Chapter Text
"Colin!"
Colin jumped at the sound of his name. He had only just stepped through the door after leaving the witch's home, and three of his siblings were waiting for him.
Anthony and Benedict were still in their gentleman's clothing. Daphne, who was also with them, had yet to change out of her hunting dress with the removable skirt.
"Are you alright Colin?"
Colin nodded. "Yes, I'm fine. I just had to rest for a bit after tha fight with the gorgon."
Colin knows he should have told his family, or at least Anthony, about their new neighbors. He knows he should have, but damn it, he was curious.
Magical creatures don't just blend themselves around humans like this, especially humans of high society. Not since before the dark ages when the last of the ancient kingdoms fell. A time when humans were not only fighting wars amongst them but with magical creatures too. After that, magical creatures mainly kept to themselves in isolated areas. From Colin's experience, witches prefer the natural world and would be more likely found on the edges of coasts or hidden by the trees of forests. They don't end up in Mayfair!
Colin was also curious about that mind witch. He's almost positive she has put some sort of spell on him because why won't he stop thinking about her? And why would she heal him? Yeah, witches typically aren't on the hunters' radars, but that more has to do with them keeping to themselves, not that they like one another. If it was any other witch she probably would have left in the street for fate to decide what happened to him. That baby witch with that shotgun seemed to agree with that sentiment.
"You know you don't look like you've been in a fight with a gorgon," Daphne will tell him later as she looks him over for injuries. "Which is peculiar since I know that that gorgon managed to cut you with her claws right here." Daphne pinched Colin's side which had no signs of being injured at all.
Colin had to admit that mind witch did good work.
"Daph!" Colin exclaimed when Daphne pinched him again.
Daphne sat across from Colin. "Colin, what really happened after we were seprated?"
Colin paused. He knows he should tell at least one of his siblings about their new neighbors but he found he wanted to keep the witches across the square his secret for the moment. Or at least until he can satisfy his curiosity.
Damn what spell did that mind witch put on him?
-
"Felicity, do you need anything while I'm out?" Penelope asked as she adjusted her cloak and hood.
"Where are you going?" Felicity asked. The young witch was practicing her potions work. Particularly measuring out her ingredients.
"Mama asked me to get a few ingredients today. I'll be in Cambridge for a little bit."
Felicity let out an excited noise. "A papaya! If you're going to Cambridge, can you see if Phillip has a papaya!"
A papaya? Penelope turned to look back at her sister. No one in their coven here in England or in Ireland has never used a papaya in their potions or spellwork before.
Maybe Felicity was trying something new? She did make friends with that witch from the Americas recently.
Penelope found herself nodding. "I can see if Phillip has a papaya."
Felicity grinned brightly. Excitement in her eyes. "Thank you!"
Penelope adjusted her hood and walked into the library. Pulling out an atlas, she turned the pages until she found one of England. From there, she pulls out a moonstone and malachite compass and sets it over Cambridge. Leaking her magic into the compass the witch pictures the university town. Whispering in a language forgotten by mortals, she whispered, "Allow me to voyage on the beams of light."
A tug on her magic and Penelope has found herself in Cambridge.
"Now where is my favorite vampire," Penelope said as she tuned into the thoughts around her.
We shall celebrate with drinks tonight!
Mr. Hawthorne would be a good candidate to approach . . .but how to get his attention? All her cares about are drink and women
If I crossbreed plant A and plant C then should produce a bigger crop and a sweeter fruit.
"There he is," Penelope said as she made her way into one of the University's churches. Walking inside she let her hood drop.
But combining plant B and plant D could make the fruit ripe faster if crossbred.
Penelope glanced to her left. Sitting if the rear pew was a brown haired vampire. She took a seat next to him.
A vampire and a witch walk into a church. Penelope giggled in thought, sending the message from her mind to Phillip's. Penelope giggled.
And the hunters lost their minds. Phillip replied in his mind.
Penelope giggled again.
Phillip looked over at Penelope. Another pickup Penny?
Penelope nodded. With the season starting soon, Mama wanted to stockpile on roses for beauty potions.
Phillip nodded. Getting up, Penelope readjusted her hood over her head. Phillip made sure the brim of his top hat was low enough so the shadow would protect his sensitive eyes along with his tinted spectacles.
The two made their way to Phillip's rented home, which also doubled as his greenhouse thanks to spells he traded with the Featherington coven.
Every available surface was covered in some sort of plant. Phillip organized each room by the conditions each plant needed to survive.
Penelope took a deep breath as they entered. It always smells so lovely in here. One would never guess a vampire owned all this.
Phillip rolled his eyes. "I'm not exactly a normal vampire."
"No, you're not Pip," Penelope agreed smiling at her friend. "At least not like the ones they tell in stories around here. Who would have thought if you traveled further south, you would find vampires similar to fruit bats. And that they can produce offspring with blood sucking vampires."
"No one from around here would," Phillip said as he popped a raspberry into his mouth to suck on. "So what are we getting today?"
Penelope pulled out a list. "Mama requested a dozen red roses, a dozen white roses, raspberries, strawberries, and Felicity wants a papaya if you have one."
Phillip paused his gathering of the order. "A papaya?"
Penelope nodded. "That's what she requested."
"For spellwork or potions?" Phillip asked.
"I'm not sure," Penelope said. "Felicity made a new friend in the Americas recently and they've been writing to one another. I don't know if she wants to use it as an ingredient though or if she wants to eat it."
Phillip shrugged his shoulders and the two made their way into the tropical room. A flash of humidity hit Penelope when the door opened. The fruit Phillip picked up reminded Penelope of a squash in shape, the color green with a some yellow. Phillip then picked up two other fruits. One of them was rounder, the coloring being red and green. The other was a very dark green
"Here's the papaya," Phillip said handing Penelope the squash shaped fruit. "Both the seeds and the meat inside the fruit are edible. And if Felicity is interested in more tropical ingredients mangos and avacods are also popular ingredients. Don't eat the seeds for these those."
"Thank you Pip," Penelope said, placing all the new ingredients in her bag. "Do any of the spells need to be updated while I'm here?"
"The cold snap room could use a little bit of attention."
Penelope nodded. "Of course."
The cold snap room was a special area of the greenhouse that was mainly used as rest area for plants that go dormant during the winter months. Or if a plant benefits having some time in a colder environment. Stepping into the room Penelope could tell what Phillip meant. The temperature was a little warmer than what it should be. She'll have to adjust it.
They both took a seat at a nearby table Phillip took notes at. Penelope worked her magic on the spell around her.
"How is your new home? You recently moved to London correct?" Phillip asked.
"It is a new experience," Penelope answered. Her thoughts wandered back to the hunter. There was something about him that reminded her of the fay she grew up with. Hidden meanings in his words, like a puzzle or a secret to learn. Penelope always did like learning what those hidden meanings were. "I actually met an interesting neighbor the other day. He was a hunter."
Phillip looked up, concern washing over his pale features. "A hunter."
"He lives across the square from us actually," Penelope continued.
Phillip shook his head. "Your mama is gonna have a fit."
"Oh most defiantly," Penelope agreed. "Felicity actually almost shot him with sunshine."
Phillip couldn't help the laugh that came out.