Exquisite Poison (Original Draft)

Chapter 7 - A Home Made of Wood and Sunlight

Netta had been staring too long at Calliope, and her brain seemed to not want to work in the least. Finally, Calliope leaned forward and rested a hand on one of Netta's. "Did you hear me? Can you understand it?"

Netta pressed a hand to her forehead and took in a deep breath. "I think even if I was fully awake, I'd still have some difficulty understanding what you're saying."

Netta sighed and took a sip of the tea. She was startled, at first, when she felt the surge of magical power starting at her mouth and then spread through her body.

She remembered that Calliope got a few items that had been touched by someone else's magic. Being another Witch who also had no Familiar, Calliope would have to rely on other's magics to work. Among the work arounds that existed was tea that had been enhanced with rejuvenating magic.

How long had it been for Netta, since she had last felt, tasted mgic?

Netta gulped that sip down then took a long drag at the cup, hoping that shaking the thick layer of fuzz that had accumulated in her mind would make what Calliope said make sense.

"We'll have to pick this conversation up at a later date. You seem as though you've worn thin under the weight of exhaustion." When Netta made some half-hearted attempts at arguing with her, Calliope interrupted her, saying, "I think that a good night of rest would help in clearing your head, dear. I figure that you can spend one last night with that boy that you've brought - I can secure a room for you at the Stop n' Sleep. In the morning, you can bid him adieu."

There was no time to think of the rather curious choice of words - saying that she would "secure" a room for her at the fleabag motel in town. She also ignored the tell-tale snicker originating from the creature that only she could see.

Netta took another drag at the cup of tea before she looked Calliope in the eyes. She took a deep breath and said, "I came to see what you needed. I - I have to be frank with you, Callie, I am not much of a Witch. If I ever was one, then it's long gone out of me by now." she shrugged and tried to make it seem as nonchalant as she could manage, when in reality she was close to shaking. "I think that you would be better off with this sort of thing-"

Calliope laughed hysterically. "Dear girl, have you forgotten who you're speaking to?" Netta's brains, rankled as they were, took a moment to understand what she was getting at before the woman answered her own question. "The contract I had with Jaste a good long time ago. If I wanted to do this myself, I would need to make a contract with a Monster and hope that a particularly strong one would be willing to shack up with me."

Calliope shook her head, chuckling. "My dear, I am no spring chicken. No one of any substance would have an old lady for his Master. Also, and this is for future reference," Calliope got up and started to fuss with some dirty dishes in her sink, rolling up the sleeves and turning the hot tap in her tiny sink on. "never leave a compact with a Familiar without taking your power back; there is nothing like the potent magic that you share with a Familiar, and once it's gone with the fleeing bastard, then there's not much more than old, broken flowers that you can offer another."

She turned around to look meaningfully at Netta, a drooping strand of curly graying brown hair that had escaped her loose bun hanging over her glasses. "And trust me - people want good, virile, fresh flowers. Tell me, dear, do you have any idea where you can start in finding a good companion?"

And then Netta became aware that Ash was in the room, when the Monster walked up to the table and began to wave Its hand wildly in front of her. "Hel-lo? Virile flower here!"

Netta thrust a hand through her hair. There could not have been anything that Calliope could have said that would have been more troublesome, where Ash was concerned. The only thing worse than looking over to that overeager, grinning face - was a sobering understanding that she had.