❤❤❤This chapter is dedicated @AlvaJones, a beautiful human who was the first to comment on this chapter. People should go and check out their stuff. ❤❤❤

"Hey, Reed," Jeremy said as I jumped into the car. "Did you have fun playing in the dirt?"

"It wasn't as bad as I thought. I worked in a rose garden, then I did some computer work," I said. I was lying; I didn't really dislike the computer work, but I didn't do any gardening.

"And you got along with your supervisor, Jennifer Shale? You remember she signs off on your service, so you need her to like you." He glanced at me while driving because that question stumped me. I thought it would be easy, but the memories ran away.

"Right," I said finally. "No, I, um, didn't work with Jenny. She is in charge of all the workers in the gardens. She assigned me to a girl... um, Sage. Right, Sage. She was fine." It was the weirdest experience. I couldn't remember her name for a moment, and now what she looked like was gone. I spent all day with her, and I couldn't remember anything.

"Hey, buddy, are you okay?" Jeremy was watching me, concerned.

"It is weird..." I decided to tell him the truth. "I can't remember anything about her; the moment I looked away, she was whipped from my memory."

"When you say you can't remember anything, do you mean in a human or magical sense?" Jeremy asked.

"I know she was with me, but I can't picture her. None of my memories include her. She is just gone." I looked at Jeremy, the realization dawning on me. "I think it is magic."

"Do you think she is a witch?" Jeremy glanced over at me again; he was assessing, and I knew he was looking for any clue as to what spell might have been used on me.

"I don't think I've known or seen her use magic at school, but it is hard to tell since I don't remember. Why would a witch take my memories? I remember this bad feeling, but I can't remember what caused it," I said. We pulled into the driveway and headed straight for the kitchen.

"a bad feeling and lost memories that sounds like magic, maybe a warlock. Here is the plan. I will make you a couple of vials of a memory fortifier potion; take it in the morning. It will block memory charms and memory-erasing perception filters. I don't know what this girl is using on you. Still, those potions are a good place to start. " Jeremy was pulling ingredients to the counter. At the same time, I sat on the island, trying to remember her through the charm or whatever was exhausting. "you are family, meaning we aren't going to let this go any further."

Most memory charms are not strong enough to work on a witch consciously trying to work through it. We use them on humans if they see magic, and humans' minds are much more pliable. Jeremy put a werewolf claw and a bit of pumice in the mortar and pestle and had me start grinding it. In contrast, he had gold tree nut oil on some glow mushrooms on a frying pan and a pot of water simmering, waiting for the other ingredients to stew.

"Listen, I'm sorry about all this trouble. I'm going to handle this." I breathed in the weirdly sweet smell of the cooking mushrooms. I had to handle this before my father found out. This would be just another thing I did, another reason for him to be disappointed in me.

"Well, this potion should do the trick if we are right about this Sage girl," Jeremy replied.

"You think Sage is a warlock, or is she spelling me? But why, what would that accomplish?" My hands pulled at my hair savagely as I thought through the options. I was usually good at reading people, so I can't imagine I would have spent all day with her if she was evil. Still, I have been making many mistakes lately, so who knows?

"Is there anything else affected by the memory loss, or is it just the girl?" Jeremy contained a purple explosion with the lid of the pot. I shook my head. It was just the girl. "warlocks can be tricky. You said you had a bad feeling you could have seen something you weren't supposed to, or she could have identified you as a witch and decided to attack you but needed time to plan. This could have happened to anyone; I live here and don't know."

Amelia walked in, carrying Jules to the playpen they had always had set up. "What are you boys up to?" she asked, noting the potion ingredients on the counter.

"It's the First day here, and Reed already got himself spelled by a girl," Jeremy said, measuring some yellow liquid that I hoped was not urine. Based on the smell, I was going to be disappointed. He was shaking his head when he turned back to the stove.

"Oh, you have a crush on a girl; that is exciting. Tell me everything. is she cute?" She was so happy, and it took me a moment to remember that humans use our sayings but change their meaning. To her, being spelled by a person has a romantic significance, which is very strange. Most people who are actually spelled by someone rarely enjoy the experience.

"I would if I could remember her, but no matter what that vicious warlock is planning, it is best not to give them the upper hand." I laid my head on the counter to nurse the headache forming behind my eyes. Confused, Amelia looked at Jeremy.

"wait, what" Amelia's head tilted to the side in overexaggerated confusion.

"This girl cast some memory charm on him, so now we are going to see what she is hiding," Jeremy said. I grunted in response.

"Oh, you really meant spelled." Amelia sunk into the seat beside me and started rubbing my back concertedly.

"Why would anyone bother spelling me?" I asked, "I don't even know her. And somehow, this will all be my fault."

"we will get to the bottom of this," Jeremy said. "I think I'm going to add a bit of pixie pollen juice to give the potion a bit of a kick. I wonder if I have any from concentrate?"

"Just remember, Reed," Amilia wrapped her arms around my shoulders as she spoke, "you can always ask for help." 

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Hello beautiful people,

Happy Samhain!!!

I hope some people are dressing up and enjoying the festivities. This is a short chapter, but I wanted to post something because it is a special day, the sabbath falling on a full moon, really something special!!! I wear a witch's hat and make poisonous apples with friends because sometimes you have to live in the cliches.

Anyway, have a great sabbath.

So mote it be!