I pull into the car park at work and slide into my usual spot. We don’t have assigned parking spaces or anything, I just like this spot. I try to get it whenever I can. If it’s taken, I park as close to it as possible and spend the rest of the day feeling irrationally irritated about whoever dared to claim my spot. Lately, though, I’ve noticed something odd. People seem to be avoiding this spot entirely. Maybe it’s because they’ve picked up on the fact that someone always parks here and they don’t want to deal with the silent, unspoken territorial war. Or maybe it’s something else. Something magical. It wouldn’t be the first time my magic has bled out without me noticing. Witches who don’t use their magic regularly tend to ‘leak’ it in little, harmless ways. And I’ll admit, it’s been a while since I’ve really used mine. A few months, probably. Magic doesn’t just vanish if you’re not using it. It hangs around, building up, and eventually has to find somewhere to go. In my case, apparently, it’s decided to make my favourite parking spot mildly unappealing to everyone else. It’s not dangerous or anything. The most it could do is little things, and only things I’d subconsciously want to happen anyway. Magic is cool like that. It’s like it knows me better than I know myself. If I were a particularly angry or spiteful person, I suppose my magic could become a little destructive when left unchecked. But I’m not. The most my bottled up magic has done so far is help me monopolize a parking space. Hardly the stuff of nightmares. Still, maybe I should think about using some of it up soon, just to clear the air. Maybe I’ll light some candles or find some other way to waste a little magic tonight. I glance at Lukas who is glaring at my car, or more accurately, my parking spot. Okay maybe I need to use up more than a little magic. But for now? My parking spot is secure, and I’m taking the win.
Lukas and I climb out of the car, and he opens the back door to let Roxy out. She leaps down gracefully and bolts off in some random direction. I have no idea where she’s heading, but Lukas doesn’t seem the least bit concerned, so I decide not to worry about it either.
“Well, I guess this is it.” I say, hooking my handbag over my shoulder and standing a little straighter.
“What do you mean?” Lukas asks, tilting his head. I shrug.
“Now I go to work, and you sort yourself out. I don’t have to babysit you anymore.” My tone is firm, making it clear that I’m ready to move on from this whole babysitting situation. Lukas smirks, looking entirely too amused for my liking.
“You might have been a reluctant nurse, but you’re the best one I could have asked for. I think I got lucky that you’re the one who found me here. Thank you.” His words are sincere, and before I can come up with what would most definitely be a witty comeback, he holds out his hand. I stare at it.
“Seriously? The mind reader is offering me a handshake?” He just stands there, waiting, a strange eagerness flickering in his expression. Screw it. If he wants to read my thoughts right now, let him. It’s not like I have anything to hide. With a sigh, I daintily place my hand in his, fully expecting a quick shake. But he doesn’t shake it. He just holds it. Okay… weird.
*Fine, if you’re listening, here’s what I’ve got for you. Bye, good riddance. My life will be so much easier without you around, and I can’t wait to not have to see you again.*
Lukas raises an eyebrow but doesn’t let go of my hand.
“You do realise we work in the same building, right? Saying we’ll never see each other again is… Ambitious.” I shrug.
“We’ve worked here for ages and haven’t really crossed paths before now. Seems doable to me.” His lips quirk into a small smile.
“Sure, but now that I know you exist, I expect my computer might start having a lot more issues all of a sudden.” He says it so seriously, staring straight into my eyes. I have two thoughts. One, he has blue eyes. Two, why am I still looking at his blue eyes? I immediately glance away, fighting the inexplicable heat creeping up my neck.
“I swear, if you fake tech issues just to bug me, I’ll- ” I start, but the words die in my throat as something over his shoulder catches my attention. *Who is that?*
Lukas lets go of my hand and, in one swift, jerky motion, whirls around and shoves the person approaching. He immediately winces, clutching his ribs as pain flashes across his face. I gape at him, completely thrown.
“What the hell was that?” I ask, but the answer is already obvious. I guess we hung around here too long. He should have gotten straight in his car and left. The guy he shoved swears and struggles to his feet.
“Dad just wants you to come back Luk.” He guy says. Lukas scoffs.
“Ron, you might be my cousin but that doesn’t mean I’m going to believe everything you say. I read minds. Are you seriously trying to lie to me? I read your dad’s thoughts when he was breaking my damn ribs. If I go back there I’m going to either be locked up or killed.” Lukas says flatly. His cousin scoffs.
“Dad wouldn’t do that. They just want to talk to you. It’s important.” Ron answers confidently. Lukas doesn’t answer, just gives him a look that has even me feeling uncomfortable.
A low growl behind me pulls my attention, and I turn to see Roxy standing tense and alert, her teeth bared as she stares down another man a few feet away. The guy freezes, clearly not willing to risk testing the German Shepherd’s patience.
“Another cousin?” I ask Lukas, glancing back at him. He nods once.
“Yeah. I have a big family.” He remarks.
“Well, Roxy doesn’t seem to like him.” I comment.
“Apparently.” Lukas replies vaguely, though he doesn’t seem surprised. It makes sense. If my magic can subtly ward off people from my parking space, I bet Lukas’s magic leaks out in its own ways. Roxy is deeply attached to him, and animals are sensitive to magic. She probably picks up on his emotions without him even realising it. She can tell he doesn’t trust these guys, and she’s making that distrust crystal clear. What a good girl. Ron takes a step toward us again, but Lukas’s glare stops him in his tracks. Okay, this is getting ridiculous. I clear my throat loudly, catching Ron’s attention. His eyes flick to me, confusion clear in his expression.
“Who are you, anyway?” He asks, apparently trying to figure out how I’m involved in all this.
“I’m Clare Mead.” I reply pleasantly, though my smile doesn’t reach my eyes.
“I’d say it’s nice to meet you, but I’m not sure it actually is.”
I’m banking on whatever they’ve heard about me and my family being enough to make them consider me at least somewhat of a threat. Most witches have specialties, like Lukas, who reads minds. That’s a big deal on its own, and I doubt he has much magic left over for anything else. It’s a trade off. The more powerful your specialty, the less energy you have to develop in other areas. Take my cousin Laura, for example. She’s incredible with wards and shield spells. They’re ridiculously complex, requiring focus, precision, and patience, all the things I am just not interested in. Watching her work is impressive, but it’s not for me. Shield spells take FOREVER, and I can’t stand having to concentrate on one thing for that long. I’ve always been more impulsive. I like magic that’s quick and instinctive, spells I can throw out without a lot of planning or overthinking. That’s where I shine. If I ever needed to throw out a spell in a pinch, I wouldn’t hesitate. The trade off is that I’m not the type to set up elaborate protections or defenses. If I get backed into a corner, I’d rather blow the damn wall apart than carefully build a way around it. But Lukas? His mind reading is a big enough specialty that he probably doesn’t have much left for anything explosive or showy. I imagine he isn’t much of a fighter. I glance at Lukas briefly, then at his cousins. I can’t tell exactly what they’ve heard about me, but judging by the hesitation on Ron’s face, it’s enough to give him pause. Ron’s expression shifts slightly, his brow furrowing in recognition. Perfect. Lukas’s family knows enough about mine to decide I might not be someone he wants to mess with. Sure enough, Ron hesitates, his confidence wavering further.
“Whatever.” He mutters, throwing Lukas a glare.
“I’ll tell Dad you wouldn’t come.” He steps carefully around Lukas, clearly avoiding physical contact. But Lukas isn’t ready to let him go just yet. Before Ron can retreat, Lukas reaches out and grabs his cousin’s arm, gripping it firmly.
“Tell me about the necromancer.” He demands, his tone icy. Ron freezes, his eyes darting nervously to Lukas’s hand, then to Lukas’s face. For a moment, I think he might spill something useful, but then he yanks his arm free and stumbles back, shaking his head. He doesn’t say a word. Ron and the other cousin, still under Roxy’s watchful eye, quickly run off. Roxy doesn’t chase them, but she stays alert until they’re out of sight. I glance at Lukas. He’s standing stiffly, watching them go, his expression unreadable.
“Good riddance.” I mutter.