The Witch's Brew

Chapter Seven: Iris

It was almost time to close up for the night when a group of three men walked into the bar. I looked up when I heard them quietly talking. The group perched themselves on the bar stools. I tensed up. I was the only one left at the bar, and my gut was screaming at me to get them out. I could sense negativity radiating from them.

“I’m sorry, but I’m about ready to close up. You’re more than welcome to come back tomorrow.”

The one sitting in the middle smirked. “Nah, Darling, we want service now. Just traveling through, so we probably wont be here tomorrow afternoon.”

“I’m sorry, but we were about ready to close. There’s another bar just down the road in the next town over.”

My hands shook slightly as I took a step back away from the bar. The three men smirked. I could feel magic rolling off of them. f**k, I was so screwed. The way they were eyeing me made my skin crawl. My body began to fill with dread, and my stomach coiled with tension.

The men just laughed, and the one in the middle just shook his head. His gaze roamed my body as he smirked.

“Aren’t you a pretty little thing?”

My body twitched at his words, and goosebumps started to form. I noticed the patches on their leather jackets, featuring a skull with horns protruding from the forehead, and the words ‘The Devil’s Buzzards’. I’ve heard of them; they were powerful magic users. The hair on my neck started to stand up. My hands had gotten clammy.

“You three really need to leave…” I back away from them. “Now, I wont say it again.”

The biggest guy out of the trio, whom I assumed was the leader, stood up and prowled towards me. I kept backing away until the bar counter bit into my skin. His hand came up as he concentrated his energy into the palm of his hand, and black flames appeared. s**t, I’m screwed. The flames licked the air. I could hear the sizzle of his skin, and the heat was already unbearable.

“Back off! I said to get out. I own the bar, so when I say you’re out, you’re out!”

The man laughed. His whole body shook. “Little girl, I know exactly who you are. You’re Briar’s kid, the one who doesn’t have magic.” He smirked as he stepped closer, “What are you gonna do, little one? Huh? Gonna cry to Manman Ou?”

I growled, “Yeah? What of it? That doesn’t mean you can boss me around and act like you own the place!”

His friends laughed behind him, and he just snickered. “Yeah? You gonna make me?”

He stepped closer, and the flames swelled, trying to reach for my skin. I put my hand up out of instinct, as if it would actually do anything to protect me from his magic. I closed my eyes tight, and he gasped loud enough that I swore it echoed in my head. When I opened them, the flames that were licking at my skin were gone. I lowered my hands as he backed up. His friends followed him as they backed out the door before running.

“What the f**k just happened?”

I looked aimlessly down at my hands. That’s when the door flew open, and Silas and Kai were standing in the doorway. They were both panting and eyes wide as their gaze scanned the bar. My hands were trembling, and I looked back down at them. What the f**k just happened? That sentence kept muttering in my head like a damned mantra.

“Iris, are you okay?” Kai and Silas said in unison as they rushed over to me.

Their gazes and hands checked me for any damage.

“Kai, said he felt like there was an emergency here… his wolf was howling like mad, and he came to get me in case we needed to help you… But you look fine.”

My gaze snapped up to take in their worried faces. “Wolf… but Kai is human, isn’t he?”

Kai laughed nervously. “Well, technically not anymore… my ex she kinda turned me by accident.”

“Wait, what? Isn’t that against werewolf code?”

“Yeah, I guess so, but I also guess her tribe is a little old school, but enough about me, what happened here? Are you okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I’m good now, but The Devil’s Buzzards were here, well, three of them, and f**k, the leader was about to roast my ass, but I put my hands up, and his magic just dissipated, and they ran off…”

Silas’ eyes widened. “H-has that ever happened before? Like magic, not working around you?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I mean, I guess sometimes when Manman Mwen got rough with her magic… and she used it on me. It would falter, I thought it was because she was so mad that I had no magic powers like her, my dad, and siblings.”

Kai looked at Silas. “Why is there something wrong? Is Iris okay?”

Silas nodded and took my hand in his. His breath came out shaky and forced. “Yeah, she’s okay. Just that it’s rare for a magic user to have nullifying magic. I’ve only ever met one other one forty years ago… unfortunately, it was on his deathbed. My folks worked closely with him. It’s also genetic, so that means you had to have been related to him.”

My gaze wavered as my knees buckled underneath my weight. “Wait, what? I… no, there’s no way that is possible. Right? Can’t I have some unknown and feared magic? I’m an anomaly. A f**k up! A freak! f**k no, there’s no way I have any sorta magic. Manman would’ve known this… should’ve known this!”

Silas sighed and shook his head. “Normally, witches don’t talk about the witches that can use nullify magic; they’re feared, which is why your mom probably didn’t say anything. She was hoping that wasn’t the case.”

I scrunched up my face. I didn’t want to believe nor thought Manman Mwen would be that cruel, but that thought faded quickly as I thought about all the trauma she had put me through. My face relaxed, and I nodded.

“Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Manman was always extra hard on me. Even though my brother was a late bloomer to magic, she never treated him the same way she had treated me.”

Kai rubbed circles into my shoulder blades. I sighed and leaned into his touch. Silas engulfed me in his well-toned arms. I felt safe and protected as my body seemed to melt and mold into its dips and curves of toned flesh. I looked up at them with a small smile. My mind was still warring with the news Silas had just enlightened me with.

“Iris, darling, Silas and I wont let anything bad happen to you.”

His rough pad of his thumb brushed against my lower lip. The callouses snagged on my smooth skin. My eyes started to tear up with the running emotions. Silas swiped away the tears that started to trail down my cheeks. Kai held me closer to his frame.

“Baby, it’s okay. Do you want us to stay the night with you?”

I nodded and whimpered. My brain was starting to shut down. My body started to grow heavy. I was f*****g worn out and ready for this day to f*****g end. Kai swept me up into his arms.

“Come on, let's get you home.”

Those words Kai had muttered against my ear were the last thing I remembered of that night.