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He sat waiting at my kitchen table—or rather, on it. He’d been joined by a stern-looking woman I recognized from the boardroom yesterday, although she hadn’t spoken much then and didn’t make very much of an impression now.
“Tawny,” Fluffikins rasped. “This is Greta. She’ll be helping with your orientation today.”
“Hi, Greta,” I said as I passed them both and made my way to the fridge. I didn’t keep much food on hand, but I had an entire shelf full of my favorite cold brew coffees. I grabbed one, twisted off the cap, and took a long, life-giving gulp. Definitely the best part of my morning, especially since my shower was still on the fritz.
When I lowered the glass bottle, I found both of my uninvited guests staring openly at me.
“Greta is our school liaison for the region,” the cat said. “She looks after our interests as far as public education is concerned, much like how Barnes watches the police force.”
I nodded. “Got it.”
Hmmm, why did Greta get to go by her first name while Fluffikins always called Parker by his last?
Instead of answering my unspoken question, my new boss said, “As I’m sure you’ve already determined for yourself, she’s the perfect person to begin your mag
ical education.”
Greta drummed her fingers on the tabletop and offered me a smile. “Shall we begin?”
“First, breakfast,” Fluffikins corrected, then actually had the audacity to lick his chops. “I’m afraid I didn’t have time to grab any for myself before coming here.”
You could have come later, I thought. Much later.
“Breakfast, fine. What do magical cats like to eat?”
Fluffikins and Greta exchanged an amused glance.
“All cats are magical,” she told me with a chuckle. “It’s only people that aren’t.”
I ignored the implication that I should have already known the ins and outs of their strange secret world and got right back to the point. “So, what? You want some canned tuna or something?”
“Hey! That stereotype is offensive,” the black cat hissed. “I’d much more prefer a fine cut of steak.”
“I don’t have any steak.” And even if I did, I wouldn’t be up to preparing it for a bossy cat first thing in the morning, especially since I only ever bought enough for one—me. “I don’t even think I have tuna, come to mention it. How about a bowl of milk?”
He sighed and laid down on his side, shedding his fine black hairs all over my formerly clean kitchen table. “I suppose it will have to do, although I’ll have you know, I’m lactose intolerant. Then again, I do deserve a bit of a treat with—” he looked me up and down “—all the stress I’ve been under lately. Next time, however, I expect you to be better prepared.”
Apparently Fluffikins had never heard the whole thing about beggars and how they can’t also be choosers. He was super lucky this was a job I couldn’t quit and that the magic was enough of a draw to get me to swallow my pride and pour the last of my skim milk into a bowl for him.
I took my morning cereal dry.
What a way to start to the day!
12
After a very quick yet somehow also very uncomfortable breakfast, Fluffikins excused himself, leaving me and Greta to ourselves.
“So you want to learn how to be a Town Witch?” she asked, quirking an eyebrow made of such light hair that it almost looked translucent. Something was off about Greta, but I couldn’t figure out what.
Realizing I had started to stare, I forced my gaze toward the floor. “Not that I want to, per se, more like I’ve been instructed to.”
She laughed at this, and it sounded like the tinkling of bells. “Ah, the good old PTA. Nobody applies and yet everyone gets a job.”
My stomach churned at the acronym. I’d been burned by the PTA before, and even though these three letters represented an entirely different organization this time, a fresh wave of outrage still washed over me.
Greta studied me in such a way that made me wonder if her powers came with the ability to read minds. I was just about to ask when she cleared her throat and said, “Let’s start at the beginning. Shall we? Do you know what a Town Witch does?”
I shook my head. “All I know is that the magic is tied to the town, and that Lila Haberdash had the job until somebody snuck into her house and killed her.”
