Page 1 of Grimoires & Glamoury

CHAPTER ONE

Before we get started, allow me to answer the question I am asked most often: What is a Magistra?

The word, Magistra (pronounced maj-is-truh), is a noun. It is defined as: 1. A female teacher, mistress, or tutor. 2. A directress, guide, or master of an art or discipline. 3. A female magister, or a woman possessing authority, a high-ranking female leader of priestess within the witchcraft community. With Latin being gender specific, Magistra, is the feminine form of Magister.

I suppose folks have assumed that as the leader of the local Witch community, I have a flock of minions rushing to do my every bidding. Or that perhaps, with a snap of my fingers, mundane messes simply clean themselves up. Books tidy themselves on the shelves, and mops leap to work, scrubbing the floor for me…not unlike the Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

Alas, neither is true. Psychokinesis—the ability to move objects with the power of the mind—is not my strong suit. As to the minions… well the last thing I want is a bunch of sycophants running around fighting over me, hoping to curry favor.

Which means that sometimes even the head Witch of Birmingham has to roll up her sleeves and get to work. So here I was after putting in a ten-hour day, folding up chairs and cleaning the meeting space above my bookstore.

As I stacked the folding chairs to one side of the room, I sighed in relief seeing that Taylor, a part-time employee from The Apothecary Shoppe next door, was bouncing up the stairs with a smile on her face.

“Everyone is clear, Lorna,” she said to me. “Your doors are locked and I switched off the lights for you.”

“Thank you, Taylor,” I said, folding the final chair.

“Did your book club go well?” she asked, grabbing the dust mop to run over the floor.

“It did.” I smiled. In truth it wasn’t a book club at all. It was a gathering of the heads of all of the circles and covens from the southside of the Birmingham area.

I’d begun the monthly get-together almost two years prior as a way to meet with the local coven leaders and the who’s who of the magickal community. It was an opportunity to troubleshoot any issues and exchange ideas and information, as well as encouraging cooperation between the different covens.

“I’ll admit,” Taylor began, “I’ve always been curious as to what sort of things go on at the meetings. I bet with all of those Witches gathered together y’all have some interesting conversations.”

That comment made my lips twitch.

“What?” Taylor asked, seeing my expression.

“In truth it’s often local witchcraft politics with a good bit of gossip thrown in,” I explained.

“Don’t ruin my illusions,” Taylor quipped as she continued to sweep. “The whole ‘you’re the Magistra’ thing. The leader of the Southside Witches. It’s so cool.”

“Taylor—”

“Don’t worry,” she said quickly. “Kate talked to me about it. I understand that this is not to be discussed out in public, or even on the sales floor during work hours.”

“I appreciate your discretion.”

“Toni doesn’t know,” Taylor said of her sister. “I slowly figured it out for myself since I started working for Kate at The Apothecary Shoppe. And I asked her to explain to me what a Magistra was, a few months ago.”

“I see.”

“Honestly?” Taylor smiled over at me. “It’s like being work neighbors with Batman.”

Now, I laughed.

Taylor used a dustpan and brush to sweep up the dust pile she’d made. “Just think of me as Alfred.”

I thought that over. “Hard working, loyal, and good with secrets...that’ll work.”

“I suppose that makes Dex, the Robin to your Batman.”

I nodded. “I suppose it does. I could have used him tonight as a distraction.”

Taylor grinned. “He and Kate are having a date night. They’re so cute together.”

“That they are,” I agreed. “Regardless, a couple of the attendees were very vocal about their opposing ideas for the organization and planning of the Witches Ball in the coming fall.”