It’s time to prepare for the wave of customers. Every summer, tourists flock to Saratoga Springs for the horse racing. I think it’s cruel, but what does my opinion matter? I just live here. Regardless of why they’re here, the influx of rich people is good for business.
Now, I could sit back and let whoever comes come. But here’s the perk to being a witch. With the right respect given to the universe, the universe is happy to give back.
I’ve done my meditations, so now it’s time to craft.
On days like this, I like to cast a spell for prosperity. The first step is lighting the candles. This part I do in the covenstead, the back room where I hold all after-hours appointments. I light seven green sticks and spread them out on the edges of the table. Green for wealth, as well as a symbol of nature and growth. After they’re in place, I gather my herbs for smudging. Clover, chamomile, dill, and sage are my primaries. I also like to throw a bit of rosemary in to help with stress. This reasoning is twofold; on my end, if I do have a busy day, I need to keep myself at peace. For the customer, if they aren’t overwhelmed by the abundance of wares in my store, they’ll have an easier time finding what they’re looking for and better enjoy the experience. A bite out of the pie for me, and a bite for them.
Before I begin the smudging, I proclaim my incantations. I adorn my necklace of the Fehu rune, and with two fingers on it I implore the stars;
“As I give to you, grant back to me. Bring me coin, and bring me green. Let this home see growth, and let this servant prosper.”
It's a work of my own. I hope you liked it.
I feel the rune necklace pulse between my breasts.
I am heard.
Now comes the time to smudge. I light the stick with the flame from one of the candles and walk around Witch’s Brew with it, attentive to smudge the more commonly walked areas as well as the doorway. For the sake of peace of mind, I might as well smudge outside, too.
My cat Willow hisses at Damien as I open the door, and she scurries out as if she’s been waiting for me to drop my guard. The dumb cat spooks a familiar face walking by.
“Oh, fuck!” Damien jumps. “Can’t you keep that thing on a leash?”
“I should put you on a leash,” I scowl. “Where have you been? I haven’t heard from you all week.”
He flashes a cheesy smile. “Babe, I’ve been busy. I can’t be on my phone all the time.” He kisses my cheek as he walks through the door and goes towards the back.
“Why come back now?” I ask, following him into the covenstead. It’s obvious from his stride that he’s going to my upstairs apartment.
“Just wanted to come by and see my girl.” He opens the door at the top of the stairs as I catch up to him, and beelines it for the bedroom.
“Damien, I know what you’re up to, and I don’t have the time right now.”
“Oh come on…” He turns and pulls me in, then whispers, “I haven’t seen you all week.” Damien’s lips are on my neck, a gesture that should feel romantic. It used to make my knees weak just feeling his breath on my neck, but, truth be told, the gesture has now completely lost its hold on me.
“I know a way we can spend time together,” I say, careful not to make it sound like a tease.
He doesn’t take the hint, and a hand moves up my leg under my dress. “Oh yeah?” He asks, trying to sound sexy. “Tell me it doesn’t involve this dress.” I let him caress my loins, except the way he does it is less ‘caressing’ and more ‘squishing.’
All I have to say to him is, “Hm,” and his expression goes flat. Damien realizes the fool he’s making of himself and pulls back.
He begins pacing around. “What the fuck is all this then?” He waves at my outfit. “I can basically see your tits through that!”
“It’s hot today. You want me wearing a parka?”
Damien scoffs and drops onto my bed.
“Don’t sit there. You’re disturbing my room.”
“Dis- disturbing your room?” He laughs. “Fuck, Nyx, what the hell is going on with you? You show no interest in me anymore, you smell like a fucking swamp, and now I can’t even sit down in the bed we’re supposed to fuck on?”
The arrogance of this man both annoys and humors me. I hate to admit it, but I enjoy seeing him worked up like this. I give him a light lip bite just to tease.
“You and I aren’t supposed to do anything in my bed.” I walk over to him slowly with my hands on my hips. “You get to have me when I allow it.” When I’m right in front of him, I plant one foot on the bed, just next to his leg. The dress rides up, teasing just enough thigh to get him to listen. I then reach out and trace my finger up his neck and to his chin. “Got it?”
He opens his mouth to speak, and I just know it’s going to be some stupid argument.
“Uh uh,” I say with my finger over his mouth. “Yes… or no?”
Damien nods.
“Good boy. Now, if you want this…” I pull up my dress just a bit so he can see what's beneath. You can look, but don’t touch. “...then you behave. And when I ask you where you’ve been all week, you tell me.”
Damien looks like he’s about to crumble and worship the ground I walk on. Works every time.
“I’ve been busy,” he says. “Working with my Dad upstate.”
It’s an obvious lie, so I’ll show him what liars get.
I fake a smile and straddle him. His hard cock is desperate to break out of his pants. With my arms wrapped around his neck, I grind on him. “You’ve been working hard?” I ask with a pout. “Just need to come by your girl Nyx’s place to relax?”
Damien throws his head back and groans. “Keep talking like that, baby…”
“How about you work a little harder for me?”
“Anything, anything, baby.” He moans.
I whisper in his ear, “Help me down on the floor.”
I try to contain my laughter as I watch his face go from thinking I want him to fuck me on the floor, to the disappointed realization that he was way off.
“What?”
“These legs are staying closed for now, but the store opens soon.” I halt my grinding. “I could really use a hand, and you said ‘anything’.”
His head falls back against the wall so hard I’m surprised he doesn’t punch a hole.
I climb off him and make my way to the stairs. “Put on a brave face, darling,” I call to him. “It’s gonna be a busy day.”