Page 19 of Wanderer

A moot point. I was no closer to breaking this curse than I had been since I’d arrived. And once it was broken, I’d have to return for my mom. Would she want to come to Greyhaven?

Oscar helped me find the right books on curses and then to cut the pile down further. Adding his own knowledge and that of his previous coven, we soon figured out that a warlock would be needed to break the curse because a warlock had cast it. Oscar’s magic was too different. While he’d been fairly gifted in his hometown, he rated low compared to the other casters in Greyhaven.

“I’m so sorry, Riley. There’s not much more I can do. I can maybe buy you some time using talismans, but they’re only effective for a few days.” Oscar grimaced and wrung his hands.

My time in Greyhaven was quickly running down. Over a week had passed since I’d arrived, and I was no closer to breaking the curse on me. “Let’s call that our Plan B, right?”

The younger man looked close to tears. He looked away from me and swiped at his eyes. “Um, sorry. Yeah, I’ll work on them later. There are things I’ll need to get for them.”

“Like?”

“Some herbs, crystals, things like that.” Oscar seemed reluctant to discuss magic with me, which I understood, though it was frustrating. I had so little time to get to the bottom of this curse.

“Anything I can get for you? I want to help if I can.” Something about the younger man made me want to look after him. He appeared so vulnerable. Sort of broken. I wasn’t going to push for information on his past. It was his to deal with.

“I thought…” Oscar trailed off, looking uncomfortable.

“The only problem I have is with warlocks, and you should get that by now. You’ve heard enough of my story to know some of the shit that bastard put us through.”

“Maybe I just thought it would be all casters.”

I made a sweeping motion, brushing that aside. “Nah, I can compartmentalize with the best of them. Witches aren’t warlocks or mages, or sorcerers. Your magic smells and tastes different.”

Oscar looked at me with wide eyes. “Does it?”

“Yeah. Besides, I just feel… I dunno. Nothing about you puts me on guard like other magic users. Maybe it’s because you’re new here too.” I wasn’t about to tell him that he felt like an injured bird to me. He wouldn’t appreciate it.

He brightened. “Maybe. Okay, you can help with the shopping. Want to wait until I change and walk over with me?”

“Sure.”

It was no hardship to stay inside the quiet, warm, and welcoming library to wait for my new friend. It was rare to have one of those who actually knew the truth about me. I’d met other shifters in my travels, but they didn’t like my unique scent, even when I made an excuse for it. Those brief friendships had fizzled before they had any depth. That was part of the curse. Keeping me a wanderer, a loner, until I was forced to return home. To him.

Being different all my life had me used to my own company, though. I think I’d surprised my stepfather with how long I was holding out alone. Mom picked up my calls sometimes,, never sounding like herself, asking me to come home. I always said no, but it still caused an ache to deny her.

I liked the young witch, even if he was half my age—well, it felt that way. He was barely in his twenties, and I was in my mid-thirties. Still, Oscar was nice. He seemed lonely here, so if I could help him as he tried to help me, then it was all good. I’d be his friend for as long as I was here. There was always the chance we would stay in touch when I moved on.

Conversation between us was still that slightly awkward, stilted kind as we shopped late afternoon. Together, we walked downtown, avoiding shoppers as best we could, Greyhaven bustling as they hurried to get the last-minute things they needed. The parade was the next day, the beginning of their winter festivities.

We went into a magic shop that only ended with me sneezing, so I handed him some cash and waited outside while Oscar shopped. I had to cross the street because of how strong the magic was, just to get my sneezing under control. Finally, he emerged about ten minutes later, slightly pink -faced, and handed me the change.

“There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

“What is it?” The seriousness of his tone had me on guard.

“When we were talking about your curse… did you know you have two curses on you?” Oscar looked agitated.

“What? No! Two? What the fuck?” I paced around the small garden set back from the street. In summer, this place was likely in full bloom with many different types of flowers and trees carefully planted to attract bees.

“Yeah, so when I was asking inside the store, they said that this thing you have with warlocks isn’t all just your history. They think you’ve been hit with an aversion curse,” Oscar said, looking sour. “It’s something I can break. They gave me the spell. If you want, of course.”

“Aversion curse? What does that mean?” I stopped pacing to look at him.

“The warlock who put the curse on you made a failsafe. It means you can’t go near a warlock, the one being who can lift the wandering curse, otherwise you’ll panic and run away.”

“I thought—”

Oscar smiled sadly. “No, Riley. You’re stronger than that. Five years of wandering the country, of never having a home, and you’re still standing. Still fighting with everything you have. That’s strength. You’re brave. Far braver than I could ever be.