Shazam! Season of the Witch

Prologue: Unforeseen Turbulence

Cateline Agnelli hated Mondays.

It was 2:30 on an early, damp Monday morning and Cate hadn't seen another car in the past forty minutes. The road that led to the Philadelphia International Airport was quiet and empty. She had been up since 1 o'clock, making sure her uniform was perfect and her rusty hair was evenly styled in a bob. Such was the life of a flight attendant--always counting down the minutes until she would arrive at the airport and head out onto the runway with ease and grace. It was her dream job, but it hadn't been what she expected it to be. Her family had told her never to become a flight attendant. They pointed out that it wasn't even considered a real job, but Cateline didn't care because being in the air meant freedom...escape. It meant she would get to travel. If they knew that she was starting to feel burnt-out they'd say, "we told you so".

As she walked slowly towards the airport, eyes glued to her phone, a satisfied yawn escaped her lips.Her shoulders relaxed as she checked her schedule; she would be working with Leonardo today and their plane would be landing in Fort Myers, Florida. She was already feeling like the day was a good day.

Leonardo was a ruggedly handsome man in his mid-thirties whose presence seemed to fill the room. His chestnut brown locks, disarming smile, and strong build made her stomach flutter every time he entered the plane. Leo was a kindhearted pilot who never once failed to look after his crew, especially when he had personally de-planed the passenger who had harassed her on her first flight as an attendant. His deep voice sent shivers up her spine whenever he spoke, and his gaze seemed to have some strange power hidden within it.

She bit her lip longingly, attempting to distract her thoughts with more scrolling. Unfortunately, said man had a ring on his finger. Cateline swallowed hard, casting her gaze to the pavement. What would her family think if they knew she had such thoughts about a married man?

She'd have to ask Raquel for Adrian's number. Having a coffee date with the aspiring engineer might keep her mind off of Leo. If things went well, she might invite him to karaoke night to meet the rest of her friends. How did that saying go again? Chiodo scaccia chiodo; a new love drives out an old one. Better take some action if she wanted to move on.

Cateline hustled through the terminal, relieved the usual morning crowds hadn't yet arrived. It was eerily quiet save for a few murmured conversations between security guards who had just clocked in. She couldn't help but find comfort in the predawn stillness before her flight took off.

As her mind began to wander, Cateline bumped into Raquel who she would be working with on this morning's plane.

"Oh my gosh, I'm sorry Raquel! I didn't even see you there. I'm so glad I changed my mind about getting that coffee, otherwise I totally would have drenched you with it," she exclaimed, hanging her head in embarrassment as she spoke with her gaze to the floor.

"Anyway, how's your morning been- ?", Cateline's voice trailed when she finally caught sight of the other woman's appearance.

Raquel, usually very chatty, stood eerily still. Her normally vibrant hazel eyes were now looking dull and distant. Her skin had gone as pale as a ghost's. It made Cateline's stomach flip with fear. She took an instinctive step forward.

" Raquel!" she gasped, "What on earth happened to you? You look like you haven't slept in days. Shouldn't you ask for the day off?"

She extended the back of her hand to touch Raquel's forehead, quickly withdrawing it. Raquel was cold to the touch. Cateline considered Raquel a friend and for the time that they'd known each other, she'd never seen her look like that. Even when they'd gone to the pub a few miles from the airport, Raquel had never looked so pale when she was about to be sick.