Rise of the Witch Queen

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

"Can you get my back?" I asked, handing a bottle of sunscreen to Poppy. Since I'd escaped Jace and made it back home a couple of days ago, Poppy had been keeping me company while Will and the others came up with a plan to stave off war. Surprisingly Poppy was actually fun to hang out with when she wasn't spying on me for my brother.

"It's so much more fun now that you know about magic" Poppy swirled her finger in the air, and water from the pool rose into the air mimicking the pattern her finger made. "There are so many places and things I can't wait to show you!" she squealed, letting the water drop back into the pool.

"It's too bad Will has me under house arrest for the foreseeable future." I groaned, dipping my feet into the pool.

"Well, what your brother doesn't know won't hurt him," Poppy grinned wickedly. "I know this wonderful little speakeasy that I'm taking you too tonight. Plus, I found the perfect dress for you."

Sighing, I got up and laid back down on the lounge chair. "Is that really a good idea? You know what happened the last time that I left this apartment."

Poppy tossed her long dark hair laughing. "Trust me. As long as I'm with you, nothing bad will happen." She stood up and gave a bow. "I offer my services to you, Charlotte Audelia Harrington. I will shield your back and keep your counsel and give my life for yours if need be. I swear it by the Old Gods and the New."

Groaning, I rolled my eyes "Please don't do that. I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me."

Poppy rolled her dark chocolate eyes "Get used to it. You can see the future that is a gift people will die to possess and die to protect.  I was always going to be one of your personal guards. This just gets that formality out of the way."

Poppy took my hand and pulled me up "Now we need to get ready."

After Poppy had tried on several different outfits and forced me into several different dresses, she was finally satisfied. Poppy was clad in a tight knee-length velvet red dress that showed off her slender curves. Poppy had put me in a hand embellished long-sleeve high-low wrapped dress with a plunging neckline and high slit. "I still don't understand how you expect us to get out of the apartment without Will noticing," I said, grabbing a matching black clutch as we headed into the foyer. 

"Will's at a council meeting, so by the time he figures out we're gone, it'll be too late," Poppy said, flouncing to the door. "Don't worry! Tonight is about fun. I'm going to show you what being a witch should be like."

"Right fun," I muttered, "I think I used to have that once."

The place that Poppy led us to was a back alley between two old brick buildings leading to a rusted metal door. "You know there were easier ways to kill me," I laughed, only half-joking. After everything that I'd been through since arriving in New York, I doubted there was much that could still surprise me. Poppy laughed, pressing her hand to the door it dissolved under her touch. Poppy sauntered in and kissed a tall, black-clad man on the cheek. "It's good to see you again, Ms. Upton," he grinned. "Who's your friend?"

"Like you don't know," Poppy playfully hit him on the shoulder "This is Charlotte Harrington."

The man raised an eyebrow but didn't look surprised "So the rumors are true. The prodigal daughter returns. It's good to have you back in the fold Ms. Harrington. I'll clear a table for you." The man pulled back a  dark velvet curtain, revealing what I imagined speakeasies from the nineteen twenties looked like. Glamorous men and women danced closely on the dance floor to a band playing an almost hypnotic tune. Scantily clad women shimmied on floating platforms making shapes and patterns with fire, water, earth, and air in time to the music. The air was thick with magic and wonder. It was the most incredible thing I had ever seen.