Page 26 of Bewitched
"Love potion." I sprinkle in 1/2 teaspoon of the citric acid and the edible glitter. As the mixture thickens, turning glossy and velvety, the steam rising from the cauldron carries the warmth around my hands.
"So you cheat. Sneaky, sneaky little witch." He leans on one of the counters.
"I have special customers." I pour one cup of water and ¼ cup of berry juice and let the mixture boil.
"How did it end up into the candy?" He slides his hands into his pants pockets.
I remember following the same steps before the chaos started. I know everything by heart. Every single ingredient. The cauldron was bubbling, thick swirls curling into the air. I reached for the berry juice, but my fingers—I was distracted by a sudden yell—close around the wrong bottle. A single drop spilled into the mixture, shimmering pink, not red as it used to, dissolved into the candy like it was always meant to be there.But then, the scent shifted—suddenly warmer, richer, intoxicating in a way no ordinary flavoring should be. The bubbles rise slower,almost dreamily, the mixture growing thick as if resisting the bone spoon. The steam curling from the cauldron no longer drifted aimlessly but reached, stretched, curled into a heart. The mixture gleamed with an unnatural shimmer, luring the eye, making the heart beat just a little faster when eaten. I had no idea.
"Accident." I unseal the blood bag, and Nox focuses his eyes on it. Carefully pouring the fresh blood into the cauldron, I look over at Nox, being busy with taking out a cigarette. With a swift toss, I send the bag to him. I begin to stir at once, mixing diligently to prevent any clogs.
"Thanks." He laughs and tastes the blood from the satchel. "What the fuck?" He spits out.
4.The Reverse Love Potion.I added nightshade tincture, bloodroot poison, holy water infusion and garlic extract to the blood, because they all have a long history of medical and toxic uses. Not THAT poisonous for vampires. Believed to only paralyze them. Adding extra hawthorn, or vervain could kill.Inserting witch laugh.
CHAPTER 23
The moment the liquid touches my tongue, there is an immediate sharpness—a distinct contrast to anything sweet or mild. My taste buds react fast, drawing attention to the deep, earthy, or medicinal flavors. It is a bracing jolt, like strong black coffee mixed with a bad herbal tonic or dark ale. As the bitterness spreads, it awakens a dryness in my mouth with a slight puckering sensation.
Neo walks around me like a black cat poised to attack. She is intrigued. Anticipating eagerly what is about to unfold.Did she just poison me? Not that it matters. My heart is cradled in this rib cage of mine, but only she knows how to feed it. Drop by drop.
"Well?" Her hand dances lightly on my shoulder, pausing just before me.
"Oh, are you bored, love?" I wipe my lips with my thumb. She takes hold of my cheeks and tugs me toward her.
"Open!"
My hands encircle her waist, drawing her in to me. "Make me."
"You can talk, so that’s not a good sign." She looks into my eyes. Embodying both allure and terror. Her form is captivating—elegance draped in darkness. She moves with unnatural grace, each step measured yet effortlessly, as if the world itself bends to her will. Her eyes, sharp, glow with an eerie fire—perhaps molten horrors or a deep abyssal black that swallows light, disguised in a green shade. A smirk plays on her red lips, balanced between amusement and cruelty. "Hmm."
"Disappointed?"
"Yes." She lets go of my cheeks and strides to the counter. Her focus sharpens as she strikes through a task on her list. "What are you afraid of?"
"You couldn’t take that from me." I head over to the fridge and pick up a Coke for myself.
"So you are afraid of losing something." There’s a certain weight in her stare. The kind that lingers too long, becoming almost palpable on my body. Those devil eyes on her target. I love it.
"I was sure you would know by now."
"Your cross bike." She claps her hands like an ecstatic child.
"Pretty close." I take a sip of Coke, seeking relief from the sting on my tongue. I need cigarettes.
"Damn it." She taps the orange pen to her lower lip, her mind lost in contemplation. "I need to test ‘Fear’. That should make the poisoned ones forget about ‘love’." Neo walks to me and brushes her fingers on my wrist, taking away the coke bottle from my hand. "Sit!"
Her voice takes a softer tone, the words dripping with intrigue and playful challenge. I sink into the chair, already eager for whatever she will do to me next. She approaches me slowly. Our knees touch. Her posture is steady but relaxed, one hip slightly shifted, weight balanced in a way that suggests confidence. The subtle tilt of her head—curious, assessing—adds to the hot moment. From my seated position, I gaze up at her, catching the way the soft glow of light brushes against her face, highlighting every delicate angle. Her arms are crossed, fingers tapping on her skin. Neo lowers herself, her hands resting on my thighs.
"Snakes?"
I crave to kiss her, an electrifying spark igniting my soul. I want to pull her onto my lap, never letting her slip away. Together, I envision our bones intertwining. Rooting deep into the earth.
Neo rotates her wrist and a snake appears coiled around her palm and fingers.Hot.How did she do that?
The sensation of the snake slithering against my leg now is unmistakably eerie and mesmerizing at the same time. Its movement is both fluid and deliberate—a cool, dry pressure gliding along me in rippling waves. Unlike the slimy feel many might expect, its scales create a textured friction, like tiny overlapping armor brushing against my pants. There’s a subtle constriction as it coils and adjusts its grip, muscles shifting beneath its patterned skin. Its weight, though light, is present enough to make me smile. She clicks her tongue in disappointment and removes the snake from my lap.
She steps over to one of her shelves and collects a jar. Inside it, a big spider has been captured for hell knows how long. Delicate strands of silk weave through the space, a chaotic tangle of silver threads stretching from edge to edge. Some parts are wispy, barely visible except in the right light, while others are thickened with layers of past constructions. Tiny specks of debris cling to the web, remnants of past meals, creating a hunting sense of abandonment.
