Mathilda, SuperWitch (5 page)

Screw him.

(Mm.)

PS: No sign of the boy.

PPSS: Or his dog.

The Month of January

2 January

Witches Dozen a Huge Success!!!!!!!

First, must report that I found a great outfit for Grand Opening, simple little black dress – sexy cleavage, showed good leg and clingy but without being slutty. Nice.

The shoes were (I must say) kickass (tad expensive but never feel guilty when buying expensive shoes as always prove to be totally worth it).

The piece de resistance was the fab wrap that was all webby and lacy in way of Stevie Nicks (“Stand Back, Stand Back!”)

Second, had so much fun cooking with Lucy pre-party. She is a total giggle and a great cook so feel some pressure taken off me. Food at Grand Opening was very big success with Lucy and me at the helm so am relieved.

Third, Mavis told me to be ready early (early? nutty) as had some important things to go over with me. We took taxi to Coffee House (is walking distance but not in four inch heels).

When we got there the coven was already there. All the ladies dressed to the hilt and made up, I was proud of them as a few had taken some of my subtle (ahem) hints.

The blinds were closed, the decorations up and all was ready to be laid out for the party.

The coven had lit tons of candles, incense and there was soft music.

We had a glass of champagne and toasted The Witches Dozen (yay!).

Then they formed a circle around me while I stood in the middle of the sliver moon carpet and they told me to close my eyes and hold out my hands.

There was some chanting and when I opened my eyes again there was a big broomstick laid across my palms. It was gorgeous. Yay!

The handle was laced with satin and velvet ribbons in a bunch of bright colors with the ends hanging amongst the bristles (so pretty).

With great ceremony, I hung it on the front door and I felt happy thoughts about being a witch and a part of my coven who had woven good charms into broom (and thus whole coffee house).

Felt powerful and warm and loved.

* * * * *

Grand Opening:

All things going well as:

Complexion had decided against stress-induced breakouts (!);

Regardless of loads of testing of culinary delights – dress still fit (!!);

And shoes were miraculously comfortable even though they were drop-dead gorgeous (!!!).

(All magic?)

Guest list was huge and most everyone came and were very complimentary on décor (ha! take that Stupid Wesley!) and food (yee ha!).

Lucy and I decided we deserved to get a little drunkie poo and Lucy had very nice boyfriend who didn’t mind making sure our champagne glasses were always full. (Good boyfriend.)

Began to worry about Aidan as night was no longer young. Also surprised by Sebastian for, as far as I could tell, I still had a body and he was meant to guard it but was nowhere to be seen. (Shirking duties?)

Would not let apparent abandonment of male units in life ruin my evening. (Humph! Why did I spend so long finding perfect dress, fuck-me shoes and Stevie Nicks wrap when no one to appreciate it but Lucy?)

Then felt a hand on my waist.

Turned around, thinking it would be Sebastian there to be wet blanket but it was Aidan.

He looked delicious with nice suit and tie replacing usual jeans and t-shirt.

“Sorry I’m late,” he said.

Mm.

Was not upset, was drunk and happy and had successful café and many friends and pretty broomstick and very lovely man standing next to me.

Mm.

“Congratulations,” he went on (meaning hit of café, not successfully finding perfect not-too-tarty outfit, although the way he was looking at me made me think it was more the outfit.)

Rest of night dreamy as Aidan was gentleman to Mavis and other once alarming coven members he met at tasting party, funny and charming to Lucy and boyfriend and all around perfect date (as was clearly date – yay!).

Peculiar feeling of being all tingly because was really happy (forgot how it felt!) that all the hard work and my vision were to be appreciated and…

Then everyone started to get very excited as New Year was coming and ten, nine, eight…

And all of a sudden I was kissing Aidan (oh my
and
yowza) and then…

Aidan backed off looking really annoyed and all of a sudden there was Sebastian.

And then… (bah!)…

Sebastian
kissed me!!!!

Ack!

Not the yowza kiss of Aidan, instead, brushed his lips against mine and then leaned in and semi-whispered, “Happy New Year,” in my ear.

And then he was gone.

Can you believe?

(Must admit, lips all tingly and not sure if it was from intense-plumber-kiss but may have been from whisper-soft-bodyguard kiss but don’t know… hmm.)

Later, during girlie bathroom break, Lucy said this:

“What was that all about?”

As am woman and women speak the same language, I knew what she was talking about without asking but she explained anyway.

“One second your snogging Sexy Posh Sawyer, the next George Clooney-slash-Colin Firth is having a go…”

I replied, “George Clooney-slash-Colin-Firth? Hardly! More like Russell Crowe-slash-Sean Connery as is arrogance on top of arrogance.”

Then Lucy and I had very long, intense discussion about this when decided Sebastian was Clooney
Ocean’s Eleven
(for the dash, wardrobe and sexy glower), Crowe
Gladiator
(for the brood, deep voice and taciturn communication style) and Firth
Pride and Prejudice
(for the arrogance, height and, as Lucy put it, “Lanky-‘Piss-off-all-you-little-people’-walk”… mm).

Back to Aidan who persevered regardless of bad mannered bodyguard. He put Auntie and I in a taxi and said he’d be back for an oatmeal cookie. (Yay!)

Nearly floated home – may have new boyfriend, definitely have new girlfriend, proved Wesley wrong and The Witches Dozen is out there and we were soon gonna kick ass and take names.

Arrived in rooms all blushing and happy…

Only to see Sebastian sitting (more like lounging nonchalantly for all the world like he lived there!) on my couch.

He stood up and announced, “I don’t trust the plumber.”

And walked out of the room.

The fucking cheek.

Haven’t seen him since.

May ask for different bodyguard as Sebastian is most provoking.

4 January

Boy is here! Boy is here!

Oh wait, must go serve him…

* * * * *

Later:

Boy came into The Witches Dozen with his Mom (she looked like hell, all shadows-under-eyes, gray skin and tousled clothes like she picked them up off the floor, bleh!).

He ordered hot cocoa and one of my Giganto Chocolate Chip Cookies (excellent choice).

I watched as he took a bite and his eyes got really round and happy (pleased with myself for that one), so I said from behind the counter as if just happened to notice his reaction,

“You like that? You should taste my M&M cookies. Come back tomorrow and I’ll make you some.”

His Mom smiled one of those mother thank-you-for-being-nice-to-my-offspring smiles and bent over and kissed his hair.

Bitch.

Lucy whispered, “M&M’s aren’t on the schedule for tomorrow.”

I said, “They are now.”

Must go to Tesco for M&M’s.

Very Much Later - near 5 January!:

Am in Tower Room trying to scry but it isn’t working. Having serious troubles with divination… no visions since my first came after finding out I was a witch.

Very annoying.

Very much want to look into boy’s house but can’t seem to focus.

Am doing it on the sly as Mavis has been pretty clear I’m not allowed to try scrying until I’ve had more practice with her around. Last time accidentally hooked into the radio studio during airing of BBC4’s
Today
program and didn’t realize I’d beamed myself in. I think I scared the bejeezus out of John Humphries as he lost track during browbeating some poor Red Cross person when I said, “Let him finish, you pompous ass.” Sebastian heard it over the radio. I got in trouble. I didn’t mean to astral project myself. It really pissed off Sebastian as he said it was hard enough looking after my physical self but would be impossible to protect astral self if I went around astral travelling as an amateur. Amateur! Am I The Chosen One or not?

5 January

Boy came in.

His name is Rory McShane and he likes M&M cookies.

He likes them a lot.

He has a dog named Cosmo (knew that already but pretended I didn’t).

He is eight years old.

He isn’t sure that he’ll like peanut butter cookies but he said he’d stop by and try them sometime (this after carefully glancing at even less together than yesterday Bitch-Mom-from-Hell).

Tried while making a double espresso with room for cream to focus on him but got his Mom instead (!). She was on phone sounding very pleading while crying.

She’s a total mess.

Maybe should give up attempts at magical intervention and call Social Services.

* * * * *

On another subject:

Aidan is MIA.

No call, no show, no nothing.

Am not going to call him as I made first move anyway and is his turn.

Lucinda says I should call him if I want to call him and fuck “turns”. World of Lucinda is better than World of Mathilda as everything seems quite clear and straightforward and she is not scared of anyone or of what anyone thinks of her.

Want to be Lucinda when I grow up.

9 January

Last two days have been hell. As much as I love my Aspinal Book o’ Shadows, wish I had computer journal as will kill me to write all this down.

Is important (or so Mavis says).

First, didn’t see Rory for two days. Was worried and kept trying to see him, even going so far as breaking into Mavis’s Magic Room and trying Mavis’s crystal ball (very risky but I didn’t get caught, thank goddess).

Aside: Mavis’s Magic Room is awesome, it’s where I have lots of my lessons and I love it in there. It’s all red and mauve and purple with tassels and globe, etched, dangly Victorian lights and toss pillows everywhere. It isn’t exactly my style, I prefer light, airy, uncluttered, feng shui, etcetera, etcetera but it is lovely to visit and very snug and comfy. Anyway.

No visions of boy.

Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

Saw the Mom in visions, lots of crying, looking over shoulder and tearing of hair as she is clearly insane – but nothing of the boy.

Then, yesterday, was standing in window, frosting a carrot cake when I felt something weird crawling up my back.

Premonition (or Mavis told me later).

Ack!

Then saw Rory running but didn’t see him with my eyes, saw him in a vision!

I left cake half-frosted and told Mavis to hold the fort and I took off out the door.

Found Rory running toward café and crying very hard, slobbering on and on about his Mom and grabbing my hand and dragging me toward his house.

Got in his house and was confronted with vision from
About a Boy
as Mom was on couch, unconscious with vomit on floor next to her.

Ackity ack ack!!!

I hate vomit; I hate the sight and smell of it. I started to gag immediately in automatic response but then heard Rory crying and Cosmo whining. Realized I was the adult in this situation and had to act.

I walked up to the woman and put my hand on her forehead while telling Rory to call 999.

I lifted her up as best I could and shook her a little. She was warm and breathing (thank goddess) but she was dead weight and I kept wracking my brain but in spite of superwitchdom and Chosen One Prophesy, in all honesty, I didn’t know what to do.

Furthermore, didn’t have my wand.

Furthermore, was uncertain about magic in front of Rory as didn’t want to screw up and levitate Mom only to drop her on the floor or something. I doubt SuperWitch is supposed to tinker with the undeveloped psyche of eight year olds.

So, I thought about the black dragon.

Then I took my cue from movies (don’t they spend a lot of time researching these things?) and continued shaking her and started slapping her gently around the face and talking loudly to her.