Page 2 of Howls & Harvest

Suzette joins me, her expression concerned. “I know this is overwhelming. How about we go to my place and talk? Maybe that will help it feel more real.”

I laugh, the sound bordering on hysterical. “More real? Nothing about this is real.”

As if to contradict me, a small creature—is that a pixie?—flits past, leaving a trail of sparkling dust in its wake. I watch, mesmerized, as the dust settles on a nearby flowerbed, causing the blooms to grow and change colors.

My sister gently takes my hand. “Come on. Let’s start with something simple. Let me show you my home.” She takes my hand and leads me back to the car, and I let her.

Once behind the wheel again, I ease my Toyota along the winding road, following Suzette’s directions. The trees seem to press in closer, their branches creating dappled shadows on the windshield. As we round a bend, a clearing opens up before us, and I slam on the brakes, my jaw dropping. “Suzette, is that a giant mushroom?”

“Throk’s place above the garage was really too small, so Grizelda offered to make us a house.” My sister grins. “Welcome to my humble abode.”

The cottage before us is indeed crafted from an enormous mushroom, its cap forming a gently sloping roof. Round windows, framed by delicate gills, peek out from the sturdy stem. The entire structure glows with a soft, ethereal light. “Thiscan’t be real,” I whisper, clutching the steering wheel like I’m about to float away.

“Oh, it’s very real,” she says, unbuckling her seatbelt. “Come on. I’ll give you the grand tour.”

I follow her out of the car, my legs shaking. The air here smells different—earthy and sweet, with an underlying tang I can’t quite place. When we approach the front door, I notice small jars lining the path, each filled with gently glowing spores. “Are those bioluminescent?” I ask, crouching to examine one more closely.

She laughs. “Something like that. They’re fairy lights—literally. Local fairies collect their shed wing dust and store it in these jars. It’s a sustainable lighting solution.”

I stand up quickly, nearly toppling over. “Fairies? Suzette, what’s going on here?” How has my levelheaded sister become...this?

She places a hand on my shoulder, her expression softening. “I know you’re in shock, but let’s have some tea, and I’ll explain everything.”

The interior of the mushroom cottage is cozy and warm. The walls curve organically, creating nooks and crannies filled with books, plants, and curious artifacts. A spiral staircase winds up through the center of the main room, disappearing into the cap above.

“This is incredible,” I say, running my hand along a smooth, polished section of the inner stem. “How is this even possible?”

She busies herself in the small kitchen area, filling a kettle. “Magic, of course. Evershift Haven isn’t just a quirky town. It’s a magical community.”

I laugh, the sound verging on hysterical. “Magic? Suzette, you’re a lawyer, not a wizard. What’s really going on here?” My sister has clearly cracked. Or I have.

She turns to face me, her expression serious. “I know it sounds crazy, but I’m telling you the truth. Evershift Haven exists in a pocket dimension, hidden from the rest of the world. It’s a sanctuary for magical beings and humans, some with latent magical abilities.”

The kettle whistles, and she pours steaming water into two mugs. She hands one to me, and I inhale the familiar scent of chamomile. The normality of the tea is almost jarring in this surreal setting. “So, what? You’re saying you’re magic now?” I ask, taking a sip of the soothing brew.

She nods, settling into a plush armchair that seems to grow right out of the floor. “I’ve always had a touch of empathic ability. I could always tell when you were upset, even when you tried to hide it?”

I nod slowly, memories flooding back. Suzette had always been unnaturally perceptive.

“It turns out that was just the tip of the iceberg. When I stumbled into Evershift Haven, I discovered my true potential. I’ve been learning to harness and develop my abilities ever since.”

“But your job? Your life in the city?” I ask, struggling to reconcile this new information with the sister I thought I knew.

Suzette shrugs. “I realized there was more to life than climbing the corporate ladder. Here, I can use my skills to really help people. I mediate disputes between different magical factions and community members right now. It’s just a part-time position under Mayor Spellbinder, but it’s challenging, fulfilling work.”

I shake my head, trying to clear it. “This is insane.”

“Look around you, Candi. You’re sitting in a house made from an enlarged mushroom. How else would you explain this?”

I open my mouth to argue, but no words come out. How can I argue with what I’m seeing? With what I’m feeling?

A soft chime reverberates through the room, and I jump. Suzette smiles apologetically. “That’s just the door. Probably Puckley. She said she’d stop by with some fresh produce.”

Before I can ask who Puckley is, the front door swings open on its own. A small, wizened woman with pointed ears and skin the color of tree bark toddles in, carrying a basket overflowing with vibrant fruits and vegetables.

“Afternoon, dearie,” she calls out to Suzette. “Brought you some of those singing carrots you like so much, and a few...”

She trails off, noticing me for the first time. Her eyes widen, and she turns to Suzette with a mischievous grin. “Oh, ho. Is this the sister you’ve told us so much about?”

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