Page 36 of The Blue Moon Café & 24-Hour Occult Emporium

OMG, it’s like “the scream” but make it hot chef

Talula laughed as another message appeared.

What was YOUR worst cooking mistake?

It’s always when I try to bake!

They went on, chatting back and forth long after Talula tucked herself into bed and closed her eyes between texts. She didn’t think about the clock until:

It’s CRAZY late!

Should I let you sleep so you can help me do some muse-luring tomorrow?

Probably. But it was nice to get a dose of Dahlia.

Doctors recommend 8-10 servings every day

You’ll need to make up for missing your dose today…

Good night!

See you tomorrow/today!

Talula stared at her phone for a while longer, her eyelids feeling heavier with each blink.

Just wait, she thought to herself drowsily. She might respond.

But Talula was asleep when Dahlia’s last message glowed on her phone.

I can’t wait

Simon and Talula arrived at the café early the next day to practice conjuring. Simon asked if she had an apple on hand. Talula opened the Voltlette.

“What is this?” Simon gaped.

“A pocket dimension I made by accident while using the Volta.” Talula dug around her fruit shelves. She had a few apples, but which variety was the best for magical training? The Honeycrisp? The Granny Smith? The Jazz? While Talula pondered, Simon stuck his head in the Voltlette. Then a paw. Then the rest of him. Apparently, the Voltlette’s loose definition of gravity did not apply to dogs. Simon floated aimlessly amongst the shelves, legs desperately kicking in midair.

“HELP!”

“I got you!” Talula caught Simon by the scruff of his neck. She clutched the dog to her shoulder, snatched up a random fruit, then rushed out of the Voltlette. She set Simon down gently. He flopped into a heap.

“Why is there a pocket dimension in a pantry?” Simon blustered.

Talula shrugged. “I like it.”

Simon hrmphed. “Did you at least get the apple?”

Talula held up the fruit she’d grabbed at random. It was a persimmon. Simon rolled his eyes.

“Conjuring is not simply calling something from one place to another. It’s about will,” he began as Talula sat cross-legged on the floor. “You can force things that are on the edges of the world to be within your reach.”

“Theoretically, I could conjure Excalibur?” Talula cracked a smile, trying to lighten the mood.

Again, it didn’t work. Simon’s jaw dropped, looking more offended than when Talula had brought up time magic. “That would be extremely rude. There’s such a thing as decorum!”

Talula ducked her head, thoroughly chastened.

“Besides, you have to envision precisely where something is before you can summon it. Or, have some kind of strong emotional tether to it,” Simon said, still ruffled.