Page 20 of Magical Melee (Stonewick Magical Midlife Witch Academy #1)

The tea shop was eerily quiet after the chaos of the afternoon. Stella had turned the open sign to closed.

The broken teapots had been swept away, and Stella was busy brewing another pot of calming chamomile, but the tension in the air lingered like a heavy fog.

I sat at the center table, and Frank curled up at my feet. His snores were the only sound that broke the silence.

And that was when part of my dream surfaced. Something that Gideon had said…

“Who—or what—exactly is Shadowick ?” My voice cut through the silence of the shop.

Nova and Stella exchanged glances with grim expressions.

Keegan leaned against the counter, arms crossed, while Ember perched on a stool near the window. Her sharp eyes scanned the street outside as if expecting Gideon to return at any moment. I couldn’t help but notice how her ethereal quality brought a distinct calmness.

“It’s not a ‘what,’” Nova said finally, her voice low and serious. “It’s a place. A dark reflection of Stonewick.”

“A dark reflection?” I repeated, frowning. “Like an evil twin?”

“In a sense,” Stella said, setting the teapot down on the table with a soft clink. “Shadowick falls in one of the three rival factions that exist in parallel villages like ours. They thrive on chaos and destruction, feeding off the darker aspects of magic.”

“There are more places like this?” I asked, leaning forward.

Nova nodded. “The country is divided into three factions. In simple terms, each faction has a good and evil district. The magical population used to be one community in this country. But over time, the nation split into three factions, and each faction grew into two distinct districts. In our case, Stonewick uses positive, light magic based on stone and fire, while Shadowick is dark and uses shadows and fire to produce chaos. Their goals are opposed to ours.”

“Very opposed,” Keegan said flatly.

“Each faction has their own issues between the districts,” Keegan added, his tone bitter. “But the rivalry between Stonewick and Shadowick has always been the most fierce and wicked.”

“Wait,” I said, holding up a hand. “You’re telling me there are six magical towns scattered across the country, all constantly at odds with each other?”

“Not constantly,” Ember interjected, her voice sharp but measured. “There have been periods of peace, mainly in the East and West Factions. Some fragile truces. But Shadowick doesn’t play well with others. They’ve always been power-hungry, always looking for an opportunity to tip the scales in their favor. And a century ago, the scale tipped.”

“And what happened to Stonewick? It fell?” I asked, my stomach twisting.

Nova sighed. “Over a hundred years ago, Shadowick managed to weaken us. They infiltrated our community and planted seeds of doubt and fear. It was a dark time, and Stonewick nearly fell completely. Our Academy closed for its own protection, and the town’s safety. We’ve been unable to train new witches since then. That will be our downfall if something doesn’t change soon.”

“But we fought back,” Stella added, her voice resolute. “We rebuilt, strengthened our wards, and drove them out. The victory was temporary and wasn’t whole. It won’t be until we can open our Academy again with our new headmistress or headmaster. Our Academy remaining closed is our greatest weakness. We can’t harness new energy or teach seasoned witches what they are capable of.”

“What about Shadowick?” I asked. “Do they have an Academy?”

“Indeed, they do.” Stella squished her thin lips into a frown.

“They’ve been waiting,” Keegan said, his eyes dark. “Biding their time, gathering strength. Gideon’s arrival isn’t just a coincidence. They’re ready to finish what they started. They know that you are a vital piece to our success.”

I felt a chill run down my spine. “What happens if they succeed?”

“Stonewick falls,” Nova said bluntly. “And with it, the balance of magic in this district. It would only be a matter of time before it trickled to the East and West factions.”

Keegan sighed. “And the world.”

I sat back, trying to wrap my head around it all. “Okay, but why me? Why is Gideon so interested in me?”

“Because you’re a connection point,” Stella said. “Your family has always been deeply tied to Stonewick. Your magic—whether you’ve tapped into it fully or not—is a key part of our town’s defenses.”

“And Gideon wants to exploit that connection,” Ember said, her tone grim. “If he can turn you, he can weaken Stonewick from within. The Academy won’t be able to open.”

“Turn me?” I echoed, horrified. “You think I’d help him?”

“Not willingly,” Keegan said, his voice softer now. “But Gideon’s manipulative. He’ll use your doubts, your fears. He’ll make you question everything you know about yourself. Your desires. Your hopes and dreams.”

Nova leaned forward. Her gaze intensified. “That’s why you need to be prepared, Maeve. You need to understand what you’re up against.”

“But I don’t even know what I am.”

Stella frowned and cocked her head slightly. “Isn’t it obvious?”

I stared at her. “To whom?”

She scowled and shrugged. “Why, you’re a witch.”

“A witch,” I repeated. “A witch who knows absolutely nothing about magic or sorcery. Seems like I’m a silly target. I would be of absolutely no use to Gideon.”

“No,” Ember shook her head. “You’re pliable and moldable right now.”

She glanced at Keegan before turning to face me again. “He knows that if he can sprout a little seed of evil in you now, it will always be there. No matter how hard you try to ignore it.”

“Why did I live an entire lifetime without realizing I’m a…” I couldn’t even bring myself to say it.

“It’s how our faction operates. We realize that witches are far more valuable once they’ve reached a certain age and lived a little.” Stella nodded happily. “For once, being an oldie is a goodie.”

I chuckled and glanced at Keegan. “I didn’t really think I was an oldie.”

Stella smiled as I returned my gaze back to hers.

I thought back to the book I’d found about the Academy and swallowed hard as my mind raced. If it needed to open to train new witches, I certainly hoped I was one of them who’d be in the first class.

“So what do we do? How do we stop him?”

“We strengthen our defenses,” Stella said. “Both yours and the town’s. The wards around Stonewick are strong, but they need to be reinforced.”

“And you need to learn how to protect yourself,” Nova added. “Gideon will keep coming after you, in your dreams, in your waking moments. You need to be able to resist him and his charms.”

“That won’t be a problem.” I glanced at Keegan, feeling a blush creep along my cheeks. “I’m not attracted to him.”

Keegan stepped away from the counter. His expression turned more serious as he sat across from me. “It’s not going to be easy, Maeve. Gideon and Shadowick won’t fight fair.”

“They never do,” Ember muttered.

“But you’re not alone,” Stella said, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “We’re in this together.”

Nova nodded, her eyes steady. “Stonewick has faced darkness before, and we’ve always come through. We’ll do it again.”

“Let’s start by teaching you how to strengthen your mental defenses,” Keegan said. “Gideon’s power lies in his ability to manipulate. If you can block him out, it’ll make it much harder for him to get to you.”

“Is it magic?” I asked.

He shook his head. “No, not exactly.”

“And the wards?” I asked.

“We’ll take care of those,” Ember said. “But you’ll need to be part of it. Your connection to the town is crucial. We just can’t rush things or provide any opening for Shadowick to enter in a real or imagined space.”

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of their words. It was a lot to take in, but I wasn’t about to let Gideon or Shadowick destroy everything.

“Alright,” I said, meeting their eyes. “Let’s get to work.”

The room was still heavy with the weight of everything they’d just told me.

Shadowick.

Gideon.

It was hard to absorb it all. But as I looked around at the faces of Stella, Nova, Keegan, and Ember, a nagging question came to the surface.

“How can you be so sure you can protect me?” I asked, my voice cutting through the tense silence. “You all just look… human to me.”

There was a quiet beat, and then Stella laughed softly, her usual sparkle returning to her eyes. “Oh, Maeve,” she said, placing a hand dramatically on her chest. “I’m flattered, really. But we’d all be in a lot more trouble if I were just a human.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, narrowing my eyes on her.

Stella exchanged a knowing look with Nova, who laughed.

Keegan nodded at Stella, who turned back to me.

Her smile widened to reveal—oh my God—fangs.

Not long and exaggerated movie fangs.

No.

These were deadly, sharp points where her canines should be.

The edges glistened, and a chill skittered over my flesh.

“Stella,” I said slowly, my voice rising, “are you trying to tell me that you’re a vampire ?”

“Ding, ding, ding!” Stella said, clapping her hands together. “Give the lady a prize! I was a practicing witch who turned.”

I stared at her, my brain struggling to catch up. “You’re joking.”

“Well, it wouldn’t be very funny,” Stella said, taking a sip from her teacup with the kind of elegance that could only come from over a century of practice. “I’ve been a vampire for quite some time now.”

“How long, exactly?” I asked, still half-expecting someone to jump out and yell gotcha .

Stella set her cup down and leaned back, her expression thoughtful. “Let’s see… I was turned in 1921, so that makes it…” She did some quick mental math. “Over a hundred years now.”

I blinked. “But…”

“Give or take,” she said with a casual wave of her hand. “And before you ask—because everyone always does—no, I wasn’t turned in the prime of my life. Obviously.” She studied me. “But I learned that is a very subjective way of looking at life because I’ve accomplished more at seventy than most twenty-year-olds could ever dream of.”

I chuckled in shock. “Well, you look great,” I said automatically.

“Thank you, darling, but that’s beside the point,” Stella said, leaning forward conspiratorially. “I was turned when I was seventy, and it’s been over a hundred years, so I suppose I’m actually closer to two hundred than anything.”

Keegan chuckled. “Give or take thirty years.”

Stella’s brows raised. “There comes a point when you stop counting.”

“Seventy?” I repeated, my jaw dropping. “You’ve been a vampire for over a hundred years, and you’ve been seventy that whole time?”

“All because of a bad hip.” She shook her head.

I frowned in confusion. “A bad hip?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Stella said with a dramatic sigh. “Of course, I couldn’t have been turned when I was forty and still turning heads and running at record speeds. No, fate decided to freeze me at seventy, with all the wrinkles and creaky joints to match.”

“But you don’t have wrinkles,” I pointed out. “Or creaky joints.”

“Well, true,” Stella admitted with a smirk. “Perks of vampirism. But I’ll never forget what I felt like at seventy—stiff knees, backaches, the works. It’s all mental now, but let me tell you, it’s a cruel trick.”

Nova chuckled softly. “Stella’s been milking that complaint for a century.”

“And I’ll milk it for another century, thank you very much,” Stella shot back. “You’d complain too if you missed your chance to be a young, sultry immortal. It still chops my hide.”

“I think you’re still sultry,” I offered.

Stella’s eyes sparkled. “Oh, Maeve, you’re my favorite already.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, the tension in my chest loosening just a bit. “Okay, but seriously—how did it happen? How does a seventy-year-old end up becoming a vampire?”

“Like I said, a bad hip.” Stella’s expression softened, and she folded her hands in her lap. “It was a different time, Maeve. Back then, life was… well, let’s just say it wasn’t as long or as forgiving as it is now. I was living in a little town not too different from Stonewick, and I was ready to look after my great-grandchildren. “But then, one night, a stranger came into town. He was charming, mysterious, and, as it turned out, not entirely human.”

I leaned forward, completely hooked. “So he just… bit you?”

“No. He started his attacks in town. My family…” She shook her head slowly. “I saw him go after my daughter, and I lunged at him. Hit him with my teapot. It surprised him enough to let my family escape while he turned to stop me from interfering.”

My hands flew to my mouth. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. I saved my family, but my hip gave out, and he got me. Simple as that.” She let out a deep breath. “I couldn’t be trusted around people, around my family in the beginning.”

I shook my head. “Trusted?”

“I needed to feast.”

A chill skated over me.

“Don’t be scared, Maeve. I’ve learned to control it now.”

I nodded, swallowing down the lump in my throat.

“But I went away for a long time. Found Stonewick. Listened to what the Academy had to teach me.”

“It’s not just for witches?”

“No, but it tends to lean that way. Plus, I’d been a seasoned witch before the turn.” She let out a deep sigh. “I was able to see my children and grandchildren continue their lives from a distance.”

“You couldn’t go home?”

“They thought I died. I couldn’t very well show up with fangs and expect…” Her voice cracked.

“I’m so sorry, Stella.”

“Don’t be. It comes with the territory.”

“It’s just so tragic,” I said softly.

“Rarely will you find a vampire without a tragic story. Leaving those you’ve loved behind, watching them age, experiencing their death, knowing you can never join them…”

Tears pricked my eyes when I thought about Celeste and my mom.

“Stella, you’re incredible.”

“No, I’m just a survivor. So are you.”

I shook my head, still wrapping my mind around the revelation. “I can’t believe I’m sitting here talking to a vampire.”

“Vampire, yes,” Stella said, raising her teacup in a mock toast. “But also your mentor, protector, and occasional partner in crime.”

“Has it changed you? Who you were?”

“Oh, yes. Becoming a vampire has given me compassion,” Stella’s gaze softened. “Life isn’t easy for immortals.”

“Stella is the kindest woman I’ve ever met,” Keegan told me. “The quickest to lend a hand.”

“I feel that.” I nodded when a thought occurred to me.

“Don’t you drink…” I cleared my throat. “Blood?”

Her lips curled slightly. “I do.”

My fingers instinctively touched my throat. “So, you could bite me?”

Stella’s lips pursed, and she shook her head. “Magic folk taste bitter. It’s the only deterrent nature could think of, I suppose.” She chuckled. “I mean, I’ll do it in a pinch, but it’s not my preferred type of…”

Nova shot her a warning look, and I laughed.

“I’m going to need so much therapy after this,” I muttered, but I couldn’t help smiling.

“Who said you didn’t need it before?” Stella asked with raised brows.

I chuckled.

“You’ll be fine,” Nova said, her tone light but reassuring. “You’re handling it better than most.”

Keegan, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke up. “This is why we can protect you, Maeve. Stonewick’s strength isn’t just in its magic—it’s in its people. We’ve got a vampire who’s been around longer than most of us can comprehend, a seer who knows what’s coming, and a whole community that’s ready to stand by you. This town is filled with people like us…like you.”

I looked over at Ember. “And you?”

She looked at Keegan, who nodded.

Ember smiled faintly and cocked her head. “I’m a ghost.”

“But Skye saw you…”

She nodded with a smile. “True. Many of us can surface if we deem it safe.” Ember shrugged. “Some call it haunting, but that just sounds over the top.”

I leaned back in my chair, letting their words sink in. Despite the absurdity of the situation, I felt a strange sense of comfort. They weren’t just relying on me. I could rely on them, too.

“Alright,” I said finally. “I think I’m ready to let go and truly believe.”

Stella beamed, her fangs glinting in the light. “That’s the spirit, Maeve. Now, who’s ready for more tea?”