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"Wow," I murmured, looking around in fascination. "This place is amazing!"

"Yes, yes, it's a grocery store," Bartleby remarked. "Try not to act as though you've never been shopping before."

"I've never been shopping somewhere that has a Centaur buying oats!" I pointed out.

"Well, he's hardly going to buy them at Walmart, is he?" Bartleby replied.

I supposed he had a point. I grabbed a wicker shopping basket from a stack near the door and was just wondering where I should begin looking for Whisper Dust when a cheerful voice suddenly called out,

"Bartleby! You old scoundrel! Is that really you?"

I looked around, trying to see who had spoken, and nearly jumped out of my skin when a tiny woman came flying towards us. And I do mean flying.

She was about three feet tall, with curly violet hair, enormous lavender eyes, and a pair of shimmering wings that looked like they belonged on a dragonfly. She was wearing a bright yellow dress and a green apron embroidered with the words Goodman Kreeches Grocery Emporium—Proudly Serving Humans and Creatures Since 1694.

She also had an enormous pair of red spectacles perched on her tiny nose, which made her look rather like a miniature schoolteacher.

"Tansy!" Bartleby exclaimed, sounding genuinely pleased. "Well, fancy seeing you here!"

"Where else would I be?" she demanded, hovering in front of him with her little hands planted on her hips. "I've been working here for the past one hundred and seventy-eight years! And where have you been, you naughty cat? I haven't seen hide nor hair of you in ages!"

"Living with an idiot," Bartleby said sourly. "But that's a long story. I've brought you a new customer."

"Oh, have you now?" The fairy turned towards me and her lavender eyes widened. "Well, aren't you a pretty thing! And look at that gorgeous dress! Why, that's one of Lucinda Blackthorn's gowns, isn't it?"

I stared at her in surprise.

"Um, yes, actually. How did you know?"

"Oh, my dear, I used to deliver groceries to Blackthorn Manor back when Lucinda was alive," she explained. "Such a lovely woman! Always so kind, and she made the most wonderful little fairy cakes. Not that they were actually made out of fairies, of course," she added quickly. "We get asked that a surprising amount."

"Oh," I said, trying not to laugh. "Well, that's good to know."

"And who is this lovely lady?" Tansy asked Bartleby, looking me up and down with interest.

"This is Celeste Kinderson, the newest witch in Hidden Hollow," he informed her. "Cordelia sent her to help Garrik Blackthorn."

"Did she now?" Tansy's eyes widened even more. "Well, isn't that exciting! I always said that poor man needed a nice woman in his life."

"Actually, I'm just here to help him break a curse," I said quickly. "I'm not, you know, his girlfriend or anything."

"Of course not, dear," Tansy said, giving me a knowing smile. "And I'm sure the fact that you're wearing his late wife's clothing is purely coincidental."

"It is!" I protested, feeling my cheeks getting hot. "He just didn't want me wandering around town in my yoga pants!"

"Ah, yes. That sounds like Garrik." She nodded wisely. "Always was a little old-fashioned, that one. But such a handsome fellow! Shame about the curse."

"Yes, it is," I agreed. "Which is why I'm here. Goody Albright told me to buy some Whisper Dust, but I have no idea where to find it."

"Oh, Whisper Dust!" Tansy clapped her little hands together. "Of course! We have an entire section of spell-casting supplies. I'll be happy to show you. But first, would you like a tour of the store? We have some wonderful new products that just came in, and I always enjoy showing a new customer around."

I hesitated for a moment, but Garrik had told me to go shopping and I was really curious about the magical grocery store.

"I'd love that," I said, smiling. “Thank you so much.”

Bartleby made a disgusted sound.

"Oh, good grief. We'll be here all day."