Page 36 of Upside Down Magic

“Uh, yes?”

“Good.Ineed a potion.”

“Whatkind of potion?”Ihad a moment of kinship with deer being caught in eighteen-wheeler’s headlights.

“Apotion for the sickness.”

Thatsnapped me out of my temporary run-over status. “You’resick?”

“Notyet,” he snapped ominously.

“I’mafraid no potions can stave off physical illnesses.Agood tea, however, will improve your overall health, which?—”

“I’mnot talking about the flu,” he said impatiently. “I’mtalking about the curse.”

Oh, no.Hadthe upside-down magic story gotten out, or was this a new problem? “Whatcurse?”

“Theone that’s making paranormals sick.Someonedied because their tongue froze in their throat and they choked on it!”

“A…frozen tongue?”

Hecrossed his arms and scowled. “That’sright.Iwant a potion soIdon’t get this curse or whatever it is.Idon’t want to choke on my own tongue.”

Ratherthan asking if any tongue would do, just not his,Ichose the professional approach. “I’mcertain there have been no frozen tongue incidents and nobody has died.You’reperfectly safe.”

“Areyou sure you’re the witch?”Atmy nod, he added, “Thengive me a potion!”

Fine, then.Ihad plenty of experience with giving away placebos.Ibrought out my brightest smile. “Surething.I’llbe right back.”

Imarched into the back, grabbed a relaxing potion from the batch in the kitchen and returned.Luckilyfor me,Iused a coloring system rather than labels to sort my potions.

“Hereyou go.”Ihanded over the vial. “Mixa fifth in your breakfast every day for best results.”

Heeyed the vial as if gears were turning in his head. “Onlya fifth?”

“Ifyou use too much, the potion might lose its effect.”

“Thatmakes no sense.”

Iamped the smile voltage. “Pleasefollow the instructions.I’monly permitted to sell one every five days.”Acomplete lie, butIwasn’t ready to scam the guy with a daily potion simply because he believed a tale.Hopefullyby the time he was done with the potions, the rumors would have died down.

“Hmph.Howmuch?”

Hepaid for the potion and made his exit.Themoment the door closed behind himIturned toIan. “Chokingon frozen tongues?”

Ianshrugged. “Haven’theard a thing.”

“Haveyou?”IaskedNatalia.

Sheshook her head, but a guilty look crossed her expression.

Oh, goodMotherEarth, what were people saying? “Areyou sure?”

“Well…”Shelicked her lips, then words all but exploded out of her. “Sallytexted me last night.Shesaid her friendRicktold her a shifter lost all his teeth when he shifted back to human and wanted to know ifIknew who, soImessagedPaula, who knows everyone, and she said she heard it wasn’t a shifter but some air mage, and he went blind, nothing to do with teeth.ShesaidMandymight know, butMandyis a lying asshole soIwasn’t about to askher, soIaskedLuis, and he said nobody had lost his teeth but he also heard something bad had happened to a paranormal, but he didn’t know who.So,Iwent toBosko’sbecauseLydiaknows a few people, and she said that a demon grew her horns inside her skull and it was a whole mess and they had to take her to the clinic, but whenIaskedCindybecause her father’s new girlfriend’s nephew knows someone who works there, she said that nothing like that had happened but to be careful not to eat from the gyro stand over atFisher’sbecause she and her bestie had some yesterday and they were sick all night.”

Shestared at me expectantly, taking in deep gulps of air. “So?Isit true paranormals are getting sick and dying?”

Wow.Olmeda’sparanormal community could win prizes for its telephone game talent.Andhow had the story gotten out anyway?Chance, or was the culprit trying to stir the pot? “No,”Isaid firmly. “Nobody’sdying.”

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