Page 41 of Brews and Banishments
She huffed and crossed her arms. “Either way, you can’t force a spell on me.”
“Look,” Daisy snapped, stepping closer to the witch, “do what you will, but Tessa and I have more than enough reason to believeyoucursed me from our history alone. Refuse a truth spell at my hands, and I’ll be forced to go to the Witch Council, where they can do it themselves.” Daisy shrugged. “Which would you prefer?”
Drusilla went still, her eyes glancing between Daisy and Tessa. To have a complaint brought up to the Witch Council was just as bad as being guilty. The Elders would fix their eye on the magic user for months on end, even years, just to make sure there wasn’t any truth behind the original complaint. Drusilla was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and Daisy could only hope she’d choose the right path to go down.
Falling into her seat with a loud, annoyed huff, Drusilla crossed her arms. “Do the truth spell,” she snapped through clenched teeth.
Daisy breathed a sigh of relief and walked forward. In the same fashion as Marigold, Daisy placed her dominant hand over Drusilla’s forehead. With her thumb pressing into her skin, the energy flowed between them instantly.
A world of memories flashed through Daisy’s mind. When she saw herself, younger and unscarred, Daisy jerked backwards, almost surprised enough to break the spell before finding what she needed. But she stayed focused, searching through the pool of memories till she landed on the most recentweeks. In the end, Daisy and Tessa’s speculations were proved wrong.
Drusilla Ashford held grudges like a professional, but could hardly be considered a villain.
Daisy pulled her hand away, slightly drained but satisfied. Turning, she met Tessa’s gaze and shook her head.
“Happy?” Drusilla snapped.
Daisy faced her. “No, Dru. We happened to be friendly once, didn’t we?”
With her slender brow knitted together thoughtfully, Drusilla stared up at her with widening eyes. For a moment, a recognizable familiarity passed through her gaze. Daisy grew hopeful. Perhaps the past could be left where it belonged, and all the trouble she went through could end up with a renewed friendship from her childhood.
But then a sneer crept over Drusilla’s face, and the recognition was gone.
“It’s the funniest thing,” Drusilla murmured. “I can’t seem to remember.”
Daisy pressed her lips together. Whatever she wished to hear wouldn’t be leaving Drusilla’s mouth anytime soon. Turning around without another word, Daisy pulled Tessa out of the back storeroom along with her.
Ashford Groceries was beginning to get some early morning customers when they reentered the storefront. Willowbrook remained gloomy and quiet as they stepped back outside, the humidity almost sucking the air right out of them. There was only one thought in Daisy’s mind, and it resembled the grey atmosphere all around her.
Who would have done this to me?
13
Daisy
“I think this level of disappointment requiresthreescoops of ice cream,” Tessa was in the middle of saying as they walked through downtown Willowbrook.
Daisy raised a brow. “It’s hardly even nine in the morning.” Besides that obvious point, Daisy had a peculiar swirling sensation in her stomach. Perhaps it came from her empty belly, or the fact that all she’d consumed by that point was a cup of ginger tea. Daisy shook her head. It was all the fuss over the potion and the hectic life it brought.
“We’re old enough to choose to have ice cream for breakfast, aren’t we?”
Daisy pressed against her stomach. “I’ll pass on that one.”
“What’s with the frown and,” Tessa paused, waving her hand in a whimsical fashion around Daisy’s face, “thatenergyall over you?”
“I didn’t think I had a reason to be all that happy.”
“You heard me mention ice cream for breakfast, didn’t you?”
Daisy chuckled lightly. “This situation has got me too wound up for anything simple and nice,” she murmured. “You know what I realized?”
“Hm?”
“If Drusilla and Marigold passed the truth spell,” Daisy began, “Then that would mean there’s only one person left in Willowbrook who’d have reasonandenough power to curse me like this.”
Tessa tilted her head, not a lick of recognition crossing her face. “I-I don’t get it.”
“Sebastian Crowe!” Daisy shook her head as she playfully bumped into Tessa’s shoulder. “Maybe some ice cream would help your noggin this morning.”
