Chapter Seven
Ria
The pounding in Ria’s chest could rival a jackhammer as she reviewed the spell in her notebook one last time.
She was actually going to do it. She was going to handcast a spell on a human.
Maybe she would feel more confident if she had been able to successfully change Nibbles’s color to beige last night, but she got him to ivory which was close enough and definitely better than pink.
Even if he did look a little like a squirrel ghost vanishing out her window into the darkness.
On the other hand, she had been able to successfully make her own boobs larger, so she counted that as a win.
Sure, they deflated an hour later, but if the worst that happened was Lissa failing to find her soulmate, she could work with that.
Practice makes perfect, and if she was going to get better, then she needed guinea pigs.
Especially since her guinea squirrel had been conspicuously absent since the color debacle.
“Right,” Ria said, rubbing her hands together.
“So here’s how it works. This isn’t a love spell, per se, so you won’t fall in love with some random person.
It’s a destiny spell that is designed to nudge you in the right direction toward the person you would fall in love with eventually.
It just kind of speeds things up and helps overcome obstacles. ”
“Gotcha,” Lissa replied. “That makes sense. It would be awkward if I jumped the next hot chick I came across for no reason.”
A flush of warmth filled Ria’s cheeks, and the tiny voice in the back of her head whispered, you could be that hot chick.
She slapped a mental piece of duct tape over that mouth and stuffed it in a closet. She was a professional. She didn’t hook up with clients who came to her for love. Even if they were sexy and funny in a way that made her insides dip and twist like a drunk roller coaster.
When she’d first arrived, part of her prayed the hot, pink-haired woman with breasts she wanted to shove her face into wasn’t her client.
Being a lesbian in a small town was not easy, and while she hadn’t been certain, something about the woman’s vibe told her she’d at least be bisexual.
Hecate must be really pissed at Ria, though, to make possibly the only other non-witch lesbian in Seacliff her client, and therefore untouchable. And damn did she want to touch.
Ria shoved the remainder of the huckleberry scone into her mouth, desperate to have any other sensation occupying her senses.
She nearly moaned at how delicious they were.
Not surprising, since Mixie had to be a witch given the herbal guardians of her patio.
Maybe even a kitchen witch, weaving magic into her baked goods.
It would explain the perfect combination of buttery pastry and sweet, succulent huckleberry.
Ria swallowed and gave Lissa her best professional smile.
“So basically, what happens next is I’m going to say a few words and make some hand gestures.
It might seem like nothing, but I’ll be infusing the movements with my will.
” At Lissa’s confused look, she added, “That’s all magic is.
It’s a spark inside a witch that can be willed into different forms for different purposes. ”
“Riiight,” Lissa replied, dragging the word out. “Well, I’m ready whenever you are. Get your will on, or whatever.”
“Okay, then.” Ria swallowed, her throat tighter than the pencil skirt she’d be an idiot to wear. “Just, um… Just don’t move.”
Please don’t let her turn pink, she prayed to the Goddess.
Ria lifted her palms skyward and delved deep within her spirit to summon her will.
Pressing the sides of her middle and pointer fingers together, she swished her right hand clockwise and her left hand counterclockwise simultaneously.
“When fate lingers out of sight, we call upon the Goddess’s light.
If Hecate shall abide, let all-knowing destiny become love’s guide. ”
Ria waited for something incredible to occur, some visual that told her the spell was sealed, but all that happened was a seagull landed on the patio and went in search of crumbs under a nearby table.
Lissa blinked at her. “Am I supposed to feel something?”
Crap.
Was Lissa supposed to feel something? There had been no glittering sparkles in the air, but that might not happen for every spell. She really should have asked her mom what to expect, but that would have led to another trip down memory lane she had no time or desire to endure.
“I don’t think so,” she told Lissa, deciding that was probably the safest answer.
Lissa cocked her head. “You don’t think so? Shouldn’t you know what the spell does?”
Ria chewed on her lower lip, trying to summon some confidence to defend her handcasting abilities and accepting she had none. “Well, this was kinda the first time I’ve actually cast the spell,” she admitted sheepishly.
Lissa stared at her blankly for a second, then huffed out a small laugh. “Oooookay. So what comes next?”
Finally, something she could answer. “So, you might feel a pull or urge to do something or go somewhere. Perhaps you’ll get invited to an event out of the blue or offered an opportunity. It’s important you don’t fight it.”
Lissa nodded and took a bite of the last scone. “I can do that,” she said. “So, do I stay in contact with you?”
Yes, she wanted to say. What came out of her mouth was “Technically, you don’t need to.”
The corner of Lissa’s mouth curled up in a small smile. “What if I want to? For advice, I mean. You know, in case something strange happens.”
Ria’s heart kicked into overdrive, causing her to regret her choice of shirt. She’d chosen the blouse not even considering she might need to worry about awkward pit stains, but the summer sun couldn’t hold a candle to Lissa when it came to inspiring nervous sweats. “Oh, well, that would be fine.”
Lissa turned her cup upside down, shaking the last few drops of that unpleasant coffee drink into her mouth. “So what do I owe you?”
“You know what,” Ria said, closing her notebook. “This one is on the house, being my first attempt and all. I just hope when you do find your true love, you’ll give me a good review. Maybe tell some friends?”
“Sure, I can do that.”
“Great.” Ria pushed back from the table. “I should probably get back to my workshop. I have some Angelica root drying I shouldn’t leave unattended. Critters might get into it.”
“Oh, what is that used for?” Lissa asked, standing and swiping the crumbs off the table.
“Honestly? It’s mostly used for relieving intestinal gas.”
Lissa barked out a laugh. “Then you better get to it. Heaven forbid we have squirrels running around passing gas.”
Ria chuckled. “Definitely don’t want that.” She turned to leave, then paused, remembering her marketing training. “By the way, do you mind if I give you a few business cards? Just in case you know anyone.”
“Sure,” Lissa replied.
“Great. Let me find them.” Ria dug around in her massive purse, searching for the stack of cards she’d hurriedly thrown in as she ran out the door, already running late because she’d been reviewing the words one last time.
“Ouch,” she cried, a sharp pain stinging her finger. “Found the cards,” she told Lissa, pulling them from her purse and handing a few over carefully so as not to get blood on them from the newly reopened scissor wound.
She looked at the small drop of blood, then glanced around the patio. She thought she’d seen… There!
Snatching a leaf off a plant, she wiped it along her injured finger then tucked the bloody bit of foliage under the dirt in the planter. “Yarrow,” she told Lissa when she caught the strange look her client was giving her. “There’s an alkaloid in the leaves that helps with blood clotting.”
Lissa tucked her hands in her pockets and leaned back against the table casually. “Good to know.”
“Yup,” Ria said, looping her purse over her shoulder and clutching the notebook to her chest. “Um, anyway, I guess I’ll be hearing from you soon about the spell.
Or not. Don’t feel pressured to message me if you’re happy.
I mean, I’m not saying you should only message me if you’re sad.
You can update me if you’re happy too. Or even just indifferent.
I’m open to hearing from people of all emotional states. ”
Lissa quirked an eyebrow up at her babbling.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
“Anyway, I’m going to go.” She paused, feeling like she needed to add something to round out Lissa’s magical experience.
This was why she preferred potions—they didn’t require a performance element to sell the encounter.
“Hecate’s blessings upon you.” She gave a little curtsy for no reason other than she felt like she needed to do something, then turned and practically sprinted down the path beside the cafe.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.