Page 3 of Tricky Magic
He flicked her book, causing Ellea to clutch it to her chest, growing more annoyed.
“I don’t know why you don’t have one of those fancy e-readers like everyone else,” he said with a grin.
“You know I don’t like devices.” She hated them, and he knew that. She loved the feel of a good book in her hands. Phones were used for calling or to get an all-caps text from her nana. There was no reason for her to be wrapped up in witch social media drama or anything else. It was best to avoid anything that would be said about her. Most of the supernatural community had embraced new technology; some of it made it easier to live peacefully among mortals. But others found it inhibited the old way of doing magic and had been affecting their strength.
“Oh, right, you like theold ways,” he said with a snigger that had her seeing red.
“Well, it was nice running into you.” She gave him a tight smile and tried to walk away.
“What time do you want me to pick you up for Lughnasadh?” he said, grabbing her arm and stopping her retreat.
His father is on the council, he’s good in bed, you’re just having a bad day, don’t curse him.
She took a breath and smiled up at Isaac.
“I’m not sure yet.” She patted his hand. “It’s been a day; bad reading, you know how it is. Let me get home and I’ll call you tomorrow?”
Isaac was also a seer, but he usually kept his visions political, helping his father and the council.
“Of course, kitten.” He leaned in to kiss her and Ellea turned her head, forcing him to catch her cheek. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Ellea smiled and turned away. The click of her heels was loud in her ears as she took the longest strides of her life.
Three more blocks, you can do this.
Opening her book, she let the words wash away the weird encounter and bad day.
* * *
Passingan ancient oak with vines swirling around its massive trunk, Ellea turned onto her walkway. She lived in a stately brick house with a lush front lawn. Creeping fig vines covered the second floor of the home, adding to its historic feel. From the walkway, you wouldn’t know how modern the inside was or the magic it possessed. She entered her house and removed her heels, throwing them to the staircase to her right. She paused in her entryway as the sound of someone being killed rang through the home.
“Billy!” she called out to her familiar.
She walked through the plain parlor with its beige walls and cream furniture and headed to the back of the house, following the sounds of a sharp machete and gushing blood.
Fucking beast.
Ellea continued her hunt for Billy, who was a familiar in the form of a fluffy ass, one-hundred-and-fifty-pound, black dog. She was something between a Rottweiler and an American Bull Terrier. It wasn’t usual for witches to have familiars at twenty-eight, but their codependency had started after Ellea’s parents had been taken away.
“There you are,” Ellea said as she crossed into their favorite room.
The dark green walls were accented with artwork in black or gold frames, a tall fireplace, and one too many bookcases. On one of the coziest couches sat her beast of a best friend. Her wide tongue hung out the side of her mouth, and her sharp teeth glinted in the dimmed lights.
“That wasawesome,” said the handsome character on the TV screen, Dean Winchester.
Gods, he’s so hot,Billy said telepathically.
Billy, in her beast form, could only speak telepathically, but she could communicate with whoever she wanted.
“How many times have we seen this episode?” Ellea asked, rubbing Billy on the head before heading to her room to change.
I could watch him forever and never tire of his tight ass and perfect smile,Billy answered.
Ellea smiled to herself as she reached her walk-in closet that held mostly dark clothing. Throwing her shirt, bra, and supportive boy shorts in the hamper, she reached for her favorite shirt. It was three sizes too big, black, and had a giant silver snake on the front. As soon as the supple fabric caressed her skin, she let out a relaxed sigh. She padded barefoot back to the living room where the home had left her a large glass of water and a margarita next to her favorite reading chair.
How was your day, Bug?Billy asked, turning the volume down with her big paw as Dean yelled “son of a bitch.”
“Horrible,” Ellea sighed, snuggling into her chair as the two books from her purse floated to her on a phantom wind.
