Sunday crosses her arms. “No, I think it’s just right, and let me tell you something. These have not’s will learn not to covet my magic. Isn’t there a book out there talking about not coveting your neighbor's things? I’m sure there’s a human book on it. I’m almost positive there is.”
Charlie snorts. “There is but the Founders banned it. Said it was heresy.”
I don’t know what book Charlie is talking about but I do know what covet and heresy mean.
“Why would they be jealous about magic?” I ask.
“Because it reminds them they’re so painfully normal. Humans always want to get rid of what they don’t understand. They envy non-humans for their magic but the unknown kicksup their primitive habits. Makes them afraid. Remember that, Meadow.”
Humans always want to get rid of what they don’t understand.
Oh mulberries. If the town knows I can do magic, are they going to think I’m not human? I look around the room nervously to see if anyone is watching me. I’m human.I’m so totally human.
I clear my throat and my voice still comes out high when I speak. “I-I really think this meeting is just about Halloween,” I insist, trying to bring the conversation back to anything but magic and how it might other me from the everyone else in Sweet Tooth. Thankfully, Buffy and Wrath enter the room and I’m saved from worrying about how badly my magical abilities might make Sweet Tooth citizens nervous. The room falls silent as Buffy and Wrath walk up to the table hand in hand. They're adorable when they’re together and my heart swells at seeing my best friend with such a bright, happy andrealsmile on her face.
She’s happy. Like really and truly happy. There’s no faking it or worrying who might see her question the way things are. She’s free to be herself and she’s in love. Buffy spots me in the front row and gives me an enthusiastic wave. Love looks so very beautiful on my best friend. I smile and raise my hand in an answering wave while they take their seats and call the meeting to a start.
There’s a glimmer of magic as Wrath waves his hand through the air and when he speaks it’s carried through the room as clearly as if he were right next to me.
“Hello, citizens of Sweet Tooth. I trust the full moon is finding you all well?”
There’s a murmur of answers, all of which seem positive but I wonder how many of the ones that are silent are truly happy. Wrath is in his human form now. Something he only does whenhe’s out in the public with Outsiders around. Is he using his human form to put some of the more nervous cult members at ease? I look around the room but I don’t see anything out of the ordinary even if the vibe feels wrong.
“We’re so happy to have you with us here for our third town hall meeting,” Buffy greets everyone with the smile I know so well from her and the crowd’s reaction to her seems lighter. There’s even some cheers and claps when she speaks.
Interesting.
“Now I know you’re wondering why we’ve called a town hall on a full moon. And not to worry, it was for a good reason,” Buffy tells them and I lean forward with the rest of the room during the small pause she takes before she finally says, “We’ve called you all here to go over the very important topic of Halloween!”
“Better be fucking Halloween,” Sunday mutters.
“I told you. Nothing to worry about,” Sunday crosses her arms and gives me a look that says she doesn’t believe me even though Buffy just said we were talking about Halloween.
“Somethings up. We both know it. You feel it, don't you?” she asks me.
I jerk back from her in surprise. “Feel what? Why would you say that?”
The witch tilts her head to the side and gives me a long look. “You think I don’t know a witch when I see one? Strong too from the looks of you. Lots of,” she wiggles her fingers in the air around my head, “sparkly magic floating around you. I would have so earlier but that’s not a polite greeting.”
I swipe at her hands and look away from her. “I’m not a witch. There’s nothing sparkly going on here except for the glitter I spilled on myself at lunch.” It’s true. I did spill glitter on myself trying to help with the bakery signs Ms. Donna wanted made for the pie of the day. Today was lemon meringue.
“Lies,” she whispers and then sighs, “but if you want to keep lying, by all means go right ahead. We both know what you are and soon, Buffy will too.” Sunday wiggles her fingers again and leans close to me, she almost looks like the Witch of the Woods, the one we all used to fear, when she says, “Sooneveryonewill know.”
“Hey, peanut gallery, zip it,” Charlie orders.
Sunday rolls her eyes at him but she goes silent and so do I. We both look up at the stage and when Buffy looks my way again I swear she knows something happened. She gives me the look that we’ve always shared.The one that says ‘what the hells happened?’but a town hall meeting where Annie Bustos is going on and on about how ghouls and bats are tacky decorations and she’ll have no part in it isn’t exactly the place to spill the beans on my new witch status.
There’s no way around it though. I’ll have to tell. If Sunday senses it, I’m a witch. I don’t know how I ended up here. I went to bed normal and woke up sky high face to the ceiling because Charlie’s demon phone book backfired.
“Annie, for the last time, a ghost is not an affront to Wrath.He’s right here.He likes them. He thinks they’re cute. Don’t you?” Buffy asks her husband who nods.
“Yes, I do enjoy a specter's presence from time to time. They’re far more clever than anyone truly gives them credit for. Truly great conversationalists.”
The crowd falls silent. They’re trying to figure out what he means. I guess Wrath has ghost friends. Neat.
“I’m just saying. If you want to drag the town into this Halloween nonsense then don’t look for me and mine to be following suit.” Her husband Ron looks glum at that news but when Annie glares at him he sits up straight and nods.
“I can’t be the only one not wanting to participate in a holiday that celebrates magic. It’s not natural.”
