My Best Friend Is A Pixie

10. Shia

It took a lot of effort and whining but we finally convinced Nessi's dad to let her go with us to Frank Bay. A weird name for a weird place but that is where Cameron said the witch lived. While we were on our way, in Cameron's car, I tried to pry out of him the reason the witch stripped him of his powers but he wouldn't tell me.

Nessi told us she wasn't a morning person so she put on a blind and passed out in the backseat telling me to wake her up when we get there.

I turned to Cameron, my frown deep, "Come on. You must've done something highly offensive to her."

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking embarrassed, "I'm not telling okay?"

I gave up after an hour or so.

When we pulled into the small town called Frank Bay, I felt a slight shady feeling. There were very little people out on the streets even though it was broad daylight. A few vegetable and fruit carts were parked along the street sides and some shops were open. I turned to Cameron.

"Why isn't anyone up and walking about?"

"Well," he made a left turn. "People of this town aren't exactly friendly. Muggers, robbers and criminals all roam around the streets even in broad daylight with no one to stop them. So the townsfolk prefer to stay indoors most of the time."

"Oh," I turned to look out again.

We passed by a couple of more street vendors and made a few turns before he stopped outside a forest. I turned to wake Nessi up but she was already rising, moving away her blind.

"We there yet?" She asked groggily.

Cameron rolled his eyes, "Yes honey. You can wake up now and go play outside with your sister." He got out of the car.

Nessi was too confused to even comprehend what he'd just said.

"Come on. We're here," I jumped outside and went to stand next to Cameron who was standing, gazing at the trees with his hands in his pockets.

"It has changed. A lot," he said.

"When were you last here?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Uh," he hesitated. "Was it 500 years ago?"

I nearly choked, "You're kidding right?"

He shook his head.

"And how old are you, exactly?"

"780 years. Gave or take a few," he shrugged non-chalantly.

I rolled my eyes. So I was stuck with an almost 800 year old warlock. But he was oddly willing to help me. Who knows? We might end up becoming friends after all this ends.

Nessi staggered behind us, still a bit sleepy, and we all started to walk along a trail. It was deep, with many trees having haphazardly grown out of the ground. Their roots were scattered here and there and branches were so low they could hit you in the face if you weren't careful enough.

I couldn't even tell how many times Nessi cursed Cameron either aloud or under her breathe. It was like she wanted to kill him on the spot.

Finally, after about an hour's walk, a small cottage came into view. It was slightly slanting to the right and almost yellowed all over. The door looked like it had seen better days and the walls actually peeled like garlic. I threw a glance at Cameron, who was gulping as he looked at it.

"I thought she was a sea witch? So why is she living in the middle of a place so... dry?"

"It's because she has her own personal beach behind this rotting house." He knocked on the door and stepped back.

Nessi's eyes nearly fell out of their sockets, "Her own beach?! Man that's cool!"

I shrugged. Being from the magical world it wasn't a big deal for me.

The door opened a minute later and an old woman with a wart on her extremely crooked nose stood in the doorway. She was fairly stout, with a large head. Her hair was dishevelled and her skin practically hung loose from her body. She wore a worn out old dress with patches all over it. It was as if she'd hurriedly thrown over a sack instead of clothes.

My eyes widened while Nessi nearly choked.

"This is the woman you slept with?" Nessi barked, now openly laughing.

I tried to control my laugh but ended up covering it up with a cough.

"Hey! She used to be really pretty 500 years ago," he defended hotly.

The witch looked bored until she noticed Cameron and her huge nostrils flared, "You!" She screeched.

Her voice was so unpleasant that we had to cover our ears. Cameron now looked like he'd seen better days.

"Uh, these women have something to talk to you about Bertha," he quickly pushed me infront of her.

I threw him a glare before turning to look at Bertha. Her nostril flared at me and I found it really hard to control my laugh.

"Look we just uh- Cameron is- very sorry about whatever happened between you two," I mumbled quickly.

She looked at me then Nessi. Her eyes stopped on her for a while. A while too long. A love-struck expression adorned her hideous face. Nessi was beginning to look uncomfortable now.

"Um, Shia. Why does she keep looking at me like that?" She mumbled nervously moving behind me.

I frowned. Surely the witch wasn't thinking of..?

"Who is this beauty queen?" Bertha squeaked, "My she is even more beautiful than my mother! Even better than this lousy tick Cameron!"

I glanced at the portrait hanging behind her. Her mother had like three hair, one nostril and two broken teeth. I cringed while Cameron's jaw hung in the air.

"Hey! I'm way more good looking than her," he exclaimed, offended.

I could practically feel Nessi stick her tongue out at him.

"Come in, come in. Have a seat. I'll make my special Whale Bone Soup for you," Bertha gestured towards the lousy chairs in her little house.

I stepped inside with Nessi clinging to me while Cameron just easily made himself comfortable on a worn out couch. We sat down and Nessi threw me a worried glance.

"She's trying to hit on me!"

I tried to pacify her, "No, no. Of course not. I bet she just thinks you're beautiful and wants to be friends."

"Young miss, how do you like your eggs in the morning? Boiled or fried? Scrambled?" The witch blinked her eyes, holding long-nailed dirty hands to her cheek.

Nessi paled. Cameron rolled his eyes and I couldn't believe what was happening.

"Uh, coming back to the topic. We were wondering if you could give Cameron his powers back? Lift the curse?" I intrude before the witch could try something on Nessi that none of was were going to like.

Bertha's huge nostrils flared once again, "Never! He left me after one night! He said I was the only one!"

I cringed. Cameron shrugged apologetically.

"Miss," she turned to Nessi who was on the verge of falling out of her seat. "I'll go bake you some fresh cookies!"

The witch disappeared into the kitchen. Nessi frantically turned to me. "We have to leave before she asks me what size underwear I wear!"

I looked at Cameron, irritated at his lack of interest in the situation, "Can't you apologize at least?! You're not even trying!"

"I begged her for years and years. Then she grew that fat warty nose so I just stopped coming here. Besides, she reeks of fish," he made a face.

"You couldn't have thought about that before you slept with her?!" Nessi whisper-screamed.

"On the bright side, she likes you! Maybe you can change her mind," he smirked.

I noticed Nessi ball her fist so I quickly turned to her, "Hey listen. She obviously likes-" Nessi's eyes widened.

"I mean, she's obviously infatuated with you," I gulped, carefully choosing my words. "You try to convince her to give Cameron his powers back."

She shook her head so fast I'm surprised she didn't get whiplash, "No way am I becoming her new chew toy!"

At that moment, the witch stepped out holding a tray of freshly baked cookies. "Here, taste them!"

Cameron shrank back as Bertha threw him a dirty look before kneeling infront of Nessi and offering her the cookies. When Nessi didn't move, I elbowed her. She glared at me before taking one in her hand. When she didn't eat, I nudged her again. She sucked a deep breathe in before finally taking a bite.

"They're good!" She exclaimed. "Shia try one. It tastes really good."

She sounded genuine so I picked one too. Cameron brought his hand forward but Bertha swatted it away.

"You don't get any," She glared at him. He raised both hands in mock surrender before shrinking back on the couch.

Bertha seemed happy that Nessi liked her baking. She hurried into the kitchen saying she'd bake a chocolate cake next. Nessi seemed more relaxed now.

"Go. In the kitchen. Convince her there. Come on," I urged.

She sighed and got up, "Fine." She mumbled.

As she disappeared inside, I got up and wandered over to the fireplace. There were a number of picture frames and medals decorating its top. Cameron had been right. She really was beautiful some 500 years ago. "Don't witches have spells they can use to make themselves young again?"

"Sea witches don't. Water only makes the wrinkles deeper. Maybe forest witches can use herbs and stuff to make themselves pretty again," Cameron replied from the couch.

I nodded. Bertha and Nessi walked out. Bertha smiled at me, "Did you like the photos?"

I nodded. "They're nice."

I tried to ask Nessi what happened by moving my head. She closed her eyes, indicating that she'd succeeded. Bertha turned to Cameron, her face sullen.

"I really don't like you," she grumbled. I winced. "But Nessi promised you'd sleep with me one last time if I give you your powers back."

I slapped a hand to my mouth. Nessi was looking at Cameron so evilly, it was hard to tell if it was the same sweet girl I'd met. Cameron's eyes narrowed at her before he snapped back to Bertha with an uncomfortably tight smile.

"Uh. You wouldn't want that," he spoke uneasily.

"Why wouldn't I? You used me once now it's my time to use you," she shrugged. I swear I saw the wart on her twitch. Gross.

"You see I'm not in my, I uh-" he shifted from one foot to another uneasily, his handsome features creased in uncertainty.

"What?" Nessi raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not in my full "s****l potential" anymore so," he quipped uneasily.

Nessi barked out a laugh. I rolled my eyes and plopped on the couch. "So you wore yourself out by sleeping with how many women over 800 years?"

"780!" He shouted, correcting me. "A bit 1000. Maybe more."

I covered my face with my hands. This man was a serious embarrassment.

"Ew. I don't want to contract what he has!" Bertha shrieked.

"How about you just hang him upside down, strip him n***d and draw on his chest?" Nessi suggested.

Cameron looked like he wanted to kill her so bad.

"Why don't I revert you back to your original form? Your beautiful younger self?" Cameron offered.

She sighed. I guess she was getting tired of thinking of ways at getting him back. "Okay then. We have ourselves a deal."

"No fun," Nessi pouted. "I wanted to see him get a wedgie!"

I grabbed her and made her sit next to me. "Come on. If he doesn't get his powers back I'll give him a wedgie."

Bertha lifted her palms and waves of water encircled Cameron. They rose higher and higher until they splash fell on him and disappeared.

"There," Bertha growled, "you little prick. You're lucky this beautiful queen asked me for a favour. Or else I would've turned you into a monkey and hung you in one of the trees on my beach."

Nessi snickered beside me.

Cameron smiled as he looked at his hands, "Ah, I feel so fresh. It's good to be back to my full form."

He raised his hands and purple sparkles surrounded Bertha. The lady with the huge nostrils transformed into the pretty image of her younger self. She turned to Narissa.

"Well, what do you think?"

"Pretty," Nessi smiled uncomfortably.

"Is the witch bi?" I whispered to Cameron.

"Witches work both ways. They can like either men or women. Even both at the same time," he whispered back.

Bertha was almost drooling all over her even though she'd just become prettier. I looked at Nessi who just complemented her new look politely. We had better leave before something else happens.

I quickly grabbed Nessi's arm and turned to Bertha, "Well thank you so much. We'll be on our way then. Cameron," I motioned towards the door.

"Ah yes. Thankyou Bertha. I shall remember you," he bowed his head slightly before moving out the door. The jerk didn't even wait for us!

As we moved to the door to leave, Bertha called out to Nessi.

"Wait!" She hurriedly brought over a small jewellery box and placed it on Nessi's palm. "You were so polite even though I made you uncomfortable. So, here is a little gift from me to you."

Nessi smiled, surprised. "Oh, you didn't have to!"

"It's a necklace. Though in the weirdest of ways, it'll help you on your hardest of days." She smiled, waved and then closed the door behind us.

Nessi smiled and pocketed the box. As we turned around, we saw Cameron looking skeptical. "She didn't give me a single one of those magic pearls and we dated for like 20 years and she gives you a gift in 15 minutes?!"

"So zero s****l potential huh?" I laughed, slipping my arm through Nessi's.

"You really don't think I meant that did you?" Cameron smirked.

We paused. "So you lied to her?"

"Of course. I wasn't going to sleep with that huge wart in my face. It wasn't that big 500 years ago," he shuddered.

"What a liar!" Nessi exclaimed.

"She liked you at first sight! Couldn't you have entertained her?" He fired back.

"Well she's bi, a witch and lives in the middle of nowhere. Besides, I'm straight," she replied, pulling ahead of me.

Nessi stuck her tongue out at him and the three of us walked back to the car, two of them bickering all the way.

Once inside, I pulled out the ring and handed it to Cameron. "Here. Now tell us who's the owner."

He took it in his hands and started his magical ritual thingy. After a minute or two, he placed it down. "I got a name. But that's all."

"That's it?! All you could do with your full power was this?" Nessi scoffed.

"Hey! There's a limit to us warlocks as well. There's something on this that's blocking my powers. The only thing I could catch off of it was the name Doe. Whoever's ring this is, knows dark magic." He frowned.

I was taken aback.

A man, who knows dark magic, killed my Grammy? And he was in the politics? What the hell's going on?