Page 9 of Uncharmed

‘You know we always do what’s best for you, Annie. Apart from all of that nonsense in the past, you’re absolutely perfect,’ Romily added, raising her glass.

‘I didn’t think the Sorciety had room for much compassion. How come they let you stay after all that crap with your parents?’ Ruby asked. Before Annie could answer, Vivienne jumped in on her behalf.

‘Annie’s a useful girl to have around the place, aren’t you?’ Now it was Vivienne’s turn to wink at Annie. ‘They just love her over at the coven, so she’s a handy contact for the Sorciety. Keeps an eye on things for us, new witches and warlocks who make themselves known, any changes in stance or unrest beginning to rise – we’re the first to know. She’s our very own super sleuth sorceress.’

It all felt precariously interlinked, like a dainty paperchain; its beauty was reliant on her perfect performance.

Romily smiled fondly. ‘Never one to let us down, are you, babe?’

Annie smiled, pleased to have found herself firmly on their good side. No, she wasn’t.

Chapter Five

A PERFECT PACT

‘There you are, girls.’

Annie’s gaze shot around from her conversation with Ruby about dabbling with the idea of her very first broomstick – was there ample luggage space? Plenty of the Sorciety had stopped by over the course of the evening, the charms of the Fortune Four always drawing a crowd to flirt and to share stories at their table, but this was the voice that every club member hoped to hear all evening. It was the one that proved that you truly mattered.

‘Mummy!’ Romily sprang to her feet and promptly placed a kiss on each of her mother’s cheeks, squeezing her upper arms fondly. ‘They were out of the punch you like, but I ordered you a cherry liquor instead, which I think . . .’

‘I loathe cherry, darling. Why in all realms did you get that?’

She dismissed her daughter to turn back to the circle with a dazzling smile. Annie caught the trail of Romily’s hurt and disappointment like smoke for a fraction of a moment, before she shook it off as Glory Whitlock joined their table, her presence so overwhelmingly magnetic that Annie could almost feel her body pull physically towards her.

Knowing Glory since she was a child, she had always experienced this side effect of a witch who held such vast magic. As one of the most longstanding magical families, the Whitlocks’ power investments were prodigious and electric, their wealth outstripping any of the other five Herald families. Glory walked the forceful and mighty line of being equal parts wildly charismatic, classically gorgeous and absolutely terrifying. Being on her good side felt like stepping into a circle of sunlight; her bad side felt like the coldest, darkest shadow.

‘How was the Heralds’ meet, Glory?’ Annie asked.

Glory stroked Romily’s hair into place as though she were a doll. ‘Oh, they’re all frightful bores. Harmony, you really must tell that father of yours that parties are about more than just logistics and operations, darling. These warlocks love nothing more than the sound of their own voices while they drone on and on about the magic budget.’

‘That sounds like Daddy alright,’ Harmony said with a conspiratorial smirk. Her father, Barnaby Morningstar, was a sallow, weasel-like man who worked as numeromancer for the Sorciety. He was the quieter half of the Morningstars, alongside Harmony’s mother, Alette, a beguiling and beautiful part-witch-part-siren who outshone him in every way possible. In well over a decade of membership, Annie had only ever heard him speak about either the grand cosmic budget or Harmony crashing his car.

‘I don’t think he’s quite forgiven me for last year,’ Glory replied. ‘The scale of the Halloween fireworks alone had to be covered up with magic that almost wiped out the supply across London for weeks. But that’s not my problem. That’s what I’m paying them to handle.’

‘But the Samhain Ball, Mummy?’ Romily asked hopefully.

Glory tutted. ‘Well, obviously, darling. You girls know you can rely on me to make sure that it’s celebrated in style. Why bother at all if you’re not going to go bigger and better than last year?’ She gestured for the girls to lean in closer, as though keeping a great secret. ‘And between us, I’m planning something very, very special for All Hallows. The forecasts are showing unrivalled magical potency this Halloween, the likes of which haven’t been seen for centuries. We shall be sure to make the most of it. No expense spared. A treat for us all to indulge in.’

‘Oh!’ Annie exclaimed, clapping her hands. ‘That’s so exciting.’

‘I know you know the importance of a treat, Annie. And this one will be sensational,’ Glory said with a glint in her eye. ‘Come on then, tell me about the wonderful things you’re all doing.’

‘We’ve been to visit the spa spirits, universe knows it was needed. Apart from Annie, of course. She’s been working very hard at her menial labour,’ Vivienne said, sarcasm dripping as she peered across the circle.

‘So determined, aren’t you, Annie?’ Glory declared. ‘Admirable in this day and age to find that in a witch. You’re very like your father in that way, something to prove to the world.’

Annie froze and let her eyes flutter closed as she took a breath. That was the only line that ever made her truly falter. The one stretch of her miraculous levels of patience that made them snap back into place like a tight elastic band.

People don’t know how much it hurts to hear. It’s not their fault. You’re overreacting.

‘Anything we can do to help with the plans, Glory. Please just let us know,’ Annie said.

Glory sighed as though the weight of the world were resting on her. In some ways, at least in the magical realm, it was. ‘You just make sure you’re keeping us ahead of the curve with that coven, Annie. Being aware of their movements has never been so crucial. If it were up to me, you know I wouldn’t make you mingle with all that cursed riff-raff at Hecate House, but I hear they have a new watchman in place who could royally ruin things for us if he were to glance in the wrong direction. So for the good of the Sorciety . . .’

‘You don’t need to worry about that. I wouldn’t let you down,’ Annie said. ‘I know you’re relying on me.’

Over the many years of Annie’s friendship with Romily, Glory had in many ways provided a second home to her. She had watched over her when Annie’s parents had left her behind, and Annie had grown up under her gaze, albeit a distant one. She would always be grateful to Glory for that.