Chapter Ten Lyra
Ow!” I blinked awake to see Ruth fluttering over me, tweezers in her paws instead of her normal sword. “What are you doing?”
Plucking your eyebrows.
“I’m certain that’s not in your job description,” I grumbled, rolling to pull the blanket over my face. Ruth bopped me on the forehead with her tiny fist.
“Hey!” I grumbled, squinting at her. “I thought you were on my side.”
I am. Which is why you need to get up. We’ve got to get you ready for your first day of filming.
Butterflies filled my gut. It had taken me far too long to fall asleep the night before; instead I’d spent the time opening the rest of the gifts I’d received at Mabon and writing out thank-you cards.
I had to hand it to Briarhaven, they’d certainly shown up when it came to presenting interesting gifts.
Aside from the touching necklace that hummed with power around my neck, I’d received magickal ornaments, a talking mirror, a variety of charmed baking instruments, and even a certificate for pottery-making classes.
But my fierce wee familiar was correct. I did need to get up and get started on my makeup. There was no way I didn’t have bags and dark circles under my eyes after a largely sleepless night. Sighing, I pulled the blanket down and rubbed my hands over my face.
I think you should wear the red or the purple.
I turned to look at where I’d hung three dresses out as options to wear for my first day of filming.
Even though I’d be in an apron for much of the show, they wanted to do some introduction interviews and confessionals, and that would be just wearing a normal outfit.
I’d been instructed to stay away from patterns, and that bold colors showed up well on film.
“Red. I think. It is a good power color.”
My door banged open, and I shrieked as Nova and Sloane bounded in, Blue wheeling in an arc over their head.
“What the hell?”
“Och, there’s a bonnie lass ready for her first day of filming.” Nova took on a deeper accent and gave me a lewd wink.
“Seriously?” I groaned, covering my face with my hands.
“We’re just here for moral support. We know we can’t go in with you to filming today, but wanted to be here while you got ready in case you needed to talk about anything,” Sloane said, sitting on the corner of my bed.
Blue slammed into the comforter next to her, bouncing once, before tumbling over to me, stomach up.
He turned his head to me, tongue falling to the side, a hopeful look on his face.
“Hey, buddy,” I said, reaching out to scratch his tummy, and his eyes closed in bliss.
Everyone needed an emotional support emberwolf, I decided.
I cast a look to where Ruth was neatly lining up my makeup at my small vanity table across my room.
I’d learned that my wee familiar dearly loved order, so she was always arranging everything just so.
It was like having a tiny militant housekeeper following me around at all times.
“How am I going to do this?” I whispered, my gaze going between Nova and Sloane.
“Like you do everything else… one recipe at a time.”
“One ingredient at a time,” Nova amended, coming over to slide an arm around my shoulders.
“Listen, we’ve discussed this. There’s nothing in the rules that says you have to use magick in every step of the challenge.
Plus, your partner is going to have magick.
Just lean heavily on them for the magick aspect of things, and you do your charm and glamour thing to win the judges over.
Once you meet her, you can have a wee chat and come up with a game plan. I’m sure it’s going to be fine.”
“You’re right. I know you’re right. She’s going to want to win. Because who signs up for these things unless they want to win?” Feeling better, I nudged Nova aside and swung my legs out from under the blanket. “Right, I’ll just pop in the shower and get ready.”
“I’m on brekkie,” Sloane said, and Nova threw her head back and laughed.
“I hope you’re ready for a fortifying breakfast of Ritz and Primula,” Nova said.
“Just tea. A spot of tea would be lovely.” I was too nervous to eat anyway. Sloane’s preferred breakfast of crackers and spreadable cheese was not exactly enticing.
Two hours later, I was sitting in the passenger seat of Sloane’s car, frozen.
“There’s… so many people,” I whispered. I guess I hadn’t known what to expect, but the sheer amount of activity swarming around the bakery was beyond anything that I’d dreamt of.
There were cameras to shoot the exterior, lighting, boom microphones, chairs set up in front of what looked to be TV screens on wheels.
People bustled about, coffee cups in hand, others with wires over their shoulders or reading clipboards.
It all looked incredibly professional, and the low dredges of panic seeped into my stomach.
“That’s showbiz, baby.” Sloane glanced over to see my face and immediately changed her tune. Reaching over, she grabbed my hand. “Hey, look at me.”
I turned, meeting her eyes. She looked her usually rumpled self, but her eyes were fierce in her face. Mama bear mode activated.
“If you want to leave, we leave. No questions asked. I’ve been telling you to go ahead with it because it’s what I thought you wanted, but if you don’t, I truly do not care. This is only about what is best for you, Lyra. Just tell me and I’ll turn this car around and we can all go back to bed.”
Sloane. She’d always been a constant in our chaotic life. She’d borne the brunt of criticism when we’d first moved back to Briarhaven, and would do so again if needed.
“No, you’re right. I do want this. The magick not working has thrown me off is all. But that’s fine. It’s all fine. I’ve gone twenty-five years without magick, as you’ve said. I’ll figure it out.”
“And if you blow anything up, well, it makes for great television,” Nova said from the back.
Swiveling, I glared at her. Ruth fluttered up, sword in hand.
“Hey, hey. I was just kidding.” Nova held her hands in front of her face. “Call off your minion.”
“No, I don’t think that I will,” I mused, and Nova shrieked as Ruth fluttered closer.
“Can you not scream?” Sloane hissed as a few people turned to look at the car.
“Easy for you. You’re not the one with a wee assassin coming after you.”
“Lyra.” Sloane sighed and pinched her nose.
“Ruth, come here. Are you okay going in my bag? I’m bringing you in with me.”
Ruth gave Lyra one more warning look and then flew to my lap and crawled into my Loewe tote bag, gifted to me by an enthusiastic admirer in London. I didn’t keep the man, but I did keep the bag.
“Oh, look, they’re getting the set ready.
” Sloane pointed to where they were bringing a Christmas tree up the walk and into the store.
A switch flipped, and the outside of Mystic Munchies lit up.
It looked like Christmas had thrown up all over the building.
Twinkle lights fell in curtains over the stone facade, and evergreen garlands were wrapped around the doors and windows, with lights intertwined among the leaves.
Elaborate bows in red, gold, and silver were wound through the greenery, and I gasped as snow began to fall.
“They brought in a snow machine,” Nova said. “Jeez, they should have filmed this when Sloane’s curse was working at top speed. No need for a machine then.”
“And likely no real ability to film. The streets were almost blocked for weeks,” Sloane reminded her. Her iteration of the curse had brought endless snow to Briarhaven, along with the anger of most of the residents.
“And now it’s just complete darkness. How are we going to explain it?”
“As of now, Knox has met with the production crew and informed them we’ve purposely magicked the town this way in order to showcase the Christmas lights to their best effect for filming.”
My mouth dropped open, and I turned to Sloane, my eyes wide.
“That’s such a good idea.”
“Isn’t it? Proud of myself for that one.” Sloane patted her own shoulder, looking pleased with herself. “But it’s not the production crew we’re really all that worried about.”
“It’s the normal people.” I let out a sigh and smoothed a wrinkle in my skirt.
So far, the wards had been holding, and the clouds still clung to Briarhaven, creating a somewhat feasible explanation for the darkness that shrouded the village.
But even so, it would be hard to explain the lack of light for long.
Even the cloudiest of days were rarely cast in full darkness.
The rumblings of discontent had started to spread through Briarhaven, as people feared losing out on the lucrative tourist business as we neared the holiday season.
Tourists came in droves to buy enchanting gifts and treats from the shops, but they wouldn’t if they thought the town was actually haunted and posed any real danger.
“But that’s not for you to worry about,” Sloane said, injecting a cheerful note in her voice. “At least not for today. The festival committee is on it, and we’re all brainstorming solutions.”
“The festival committee composed of you, Knox, and Henry?” Nova asked.
“And Blue.” Sloane glared over her shoulder.
“Ladies. Please continue all bickering later. I’m going.” I cracked open the door and a gust of wind slid inside the car.
“You got this, Lyra!” Nova and Sloane shouted all kinds of encouragements at me as I checked on Ruth, hitched my bag on my shoulder, and slammed the door, muffling their words.
It was a good thing I hadn’t done anything fancy with my hair.
I bent my head to the brisk wind and walked up the pavement until I spotted Vaughn.
“Lyra, great to see you.” Vaughn had a headset around his neck, a clipboard in hand, and was bundled into one of those poofy jackets that made him look a bit like a marshmallow.
“We’ll just get you through here to the back of the building, where we’ve brought in a few trailers for hair and makeup and all that.
We’ll film your introduction in”—Vaughn glanced down at his watch—“twenty minutes.”