WITCH SHIfT

Maryse

“You did what?” He screamed at me through the phone.

“I’ve already talked to the witches council for the east coast. You will be under review, and if so much as a single case of beer is missing from any future orders, you’re license will be suspended.”

“I’m not worried about a witch’s council Maryse. You hear me? Your employment with North distributing is over. Don’t bother coming back. The only reason I hired you was because you had no magic and you fit the Equal Opportunity for Paranormals Act. I’ll hire a shifter for the warehouse. You’re fired.”

“That’s fine sir. Oh by the way, the witch’s council that you don’t worry about has a say in liquor licenses for all fifty states. I have enough documents just from these two bars to have a good case. I’ll see you in court.” I said and then hung up.

I didn’t have anything, but Lincoln would probably give me enough support to help me fight them. At least I hoped he would. This was a touchy subject in the country right now and everyone was choosing sides. Mr. North chose his and now I was choosing mine.

My phone rang, it was Mr. North, I ignored it. I had to go and talk to Al and explain why I was the reason he wasn’t going to get a delivery. He wasn’t going to be happy, but I hoped he could look at the bigger picture.

The phone began ringing again. I was going to ignore it but I looked anyway and it was my dad. “Hey Dad,” I said answering it.

“Maryse, you are causing trouble.” He said using my full name, uh oh.

“Sorry Daddy, but on a side note, I’ve been fired. I’ll start looking for a new job next week.”

“Were you fired for being a bad employee?”

“Nope, found the boss stiffing paranormals. I called him out on it. He fired me and said the only reason he hired me was to meet a paranormal quota and he will hire a shifter instead. I’ve had a good day.”

“Sounds it. Did you really wave your hands and say you put a spell on someone?”

“Nope, I waved my hands and performed a little dance and he assumed I put a spell on him. When he asked me I told him I didn’t with a smile and then he threatened me. A shifter made him back off.” I said smiling at my earlier antics.

“Oh Mar, you are a trouble maker, but you didn’t break any rules. Not that you could just being a level one. I’ll see what I can do on my end. Stay out of trouble.”

“Can’t promise that, but I will try to be better.” I said laughing.

“Love you,” he said.

“Love you too dad.” I said hanging up.

My phone immediately began ringing again. It was Anna’s number and I smiled. I bet she was in on this with Mr. North. “Sorry Anna, I’m fired, I’m on the phone with my attorney, can I call you back?”

“Maryse, don’t hang up.” Mr. North said into the phone.

“Why, Mr. North, nice of you to call. I was just talking about you on the last call. What can I do for you?”

“I’m letting you know that we are pressing charges on you for casting a spell on a human. You will be locked up.” He said sounding smug.

I laughed. “Good luck with that. You were the one that just told me that you hired me because I can’t cast a spell. Now you are back pedaling trying to say I can. I’ve already informed the right people you fired me, let’s see who wins.”

I hung up. It rang, and I ignored it. I had to get to Al’s. I got to his bar and he was outside yelling at Lincoln. Oh good, here we go again. I walked toward them and said before he could say anything “It’s my fault yell at me.”

“If I don’t get a delivery tomorrow I will, I don’t know, but it won’t be pretty little girl.” Al threatened.

“It’s not right they have been taking advantage of you. I had to do something. If we can just work together for a small time it will all blow over and we can make this right.” I pleaded.

“During tourist season, what were you thinking? I’m warning you witch…” Al started but he was cut off.

“Were you talking to me Al?” Jonathon said coming from around the corner.

“No, I was talking to this busy body. She is hurting our business. The council should do something about her.”

“Go inside Al. Go back to your bar Lincoln. I will talk to Maryse and see what is going on.”

“You better do more than that.” Al screamed.

“Or what,” Jonathon said raising one eyebrow. Damn that was sexy and I wished I could do that.

“You’ll see,” Al said walking away back inside.

Lincoln nodded to the both of us and walked across the street. I was alone with Jonathon on the street and I didn’t know what he was going to say. I just knew it wasn’t going to be good.

“Would you like to get coffee?” He asked instead and I just stared at him.

JPW

“It seemed like an easy question,” I said after watching her just stare at me for a full minute.

“I’m sorry. I just assumed you were going to yell at me. Sure coffee would be fine.”

“There is a donut and coffee cart just on Main Vein,” I said getting her to begin walking.

“So,” I said breaking the silence. “Lincoln called me after this morning’s problems. You realize that supernatural’s or paranormals or whatever they call us this week have always been taken advantage of?”

“It’s not right,” she said shaking her head.

She was a good looking girl. It was too bad she was magic less. “It isn’t, but we have been battling against this for years. It’s not going to change in one day.”

“It could. There are enough of us now in positions of importance, that we can make a difference, we just have to try. I’m not saying change their minds about us, but change unfair practices against us. It’s time, don’t you think?”

“I do. But you think a battle over beer is going to start the battle for equality?”

“Every battle starts somewhere. Why not here, and why not now?” She asked me and I smiled.

“You don’t make things easy do you?” I asked her leading her toward the coffee stand.

“Nope, easy is boring.” She said smiling and that’s when it hit me.

“Damn, you have a beautiful smile.”

“Excuse me,” she said stopping us cold.

“Shit was that out loud? I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I apologize, it just took me off guard.” I back pedaled trying to dig myself out of a hole.

“It’s fine,” she said smirking. “Your smile isn’t so bad either.”

I laughed. I deserved that. “A coffee and a donut for me, what would you like Maryse?”

“A hot chocolate please,” she said to the man behind the cart.

We waited for our order and when we got them we began walking down the street together. I couldn’t remember the last time I walked with a woman. To be fair I couldn’t remember the last time I did anything like this with a woman.

“So what is your next step?” I asked her trying to head off more trouble before she got going.

“See if the truck shows up tomorrow. If it does, I stand there till it’s unloaded and counted and verified. If it doesn’t match I report that to the council as well. It may take time but I’m not letting one asshole ruin so many lives.” She said and I smiled at her use of profanity. I wouldn’t feel so bad for my slip ups now.

“Sounds good. Any luck with Harv’s curse?”

“My dad is trying to locate them. If he can locate them and convince them to give him the counter spell, he can be human again.”

I nodded. I knew someday that was what we were working for. It didn’t mean I wouldn’t miss him, but when he was human he wouldn’t need to work for me anymore.

“You don’t seem happy about him being human?” She said seeing my expression.

“Don’t get me wrong, I would be happy for him. If he’s human he won’t need to live here. He won’t need to fit in anymore. He can go anywhere and do anything.” I said bearing my thoughts.

“Once you find a home, doesn’t mean you leave it when things change, sometimes you change to stay there.” She said and I hoped she was right. “Besides if he becomes an ass have Lincoln turn him.”

I spit my coffee out. She laughed at me and I smiled. I liked a girl with a sense of humor.

“So, if I really screw this town up, I’m going to need to evacuate fast. Do you have an emergency escape route laid out?”

“If you do, you can stay with me. No one would bother you with me there.” I said before I thought about what I was saying.

“Um,” she said.

Now things were awkward. Why did I say stupid shit like that? She was going to go running now and I wouldn’t blame her. I was a moron.

“I don’t think my parents would approve of that one, which makes it almost doable.” She said laughing. “I think I’ll wait on that though for a final choice.”

She saved me and I laughed. Damn she was something. If she had her sisters powers my family would have approved and forced me to marry her. Being a level one though my family would throw a fit, and like she said, it might just be worth it.

“I’ll meet you at Al’s tomorrow. Dwarves can be nasty. What time should the truck show up?” I asked.

“I doubt it will till the council makes them, but if it was going to show up, it would be about ten.” She said.

“I’ll walk you back to Harpers.” I said turning us in that direction.

“That’s nice of you but I can find my way.” She said a little perturbed with me.

“Ok, what I should have said is Al is a bastard, and I worry about you. He might do something and I would feel more comfortable if you weren’t alone when you are walking about town for a few days until this is cleared up.”

“Oh, well in that case, I would appreciate the company.” She said smiling.

I laughed. This was a special woman. I needed to just remember that. Of course something tells me when I forget she will let me know.

Maryse

“My brother is the respectable one, and since he is, I get to do this here. I need to thank him more.” Jonathon explained.

“You’re family is like royalty in the witch world though, I’m surprised they let you.” I said meaning every word. We were taught as children growing up that we were to be the perfect little witches and do what’s best for the coven and the council in general. I just had no magic so I wasn’t held to such standards.

“They weren’t happy about it, but my brother convinced them and since they are so busy trying to find him the perfect wife, they don’t pressure me. Damn I owe him don’t I?

“I’m afraid so. If I had been born with any level of power the council would have been after my parents after I turned sixteen to start arranging a future husband. At least this way if I ever find someone who was interested it would be my choice, but being from any witch background is tough, look at what happened to Harvey.”

“Yeah, that sucks, he is a great guy too. He deserves happiness; of course everyone deserves to be happy. Look at me getting all emotional. Here we are my lady delivered safely to the door of the finest inn that Fae-Ville has to offer.” Jonathon said with a flourish.

“Well thank you kind sir,” I said dropping to a curtsy while laughing the entire time.

“If you need anything let Harper know and she will get a hold of me, if not, I will see you tomorrow.”

“Thanks for walking me back Jonathon.” I said not wanting him to leave. Damn I was acting like a school girl.

“JP,” he said.

“Um, what,” I asked.

“JP, my friends call me JP, well Harv and my brother do.” He said blushing.

“Thanks JP,” oh that sounded so good coming from my lips.

He smiled a deep smile and then he turned around and walked away. I could lie and tell you I walked inside and didn’t think about him anymore but I didn’t. I stood just inside the door watching him walk away till I couldn’t see anything anymore.

When I finally turned around Harper was standing there watching me. Before I could say anything she grabbed my hands and pulled me inside the rest of the way.

“Fine, if you are going to fall for the big bad witch, then there are some things you need to know.” She said heading toward what was now our talk table.