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willow

I ’d always been taught that black cats were a sign of good luck. Maybe that just came with the territory as the daughter of a witch, but every time I’d seen one, life seemed to look up.

A flash of black caught my eye as I winded through the quiet, shady street towards town.

This one was perched on the edge of the brick wall that bordered the path, his flicking tail garnering my attention as he licked his paw, like he didn’t have a care in the world.

Though I supposed he didn’t. I sighed to myself. The life of a cat.

“If only we could all be so lucky to laze around all day like you,” I said with a snort.

The little beast didn’t have a collar, so I assumed he didn’t have an owner. Shaking my head at myself, I adjusted the tote bag on my arm and continued on my way down the path.

Crunchy leaves littered the ground, giving a satisfying crunch anytime I stepped on one with my boots. The entire world was lit up with color, all the trees turning the magnificent hues of autumn.

Turning around, I looked back at the brick wall, but the cat was already gone.

I loved every bit of this season—when the air turned crisp and you could pull all the warm sweaters out of the back of your closet. It felt like the equivalent of wrapping yourself up in a warm, cozy blanket with a cup of hot apple cider in your hands.

But there was something extra special about the fall in Pleasant Grove. This town had always been a secret haven for witches, a cozy little town full of covens, where magic was ordinary. Long ago, the founding witches had shielded this place from the outside world, putting up protective barriers with magic. Giving us the freedom to be ourselves, not having to hide who we were.

I smiled as I saw a cobweb covered front porch; the lawn decorated with a giant spider. Families had begun putting out their Halloween decorations weeks ago. In our community, it was like a huge competition. We took it as seriously as the humans did their Christmas lights.

It was my favorite month of the year. Ever since I was small, I’d looked forward to my family attending the town’s festivities together. There was nothing better than the days where we’d decorate our house for All Hallows’ Eve, especially when there was a pot of pumpkin juice brewing.

I missed that.

The tantalizing aroma of sugar and baked goods hit me before I’d even reached for the door handle of the bakery and coffee shop in town— The Witches’ Brew. My sister and I had opened it several years ago, and it was still crazy to me how popular we were each morning.

But right now, it was quiet, the morning dew still settled across the town as the world only just began to wake up.

The bell rang as I entered the shop, my mouth watering from whatever was currently baking in the back. The sugar cookies were my sister’s specialty, iced with such precision. Everything she made was amazing, but I eagerly awaited fall each year, knowing that it meant pumpkin-flavored treats.

Heading into the kitchen, I dropped my bag onto the chair and went to grab my apron, smoothing my light brown hair into a ponytail.

“Wil!” Luna’s blonde curls popped into view. “Good morning!” Her cheery voice instantly smoothed over my unsettled mood. She’d always done that for me.

We were almost perfect mirrors of each other, my sister and I, except for our hair. We had the same little nose, the same bright green eyes, the same slant to our nose. And while she’d inherited my mom’s beautiful honey-blonde hair, I’d gotten the caramel shade from our dad.

“Morning,” I replied, tying the apron behind my back, inhaling deeply as if I could absorb the scent in the air. “How was your morning?”

Her dedication to the bakery side of our shop was the reason we had a line out the door most mornings. What skills I had with brewing potions, Luna had gained in her efficiency with breads, muffins, and all things sweet.

“It’s been good.” Luna’s face split into a grin. “I made your favorite.”

Mmm. I thought I had scented them in the air. “Are those chocolate chip pumpkin scones?”

“You got it.” She flicked her finger, levitating one over to me.

When we were young, our parents had encouraged us not to rely on our magic. Not all witches in our town, or even in our coven, had telekinetic abilities, but we were both lucky. Our powers had gotten us out of quite a few situations in a pinch.

The scone—still warm from the oven—landed into my hand, and I bit into it happily. “Oh. So good,” I moaned. “I needed that. This morning has been, well…”

I’d barely been able to drag myself out of bed this morning. And then there was the cat. I blinked.

“I saw a cat,” I said, the words slipping out.

Luna raised an eyebrow. “Babe. There are almost as many cats in Pleasant Grove as there are Witches. It’s the most common familiar, after all.”

Familiars were no secret in this town, and most people bonded for life with theirs. They weren’t just pets—they were part of the family.

The special bond you developed went beyond just pets and owners .

I’d had that once before—with my first cat, Binx—a big fluffy gray thing. The moment they had placed him in my arms at six years old, it was like I knew. He understood me, down to my soul. We had a connection that couldn’t be replicated. He’d been my familiar, my lifelong companion, and the creature of my heart.

But twenty-two years was a long time for any cat to live.

This summer, we’d dug a tiny grave in our backyard, Luna etching the little stone by hand.

Now my house was empty—quiet.

But it wasn’t just that. “This was… different.” I shrugged.

“Willow.” Her voice was soft—quiet. “I know you miss Binx. But maybe it’s time.”

To move on.

To accept that I’d have to find a new animal to fill my heart. My potions lacked a certain luster lately. Like something was missing.

Luckily, I could still make a mean mocha, since I ran the coffee shop side of our business.

I took a deep breath. “I know.”

Binx had a good life. It was time to let his soul go into the afterworld, to the beyond. He’d earned that right.

But it didn’t solve my loneliness. My sister had moved out of our parent’s home, the one we grew up in, six months ago, leaving me alone in the creaky old Victorian manor. I kept saying I needed to update it, but I hadn’t worked up the courage to go see the twins about renovations. If we weren’t witches, I would have sworn ghosts haunted it. Maybe it was.

“I was thinking about going to the shelter. Just to see.”

If there was a connection. If one called out to me. I’d been avoiding going for months. What was I scared of? That none of them would bond to me—or that one would?

I sighed, shaking my head. “I just need to get out of this funk.”

Luna dipped her finger in her icing bowl. “You know, it’s a good thing that the Pumpkin Festival is right around the corner. And Halloween! That always cheers you up.” She plopped that finger in her mouth, licking the icing off. “Needs more vanilla,” she said, crinkling up her nose.

“Yeah, but…”

I didn’t have a good excuse, so I just busied myself by getting the coffee ready.

My sister crossed her arms over her chest, staring at me. “Isn’t Eryne working the counter today? Why don’t you take the day off? Go look. And maybe go do something fun. You’re acting like your soulmate died, or something. ”

“Hey!” I frowned. No, that aspect of my life had long been dead. When was the last man I’d even dated? Probably before my parent’s death.

There was a reason I was twenty-eight and still single. The last few years, I’d hidden away, only leaving my parent’s home for work, errands and to see my coven. I was a homebody, I’d admit. I preferred curling up on my couch with a blanket and a bowl of popcorn to going out.

“There’s always The Enchanted Cauldron too,” she said, a sly smile on her face. “Who knows, Mr. Perfect might just waltz in and sweep you off your broom.”

I snorted. “As if.”

But my brain couldn’t help conjuring an image of a man—tall, dark, and handsome—swooping in to give me the most romantic night of my life. A girl could dream, right?

I shook my head. That wasn’t happening. Besides, I’d tried it before. I’d sworn off men, especially human men, for a reason.

“Maybe mom was right,” she mused. “When she said we should look into our futures. See who we’d end up with.”

I shook my head. “You know better than to meddle in our own lives.”

Some witches made a business of it. Even within our community, there were only a few blessed with the sight, putting them in high demand for their skills.

Luna didn’t like to call herself a Seer, but she had strong precognition skills. Instead of opening her own fortune telling shop, or moving to the human world to offer her services there, she’d chosen to pursue her passion.

Baking.

On the other hand, I hadn’t figured out my true, genuine passion yet. I was good at running our business, managing both sides and running the coffee shop, but it had never truly fulfilled me. Not like it did Luna. She was only three years younger than me, but she already seemed to have so much more figured out.

Maybe that was why I said what I did. Why I decided I’d stop living my sad little witch life, the one where I practically floated in stasis. Like my hands were holding me up, but not moving. I wanted to move—to fly .

To live.

“You know what… Let’s do it.”

Her mouth dropped open as she stared at me over the bowl of icing. “What?”

“Let’s go to the bar. We deserve a night out. You can wear one of those dresses I know you have stashed in the back of your closet, just waiting for the occasion.”

She squealed, throwing her arms around me. “Oh, Wil! We’re going to have so much fun!”

Her eyes dragged over my outfit, from the knee length orange corduroy skirt to the black body suit I’d tucked into it, topping it off with my favorite hat. Sure, it wasn’t sexy, but it was me. Comfortable. And the skirt had pockets.

Luna frowned. “You’re not wearing that, though.”

I sighed. “Promise you’ll go easy on me?”

Her face lit up. Trust my sister to be the one pastel-loving witch in this town. “I know just the thing.” She looked around before making a shooing motion with her hands. “Now go! Get out of here! I’ll come over once we’re all closed up.”

Thankfully, running a coffee shop and bakery in a small town meant having set hours, since no one really needed anything after about 4pm. After that, there was the diner, and the bar, and we were all too happy to close up early.

“Fine, fine,” I huffed, snagging another scone and levitating it over towards me. “But I’m taking this as collateral.”

Luna winked before ushering me out of the kitchen. I had a few things to finish up before I could actually leave, getting things ready to open for the day. Brewing the coffee, I steamed a cup of milk, sighing in satisfaction as the smells mixed.

I might not have had everything figured out, but at least I had coffee.

If nothing else, it kept me going.

* * *

Leaving the shop, I ate one last bite of my second scone, sipping on the coffee I’d made myself before Eryne had arrived. She was my favorite hire of the last year, down from her redheaded bob to the cute witchy earrings she wore to work every day. It was hard not to be festive when you worked in a store like The Witches’ Brew. Today’s were a pair of brooms.

It wasn’t even seven am yet. The morning was still young. I supposed I could go to the library, or maybe pop into my favorite apothecary shop. No doubt my reserves on herbs and supplies were running low at home, though I had plenty of time to restock before the next coven night.

I could go to the pet shop, but… I didn’t know if I was ready yet. It might have been months, but I still felt like I needed time.

Rubbing at the back of my neck, I sat on a bench on main street, taking in a deep drink of my pumpkin spice latte. This spot gave me the perfect view of our town, Main Street just beginning to come alive as people began to scurry about town, heading to their jobs and lives. Most of the shops didn’t open until nine, so even though the roads were busy, the sidewalks were still quiet.

It was the perfect way to enjoy the morning. Pulling a book out of my tote bag, I opened to the page I’d left off, letting the silence of the morning draw me into the world.

There was nothing quite as magical as getting lost in the pages of a good book. I’d always loved that feeling—looking up, and realizing I’d just spent the last three straight hours reading without a break.

When I finally put my bookmark back in, I checked the time. I’d agreed to meet Luna tonight, but what did I do with my free day? Sure, I’d done my job this morning—prep, but I didn’t need to balance the books. I’d already placed the orders for the next two weeks.

That meant… I really was free to do whatever I wanted.

Should I go to the pet shelter like Luna suggested?

I thought about the black cat from this morning, the one with no collar around his neck. No home. Was there a cat there, as lonely and desperate for companionship as I was?

That was what made me pause—the idea that someone else out there needed me too.

I shoved my book back into my bag, turning to go the other way on Main Street.

Towards the animal shelter.

* * *

“If you see anyone who you feel a connection with, or just want to take a closer look at, just call me over. I’m happy to let you visit with them, so you can see if you have a bond.” The young witch gave me a smile before leaving me in the room of cages.

It was hard to describe how deep the bond went between a witch and her familiar, but it was the reason I hadn’t been ready to replace Binx yet.

But… It was time. I knew it.

I wanted someone to come home to.

Even if that someone was, well… my cat.

Staring at the cages, I walked back and forth. The sweet brown cat stretched out her back, but despite the adorable twitch to her nose, I felt… nothing. Same with the tabby in the kennel next to her, and every one after that. Dozens of cats passed by, and there was no tug, no pull. No connection.

And yet… the black cat in front of me flicked his tail. Locked his bright yellow eyes onto mine, and then licked his paw.

He looked just like the cat from this morning. But that was impossible, wasn’t it?

Even familiars weren’t actually magic.

Lucifer, his little name tag read. He looked like a young cat, though certainly nothing like the little kitten I’d gotten all those years ago. There was something about him, though. Something that screamed, ‘ Take me home. I’m yours.’

That was the bond I’d been looking for. He tilted his head at me and blinked.

Who was I to argue with destiny? Hopefully, we would have many years together.

“Excuse me?” I asked the girl working at the shelter. “Can I… hold him?” I gestured to his cage.

Gods, I wanted to get him out of here. He seemed almost… irritated to be stuck in this over glorified glass box.

He deserved a big house to run around where he could chase mice and be petted to his heart’s content. And I could give him that. The biggest perk of inheriting the Clarke manor was I had plenty of space for the little beastie.

“Oh, him?” She asked me, wrinkling her nose. “He’s not very friendly. Are you sure?”

I nodded my head. “Yes, please.”

She shrugged, bringing me into a back room before she returned with the cat.

My cat.

Once the worker left, he padded over to me almost tentatively, cocking his head in an un-catlike manner as he watched me.

Another flick of his tail.

“Hey, kitty,” I cooed, holding out a hand towards him as he sat in front of me.

I tilted my head to the side, staring at him. “What’s your name, hm?”

The cat seemed to snort, as if the name the humans had given him annoyed him. He didn’t look like a Lucifer, even though when the light hit his eyes in a certain way they appeared almost… red.

But that couldn’t be possible.

I held out my hand, and he brushed against it. “They said you’re not friendly, but you’re like a little sweetheart, aren’t you?” I cooed.

And then he nudged my hand with his head, letting me pet him as he rubbed all over me, before climbing into my lap and laying down.

The purring all but confirmed that this was the one.

“Want to come home with me, huh, little beastie?” I scratched the top of his head.

He meowed, looking up at me.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

Scooping him up in my arms, I knocked on the door, summoning back the witch.

“I’ll take him,” I said, giving an affirmative nod. And if in agreement, the cat cuddled lazily into my arms, not a care in the world to me holding him.

Even my sister’s cat didn’t let me hold her.

The young witch peered at me skeptically. “You want the demon cat?”

I held him against my chest, frowning. “Yes. And he’s not a demon.” I scratched between his ears, and he looked up at me. “Are you, beastie?”

If only I had known.