Rosemarie couldn’t help thinking that maybe it was all a dream, that she’d fallen asleep in one of the comfy chairs at the shop and would be waking up any minute now. But the longer she stood there and the longer she didn’t wake up, the more it hurt. Diana had left her, albeit expectedly, and even though it had been five years she still wasn’t over it; over her.
It was the thinking that did her in. All that could have been digging at her until the tears finally fell, making silent tracks down her cheeks. “No, you don’t have to leave. I’ll uh, I’ll close up early.” Thankfully, her voice was steady, just the tiniest bump right in the middle that exposed her.
With a wave of her hand, the locked clicked itself shut, and the open sign flipped over, five minutes before close. As Rosemarie sighed and made her way around the counter, the air filled with a subtle, earthy scent. It was something she had gained when she found her affinity for nature and its magics. Something else Diana had missed.
Gesturing at the two comfy chairs in the middle of the lobby, Rosemarie spoke. “You can have a seat if you’d like.”
That sentiment was a nail being hammered into her heart as she saw Rosemarie begin to cry, even as pride tried to take over upon seeing her lock the doors with a flick of her hand, performing magic so naturally, so effortlessly. Pride, of course, was not something Diana had any right to feel. Not anymore.
The nail in her heart turned into a knife with every passing second. When Rosemarie moved, Diana caught a whiff of an earthy scent entirely supernatural. With that, she had to fight a smile. It seemed she had chosen an appropriate spell to protect her former mentee, her former friend.
Once invited to sit, Diana took her up on it. “Thank you”, she said quietly, stiffly taking her seat. Her posture, as always, impeccable, but she wasn’t nearly as comfortable as she used to be around the younger witch. As she had been given no reason to believe Rosemarie wanted to talk about the past, and because this was a conversation Diana still wanted to run away from, she started with the motivator of her visit.
“So there I was, in this lovely café in Poland”, she began, “when I caught news of some supernatural dead pool all the way here, in Anchorage. Because I’m no fool, I got my hands on it. Imagine my surprise when I find your name on it. So I decided to come here and personally bring you a gift.”
With a wave of her fingers, the potted plant began to hover in the air between them. “I’m sure you recognize this: Tropaeolum. It is not only lovely as an adornment, the flowers are edible and the whole plant can be used with herbal purposes. I infused this one with a few spells, for protection against the supernatural, for longevity, to flourish so you will never run out, and to protect the plant from poison, excess sun, excess water, et cetera, et cetera. I highly recommend you eat its leaves or flowers with every meal, as it will protect you from magic and venoms. Also, put it in your living room. It will glow red if it detects supernatural activity in a short meter radius, and will increasingly smell like something burnt if you are in danger. I also brought you this.”
Now, Diana reached into her purse and brought out a compact powder. After flicking it open, she held it out to Rosemarie.
“I burnt and crunched some of its leaves, turned it into a powder. Its radius is not as large as the one of the whole plant, but it should glow red and smell burnt if you run into any trouble. If you lower the mirror, you will find a spell inscribed on it. Read it, and the mirror will reveal which danger you’re facing. I suggest you carry it on your person at all times. And don’t apply the powder on your face, it would be embarrassing if you suddenly began glowing. And the spell hasn’t been activated yet. It needs your blood. A few drops on the plant will suffice.”