Page 13 of Hexes and Hiccups (Mystery In A Bottle #3)

D aisy

The Cozy Cup was, luckily, only a few doors down from Fields’ Herbals, giving them a few minutes to spare.

The cafe was rather busy when they entered, most of the tables already full and a few people in line at the counter.

In the back corner, sitting by himself at a round table, was Malric.

The young man looked the same as always: dressed in all black with his shaggy hair falling across one side of his face.

He loomed over a steaming cup of coffee with an exhausted expression, a few books sitting beside him.

When they entered, he’d given them a small glance, his lips pressing together in an awkward smile.

Tessa and Daisy went to the counter after the line dwindled down, ordering a pair of caramel lattes before heading to the table.

Tessa’s abilities coaxed through the air around them, giving Daisy a much needed burst of calming energy.

The anger and impatience from the store still clung to Daisy’s aura, giving her more anxiety about talking to Malric than was really needed.

They knew he was a good boy after their previous encounters, regarding the curse being placed over Willowbrook.

While he was an easy suspect to lean towards, due to his previous endeavors to be a rowdy but dangerously powerful teen, Daisy could hardly believe him to be the culprit.

If there was one person in Willowbrook who understood the damage a few rumors could do to someone, it was Malric.

As they took their respective seats across from him, Malric leaned back against his seat, putting more space between him and them.

Tessa eyed Daisy sideways before settling, her magic spreading through the room.

Malric’s energy was quite obvious and practically tangible.

He was one of the strongest magic users of his age, and his power radiated off him more than he ever meant it to.

Whether he knew it or not, the atmosphere around him was almost suffocating, his tension and moodiness almost impossible to ignore.

But, due to his great ability, Tessa’s growing empath magic merely bounced off him.

The only reason for him to be so upset had to have been the writing on the wall in Fern’s house.

Judging by the way the rest of the patrons within The Cozy Cup were eyeing him, most of the town already knew about it.

Rumors spread like wildfire, and Malric was obviously aware of it.

She was surprised for a moment that he agreed to meet them, but Daisy knew he was turning over a new leaf.

Perhaps he wanted to make sure his name had been cleared, since Daisy and Tessa were known Coven Inquisitors.

Daisy cleared her throat. “Thanks for meeting with us, Malric,” she finally said. “I-I’ve heard you’ve been at a trade school. For plumbing, wasn’t it?”

His shoulders raised. “Yep.”

“I’m sure it’s nice to be busy again.”

Malric shrugged heavily and rested his hand over the textbooks beside him. “It’s fine.”

“Have you enjoyed it so far?” Tessa asked as she sipped her coffee. “Trade schools seem to be one of the best options these days. Teaches a lot and practically gives you a job the moment you get your certificate of completion. Good for you.”

Malric was quiet for a moment, his dark eyes holding onto Tessa. The corner of his lip twitched. “I enjoy it,” he mumbled, flexing his hands. “It occupies me. Better for…for the town, I think. It comes easily to me.”

“I think that’s –”

Malric scoffed suddenly, his head turned to face the window to his left. He crossed his arms over his chest, looking rather annoyed all of a sudden. “Not like the rest of the town agrees,” he muttered. “I don’t even need to look to know they’re all staring at me.”

Daisy pressed her lips together as she glanced around the cafe. Sure enough, the patrons eyed him every once and a while, noticing how he was raising his voice. Daisy frowned, suddenly feeling rather disappointed in the town she held so dearly.

“No matter what I do,” he snapped, “they’ll always think I’m the problem.”

It was so easy for him to blow a fuse, Daisy realized. Perhaps he did not have many friendly people to talk to, or close friends he could trust enough to turn towards. She wanted to reach for him, to give him a hug and offer that reassurance he obviously needed.

“They’re set in their ways,” Daisy said. “But they don’t matter, Malric. How you live your life is up to you, and –”

“Don’t say that as if you’re on my side.”

Tessa leaned forward next. “Now, hold on, Malric. Daisy has always stood up for you! No matter what, she is the first to say that you’ve changed, the first to reassure the Council!”

“Then answer me this,” Malric spouted. “Why’d you arrange this meeting with me? Just to check in? To offer that assurance you’re insisting has already been given to me?”

Daisy rested her hand on Tessa’s shoulder, her lips pressed together thoughtfully. “You’re right, Malric.” She leaned towards him. “We did come here to ask about the message in Fern Harper’s house.”

He glared and looked away, his foot tapping impatiently against the floor.

“But that doesn’t mean we’ve decided you’re guilty,” Daisy continued. “It’s the opposite, really. The Council takes what they see and runs with it. I know you’re innocent. But we’re looking into this ordeal, and if you don’t mind us asking questions, we’ll be out of your hair in no time.”

Malric settled against his chair, finally looking back at them, a calmer air about him. He glanced between Daisy and Tessa. “You…don’t think I did it?”

“Did you?”

He shook his head. “No! I couldn’t care less about rumors. I mean,” he huffed, almost humorously, “look at me. The entire town loves gossiping about me. If I cared about every little rumor, I’d be a total mess.”

Daisy sighed. “I’m sorry.”

“What for?”

“If there’s anything I’ve learned over the past few days,” Daisy said, “it’s that rumors and gossip are some of the most dangerous things a person can wield.”

Malric took a drink from his coffee. “What were your questions?”

“Do you know Fern Harper?” Tessa asked.

“I don’t think so,” he replied. “Unless when I was a kid. But I can’t recognize the name.”

Daisy nodded. He wouldn’t have known about the situation surrounding Fern’s daughter, Evelyn, either. It happened a long time ago, and it was hardly news that was still spread around. “How about Riven?”

“The dragon?” Malric shrugged. “Probably know him just as much as everyone else. I’ve crossed paths with him once or twice, but I always thought it was smarter to keep my distance with a dragon, right?”

Tessa laughed. “Much smarter. Who taught you that? Your parents?”

“Well…” His words trailed off. Malric pressed his lips together, a sadness overtaking his face. While Willowbrook was used to seeing anger on their reckless and powerful warlock, it was much rarer to see a hint of despair on his young face. “They did, a long time ago.”

Daisy leaned forward again, no longer thinking about the investigation. “Is something the matter, Malric?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

She reached across the table to grab ahold of his calloused hand. “If you need to talk, you’ve got two pairs of ears right here.”

Malric glanced between them again, still looking rather frazzled about the situation he has found himself in. He looked down at his hand beneath Daisy’s, his eyes growing wider behind his shaggy strands of unkempt hair.

“My parents kicked me out,” he whispered.

Daisy’s eyes went wide. “What?”

“A few months ago,” he continued. “They just…” He lifted his head, trying to be rid of the sadness on his face. “I’ve only got a few more months left at trade school, and I’ll be able to get a job and start making money for myself. Only a few more months.”

“Where have you been staying?” Tessa asked.

Malric hesitated. “Here and there, you know.”

Daisy’s heart felt as though it was being torn in two.

He was barely out of high school, trying to make his way in life, only to be forced out of the only home he knew.

To know that his parents were the ones behind it was even worse, and Daisy racked her brain for something she could possibly do.

She glanced at Tessa to see that the empath had the same expression on her forlorn face.

They were burdened, suddenly, with something other than the investigation at hand. Daisy leaned closer to him.

“What happened, Malric?”

“I’ve been a burden all my life,” he finally said, pulling his hand away from hers.

“When I was a kid, there wasn’t any chance they could get rid of me.

They had to deal with all the problems I caused.

But once I was old enough, they were pretty set on what to do next.

” He gave them a half smile. “I’m sure they’re happier now. ”

Beneath the table, Daisy’s hands clenched into tight fists.

So much, it seemed, made her angry quite fast recently.

But there were so many unfair and terrible things happening to genuinely good people, and it riled her up in a way she had never experienced before.

While she couldn’t fix the situation with the rumors and the Book of Gossip right away, Daisy might be able to change Malric’s fate, if he was willing.

“Malric,” Daisy started, doing her best to keep her voice leveled, “if there was someone who could give you a place to stay in exchange for helping out around the house, like chores or repairs, would you be interested in something like that?”

His brow snapped up, a newfound light filling his eyes. He reached and pushed his hair out of the way, revealing his face for the first time in while. The corner of his lip tugged upwards, though he didn’t smile outrightly.

“I-I would want that,” he whispered. “Are you serious?”

Daisy held up her hands cautiously. “Don’t get your hopes up right away, alright? But I can see what I can do. Does that help?”

“Does that help?” Malric repeated, his head already nodding. “Like you wouldn’t believe. I-I’m not the person everyone still thinks I am, Daisy. I’m not. If that’s something I can have, I’d do anything to keep it.”

Tessa smiled, bumping her shoulder into Daisy’s. “I think we can figure something out.”

“You’ll have to be the perfect tenant,” Daisy said in a teasing voice, though she was being pretty serious.

Malric nodded rapidly. “I can be. I swear!”

“Let us do some talking, Malric, and we’ll figure it out.”

The boy was beaming from ear to ear by the time they started to leave The Cozy Cup.

Daisy had a new sense of hope filling her chest as they went back to Fields’ Herbals , her faith in Willowbrook slowly being restored.

If there was one good thing to come out of the rumors and gossip filling the town, it could be a new home for Malric, and a helping hand for Anne.

While the two of them might not be a match made in heaven, something told Daisy that it might be the best thing for them both, something that could bring it all around.

Daisy breathed in deeply and ignored the unease that threatened to swallow her once more.

Things, she told herself, can be better.

And she was ready to spend all the time she could trying.