Page 8

Holy Cross-Examination

M arty Tuey entered Tandy's office not long after she'd summoned him.

Adjusting his thick-rimmed glasses with the practiced gesture of someone who considered himself the intellectual superior in most rooms, he settled into a chair.

Marty's crystal shop exclusively sold stones labeled for modern problems like "WiFi Enhancement Crystal" and "Dating App Success Stone"---evidence of his self-appointed role as Cauldron Falls' modernizer.

"Vampires?" Marty snorted. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard since crazy Gregg Abbott tried to convince everyone his wands could boost cellular reception. Glad he's in the Salem pokey now."

"I know, right?" Tandy agreed, pouring them both cups of coffee from a pot that had been sitting on the warmer since yesterday.

She'd positioned herself strategically, so the light caught her bronze business suit at just the right angle to distract from the dusty shelves behind her. "Completely ridiculous."

A vampire magazine peeked out from the partially closed drawer. Tandy casually leaned against the desk, using her leg to push it shut while maintaining eye contact with Marty.

Marty accepted the stale coffee without complaint, too busy being indignant. "So, some crazy witch shows up with a bat, and suddenly everyone's hanging garlic? This town is stuck in the dark ages."

"Your aunt Hester would be so disappointed to see how quickly the town has reverted to old superstitions," Tandy said, casually dropping the name she knew would trigger Marty's deepest insecurities.

She had done her research---she knew exactly which pressure points would make Marty dance to her tune.

"How is she enjoying Europe? Still revolutionizing witch education in Vienna? "

Marty's posture stiffened slightly at the mention of his formidable aunt---the woman who'd raised him with a steady diet of progressive magical theory and disdain for traditional practices.

"She's in Prague now, actually. Running workshops on 'Deconstructing Magical Binaries' or something. She's very... busy."

The slight pause told Tandy everything she needed to know. Aunt Hester was too busy changing the world to check in on her nephew---the one she'd charged with modernizing their "hopelessly backward" hometown.

"Think about it," Tandy leaned forward conspiratorially. "What if, instead of fighting these vampire rumors, we... embrace them?"

Marty's expression turned suspicious. "How exactly?"

"Vampire tourism!' Tandy said, as if the idea had just occurred to her rather than being carefully planted. "Think of the publicity. We could put Cauldron Falls on the map. 'Visit the town that vampires wanted for themselves!' We could have tours, themed events, merchandise..."

She could see the wheels turning in Marty's head. His crystal shop had been struggling for months, despite his aunt's insistence that modern witches were the future of magic. "And my crystals could be marketed as vampire repellent alternatives for the modern witch..."

"Now you're getting it!" Tandy clapped her hands. "Just imagine the commission---I mean, the community benefits!" She caught herself, quickly adding, "Besides, vampires are technically very environmentally friendly! They don't breathe, so zero carbon footprint!"

Marty gave her an odd look but seemed too excited by the business potential to dwell on her slip.

"But first," Tandy continued, lowering her voice, "we need to make sure the town doesn't go into full panic mode. We need a countermovement. Show everyone these vampire rumors are just superstitious nonsense."

"What? That's kind of backwards. If we want this to be the town vampires wanted, why wouldn't we promote the rumors?" Marty shook his head.

"Well, first the rumors are not real," Tandy guffawed, though the lie burned her tongue like acid.

"Besides," she continued smoothly, "we need to come out on the right side of this thing. We need to be fighting the good fight. Against the old crones."

"A protest," Marty nodded, warming to the idea. "Against fear-mongering and outdated thinking. Exactly what Aunt Hester would do."

"Exactly! 'Vampires Are Fake News' or something catchy like that." Tandy refilled his coffee cup, ignoring his wince at the bitter taste. "You organize that, keep people calm, while I work on the tourism angle."

"This could finally be my chance to show that modern magic has a place here," Marty said, more to himself than to Tandy. "Aunt Hester has been saying for years that Cauldron Falls needs to evolve beyond broom-making and cauldron-brewing."

Tandy nodded encouragingly, pressing her lips into a thin line.

Cauldron Falls' traditional crafts were what made it special---what made the magical water that powered their creations unique.

The manufacturing of magical goods was the town's economic backbone, producing everything from wands to magic pointy hats.

But that economy had never found a place for a witch like her, whose meager magical talents couldn't even light a candle without a match most days.

"I saw Dottie and Darlene hanging garlic this morning," Tandy said, shaking her head sorrowfully. "And Miles was pushing 'anti-vampire' herbs at three times the normal price. Pure opportunism disguised as tradition."

"Typical," Marty muttered. "And let me guess---a protection circle around the town? Crosses in every window?"

"Some of the older warlocks were actually discussing building a giant cross in the town square," Tandy confirmed, seizing her opportunity. "Twenty feet tall, at least. A 'traditional symbol of protection,' they called it."

Marty scoffed so loud, he coughed a little. "Wasteful and unnecessary. Not to mention potentially offensive to non-traditional practitioners."

"I agree," Tandy said, leaning forward as if sharing a secret.

"Though if they're determined to build it, they should at least consult someone with actual construction knowledge.

I overheard them planning to secure it with standard ropes, not even magically reinforced ones.

" She'd searched a few structural engineering videos online ---amazing what you could learn so quickly when properly motivated.

"Is that dangerous?" Marty asked, suddenly concerned despite himself.

Tandy waved a dismissive hand. "Only if they don't balance the tension properly. The main support ropes need to be perfectly aligned with the center of gravity, especially for something that large. Otherwise, a strong wind could send it toppling onto some innocent bystander."

She paused, allowing Marty to absorb this information. "Of course, I'd offer my advice---I did sell that custom-built tower to the Griffin family last year, had to learn all about large structure supports---but they'd never listen to me."

"Why not?" Marty's eyes widened.

"No red hair. Everyone knows only healer witches have opinions worth hearing in this town." Tandy smiled bitterly.

It was a calculated appeal to Marty's own resentments. Like her, he'd always stood outside the inner circle of Cauldron Falls' magical elite---his progressive approach to magic as unwelcome as her limited abilities.

"Well, their loss," Marty said, standing and smoothing his precisely trimmed beard. "I'll get started on organizing the protest right away. We'll show them that rational thinking still has a place in this town."

"Perfect," Tandy smiled. "Oh, and one more thing. I heard that Roam O'Reilly is taking the vampire claims seriously. Apparently, his... relationship... with Honey Hadwin is clouding his judgment."

"Honey?" Marty's interest instantly piqued. He'd harbored an unrequited crush on the familiar trainer for years. "She believes this vampire nonsense?"

"Well, the crazy woman is claiming to be her long-lost sister," Tandy said with a performative raising of one brow. "Emotional manipulation, if you ask me. And Roam is just going along with it to keep Honey happy."

Marty's expression hardened. "I'll talk to Honey. She's too intelligent to fall for this medieval panic."

As Marty headed for the door, Tandy called after him, "Oh, and Marty? Remember, let's keep the tourism angle between us for now. Don't want anyone stealing our idea."

After he left, Tandy allowed herself a moment of genuine laughter. Useful idiots like Marty made her job so much easier. While he kept the town distracted with his protests, she could move forward with her real plans.

She opened the Falls journal again, carefully studying the pages detailing how the magical water needed to be "freely given" to maintain its power.

Forcing access would diminish its effectiveness---a fact Ronald needed to understand.

She'd have to find a way to convince the town to grant access willingly, or all her schemes would be for nothing.

"Not betraying the town if I'm improving property values," she muttered to herself. "Even if those properties will be owned by the undead!"

Tandy pulled herself out of her real estate reverie when she noticed the time on her office clock. Time for her daily attempt at basic magic. She squared her shoulders and faced the small candle she kept on her desk specifically for this purpose.

"Today's the day," she told herself, as she did every day. "Simple illumination spell. Every witch can do it. Even children can do it."

She closed her eyes, concentrating on the wick, channeling her magical energy as she'd been taught at the Cauldron Falls Witchery School. She visualized light, warmth, flame---all the elements of fire in their most basic form.

"Illuminare," she whispered, opening her eyes and pointing at the candle with practiced precision. The same word that came so easily to every other witch in Cauldron Falls, even the children.

Nothing happened.

"Illuminare," she repeated, more forcefully this time, her brow furrowing with concentration.

The wick smoked faintly.