Page 10 of The Witch & the Tiger

She flushed, realizing she was already daydreaming about events that hadn’t taken place yet. With some regret, she waved goodbye to him as evening fell, and he needed to head back.

“I’m glad I met you and have your number now,” he said, his voice low and soft, his eyes not moving from hers. “I have a good feeling about this… friend.” He held out his hand to shake, and with a shock of excitement, she took it. Those big fingers wrapped around hers, and her lips curled upward. Her limbs felt light, and it took quite a bit of effort not to skip back to the dorm like an idiot, though she did allow herself a little jig out of excitement after he left.

Not only did this out-of-her-league person like talking to her – he already considered her his friend.

It remained to be seen if this burgeoning friendship would be good or bad. She now knew a little bit more about him, but the mystery of the coast and exactly how badly the events had affected him, she would learn in time if he revealed it to her.

However, she did need to call her mother. She picked up after a couple of rings, and the tone that greeted Willow was one of surprise.

“Hello, daughter of mine. How rare it is that I get a call from you. You only want to text and email.”

“Love you too, Mom,” Willow said, fumbling with the key to her dorm, the phone pressed to her ear. “It’s easier to text most of the time. I actually wanted to ask you something.”

“Go on, then. Shoot.”

“Do you have any potions or anything that can help someone who may be enchanted by a fae or object? Or do you know anyone who might know about this?”

“Hmm. Why do you ask?”

“I met this guy, and I suspect he may be enchanted.”

“You met a guy? What kind of guy?”

“You know, someone. At school.” That was technically the truth, although he wasn’t enrolled at the moment. But her mother didn’t need to know that.

“You’re being really vague about this, I suppose,” her mother said. “Fine. Is he exhibiting any signs of being enchanted? Does he seem to be obsessed with a place or person?”

“A place.”

“Okay. Is he unable to explain why he is obsessed with this place, other than it being something he must do?”

“I think so.”

“Does he have any marks on him? There can be a physical or magical mark that impresses an enchantment.”

“I haven’t really looked. Or asked.”

“Right. Well, there are no real potions that can break a strong enchantment – they have to be broken with a shock or with force of will. However, you should approach Professor Valgrur. I believe that old bat’s still there, and she was my original potions teacher. Ask her to whip you up a Truesight potion. If he drinks it, and he’s enchanted magically or physically, he’ll glow, and that’ll tell you for certain that he is.”

Oh. That was actually helpful. “Nice, Mom! I’ve never seen this professor, though. I don’t do potion lessons.”

“A shame, really. But your magic is pretty awesome as it is, so not too bad.”

When the call ended, Willow had the glimmerings of a plan. Not exactly a complex plan, but she needed that potion, and she needed that teacher.

Chapter Four – Willow

Walking into Professor Valgrur’s room was like sliding into a mad scientist’s den. All sorts of decanters, distillers, potions, and cauldrons bubbled away in the room, weaving a thick, pungent aroma that hung in the air.

Chloe followed her, both nervous and curious. Neither of them had ever met this professor before. Though many taught at the academy, some teachers would never cross paths with students who weren’t studying potions.

When they entered her classroom, Professor Valgrur was writing up notes for one of her lectures on an old-fashioned chalkboard, very different from the whiteboards and digital screens other teachers used. The chalk made a distinct scraping sound on the board. Scritch scritch.

“Uh, Professor?” Willow asked, choking on a bit of chalk dust. She coughed a few times. “Is it okay if I ask you something?”

The old, wizened professor turned to them, her black robes swirling in an almost demented fashion. “Ask, child,” she said, gray eyes oddly sharp in her shrunken face. Surely, she must be at least two centuries old.

“I… I was told to come here because you know how to brew a potion that can reveal if someone’s enchanted. A Truesight potion, I think it’s called?”

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