Selene trailed beside them, her violet hair catching the lantern light like a crystal ball.
“Look, Maude!”
Maude squinted. At least fifty stalls crowded Market Square, but of course Oli’s stood out like a peacock in a flock of pigeons.
He had gone completely over the top. The booth’s shimmering fabrics practically screamed,“Look at me!”Twinkling enchanted lights framed the edges, and a gaudy spinning sign hung overhead, blaring “Maude’s Mystical Makeovers!” in bold, glowing letters. Bottles of her potions and spellwork lined the counter in neat little rows, though only the mildest ones had made the cut—tonics for clear skin, potions for minor aches, a charm for slightly shinier hair.
Front and center, though, was the star attraction: a huge, glittering cauldron surrounded by golden jars of her newest concoction, proudly labeledShifter’s Delight: Change Your Look, Change Your Luck!
Maude didn’t need to get closer to see the chaos—it was already in full swing. A line of customers snaked around the stall,coins clattering into the tin like a wishing well as people clutched their potions with giddy delight.
Oli ran behind the stall, beaming like he’d just invented magic itself. “It’s not just a potion—it’s alifestyle,” he announced dramatically, handing a bottle to a grinning customer.
Maude’s cheeks ached, the muscles pulled taut in a grin that refused to budge. “Oh, perfect. My life’s work reduced to a sideshow for impulsive drunks.”
Selene tilted her head, studying the crowd with a serene smile. “I think they’re quite enchanted. It’s like watching a shoal of silverfish.”
“You mean the silverfish living in my attic?”
Selene giggled. “Notthosesilverfish. Sea-silverfish. But look at them…” She gestured toward the growing line of customers, many already laughing and marveling at their magically altered appearances. “People are drawn to transformation—it’s in their nature.” Her gaze flicked to Maude. “Except you, of course. You’d rather haunt your apothecary than let anyone see you smile.”
Maude shrugged. “Once you stop showing up, people stop expecting you to.” She glanced at the crowd and sighed. “I’ll admit, it’s…something. They’re happy, I guess. And Oli…” Her voice trailed off as she watched him chatting animatedly with another customer, his enthusiasm boundless and infectious.
“Sometimes people just need a little magic to remind them of who they might be,” Selene said, her smile never faltering. “Even if it’s just their eyebrows turning green for a night.”
Maude rubbed at her temples. He had gone out of his way to help her, turning what could have been a humiliating disaster into something that actually seemed…fun. Not her kind of fun, but still. She’d been so wary of his endless schemes that she’d never stopped to consider the why. He didn’t have to do any of this.
She glanced at Selene, her tone softer this time. “You’re starting to sound like him.”
Selene gave her a knowing smile. “Maybe he knows something we don’t.”
Maude turned back to the booth, watching as he poured his heart into every interaction. She didn’t know if she’d ever match his energy—or his optimism—but for the first time, she allowed herself to wonder if maybe he was right.
“Man the stall, would you?” Maude said to Selene, though her eyes were fixed on Oli, who was already collecting money like a gremlin hoarding gold. “And keep an eye on him. If he starts making promises he can’t keep, I amnotcleaning up the fallout.”
Selene blinked, her expression briefly flickering with what might have been exasperation. “Fine. But if he juggles potions, I’m letting him deal with the consequences. He could use the lesson.”
“Fair,” Maude muttered, tugging the strap of her bag higher on her shoulder.
Without waiting for more commentary, she turned on her heel and slipped away, heading for the woods. The cobblestones gave way to dirt, the cool evening air brushing against her face as the noise of the crowd faded behind her. Her cheeks burned, muscles aching from the relentless smile plastered on her face.
She needed this curse offnow.
These woods were hers. Every twist in the path and every shadowed glade felt like an old friend, familiar from years of foraging for the rare ingredients that kept her shop alive. Not everything she ever needed grew here, but what she needed tonight was close at hand.
Her boots crunched over fallen leaves as she moved with purpose, scanning the underbrush until she spotted it—starlight thistle, its dusky purple petals curling like tiny fists.
Perfect.
Maude snapped a few off, careful to avoid the sap that could make her fingers numb for hours. Next, she found a patch of weeping sage nestled under a jagged rock. She crushed them between her fingers, releasing their sharp, almost metallic scent. The last piece was trickier—she needed water touched by moonlight.
She scoured the underbrush for ten minutes before she found a tiny, glistening spring. Maude dipped her hand into the cool water, scooping enough to fill the small flask she always carried.
With her supplies gathered, she found a flat clearing and grabbed a large rock. She closed her eyes and muttered a low incantation, her breath steady as she channeled her magic. The rock shimmered, its rough surface softening and reshaping until it became a small, lopsided cauldron.
Maude placed it on the ground, drew a circle of salt from her pouch around it, and snapped her fingers. A faint blue flame flickered to life beneath it, heating the water until it bubbled. One by one, she added the ingredients. The mixture hissed and spat, releasing a faint mist. She stirred it with a stick, muttering under her breath about Oli’s idiocy.
When the potion turned a pale green, she reached out to dip her finger into the concoction, but the rustling of bushes nearby made her freeze.
