Page 3 of Pushing Daisy
“Levi, maybe we should spend some time together and approach this again another time when Daisy has had more time to think about it.”
“I am right here, you know. And I don’t need more time to think,” Daisy says, pulling her hands from under her mother’s. “Why now? Why do you want me to come with you so badly?” She knows her parents lost their power when they were exiled, so they must need something. A magical tingle at the base of her neck warns her, preparing her for their response. Despite the warning, she still fears the next words coming from her mother’s mouth.
Her mother and father look at each other, a silent conversation taking place. After a lengthy moment, Norma turns to her, placing her hand on Daisy’s shoulder, and says, “We need your help.”
I knew it. “What kind of help?”
“We have some connections and have opened a new store.”
“What kind of store?” Daisy asks hesitantly, the hair on her neck standing on end. This isn’t good. This can’t be good.
Please tell me they haven’t started their activities again… please.
“It’s a magical artifact store, selling a mix of real magic items for local beings and knickknacks for the human clients,” Norma explains.
“And why do you need my help?”
“Well, we need someone with magic to help procure some items and to create others.”
Daisy rubs her hand on her forehead. “There’s something you aren’t telling me. Are you selling illegal wares?” A look passes between Norma and Levi, all but confirming Daisy’s suspicions. “Nope. I’m out. Haven’t you suffered enough? Haven’t I suffered enough? Are you really that stupid to get tangled up in this shit again?” Daisy stands, preparing to leave outright. She’s wanted a reunion for so long, and they’ve ruined it for everyone.
“Honey, please sit. Let us talk this through,” Norma pleads, her eyes glassy as tears form.
“No. No. I had hoped this meeting could be a step forward, but no. I will not be a part of this. You haven’t learned anything, and you certainly don’t care about me and what your actions did to me.” Daisy raises her hand, calling over one of the security guards. “Send them home. Now,” she says when the oversized demon reaches them.
Without another word, a portal opens behind them, and red wisps wrap around her parents, grasping them tight. They try to fight, but to no avail; the grasp is too strong, and without powers, they cannot fend off the demon’s abilities. The wisps lift her parents and deposit them on the other side of the portal. It closes before they have a chance to say goodbye.
Daisy sags onto the bench, her breath coming in short bursts. Her hand clenches her shirt over her chest as she struggles to find air.
“Ma’am. Are you okay?”
All she can manage is a small shake of her head. Thick, warm arms slide around her, picking her up, the scent of toasted marshmallows filling her nose. The next thing she knows, she is being ported and deposited on the couch at Petra and Lachlan’s place. Petra jumps from the far end of the couch with a shriek, their sudden appearance evidently surprising her. The demon guard dude steps back, nods at Petra, and disappears.
“What happened? Why are you here?” Petra asks, concerned as she takes in Daisy’s state.
Through tight breaths and tears, Daisy manages to say, “Parents suck.”
CHAPTER 2
Daisy
A few days later, Daisy is still walking around in a haze, mumbling to herself regularly about shitty parents and what a waste of time they are. Who needs parents? Certainly not her. She’s been fine without them for two decades and will continue to be fine without them for many years to come.
Daisy loves Leeside, but living most of her life in the shadow of her parents and their actions means that she’s always been somewhat of an outsider. Leeside residents don’t easily forgive and forget despite saying everyone is welcome. She’s always fended for scraps of friendship and belonging in her peer group.
As a young witch trying to come into her power and having her parents become the talk of the town, Daisy struggled to find her place. Other witches were forming their own makeshift covens, creating strong friend groups to help each other practice new spells and make new potions, but not Daisy. The attention her parents brought to their little family was more than enough to have her peers sidestepping her, leaving her out in the cold, and, for some, downright bullying her. One group in particular was ruthless. Daisy referred to them as the group of shitheads: Francesca Wardwell, Gwen Corrie, and the perfect princess, Sloan Wilks. Sloan and her troop of turds would corner her, chanting fake spells as they pretended to hex her. At the time, she feared she might grow boils or wake up to toads in her bed. They’d spread rumors about her and her family, slowly convincing their collective peers that Daisy was only biding her time until she could continue her parents’ work and come after them. She’s despised them ever since and has done her best to avoid as many interactions with them as possible throughout her life.
Of course, her peers didn’t know that she never really had that kind of power to retaliate. Most witches and warlocks in Leeside have a certain power base that they can draw from to fuel and rejuvenate their power. While families like the Roses could draw from nature, Daisy’s family was connected to fire, but given that fire wasn’t always present, it meant their power was naturally weakened and, at the same time, more unpredictable.
Honestly, if it weren’t for Petra, Daisy wouldn’t be where she is today. It’s because of Petra reaching out to Daisy that they even became friends to begin with. It’s because of Petra and her tenacity that Daisy was hired at the Bittersweet Acorn, a local bar which also happens to be owned by Petra’s now-husband, Lachlan. And now it’s because of her that Daisy could see her parents again, even if it didn’t quite go as well as she’d hoped. She’s not angry at Petra for that; Petra couldn’t have known. Even at thirty-one, Daisy is just happy to have a friend.
As she readies herself for another shift at the Acorn, she looks in the mirror, planning to give herself a pep talk to prepare for another night of drinks, darts, and nosy customers. Instead, she leans over the sink, examining the circles under her eyes that tell her how shitty she’s been sleeping lately. She scrutinizes the paleness of her skin and chastises herself for the extra weight that sits on her hips now, thanks to eating her feelings these past few weeks.
She tries to call her power to glamour her appearance, as the customers always tip better when she puts more effort into her looks. But the normal electric bolt doesn’t respond. In fact, she barely gets a violet spark. Magic has always been the one thing that has been consistent and stable, like home, even if it was never that powerful. It’s welcomed her with lovingly open arms like a true parent should. Now, though? It hides from her like it was banished alongside her parents.
Magic can be such a fickle thing. Young witches and warlocks learn early on that their power responds to the owner’s emotions and acts as a sort of conscience, preventing good witches and warlocks from misbehaving magically or reinforcing misdeeds for more morally questionable folks. It’s reflective of the owner and who they are at their core. It can be more powerful when the owner is experiencing intense feelings or retreating inside them like a scared child seeking shelter. Its response varies depending on the person and what their power feels is most beneficial to protect the owner. Unfortunately for Daisy, hers has decided to retreat, meaning the spark that she can usually call on is currently no more than a faint puff before it goes out, making her abilities essentially useless.
Sighing, she turns and walks to her door, picking up her purse and coat along the way before exiting and locking the door behind her. She arrives at the Acorn a few minutes early and takes a moment to stand outside, gazing at the building. Daisy takes a deep breath, sharing a silent wish for tonight to be easy. She plasters a fake smile on her face and opens the door.
