She brightened, probably happy to move on to less gloomy topics. “There’s also domestic magic, like growing of herbs and magical plants and the care of animals and other creatures. I’m good at spells and charms. There’s also psychic magic, or the ability to read minds, manipulate events, that sort of thing. Divination deals with foretelling the future and altering timelines. Those are just some. It would take hours to detail each specific ability and the powers that fall under each.”
I let out a humorless laugh, shaking my head. “This sounds like something straight out of a fairy tale.”
Theresa held up her hands and shrugged. “It is what it is.”
Taking a pen and small notepad from her purse, she scribbled something onto the bit of paper.
“I won’t have time before leaving to teach you much or test you. I can teach you some protective spells to use on yourself and your house, but you really need someone to teach you the basics. When you’re ready, go to this address. You’ll learn everything you need to know there.”
She handed me the paper, on which she’d written 45 Midnight Lane.
“Who lives there?”
Theresa shook her head as she stowed the pen and notepad away. “That’s not important.”
I gave her a look, which she ignored.
“Don’t tell her who sent you, either.”
“So it’s a her.”
Theresa fixed her amber gaze on me. “Yes, it’s a she. And seriously, don’t mention my name. It won’t help matters.”
I frowned. “Why?”
She shook her head. “Never mind about that. Do you have a wand?”
“No.”
Taking hers out, she handed it to me. “Take mine. I’m staying with my brothers at 54 Constellation Way. Just bring it by tomorrow when you have time.”
A slight tingling sensation went up my arm as I took the wand. “Are you sure?”
She gave a quick, curt nod.
“Now, when you get home, visualize the house from top to bottom. As you do, imagine a sort of protective bubble going around the house until it’s completely covered. Move the wand from top to bottom as you do. Then do the same thing to yourself, imagining the protection covering your body. You’ll need to work in protection not only from physical harm, but from any unfriendly spells as well.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“That’s it?”
She chuckled. “That’s it. Easy, right?”
I shrugged, still staring down at the wand in my hand. “Yeah. It feels almost…too easy.”
“Don’t get me wrong, the execution can be difficult. It might take a few tries to get it just right, but you’ll know when it’s worked.”
“How?”
She frowned, then shrugged. “I don’t really know. You just feel it. It’s instinct.”
I sighed quietly as I looked down at the wand again. “I guess I’ll just have to take your word for it.”
A buzzing noise came from Theresa’s purse. She took out a phone covered with a blue, glittery case. “I’m so sorry, let me just check this quick. It might be one of my brothers.”
Her face grew pale again as she stared down at the screen. She quickly stowed the phone in her purse, then dug a twenty out of her wallet and tossed it onto the table.
“I’m sorry, Sage, I have to go. This should cover my food and the tip. Do you mind paying at the counter for me?”
I just stared, bewildered. “Yeah, but…did you want to meet up again sometime? You could come and hang out at the house.”
She took out the pen and notebook again and wrote something. Ripping out the page, she handed it to me.
“I don’t think I’ll have time before I leave, but here’s my number. If you’re ever in Moon Hollow, give me a call.”
With that, she rushed from the diner and hurried to her car without a backward glance.
Chapter Five
When I arrived back at Grandma Celeste’s house, I saw the cat sitting on the front porch, its tail flicking lazily back and forth. I got out of the car and slowly approached her, feeling half amused that she stayed and half wary of her.
Crouching down on the steps, I looked at the cat.
“So…did you belong to Grandma?”
The cat let out a loud hiss, making me jump back a little, but I managed to keep my expression stoic as I stared the animal down.
“Then who do you belong to? You’re always at the house or the shop. Grandma has a cat bed and a cat collar in her bedroom. You must belong to her.”
