Chapter 11
11
ESME
T he next morning I hurried into Ancient Magicks. The bell above the door jingled to announce my arrival as I removed my coat and shook off the rain. It was a cold, drizzly day, but Lizzy had lamps lit throughout the store that gave off a warm, cozy light. Bundles of dried herbs hung from the ceiling that hadn't been there the day before, and I inhaled deeply, letting their earthy scent ground me. It had been a rough night, and after what happened with Brogan, I wasn't sure if I still had a job. But the only way I’d know for sure was to get up, get dressed, and come here.
"Esme, you're early," Lizzy called out from behind the counter, her dark hair pulled back in a messy bun. Today, she wore a flowing skirt adorned with a colorful patchwork pattern and a simple black sweater with black low-heeled boots.
I forced a tired smile, even though happy was far from what I felt, and tried to push aside the memory of last night's confrontation. Brogan’s accusation that I'd used a love spell on him still stung. As if he couldn't possibly be attracted to me for any other reason.
Fuck that pendejo .
"I couldn't sleep," I told her. "So I figured I might as well come in and get started, if that's still okay."
Lizzy's brow furrowed in confusion as she studied my face. "Of course, it's okay. I'm glad you're here. I was surprised you weren't still at the house this morning, actually, and I was worried.” Her dark eyes searched mine, asking what she was too polite to voice aloud.
Ah. So she didn’t know what happened. “Thank you for being concerned,” I told her. “And for allowing me to come back after what you found out last night. I’m not sure where the djinn has gone, but I haven’t felt him since last night.”
“We haven’t either,” she assured me.
Then I answered her unspoken question. "Brogan and I had a fight." That was the easiest explanation. “And I wasn't sure?—"
She waved away my concerns before I could finish the sentence. “Just stop right there. Like I told Killian last night, if you meant us any harm, I don't think you'd be coming to us for help.”
I wasn't sure what to say as her friendly smile warmed the ice-cold chill inside of me. Clearing the surge of emotion from my throat, I asked, "Where would you like me to start?"
She ducked behind the counter for a second, then reappeared with a small box, which she set on the counter. "I could use some help unpacking and inventorying—is that a word?—this new shipment of crystals that just came in and making a new display on that shelf over there." She pointed to an empty spot on the left wall.
I smiled. "Thank you. For this," I clarified, gesturing around the store. "I need a little normalcy in my life today."
She gave me a sympathetic smile. "I bet."
"So," I started as I helped her open the boxes behind the counter, “you and Killian...you're together?"
Lizzy nodded, her eyes dancing with happiness. "Yeah, we are."
"How did that happen?" As soon as I said it, I shook my head. “I’m sorry. It's none of my business."
"It's okay," she said. "It's kind of weird, I know. In all my years living in New York, I never would've imagined I'd end up with someone like him, and I've seen some strange stuff in that city. Our relationship is still pretty new, but…well, he's my mate. Or I’m his mate. Or whatever.” She smiled again.
Her choice of words took me by surprise. "Mate? Like, soulmates?"
She chuckled. "Kind of. You don’t know about how vampires mate?”
Frowning, I shook my head.
“Well, I’m kind of new to all of this myself. But, for vampires, it's a bit more...intense. When they find their mate, it's a connection. A missing piece of themselves that snaps into place. One they never knew was missing. The bond is unbreakable and honestly, it’s...” Looking around for the word, she finally said, “ Intense is the best way I can describe it. For both of us. But more so for him.”
I let that sink in for a moment. Vampires had soulmates. It was almost romantic, in a twisted sort of way. "So, you're his for life?"
"Essentially, yes. It's not always easy, though. The bond can be overwhelming at times, and it takes some getting used to." Lizzy placed a large amethyst geode on the counter, then glanced at me sideways. "Now I have to ask you something, and I'd appreciate it if you'd answer honestly."
Questions lingered on the tip of my tongue, but I set them aside for a different time. "I promise I'll answer as honestly as I can." That was the most I could offer, but apparently it was good enough.
“You really had no idea who I was when you came in here to apply for this job? That’s not why you applied here?"
"No," I answered immediately. “I swear it to you. I had no idea until I saw you at the house last night.”
"What about Killian's club? Did you know who owned it?"
Again, I shook my head. "No. It was purely a coincidence that I chose his club my first night here. Again, I swear to you, I had no idea who they were until I saw them."
Picking up the crystals and some baskets, she motioned for me to follow her and we started setting up the new display. "And how did you know they were vampires? Humans don't normally pick up on that."
I struggled with my choices. Tell her the truth and let the cards fall where they may, or continue to lie to her about who and what I was. I did tell her I would only be as honest as I could. But her expression, though curious, was so open and honest. And I really didn't want to keep lying to her. "Lizzy, I need to tell you something."
“Tell me what?”
Taking a deep breath and praying I wasn’t about to ruin the one truly good relationship I’d made in this city, I told her what I’d confessed to Brogan last night.
She glanced up at me as she checked the bag for any more crystals. “I knew you were a witch the moment you walked into my store,” she told me. Not finding anything else, she moved one of the baskets to a different part of the display and walked away to throw the empty bag in the trash.
I stared after her. Apparently, I wasn’t hiding my magic as well as I thought I was. "So, you know?"
"I've always known." She smiled over her shoulder.
The bell over the door chimed, and a customer came in.
Lizzy greeted them before saying, "Would you finish up this display, please?"
I stared after her retreating form. She'd always known? How was that possible? I'd been so careful to always guard my magic. Yet here she was, casually dropping this bombshell like it was nothing.
As Lizzy helped the customer, I tried to collect myself and do as she'd asked, but I couldn't focus and ended up just standing there staring down at the crystals in my hands. I could tell they'd been in the box for a long time. They had no energy. We should put them in the sun and let them recharge.
I glanced at Lizzy again, watching as she laughed at something the customer said. She seemed so at ease, so comfortable in her own skin and her place in this world. I envied that. I couldn't remember the last time I wasn't constantly looking over my shoulder.
The customer left, and Lizzy made her way back over to me. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "How did you know?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "About me."
Lizzy shrugged, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Because I'm a witch, too."
"Yes, but not a very powerful one. No offense," I added, trying to soften my words.
But she didn't seem offended in the slightest. "True. But I can sense magic in others. And you, Esme, have it in spades."
"I'm not just a witch, Lizzy."
She stared at me for a long moment. "What do you mean by that?"
I took a deep breath, gathering my courage. It was now or never. "I'm a bruja ."
"A bruja ?"
I nodded, feeling a strange mix of relief and apprehension at finally revealing my true nature to her. "Yes. My family comes from a long line of brujas in Mexico. We're…different from the witches you might be familiar with."
Lizzy leaned against the counter, her expression curious. "How so?"
I braced myself for her judgement. Perhaps I would lose this job after all. "Our magic…isn't like yours. It can be light. Or it can be dark. Some believe we put curses and hexes on people. And that we practice blood magic."
"And do you?" She tilted her head in curiosity. "Practice blood magic?"
I smiled wryly, deciding it was best not to answer that question. "We tend to keep to ourselves. It's not exactly safe for us to advertise what we are."
She approached me, reaching out and squeezing my hand, offering silent comfort. "I'm sorry you felt like you needed to hide your true self from me. But you don’t have to anymore.”
I blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. "Thank you. It's been...difficult."
Her other hand joined the first, and for a moment we just stood there with our hands clasped.
I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. "And are you okay with this? With what I am?”
"Of course, I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
I thought of Brogan's reaction, the way he'd looked at me like I was something to be feared. "Not everyone is as accepting as you," I said softly.
Lizzy's expression softened as she figured out who I was talking about. "Ah. Well, in this place, you don't have to hide who you are. You're safe here, Esme. I promise."
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, and I blinked them back. I wanted so badly to believe her, to trust that I could finally let my guard down. But after seeing her with Killian last night, that trust didn't come as easily as I would like.