Page 2 of When the Witch Met the Minotaur

“Quite the observant creature today, aren’t you?”

My face goes hot. A sure sign that I’m about to annihilate someone.

Like he has no cares in the world, the minotaur hands a vial to his next customer—a customer that should be mine—and takes their payment. I glare at him and raise my wand again.

“How dare you attempt to trick my fellow townsfolk?”

“I’m not.” He points to the green vials. “These are memory enhancers.” Next, he gestures to the pink vials. “These allow the drinker to fly for a bit. The sachets are for easing difficult relationships. They’re a twist on a typical love potion that I’m particularly proud of. Took me a full two months to perfect that mix.”

Ridiculous. He’s lying through his pretty white teeth. I spin to address those gathered.

“This is a sham,” I announce. “Minotaurs don’t even have a spark of magic.”

The crowd eyes me, then glances at the minotaur. They should know the truth of this already. The only Leafshire Cove folks who can do magic are Rom the gargoyle and Grumlin, mywizard friend with benefits. Their powers are incredibly niche though—nothing like a witch’s power.

I lift one of his vials and shake it over my head, my witch’s hat trembling like it’s angry along with me. “He is selling you junk. I guarantee this does nothing. He’s a charlatan. Only witches can create magic like this.”

“If you think I’m scamming these fine people,” the minotaur says, “why don’t you try one yourself?”

“Ha!” I jab my wand into his broad chest. His skin is a tan color, and he obviously doesn’t feel the cold much since his throat and part of his collarbone are exposed. “That just shows you know nothing about magic. Witches can’t be swayed by potions.”

The crowd is just watching all of this, and I’m over it. I have a powerful reputation in my town. I am not going to ruin it for this idiot.

“Oh, well, thanks for telling me,” he says. “I didn’t know that.”

I narrow my eyes at the trickster. “I suggest you get your stuff out of here before the hour is up. Someone will likely report you to the mayor and then you?—”

He lifts his hands suddenly and drops two handfuls of glittering dust. A unicorn appears in front of his cart, and the customers draw back, gasping and shouting with excitement. It’s just a stupid illusion, but I have no clue how he managed it without magic. The unicorn bucks and whinnies then disappears in a shower of stars. Everyone except me claps and cheers. They rush toward the cart again, pushing me back, and they begin demanding products from this charlatan.

“Can we buy one of those?

“How about two, one for each of my younglings?”

“Can you make one that looks like a lion instead? I’ll also take three of your relationship potions.”

“I need a flying potion! Yours are cheaper than hers.”

I blink at them, my former customers. I have to stop this or I’ll be ruined. I push between two pixies to get back in the minotaur’s face.

I jab his chest with my wand. “Listen, you, what kind of trick is this?”

“That’s for me to know and you to find out.”

“Are you serious? What kind of infantile statement is that?” My blood boils in my veins, and magic snaps and crackles within me.

Tail snapping behind him, he holds out his hands, palms up. “Easy, beautiful. Please don’t blast me to bits.”

I don’t even know what to do with his response. Growling, I whirl and storm away, my feet lifting from the cobblestones a few feet as I hurry away. If he won’t come clean about his little unicorn illusion, he must be using something dark. It must be dangerous. No matter what, his illusions go against the natural order of things. I can feel it in the air. It’s like a storm approaching and dropping the air pressure. And I can hear it—a high-pitched buzzing that likely no one but a witch can hear. I must tell Rustion. He will kick this fool out of town.

I pack up my things so no one can pity me. I loathe anything like that. I don’t need anyone’s kind smiles right now. I need a person of authority to take action. If Rustion won’t do it, I might have to do it myself.

I’ll probably accidentally murder the minotaur and the repercussions from that…

Well, it would be such a pain to deal with. Hiding a body. The threat of hanging. Far too much trouble. It’s time for winter fun, not managing a menace to our town. I want to ride in sleighs, make snowball cookies with Kaya, and join in on the new moon ritual that Grumlin always hosts at his tavern.

Stupid minotaur. Just the thought of that smirk of his has black smoke hissing from my wand.

Chapter 2