Threads

Chapter Four: Part 2

Looking to the next shelf, she noted that the reed flutes she had seen earlier played a tune that allowed you to get rid of rats, and that the reading glasses’ display claimed that they would allow you to see through any disguise. The potions named “Love Potions and Bedazzling Elixers” were all different shades of pink, which didn’t surprise her at all.

“So, if I gave this to someone it would make them love me?” Alice held up one of the bottles and Azura looked up sharply from the till, perhaps catching a whisper of something in her voice.

            “It would indeed, but it wouldn’t be real love - they would be besotted for a short length of time, and then they would go back to normal.”

            Alice put the potion back, feeling her face color a little. “Why are they different shades of pink?”

            “Depending on how strong they are.” Azura’s eyes went back to the till in front of her. “The very faint pink lasts about an hour, the darkest a day.”

            “That’s not very long,” Alice mused.

            “Long love potions are dangerous,” Azura said sharply. “They make people do stupid things. And nobody should be permanently forced to love someone they don’t.”

            “That’s true,” Alice murmured. She wandered back over to the desk to stand beside Azura.          “There aren’t any prices on anything. Why?”

            “You know how high end stores have no price tags?”

             “Sure, because most people would scream and run the other way if they saw the price, but rich people don’t care what it costs.”

            “Threads is the opposite - our prices are so inexpensive that we don’t need price tags. And for some people, when they come along, we like to be able to charge them less.”

            “Like the regular children that come in sometimes?”

            “Precisely.”

            “Why do you call them “regular” anyways? Aren’t they just “non-magical”?”

            Azura looked up at her and Alice saw the hesitation on her face.

            “What?”

             Azura hesitated, “Touching the threads frequently tends to have a prolonging effect on the normal human life span. We aren’t immortal; we just live a few centuries longer then people that don’t touch magic.”

            “Okay,” Alice said slowly. “Okay centuries? What are we talking about here?”

            “Most Witches live well into their hundreds.”

            Alice blinked, astonished. “How old are you?”

            Azura gave her a dry smile. “My dear, that question is commonly considered rude.”

            Alice nearly felt bad, until she saw the other woman crack a smile.

            “I’m one hundred fifty three years old. Do you need to sit down?” She said in the same breath, as Alice seized the edge of the counter with both hands.

            “What?”

            “The wrinkle cream really does help,” Azura joked, and then, because Alice wasn’t laughing, she added, “Oh dear, I’m sorry. I should have told you before.”