I explore Main Street for another hour before returning home.

I dive into the mundane task of submitting resumes to bide my time while the coffee still sustains me. The rest of the morning is spent submitting resumes to anyone who would take them.

I finish the last application to the local College, Prophecy University. It is my first choice, but I have procrastinated on submitting my resume due to fear of rejection.

I feel relief as I click the send button. It is a surprise to me as I never wanted to become a teacher. I detest the idea of teaching younger children, but being a professor would give me a rush teaching younger students wouldn't.

The one thing I never had before is a balance between my supernatural life and my mundane one. I was always getting lost in some extraordinary adventure or some supernatural haberdashery.

Even when I shouldn't.

Aria and the council were no doubt pleased with me putting away my old bag of spells for a brand-new bag that supports them. Ambrose and I didn't exactly toe the line of our respective councils. He spat in the face of his own council and had no fear of mine.

The sheer amount of supernatural ridiculousness I have endured is enough to last me a lifetime. The news report at the cafe indicates that the same ridiculousness could be around the corner at every turn in this town. I'll have to be careful.

I stash my laptop on the couch and head for the kitchen to fix something to eat. I decide on a sandwich before heading back to the living room to find the TV on the news channel. My brain works overtime to remember turning on the TV but that memory doesn't come to mind. I question my sanity.

The same reporter from the coffee shop, Christ Markoff, is giving an update on the disappearance of another girl, Nanoki Li. She disappeared a few days ago and her parents make an impassioned plea for her return. I watch expectantly as I wait for a photo of the girl.

A knock at the door interrupts me before I can see a clear picture of her.

Leaving the plate with the sandwich on the coffee table, I answer the front door to see three women waiting on the other side of the door. The women are unmistakably witches. I could sense them before I reached the door.

A woman with strawberry blonde stands in front of me with a flowing, flowery dress. Her long, straight hair falls below her shoulders. A pair of frosty blue eyes blink at me as she smiles.

The woman to her right is wearing a tight black dress with fringe around the shoulders. Her supernaturally shiny beige skin is barely darker than her sandy hair, which falls in curls to her shoulders. Her emerald eyes are the brightest of the three.

The last woman is notable for having a raven pixie cut with honey-colored eyes. Her style is more relatable, as she wears a pair of jeans with a green camisole and a distressed jean jacket.

"Well, hello!" The perky strawberry blonde woman says. "You must be Parker Royce!"

"Yes, I am. I'm sorry, do we know each other?"

"I'm sorry! I always start in the middle and never at the beginning." The woman says. "My name is Laura Derby."

Laura introduces the other women as Whitney Proctor and Merris Elderich, respectively. I introduce myself to them again, and Laura asks if they can enter my home. A brief pause passes between us before I agree to let them in.

I step aside to allow the women enter to my home. The three break off in separate directions, not waiting for me.

I panic.

I am unsure of who to follow as each buzzes about a different room.

The three witches converge in the living room, where they wait for me to catch up. I feel self-conscious under their gaze. Laura breaks from the other two witches and grabs a picture of Eric and me off the mantle of the fireplace.

"Is this your brother? He's very handsome." Laura says thoughtfully.

The assumption raises my hackles. While it is plausible that she is observant, it is just as likely that she has done her research. She could also be from the coven Archer mentioned. Hell, she could have scried for the information for all I know. My gut tells me the witches were not simply in the neighborhood.

"That's not my brother. He's my lover. We—we're in love." I gag as the words tumble from my mouth.

"Oh really? You seem positively disgusted by the idea." Whitney says, moving stray piece of curly hair behind her ear. "Or I may be getting it wrong."

"Alright, let's cut the act. I know you three are witches and you've clearly done your research on me. Did Archer send you?"

"Tereso? That's offensive." Merris says.

"What exactly do you want?" I ask.

The witches are clearly not part of Archer's coven, that much has been made certain. What is not certain is whether they come in peace or war. My time with Ambrose made me a pariah among witches and vampires alike. Becoming the mystical Bobby and Clyde pissed off people in many circles.

Laura's eyes trace the picture as she returns it to the mantle. She smiles. "You think we want something from you? We felt a new witch in town and wanted to meet you." She says.

"I should have known you sensed me." I say.

"No shit we felt you." Merris says, gaining an elbow from Whitney.

It is common for witches to sense other supernatural beings, especially other witches. Witches are easier to sense since most magic comes from the same place, allegedly. It is a long-held theory there is one source for all magic, and we all pull from that very source.

"Ah! I get it. You're scouting me for your coven. Am I right?" I ask.

Laura glances at the other witches before flashing a deceptively quick smile. "You're new to this town, so you haven't experienced the abundance of supernatural beings that live here. We simply want to extend an invitation to you from our coven."

"An invitation to your coven? You don't know anything about me." I say.

Laura joins the other witches as she continues her maddening smile. "True, but your energy is pure. We belong to the Coven of White Thorns. We are a safe space. No judgment. In fact, our coven—"

"No." I blurt. "I mean, no thank you. I'm not in the market to join a coven."

My opposition isn't purely against covens. Covens are mostly a good thing. They give witches space and opportunity to grow. It also provides a sense of community in an otherwise scarily dangerous magical landscape.

Most witches thrive in covens, but my history with covens is questionable at best.

It ended horribly.

"With your power, you're going to need a safe space." Merris says.

"What Merris is trying to say is that the reason we so easily felt you is because you have an immense amount of raw power. Any supernatural being could sense it. It could be dangerous." Laura interjects.

"If I don't join the coven, right?"

"We didn't mean—"

"Sorry, ladies, the answer is no. If you came here to enlist me in whatever wiccan wet dreams you girls are getting up to, I'm not interested." I say. "While I do appreciate the generous offer, I think it's time that you leave."

The witches look particularly affronted with my declination of their offer. Laura, specifically, allows her frustration to show. She quickly switches back to her cheery disposition, which is a good indication I made the correct choice.

"The offer is always open. A word of advice, though. Be careful. There are others who dwell in this town who won't take no for an answer. Particularly, stay away from the woods." Laura says.

"Noted. Thanks again. If I decide to get into some covenly activities, you'll be the first coven I call." I say.

The women somehow nod simultaneously as they excuse themselves from my house. Their visit leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I knew it was only a matter of time before a local coven showed up on my doorstep, but I did not expect the encounter to be so disconcerting.

The last thing I need is another distraction. I have barely even scratched the surface of what is going on here. I have a singular name that could help me get started on cracking the case.

Nanoki Li.