Evelina was opening up for the evening. The smell from the bakery was marvellous. There was cinnamon and cardamom scents several blocks away. She hoped Evelina had made her special frosting. Almond sugar and butter always did the trick.

The bell rang when Sasha opened the door. As the waitress turned around her eyes was not stuck on her friend, instead her eyes was glued to a spot just above her.

“Well, I guess I should introduce my new pet”, Sasha said. “She is a bit pushy, but has a heart of gold.”

“Sasha!”

Evelina got caught of her just then, and she dropped her tray on the closest table and gave her a big hug. Flour was now covering Sasha’s black cloths from top to toe.

“God, what I have missed you”, she whispered into the smaller woman’s hair.

She smelled exactly as she had always done. Like home, like flowers, meadow and earth.

“Will you stay and have a cake?”

“I would love to”, Sasha said.

Evelina smiled and headed behind the desk, picking up two real big cardamom buns, with frosting.

“Can you cover for me for a while?”

Evelina’s colleague nodded. Would she have done anything else Denise would probably had roasted all they had to offer. She was drooling in front of the sweets, her tongue sticking out o bit and smoke pouring out of her nose. She barely held the fire back.

“You want some as well sweetie?” the elder woman said, looking fondly at Denise.

“Can I? Really? The green one, with wiped cream? Or maybe the chocolate cake. I have a sweet spot for blueberry pie. Or maybe…”

“You know, I think I know exactly the right spot for you. Come around here, and take a look where we produce them. You can take a bit out of each, and then you pick can which one you like the best?”

Sasha sighed and looked at Evelina.

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“What if I can undo everything? Give you back the years you missed.”

“Oh Sasha, I would still have my memories. Each time I see magic, each time I think of what you do for a living.”

“I wish it had never happened.

Evelina took a big bite out of her cake.

“You know, Andy was here the other day.”

Sasha nodded, encouraging Evelina to continue. She sighed and her eyes were shiny.

“I said I should think about it, but honestly, I just cant.”

“I hate him.”

“I hate him too Sasha, and I hate that he still has the power to hurt me.”

“Andy really likes you”, Sasha said. “You know he is nothing like...” she whispered, well aware of Evelina’s tense shoulders and how she looked around. It was her dirty secret. And Sasha didn’t blame her. She had come here to start a new life, where no one knew. “You really ought to give him a chance, and you deserve to get your powers back. You loved to be a witch.”

“Sasha”, Evelina’s voice was broken. Sasha hated to see her like this. She hated to be powerless.

Just that this time she wasn’t. This time she actually could do something about it. She didn´t need Denise. She had the perfect idea. Inside of her she had the magic that belonged to her friend. To make the exchange she had to take something that belonged to Evelina, and give her hers life back.

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

“Well then. I will fix this, and I will make him pay. Just come with me for a walk outside. I have a really god idea.”

Sasha managed to sneak out without neither Denise nor the other waitress noticed. She held Evelina tight in her hand, pulling her outside and looking for somewhere more private. At the bakery’s backyards they could almost disappear between the apple trees.

“What are you about to?” Evelina whispered. “It’s almost as when we were children, hiding from your mother.”

“This is almost the same. Denise is really a powerful dragon queen, although an old one and you have to keep quit so she does not sneak up on us.”

“Right” Evelina said. “And we can lay here under the apple tree and talk all day instead of harvest herbs.”

“Or instead of baking cakes and serving tea?” Sasha suggested. She squeezed her friends hand tight. This was it. “Ready?”

“For what?”

“For some real magic”, Sasha said. She called the warmth from within. “I call upon the six ghosts of Aliyah. I call the protectors.

“You needed us?”

She couldn’t believe it. They really came, all the four hollow ghosts were standing in front of her, some of them looked more like they were hanging from the three. Evelina’s eyes was big, she squeezed Sasha’s hand hard.

“I need to do an exchange.” Sasha said. “I think you know”

“We see”, the ghost circled around Evelina, “so troublesome, so beautiful. We do cry for her. We know what is hurting her.”

Evelina stood as frozen to the ground.

“Are you sure?” one of the ghosts circled closer to Sasha. “It can’t be undone.”

“I am sure.”

“Then. Say goodbye. You will never shed a tear.”

Sasha smiled. The magic was flowing from her. The deed was done, and it felt truly joyful. This was right.

“Sasha!”

She turned around, simultaneously as Evelina. At the door towards the bakery a pink dragon came flying.

“What are you doing out here?”

Sasha looked at the dragon, and looked back at the apple tree.

“I really don’t remember. Everything feels blurry.”

“Well, how odd. I can’t even remember why we are here”, Evelina said.