Page 47 of The Blue Moon Café & 24-Hour Occult Emporium

When Talula couldn’t sleep (which was often), she’d watch mindless TV with Simon (who was spellbound by every show) until her eyes went fuzzy. Then she’d lie awake and scroll through her and Dahlia’s past messages. She drafted a hundred texts she’d never send.

I liked the jack-o’-lantern beret you wore last week.

If you had a magic portal that could take you anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Do you ever feel like even though you’re doing everything you *should* be doing, you’ve got everything all wrong and you’re making yourself miserable?

I miss you.

I’m sorry.

Almost two weeks before Samhain and almost two weeks since she’d last seen Dahlia, Talula locked up the Blue Moon, ruminating on the day’s magical training session and its manifold mistakes. She was exhausted, her self-esteem ground away to dust after weeks of magical failure. All she wanted was to skip dinner, collapse into bed, and try not to cry.

Simon meandered away from their usual route home. “We should commune with the elemental spirits of the world.”

“What?”

“Immerse yourself in nature. It’ll help enhance your elemental connection.” Simon angled his head to the forest trails that ran near the café.

Talula stared incredulously at her mentor. “You want to go on a walk?”

“Yes.”

“Is this in your book?”

“That depends on your interpretation.” Simon flicked his ears back self-consciously. “But it may do you some good.”

Talula, unsure it would do anything at all, sighed. “Fine.”

They meandered along a tree-laden path, the dregs of sunset gilding the crowns of nearby sycamores. The air was tinged with wild sage and a hint of smoke from a nearby fireplace. They walked silently.

For the most part.

“Ah, can’t you feel the moss goblins rejoicing in their sylvan labors?”

“I detect a soothing, hydromagical presence. Perhaps a babbling brook? We should investigate.”

“Don’t you think that tree has a particularly tranquil aura?”

After each comment, Simon looked up expectantly, almost hopefully, at Talula.

Finally, she asked, “Is this a test?”

“No!” Simon replied earnestly. “It’s a respite. Or, rather, it’s supposed to be. I think you need one.”

Anger boiled quick and hot under Talula’s breastbone. Ever since he’d arrived, Simon had only cared about her Magical Destiny and her usefulness to the Blue Moon’s mission, no matter the cost. Talula’s human needs and mental well-being had been secondary, at best. Until now? Why did he care all of a sudden?

Talula hissed. “What about no distractions—”

Then she literally ran into the last person she wanted to see.

Kristen.

Talula stumbled back, trying not to trip on Simon. Glancing at Kristen, she grimaced—she was living her worst-case scenario ex-girlfriend run-in. Talula couldn’t remember her last shower, and her eyes were puffy from lack of sleep. After weeks of feeling beaten down, her insecurities were rubbed raw, her confidence ground down to a sliver. Kristen, however, looked like a chic autumn mood board in boots and an expensive-looking puffy coat. A pair of earbuds peeked out from her blond hair, likely playing a true crime podcast (if Talula remembered Kristen’s listening preferences correctly).

“Watch where you’re going!” Kristen snapped. “What, too busy looking for eye of newt?”

Simon growled a challenge, but Talula just wanted to get out of there. She turned toward home. “Come on, Simon.”