Page 2 of Upside Down Magic

Theclanging came again.

“Youbetter open that before they bring down the fence,”Bagleysaid sternly.

Iwent outside, rubbing my arms against the cold, and unlatched the iron gate opening into the back alley.

Brimstone, local fire mage andTeaCauldronpart-timer, stood there, his dark blond hair all over the place, his coat open, and the buttons on his vest made up wrong.

Heshouldered his way in, andIlet him, gaping the whole time. “What?—”

“Whatdid you do to me, witch?” he demanded, towering over me.Hiseyes were wild and…afraid?

“Whatdo you mean?”

“Mymagic!It’sall wrong!”

Hestuck his hand out, andIwatched in fascination as frost spread over his palm until icy crystals hung from his fingers.

Ice, not fire.

“Isthis a trick?”Iasked, suddenly suspicious—the man did have a flair for the theatrical.

“Doesit look like a trick?” he demanded in high-pitched tones, waving his icy fingers in front of my face.

Ihad to admit it didn’t.Igrabbed his hand just to make sure.Thosewere definitely frozen water bits covering his fingers.

Adeep sense of unease settled in my gut as bits of ice broke off and turned into water in my hands. “Andyour fire?”

“Gone!”

Oh, boy.

“Let’sgo inside,”Iurged, all but shoving him toward the shop.Onceinside,Iheld up a finger. “Onesecond.”

Istepped into the kitchen, grabbedBagley’slocket, and ran up the stairs.

“What’shappening?”Bagleywhispered avidly.Shemight not have a human body anymore, but she sure had kept her nose for trouble.

“Nothing,”Ilied. “Justa surprise client.”

“WhyisBrimmyhere?”

“Ranout of potions.”

“Ifyou tell me what’s up,I’llgive you two bits of free advice.”

Consideringher free advice usually consisted of wisdom likeyou put too much sage in that potionorhave you tried usingGruyereinstead ofGoudaon those sandwiches,Iwould have to pass on that one. “Nothingimportant.Ichanged my mind,Ms.Bagley.Youcan have a view of the front street this morning.Happy?”

Bagleygrumbled asIdropped the locket on the living room’s windowsill and ran back toward the stairs.

“Youforgot to open the curtains!” she called after me.

Ignoringher,Ireturned to the downstairs kitchen.Brimstonewas standing by the counter, staring at my phone.Aparticularly gruesome description of a witch being burned alive filled the air, andBrimstonenodded to himself, a slight smile curving his mouth.Heturned to me asIentered the kitchen.

“Ilike this book.”

Isnatched up my phone and turned the audiobook player off. “Nevermind the book.Tellme what happened.”

Hisscowl made an instant reappearance. “Itold you what happened.Ican’t make fire!”

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