Page 2

“I’ll go, but I’m not…”

“You don’t have to.”

“As long as you know,” I warned right before the two girls who’d just entered the shop stopped in front of me.

“I have customers. I have to go. I’ll call you when I close the shop.”

“I’ll come help you close.”

I frowned because she only offered to help when she wanted something and tonight it was a guarantee that I wouldn’t renege on my promise to go to Blood Lust. “I said I’ll go.”

“You sure will because I’m going to be there to make sure you can’t change your mind. See you at six, boo.”

I ended the call and sighed again before offering up a smile to my customers. “What can I do for you?”

They glanced at each other, grinning all giddily. I studied them both. Typical college kids, wearing Hollow Grove University hoodies and leggings. One was bright skinned with curly hair sprouting from under an HGU baseball hat and the other had short frizzy locs just starting to bud. They hung loosely around her oval, chocolate face.

“You can do readings, right?”

“I can. For both of you?” My eyes roamed their faces one by one before Lite Brite spoke up with a shake of her head.

“Just for Leigh.”

I nodded and brushed my hands over my jeans to dust them off. “What kind of reading?”

They glanced at each other anxiously before Leigh spoke up. “You can do the kind that tells if someone loves me?”

I had to fight hard not to roll my eyes. “I can tell if you’ll find love but not specifically if a person loves you without them being here.”

“Can we get something from them? Like hair or a toothbrush and you use that to tell?” Leigh asked, giving her friend a side glance. I frowned, looking between them.

“Is the reading for the two of you?”

Both their faces twisted and relaxed before Lite Brite laughed. “Absolutely not. I mean, this is my girl but I don’t love her like that.”

“Hoe, I’m sexy.”

“You are, friend, just not my kind of sexy.” Lite Brite blew her a kiss.

“This only works with consent. If the other party offers the items to you, then I can use them, and it has to be something personal to them. Not hair or a toothbrush but only with their consent. Otherwise it doesn’t work.”

Not exactly the truth, but I was ethical. Spells and readings without permission were dangerous. The only ones I offered were solely for personal use that did not affect others. Having a moral compass sucked because I could make a killing if I decided to really profit from my ability. People would pay top dollar to manipulate others’ lives. There were just some lines I refused to cross.

“Then what can you do? It’s kinda pointless isn’t it?” Lite Brite frowned.

“Reece,” Leigh warned. “Can you do one to tell me if I have true love in my life?”

“I can do that. Come on.”

I heard them whispering with each other as they followed me to the counter. I collected what I needed. My marble slab and a coconut and beeswax blend candle along with applewood splinters and matches. The candle was multi wick so I could watch all three flames and analyze them. The applewood splinters had a sweet subtle aroma and burned evenly.

With the girls on one side of the counter and me on the other, I got started.

“Hold this close to your heart. You’ll have to focus on what you would like to know. Repeat the question in your mind several times, be clear and concise.”

“What’s that supposed to do?” Leigh asked when she accepted the applewood.

“You’re infusing your energy and intention. This will provide the fire with something to feed on.”