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“Yeah, we do,” she admits, laughing. “But Rachel’s my foster sister and we grew up together so it’s no big deal.”
I try not to make a face. The intimacy of showering naked around people is not for me. But perhaps that’s because I can’t ever imagine explaining my creepy born-with-it fused-to-my-flesh navelstone to anyone. Not even a foster sister.
I look at India with interest. She is fostered. I had been adopted and ended up living with people who hated me. I wonder if India and Rachel’s experience was similar to mine. They’re lucky to have each other.
“Does your landlord live in your house too?” India says. “Ours lives on the top floor. Skeezy git. He’s got a pad up there to himself but he still likes to share the showers with the tenants.”
I grimace. “At least I don’t have to deal with that.”
I put my pen and logbook away, and walk out from behind the counter. “You can come this way.”
I march straight through the non-existent wall. She takes a few moments to follow me through, her hands stretched out before her as if to make sure the wall really is not there. I grin when she emerges on the other side, inside the hidden room, looking astonished.
“You look like I felt my first time,” I tell her.
“Wow. I’ve heard about magic and I know it’s real and everything, but when you actually see it, it’s crazy,” she says. “Gosh. Do I sound like a country bumpkin to you?”
“You sound how I feel. I hope you don’t mind me asking, but aren’t you a werewolf? Aren’t you used to this kind of thing?”
The smile fades from her face and now she looks a little wary. “How did you know?”
“Sorry. I just took a guess. I think you smelled my cat before you saw her.”
“You’re perceptive. I suppose you have to be, working in a magic shop and all?”
She is gazing around at the merchandise as if she doesn’t know where to start. This part of the store is larger than the front. We have jewelry and a ton of books here too, but they are better cared for and are definitely not the ordinary kind.
In addition we have artifacts in showcases, a large selection of crystals, some wands, a vast section of both organic and inorganic spell ingredients, and many other things besides. Our toys for familiars are surprisingly popular, and witches and wizards love to browse the bottles and jars of potions and concoctions that they tell me are much more interesting than those found in the average spell book. Lately the defensive amulets and decorative ornaments of Theo’s own design have been flying off the shelves.
“Do you know what sort of gift you’re after?”
“No idea.”
“What’s your friend Rachel like?”
“Really pretty, but kinda bookish. She started working as a trainee solicitor three months back and she’s really into her work. It’s crazy. I told her all work and no play makes Rachel a dull girl. I’m totally working on making her come out of her shell.” She says that last part with a wicked grin.
“Any hobbies? Pets?”
“No pets. We’re not allowed.”
“I hate to be trite but is she into makeup or potions? Theo knows a witch who makes stuff that is really popular with young women. Or maybe you could get her a spell making kit?”
“You know, she has been more into makeup and stuff lately. I wondered if she’s got a crush on a guy at work or something.”
I lead India over to the makeup and beauty potions section. The numerous jars and bottles and vials of brightly colored stuff is arrayed in a haphazard manner whose appearance had been impossible to improve despite my best efforts. We spend some time looking through them all. They are almost as much of a novelty to me as her. I point out a shimmery-glow potion that is supposed to make you irresistible to the opposite gender.
“Or you could get her a love potion?” I suggest. “We have readymade ones and we have kits if Rachel might like to make her own. For the kits you can choose mix and match ingredients depending on the qualities she wants in a man.” I point them out to her.
India picks up the shimmery makeup and the love spell kit. She does the math in her head and winces a little at the expense, but she decides to take both.
“Could I pick up some wolfsbane potion here too?” she asks. “I’ve nearly run out of my supply from home.”
I show her the shelf where the wolfsbane products are stored.
She bites her lip when she notices the prices. “Do you have a plain potion without any of these extras? I usually get that because it is cheaper.”
I scrutinize the various bottles on the shelf and see none. “We do usually sell it, but we must be out of stock. I’ll ask Theo to make some more up for you. When do you want to pick it up? Or I could even drop it off at yours, since you live so near to me?”
