Daisy sighs. She should have expected the concerned response.
I’m okay.
Someone left my family grimoire on my front step. Didn’t know if it was you.
What?
How?
Clearly not me.
Where did it come from?
I don’t know. No indicators of the sender.
Anyway, I’m about to start work and already running late. We can talk more tomorrow.
Okay.
Let me know if you need my help at all.
Will do.
Daisy puts her phone in her back pocket as she steps behind the bar. She picks up her apron from a hook and ties it around her waist. Taking three deep breaths, she does her best to push the mystery of the grimoire from her mind and takes the first order of the night.
CHAPTER 6
Sloan
Clearly, Daisy is as excited about the prospect of working together as she is, but at least Sloan had the courtesy of not asking the council if she can switch partners like it was a high school lab assignment.
Sloan and Daisy have always very much existed in different social circles. Sloan doesn’t even frequent the Bittersweet Acorn. Not because it’s beneath her or anything, but because she simply has no desire to go there. At least, that’s what she tells herself. She prefers martinis, Manhattans, and quality wine over rum and Cokes or vodka cranberries. Essentially, more luxury, less pub.
Having spent most of her life with a silver wand in her hand, it’s hard to feel comfortable in places like the Acorn or around people who frequent it. Her expensive clothes and shoes—that probably cost the same as one staff member’s bi-weekly pay—mean she’d stand out like a boil on a forehead there. People’s eyes regularly follow her in town, trying to figure out what the Wilks girl will do to wow them next. She’s so tired of it. So desperate times call for desperate measures.
Sloan knows her reputation, and that of her family, but despite what everyone thinks of her, she’s chosen to be involved in this event because she wants to change her image. After everything with Petra last year, Sloan wants to distance herself from her family name and be known as an individual. Not happy with her family’s ties to Grog, the troll council representative who went rogue and poisoned Petra’s grandmother Gladys last year, Sloan has spent the last year taking on projects that offer support to disadvantaged community members, the very beings Grog and his followers spent years doing whatever they could to keep separated from the rest of the community. Thus, most of her weekends are spent volunteering at one event or another, collecting donations, or offering one-on-one support. This time has helped her see where she can fit in and find value and purpose in her life, which is how she now finds herself forced to work with Daisy.
Despite Daisy’s cold salutation, Sloan is excited to start on this project. She’s spent much of her life with everything she could ever ask for being handed to her, and for once, she gets to do this on her own. A few months ago, Lachlan reached out with an opportunity to help coordinate a new event the council wanted to put on. This wasn’t something she was being offered strictly because of her name. He specifically told her that the council had seen her work within the community and thought she would be a perfect fit for what they had in the works.
Eager to start planning, Sloan asks Petra for Daisy’s number at the end of the meeting.
“Could you not ask her for it yourself?” Petra questions.
“I could, but I’m guessing from the lack of excitement she showed upon learning we were working together that she may not be so quick to agree to share any personal information.”
“Can you blame her?” Petra asks boldly.
Sloan tilts her head and narrows her eyes as she takes Petra in. Petra leans back, broadening her shoulders, signaling she isn’t afraid of Sloan.
Sloan begins to widen her stance as if preparing herself for a battle but stops herself. That train of thought is from the old Sloan, the one who would willingly show Petra who she’s dealing with. But she’s not that witch anymore. Or at least she’s trying not to be. So instead of snapping back, she smiles as pleasantly as she can manage, hoping that Petra will agree.
“I’m not sure what Daisy’s issue is, but I am genuinely excited about this project. I think it would be good to have your endorsement. It may help encourage Daisy to cooperate,” Sloan responds, trying to keep her tone agreeable.
Petra stares at her, eyes narrowing, before they cut to Lachlan, who stands nearby, choosing not to engage in the conversation. Some silent conversation passes between them.
“Look, I’m not asking for secrets. All I need is her number so I can try to arrange our first meeting. I would appreciate your assistance,” Sloan pleads.
Lachlan nods at Petra as if she, the Premier Witch, needs his permission. It’s laughable, really. She could wipe out this entire town with a thought if she so pleased. A Premier Witch needs no one’s permission or approval.
