Grimoire's Shadow: An Urban Fantasy Adventure by Timothy McGowen

Author:Timothy McGowen [McGowen, Timothy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rising Tower Books
Published: 2025-02-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

CONSEQUENCES

“TO TRUST ANOTHER IS THE BRAVEST KIND OF MAGIC.”

Iwoke up early, going to my job at the Lunar Café to get it ready for the day, cleaning and prepping a whole bunch of coffee. Morgana happened to be there that morning, and she approached me as Sally had warned.

“Could I talk with you for a minute?” she said, and I braced myself for her ire when I was forced to turn her down.

“Sure thing,” I said, walking over to her and sitting down with a cup of coffee I’d set aside for myself, sipping it as I sat.

“We lost James, as you probably heard, but I’ve got a new hire already lined up, so I was wondering if you’d be alright doing only three mornings instead of five and then picking up an additional night shift. You’d still be losing a few hours, but I’m trying to make the schedule work for everyone,” Morgana said, looking at me with stern eyes that spoke of a frustrated and overworked lady.

“That should be fine,” I said. “That’ll give me a bit more sleep.”

“You look good today, but don’t think I haven’t noticed how tired you’ve looked most days,” Morgana said. “Remember to take time for yourself. I know how tiring your other job must be, but your health and soul are important.”

The way she said that had me wondering if she did know how tiring my other job was. I hadn’t told her anything about it, staying vague and just hinting at having a stressful job outside of this position. “I’m doing my best,” I said, being truthful. I truly was doing my best, but I dreaded what was to come.

“Maybe try some of our relaxing herbal tea. I know an incantation that is meant to help you relax if you repeat it while drinking the tea,” she offered, and I remembered that she was one of those ladies obsessed with the occult and probably fancied herself a Wiccan.

“Sure, I’ll give it a try,” I said, downing the last of my coffee and ready for more hot anything.

She took me over and got me some tea using a mug I hadn’t seen before with flowery decorations on it. Below, I noticed a magickal circle, but it was nonsensical, merely for decoration purposes. I took a drink and followed her instruction, repeating some nonsensical Latin phrases that didn’t mean what she assumed they meant in context.

I smiled but did as she said until I’d finally finished the tea and was allowed to go back to work. Despite it being all mental, I did feel a touch refreshed by the little ritual of hers. It reminded me that the power of the mind was not something to be trifled with. Sometimes, the act of willing something to be could, in fact, make it so—though only on rare occasions when destiny willed it.

With my shift finished, I made my way back to the apartment, grabbed my coat, and splashed my face with water before making my way to the Warden HQ.

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