all loaded with whatever you magically desire. From tiny sacks of moon crystals to aid sleepless nights to dead dried rats for boiling in rank spells that’ll curse your victim hairless.
Not... that... I know... anything about... that...
Lucky’s was established in fourteen twenty-two and by the Nightshade coven—most of Heidi’s family and the coven leader—Pebble Nightshade. An Island founder.
The Nightshade witches treat everyone like their own. That’s why I gravitated to Heidi off the bat. She’s extremely sweet and good hearted and actually tolerates my wild self. Great qualities. Our group of friends is waiting for the day Onyx finally asks her to be his Blood Mate. The two act as if they already are. It’s adorable. No sarcasm there, folks.
In fact... I may harbor a dust speck sized bit of envy.
Don’t harp it on, though. I’m all junky and fucky inside. Not mate material.
My gaze swings to the display case at the front counter. Behind, sits Onyx on a stool. The glass barrier shields bone wands, pyramid shaped glass jars of colorful liquid and large chunks of raw cut amethyst.
It reminds me of the small crystal wolf figurine Adrian gave me for my birthday. Did he have Onyx specially design it too? Possibly, Onyx is good with cutting gemstones too.
Fast, heeled steps approach from around the corner.
“Here we are!” Heidi sings, her rich purple waves swaying down her back as she strides in. Auntie Momo—the burliest of Heidi’s aunts ambles out too, a broomstick in hand, but doesn’t stop for greetings, instead books it through the door, on to the broom and shoots off into the sky.
“There’s a buy one get one free chocolate-black widow frappuccinos happening at Scarebucks until four.” Heidi explains her aunt’s haste departure. “Momo is a sucker for their arachnid drinks. Here are yours.” She holds two clear vials with white liquid inside. Lucas and I quickly gather around her.
“I’m lactose.” Lucas frowns at the contents. Heidi opens her mouth to answer, does not, and glances at me, confused for a moment.
“It-it’s not... milk,” she assures him.
“Oh, okay, good.” His shoulders ease in obvious relief.
Onyx mouths a “wow.”
“Moving along, just gulp these babies down. As I stated before—this is just like a primer, a get ready for the actual potion you’ll need to ingest which will take some time and special ingredients my Aunt Fannie has at her home. I’ll get those once we’re done here. Aunt Tutu should be by soon to help you with the shop, Onyx,” she tells her boyfriend.
“Alone?” a pale, frightened Onyx asks.
Heidi snickers, kissing his cheeks and nose. “Hun, you’ve watched the store plenty of times before.”
“You damn well know I’m not the least bit freaked because of that.” His eyes widen. And I see sweat dotting his brow. Hm, I smirk at him.
“Sounds like you are gonna have great quality time with Tutu.” I chuckle evilly since the damn panther shifter couldn’t hold back his laughter after hearing our issue.
Karma is a motherfucking, clutzy bitch in roller skates.
Aunt Tutu is three feet tall and if you juice her you’ll get pure eccentric with extra pulpy nutso added in too. The thousand-year-old witch has the elbows of doorknobs, a mouth of a sour hobgoblin and wields magic out the wazoo that most times miss their mark. Though she’s powerful and very much experienced, that doesn’t mean she gives a shit on occasion. Everyone in Grimstone knows it’s best to never be alone with Auntie Tutu.
Just as my trouble-starting self—wanted, Onyx bristles at my quip.
Heidi hands Lucas and I each a vial and we unplug its small cork. Immediately, I detect notes of mango and roast beef.
Cool.
Lucas, the puzzled fella, is troubled again.
“Drink it so we can get this ball rolling,” I say and make a show knocking it down the hatch. Its weird baked Brussels sprout taste worsens its scent. And slightly burns the throat, but I quickly get over it.
“How come mine smells like ass?” He’s disgusted and looks to Heidi for an answer. She shrugs.
“Drinking spells are a phenomenon. Their taste and smell varies to different people taking the same.”
“But...” He glances at my empty vial that still permeates strong mango.
“Come on, buddy.” Coaxing gently, I rub his back. “It’ll probably taste a whole lot better than it actually smells.” A glimpse at Heidi’s non-confident face isn’t helping.
“Hell.” Lucas grumbles then gulps it all. Nodding and smacking his lips—he hands Heidi the vial.
“Well?” I wait, wanting to know his thoughts.
“Yup. Definitely ass.”
The three of us double over laughing, while an angry Lucas storms off and yells, “I HATE YOU ALL!”