Chapter 3

Bri

A few hours later I ducked into the backroom of the coffee shop where I worked. I didn’t need to work there, I had enough deposited into accounts to keep myself stable for years, but my mother and the group couldn’t say no as things had to appear normal. To be honest it was the most normal thing in my existence. The feel and vibe of the place kept my magic subdued and the pot was an added perk. It was for my sanity. Maggie, my boss, sat in a chic fringe chair, with her legs propped up on her messy desk, pulling a joint from her lips she smiled holding in the smoke, and held it out in offering. I walked across the room and took it gratefully. One inhale and it felt like melding closer to earth which I craved. Passing it back I held in the smoke until my lungs burned, letting it out a haggard cough escaped me that nearly choked me. “What's with you today?” She eyed me. I had taken that hit rather aggressively I supposed. I perched on her desk. I still kept my eyes cast down but I shrugged and met her hazel orbs with the briefest of acknowledgment before sighing heavily. “My arch-nemesis kissed me.” I blurted. “You win,” She announced, handing the joint back to me and standing, to head for the cafe kitchen. It was almost time for the music to start.

I was starting to feel my body relax from just being in this space, and as my energy began to settle I pulled out the burner phone. If I wasn’t with Zoey or Maggie I wasn’t safe with my powers anymore. They always had this healing, calming, radiating energy that reminded me of my father. They were family, they didn’t expect anything from me, just enjoyed my presence and allowed me to exist with them and I was grateful for that. Soon, I would be missing them terribly. I flipped the phone open and typed S.O.S. I took another puff and exhaled before the phone vibrated with a reply back W.T.F. My fingers moved across the keypad, double and triple punching numbers as needed on the outdated device E.T.A. hell-storm <10-31. Another puff,‘boy this isn’t the normal stuff,’ I thought, feeling the hum of the high seeping into me. 

The phone vibrated wildly in my hand, the sensation doing wondrous things to my nerve endings. 

“Z?” I asked. Her distorted voice came across like a chipmunk and I smiled. 

“Si (yes)” she responded. 

“The snakes have pushed the mouse hunt forward, muy rápidamente (very quickly), don't forget what's important. très bien? (very good?).” I let her know in code.  

“Mon amour n'importe quoi pour toi (my love anything for you,)” she responded. 

“Cuidate, (take care of yourself).” I said, ending the call.  We jumbled the languages to scramble up our conversations for any listening program that may be bugged into the place. If they were there then they wouldn’t flag the conversation as it wouldn’t make sense. I was paranoid, for obvious reasons, though Zoey didn’t know the particulars, she was a human witch, so secrets I, unfortunately, had to keep to myself. She accepted the challenge, I didn’t deserve her or Maggie’s unconditional love, yet they gave it freely. A tear rolled down my cheek as I took another puff. Maggie opened the door and leaned on the door frame.

“That bad? Some girls like their enemies a little too much, not your type?” I cringed. “Ok then let's make this better, we have coffee and pastries to serve!” She announced. Maggie waved a cup in the air, no doubt full of delicious coffee, caramel, and creamy goodness. I smiled, grabbing my apron and wiping the tears with the back of my hand before putting the joint out and taking the coffee from her as I walked out. Maggie clapped her hands. I held my coffee high as we shouted on our way out, 

“Laissez les bons temps rouler, (let’s get this party started)” several times until the gathered crowd took up the chant and I melted into the fray of jazz music and buzzing energy with a beaming smile on my face. I’d wait to tell Maggie I was leaving until the end of my shift. I was selfish and needed the hustle and bustle. 

The smell of coffee and the sound of organic milk frothing up. The scent of cocoa and sensations of harmony that filtered through the place had offered a small respite in my world of strife, I was starved for it. I swayed my hips as I carried my trays to the beat of the music. Dancing with some of the patrons as I moved through my duties, I sang along with an acoustic guitar to a song I’d never heard. This was as close to being natural as I got. My hoodie was tied around my waist. My dark caramel tresses down, hiding the scars, skin free to the air. The people congregating here wouldn’t touch me against my will, they were not my enemy, and my magic vibrated with them. They were Zoey and Maggie’s people and I would let myself feel this until I couldn’t. This Harmony, this release, it strummed deep inside my soul, it soothed the fire that begged to burn from within me.