Chapter 3 #2
“Abigail’s bringing Levi to help. I guess the don’t-freak-out part of the message applies to you as well.
” Mia put the letter on her kitchen desk, planning on reading it again tonight.
If she wasn’t worn to the bone from the test. The security monitor beeped, and she saw Abigail’s SUV pull in.
“I hope Damien plans on being here for his workers today because the house is going to be empty.”
“We Are Family” played out of the walls.
“Who needs a speaker system when we have you, Gloria.” Mia gently touched the doll’s broom and went out to open the apartment door for Abigail and Levi. “We are a big group. Oh, and I have to talk to Nathan Boyle about renovation plans before I leave for coven headquarters.”
“And change. Jeans aren’t appropriate. Wear a suited skirt or a pantsuit.” Grans eyed the clothes Mia had chosen for the first full day of her staycation.
“I wore jeans the first time,” Mia grumbled but was saved from Grans’s retort when Abigail and Levi came in. He looked like a lost puppy and stared at Christina.
“Good morning, girls.” Abigail came into the kitchen with a large tote bag she put on the floor. “Christina, you look lovely.”
“I look like hell warmed over.” Christina threw a dagger stare at Levi. “But you look ready to fight dragons.”
“Dear, we don’t fight dragons. Or we haven’t in centuries. They are too rare to lose even one of them. People, on the other hand …” Abigail walked over to the stove. “What’s going on with the hash browns? I’m starving.”
Levi disappeared downstairs to check on Finn after breakfast, and take her a plate that Abigail had set up for her. Christina cleaned up the kitchen as the other three headed to the living room.
“I have a few things for your protection at the testing. I think they will hit you with a higher-level test this time, so don’t worry if you don’t think you know the answer. Use your intuition and just take the first answer that comes to you.” Abigail started pulling things out of her bag.
“Good thing I don’t have test anxiety like some of my friends.
One of my high school friends took the LSAT a few years ago and called me crying afterward.
Of course, it didn’t help that her boyfriend picked a fight with her the morning before she took the test. I don’t think he wanted her to go to law school.
” Mia picked up the cotton shirt that Abigail had set out. “This is pretty.”
“Wear it under your suit jacket. Most families have garments that they’ve tested in for centuries. This is from my family. The boys wore Thomas’s family garments when they tested. I always hoped I’d have a girl to hand this down to.”
Grans pointed to her necklace. “Don’t take off your protection locket for any reason. Not even if this Suzanne Parker asks you to. In fact, wear it under your shirt so she won’t see it.”
“I made you a lunch to give you energy while you’re testing.
There’s just a little magic in the food, nothing that would sway the tests one way or the other.
I followed the coven’s directions to the letter.
” Abigail pressed her lips together. “Usually, it’s the trainer who gets the notice of the test date and time, and it’s typically a month out.
Not the night before. This Parker woman is playing games with us.
She’s got a reputation. She’s a close descendant of the Salem witches, so she has a better-than-thou attitude.
I believe she only tested out at a one when she tested, so you’re messing with her head. ”
“I’m not in it for the fight. They can drop me to level one if they want.
I don’t want to join the coven or be part of leadership.
It all feels like high school and the Honor Society group.
I got in fair and square, but they never told me about the meetings.
Then they kicked me out for missing too many.
” Mia sighed. “I just want to run my business and deal with the kitchen witch responsibilities.”
“Dear, I think we’re way past that now.” Grans pushed her toward her bedroom. “Go get changed. We need to go.”
Suzanne Parker wasn’t a fun, happy tester. Mia’s first tester had been calm and encouraging. This woman barked questions at her and wrote in her notebook after every answer.
Mia looked around the room at coven headquarters.
It was the same room where she’d tested before, but now, instead of the calm, comfortable table and chairs, she was sitting on a black wooden chair, her hands folded in her lap.
She wiggled her butt on the wooden seat.
It wasn’t comfortable after just a few minutes.
What would it feel like after eight or more hours?
“Mia Malone, the egg, is it the beginning or just the end?” Suzanne barked the question at her.
She was standing somewhere behind Mia, but Mia had been told not to look behind her. She wondered what was back there.
“Miss Malone? An answer, please?” Suzanne prodded.
Mia thought about the question. “Both. It depends on who’s perspective you’re in. If you’re the developing chick inside the egg, it’s the beginning. If you’re the hen who laid the egg, it’s the end of her struggle.”
“What is the world made of?”
This one Mia knew the answer to immediately. “Earth, wind, water, and fire. We all come from these four elements.”
“What is your strength as a witch?” No pause or response after the question. At least Hugh had given her an idea of how she was doing. Today she would pass or fail but not know the answer until after she finished.
“I feed people, body and soul.” Mia wasn’t sure that was her only strength, but she loved cooking, and that love had to be part of her witch powers. Didn’t it?
She didn’t have long to think about the idea before another question was shot at her.
“Name the ingredients in a healing potion.”
“For what illness or injury?” Mia asked. Instead of getting an answer, Mia was asked another question.
“Do the stars rule our actions?”
She recognized this type of question. It was an essay, and she treated it as such, pondering between the short answer of yes or no and finally giving her own opinion that had been supported by the previous parts of her answer.
“Name the ingredients in a truth serum.”
The questions went on and on. They took a break just as Mia’s bladder felt like it was going to explode and Cleo brought in fresh hot coffee to the room. After the coffee and Cleo were gone, Suzanne Parker started again with a new round of questions.
“What fairy tale explained the theory of love?”
Hours later, Mia was sweating and had almost fallen out of her chair twice. Suzanne walked around the chair so she could study Mia’s face.
Mia took a deep breath and prepared for the next question.
“The test is over. Results will be announced in the usual process. You can leave.” Suzanne stared at her. “I doubt you’ll pass this testing.”