The Matchmaker & the Coven Page 2

  MAILEY WANTED TO RACE back to the Boundary to look for Aquatica, but it was already after dark. Her parents would be expecting her. So, instead, she followed the sidewalk back to Apple Valley. As she turned into her neighborhood, she saw the little houses lit up in their neat, tidy rows. On first inspection, the street was so ordinary that it was hard to believe it was only one mile from the Boundary itself.

  Of course, that was by design. Most of the inhabitants of the town knew about magic and the Boundary. It was hard not to, with magic leaking over all the time. However, it was never discussed publicly. Mostly for safety reasons. Mailey could only imagine what would happen if the world learned there were other realms. Why, the town would never rest.

  Yes, the only people who were unaware of the Boundary were newcomers or those who simply dismissed the idea as “superstition” ... despite the piles of evidence in their own backyard. Nearly a quarter of the inhabitants of her little town were immigrants from the Boundary and the realms beyond. Just two doors down, her neighbor Elvira read auras, a skill she used as a therapist to help her patients. In the cul-de-sac, there was a family of vegetarian vampires. The dad, with his super strength and speed, was the city's best firefighter. Being immortal also helped.

  Mailey's parents, on the other hand, were humans with no extraordinary powers, except for perhaps knowing when their only daughter was lying or up to something. She had been adopted as a baby. They were very supportive of her magical gifts, and her mom had made a point of brushing up on all the magical theory. She couldn't perform a spell, but she certainly knew all about them.

  Mailey opened the door and stepped inside. "I'm home!" she called, kicking her shoes off by the door.

  "We're in the kitchen," her dad called in his familiar low rumble.

  Mailey made a beeline for the kitchen and toward the mouthwatering aroma of freshly baked sourdough bread. Her dad was already sitting at the table, reading on his phone. Her mom was stirring a large pot with a wooden spoon.

  “What are you making?”

  “Tomato soup.” She held the spoon up. "What do you think?"

  Mailey blew on the hot liquid and sipped it. "Perfect," she said. "Want me to take the bread out?"

  "Thanks, sweetheart."

  Mailey grabbed the giant potholders and carefully eased the bread from the oven and onto a trivet on the kitchen counter.

  She joined her dad at the table. He looked up from his phone. "You're running a little late, kiddo. Everything okay at the coffeehouse?"

  Mailey bit her lip. "Yeah, okay."

  Her dad looked at her over his glasses. "Hmm." As always, he knew.

  "Well, there's this girl named Aquatica. Her boyfriend just broke up with her. She's a water nymph, and he’s a pyro. So, it was kinda doomed from the start. Anyway, she's really depressed. I thought I'd set her up with someone new. And"—she hedged—“it's been a little harder than I thought."

  Her dad chuckled. "That's my girl, my meddling Mailey."

  "Dad," she whined. "I'm too old for that."

  Her mom came to the table with three bowls expertly balanced down one oven mitted arm. She passed each bowl to the table before sitting down. "So, what's this about setting someone up?"

  Mailey repeated the story to her mom.

  Her mom took a long sip of soup and nodded. Finally, she said, "Sometimes, it's best just to let these things happen on their own."

  Mailey frowned. If she didn't get involved, Zack could be coven fodder. Dark magic needed a lot of terrible ingredients from mortals. The most benign was hair, and among the worst was the heart. Besides, Aquatica was still hung up on Faren. They both needed her help.

  She dunked a piece of sourdough into her soup and gnawed on it thoughtfully. She'd talk to Aquatica tomorrow. It was a Sunday, so she'd have a full shift at the coffeehouse. Then, she'd worry about the coven. They were probably still in the voodoo realm. She hoped in a snake pit.

  Her mother interrupted her thoughts. "Are you ready for your first Cauldron Entrance Exam? Odyssey's mom told me she was already brewing happiness potions. You don’t want to get too far behind."

  Mailey noted her mom looked anxious. She knew she felt guilty for not being able to help more with her magical learning. "Things are going great!" she lied, hoping to make her feel better. "I'll definitely be ready in time."

  As she said it, she meant it. She had days before the big test. Plenty of time to learn those last pesky potions and droughts. The CEE (Cauldron Entrance Exams) were a bit like the SAT but for witches. On Friday, she’d take the potions portion of the exam.

  Add that to the list, she thought.

  Set up a water nymph and a mortal boy.

  Escape a coven's wrath.

  Pass my exam.

  Plus, work shifts and go to school.

  It did seem like a lot for one week. She bit her lip again.

  As usual, her parents saw straight through her. "Why don't you finish your soup and head upstairs? You can get started on that happiness potion. Dad or I will be happy to sample it."

  “I see what you did there, honey,” her dad chimed in, waggling his eyebrows. “Happy to sample it. Hahaha.”

  Mailey rolled her eyes. Dad jokes.

  Mailey entered her bedroom and slouched at her small wooden desk. She opened her potions book and flipped the book to chapter eighteen, “temperaments and their tempering.” The happiness potion was advanced. It required rare ingredients and extreme precision. Of course, it couldn’t bring anyone true, lasting happiness. It was more like a temporary shot of optimism.

  They sold some of the “temperament” potions as shots at the coffeehouse. If Mailey could master these potions, she could probably make some side money, working for the supplier. The extra money would be nice.

  The intro to the chapter was incredibly dull, and she found her eyes closing longer and longer between blinks. Finally, she slumped over her desk and fell asleep.

  Mailey woke with the sun shining through her window. Her neck was stiff. The alarm on her phone was going off. She silenced it. Then, stood and stretched. It was Sunday, and her shift started in an hour. She hurried downstairs, leaving the potion book behind but not forgotten.

  A smidge of worry was beginning to creep in. When would she have time to read? When would she collect her ingredients? They wouldn’t come easily.

  THE COFFEEHOUSE WOULDN’T open for another half hour. She and Cassandra set the enchanted brooms to sweeping. It went much smoother than Mailey’s attempt yesterday. The chairs were still up on the tables, and there were no customers to avoid.

  Cassandra gave her a once over. “You look like crap.”

  Mailey frowned. Her coworker didn’t mince words and sometimes hurt her feelings, but she knew she didn’t mean to do so. She was just blunt. Mailey thought it came from carrying the weight of a seer.

  “I fell asleep on my desk,” she said, rubbing her neck.

  “Worried about the CEEs?”

  Mailey nodded.

  “How about a shot of Pepper Picker Upper? You can be our first customer of the day.”

  Mailey dragged one foot across the old, slatted wooden floor. “How about a cup of tea?”

  Cassandra groaned.

  “Please,” Mailey wheedled.

  Cassandra hated doing readings for friends. Nobody wanted to be the bearer of bad news, especially to someone they liked. “Fine. One cup,” she grumped. “But you owe me.”

  “Once I master my potions exam, you’ll be the first to benefit, I swear.”

  Cassandra walked over to where the mugs were stored and pulled an earth hewn one down from the shelf. Mailey looked through the glass jars, trying to select a tea. Her fingers grazed over numerous fantastic options before landing on a simple oolong. She set the teabag in the mug, and Cassandra poured boiling water over it.

  They pulled two chairs down and sat across from each other at a small wooden table.

  “Sip slowly,” she instructed. “Think about whatever is
on your mind. Whatever you’re worried about.”

  Mailey sipped. When the cup was almost empty, she squinted down at the leaves. She would never understand how seers did it. They just looked like black, soggy clumps to her. She didn’t see any shapes or patterns.

  “Are you done?”

  Mailey nodded.

  “Swirl your cup three times counterclockwise and flip it over. Gently!” she added.

  Mailey did so, and the remaining tea dribbled out of the cup and onto the saucer along with a few leaves.

  “Good, now turn it over and pass it to me.”

  She slid it over to Cassandra.

  Cassandra held up the cup and turned it ever so slightly, peering at the leaves. “Wow, your cup is full.”

  Mailey waited for her to elaborate.

  “The position of your leaves means a lot is about to happen and very soon. Oh no.”

  “What? What do you see?”

  “A cross. That’s a warning. And a broom.” She grimaced. “That means there will be a mess. Sorry.”

  Mailey’s smile drooped.

  “But wait! Here’s something good. You’ve got coins. That’s wealth. It’s a little further in the future, though.”

  For a moment, Mailey was confused. Money? Was she getting a promotion at work? That didn’t have anything to do with the question she had asked. She had wanted to know about Aquatica and Zack and her potions exam. Wait! That had to be it! She would pass her potions exam, sell potions to the shop, and make lots of money.

  Still, she didn’t like the warning or the mess.

  “Anything else?”

  She squinted at the cup. “Nothing clear enough to be sure.”

  They opened the shop, and Mailey kept thinking about the tea reading. She felt worse than before. A warning and a mess. Still, the coins were good. Maybe that meant everything would work out okay.

  A few hours later, just as the lunch crowd was subsiding, Aquatica entered the coffeehouse for her usual seaweed smoothie. Mailey rushed over to take her order.

  “Hey, Aquatica.”

  The water nymph feigned a small smile. “Hey, Mailey. How are things?”

  “Good! Good! What will you have?”

  “A seaweed smoothie,” she said, her tone morose.

  “Totally. Coming right up.” As Mailey tossed in the seaweed and seawater base, she thought about how best to broach the subject. When the smoothie was done spinning, she poured it into the glass. Then, with a spark of inspiration, she reached for the positivi-tea blaster and poured a light golden foam on top.

  She brought it over to the counter and passed it to Aquatica. “One seaweed smoothie with an extra blast of positivi-tea, on the house,” she added.

  “Thanks, Mailey,” Aquatica said, quietly sipping her shake.

  “Hey, I have a little bit of a favor to ask.”

  Aquatica set the glass down. “Sure. Whatever I can do, though I’m not sure I’m much help to anyone right now.”

  “My friend Zack is on our high school swim team. He’s really good, and he’s up for this scholarship. But he’s not quite fast enough. If he doesn’t take some time off his lap by this weekend’s meet, he might get passed over. And he doesn’t have any other way to pay for college. He really needs this. Do you think you could help?”

  She considered, “Well...”

  “I wouldn’t ask, but you’re the best swimmer I know!”

  Aquatica gave her a small smile. She took another sip of her smoothie, and her face lightened. The positivi-tea was starting to kick in. She nodded. “Yeah, I could do that. Of course!”

  “How’s Wednesday?”

  “Wednesday is good. Can he meet in the Boundary? I might turn a few heads if I come to your school.” She laughed.

  “Why don’t you guys meet here? Then, you can head over to the lake or wherever together.”

  “Sure.”

  Mailey beamed. “It’s a date then.”

  MAILEY WAS SITTING in the back row of her history class, pretending to listen. She had her textbook lifted upright on her desk, and occasionally she looked up at the teacher and nodded. But inside the book was her potions book. It was Tuesday now, and she still hadn’t finished the chapter on temperaments, collected ingredients, or even made a pass at a happiness potion. Her first CEE was only three days away.

  She had, however, had time to hang around the coffeehouse until closing with Aquatica, listening to siren sea chanties and fairy folk music. She had asked her where she planned to take Zack. Aquatica had decided on a public pool that her sister lifeguarded at in the Boundary.

  Mailey had been relieved. The Boundary was probably the safest place for him right now. There were strict mortal protection laws. The coven shouldn’t be back for several days still, but she didn’t want to take any chances.

  Aquatica had explained the training schedule she had in mind. The wave pool would create resistance, which would increase his time if they altered his technique. Mailey was more interested in what she would wear, dropping hints about how good-looking Zack was. Aquatica didn’t seem to notice, but at least her mind was off her ex. She didn’t mention his name the entire time.

  The teacher called on a student just ahead of Mailey, and she snapped back to attention. She looked up again and pretended to listen, before delving into the happiness potion ingredients list.

  Happiness Potion

  For a temporary uplifting of spirits and optimism. Best brewed on a warm summer day. Potion keeps for no longer than one month when bottled and shelved under specified conditions.

  Necessary Ingredient List:

  Fresh ingredients always preferred. Corked, bottled, or dehydrated ingredients can lose their potency over time. Don’t be tempted by marketing ploys and shortcuts. Home brew is best brew.

  - Grass

  - Freshly bottled sunshine

  - Chocolate

  - Butterfly Wings or Fairy Dust

  Mailey sighed. This would take ages to collect. She bit her lip, considering all of the products in Witchmart that guaranteed quick results. She shook her head. Magical shortcuts rarely paid off, especially when it came to potion making. She read on.

  Grind chocolate with mortar and pestle to bring out flavor. Add grass to base and repeat action in a clockwise motion, releasing the chlorophyll. Next, add fairy dust or butterfly wings in a dusting motion. Either will do, although fairy dust can induce mania if too much is added. Use sparingly. Add three cups of water to cauldron and begin boil. Add all ingredients to water but sunshine. Stir until dark murky green. After two hours full boil, reduce heat and pour freshly captured sunshine. Sunshine must be freshly captured and added with 24 hours for full-effects. Do not stir!

  Allow potion to simmer for no less than twelve hours. Potion will be complete when it has turned a bright golden yellow.

  Warning: Happiness fades. Act quickly with ingredients for desired effects.

  NO SUBSTITUTIONS.

  Mailey sighed. She had to do it tonight. She was running out of time to practice before the exam. And tomorrow was Zack and Aquatica’s big date.

  Someone tapped her shoulder, and she jerked in surprise. Her book, still standing upright, almost toppled onto the floor with the potion book inside. She caught it and accepted a folded note from her classmate.

  Scouts are coming to the match this Saturday. Thanks again for setting up this thing with Aquatica. – Zack

  P.S. How boring is this lesson?

  Mailey smiled and gave him a thumbs up.

  MAILEY HURRIED HOME after school to change clothes and pick up a few things for her mission. Chocolate and grass would be no problem. The butterfly wings, while gross, also seemed doable. If she had planned ahead, she could have gotten some fairy dust from the coffeehouse. Many of her patrons would have been happy to provide it to her, in exchange for a free latte. It was capturing sunshine that would be truly difficult. She rushed up the steps to her bedroom and changed into an old t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers.

&nbs
p; Over at her desk, she opened a drawer and dug through a mess of potions ingredients, pen caps, broken pencils, stamps, an old postcard, and other bric-a-brac. Finally, she found what she was looking for—a small glass vial with a corked topper and a crystal.

  The crystal was covered in a measure of dust, and she shined it on her shirttail. It sparkled, and she held it up to her eye. The room appeared misshapen and odd. This would do. She pocketed both items.

  As she trundled down the steps, she spotted her mom waiting at the bottom.

  “Oh good, you’re home. Have you started your potion?”

  “I was just heading out to find the ingredients.”

  Her mom narrowed her eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to be keeping your potions store full as a part of your witch training?”

  “I was. I mean, I am. I just used up a lot, um, practicing last week.”

  That worried look crossed her mom’s face again. “Maybe, we need a little extra help.”

  “No way! Don’t worry; I’ll get everything I need before sundown. I swear.”

  Her mom looked skeptical but let her pass by and out the door. “I’ll have dinner waiting!” she called.

  “Thanks, Mom! Love you!” she shouted, letting the door slam shut.

  MAILEY LAY IN A FIELD just outside the school, her back pressed to the ground. She held the crystal aloft, trying to tempt the sun to shine through it. She caught a gleam of bright light, and quickly grabbed the bottle. But the ray disappeared. It had merely been teasing her.

  An hour later, the sun was beginning to drop behind the trees. Mailey was worried. What if she didn’t capture any sunshine? She would have to take her test without ever practicing any of the temperament potions.

  She focused all of her energy on the task, letting her other thoughts drift from her mind. She didn’t move. She barely breathed. And then, she saw it—a glimmer of sunshine, just a few inches from her left hand and the crystal. She moved with the precision and speed of a jungle cat.