The Card Mechanic

1

What does a witch, a conman, and a teenager all have in common? Well, what's the link between magic, mischief, and moodiness? A witch sells tricks like a conman, that comparison is fairly obvious, but what does a teenager have in common with the before mentioned pair?

Me.

How might you ask?

Because I am all three.

My name is Leah Bishop and I am a teenage witch, con-artist extraordinaire - in that order. Why in that specific order? Because I decided it flowed the smoothest off the tongue when I said it aloud.

"I am an extraordinary teenage con-artist who happens to practice witchcraft - as you do at my age - " Doesn't flow nearly as well as: "teenage witch, con-artist extraordinaire."

It's an important distinction to make.

Such a distinction can make or break a conversation.

I would know.

::

"Leah! I'm going to kill you!" My attacker yowled wildly and clawed at my throat, narrowly missing. "You ruined my potion!"

I dodged a nasty acne inducing jinx and ducked behind the table. The monster was close in pursuit. I feinted left but they managed to snag the back of my collar. Shutting my eyes, I prepared for a world of pain.

"Do not kill your sister, Lavender." Mother chastised. "I don't have any dried yew left. If you kill her I won't be able to complete the ritual required to bring her back. She cannot afford to miss another day of school because she died again."

"Tt." Lavender glared at me. "You're such a klutz. Can't you do anything right? You can't See, or enchant, charm, brew, jinx, or curse! Are you even a witch?"

In a wondrous display of maturity, I stuck out my tongue.

"Tell me one thing you're good at."

"I'm good at poker." I told Lavender confidently, pulling a chair and settling down comfortably. "And card tricks." I added thoughtfully.

Lavender sighed.

"That one's on me." She shook her head. "I set the bar too low. I should've expected that you'd tell me about your useless parlour tricks."

"Girls." Mother warned. "Be nice. There's nothing wrong with Leah's hobby. Her parlour tricks are—um, ah, they're very—-hmm... they're special."

"Special?" Lavender snorted. "Maybe. But they certainly aren't magical. Not really, anyways. Wasn't she supposed to be good at magic? Aunt Velma told us she Saw that Leah would be talented. So far, she's been nothing but a disappointment."

My chair tumbled onto the ground with a sharp thud as I stood and strode away. I didn't bother fixing it. Lavender would probably spell everything back into order anyways.

"Lavender!" Mother's voice snapped behind me.

My sister said something. I couldn't hear what and I didn't want to.

My cheeks burned with deep shame and humiliation. Every step felt like defeat and disgrace. At first glance, I probably resembled a mutt slinking away with its tail tucked between its legs. I certainly felt like one.

::

We were born beneath an eclipse of the midnight sun. How miraculous was it that a pair of twins would meet life beneath such a celestially active sky! I could hardly believe it despite being the living proof. I was born first, but I can't help but wonder if Lavender, while in the womb, took all the talent meant to be split between us.