I still found green gunk in my brown hair as Sage and I made our walk home. The leaves were falling around us as we headed through the back property of the school - it would lead us to a small footbridge over the river, landing us only a block from Sage's house. It was the quickest way home and even though I didn't say it out loud, I was also perfectly happy to avoid seeing Melanie and her goons again.

Just as the old iron bridge came into view, Sage held out her hand in front of me. Lying in her palm sat brightly colored candy. You could always count on Sage to have sweets on hand. Her mother always said that a little sugar could brighten the sourest of moods. I picked out a blue and purple skittle, popping them into my mouth.

"So are we going to talk about science class or-" Sage didn't sound like she wanted to talk about it, but then Sage never enjoyed bringing up hard conversations.

I swallowed the sugar in my mouth before sighing. "I don't know what to say-" It was the truth. I didn't know why things like that happened whenever I got angry. Or why my magic seemed to have a mind of its own on the best of days. It had been like that for as long as I could remember.

Sage gave me a side-eye before stopping by the bridge. The leaves fell around her, the reds and oranges standing out against her dark skin and brown eyes. "I should've known something would happen before the final bell. After that stunt Melanie pulled at lunch."

Scrunching up my nose, I pulled my jean coat tighter around my middle. The juice definitely stained my dress. Hopefully, my Gran would have the perfect potion to lift it. "I didn't mean to get green goop on everything and everyone..."

Sage giggled, the sound lightening up the mood immediately. "Oh, I'm sure you didn't mean to get it all over us. But I'm sure you wanted it on everyone else."

Unable to argue with her statement, I shrugged before walking onto the bridge. The old wood slats creaked under me, the leaves covering the walkway making it slick. The bridge had been in this exact spot in Salem for years - my Gran used to use it to get to school - it wasn't going anywhere. Despite the way it creaked and groaned like it was threatening us to hurry and get off.

"I swear, Sage. I didn't mean for anything to happen...it just kind of did."

I could hear her sigh behind me, over the sound of leaves crunching under our boots. "I know you didn't, Will. But one of these days your magic will get you into real trouble."

That was the thing - no one else had magic like I did. Sure, Sage could perform spells and make some of the best potions next to my grandmother Evelyn, but she couldn't do what I could do. Even my mother couldn't make things explode, or lift something as heavy as my little brother ten feet into the air (don't try that at home, you'll be grounded for weeks). I had done crazy things with my magic since I was a little girl and I was fairly certain it was all because of the crescent-shaped birthmark on my left shoulder.

Once on the other side of the bridge, the trees fell away quickly, revealing an old narrow road. Some of the oldest houses in Salem sat off this road, including Sage's family home. It had been in her family for generations.

We walked down the road in silence, Sage handing me more skittles every once in a while. Only when the old white Colonial came into view did she stop me with a hand on my shoulder.

"Look, don't get too worked up about it, okay? And maybe don't tell your mom."

I laughed. Yeah, like I would do that. "With my luck, news will have spread and Phoenix will have already told half the town." Knowing my little brother, it was entirely plausible.

Sage pursed her lips and nodded her head. Without another word, she handed me the bag of half-eaten skittles. "You need these more than I do. Besides, my mom will freak if she sees them. She's told me to stop eating so much candy. Apparently, candy is only good in moderation." She rolled her eyes, but a smile pulled onto her lips.

Smiling, I pocketed the candy. Bumping my shoulder with hers, I nodded towards the house. "Yeah, you'll rot your teeth, you know."

She rolled her eyes, turning towards the black wrought-iron gate that protected her property. As the gate swung open, the loud creak filling the quiet street, Sage paused and looked back at me. "Hey, that new science teacher, he was weird, huh?"

"He did seem a little strange, even for Salem."

She nodded her head, biting her lip how she did whenever she was thinking hard about something. Before I could ask her about it though, her little sister Hazel opened the door. "Sage! Mom says to get in here. You'll see Willow tomorrow!"

Rolling her eyes in my direction, Sage turned and yelled back at her sister. "Yeah, okay! I'm coming!" She looked back at me as she shut the gate, shaking her head. "Seriously, no privacy around here."

I laughed, waving at Hazel, who I could see standing just inside the door, peeking through the window. "In this town? Yeah, right."

We waved at each other once more, before I made my way down the narrow street. Walking home with Sage meant a longer walk to my own house, but I didn't mind. I enjoyed walking through the old part of town. There was something soothing about the old wood and brick buildings, the way the road turned to cobblestone, and the telltale sound of the ocean as I neared my house.

My grandmother's house sat on a dead-end street, on a bluff right by the bay. The white siding and light-blue trim always stood out against the green grass and blue sky. Now that fall was in full swing, the leaves only made my home look brighter. It was three stories, had more stairs than I could count, and over one strangely shaped room. My bedroom, for example, sat in the attic and had a round window overlooking the bay beyond the hill. It was old, and the floorboards creaked wherever you walked. But it was home, and I loved it.

I pushed open the purple door, setting my backpack down at the foot of the winding stairs in front of me. My Gran's witch's ladder, made of feathers and string, hung right beside the door. The smells of home filled my nose - sage, lavender, different flowers from the greenhouse outback, and squash cooking in the oven. "I'm home! Anyone here?"

My gran's voice filled the house, coming from the kitchen. "In here, darling!"

I headed through the small formal sitting room, past the dining room with its big oak table, and found my grandmother and little sister in the kitchen. Lily was busy stirring a pot, standing on a stool so she could reach the stove. At six, Lily was all energy and fire-red hair. My gran always says she got both things from our father, but I could barely remember him most of the time. I had been barely eight when he died. Whenever I had visions of him, all I could make out was his striking hair and the same smile that looked back at me in the mirror.

"How was your day, darling? What is in your hair?"

I tugged at a strand of wavy brown hair, green goo still stuck to a few strands. Great. Thanks for pointing that out, Sage. "Uh, had a little accident in science lab today."

My grandmother gave me a knowing look but didn't press me for more details. Instead, she handed me an apple and then a basket, its handle fitting nicely in the crook of my arm. "Well, your brother is outside in the garden. Go help him, please? And I need some fresh Thyme for a batch of potions I'm brewing for the shop."

Taking a bite of the apple, its juices flowing into my mouth and down my chin, I nodded as best I could. Wiping my chin with my sleeve, I swallowed before saying, "Sure thing, Gran."

Remember that shop I told you about? The Witch's Closet isn't just for show or a tourist attraction. My mother and Gran also make potions, and even some spells, that they sell to knowing customers. And sometimes customers who just need a little push in the right direction. My mother hates it when my Gran pokes her head in other people's business, but that's my grandmother Evelyn for you. She's always been able to tell when someone needs a boost of courage, a little love in their life, or a better sleep.

I left the kitchen, passing the door to our greenhouse where more sensitive plants hung from the ceiling and sat on shelves, and went out the back door. The loud creak caused a few birds to fly out of the nearest tree. The way it slammed shut behind me made even more fly for a quieter space. The backyard was big for this part of town, but that was because my family owned this property long before the area was ever developed. Trees lined both sides, a small stream ran on the north end, meeting the bay at its end. Our garden took up a quarter of the yard, sitting off to the side where the sun would hit it the most. I could just make out my brother's head amongst the tall sunflowers and bean plants.

He saw me coming before I made it halfway across the yard. "Bring any of that science experiment home with you?" He laughed before he even finished his comment, cackling behind the sunflowers.

I rolled my eyes as I entered the gate that guarded the garden. "Ha ha, hilarious."

I couldn't see him anymore - he must have ducked behind some plants. But his voice was still full of laughter when he spoke, "Are you sure? I think I can still see some in your hair."

Setting the basket down in the dirt, I tossed my apple core into the bushes beyond the fence. Kneeling down, I plucked ripe tomatoes. "Oh, shut up, Phoenix."

He cackled again, this time from behind the kale and other lettuce plants. I grabbed one of the ripest tomatoes I could find and chucked it in his direction. It only made him laugh harder. Annoying little brother.

Silence descended in the garden as we worked on harvesting the ripe vegetables. I could hear the ocean in the distance as the waves broke on the beach. Birds chirped overhead and squirrels snickered in the trees. Our black cat, Rowan, slinked by the garden at one point, hunting a mouse no doubt. The sun was setting by the time I heard my mom's car pull into the driveway. I straightened up, stretching after being crouched down for so long. Phoenix walked over, holding his round basket with both arms. It was full to the brim with fresh food, Gran would be pleased.

As we headed for the house, Phoenix came up beside me and cleared his throat. "So - what happened?" His earlier hysterics gone, what was left sounded a lot like worry. That was my brother, always trying to take care of his family, even at ten.

I was quiet for a moment until we headed into the back entryway and set our baskets down. Brushing off my hands, I sighed. With a shrug, I looked at my little brother. "I don't know - I got upset."

He nodded his head slowly before offering me a small smile. "Did you get the jerk that made you mad?"

A laugh bubbled its way out of my chest before I could stop it. "Oh, yeah."

Later that night, I slipped out of the back door and into the night. No one else could ever get out the backdoor without waking half the house, but I had never had a problem. I just had to ask the door to be quiet.

As I walked through the backyard, I looked up at the stars and moon above my head. It was almost half full, the Full Moon only a week away. The ethereal light made the yard around me glitter. Not for the first time, I found myself thankful for living in Salem - we were a little way from a big city, so the night sky wasn't as polluted out here. I couldn't imagine looking up at night and not being able to see the stars.

Walking over the small hill that separated our house from the bay, I couldn't help but smile when the ocean came into view. The light of the moon shone on the water, glistening and shifting with the waves. I slid down the sandy embankment; the sand cool against my bare feet. The candle and jar of lavender and violet jingled in the bag over my shoulder. Although my room had plenty of space to perform spells and rituals, I had always preferred being outside. I had learned to sneak out into the quiet of the night a long time ago.

Once the candle was lit, and the flowers sat in the shell I found by the edge of the water, I took a deep breath. The energies of the New Moon had always made me feel excited and overly sensitive. I blamed it for my outburst at school. It was like I could feel my magic vibrating under my skin. It was the reason I was sitting on the beach, the chilly breeze giving me goosebumps, in the middle of the night. I hoped meditating by the ocean would help to calm me down.

I didn't know how long I had been sitting there, but my fingers and toes were going numb. It was probably time to go back to bed.

A blinding light hit me in the face the moment I opened my eyes. I tried to shield my face from the harsh light, but it was useless. I thought it was a flashlight or the searchlight on a boat, but then I put my arm down. I'm sure my mouth hit the sand.

Fog had settled over the water and beach - it surrounded me and left only the stars above my head visible. Floating amongst the mist was a woman more beautiful than any I had ever seen. Her skin sparkled like the stars above, her black hair a curtain around her soft face, her teeth as white as snow when she smiled. The white gown she wore melted into the fog, shimmering around the edges. It was only the crescent moon that sat on her forehead that told me who she was.

I had trouble finding my voice, let alone closing my mouth. My heart felt like it would beat out of my chest. But for the strangest reason, I wasn't afraid. My magic was alive under my skin, humming and warming my body. My toes and fingers were no longer cold. I wasn't tired. "You're - you're Hecate-"

The woman smiled brightly, her hands clasped lightly in front of her. "I've been called many names over the centuries, but that would be the name you know me as."

I had fallen asleep. Yeah, I was fast asleep on the beach and would probably wake up with frostbite. No, I wouldn't. It's not that cold. But I had to be asleep. Right?

As if sensing my thoughts - or maybe she really could read them - Hecate floated closer the fog dissipated a little. "You're not dreaming child. Why would I not visit the child I blessed thirteen years ago?"

Suddenly, the stories my mother told me seemed real. The dreams I would have of a lady with black hair leaning over my crib didn't seem like old wive's tales anymore. The birthmark on my shoulder, the same crescent moon that adorned the goddess's head, heated under my shirt. "But - how? Why are you here? Why did you save me?"

Her face changed, the smile fell away and her perfect forehead wrinkled with sadness. "Because child. I have a job for you."