Хармони Харт - Basic Witch

“Oh, no!” She shook her head. “The contracts are iron-clad. Everyone knows that. I suppose someone could challenge them, but they’d have to put in a request with the Hall of Records first, and then—”

“Nevermind,” I said. “I understand.”

“It really is a mess,” she said. “Everyone’s frustrated by the bureaucracy, but what can you do? Just the other day, I was talking to Kayleigh from Pixie Potions, and she said Clarence—that’s the Jinn who owns Golden Lamp Plantation—was trying to negotiate a better deal on Morty’s herb supply contract, and things got pretty heated. She said the old man was yelling so loud she could hear him all the way over at her shop, and when she rushed out to see what was happening, she saw Clarence storming out.”

“Morty really must have struck a nerve with him,” I said.

“Morty was a cranky old man, for sure. But Clarence is one of the most patient souls I’ve ever met.” A conspiratorial expression crossed her face. “Whatever they were arguing about, it must have been really important to him. Otherwise, I can’t imagine him getting so angry.”

“Interesting,” I said. “I should probably introduce myself to Clarence, see if we can revisit those negotiations before I reopen the shop. Where did you say the plantation is?”

“On the southern edge of town,” she said. “But you’ll want to freshen up and change clothes before you go.”

“What’s wrong with how I look?” I glanced down at my outfit consisting of yesterday’s clothes and Beau’s coat.

“Girl, trust me.” She grabbed my arm and dragged me through the door of Fae Fashion & Fabrics, where she planted me in front of a mirror. She stepped back, examining me, then called out, “David!”

A pair of silver silk curtains parted in the back, and the Fairy Prince appeared, looking bored as ever. But when he saw me, he brightened.

“Gemma Bradbury, as I live and breathe.” He approached me with caution, taking every inch of me in with a scrutinous eye as he peeled back the lapel of Beau’s coat to check out my clothing. “Is this the same outfit you were wearing last night?”

“Yes,” I admitted. “It’s all that was available to me this morning. And the coat is borrowed.”

“Obviously.” He caught my topknot in his fist and looked into the mirror with me. “And what is this?”

“I couldn’t figure out the shower. It’s the best I could manage.”

“We’re going to pay Clarence a visit,” Destiny offered.

“Oh, honey!” David cried, slapping his hands on both knees. “You do need help. But you’ve come to the right place. Destiny, you send an owl ahead to Legend’s and make sure they can fit her in as soon as we’re done here.”

“You got it,” she said.

He shuffled me over to a room filled floor-to-ceiling with gorgeous fabrics, and flew through the aisles, tapping particular bolts as he went. The fabric bolts glided across the room to land in a neat stack near a massive mirror. Satisfied he had gathered everything he needed, David came to a stop and beckoned me over to the mirror.

“Now,” he said as he helped me out of Beau’s coat, “talk to me about your personal style.”

“Um… it’s pretty much like this,” I said. “Leggings, slouchy sweaters, comfy boots.”

He closed his eyes, giving a slow his head a slow shake, then fixed his gaze on me as he gripped my shoulders in both hands. “Gemma. While I applaud your sense of… comfort… there is a time and place for yoga pants, and a time and place to be a little more adventurous. Think of this as adventure time. I like to start with the shoes,” he said. He waved a wand, and a silver shoe box appeared in front of me. “Take a peek!”

I tilted the lid open, revealing a pair of four-inch blush pink stilettos with hot pink soles. The shoes were stunning by any measure, but there was no way I was slipping those on for a walk through Salem. I slapped the lid shut and glared at David.

“Are you insane? Have you even been outside? The cobblestone will destroy those in a millisecond. And you’ll find me lying on the ground with a broken ankle.”

“But you’ll look fantastic,” he teased with a wink. When he caught my exasperated look, he smiled. “Never fear. There’s a reason people shop here. All of my shoes are graced with self-balancing heels and anti-fatigue insoles. You’ll never wobble, lose your footing, or experience pain in a pair of these babies. Guaranteed.”

“Pain-free high heels?” I asked, eyeing him with suspicion. “That sounds too good to be true.”

“Give them a try!” David urged. “You can always carry your—” he looked down at my cardigan Uggs with disdain, “—whatever those are… with you just in case.”

“Hey! I love these boots.”

“Like I said, Gemma. Time and place. Now try on the heels.”

“Are all fairies this bossy?” I asked as I tugged off my boots.

“Most of us, yes.”

I slipped into the heels and felt my jaw go slack as they molded to my feet. I took a few steps and stared at David in awe. “This is like walking on a cloud!”

“Ye of little faith,” he said. “Those are perfect. Now, for the outfit.” He stepped back, evaluating me with his chin in one hand, and snapped his fingers. “I’ve got it! Just be still. This won’t hurt a bit.”

After a furious storm of wand waving, fabric flying, and dizzying design tweaks—all of which lasted no more than two minutes total—David spun me around to face the mirror. I had to admit it. I looked amazing.

The black skinny pants and fitted blush pink scoop neck sweater did incredible things for my body, accentuating my minimal curves in all the best ways. David had topped off the look with a three-quarter length wool pea coat in a muted fuschia, and a pair of rose quartz stud earrings.

“Perfect!” He exclaimed. “How do you feel?”

“Astonished,” I said. “This entire outfit is unbelievably comfortable.”

“Then my work here is done. Come along,” he said. “I’ll bag up a few more options, some pajamas, and whatnot—on the house, of course—along with yesterday’s clothes. Oh! And before I forget…”

He handed me a cream leather cross-body satchel with gold hardware, the kind of handbag that would cost about three thousand dollars back in the human realm.

“David, this is exquisite!”

“It’s a beauty, isn’t it? But it gets better. Stick your cat in there.”

“What now?”

“ Do not stick your cat in there! ” Titus protested.

“It’s okay. Just slide her right in,” David urged. “It’s a familiar tote.”

“This is made to carry cats?”

“Or whatever. Anything small enough to get trampled on during a long day of exploration. Like this little creature here.”

He had a point. And he was right about the shoes, after all.

“ Here goes !” I swept an arm under Titus’s belly and lifted her into the air.

“I do not consent to this!” Titus yowled as I held open the satchel and lowered her in, feet first.

“Humor me,” I said.

“Hey!” She mewed happily and peeked her head out. “This isn’t half bad!”

I frowned, hefting the bag with one hand.

“But it doesn’t feel any heavier,” I said.

“Almost as if it were magic!” David grinned. “It expands to give your familiar the exact amount of space and support it needs to feel comfortable and eliminate any strain on you. Even with the cat inside, it will feel light as a feather.”

“David, I can’t thank you enough. This is mind-blowing. And the outfit…” I snuck another peek in the mirror. “I feel a like a million bucks.”