Page 28 of Upside Down Magic

“Forsure.”

Weended the conversation, andIcrouched to giveFluffysome pets whileImulled this new information.Olmeda’sdark magic coven had been the source of plenty of scary legends around here and had left such a foul magical mark that evil witches still tried to use their old gathering place to draw power for their spells.

Isupposed it wasn’t too strange that the tale had transformed over the years, leavingIan’smom andVevawith different versions, but it could also be there had been two separate incidents.

Fortunately,Ihad someone at hand to ask aboutOlmeda’sdark magic history.

NINE

“Stayhere,”ItoldFluffy.Shegave me one lick and returned to her food.

Iwent downstairs and retrievedBagleyfrom the backyard locker.Asusual, she gave me a lecture about abandoning “dear old ladies” in a rust bucket and taking too long to bring her out for her nightly kitchen window watch.

“Ihave a question for you,”Isaid asIopened the plastic container and put the locket on the downstairs kitchen windowsill.

“Onlyone?”Shetsked. “Child,Ihave told you before,Ihave plenty of knowledge to share.”

“Fora new body,Iknow,Iknow.Whatdid we say about trying to practice more dark magic?”

“Thatyou’re no fun and need to broaden your horizons?”

“Thatwe spend extra days in the locker.”

“Bah!Itwas only a joke.”

“However,I’mwilling to overlook it this one time if you help me out.”

“I’mall ears.Wait, no—Ihave no ears becausesomeoneis too mean to help me get new ones.”

Thatdid it.Igrabbed the locket and tossed it into the sink.

“Hey!” she exclaimed in outrage. “I’man antique, forPete’ssake!Havea care!”TinyKrakenpopped its head out of the faucet, then extended a tentacle towardBagley. “Oh.Oh, no, you beast.Don’tyou dare!”

TinyKrakenbegan rolling the locket around the sink.

“LikeIwas saying,”Icontinued, “Ihave a question for you, andI’mwilling to negotiate an excursion outside the house.”

“First, stop this infernal squid from mauling me!”

“Sodramatic.TinyKraken’sjust having a little bit of fun.Plus, it’s your fault it’s around.”IfBagleyhadn’t killed someone in the upstairs bathroom for their blood, leaving their ghost behind,Iwould’ve never done the spell to talk to the ghost, which in turn had awakenedTinyKrakenandBagley’sghost.

“Juststop it!”

Asmuch fun as it was watchingBagleybe bothered byTinyKrakenplaying with the locket,Ineeded her to focus. “Fine.”Iput the locket back on the windowsill.

TinyKrakenmade sad gurgling noises, then fell quiet, still watching us from the faucet with its tiny blinking eyes.

“So, my question?—”

“Iwant to go to a cat café,”Bagleysaid.

Iblanked for a second. “Acat café?”

“Ilike cats.Thereare too many dogs and squids and shedding humans around here.Let’sact like proper witches for once, yes?”

“Uhm.Sure, fine.”

“Maybeadopt one or two.”

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