FOURTEEN

“It’s green. Is it supposed to be green?” Tish was peering into the pot as she stirred it over the hot plate with a spoon made of yew. “It’s goopy too. Is it supposed to be green and look like glue?”

Faith looked up from the spell book and glanced at her cousin. Tish sported an apron over her little floral dress, and her mess of strawberry curls had been pushed back from her face with a headband. She wore a pair of thick safety goggles, rubber gloves and a hint of a frown over her green eyes.

It was early and they had come to the magic shop to try their hand at yet another tracking potion. Whether this attempt would be more advantageous than the first, would be anybody’s guess. Faith moved to peer into the pot. The potion inside was slowly bubbling, like lava on the discovery channel. It looked…wrong. Shouldn’t it be a lot less viscous? Faith wrinkled her nose. “I’m not sure.”

She went back to the level one spell book. It was dog-eared and worn and had drippings of candle wax—an old copy one of their relatives had used in school. The tracking spell was on the lower right corner of the page and continued on the next. Going back over the ingredients, she flipped the page. “Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no, no, nooooo!”

“What?” Tish came to peer at the book with her, eyes wide. “Did we forget something?”

“The pages. They’re stuck together. “We’ve mixed half a tracking potion with a salve for treating toe fungus. Stupid, stupid book.”

Tish giggled. It was infectious.

“It’s not funny.” She glared at her cousin, trying to keep a straight face. She couldn’t.

Tish turned off the hot plate. “Well, back to the drawing board.” She picked up the pot, setting it aside to cool. When she removed the spoon a string of snot coloured potion clung to it, stretching like pizza cheese. She wrinkled her nose. “Think we can compost this?”

“Ugh. Let’s leave it for Uncle.”

Tish readily nodded her agreement. She slid the goggles atop her head. “Sounds good to me.”

There was a clatter from the supply closet up front, and they both looked to see their uncle step into view, fighting with a mop as he did.

Tish’s eyes grew wide. “Do you think he heard us?”

Faith shook her head, smiling. “Uncle Rowan? What are you doing here?” He was wearing his usual chinos and sweater, but instead of his familiar button-down shirt he wore a turtleneck instead. He glanced up looking surprised to see them, as he untangled his legs from the mop and pushed it back into the closet before shutting the door.

“You mean other than fighting with a mop? Just, whose idea was it to put the portal in the broom closet anyway?” He winked at them.

Faith raised her eyebrow suspiciously. “That would be you. But seriously, why are you here?”

“Just fetching a book. And you ladies, what are you up to?” He headed towards the bookshelf in back of the shop. Scanning the shelves, he pulled out a weathered tome. On the way back he stopped to glance at the mess in their pot. His brow wrinkled.

“Miserably failing at potions.” A glimmer of hope rose in her chest. “I don’t suppose you could give us a hand?”

He shook his head. “Ah. Not today, I’m afraid. I’m already running late for my group.” He tapped the spine of the book. “Almost showed up without this.”

“Oh, right. How’s that going?” On Sundays, her uncle ran an outreach program for wayward wizards. Their members included a wide variety of men of different skill sets and ages, from widowers or bachelors without a coven of their own, to angst-filled young men with axes to grind.

“Good. I feel we are starting to come together.” He glanced at his pocket watch. “I do suppose I could spare a few minutes. What seems to be eluding you?”

They gathered around him, showing him the book. “Tracking potion.” Tish said.

Faith nodded. “I just can’t get it to work.” She thought of the first spell she had used when trying to find Allie. The way finder—Allie’s hairbrush— had just spun in circles.

Uncle Rowan looked at the spell. “What have you lost? Have you considered that getting a replacement might be easier than working the spell? Magic doesn’t solve everything.”

She shook her head. “I’m trying to find my friend.” And Maddie was irreplaceable, in so many ways: as a daughter, a sister and most importantly as a friend. She felt kinship for her from the moment they met. In a lot of ways, it felt like kismet.

“Ah. Well, that’s your problem then. This is a level one spell for lost items. If you’re searching for an entity, you need a level three tracking spell.” He went back to the bookcase and pulled out a leather-bound book. “Here, try this. And do pay attention to any notes that may be in the margins. I’ve refined most of these myself.”

Tish clapped excitedly. “How wonderful.” Faith frowned. At least one of them was happy to try the spell again.

“Well, I must be off.” Rowan said, returning to the supply closet. “Best of luck.” And with that their uncle was gone.

“Ready to try again?” Tish was beaming, her eyebrows raised comically. Leave it to an air witch to be overjoyed by the concept of more work.

She sighed. “I suppose.” But couldn’t suppress a smile of her own. Damn air aspects could be so contagious with their glass half full outlook on life. She flipped through the large tome, which wasn’t any school edition, but rather a large book of potions her uncle had acquired. It looked old, its pages were heavier than normal paper and had a slight yellow tinge to them. As he mentioned, there were handwritten amendments to many of the potions throughout. Some were substitutions, while others suggested an increase or decrease of this ingredient or that. Sometimes it even suggested the specific tool in which to stir or even the direction: anticlockwise for better absorption.

“This is amazing.” Tish was huddled up beside her as they flipped through the pages.

Faith nodded. “It really is.” To think of all the patience and time that her uncle had spent refining the potions within made the book feel special, and left her feeling a bit nostalgic, the way one might feel when they discovered an old family photo album and perusing through realized that the long-forgotten history within, belonged to them.

“Oh, there!” Tish pointed and indeed it was the spell they were looking for. “Potion for those who have strayed. Huh.” Tish read on. “Those who wander are not always lost, but if your paths remain uncrossed; Light the flame and stoke the fire, brew this batch to aid your scryer. Walk the steps your stray has roamed; and soon enough you’ll bring them home.”

Faith scanned the spell. “It doesn’t look that hard. Five ingredients, spring water and… oh, look! There’s a notation from Uncle. He’s crossed out the word crystal, in: ‘crystal wand’ and changed it to amethyst.”

“Do we have an amethyst wand?” Tish’s nose wrinkled.

“We must. It’s probably in one of the drawers here, or maybe in the front under lock and key.”

Tish began opening the small drawers under the edge of the table. “Nothing here. Oh, look. Gum.”

Faith shook her head at her cousin. “Out front then.”

The keys were kept in the cash drawer which remained closed during the workday but today lay open as they approached. Taking them, she unlocked the heavy drawer beneath the counter. There were a number of supplies, their ledger, an order book—normal everyday items used in the daily running of their little shop. In the back she spotted a shallow wood box. It was about eighteen inches in length and had a mahogany finish. She pulled it out.

“I recognize that.” Tish said. “It’s Uncle Rowan’s wiccaning gift from Nana. It’s made from rowan wood and these symbols are all hand carved.”

“Well, that’s fitting.” She nodded. Not only was Rowan her uncle’s moniker, but the wood was known for its protective qualities as well. She opened the little box and smiled. “Bingo.” Not only was there an amethyst wand nestled within the velvet lying, but other objects as well. She pulled out the wood and purple-crystal wand before replacing the box.

“Okay. Now we just need the ingredients. Why don’t you read them to me, and I’ll gather them up.”

“Sure, okay.” Tish returned to the spell book post-haste. “We need berry of the elder tree times three; for wisdoms past, present and future.”

“Elderberry…” A harmless ingredient. Faith crossed to the other side of the shop where shelves lined the wall and housed a wide assortment of sundries. She located the dried berries in an octagonal shaped jar and pulled it down. “Check.”

“A sprig of wandering Jew.”

“What’s another name for wandering Jew?” Faith quizzed her cousin as she spotted the dried plant in the floral baskets below.

“Spiderwort or inch plant.”

“Correct, and check. What else?”

“Eight tepals of knotgrass to bind.”

“We’re running low… but check.”

“Stars of agrimony to light the way.”

“Why are they called stars?” she asked as she scanned the shelves.

Tish exhaled noisily and Faith could not miss the note of disdain in her voice. Apparently, her cousin wasn’t in the mood for a lesson. “Because the five petaled flowers resemble the five points of a star.”

“Correct. And how many do we need?”

“Seven, plus or minus two. I guess that depends on strength?”

“We’ll use nine then.” She figured they needed all the help they could get. “And last but not least?”

“Fairy whisker. Fresh is best.”

Faith headed back towards the counter and set the supplies upon its top. Mythical ingredients like harpy feathers and dryad tears were kept in a locked cabinet among the poisons. It wasn’t that they were necessarily dangerous—just rare, and as a result expensive too. She retrieved the keys and unlocked the glass cabinet, searching the shelves. Each jar within had a small handwritten label in her uncle’s notoriously neat and tiny penmanship. She pulled out the small cork-topped bottle and peered inside. Oh, crap. “I don’t suppose you know of a substitution for fairy whiskers—maybe wizards’ beard or milkweed down?”

“Milkweed down?” She could hear the skepticism in her cousin’s voice. “Are you trying to trick me?”

“Not at all.” Faith sighed. “It was just wishful thinking on my part, ‘cause we are fresh out of fairy whisker and I am fresh out of ideas.” She groaned. Botanicals and seeds were easily acquired, in fact most spring they grew some out back of the shop and in winter at the greenhouse at home—but fairy whiskers… that was something only bought out of necessity. And whomever had used the last one hadn’t restocked. What the heck? It wasn’t like there had been a sale on tracking potions.

Tish came and joined her at the front. From out of the drawer, she pulled a worn red notebook that was alphabetized like an address book. “There should be a list of suppliers in here.” She turned to the F section. “Let’s see… fairy tears, fairy tooth—well, that’s a switch—fairy wings… ah. Here it is. Fairy whisker. There’s a name and number here for Cornelius Bung.” She wrinkled her nose. “Ugh. Cornelius? Do you think his parents hated him?”

Faith frowned and shook her head and pulled out her cell phone to call.

A deep and gravelly voice answered. “Bungs emporium, Cornelius Bung speaking. What can I fetch-ya?”

“Hi. I’m calling from the White Willow and I’m looking for Fairy Whiskers. Is that something you carry?”

“Yep. Fairy whiskers.” He repeated. “Let me double-check.” There were some muffled sounds in the background as he set the phone down, and Faith thought she could hear him speaking with someone.”

“Fairy whiskers; can do. That’ll be five for five.”

“Five dollars?”

“Are you playing me toots? Five hundred.”

Crap. She knew they’d be pricy—most mythical items were—but she didn’t expect them to be that expensive. “How much for one?” she asked hopefully.

“Serious Sweetheart? It’s five for five. Take it or leave it. I should be charging extra for having to come out on the weekend. At least it’s not raining.”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“I’ll take it. Them, I mean. Where are you located?”

He laughed gruffly. “Nice try. Meet me by the tunnel in the courtyard between Prince and King Street. Do you know it?”

“Of course.” Faith nodded. The court was between the streets and housed tiny bistros and specialty shops, which were attractive to tourists. There was a pedestrian walkway, a path and tunnels that joined the three streets to the courtyard in the downtown core. It was also supposedly haunted by a woman in black.

“Thirty minutes.” The gruff voice said before hanging up.

Thirty-minutes. That didn’t give them much time. She locked the cabinet and picked up the spell ingredients and headed to the worktable in back. She read the spell directions, and found it was fairly straight forward. Bless two ladles full of water and add the first four ingredients in the order they appear. Stir against the clock with a crystal (or amethyst) wand while speaking the incantation. Bring to boil and then simmer gently until the potion is but half. Cool completely and only then do you add the whisker last. Strain and Cork immediately.

She turned to Tish. “Okay. Start by blessing the spring water. That will take some time. Do you have your athame? If not borrow uncles from his wiccaning box up front. I know I saw one there.”

Tish’s eyes widened as she shook her head. “Wait a minute! There’s no way I’m starting this without you. You know how bad I am at potions. It’s my weakest subject.”

“But it’s very straightforward, Tish.”

“Uh-uh.” She shook her head defiantly as she crossed her arms. “Nope! I refuse.”

Faith took a deep breath and tried not to let her irritability fall into her voice. “But one of us has to start the potion while the other meets up for the fairy whiskers.”

“Me. Dibs. I call dibs. That. I’ll do that.”

“No, Tish. I can’t let you go out to meet a stranger on your own.”

Tish frowned. “I don’t see why not. I’m not a child. I’m an adult. I can even buy beer. Besides, its broad daylight, and there’s bound to be people around.”

Oh, crap. She nervously bit her nail as she considered. Did she even have a choice? Tish had a point though; sometime when she wasn’t looking her little cousin had grown up. She could feel herself caving. She groaned miserably. “You promise you’ll be careful?”

Tish beamed “Careful as Carter.”

Wait. What? “What does that even mean?”

Tish shrugged. “It’s a saying.”

Faith shook her head. “No. I don’t think it is.”

“C’mon, Faith. I promise I’ll be careful. Scouts honor and everything.” Tish begged as she clasped her hands together as if in prayer.

“Fine okay,” She went to the safe hidden beneath the counter. She punched in the code and took out yesterday’s deposit, before counting out a wad of bills.”

“Here’s five hundred dollars for five fairy whiskers. Five for five. Make sure you count.”

“Of course.” Tish slipped on a denim jacket before grabbing her purse. Along with her keds, she looked absolutely adorable.

“You’re to meet him in the courtyard between Prince and King streets. You know the pedestrian tunnel there?” Tish nodded as she slipped the cash into her little purse. Faith shook her head upon seeing it. It was red, shaped like a ladybug and matched the red floral print on her yellow dress—and Tish wondered why they all still thought of her as a child.

“I’m off.” Tish said as she unlocked the front door, stepped outside, and paused momentarily to wave before heading off up the block.

***

Nathan yawned. “Why exactly, are we here?” He was sporting a serious case of bedhead, as he slumped across the table, his arms cradling his head. He peered up at Nick from over the frames of his dark sunglasses, blue eyes looking sleepy. Nick thought it was strange that he had decided to join him, since he wasn’t much of a morning person…nor was he a day person for that matter. Generally speaking, being a vampire and all, daylight specifically wasn’t usually his thing.

Nick passed him a coffee as he joined him. They were sitting outdoors at the coffee shop, Sweet Sips. He had picked the table furthest away from the building, isolated and near a tall privacy hedge. He doubted the round, metal, umbrella-clad tables would remain out for much longer. It was already mid-October and this morning a hard frost had covered the lawn when they’d left the apartment. The sky was overcast, and the morning air felt thick, like it wanted to storm. Aside from themselves, the small group of tables were empty. Across the street he could see the magic shop, just beyond Nate’s shoulder.

He took a sip of his coffee, which smelt like a wake-up call and was rich, creamy, and only slightly sweet. He shrugged. “You didn’t have to come.”

Last night he’d had Faith drop him off behind the building, where he’d slipped in the back way. When he’d got to the apartment, Nate was already in the living room watching Webflicks and mooching beer. When Nick hadn’t shown up at the Pitt, Nate had taken it upon himself to drop by. It had worked out however, as Nate was able to “help” put Damon to bed by offering him a feed of fresh blood—which would jumpstart the healing process—while he’d gone back out to retrieve his bike.

“Well, I couldn’t let you go out on your own,” Nate mumbled as he opened his coffee and took a sip. He wrinkled his nose and made a face.

Wait. Couldn’t? What the hell? “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Nate swallowed and suddenly seemed extremely interested in his cup. “Uh, well…” He stared at his hands and the cup therein, refusing to make eye contact even from behind his darkened shades. “Thing is… I heard you got jumped by your pack.”

Jumped. Damn. Nick felt his jaw clench. He supposed that was the truth, however he had hoped that little tidbit of information would remain private. He cleared his throat, trying to appear casual. “Where’d you hear that?”

“Damon.”

That Jackass. He frowned as he fiddled with his own cup of coffee. “And… does anyone else know?”

“Hmm…just Ryan, I think.”

Aw hell. If Ryan knew, then that meant Teresa also knew. Which meant that if Molly and Jess didn’t already know, they soon would. He sighed and scrunched down in his chair feeling small. He already felt like the misfit of the group, knowing he could never truly belong in their world, and he was a pariah in his own, for few wolven looked kindly on a wolf who consorted with vampires.

He took a sip of his coffee. “I don’t need a babysitter, Nate.” He tried not to sound as disgruntled as he felt. Behind Nate the little shop sat quiet and undisturbed. From his conversation last night with Faith, he had suspected she might drop by. But it was Sunday, and few cars lined the street as many of the shops were closed for the day.

“Of course not. I know that.” Nate shrugged. “It’s just… sometimes it’s nice to have someone watch your six.” He glanced over his shoulder, perhaps trying to determine what Nick had been staring at.

“Do me a favor?” Nick indicated with a nod of his chin, “Walk by that shop over there and let me know what you see.”

“Me? Why me?” Nate turned in his seat to take a better look.

He shrugged. “I thought you had my six, but if you don’t want to—” He made a half-hearted attempt at standing up, only to have Nate jump to his feet.

“No, I’ll do it.”

He watched Nate cross the street, hands shoved deep within the pockets of his jeans, as he walked slowly along the large picture windows. When he had passed, he turned around and made a return trip before rejoining him at their table.

“So, what did you see?”

“Well, they are closed according to their sign. However, there are at least a couple of people inside. There are lights on in the back and I spotted two girls.”

“One a small blonde?”

“Uh, yeah. I mean, the windows are dark, but one of them could have been blonde.”

He’d hoped to have seen Faith’s car, a gold sedan, parked nearby but it appeared she was already inside.

“So, why exactly, are you stalking this girl?” Nate took another sip of his coffee and made another face. Perhaps he should have gotten him tea.

“I’m not stalking anyone. I know her. It’s Faith. Do you remember Allie? Cute girl from the bar? Well, she’s missing and I’m helping Faith find her.”

“Huh.” Nate appeared to think about this for a moment before asking: “Does she know you’re out here helping?”

He had him there. “Ah, well… she just hasn’t realized she needs my help yet.”

“Uh-huh.”

Across the street, the door of the magic shop opened, and a young red-haired woman stepped out. They watched as she waved to someone behind the glass before walking briskly up the street. When she was up the block and out of view, Nick started to strip.

“Uh, wait. No. What are you doing? Aww, please, don’t.” Nate was glancing wildly around as Nick dropped first his motorcycle jacket and then the shirt he’d been wearing onto the table. Nathan always got a little weird when the naked happened.

“You stay here and watch for Faith. If she leaves on foot, then follow her, I doubt she’ll recognize you. I’m going to shadow the red head.” He kicked off his sneakers.

“Why? Because you happen to have a thing for red heads?” Nate’s tone was mocking.

“No. Well, yeah, you know I do. But that’s not why. I was thinking more along the lines of how it’s sometimes nice to have someone watch your back.” He smirked as he threw Nathan’s words back in his face. “Know what I mean?”

Nate frowned and looked away as Nick shucked off his jeans. “I said ‘six,’ ‘I’d watch your ‘six,’ which is way, way cooler.”

Nick grinned, not that Nathan could recognize it as such as he was now in his wolf form. Instead, he wagged his tail enthusiastically.

***

Tish glanced at the time on her phone as she walked briskly along the street. She had twenty minutes to get to the meeting spot and if all went well, she would reach her destination with time to spare. It was good that Faith had entrusted her with this task, it felt good to be deemed trustworthy by her older cousin.

She was the baby of the family and sometimes it felt like they didn’t take her seriously. It didn’t help that she often had her head in the clouds and as such sometimes appeared a bit scatterbrained, an appearance she’d recently been trying to overcome. She’d buckled down on her studies and had gone out of her way to take on more responsibilities at the shop.

This errand today was just one such step. Besides, she really did find potions intimidating. She hadn’t been kidding when she told Faith that it was her weakest subject. She was most proficient with the air element, so the spoken word or incantations was where her strengths lay: in the power and the breath and the meaning behind the words. Now if she could only master Latin…

She kept a quick pace as she turned onto Prince Street. The sky was overcast and growing darker with every minute. The wind had picked up and it looked ready to rain. She crossed the street at the next corner and reached the narrow walkway that extended down between two buildings to the courtyard beyond, just as fat drops of rain began to fall on the brick path in front of her. There was not one, but two restaurants in the court, with enough space for each to have an outdoor patio during the summer months. Her meet up was to take place in the covered walkway next to the Piggly Wiggly bar and grill which led out to King Street, and she hustled to get there to escape the rain.

She reached the archway to the tunnel just as the sky broke open. The rain stormed so hard that it bounced as it struck the patio stones and the wind picked up whipping her skirt about and spraying her with a mist of cold water. She exhaled loudly. Just made it.

Turning, she peered into the tunnel. It was darker there. The lights that were scheduled to come on at night hadn’t lit just because the sky had darkened. She pulled her jacket close to her, crossing her arms to hug herself as she did. For the first time she felt nervous about her errand. The “people” that she assumed would be out in the square had been driven to shelter by the sudden downpour. She took a deep breath. You can do this. She pulled her cellphone from her breast pocket as a noise behind her – like the rush of wings – made her jump. She wheeled to see not a bird, but a large dog that had also taken refuge from the rain, the startling sound a result of the dog shaking the water from its thick coat. When he had finally finished shaking, he looked up at her with brilliant blue eyes. Oh, he’s beautiful. She bent forward, placing her hands on her knees as she looked down at the silver and white dog.

“Why, aren’t you a handsome boy,” she said, her voice mirroring how one might speak to an infant. “Yes, you are. Oh, yes you are.”

In response, the dog cocked its head to the side as he regarded her curiously.

Tish looked back out to the empty square. “But where’s your mommy or daddy?” She peered through the heavy sheet of rain. Seeing no one, she dropped to a squat and stretched out her arm as if she were looking for a fist bump. He approached her carefully, smelling her hand before coming closer and licking her on the chin.

“Aww… you’re a sweet boy.” Feeling secure, she reached out to gently stroke his head, before ruffling his neck as she searched for a collar that might be hidden within his thick mane of fur. Huh. No collar. He looked healthy and well taken care of. “Someone’s gonna be missing you.” She said as she stood. If he’d had tags, she would have taken the time to call. Oh, well.

She turned to the dark tunnel behind her and flipped on the flashlight in her phone. The area immediately beyond was empty, but up ahead the tunnel turned.

She took a deep breath to settle her nerves before moving on. Around the bend, a short and stocky man leaned heavily against the wall ahead. He looked up at her as the light from her flashlight caught his attention.

“Hello,” she chirped, hoping her voice didn’t betray her nervousness.

“Are you the bird who called?”

“Bird?”

“You know, the one looking for…” he lowered his voice as he glanced around suspiciously, “the fairy whiskers?”

Tish nodded. “Yep, that’s me.”

The man breathed a sigh of relief. “Afraid you weren’t gonna show. Didn’t want a wasted trip. My kind, we don’t much like the rain.”

“Your kind?” Her voice sounded timid as she spoke.

The man regarded her stonily, before his eyes momentarily flashed red.

Oh! A demon. Somehow that made sense as fairy whiskers wasn’t your run of the mill item.

“Did you bring the cash?”

She nodded as she approached, hugging the opposite wall of the tunnel before turning to face him. “Five hundred for five, right?” She pulled her purse forward to search for the cash Faith had given her.

The demon grunted as he stood up from the wall. “It’s six now.”

Tish froze as an icy burst flooded her veins. “What? Didn’t we agree on five?”

“That was before I had to come out in the rain.”

Tish shook her head. “The deal was—”

“That was my brother’s deal.”

Your brother?”

He nodded. “Cornelius. I’m his brother, Bart.”

Bart Bung? Wow. That was so much worse than Cornelius. “But I don’t have six hundred. I only brought five.”

Bart stepped forward as Tish backed up against the cool stone of the wall. “Then you have a problem.”

“Can’t you give me a break?” Her heart thumped loudly in her chest as he approached. She wondered if he could hear it.

“Do I look like a charity, here?” He grumbled as he towered over her, his eyes looking her up and down. “Maybe we can work out a deal.”

“A deal?”

“You give me the five hundred,” he took another step forward and placed his thick hands against the wall on either side of her. “And maybe you can work off—”

He broke off suddenly, as his eyes widened. Tish soon became aware of a strange sound, like water spraying against canvas. When the demon looked down, she followed his gaze.

The dog was there, and he had lifted his leg to piddle against the demon’s pantleg, which was now dripping with a darkening stain from the knee down.

Bart jumped back, wheeling to face the dog. “You, get!” he yelled and took a step forward to kick at the dog. The dog easily dodged the attack and barked once at him before dropping into a play-bow and wagging its tail at the demon.

While the demon was distracted, Tish took the moment to back away from him. She didn’t know how she was going to get the fairy whiskers now that he had changed their deal, but she hadn’t liked the way he’d been leering at her.

Bart shook his leg, attempting to shake off some of the wet before he realized that Tish had retreated and was now a few steps away. He looked towards her and narrowed his eyes. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“I’ve changed my mind,” she continued to back away. “If you’re not honouring our deal, then I’ll look elsewhere.”

An angry growl rose from the demon’s throat and his eyes glowed red as he rushed her. Tish turned to run as he grasped her by the shoulder and pulled her violently around, just as the dog sprung on him, knocking him away from her and down to his knees.

“Oh, good boy!” Tish praised, as the dog pranced around the demon, his tail wagging happily. “Such a good boy!”

The demon snarled as he abruptly jumped to his feet, shoved Tish, and snatched her purse from her shoulder before running away in the opposite direction.

“Hey!” She struggled to keep her balance as the dog raced after Bart, easily catching up to him, and darting between his legs as he ran. Bart stumbled and went down hard, throwing his arms out in front of himself to break his fall. He froze, sprawled out on the pavement when the dog leapt on his back, one paw resting heavily on the side of his face, its gaping maw at his throat, as it growled in warning.

“Okay, okay, I give up.” Bart called out as Tish arrived. “Now call him off.” He raised his hand with the purse in a gesture of surrender.

Tish snatched back her handbag and shrugged. “Not my dog.” She turned to walk back the way she’d come.

“Please,” Bart begged after her. There was a note of terror in the demon’s voice.

Tish sighed. She stopped and turned, slapping her hands against her thighs as she called him. “Here boy. Where’s my good boy?”

He immediately responded, running up to her side as she turned and made her way from the tunnel. At the bend, she glanced back to see that the demon was already gone. Dang. I should have made him honour the deal. She sighed. She’d been too scared to think clearly and now she had to return empty handed. Faith was not going to be happy.

Stepping out of the tunnel she began walking back to the shop with the dog happily at her heels. At least it had stopped raining.