Page 5 of Magic & Mochas
Each storefront shimmered with enchantments—wooden signs that spelled their names in curling script one moment and blossomed into floral carvings the next.The bakery’s windows glowed with soft pinks and oranges, and the bookshop’s awning ruffled itself like feathers when stirred by the soft breeze.Pumpkins carved with softly flickering faces lined the stoops, and ivy crept up every stone wall in shifting hues of green, copper, and plum.
As I strolled slowly along the sidewalk, the morning sun warmed my skin like an old friend’s embrace.Spiced cider, old parchment, roasted hazelnut, and the welcome aroma of baking bread hung in the crisp autumn air.The diner’s cinnamon-scented steam curled lazily into the sky, mingling with the honeyed smoke from a nearby candlemaker.Even the cobblestones themselves seemed to exhale the scent of old magic—earthy, warm, and faintly electric, like the air before a storm.
Windchimes tinkled peacefully when I came to a stop in front of the building that was now mine.Mrs.Virgil’s old sign still hung above the door, but the windows were all boarded up and cobwebs hung from the eaves.The brick facade was looking rather faded, though the ivy around the corners seemed to be doing just fine.The awnings, on the other hand, were a tattered mess.
If this was why the centaur had seemed nervous, he needn’t have worried.Minor cleaning and repairs were no obstacle for a witch.
With a wave of my hand and some purple sparks, I repaired the awnings, changing the pink stripes to purple, and burned away the boards and cobwebs.The swinging sign magically cleaned itself, and the script writing changed to read: The Broom & Bean.
With a grin nearly too big for my face, I unlocked the beautiful French door.The glass of the window was cracked, but I would enjoy coming up with a stained glass scene to replace it.As I stepped inside, I sent warm balls of witchlights to hover by the rafters.
The inside of the café looked a little like I felt: empty.But with some time and a lot of work, we could both be bright and hopeful again.
Golden morning light filtered through the dirty windowpanes, casting soft, smudged rectangles across the scuffed wooden floor.The floorboards creaked with each step, as though waking reluctantly from a long sleep.Cobwebs draped like lace from the corners of the ceiling, and a crooked ceiling fan hung frozen in mid-turn.The counters were covered with a thick layer of dust, and the pastry case I had once fogged with my breath now stood dark and empty.
The tables sat askew, mismatched chairs tucked in or scattered like guests who'd left mid-conversation.A once-charming fireplace at the far end of the space was choked with ash and old parchments, one of which floated gently to the floor when I entered, as if sighing in relief at my return.
In the corner, an ancient bulletin board still held flyers for past events:Herb Swap Night, Full Moon Readings,andTarot & Toast Tuesdays.The edges had curled, but the magic ink shimmered faintly when I looked too long.
It was a good thing Silas had opted to stay curled up on my bed this morning—he would have had a sneezing fit, and I never would have heard the end of it.
Overall, it wasn’t terrible.Hopefully, I could get it up and running before the Moonlit Masquerade Ball at the end of the month, on Halloween.
The first thing I did was open the windows to let in some fresh air.But before getting to work, I decided to head upstairs to take a look at the apartment.If it wasn’t completely unliveable, I might even be able to move in tonight!
Entering the back storage area, I moved through the space like a wraith.I found the stairway that led up to the second level, and unlocked the apartment’s door with the key the centaur had given me.
But when I stepped inside, I frowned.Unlike the café downstairs, the apartment didn’t look abandoned at all.The curtains were drawn over the windows, and the living room was cozy and inviting, with thick carpeting and a plush sofa.I ran a finger along the fireplace mantel, but no dust came off.The kitchen was practically spotless, and even had a bowl of fresh fruit on the dining table.
Had Mrs.Virgil purchased a preservation spell for the apartment?But if that were the case, then why would she not have used one on the café as well?
Moving down the short hallway, I peeked into the main bedroom.A large four-poster bed took up the center of the room, with a desk and some dressers in the corners.The room felt lived-in, and had a decidedly masculine feel.Had one of her sons lived here right up until Mrs.Virgil left?
And then I heard the toilet flush.
I froze, my heart jumping into my throat.I wasn’t alone!Was there really an infestation of pixies here, after all?If that were the case, I needed to kick them out right this second!There was no telling how much damage they might have already done to the walls!
I ran into the hall and made a beeline for the bathroom I had passed earlier.The door was ajar, so I slammed it open, a pixie banishment spell ready at my fingertips.
But instead of pixies, I found myself staring at a very handsome and verynakedman.He was tall, with a shock of dark hair and the shadow of a goatee on his strong jaw.Scars criss-crossed his chest, and his chiseled abs could have functioned adequately as a washboard.Color rose in my cheeks as I realized he was wearing nothing but his boxers.
The spell fizzled out and died.
“Didn’t anyone teach you how to knock?”His voice brushed like velvet against my ears.
My gaze snapped up to his vivid violet eyes, which were watching me with a sort of cold, detached amusement.Keeping my eyes fixed firmly on his marble-worthy face, I blurted, “Who are you and what are you doing in my apartment?”
“Yourapartment?”Shadows curled up from the floor and wrapped around his shoulders like a cloak made of midnight.“I take it that four-legged grass-snatcher finally managed to sell the building, then?”
“That’s right.And since he failed to mention a tenant, I have to assume you are squatting here.”Wasthiswhat Mr.Chevalier had been nervous about?Not an infestation of pixies, but of one grumpy man.“As the new owner, I will need you to vacate.Immediately.”
The man glanced slowly down at his state of undress, before cocking one eyebrow at me.“I think not.I will be taking my shower, which you so rudely interrupted.Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
The shadows came alive once again—in order to slam the door shut in my face.I heard the distinct click of the lock engaging, followed by the sound of running water.
For a moment, I gaped at the door.Then I shut my mouth with a snap and stormed out of the apartment.I was going to need to have a talk with Mr.Chevalier, since he purposely failed to mention onecruciallittle detail.
There was a shadowmancer squatting in my apartment!
