As I chewed and swallowed the cookie, I made a decision. This witch had a bright light within her, a light of goodness and generosity. Plus she baked delicious cookies. “Do you have a house to rent now?”
She beamed at me. “I do. It’s not large or fancy, but it is homey.”
“I’d be interested in seeing it,” I said.
“No problem. Let me get you the key. You’ll be able to walk there. It’s only two blocks away.”
She disappeared into the rear of the shop for a few moments, returning with a silver key dangling from her fingertips. She hesitated as she held it out to me, murmuring a few quiet words over the key.
“What was that?” I asked as I felt a small burst of magic from her.
Ava grinned mischievously. “Just making sure that you can’t leave until you return my key.”
“You aren’t coming?”
Ava shook her head. “No. I can’t leave the shop.” Her head cocked. “I also think it’s best if you see the house by yourself.
When my fingers closed around the key, my blood sang as power vibrated between us. I nearly dropped the ring, but managed to maintain my hold. I looked up and saw that Ava was watching me closely, as her eyes shifted from dark indigo to a lighter shade of violet. Her skin grew luminous, as though the shadow that surrounded her could no longer contain the glow of her power. It was as if the light within her soul was suddenly visible.
“I’m glad your journey brought you here, Rhys.”
I stared at her in confusion. As abruptly as it began, the swell of magic between us vanished. The glow of Ava’s skin faded and her eyes returned to the strange mix purple and blue they were before.
“Now, let me write down the address and directions to the house and you can go take a look,” she stated, releasing the end of the key ring which made me jerk slightly. I hadn’t realized she was still holding it.
As soon asI stopped in front of the address, I knew I’d found the place I was searching for. The house was small, blue, and trimmed in white, with a nearly non-existent yard.
I moved up the front walk and climbed the steps to the covered porch. Fitting the key into the lock, I turned the knob and hesitated when I heard a light sigh. When I looked around, I was alone.
Still unsure, I slowly pushed the door open, wondering if the house truly was empty. As I stepped over the threshold, I felt the pulse of power and realized that the sigh I’d heard was a spell. The magic faded as I walked deeper into the room, shutting the door behind me.
I looked around at the living room, surprised to see it was furnished with a worn beige sofa and oversized armchair. A small kitchen stood to the left, the appliances old but well-maintained. The house smelled of lemons, as though it had just been cleaned. As though Ava expected me.
Curious, I moved down the hall. On each side of the hallway, there was an open door. I glanced in each room and found them both empty. One was a bit larger than the other and I immediately decided that it would be my bedroom. Another door lay at the end of the hall and when I opened it, I found a tidy bathroom. The fixtures were newer than those in the kitchen and the tiles sparkled.
The same warmth and generosity I felt from Ava radiated throughout the house. Just like her coffee shop,The Magic Bean.
I decided then and there that this place would be my home. At least for the next few months. Something inside me shifted and settled, the constant tension in my muscles eased somewhat. I wasn’t completely relaxed, but it was enough.
As I stepped out of the house and locked the door, the sun came out from behind the clouds, glinting off something across the street. My eyes caught on the yard opposite mine. A gnarled tree hid one side of the house, but I could clearly see that it looked like a small stone cottage, an odd addition to this neighborhood. The rest of the front yard was filled with flowers and plants, but in a wild explosion rather than an orderly fashion. The effect was chaotic but charming. Oddly, I almost expected to see fairies zipping around among the blossoms.
Another flash of light caught my eye and I realized the sun was reflecting off a delicate set of metal wind chimes. Hanging motionless from the branch, they gleamed brightly in the rays. A larger set of wooden wind chimes dangled nearby as well, but neither of the chimes so much as swayed.
As I set off down the sidewalk back to the coffee shop, I wondered what sort of person lived in a fairytale cottage and took the time to create a whimsical garden despite the amount of upkeep it had to require.
Considering we were about to become neighbors, I was certain I would soon find out.
