Phi-Fic Episode Two Hundred and Thirty: Witchy Secrets
Episode Two Hundred and Thirty: Witchy Secrets
The lady rushed in with a book in her hands that matched the ones on the table. Bethany moved away from the counter and carefully hugged the woman, clearing knowing her.“I didn’t know you were coming!” Bethany gushed, waving her hand toward the signing table. “Come, you can sit with me.”
“I couldn’t do that,” the newcomer said, glancing around the shop. Her eyes landed on the Cat and widened, before searching the rest of the shop with a critical eye. “How did you get such an amazing location? Did you cast a spell?”
I did not react to the comment, and Bethany just laughed and pulled the woman closer to the table before whispering something to her that I couldn't hear.
The Cat didn’t obviously react, but his tail whipped across the counter. His head popped out and he watched them out of the corner of his eye.
I wiped down the counter, even though it didn't need it. Both ladies showed up within the shop, but nothing felt different about them. After thinking about it for a split second, I pushed a wave of golden magic out.
Like normal, it washed off the Cat. The women both glowed for a moment, and the line between them appeared more like a rope. Lines stretched off from Bethany to the books, and out the door. The other woman had nothing.
Strange, but not too strange. It didn’t tell me much, though.
Still, the Cat’s attention didn’t waver from them.
The door flew open as two new ladies entered, both clutching books in their arms. They saw Bethany and both smiled, though they tried to hide their excitement. They headed in my direction instead, looking at the specials while also checking out the signing table.
“I’d like the mocha,” the first said.
“Same for me,” said the other quickly.
I got started on the orders, and noticed the books they carried were worn and not the ones on the table. Both were dark green, with white writing on the front.
“Oh, are those from an earlier series?” I asked as I rang them up.
“Yeah, it's from her first series about witches in a small town. Now she writes romance, but we really hope she goes back to her old pen name.” They both paid and took their cups, walking up to the signing table.
“This feels strange,” said the Cat.
I nodded, but didn’t say anything as I watched them approach.
Bethany’s smile felt a little too sharp as the two handed over their books to be signed.
“Any chance you’ll write more in the Magical world?” asked one of the ladies.
Bethany shook her head. “No, I’m focusing on my new series now. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy it.”
That reduced the excitement from both ladies, and they hurried out of the shop.
The woman who sat with Bethany spoke in a low whisper to her.
Moments later, several people entered the shop, all with the bright pink and white books. This proved to be the start of the real rush. A line formed for drinks, and a few people purchased books to be signed as well. Time sped up as I made drink after drink.
The door opened again and again, until eventually it just remained open as people trickled in and out. Small pockets of people stood in various places discussing the books. At some point, an archway opened up behind a bookshelf and a reader discovered it. Then, most of those who wanted to hang around and talk drifted in that direction.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Sweat dripped down my brow as I hustled.
The ice tea helped, but it was still hot work.
More than once, I found Indigo looking down from above. At some point the Cat vanished, but he didn’t join her. He parked himself near Bethany’s feet, instead.
Finally, no one new entered, and the door closed with a jingle of bells. Still, a big group remained in the main room, and a second congregated in the room Betty had created.
Bethany stood from behind the table and started to mingle, before vanishing into the back room.
I sat down, tired, though my feet still felt amazing. I stretched out my hands, while people watching.
Indigo crept down the stairs and joined me at the counter. She bumped into my elbow, and I scratched behind her ears.
My stomach growled.
She nodded.
All of us were hungry. This hadn’t been expected, and the mac and cheese for lunch felt like it’d been so long ago. I snagged a peanut butter cookie and nibbled on it, while sneaking pieces of a chocolate chip cookie to Indigo.
Finally, a bunch of people streamed out of the back room. Bethany quietly went group to group, and people headed out after she spoke to them.
Then the Cat jumped up on the counter. He nodded to Indigo. “This will wrap up soon.”
“I’ll order something for dinner,” I said under my breath, and moved over to the register. The chinese food would be quick, but hopefully not too quick. While there, I tried to calculate what needed to be paid out to the author for the consignment copies.
We’d sold more than I thought.
Bethany pulled the boxes out from under the main table after the last people left, including the woman who’d sat with her. The door closed behind them.
I walked over to help. “See, it went by fast…”
She flashed me a tired smile. “It did. I was a little worried at the beginning, but it all worked out.”
“Well, two whole boxes sold,” I said, as we packed the last one. “I sent over the funds.”
“This was such a success. Everyone warned me not to have high expectations, but this blew everything I imagined out of the water.” Bethany set the two boxes on the cart she’d stashed under the table as well.
I held up the first book in the series. “Can you sign this for me? I have a collection of book signings we’ve done.”
I didn’t say it only had two books in it. She didn’t need to know that detail.
She signed it with a smile. “Time for some wine, and a good soak.”
I chuckled. “Something like that for me, too.”
She headed out the door, and it closed and locked behind her.
My shoulders slumped. Chinese, and a hot soaking, were definitely on the schedule.
“Well, that’s a witch in hiding,” said the Cat, staring at the door. “No wonder it wasn't in the book.”
Someone knocked on the door and I hurried over. The delivery man smiled at me and I took the bags. I always tipped him good.
Once the door was closed and locked again, I turned back to the Cat.
“Okay, explain, please?” My words were punctuated with a small dragon appearing next to him.
“Magic! She had magic, same with the lady she sat with,” said Indigo, almost spinning in circles.
“The series about witches…” I said quietly.
“She probably was called out by her coven, and that friend of hers was here to make sure nothing came from it,” said the Cat. “Spreading coven secrets would not be a good idea.”
I crossed the shop and headed for the kitchen before pausing.
“Let’s do this upstairs, where the couch is. My back hurts a little.” The archway for the living room appeared where the bathroom entrance had been seconds ago.
We all went.
“So, like, when you said if you tell someone about magic and it protects itself, covens protect themselves?” I asked, continuing the earlier conversation.
“The coven wanted her to shut up. She didn’t cross the line enough for magic itself to be concerned, but the friend warned her to be careful.” The Cat jumped up onto the coffee table as plates and bowls appeared. “And that her probation should be lifted soon. She’d be able to rejoin the coven.”
I quickly served the food. This was better than TV, though I knew I wouldn’t ever hear the end of the story.
“She didn’t seem to care,” added the Cat.
A light bulb went off inside my head. “That was what needed to happen. The two of them needed to meet in a safe place… Maybe she needed to walk away.”
Yet, the longing in her voice for her small town came to the front of my mind. She missed it. Kind of how I missed my family, but sometimes things didn’t work out how you wanted them to. Or how you thought you wanted them to. Sometimes, how things worked out ended up being even better.
Visits were good. Hopefully, I could visit. Otherwise, the shop and the Cat, and Indigo, for now, needed me. I would be here.