CHAPTER FIVE

BECCA'S POV

After that, the day came to a close quickly, and I practically ran home. My mother was not home, as expected, and I was disappointed to learn that nothing would change.

I decided to clean up a bit and reorganize my belongings. I had barely started when I observed a wolf outside my window as I was putting the last piece of furniture in place.

It was coated in brown fur and appeared delicate. 

I went outside to investigate, but it had already vanished by the time I got there.

Weird. 

I had a look around the garden before heading over to the where I had seen it. Some of the grass needed to be cut, and everything was a mess

I wonder who lived here before. I took a deep breath and sat down in the small handcrafted chair under the shade. I could sense the atmosphere and hear the nearby river rushing. 

River! My mind wandered to the nearby river. 

I got up and walked farther into the garden/woods, following the river's rushing sound.

I was amazed when I arrived at the river's source; it was narrow, but the force with which it rushed was terrifying.

 "Can you tell me what you're want here?" The sound of the voice startled me. Turning back, I noticed Cole, he was wearing his trouser waist just below his waistline and his chest was bare. 

I became instantly distracted.

"Uhm, Hello Cole," I said, attempting to exude confidence.

"You know my name?"

 I was irritated by his arrogant and harsh tone.

"Of course, I know your name, who in school doesn't know your name?" I irritatedly said.

"Uhm, the new chick knows my name already, not scary at all," he grumbled as he turned to walk away.

"That's it? What exactly did I do to you to make you so irritated? "At this point, I was furious.

"Nothing bothers me, and what a nice thing you said to that nerd girl who was just trying to be your friend"

"Is this the story of the nerd girl?" I inquired, my brow furrowed

"No, I simply despised you from the moment I saw you. It reminds me of a power-hungry, haughty woman I once knew.

Oh,you're already pals, right? With a smile on his lips, he added, but I could sense the sarcasm in his remarks.

I was stunned, how could a guy be so petty, I had no idea what I had done to him. If this is about the nerd girl, she'll be in big trouble when I see her next.

 "Can we just get along?" I begged, opting for the less difficult route to get close to him. 

Yes, he was attractive, but I didn't care about him; I just want to take advantage of his fame.

He turned around and walked away, rolling his eyes and saying, "Not going to happen, girl."

Brandon Cole, I said his name quietly. He's a tough guy, and getting him to like me, let alone be his girlfriend, will be difficult.

Oh, wait! I am a witch! I wanted to scream with joy at that point, why wait for him to like me when I can just enchant him?

I then remembered that I have no control over my power, and that until I acquire a guide, my spell will not work correctly. 

The antique store! My mind instantly screamed at me.

"You're mine, Cole," I mumbled to myself, smiling.

Before racing back to where he came from, he turned

around and gave me a strange look.

I emerged from the bushes and entered my house.

I changed into a new outfit and went to the antique shop.

The antique shop was not far from our house on the west side. 

I slowly pushed open the door, which was dark as usual. 

The rusted door creaked, indicating that the shop had been neglected.

It was quiet and dusty everywhere. "Hello?" I yelled out, but no one answered. I noticed a blue lighting bulb on a shelf facing the window and strolled up there discreetly, examining the titles of books on the shelf. 

The ‘Abracadabra of Spells’ was the title of one that caught my eye.

 "A strange name, Abracadabra is really a magical chant "I mumbled as I took the book.

 "It is," a powerful voice snarled, startling me. 

What is it with people creeping up on me these days? 

"Um,who are you?" I asked.

"Child, I should be asking who you are and what you're doing in my store, but since you don't know who I am, I figured you're new in town," an elderly woman with a walking stick said. She was getting dressed in a long black gown with a long silk jacket. Her hair was white and thick, and she wore it up in a little ponytail.

" Mrs. Wonders?" I inquired, my face puzzled.

"Of course, who else would be at my shop?" She replied in an even louder and angrier tone, and I wondered where she

obtained such a thick voice despite her weak appearance.

"So…so… Sorry, I was only looking for a spellbook "With fear, I replied.

"Who would you like to charm?" She inquired of me.

"Ch…charm? Me….? No...no one "I responded uncomfortably, and all I wanted to do was flee the store.

"Who are you fooling, kid? A sixteen-year-old girl will only come into my shop to charm a boy. One had already visited after the school had ended. That one is quite chatty, hunting for love potions " Looking at the book in my palm, she added.

"Exactly! I would buy a love potion if I wanted to charm someone, but I am not, which implies I am not enchanting anyone”

I gave her a confident response.

""Not if you're a witch," she grumbled lowly.

I heard her but chose to ignore the fact that she had discovered I was a witch without doing anything other than picking up a spellbook.

"How much is it, please? So I can get going" I just wanted to be out of that place. She is creepy and I couldn’t wait to get home and look through the spellbook.

Pearl has gotten the love potion and I will have to be very fast if I want him for myself.

"It's $20," she continued, her face set squarely on me. I groaned and dug into my handbag, thanking the heavens for my little corner of wealth. I handed her a $20 bill and stormed outside. When I arrived at the door, she called my name.

"Be careful, kid. Only humans should be targeted by the spell.”She yelled with a boom before slipping into the back of the shelf.

"Of course," I grumbled as I walked out of the store. 

Mum was already inside when I arrived home, and the anger and the disappointment I felt when I first saw her that afternoon washed all over me.

I made my way upstairs without greeting her.

"Don't you dare take a step upstairs without telling me why you are outside during the school hour." she warned.

"What will you do mum? Go all witchy on me? Well good for you to know, I am more powerful than you are, and maybe that is why you refused to tell me about my powers" I spat out in anger.

"Young lady, you don't get to talk to me like that, I raised you and gave you home even though your behavior is nothing to write home about!"

"At least I'm not the promiscuous one," I yelled as I ascended the stairs. 

I was yanked back by a force and fell at the bottom of the stairs on my buttocks.

"What are you doing?" I yelled at her and said, "Since Dad's departure, you've lost yourself! You pursue men, bring them

home, and then they harass me! You don't care how I felt about it, how I felt about traveling around and putting my life on hold for you. Mum, you are the one who is ungrateful and nasty” I yelled through sobs, and her body stiffened. 

I dashed upstairs, locked the door, and jumped into bed—looking forward to the end of the day.