“I think Simon’s having an affair.”
“What? No,” Brenna said.
Maggie came in from the back room. “Oh, hey, Miranda. What’s up?”
“Simon’s cheating on me.”
“Hold up,” Brenna said. “You just said you think he is. Now he definitely is?”
“Well, no. But I have my suspicions. Strong ones.”
“How can we help?” Maggie said.
“Can you do like a reading or a spell like last time? Just so I know once and for all.”
“I’ve been working on something that might be helpful,” Brenna said. “I haven’t tested it yet.”
“Consider me your guinea pig!” Miranda said, jumping up and down.
“Okay, sure.”
“This sounds interesting,” Maggie said. “What do we need?”
“The usual set up. Let’s open a circle, just to be safe.”
“Gotcha.” Maggie leaned down behind the counter and came back up with a wooden box. She took an athame from the box and set the box down at her feet. She raised the small knife. “Earth, air, fire, and water. We ask that you join us and watch over us. Honor us with your presence, in light and love. So mote it be.”
Maggie lowered her arms. Warm air filled the circle.
The three of them sat cross-legged on the floor. Brenna rummaged around in the box and pulled out a black mirror. She handed it to Miranda.
“I want you to close your eyes and picture Simon’s face. Picture the two of you walking hand in hand, along your favorite spot.”
Miranda nodded.
“Do you see him?”
“Yes.”
Brenna looked at the mirror. “By the elements, we wish to hear, if Miranda’s Simon, is having an affair.”
Miranda’s throat moved up and down. She kept her eyes closed. Brenna kept her eye on the mirror. An image started to appear. Maggie leaned forward. It disappeared before Brenna could make it out.
“Let us see, no matter how wrong, what Simon has been doing, with his uh you know what.”
Maggie giggled. The mirror remained blank. Brenna scratched her head. She concentrated and tried to summon the answer for Miranda, but nothing happened.
“I’m sorry, Miranda. I’m not getting anything.”
“I knew it! He is cheating on me!”
“Hold on, I just said I couldn’t see anything.”
“You just don’t want to upset me. Who is it? Who’s the slut?”
“Honestly, I didn’t see anything. I’ve been in a bit of a magic slump lately.”
“You’re a terrible liar, Brenna. Just tell me who it is!”
Maggie placed a comforting hand on Miranda’s arm. “She isn’t lying, Miranda. Since her gran died, she’s been hopeless at this sort of thing. No offense, Bren.”
“None taken. She’s right. I’ve lost my spark.”
“Bren has lost her groove,” Maggie added.
Miranda stood up, wiping tears. She turned toward the door. She walked into an invisible wall, like a mime. She raised her hands. “Let me out of here!”
Maggie jumped up and raised her athame. “I hereby close the circle. Thank you for your protection. Go with love. Blessed be.”
Miranda huffed and marched toward the door.
Brenna called out to her but Miranda kept going, slamming the door behind her. Brenna sighed. “What’s wrong with me?”
“Where do I start?”
Brenna poked her tongue out at Maggie. “I’ve never had trouble with a simple scrying spell before.”
“Hun, it’s just going to take time. Have you gone through her things yet?”
“No. I’m too chicken.”
“You’re not chicken. Want me to come over with some wine later? We could go through ti together. It might get your magic juices flowing again.”
“I don’t think I’m ready.”
“Okay, hun. Just let me know.” Maggie squeezed Brenna’s hand.
“Thank you. I’m going to try and call Miranda.”
“Maybe you should let that simmer for a while.”
“She’s going to go straight to poor Simon.”
Maggie waved a hand in a dismissive gesture. “He’s used to it by now. Don’t worry.”
“I’m gonna go do something unmagical. Like, update our website or something.”
“Don’t be too hard on yourself, okay?”
“I’ll be out back if you need me.”
After an uneventful afternoon, Brenna pulled into the parking lot in the shadow of a dark, leering building. She slammed the car door shut and looked at her watch. Damn. Hector was going to throttle her. She hurried up the many steps to the front door of the building and saw Mr. Hector. His usual ruddy face was bright red. Streaky white hair (usually slicked back) flew about his head in hectic clumps. She avoided Hector’s wild eyes that protruded from their sockets.
He marched up to Brenna, clicking a ballpoint pen in his hand over and over. It made an irritating noise that grated on Brenna’s already shaky nerves. Hector opened his mouth and unclenched his teeth.
“Where have you been?” Brenna opened her mouth to reply but Hector spoke before she could. “Do you know who is waiting upstairs?” Hector yelled, making Brenna take a step backward. His nasal voice was more grating than usual.
She shook her head.
“Mr. Gambit. And do you know who Mr. Gambit is?” Hector stared at Brenna, waiting for a reply. She shook her head again. “Well, Mr. Gambit is a very rich and powerful man who had agreed to finance my idea of putting an amusement park on your land. He’s a very busy man! You don’t have any idea of what I had to do to keep him here!”
Hector’s eyes were still bulging. Brenna put her hands up in defense.
“I didn’t know anybody else was going to be here. I’m sorry, I really am. I tried to be here on time.”
Brenna climbed the remaining steps to the front door, following closely behind Hector. He burst through the heavy glass doors letting them shut on her.
“Thanks a lot,” she muttered, pushing the heavy doors open and entering the building. Once inside, she spotted Hector punching the elevator button with a knobby finger.
She looked around the massive building, finding it hard not to be intimidated by its long glass windows and grey sterility. She couldn’t help but notice a nosy secretary staring at her over her black-rimmed glasses, so she smiled at the secretary, causing her to quickly look down at her computer screen as if she hadn’t noticed Brenna. Men in business suits chatted around a water cooler. Bouts of laughter drifted from their group. Brenna passed by them and heard a wolf whistle. Brenna blushed and stood closer to Hector. This is wrong. This is all wrong.
Finally, the elevator arrived with a satisfying ding. Brenna and Hector entered the brightly lit box and Brenna stifled laughter as Hector repeatedly pressed the button to floor number ten as if it would get them there quicker. He turned and peered at her, his cold eyes making Brenna shiver and look away. When the elevator arrived on floor number ten, Brenna almost lunged out and into the hallway with Hector close behind her.
Hector grunted at Brenna before guiding her to a large conference room. A board table took up most of the space, surrounded by high-backed chairs. Floor to ceiling windows made up the walls. Hector planted a fake smile on his face directed at Mr. Gambit. Brenna had never seen Mr. Gambit before but knew if Maggie was here, she would describe him as a pig wearing glasses. He was bald with pink skin and a podgy little nose. Brenna burst out laughing. Hector looked at her with his mouth gaping and yanked out a chair for her to sit in. Brenna sat, trying to stifle her laughter. Empty glasses and a water jug sat in the middle of the shiny conference table, along with a large plate of doughnuts. An iced pink doughnut with sprinkles sang out to Brenna’s growling stomach, reminding her she had skipped lunch. Before she could take the doughnut, Mr. Gambit cleared his throat and slammed his briefcase onto the table with a loud thump. Brenna brought her hand back to her lap as if she had touched a hot element, and peered at Mr. Gambit.