Page 18 of The Witches Catalogue of Wanderlust Essentials (Natural Magic #2)
Chapter 9
A Reset
T he aunts had finally departed, but not without Will committing the heinous faux pas of offering to take Minodaura back to Montauk via a portal. He was still chilled from the glacial glare that his offer had been met with. That had been a first! Given that porters were a rare and dying breed, and those that still offered their services tended to charge a fortune, most folk jumped at what might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Minodaura had told him she’d rather walk the entire way home naked and barefoot, through a frozen briar patch. So that provided some clarity on how she viewed him and his offer.
It was just as well she’d refused. Offering to take her back had been an almost knee-jerk reaction. Will was a people pleaser. He’d really wanted to win over Zani’s prickly aunt. But his offer had been imprudent. He still wasn’t sure what had triggered the time slip in that last port. He knew he shouldn’t be carrying passengers until he was reasonably certain it wouldn’t happen again.
After a quick tour of the Mudpuddle, Maida led Will and Zani past the mudroom where they’d arrived. Gemini, the shop cat, greeted them and was now following them down the long hallway, purring and winding between their legs.
“The archives are through that door at the end.” Maida pointed toward an imposing door at the end of the hallway.
“Right. I recall. But let’s save that part of the tour till tomorrow.” Zani held up a hand, indicating that she’d seen enough for one day. “What I could really use now is a shower and a nap.”
“Of course.” Maida’s tone was soothing and apologetic. “I don’t know what I was thinking, trying to show you everything so fast. Let me take you right up to the guest apartment.”
“Isn’t Arthur Hart staying there with his daughter?” Zani stopped and turned toward Maida, a perplexed look on her face. “Last we talked, you said you were putting them up?”
“Arthur and Rosie were staying there for a while, but they recently moved into the main part of the residence with me.” Maida blushed. “So the apartment is empty now.”
“Is that so?” Zani arched a brow. “Then I guess we really have a lot to catch up on.” She shot a glance back over her shoulder at Will.
“You know I can head back to Boston,” Will said, suddenly feeling like the third wheel. “Maybe you two want to chat alone? I’ve got to get the van anyway…”
“No! Don’t you go anywhere, Will.” Zani wrapped a hand around his forearm. She gave it a squeeze. “I’m so grateful that you’ve stuck around this long. You’ve been an absolute rock today. I have an idea. I’d like to run it by you before you go.” Zani was tired, but emphatic.
“Okay, sure!” Will shifted Zani’s empty but weighty train case to his other arm, and attempted a nonchalant shrug. He hadn’t actually wanted to leave yet. But it seemed polite to offer. “I’ll just carry this up for you, then.”
“I’m so glad the two of you are finally getting to know each other. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me,” Maida said, grinning over her shoulder as they passed back through the center of the bookshop and toward the stockroom. “Follow me…”
She led them to a simple wooden bookcase on the back wall. Sitting on one shelf was an old, weathered copy of The Mudpuddle Manual of Natural Magic . When Maida tapped the tome, the case swung aside to reveal a simple wooden door.
Soon they were all winding their way up the spiral staircase to the third floor of the turret.
“The guest apartment is through here.” Maida gestured to a dark blue door with a brass compass rose eyehole set in the center. “It’s really lovely. There’s a wonderful view of the park from the couch in the living room. And the design on the fireplace tiles updates all the time. The house personalizes the art for whoever’s staying here. Arthur got a lot of pastoral scenes. It even served up a board game for Rosie once.”
“Great.” Zani’s monotone reply seemed perfunctory and a little impatient. “I can’t wait.” She was barely looking at the space. Maida, noticing her friend’s apathy about the apartment, appeared crestfallen.
“Wow! What a cool feature!” Will effused. He squeezed Maida’s shoulder and noticed the wallpaper in the hallway was lit with a million tiny pinprick-sized stars. They twinkled merrily at him.
The Mudpuddle’s magicality wasn’t as much of a novelty to a seasoned witch like Zani. Still, Zani could have been more polite.
Maida held the door open for them. As he passed by her, she met his eye and shrugged. They exchanged a glance that spoke volumes. Neither of them were about to make excuses for Zani’s rudeness, but they would not take it personally, either. She was clearly exhausted and none too thrilled to be told she’d need to stay longer than expected. It was awkward for everyone. Hopefully she’d be more herself after getting some rest.
Once inside, Zani walked straight to the window, staring longingly at the world outside.
“You know,” Will said, “it’s a great apartment. And it’s just for a little while. You won’t have to stay here forever.” He looked around for a good place to set the empty train case. “Why don’t I just put this in the closet? You don’t need it sitting out in the middle of the room.”
“Thanks,” Zani replied, without turning away from the view outside.
Will thought the apartment was lovely. Simple and more modern than the rest of the house, it had a clean, chic vibe that he’d describe as “Nordic bohemian.”
All the furniture was sleek and low slung. It favored a mid-century modern aesthetic. Faux fur throw pillows, hand-knotted woolen rugs and lamps with organic-looking blown glass shades were scattered about like jewelry. Not too much or too little of anything. It smelled clean and homey as well. Pine and lemon and a hint of wood smoke lingered in the air. The fireplace was lit. He walked down a short hallway, past a bathroom outfitted with a deep vintage soaking tub, and a coat closet. The door to the bedroom was ajar, and he showed himself in.
Will did not know what Zani was used to, but he didn’t think he’d mind living here if he didn’t already have his own place in Boston. And, of course, if Maida had invited him to stay. He wandered around in the bedroom, taking stock of the decor. He approved of the driftwood wall hanging and the simple upholstered headboard. The thick Berber rug was soft underfoot. The hand embroidered Uzbek quilt was another pleasant touch.
Will placed the train case on a tall shelf in the walk-in closet. Then he tested the bed. Nice and bouncy. Glancing back at the closet, he noted the blank back wall offered ample room for porting, should the need arise. And it was just a few steps from there to the bed…
Will pinched himself and stood up. He glanced out the window, but the view from the bedroom was more obscured by trees and the neighboring homes.
“I wonder how far it is from here to Fenway Park,” he called out into the other room. Neither Zani nor Maida answered.
When Will came back out, the women were seated on the long sofa in the living room, basking in the fire’s warmth. The fireplace tiles shimmered with an uncertain iridescence, like pond water before a storm. Zani was leaning back against the cushions with her eyes closed and a furry pillow on her lap.
“Aughhhh!” she groaned in frustration and then pummeled the pillow in her lap with her fists.
“I’m so sorry.” Maida looked like she felt sorry for the fluffy pillow, but she didn’t intervene. “I knew you and your family were estranged, but I did not know it was that bad! Are your other relatives any easier?” Maida tucked her legs under herself and leaned forward to search her friend’s face.
Will was struck by how different the two were. Maida, in her favorite work apron constructed from a mix of vintage prints, the very picture of the artistic, empathetic, free spirit. Her wild mane was sticking out all over. Her skin was pale, and her large violet gray eyes brimmed with sympathy and concern as she reached for Zani’s hands.
Zani, by comparison, was a study in careful, controlled composure. Everything about her was catalogued and contained. Her long, sleek, dark brown hair was still neatly corralled in a ponytail. Her black jeans and gray sweater demanded little attention, utilitarian as they were. She’d chosen her outfit to help her blend in, not stand out. The one exception was her elaborately embroidered boots. One of which, Will noticed now, was tapping out a frustrated, staccato beat.
“You thought that was bad?” Zani snorted. “Minodaura’s actually the most adventurous of the lot. Most of the rest of my family won’t even leave the lighthouse grounds. They had to form their own coven because they wouldn’t ‘risk’ going out to meetings.”
“No wonder you wanted to get away and attend an Ordinary school.” Maida sighed. “That must have been so difficult for you, Zani. I’m amazed that you blended in so well in college.”
“It wasn’t difficult for me. I’ve always been a bit of a chameleon.” Zani stretched and smiled. “Remember how I used to do tarot card readings for everyone in our hallway in the dorms? I didn’t have to hide my magic away entirely.”
“Of course I remember.” Maida laughed. “It was part of why I loved you so much. After being brought up constantly being told to fear and deny anything mystical or even remotely magical, you were my absolute hero.”
“Divination is widely accepted in Ordinary circles. That was all well and good, but I had to be so careful not to conjure by accident. I was constantly worried I’d trip up and start a fire in front of you!” Zani rubbed her hands together, and produced a small blue flame in her palm, which she immediately clapped out.
“Oh, spell yes! You’re going to have to teach me how you do that!” Maida clapped and laughed out loud. “I’m so glad fate put us together in the dorms.”
“Me, too.” Zani’s foot ceased tapping, and she smiled warmly at Maida. It was a genuine smile that Will thought was like the sun coming out from behind the clouds. If she could still smile like that now, perhaps she wouldn’t mind staying in Primrose Court for a while, after all? Once she got used to it. And they could all hang out together at the bookstore, and the cheese shop and…
“Are you okay, Will?” Maida asked, ending his short reverie.
He realized suddenly that both of the women were staring at him and he had that extra appendage feeling again. Their expressions seemed to say something like “Wait? What are you still doing here?”
He wasn’t quite ready to leave. Zani had said she still wanted to speak to him about something. He had to tamp down his insecurities.
Quickly, he crossed to the window. He stared out at the street, and the park beyond, watching some shifter kids tossing a football. In the treetops, a couple of pesky squirrels were trying to see who was moving into the Mudpuddle apartment. He yanked the window shade down.
He had nowhere else that he needed to be, save fetching the van back from the airport. That could wait. Eventually, he was going to have to sort out what had happened during that last port. He was dying to try to make it happen again. But first he’d need to make sure he could still port from place to place like he normally did.
Will pivoted to face the two women. “Do you think it was fate that brought the two of you together in college, or was it the Society? Seems to me that Director Berman had a lot to do with your initial meeting.”
“You’re right, Will. And she’s intervened again, assigning Zani to the Archives.” Maida nodded. “Perhaps she wants us to spend more time together again?”
“Perhaps she just wants to trap me at a desk job here. For my own good .” Zani made air quotation marks around the last two words.
“I doubt that was the director’s intention,” Will argued. “Most folk think it’s an honor to be tapped by the Society.”
“I guess I’m not ‘most folk.’” Zani scowled. Her fists were balled up, clenching the same pillow that she’d pummeled earlier.
“So don’t do it. Just leave,” Maida said. “They can’t force you to stay here. The doors aren’t locked.”
“Oh, no.” Zani shook her head. “I can easily defy and ignore my aunt, but one does NOT ignore the Society. I’m not foolish enough to think that would end well.”
“You’re forgetting something else,” Will piped in now. “You’re not really trapped here. Society edict or no—you now have a porter at your disposal. Your wish is my command.” Will bent at the waist and bowed with an elaborate, comical display. He felt immensely relieved when he saw Zani roll her eyes, unable to hold back the sunny smile that cracked through the clouds again. “Tell me wherever you want to go, and I’ll have you back by supper.”
“Or sooner,” Maida mumbled. A worried frown creased her forehead.
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about, Will. Can we please talk more about the ‘time slip?’” Zani asked, turning her attention back to Will now. “I’m assuming that sort of thing doesn’t happen to you all the time?”
“That sort of thing has never happened to me, Zanfira.” Will caught his own reflection in the mirror on the wall. He was surprised to see himself looking so serious.
“Why, or should I say, how do you think it happened?” Zani probed. “Why us? Why now?”
“I’ve been asking myself that same question all afternoon,” Will admitted. “And I don’t have the answers … yet.”
“Okay, let’s put a pin in that for now. Assuming we understand that, the thing I wanted to ask you...” Zani took a deep breath. “Would you be willing to try time travel with me again?”
Will knew he ought to be more concerned than happy at the idea of it happening again. There were a million things that could, and often did, go wrong when porting. And this was the case even when you were “merely” working within the dimension of space alone. But the thought of time traveling with Zani made the blood rush more quickly in his veins. It was an exquisite feeling, akin to flying through the air on a witch’s stolen K-Bike. He’d “borrowed” a ride once or twice while at school, but he’d always put the K-bikes back where he’d found them. There was something about what Zani was suggesting to him now that elicited that same feeling of throwing caution to the wind and doing something dangerous.
“We’ll see,” Will said noncommittally. He begged his heart to slow down and beat sensibly. Recklessness was not a trait that was encouraged in Porting Academy. It was the main reason Burnside Porter, who had been Will’s favorite instructor, had been fired. He’d been a bad influence, according to some, encouraging the students to explore navigating with all their senses, rather than sticking to the ley lines alone.
He was going to have to pay his old professor a visit as soon as possible. Possibly before he even went back to the airport to fetch the van. Possibly, now . He felt replenished and ready.
No time like the present.
“I’m not entirely sure why it happened now,” Will admitted. “But there’s someone from my past who might be able to help me figure it out.” He spoke tentatively, still formulating a plan. “I’d like to try something.”
“Okay.” Zani jumped to her feet. Will could see the slightest hint of color that flushed her cheeks and the excitement in her eyes. He thought it was a mirror of his own thirst for adventure. Sadly, he was going to have to let her down.
“I’m sorry, I have to do this alone,” Will said. It was impossible to ignore Zani’s dejected, disappointed look. She sank back down onto the couch.
“I just thought if we could port back to the train before the stone vanished, we might–”
“Might what?” Will interrupted her before she finished the thought. Her plea had the effect of ice water on his excitement. “It’s one thing to travel through time. It’s another to mess with history,” Will cautioned. “Anyway, it’s all conjecture. We still don’t know if I can do it again.”
“But … what if you can and what if there was a way to make it safe ?” Zani argued from the couch.
“You’re getting way ahead of yourself.” Will clenched his jaw.
There was something about the way she was pleading that unnerved him. Much as he liked Zani, he wasn’t willing to risk unraveling the entire tapestry of time to help her undo something that had already happened, and therefore must have happened. And he certainly wasn’t about to volunteer to assist with anything to do with that vampire partner she’d mentioned.
“As I said, we’ll see.” Will spoke in a way that made it clear he was done discussing.
He crossed the room to the wall mirror. Once in front of it, he clasped his hands together and twisted his palms away from his heart. He placed his hands on the mirror. In his mind’s eye, he pictured his Boston apartment, not very far from the Mudpuddle. Separating his hands and spreading out his fingers, he called up the ley lines. He used his fingertips to pluck at them, pulling certain strands from the overall design and twisting them together on a pinky finger. It was a bit like dialing a phone number, if a phone number could be dialed by pulling strings.
The trip from here to his apartment was a short and familiar route. It could be managed by the plucking of only one or two strands. So simple and close, he could already see his favorite chair, and the lamp beside it, in the shimmering beyond. But that wasn’t where he intended to go now. He’d just been using it as a test.
Will released the strands, feeling the fabric of the world go taut with possibility again. The portal remained open and his fingertips grew turgid, itching with the need to take him somewhere.
“Will.” Maida’s brows drew together. “You only just got back on your feet. Do you really think you should port again so soon?”
“What’s your favorite flavor of donuts?” he asked Zani.
“Chocolate.” Zani did not hesitate. She stared curiously into the void, then turned back to him. “No sprinkles. I hate sprinkles.”
“Okay, chocolate for you and plain for Maida.” Will bobbed his head as if making a mental note.
“I think you’re being reckless, Will,” Maida cautioned.
“I really don’t need donuts right now, Will.” Zani glanced at Maida and back at Will. “Please don’t do anything dangerous on my account.”
“Try not to be such a worrywart, Zani. Seems like your great-aunt’s got that part all buttoned up.” Will’s lame attempt at a joke was not met with any mirth.
“What will you do if you slip again, Will?” Maida shouted over the growing roar.
“I don’t know. I guess we’ll see!” Will replied. His heart was hammering again, half with excitement and half with fear.