Chapter Two

"Now don't go getting your fur in a wad, handsome. I told you I was bound for trouble any minute now." I waved off his antics as I brought my mug to my face to blow on. Right as I went to take a sip, something went flying through the air and sent my perfect orange mug of flavor shattering onto my counter.

 I whipped around. "Who do you think you are, you old sagging sack of bones?" I squealed out in absolute horror and misery.

The official leader of my coven stood where my door used to be with narrowed silver eyes and a nasty look. She threw her hand up with one gnarled finger pointing right at me. A dark shadow was edging its way back into my field of vision, but I paid it no mind. "Thea Megan Davis, you rotten child! I had to come all this way to fetch you, and I catch you drinking more of that filthy concoction?"

I huffed and threw my arms out. "I'm a grown woman, Darcy!" I jutted out my right hip and folded my arms. "You're cleaning that up, you hag."

"You rude brat. Don't you know you should respect your elders?" She tutted and jerked her head outside. "I don't have time for this. The council is being summoned. It's important." She finally glanced at the man hovering tightly by my side. 

"Fine," I muttered, dragging her attention back to me. "But this isn't finished." I went to follow her outside before remembering I had a guest.  Looking back, I came almost face-to-face with the werewolf. Confusion was etched into every corner of his face. "I'll be back in three shakes of a dragon's tail. Try not to touch anything. " I sulked out the door-past the remains of my beloved mug- before adding, "wouldn't want to discover you dead."

"Hey, brat..." Darcy started as we took our time walking the worn-down path to the council house. We were well outside the mutt's earshot. "What business does that boy have here?" She cast me a glance full of warning. 

I hesitated before answering. "He's lost. Packless. Abandoned. The way things are going...my guest is he's not completely unaware of our world. Thinks he's some freak of nature, ya know? I don't have it in me to turn him away."

Darcy hummed in response. 

I clicked my tongue after a silent moment passed. "Do you know why we were called to the meeting?" 

She didn't answer until we were clearing in on the paint-chipped white door of the council house. "The annual rituals." She finally whispered in distaste. The door opened from the inside.

"Thea! Darcy! You're late." Another witch giggled.

I shot her a look of mischief. "Oh darn, I hope you started without me?" Tonya has the kind of beauty that makes people assume she’s delicate… right up until she knocks someone twice her size flat on their butt.

Tonya fluttered her eyelashes. "They would never, T. Who else would provide the comedic relief?" She’s the kind of friend who brings soup without asking if you’re sick, then glares judgmentally until you eat it. The kind who worries too much and hides it. The kind who will hug you once, firmly, and then pretend she didn’t enjoy it.

I laughed. "Of course, what was I thinking?"

Darch practically shoved me inside the doorway. "Kids. Always start talking in the doorway. Letting all the bugs inside." She tutted in distaste as she wobbled her way inside. 

Tonya and I shot each other a look before bursting out in giggles.