Lexi shook awake as the car came to a stop. Sleeping in a car can never be comfortable, can it? She thought. She hurt everywhere. Her neck from being bent while she leaned against the window, her knees from being cramped in the car for so long…Even her butt hurt from sitting too long. She let out a groan as she made her first movements, stretching her legs as much as possible in the floorboard . “Are we here?”
Dillon nodded. “We’re here.” He turned back into the back seat. “Roger, we’re here.”
The dark haired man looked like he could almost be asleep, if not for furrowed brow he wore on his face as he focused on the enchantment held over their car. Sven looked to be in about the same state, with sweat gathering on his forehead and breathing forced steady.
Roger took in a deep breath and opened his eyes. As he did, Sven inhaled as well before falling sideways against Roger’s shoulder.
Lexi’s eyes widened. “Is he okay?” She turned over in her seat, almost climbing into the back with them. “What happened?”
“He’s just tired. He’s still young for a fey. I’m surprised he held up this long, but without him the enchantment would have fallen hours ago.” Roger took a drink of the water Dillon got him, not bothering to move Sven from his shoulder. “Is she home, Dil?”
“The light’s on. So I assume so.”
Lexi turned around taking in the building in front of her. She didn’t know what she’d expected when they started the drive to the famous witch’s house, however what they had arrived at was far beyond her expectations. Ahead of her sat a storefront with painting over the window that looked as though it’d been handmade reading “Psychic Readings: Reveal your future here.” Over the door was a neon sign that flickered as though it were ready to short out and die at any moment. The store shared a building with a Mexican supermarket next door.
“I thought she was a witch… not a psychic.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Psychics aren’t real.” Dillon grinned at her. “She just reads peoples past and gives them some vague tips about the future in exchange for more money than she deserves.”
Roger opened the door, lying Sven down in the back seat as he climbed out. “Come on. I need to stretch my legs.”
“Are we just leaving him here?” Lexi looked back at her sleeping friend as she climbed out of the car. “This doesn’t seem like the neighborhood to leave him sleeping like that…he’s defenseless.”
Roger chuckled. “I linked with the guy, believe me he’s not defenseless even to be so young.” He smiled a bit. “That drive did kind of drain him though. I’ll carry him inside.”
Dillon stretched as far as his limbs would stretch, fists reaching to the skies, as he first stepped onto the concrete. “Let’s get this over with.” He stepped in front of Lexi to lead the way into the small store.
The flimsy bell over the door rang as they entered. Lexi’s nostrils were filled with the scent of cheap incense as she glanced around the dimly lit lobby. She supposed it was a lobby. There were a few chairs against the wall, one of them was missing the cushioned seat and sat instead as a metal frame with a cushioned back.
The register sat on top of a glass counter filled with makeshift souvenirs from the shop such as “feather from an angel’s wing: for protection from evil” or “fairy dust: for making wishes come true.” Behind the register was a doorway blocked off by a black sheet nailed to the walls on either side the opening that was too long and pooled on the tile floor.
“Comiiinng!” A voice rang out from the back. Moments later a figure emerged—or rather attempted to as she fought with the “curtain” over the doorway. Once past the entranceway the girl smiled a large white smile line in a deep red that lit up her face. She looked close to Lexi’s age, perhaps a bit older. Her eyes were dark brown, seemingly black in the light, and her white-blonde hair was cut straight chin-length around her head. “Dillon!”
