Sunlight pooled across the floorboards, catching the dust motes and sending them spinning. Indigo lingered near the threshold, coat still on as though she might turn and bolt before anyone noticed her. She carried the distinct air of a doe who’d been startled into stillness.
“Good morning, Indigo,” came Wanda’s voice from behind the counter, though not friendly, it was even. But she didn’t look up from the dress form she was crowded around. I got the impression there was more hostility in the motion than simply giving Indigo the cold shoulder. Indigo seemed to realize it too, because she cleared her throat, hesitating another instant before daring to speak.
“I was just... hoping to hear if you’ve thought about what I asked the other day.”
Wanda finally glanced up, one eyebrow raised. “Which part?”
Indigo’s eyes flicked longingly toward the door, like she wished she could be anywhere but here. Even though she’d done horrible things in her past and she was the reason Lydia’s life had been royally screwed up, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. Indigo hadn’t exactly received a warm welcome in Haven Hollow. But back to her eyes that were still focused on the door, they were a vivid blue. I’d heard that in her original body, they’d been darker.
Wanda’s tone made Indigo flinch. “About the probationary period I’m on.”
Wanda kept pinning the dress onto the form. “What about it?”
“I have duties toward the coven, but I don’t enjoy the full protection of Haven Hollow’s witches.”
“You haven’t earned it,” Wanda said frankly.
This time, Indigo actually recoiled, elbows knocking against Wanda’s front door. “Right. I’ll... I’ll come back later.” I didn’t imagine ‘submissive’ was a word used to describe Indigo ever, but that’s exactly as she appeared now.
“Oh, don’t be daft.” Wanda wiped her fingers on a cloth and gestured toward the small seating area tucked by the window. “Sit.” Indigo appeared surprised. So was I.
“You’re right,” Wanda continued as she put her pins on the side table and walked over to where Indigo was currently moving towards the window seat. “We should talk about it.”
Indigo hesitated as she sat, her boots soft on the worn wood floor, careful not to touch anything. The shop alwayslookedsafe, but the air was heavy with living spells, and the new witch’s demon-grafted magic didn’t mix well with ambient enchantments. I wasn’t even particularly sensitive, and I could sometimes feel the volatility of Indigo’s power.
“What do I have to do to convince you I don’t mean any harm to Haven Hollow?” Indigo asked.
“Favors,” Wanda answered like she’d been planning for this question. “Three favors at the time of my choosing.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you come to the coven’s aid three times without expecting anything in return, and then I’ll consider trusting you.”
Indigo nodded, eyes down. “I suppose that’s reasonable.”
“I’m inclined to want to like you,” Wanda continued, as she reached over and plucked a piece of lint from a dress on one of the mannequins. Then she squinted at it like it had personally offended her.
“You are?” Indigo asked.
Wanda looked up at her, as if just remembering she was still there. “You’re strong. You’ve proven you can fight. I value that. But I also value trust. So, now it’s up to you to prove that I can trust you.” She paused again. “That’s how I’ll know you really are one of us.”
A quiet pause followed, then, “Thanks. For calling me strong, because I definitely don’t feel strong.”
“Don’t thank me. Just prove me right.”
Indigo frowned. “I feel like I’m missing something.”
I jumped. So did Wanda. Clearly, we’d both forgotten that Violetta and Smith were in the back room. The only reason we realized it now was the energy that had suddenly invaded the room—energy coming from Violetta. Her presence as she walked into the main store made the air prickle faintly, as if her aura couldn’t decide whether to burn or to freeze.
“I... um...” I began, glancing between Indigo and Violetta, not sure what to say. Misty Hollow’s residents had turned up on our doorstep months after the Indigo saga had started, but I wasn’t sure how much they knew about Indigo, if anything at all.
I gave Indigo a hopeless glance as if to say:are you bothered by the fact that I’m pretty sure they just overheard everything?
She shrugged back in a rendition of:I’m tired of caring about anything.
“Indigo is a, um, new witch to Haven Hollow,” I explained, trying not to cast Indigo in a worse light than she already was. “And… well, she’s on a probation of sorts.”
Wanda raised an eyebrow. “That’s putting it mildly.”
