Page 85 of The Neighborhood Witch

“You just missed him. I’ll let him know you stopped by when he gets back.” Alice slid back into the house, ready to shut the door.

“Crazy night at the New Year’s Eve party, huh?” Johanna asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Well. The… um… power outage,” Johanna replied.

Alice maintained contact with the door and the wall, ready to close it. “It was only for a moment,” Alice said. “It’s no big deal.”

“Well, when you’re running the event, it can be a big deal,” Johanna replied with a half-hearted laugh.

“I guess so,” Alice answered. “Well, it resolved itself quickly, which was good. Everyone seemed to have a good time. I know I did.”

“I was going to check with Hugo to see if he heard anything.”

“Why would Hugo know anything?” Alice asked.

“Well, he knows people. I thought maybe he heard something about it over the past few days.”

“It was only a small blip in power. I’m sure it’s fine. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to what I was doing. I’ll let Hugo know you stopped by.”

Johanna tried once more with the wand. Nothing. She slumped her shoulders and let go.

“Well, thank you,” Johanna said.

Alice shut the door. Johanna heard the audible click of the lock.

Was I wrong? No. I know what I saw.Did the wand lose its power?Her face turned a ghostly shade of pale. She held her breath out of fear.

Will it still work on the amulet?

She turned away, but something in the doorframe caught her eye. She stopped and examined it. There were small, rune-like carvings in the black wood trim. So obscure that she never would have noticed them if not for standing so close. She ran her fingers over the engravings. They were meticulous and deliberate. Someone had placed them there.

She rolled her eyes in disappointment after realizing why the wand didn’t work. She charged down the steps, heading back home. Her eyes were enraged. Her lips and nose snarled.I need to try from the inside.

Ostara

A Time of Rebirth

Chapter 21

The Nightmare Batch

Birds chirped from barren trees—the first sign of spring on the bright, crisp, early March day. The town center bustled with activity of those who emerged from their self-imposed winter isolation as the days warmed, and the light grew longer. People came and went from the various shops. Some took advantage of the nice weather and partook in a midday stroll.

Alice and Hugo emerged from the bakery. He carried a sack of acquired baked goods of Alice’s choosing. Hugo positioned himself between Alice and the street. They passed by the window of Antonio’s Italian Ristorante—their normal dinner date spot.

“All I was saying earlier is that we don’t have to sit at that table if it makes you feel uncomfortable,” Hugo said.

“And why would it make me uncomfortable?” Alice replied.

“Well…” Hugo paused. “Since it was Elizabeth’s usual table, I don’t want you to feel obligated to sit there.”

“What if I want to sit there?”

“I… I don’t know. I thought maybe you felt pressured into sitting there.”

“I like sitting there. Why can’t it be our table too?”

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