Chapter 5 #2
The other pile was divided into two subjects. Two books were on the building of the academy. Mia held one up. “I suspect you’ve heard all the remodeling downstairs.”
The other book was a history of the village witch. The book was old and looked like an old grimoire. When she touched it, she felt a bit of a buzz. Not a shock, but more of a welcome. “Thank you. This is going to help me understand who I am.”
Gloria started up the music again. “We Are Family” seemed to be one of her favorite tracks this week.
So much for just chilling today.
She wasn’t upset, really. Now that she knew the book existed, she was anxious to see what it said about her heritage.
As Mia went back into the apartment, the security monitor showed that the doorbell was ringing downstairs. Using the intercom to alert who was there that she was coming, she set down the books on the table and headed downstairs.
One of Damien’s construction guys, probably. Mia’s apartment and the industrial kitchen were the only two rooms that had a security monitor to notify her of unexpected guests. Maybe she needed to get one installed in her potions room on the second floor. Just in case.
Downstairs, Mia opened the door to find a shivering Mark Baldwin. He wore a heavy coat. She hurried him inside. “How long have you been out here?”
He stamped the snow off his boots, then took off his coat.
Rubbing his hands together, he shrugged.
“I was on the phone with Sarah because we didn’t get to talk this morning due to finding your friend outside turned into a popsicle.
Then I called you, called your grandmother, and called Abigail, but no one answered their phones.
Sarah said you all had a meeting this morning about your new level.
Does this mean you’re flying East to become a big shot?
Sarah said she’s never met a level five before. ”
“She has. Me. Tell her I’m just the same person I was last week.” Mia headed to the first-floor kitchen. Abigail always made a pot of coffee first thing in the morning. Hopefully, some was still left. “Let’s get you some coffee. Did you eat lunch? I could make some soup too. I haven’t eaten yet.”
“Soup would be good.” He followed Mia into the kitchen. “I didn’t realize how hard it would be to not have Sarah around. She does everything and makes it look easy. I’m going to have to do something amazing for her when she gets back.”
“It’s nice to feel appreciated.” Mia set coffee on the table where they had meetings and then went to the walk-in to get soup. “Clam chowder okay?”
“Sounds like heaven.” He sipped the coffee. “Is it bad manners to ask you questions about your trainer when you’re feeding me?”
“Tester, not trainer. Grans was—is—my trainer. This Parker woman was horrible. She’s the model for the picture in the dictionary under ‘witch.’ She had a burr under her saddle from the moment I walked into the testing facility.
The test was supposed to be Friday, but she came in early and moved it up, which, from the little I know about policy and procedure around these things, isn’t done.
Nor is it easy to do. She pulled some huge strings to get the date moved.
Of course, none of this is what you wanted to know.
” Mia turned away from the soup pot on the stove and grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge.
She sat down with a huff. “What did you want to know?”
He had out his notebook but hadn’t written anything down. “So, you were angry that you had to retest?”
“Surprised more than angry. I haven’t even joined their stupid country club and they’re giving me crap about what level I tested out on?
It’s their test, not mine. I couldn’t have cheated if I wanted to.
I don’t know the process.” She got up and stirred the soup, turning down the heat before returning to the table.
“I’m talking myself into being your best suspect, aren’t I? ”
“Kind of, but I love the honesty.” He sipped his coffee, but Mia could see a smile behind the cup.
When he set down the cup and picked up his pen, he said, “Can you talk a little bit about this whole testing process? I know there’s a lot you can’t tell me, but I just need the dumbed-down version.
What happens to a ‘normal’ witch going through this process?
And I can’t believe I even asked that question. ”
“I’m right there with you. The first time I met a McMann and realized werewolves were a real thing made me question what was in the water up here.
I was sure I’d been dosed with a hallucinogen.
But after a while you get used to it. Let me tell you what I know without giving away all the secret handshakes.
” Mia held up a finger. “But let me get the soup first. It should be done by now.”
“I can help. Are there really secret handshakes?” Mark stood and followed her to the cabinet, where she gave him silverware and napkins and took out soup bowls.
“I was kidding about that, but who knows? Like I’ve said several times, I haven’t joined the coven, so they don’t tell me everything.
Mainly they tell me the stuff that they think will get me to join.
Like the money I’d make as a level five coven rep.
They’re freaking paying me a monthly allotment now, just for testing out.
It’s a dream job, at least for some people. ”
Mia ladled the soup into bowls and set them on the table.
Mark took out another bottle of water, and they started eating.
As they enjoyed lunch, Mia explained the training process for a “normal” witch.
“As I understand it, they usually do their testing either after they finish high school or during their college years. My mother put off the testing until after law school, then, after she tested, didn’t join the coven.
Grans was fine with that, but she still expected Mom to take on the kitchen witch role someday.
When she finally broke the news that she didn’t want to be the next kitchen witch, Grans started training me. I was years behind.”
Mark had written some notes as Mia talked, but then he set down the pen and focused on the meal. “The soup is amazing, thank you. Sarah will be glad to hear I’ve eaten. But I have one question. It’s not about the case, so you don’t have to answer it.”
“Okay, and thank you. I’ve been working on this recipe for years now. The egg dumplings make it perfect, if not strictly traditional, in my opinion.” She finished her last bite. “Go ahead and ask. I’m pretty much an open book.”
“You seem unsure if you want to live in the witch world. Why didn’t you just turn down the kitchen witch role?” He stood and pointed at the stove. “Mind if I get more soup?”
“Go ahead.” Mia sat thinking as she waited for him to return with a second piping-hot bowl of soup.
The smell made her happy. Wasn’t it weird that a food smell could bring up emotions?
Comfort, happiness, joy. This was why she loved cooking and feeding others.
She knew this was her calling. Not sitting in some office in Boston dealing with witch business, no matter what the pay would be.
Money was important, but this level of satisfaction, which she’d never felt before, was worth all the struggles.
When he got settled, she answered his question.
“I want to be a kitchen witch. To learn the history and lore of the village witches. To help people when no one else can. And, yes, to make food that makes others happy. This is my job on Earth. If I was fully mortal, without the magic, I’d be right where I am now.
Fixing up an old building to make it a culinary resource for the community.
With the kitchen witch role, maybe I can do more than just make people happy with my food.
” She laughed as she took her bowl to the sink.
“Although right now, one or more people are mad about the level of my power and it’s gotten someone killed. I’m not so happy about that.”