Midlife Elementals by Moseman Kate

Author:Moseman, Kate
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fortunella Press
Published: 2022-03-08T00:00:00+00:00

30

After a full day of training with the witches of the Circus Aetherium, Luella, Pepper, and I retreated to Luella’s cozy shotgun house on the beach side of town.

Pepper sprawled on the couch. Her shiny mermaid-patterned tights—a gift from the circus water witches—sparkled in the twinkling lights of the old-fashioned Christmas tree in the corner of the living room. “No one ever told me the circus was so much work,” she said.

Luella entered the living room with a tray of cookies. “Poor Pepper,” she said, in an affectionately teasing tone. “Have a cookie.”

Pepper scooped up four snowflake-shaped cookies from the tray. “You’d need cookies, too, if you spent the day hauling water around while two water witches try to get you to drop it.”

“Mama and I had to practice catching falling objects until I thought I was going to pull some kind of magical muscle. So I see your cookies and raise you one,” said Luella. She chose five cookies and set the tray on the coffee table before taking a seat.

“I was literally putting out fires all day.” I eyed the tray. “How many cookies do I get?”

“Didn’t you do something with the familiars, too? Raphael said Oliver was all shook up,” said Luella.

I smiled to myself at the thought of Oliver being all shook up. Then I told the story in its entirety to Luella and Pepper.

“You deserve all the cookies,” said Pepper. “That’s impressive.”

I took a cookie and nibbled it. The sugary, buttery bite melted in my mouth, leaving behind a sweet vanilla flavor. “Do you feel ready for this? For the performance, I mean—and being responsible for it going off without a hitch.”

Luella smoothed her braid. Her face took on a thoughtful expression. “Between Mama and me, I feel like we can handle whatever comes up. Although I admit: I’m nervous.”

“Pepper?” I asked.

“I say bring it on. We may not have been ready last time, but this time …” She trailed off and posed with her hands in a magician’s conjuring position.

I dusted the crumbs off my fingers, then ignited a little dancing flame like Tuesday had at our meeting. I bounced it from fingertip to fingertip, above nails I had recently painted with black and silver flames. “Tuesday has a water witch standing by as a spotter. I’m just there to watch for unexpected fire magic. I think I can handle that.”

Pepper laced her hands behind her head. “What did she say to do if you saw any?”

“First I warn Tuesday and her spotter. Then I try to absorb it with this artifact.” I lifted the fire opal pendant and let it fall. “Earth magic can have a dampening effect on fire. That’s why it helped when Mrs. Millefleur decided to unload her leftover powers on me. Meanwhile, I have to parade around in metal wings and try to look like I belong onstage.”

“Mama and I are doing something similar,” said Luella. “Except we’re the air magic spotters, and Oliver will be on hand with a soft landing if there’s an air magic failure.

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