Chapter Five

 

 

“It’s such a glorious day,” Kandy exclaimed from the hallway in a sing-song voice that bordered on fairy tale-esqe. That wasn’t a good sign.

I stood at the counter, arranging the last of the cupcakes for the street party. We needed to leave shortly, but since we’re witches, it wouldn’t take much time to get there. Or get set up. Or do much of any part of the physical labor. Magic could help with that. Magic was awesome.

My sister fairly bounced into the kitchen with the most brilliant smile, wearing her signature orange dress with hair to match.

Kay changed her hair to match her favorite holiday. Kandy changed hers to match her favorite dresses.

Mine was always blonde.

Maybe that made me the straight-laced one. No one had ever accused me of that, though.

“Isn’t it a glorious day, Ky?”

“It is. How did you sleep?” Her eyes still bore that glassy look from last night and her tone of voice was that of innocence and naivety. It was dreamy, but not quite as bad as it had been at first. Did the cupcake Morgan gave her last night help or hurt?

Neither of them had emerged last night after he took it to her and Kay advised that I stay out of it until this morning. I didn’t argue.

“Wonderful. I’m still not sure why I slept here and not at home, but I did sleep wonderfully well. Have you seen Morgan?”

“No. I’m sure he’ll meet us in town soon.”

“I hope so. I need to see him.”

“I hope so, too. How do you feel about Morgan?”

“Oh, I am so in love, Kyla.” She began swirling through my kitchen, her hands clasped at her chest, her hair flowing around her shoulders. “So. In. Love. But you knew that already, silly.”

“Just checking.”

“You know,” she said, stopping in the middle of the room not a spit unbalanced from the spinning, “Something does feel a little weird, like, I didn’t love him last night, but then did love him. Do you know what I mean?”

“No.” Because it was the truth.

“Me, neither. Do you have my candy here?”

“Kay has it.”

“Do you have cupcakes left over from yesterday?”

“No. I have the ones for today.”

“Can I try?”

“Always.”

“How’s the patient?” Shari the Cat asked, strolling into the kitchen.

“Patient? What patient?” Kandy asked around a mouthful of pumpkin cream filled cinnamon cupcake. “Oh wow. These are so good.”

“You—”

“Barry.”

Shari and I answered Kandy at the same time and her eyes darted back and forth before settling on me. “What’s wrong with Barry?”

“He ate something that didn’t agree with him.”

“That’s an understatement.”

“But it’s the truth,” I ground out to the cat. “How do you like that one, K?”

“I love it. It’s the best.”

“I’m glad.”

“Can I try one of the other ones?”

“Oh, sure.”

I’d taken the idea from Kay for an apple butter cupcake. I mixed it into the batter the way one might have mixed in pumpkin and added a cinnamon cream cheese frosting to the top. They were my favorite of the two.

I’d also made the mini-pumpkin cheesecakes, one of which I added a swirl from the white pumpkin. It had given it a gooey taste, if gooey had a flavor. I still likened it to marshmallow, but Kay hadn’t had an opinion on what it tasted like. She hadn’t liked the black pumpkin and so I’d tabled any ideas I’d had for it until I could come up with something that would suit it. The pumpkin soup cook-off was still a possibility, though.

Maybe I could melt some of it down and add some powdered sugar and make a glaze of sorts for maybe a vanilla or lemon cake? Or maybe Bethilda’s idea of a muffin would work. I—

“Ky?”

“What?” I focused on Kandy’s concerned face. “Oh, sorry. Lost in thought.”

“I was just asking when we would be leaving or if I had time for another cupcake.”

“You’re hungry this morning,” I observed.

“I am. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m ravenous.”

“Then let’s put some of that energy to work.” I loaded her arms with the boxes of cupcakes and grabbed the ones with the mini cheesecakes. I looked down at Shari. “Don’t leave Barry in the house alone.”

“What do you suggest I do with him?”

He’d slept in the bathroom sink and was still there. He hadn’t moved from in front of the mirror. When he was awake, he was staring at himself and it was one of the creepiest things I’d ever seen.

“I don’t know, but whatever you do, don’t leave him in the house alone. He’ll have it wallpapered as a tribute to himself if you do. I don’t trust him.”

“No one trusts him,” Kandy offered. It was true.

“I guess I can bring him with me and Larry.”

“To town?”

“Yes.”

Well, that would be a disaster waiting to happen. Then again, that would allow us all to keep an eye on him to make sure he didn’t get into any trouble. Shari and Larry weren’t a problem. Barry had been from the beginning. “Okay.”

“Will it wear off soon?”

“Will what wear off soon?”

“Barry’s just a little off from whatever it was he got into yesterday.”

“Oh. I hope he feels better soon.”

Yeah. Me, too. “You ready?” I took hold of Kandy’s arm with a couple fingers and waited for her nod. When I got it, we twirled out of my kitchen and arrived in the center of town. It always left my stomach a little unsettled for a second or two, but it soon righted itself and all was well.

“I don’t know why I don’t do that more. It sure beats the walking that Kay likes to do.”

“I agree, but you don’t come into town all that much until it’s pumpkin season.”

“True.”

Kandy had become something of a homebody since Broo had come to town and even more of one since she and Morgan had gotten together.

She used to be in and out of town all the time, socializing with people, checking in on Leon and Bethilda, but then she met her mate and they were more about cuddling at home than being out. I found it weird at first, being that he was a demon and all, but they could also move about from city to city without anyone ever knowing due to his powers.

Kandy had become more worldly and knowledgeable about the places outside Blue Balls Falls with those little trips she took with Morgan, but when they were home, which was more often than not, Kandy preferred staying in.

The dinner parties she threw were lucky for me because otherwise, I wasn’t sure how often I’d see her.

The demons had changed my sisters. For the better.

They were happy in ways I’d never seen them. Content.

And I was still the same. I was still the same Kyla, though a slightly more lonely version. It wasn’t easy when I’d been used to having my sisters to turn to and talk to at any hour of the day or night. That wasn’t the case anymore with them mated and in love. It made sense they’d want to spend as much time with their demons as possible. But sometimes I had a ‘what about me’ moment and I’d get sad or mad or both.

Of course, I hid those things from them. I wouldn’t want Kay and Kandy to feel bad. That wouldn’t be fair.

“Look at all the people,” Kandy said, drawing me away from my maudlin thoughts and into the real life present moment of the Blue Balls Falls Pumpkin Street Party.

“Golly Goddesses.”

“There are so many.”

“There are.” Where had they all come from? There were people everywhere.

I scanned the crowd to find Kay and the location of our vending booths. I finally saw her, levitating above the crowd, waving wildly.

I nudged Kandy in the right direction and soon we were swallowed up by milling strangers and even a few people we knew from the surrounding hillsides.

We were shoved and pushed and jostled until we finally reached Kaydence. I was out of breath and worried about the cupcakes and cheesecakes Kandy and I held in our arms. One quick look in all the boxes and I breathed a sigh of relief. They were all in good shape.

“I’ve never seen so many witches and wizards and magicals in all my life,” I said, slipping into the booth that was designated for me. Kay helped Kandy into hers which was already set up with every flavor of Witchin’ Stix along with some of the hard candies and chewy caramels she always made this time of year. It was good that more people would get to try my sister’s treats other than the local people of Blue Balls Falls.

“I’m glad you guys showed up when you did. I held people off as long as I could,” Kay said. “How are things?” she asked in a whisper so Kandy couldn’t hear. I glanced over and Kandy wasn’t even paying attention to us. She was craning her neck, looking all around, presumably for Morgan, but maybe she was just taking in all the sights and sounds.

“Okay,” I mouthed. I hoped that once people began stopping by that Kandy would be able to focus for a little while. I didn’t know if Morgan being there or not being there would help.

I took a couple minutes to look around, too. Really look around at everything and felt a smile fill my body from head to toe. “It’s really cool, isn’t it?”

“It is.”

“We did a good job planning this.”

Kay nodded. “For it being our second event and one that’s turned out so much bigger than the last one, I’d say we did an awesome job.”

“I think I’ll reserve that feeling for afterward. Hopefully nothing untoward will happen.”

“That’s fine. You wait until after. Have you seen Broo?”

“No, but the line for the bakery is down the street and around the corner. Ruby has been supplying everyone waiting with cider.”

“That’s nice of her.” I opened three of the boxes of cupcakes and with a swirl of my finger, they all filled the small display cases on my makeshift counter. I wanted to put out the cheesecakes, but… “Hold down things for me for a few minutes. I need to talk to Broo.”

“Sure.”

Twirling out of my booth and into the kitchen of Witchin’ Spice Bakery, I found a hyperventilating Broo. She was bent over, breathing rapidly or trying to. “Hey,” I said softly, setting my boxes down and moving to her side. “What’s going on?” Of course, I didn’t expect her to answer. She couldn’t breathe, much less carry on a conversation, but I wanted her to know I was concerned for her.

I brushed my hand down the back of her head, pulling her hair up off her neck and away from her face.

Instead of the words she couldn’t say, she hitched her thumb toward the front of the bakery.

“Is something wrong out there?”

She shook her head.

“Is Amir out there?”

She nodded and started taking shaky, but deeper breaths than she had been able to. That was a good sign.

“Do you have enough cheesecakes?”

Again, she nodded, then managed to lift her head enough to look at me. “Too…” She gasped for breath again and hung her head.

“Too what? Too many? Too few? Is it the people? Are there too many people?”

I didn’t know Broo all that well, but what I did know of her, she wasn’t the peopliest people person.

Of course, I had my own booth to deal with and really, this was Kandy’s forte. Or used to be. She was the one who’d worked at the bakery for a while years ago and helped Broo get this one off the ground recently. But Kandy wasn’t in any shape to really deal with it. So, that left me.

“Let me see if I can help some, okay?”

Her big eyes looked into mine and without words, pleaded. I smiled and produced a small white pumpkin swirl cheesecake for her and put it into her palm. “Just something to help get you back on your feet. Take your time, though.”

I left the bakery and found the back of the line. Sure enough, it was around the corner, but was starting to move. One by one, I offered a treat to those who were waiting. As I got closer to the front, I heard more and more excited murmurs. I also found the Prayer Chain ladies doing their best to keep customers from becoming unruly.

Apparently it hadn’t worked on all of the customers because in the corner of the shop, I found a group of kids with their butts glued to chairs. They had enough give to squirm, but not all that much.

“Oh my stars, Kyla. You are a sight.”

“Hi Bethilda. I didn’t expect to see you here. Who’s managing the inn?”

“I have it well in hand, don’t you worry, but my poor Broo needed help and I came running.”

“I would expect nothing less. I hopefully calmed the masses outside some,” I said as I handed out the last of the mini-cheesecakes I’d made. I should have made more, but hadn’t anticipated the sheer volume of people. “How did Broo manage all the orders?”

“It took a lot of effort, but we did it.”

“Next time, let me know. I’ll help.”

“Next time?” Broo had emerged from the kitchen looking pale and not quite up to standing. “There’s going to be a next time?”

“Um… Figure of speech.”

“You’re lying.”

“No next time until next year. At least,” I said, hoping to ease some of her panic, but her eyes widened and she disappeared into the back of the bakery again.

“Don’t worry about it,” Amir said, in the process of handing over three pumpkin cheesecakes to one woman. She battled her way out of the bakery, guarding the boxes as though her life depended on it. Maybe it did. “Broo was overwhelmed. The party was a great idea. Next year we’ll need to hire help. A lot of it.”

I could see that. Maybe my sisters and I hadn’t done such a great job of planning. We were all clearly overwhelmed at the sheer number of magicals that had flooded Blue Balls Falls. We would have to make better plans if we wanted to do this again. We would need to make better projections.

“Let me know if you need me for anything,” I told Bethilda, who nodded and smiled.

I eased my way out of the shop and back through the crowded street where Kay and Kandy worked selling cookies and candy. Over half my cupcakes were gone.

“Broo’s had a meltdown,” I said as I slipped back in.

“Oh no. Is she all right? Well, okay skip that question,” Kay said. “Obviously she’s not if she’s had a meltdown. Can we help?”

“There are more people than they anticipated. Than we anticipated.”

“I’ve been wondering that. Though, how do you anticipate how many are coming to something like this?”

“I don’t know. They didn’t hire anyone to take Kandy’s place and I think that they probably should have. Amir said they would next year. When Broo heard those words, she flipped out again.”

“They could’ve asked us.”

“I know. I offered, but too late.”

I felt bad, but there wasn’t much more I could do. We were well into the street party and people were having a great time from what I could tell.

“Have you seen the demons?” I asked.

“Max isn’t coming,” Kay said, her tone scolding me for even asking about them.

“I wasn’t talking about Max. I knew he wasn’t coming. But I haven’t seen the other two, either.”

“I think Merrick is keeping you know who away from you know who for a while, until the crowds thin out a bit.”

“That’s probably a smart idea.” I turned away to open the remaining boxes of cupcakes and filled the display cases. One by one and sometimes two by two or more by more, people bought cookies and candies and cupcakes. We were the best treat witches this side of… Well, I didn’t know where, but we were the best and the fact that no matter what, we never had anything left, proved it.

“Oh.”

“What?” Kay’s face ceased to express emotion, but then a laugh burst from her, drawing the attention of several people nearby. I followed her gaze, did a double take, and finally groaned and hung my head. There was no way anyone would ever take me seriously again in this town. Including and especially Max.

Barry the Cat had arrived in full royal regalia.

Crown. Cloak. Even little gold booties on his feet and paws. Head high. Stupid, self indulgent grin on his little furry face.

Shari the Cat and Larry the Cat followed at a distance that suggested they didn’t want to be associated in any way shape or form with their brother. I couldn’t blame them.

Pointing and snickering from around him occurred, but Barry the Cat didn’t seem to care, or hear any of it. He held himself above it all.

Of course, at some point he’d be brought down to earth to reside with the rest of us, but for now, he didn’t care. For now, he was in love with himself.

I leaned over the makeshift counter. “Barry. Nice to see you out of the sink.”

“Hello, dollface.”

“Dollface? That’s not my name.”

“But I like it better.”

“Hmm…”

“Say, you wouldn’t have to have any of those delicious cupcakes from yesterday, would you? I’m craving one.”

“Nope. Sorry. All out.”

“That’s a shame. I can wait until you make more.”

“I won’t be making anymore.” Ever. Ever. Ever again.

“More’s the pity.”

“Hi Barry. You look cute.”

Barry flipped his head as though he had more hair than he actually did and gave Kandy a smarmy smile that had me curling my lip in distaste. That potion couldn’t wear off him fast enough. I’d give almost anything… Nope. I take that back. I didn’t want any Goddesses or Fates or Destiny’s or demons or empaths or any other being hearing my thoughts. I just wanted Barry back to normal. I just wanted everyone and everything back to normal.

“Hello Kandy girl.”

Kandy giggled like she had last night and Kay shot me a look that promised my early demise if I didn’t get Barry the Cat under control. The only thing was, I didn’t know what to do about him. “Barry, why don’t you come back here and rest. I think I might have a mirror.”

“Oh, thank you, doll. I haven’t seen myself in ages.”

He strolled around the back of the booth and sat, looking up at me expectantly. I didn’t have a mirror and I didn’t know what else to do in that moment, but as I was wracking my brain to come up with something, Barry the Cat tipped over and began snoring.

“What the…”

“Is he full of himself or what?” Wilhelmina quipped, slipping into the booth, too, followed by her two sisters. “He needed to be put out of everyone’s misery.”

I didn’t know what was worse. Barry the Cat acting like he was King of the World, or the Wickeds appearing straight from Hell.

“What are you three doing here?”

“We heard there was a party.”

A party was the last thing a Wicked should be invited to.

“This can’t be good.”

“Don’t be like that. We’re not here to cause trouble.”

“Then why?”

“Well, Willa wanted to see Barry. And Wylda wanted to see Shari. She’s kinda got a bit of a crush.”

“Do not.”

“Do so.”

“Do.” Sparks flew from Wylda’s fingers. “Not.” More sparks.

I backed up as much as I could in my little area and wondered if I could get out all together without anyone noticing. I didn’t want to accidentally be lit on fire.

I turned a freaked out gaze on Kay and she looked as though she wanted to bolt, too.

Kandy wasn’t paying attention at all. She was twirling a candy stick against her lips.

“Anyway,” Wilhelmina continued. “I thought I’d drop in and they decided to tag along. By the way, what’s going on with the witch?”

“The witch? She’s got a name.”

“Yeah. I know. I still get twitchy sometimes.”

“And now is one of those times?”

“Yep. So, what’s wrong with her? Why is she acting like that?”

“She’s… She’s under the influence.” I didn’t know how else to put it. Kandy was under the influence, but not in the way most people thought about it.

“Of what?”

“I can’t say.”

“Why not?”

“I just can’t.” I dropped my voice. “You’ll need to trust me that she’ll be okay soon.”

“Does it affect her and my demon?”

“Not in the way you think it might.”

“Figures.”

“Don’t be like that. He loves her.”

“I don’t need to be reminded.” The Wicked made a face like she’d just eaten something sour. “I see it every day. Except yesterday and most of today.”

“Look, she needs a little extra supervision right now, but she’s going to be fine real soon.” I hoped. Goddess, I really hoped so.

“You’re hiding something. I don’t like it when people hide things from me. That usually means something bad is coming.”

“Nothing bad is coming. You have to trust me.”

“Would my Morgan trust you? I don’t know that he would. He’s been grumpy with you.”

“He would.” One day again. Maybe. But for the purpose of trying to get the Wicked off my tail, I’d lie until the sky fell down.

“Hmm…”

“Please,” I begged her. “Please.”

“Fine.”

Wilhelmina turned her back on me and flitted toward Kandy. For all the creature said she didn’t like my sister, she spent a lot of time with Kandy and Morgan. And maybe it was because she was trying to stick close to the demon who once owned her in order to keep her safe, but I didn’t believe her animosity toward Kandy. I was pretty sure it was all for show.

Kandy brightened seeing the Wicked and Wilhelmina gave her what passed for a smile.

“Where is Morgan?” I asked Kay for the umpteenth time.

“I don’t know where they are.”

I needed to get my mind off Max. “I’m going to go for a walk to check things out.”

“Okay. I’m going to start packing things away.”

I was headed to Leon’s, but stumbled as an explosion rocked the town. I looked in the direction it had come from to find pumpkin guts shooting high into the sky. The chili competition. Someone made exploding chili again. You’d think they’d learn, but apparently not.

I shook my head and continued on my way to Leon’s. I was curious about the game he’d mentioned to me and when I arrived after having threaded my way through the dwindling crowds, I found wooden boxes lined up on the ground with holes in them and little pouches.

He saw me staring. “It’s called Cornhole.”

“And what do you do? I don’t see any corn.”

“There isn’t any. You take the bag and toss it into the hole, but my way is with a wand and since most don’t use wands… It takes a little more skill.”

He was proud of himself and I couldn’t blame him. “How many have won today?”

“Only about ten.”

“That’s not bad.”

“Nope.”

“What’s the prize?”

“A wand or a broomstick. Want to play?”

“Yes. Do I pick a wand?”

“Of these five.” He brandished a handful of wands from out of nowhere and I picked the plain one. I gave it a twist and a swish to get my hand somewhat used to it. “Now, it’s all in the concentration,” he said. “I’ve cast a spell of sorts on each of the wands to make them more malleable in these circumstances, but as I said, it’ll still take some skill.”

“All right.”

Stepping up to one of the wooden boxes, I stooped to flatten out the pile of little pillows in a straight line. The idea seemed simple enough. I could make objects move with my hands all the time. I could make myself move from place to place without doing anything more than thinking about it. So, really? How hard could it be to get a little pillow into a hole in a box? Even with a wand.

One pillow up, with a little more difficulty than I’d anticipated, but the wand, my hand, and the pillow were fairly steady. Now, was it more mental than physical or the other way around? Leon didn’t say there was a spell or anything to go along with it and I couldn’t ask him at the moment either. He was busy helping a group of kids who seemed more inclined to goof off than listen.

With my mind and a forward motion with the wand, I pushed, but the little pillow didn’t move. It did, however, start to fall. I focused and concentrated on keeping it aloft.

I wondered for a moment what would happen if I simply picked up the pillow and tossed it, but I didn’t have to wonder for long. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement and looked. One of the kids was doing exactly that. Trying to pick one up, but it wouldn’t move. It wouldn’t budge. It stayed firmly on the ground.

I turned my attention back to my own game and ruled that option out.

Hmm… What to do?

I turned my wrist and the pillow followed it. Movement. That was a good sign.

I turned my wrist in a corkscrew motion while extending my arm out and the pillow began to move, and move, and Yes! It was over the hole in the box.

Of course, I wasn’t sure how to get it down into the hole. I tried lowering the wand, but the pillow only moved a few inches and at that rate, I’d be lying prone on the ground before it got near the hole.

I had to give it to Leon, he hadn’t made this as easy as it seemed.

And it had done the one thing I’d wanted it to do. Take my mind off Max and the love potion and my one sister acting loopy and my other sister slightly peeved at me.

I stared at the little pillow, hanging in midair without a care in the world. I twisted my wrist, only slightly, the other way and the square of filled fabric descended. Giving my wrist a full turn, and a downward angle, and the pillow fell directly into the hole.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!”

I jumped and pumped my fist into the air as though I’d just scaled a mountain.

“Excellent, Kyla! No one has figured it out that quickly.”

“Felt like it took forever.”

“Can you do it with the others?”

At my feet, the little pillows seemed to wiggle in anticipation and when my gaze met Leon’s again, he grinned and shrugged.

I resumed my starting position again and followed the same movements I had before, though this time, there was a bit of a distraction.

“Shari? What are you doing over here?”

“Hide me.”

“What?”

She wound herself around my ankles, but her ears pricked and she stood still, staring back toward the booth where my sisters were. “Shari?”

She dove around the side of the box and flattened herself on the ground. “You haven’t seen me. You don’t know where I am.”

“What is going on?”

“Wylda won’t leave me alone.”

“Oh, she’s just got a little crush.”

“No. No, it’s more than a little crush. It’s a big crush and it’s just… No. No no no.” She glanced up with big green pleading eyes, but lowered her head almost immediately.

From a distance, no one would be able to see her, but once they got close… “You know you’re not really hidden all that well, right?”

“You’re right. What am I going to do?” She looked frantic for a moment, but then sprang up and down into the hole of one of the boxes. “Don’t breathe a word, witch. Do you hear me. Not. A. Word.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Though it would be kind of interesting to see what would happen. Then again, I didn’t know what Shari’s temper was like and she had powers that I didn’t know the extent of, so it was probably best I not tell Wylda where she was hiding.

Instead, I decided to resume my game. I was going to best the little pillows and win. Not that I needed a wand or a broomstick, but that wasn’t the point. The point was for one single thing to turn out in my favor and not fall apart.