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Strings of Fate
Cam 12- Arranging and avoiding
I work the bar while I wait for Harrison to make the delivery. Despite the address they left me being only
about fifteen minutes away it takes him an ENTIRE HOUR. What, did he stop for dinner and a show
along the way? I’m relieved when my phone rings. I quickly hand over the drink I was making and
answer my phone. (One of the bright sides of being the boss here is that no one can tell me off for
taking calls at work.)
“Hello?”
“Hi, this is Ryann. I’ve got Harry here with a bottle stuck to his hand which is hrious by the way. What
do we need to do to get the bottle off of him? I mean, I could make him carry it around indefinitely but I
think even with a spell on him he would find a way to lose it if we leave it too long.” I burst out in a
rather undignified snigger.
“That’s fair. Well it’s an easy enough spell to break. I made the magic dissolvable and of course I used
something I had handy as the trigger. So all you need to do is tip a little whiskey over it.” This time,
Ryann is the one whoughs.
“Oh I like you. Thanks Cam. For the spell and the free entertainment.”
“No problem.” I answer cheerfully
“You sound like you’re working. I’ll let you get back to it. Seeya!” Ryann hangs up and I find that my
mood is soaring. It’s nice to be appreciated. Although my good mood is dulled a little bit with guilt as I
remember Harrison’s parting words. I really didn’t trust him and that was probably a little unfair of me. I
do my best to banish the guilt from my mind. Even when Harrison turns up again about half an hour
later I just continue working and make him yet another awful drink. He doesn’t bring it up again so
neither do I.
Sunday I just turn off my phone. I know my mother and probably my grandmother will be calling me and
demanding to know why I didn’t turn up to their matchmaking lunch and I just cannot be bothered to
deal with them. Sunday afternoons are usually quiet at work and I am not enjoying it. I need something
to distract me from the worry and every time someonees in through the door I flinch thinking that it
might my mother or grandmother storming in to berate me. For the first time I can honestly say I am
relieved when Harrison turns up. He might be annoying and loud and shy, but he is also VERY
distracting and for
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Arranging and avoiding
once it’s a very wee distraction. I can feel his eyes on me throughout the rest of my shift, but if he
suspects that I’m acting strangely he doesn’t say anything. He just continues on as
he usually does. Flirting outrageously, making inne whenever possible and drinking
whatever I put in front of him. I start off by giving him all sorts of crazy concoctions. Making them is fun
and a good way to keep busy. But at the end of the night I make him a drink that he might actually
enjoy. As usual, he immediately takes a sip but unlike usual he pauses and raises an eyebrow.
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“This is… really good?” he sounds confused and his words came out as a question. I just shrug.
“You sort of unintentionally did me a favour tonight. Consider this my thanks.” I answer quietly. Harrison
shes me a knowing look and a sad smile before enjoying his drink in silence. Right, so he did know
that something was wrong and he was keeping me busy on purpose. There is one thing I can say for
him, when Harrison is around I am rarely bored.
The next few weeks pass quickly. I work and keep experimenting with potions like I usually” do.
Harrison keeps turning up and hovering around at my work or barging into my work room where he
insists on ying the role of my assistant. Even when I’m doing inventory or some other task where I
won’t let him help he just hangs out. After an afternoon of him watching me work where I snapped at
him for staring at me, he began bringing a digital tablet and stylus and then he would sit and work on
projects that he refuses to show me until they’repleted. I have to admit he is pretty talented at what
he does. I have taken to keeping my phone on silent all the time because my mother and grandmother
message and call me so much. The first few days after I skipped their matchmaking session were the
worst but it hasn’t improved much. I don’t even read their text messages anymore other than a quick
nce to check that they’re not actually sending me something important. I might be mad at them but if
there were actually something wrong, like if they ended up in the hospital or something I would feel
terrible if I ignored them. I end up attending a meeting with the Alphas and their friends about looking
for the missing girl. Harrison ended up following me. to the meeting too. Honestly I had nothing to
contribute but I appreciated the invitation and the chance to get to know them a little better. Not too
longter Ryann contacts me for more information about the tracking spell because she’s decided to
give it a try. When the dayes for her to use the spell I spend my time cleaning. I scrub the entire
bar, I disinfect every seat. I thoroughly clean the floors and when I run out of things to clean, I move
into my workroom and start creating spells and potions that I can sell to E. I’ve made them plenty of
times in the past but they’re not the most simple spells to create so they take a lot of focus which is
exactly what I need. I’m so anxious. What if I got the spell wrong? What if
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Cam 12- Arranging and avoiding
they don’t manage to find the child? What if they do and something goes wrong? I wonder if there is
anything I can do to help. What might Kiara need when they find her? I try to imagine what kind of
treatment someone who has been abused or neglected might need. Potions for nutrition, healing
injuries and bruising, maybe blood replenishment? I make potions to assist with broken bones, injured
organs, headaches and just general pain killers. I make potions for dreamless sleep, sedatives in
various strengths and even some numbing potions. I make every potion I can think of. I only stop when
I quite literally begin to run out of supplies. I stop and look at the array of colourful little vials and I’m
surprised to find that I made so many. I can’t usually do that much magic on my own and certainly not
so fast. I suppose I was very determined. Completely exhausted, I send a message off to E.
Cam- Hey E, I had some free time today so I made a heap of new potions. I probably made
a few too many. If you want toe and grab some I’ll sell them to you at cost.
E- On my way.
When E arrives I let her back into my workroom and she looks at my pile of potions with a raised
eyebrow.
“A few extras?” She asks dubiously. I shrug.
“I was worried about the child. I wanted to be sure that you had everything you might need.”
I admit. E’s eyes soften and she picks up a greenish potion.
“Some of these are new. I don’t recognise them.” Shements.
“Yeah, you mostly have ones at a dosage for Shifters. I made a few variations. They’re more
appropriate for Humans and Witches. I don’t know what the girl is but that’s why there are versions with
different strengths. They’re colour coded. The brighter the colour, the stronger the dose. I wrote down
what they all are. I haven’t given you all of these before.” I exin, handing her a scrap of paper with
details for each potion. E seems impressed.
“People underestimate you Cam. You’re a very talented Witch. If I had ordered this many potions from
a coven it would have taken at least a week.” She points out.
“I’m not that great. I’m okay at potions, but my spellwork in’t great.” I sigh. E rolls her
eyes.
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“You are not bad at spellwork. You are extraordinarily good at potions which makes your spellwork
seem average inparison. You just don’t realise how talented you are because that family of yours
never gave you the credit you deserved.” She lectures me angrily but I know I’m not the one she’s mad
at. She’s made it clear several times in the past how she feels about my family. Not wanting to think
about it right now, I change the subject.
“Can you afford the potions today?” I ask. E shrugs.
“I’ll charge the Alphas for them, we will pay the proper cost too, none of this discount nonsense.” She
grumbles. I smile happy. E’s phones and she flicks it open, says a few
words then closes it.
“Load my bag up missy. They found the girl and I’m needed.” E demands. I hurry to pack away all the
spells for her and see her out. A couple hourster I hear from Ryann.
Ryann- We did it, the spell worked. We found her. She’s safe and is going to be okay, physically at
least. Thank you so much for your help. It really did make all the difference. I don’t know what we would
have done without you. If you ever need anything and I can help please don’t hesitate to ask. I totally
owe you.
Cam- Don’t be silly, you don’t owe me anything. I’m so d she’s safe. I’m sure that with you there to
take care of her she will pull through. Kids are resilient like that. I would love to meet her sometime
when she’s ready. I think it would be reassuring to see her for myself.
Ryann- Ipletely understand. I would feel the same. I’ll let you know when she’s up for guests, or
maybe I’ll bring her by the Witches Booze for dinner some night. She’s staying with aus until we figure
out something long–term for her.
Cam- I can’t think of a better ce for her. Thanks for updating me and congrattions.