Witchy Sour(12)

“That’s why it’s not your job to judge anyone,” Gus said, his words surprisingly gentle. “It’s impossible to know what they are going through when you have not walked in their shoes.”

“I think we have a vial of Truth Seeker left,” I said, striding to the cupboard where I kept a few pre-made, oft-used potions. I selected the correct container and returned to the doorway. I hesitated before stepping through. “Your grandmother sounds like quite a woman. I’m glad she got the chance to meet you.”

“Lily, there’s one more thing.” Gus’s eyes were hazy, as if he’d just woken from a dream. “It is not your job to be judge and jury, but always listen to your gut.”

I squinted at him. “That sounds contradictory. I thought you just said I have to do this by law.”

“You do. It is the rules, and the rules are in place for a good reason.” Turning back to the table, Gus began delicately slicing a flower. “Someday, you’ll understand. Sometimes, the rules are meant to be broken.”

“How do I know when to follow them and when to break them?”

“Don’t you have a customer waiting?” Gus growled in his normal gnarly tone. “Get to it.”

“Sometimes I think you have multiple personalities.”

Gus sighed and looked up. “You’ll just know, Lily. There are some aspects of your job that I can’t explain. You will have to decide for yourself when the time comes.”

“What if I make the wrong decision?”

Gus raised his eyebrows. “That’s a hazard you’ll have to accept when the time is right.”

Somehow, Gus left me more confused after his explanation than before. Holding the vial of the Truth Seeker in my palm, I glanced down at it, steeling myself for the task ahead.





Chapter 3



When I returned to the bar, the first thing I noticed was the absence of Liam. His plate sat empty on the counter, his coffee cup drained. In place of the food, he’d left a napkin with a note scrawled on it. Despite the hooded stranger waiting at the far end of the bar, I quickly scanned the note under the guise of putting the dirty dishes in the sink.

“I’ll be right with you,” I mumbled, stalling for time as I picked up the paper.

Lily,

It was a pleasure getting to know you. I had to run, but I’d love to come by sometime. Maybe when you’re less busy? I have a few days on the island and if you’re up to it, I’d love to buy you lunch. Or get a tour of The Isle from a local. I’ll be staying at the B&B.

Liam

I sucked in a breath, playing the note over again in my mind as I counted the money he’d left on the counter. US dollars meant nothing to the wizards and witches on The Isle. Gold coins and trading were the most common currency, and Liam had left me at least three times the amount needed for his meal. I pocketed it, fully intending to give all of it back the next time I saw him.

As for the lunch date...well, I didn’t want it to be a date. But the conversation had been fun, and he was a nice person. It might be enjoyable to have a chat with someone who understood the mainland. All the islanders pretended to understand my human customs and traditions, but it just wasn’t the same. Reminiscing about McDonalds and movies and books from back home sounded like a nice distraction from the day’s stress.

A small twitch of guilt tugged at my stomach. I fought it back, knowing the root cause of my discomfort was the man who went by the pseudonym Ranger X.

We’d kissed once; it had sizzled like a flash in the pan, and then his soul-searching eyes had taken me to a place I couldn’t seem to forget.

However, we had a problem. A big problem.

Rangers were not allowed to marry or have children, and even serious relationships were frowned upon. Loved ones were viewed as a liability. Rangers worked hard jobs, long hours, and dangerous assignments. Their lifespan was half that of a normal witch or wizard, if they were lucky, and it was unfair to the ones they left behind when their time on earth was done. Therefore, they tried not to leave anyone behind. At least, not anyone who’d miss them.

Maybe making lunch plans with Liam wasn’t a bad idea. It could help get my mind off of Ranger X. Jangling the coins in my pocket, I decided to swing by later and offer Liam a tour around The Isle.

The tap of a fingernail against wood drew me from the depths of my thoughts, startling me. I looked to the hooded figure hunched over the counter. “I’m so sorry, I was lost in thought.”

I opened my fist, which had inadvertently closed tight around the vial, and strode to the end of the bar. I tried to get a peek under the hood, but it hung too deeply over the figure’s face and shielded everything down to the person’s chin. Judging by the very light stubble there, the figure was a man.