Page 52 of The Spell Caster

“Five hours?” I balked. “That’s almost as complex as a summoning circle.” Though, with so much practice, I’d gotten it down from six hours to four and a half.

Calamus smiled. “Yes, it’s quite intricate. But rest assured, I’ve done hundreds of circle spells, and I’ve never failed one.”

Well, I’d failed a bunch of times.

I must have made quite a face, because Calamus froze. “I don’t believe your summoning circle failed, Layla,” he said quickly. “There’s something else going on, we just have to investigate until we discover it.”

I cleared my throat. “This seems like a bit of a long shot,” I said. I had a vague notion of Hell. Our demon familiars must come from somewhere, after all, and it was probably some hidden, magical realm, since the little creatures couldn’t be found on Earth. But the idea that we could access that place or actually communicate with them… it was straight out of the silly games witches played as children.

“We might not be able to get your problem resolved, but you have to admit, it’ll be monumental. We’ll be in the history books,” he said with a grin.

My phone pinged. Sick leave 5 days, said the text.

I bit back a smile. Costi was a man who didn’t waste words on useless things like verbs.

“Maybe we’ll find out where our demon familiars go when they’re not with us,” I said to Calamus diplomatically. “Anyway, I really do appreciate you trying.”

“It’s no problem,” he said. “You can plan to be there at noon. I should have the circle mostly complete by then.”

I thanked Calamus again and left him in the library.

Enjoy your vacation, I texted Costi back.

I sent a second text to a new number. Hello, this is Layla Rosen. I’m the new member of Mountain Thunder. I’m sorry to bother you, but I need some help finding direction.

Picking out my second pastry of the day and refilling my tea, I sat at a table on a small patio built off the walkway, watching witches pass back and forth. So many were strangers.

I had grown up in the tiny community of the Northern Sea Circle, and before coming here, it was rare for me to see an unfamiliar face. I felt utterly lost—my life had spiraled out of control and thrown me into this uncertain place, menaced by an unknown enemy. No one had come to check on me except Costi. I hadn’t seen my teachers or anyone from school, Holly had made it clear she wasn’t interested in reconciliation, and my mother had threatened me and was now ignoring me again. My dad wasn’t… able to give advice. My covenmates were floundering without any direction. The only help I’d found was Calamus, whose idea of helping was pulling improbable ideas from esoteric books.

I knew this wasn’t good for me. I needed to talk to someone.

It wasn’t long before our coven’s mentor messaged me back. This is Arbor. I’m out working by the front gate if you want to stop by.

Intrigued, I returned my tumbler to the dish bin and headed that way. I hadn’t been back to this part of the Circle since the first night, but now it was a bustle of activity. Rows of mismatched tents and canopies—probably anything that could be found—covered the grassy field in the shadow of a steep foothill. To one side, witches worked, building more permanent structures while trying to keep children out from underfoot.

This was where a lot of the Northern Sea Circle was staying, I realized guiltily. As a supposed spell caster, I had been whisked off to much nicer accommodations.

I asked the first witch who looked up at me if they knew where Arbor could be found, and they directed me to a tall figure with broad shoulders scowling down at a tablet.

“Excuse me,” I said.

The witch turned. “You must be Layla,” he said, running a hand over his forehead to dry the sweat. His skin was deeply burnished from working outside, and a grown-in scruff of dark beard covered his face. He was older than me, but not quite at middle age, with just a small crinkle to his light-colored eyes. “Sorry I didn’t come talk to you yet. We have a hundred witches living in tents out here.”

“No, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to keep you from your work.”

“I can take a break,” Arbor said. “Come sit down for a few.”

He led me to a canopy with picnic tables and a water station set up under it, and we sat across from each other.

“What’s on your mind, Layla?”

“There’s a lot going on, and I think I need help,” I said. I chewed my lip while Arbor nodded. “You’re a spell caster, right?”

“That’s right. I don’t go out with teams much these days, so I’ve been helping out here. Building’s a hobby. I agreed to mentor the Mountain Thunder Coven when they formed a few months ago. Is Sativa treating you all right?”

“We’re… getting along,” I said. “I don’t know how much you’ve heard about me—”

Arbor scratched his beard. “Not much, to be honest.”

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