Witches, Wolves and Magical oddities.

Violet set down her briefcase as she stood in front of a small house with cracked windows and overgrown flowers.

A very crooked sign hung above the door.

She tilted her head.

Madam Bell's Shop of Magical Oddities.

She had expected to be exiled sooner or later. She just didn't expect it to be in a small town that barely registered on the map.

What was her aunt doing running a magic shop in a place like this?

She picked up her briefcase and walked toward the door, but it swung open before she could raise her hand to knock.

Violet stepped inside.

It was the most disorganized place she'd ever seen, overflowing with magical odds and ends. Shelves leaned beneath jars of dried herbs, potion bottles, spell books, enchanted trinkets, and things Violet wasn't entirely sure were supposed to be alive. Boxes were stacked in crooked towers, charms hung from the ceiling, and there was barely a clear path between the counter and the back room.

The place smelled of herbs, wax, and old books.

She looked behind the counter.

Her eyes landed on a goat.

It was chewing loudly.

The creature looked up at her with golden eyes.

Then it screamed.

Violet screamed too.

She dropped her briefcase and stumbled backward, hitting the nearest shelf. Books and jars tumbled to the floor with a series of loud crashes.

The goat went silent, and so did she.

For several seconds, they simply stared at each other and the mess she had made.

Then the goat spoke.

“You must be Violet. I knew you were trouble.”

A talking goat.

Of course the goat was talking.

Violet tried to remember how she'd gotten here in the first place.

Ah, yes.

Her principal had called her a bumbling wench, and she'd hexed his mouth shut.

It wasn't the worst thing she'd done, if she was being honest, but it had been more than enough to earn her a suspension.

Her mother had been furious. She'd barely finished reading the suspension letter before announcing that Violet would be sent to Aunt Bell.

She tried to beg, but her pleading fell on deaf ears.

Two days later, she was standing in front of a talking goat and a mess she knew she couldn't afford to pay for.

This wasn't how she'd expected her first day to go.

At this rate, she'd grow old here.

She glared at the goat before pulling out her wand.

She pointed it toward the mess and took a deep breath.

“By magic's hand, be whole once more, let the scattered gather and the broken mend.”

One by one, fallen books rose from the floor and flew back into place. Pieces of glass jars slowly pulled together, and scattered charms returned to their places.

The shop was back to exactly how it was before she entered.

Violet gave herself a pat on the shoulder before she turned to face the goat.

Somewhere behind her, a shelf creaked, almost approvingly.

“Don't look at me like that. You're the one who made the mess,” the goat said.

She looked at the wand in her hand and considered turning the arrogant little creature into a frog or maybe a sloth.

The shop's door swung open, and Violet's thoughts shifted away from punishing a talking animal.

Her aunt's eyes widened when she saw Violet. She rushed toward her and pulled Violet into a hug. She squeezed so hard Violet felt the air being pushed out of her lungs.

“Vi, oh, look how much you've grown!” Aunt Bell held her cheeks and pulled gently.

Her aunt faced the counter and grinned at the goat.

“I see you've met Basil.” She patted the goat gently on his head.

Violet narrowed her eyes at Basil. He replied by sticking out his tongue.

“Yes… I have.”

“Come in.”

Violet picked up her briefcase and followed her aunt into the back room and the kitchen.

Violet took a seat while Aunt Bell placed a kettle on the stove.

“Now that you're here, these are my rules.”

Aunt Bell pulled out her wand and waved it around.

Her cupboards flew open, and cups, spoons, and plates floated around.

“The most important: do not let anyone into the store past eight.”

The plates gently placed themselves on the table while the cups rested beside the kettle.

Aunt Bell opened a drawer and pulled out biscuits.

“Don't let Basil sell anything. It's almost always going to be cursed.” Aunt Bell threw a glance at Basil, who peeked at them from behind the door.

He stepped in, his hooves clicking against the wooden floor.

“Are we still on that?” he said.

“Stop trying to sell cursed objects!” Aunt Bell hissed.

“I didn't know it was cursed!”

Violet's eyes moved between the goat and her aunt.

The kettle began to whistle.

Aunt Bell ignored it and placed the biscuits on the table.

Aunt Bell sighed and turned back to Violet.

“If the mirror in the hallway calls your name, don't answer.”

“Why?” Violet asked, her eyebrows creasing slightly.

“Bell trapped a wizard in there. He'll say anything to get out,” Basil answered.

Violet glared at the talking goat.

“He's a tricky fellow,” Aunt Bell laughed.

Violet glanced into the hallway. A talking goat, and now a mirror with a prisoner. She exhaled softly.

The kettle whistled louder, the sound piercing Violet's ears.

“Stop it!” Aunt Bell scolded.

The kettle fell silent.

“And lastly, don't make the shop angry. It already likes you.”

“I don't,” Basil snickered.

“The feeling is mutual,” Violet retorted.

Basil turned away.

Aunt Bell picked up the kettle, poured tea into the cups, carried them to the table, and took a seat. Her eyes fell on Violet, who sat across from her with her hands between her legs.

“Your mother wants you to keep out of trouble.” Aunt Bell raised a cup to her lips and took a sip. She swatted Basil away from the biscuits. “I've agreed. Mostly because I like the company.”

Violet looked up.

Was this a good use of her time, sitting in a shop in the middle of nowhere, selling junk to strangers? Was this what her mother wanted her to become?

Violet pressed her lips into a flat line.

All she had to do was keep her head down, and she would be able to go home.

“Do you understand?” Aunt Bell asked.

Violet nodded even though she had stopped listening.

She didn't want to be here. She wanted to study and have fun with Lyra and Graham.

She looked up at her aunt.

“Can I take a walk?” she asked. She needed air. She needed to be alone so she could scream. Anything to release the rage that swirled inside her.

Aunt Bell shook her head softly.

“There've been wolves roaming about lately. Rumours about leadership struggles within them.”

Aunt Bell rose to her feet and squeezed Violet's shoulders softly.

“It's best you stay in until it's safe.”

They heard the bell ring, and Aunt Bell rushed back into the shop to attend to a customer.

Basil grabbed a biscuit and rushed off after her.