The Flower Bowl Spell (33 page)

“I thought of something else,” Tyson says.
“When Isaac and D.B. started using Cheradon, I think they were
looking for built-in minions. Cheradon’s fans would become Isaac’s
followers. As soon as he regained his power with the Flower Bowl
Spell, she’d bring them to him.”

I nod. It makes sense. A cute young woman is
much more palatable to potential sycophants than a creepy
middle-aged man.

I glance behind us and spy Cooper in the
market, Cleo riding on his shoulders. I catch his eye and we wave
to each other. I resist wincing at the sight of his bandaged hand.
Cleo reaches down to pinch Romola’s puffy ponytail. There’s an ache
in my heart—how I will miss them.

“What’s next for you, Miss Zhang?” Tyson
asks, and I turn back to him. “Are you going to go back to writing
about emerging rock sensations such as myself? Or has all this
magick made you hungry for more supernatural exploits?”

“Why can’t I have both?” I ask. “And
dog-walking. Don’t forget the dog-walking.”

“Right. Because you claim that’s where the
real money is.”

“About money, I never lie.”

“Maybe,” he takes my hand, “you should come
away with me. I mean, now that the girls are back with their dad
and we don’t have to abandon them by the side of the road.”

I start to say something smart, but we’re
holding hands and it’s so comfortable. I just look at him, not sure
of what to do, not sure what my next move should be.

There’s something moving in a flower bed near
our bench that catches my eye. It’s a pigeon rooting around for
crumbs, and on her back is my fairy friend. Xien waves his cap to
me in greeting. Or maybe he’s beckoning me to him. Whichever it is,
I lean in closer to find out whatever it is I need to know.

###

About the Author:

Olivia Boler is the author of a novel,
Year of the Smoke Girl
, and her short stories have appeared
in several publications including the AAWAA anthology
Cheers to
Muses
,
The Lyon Review
,
Mary
, and
DIY…Or
Else
. Her nonfiction has been published in the
San Francisco
Chronicle
,
Marin
,
Poets & Writers
,
ForeWord
, and
The Noe Valley Voice
among
others
.
She lives in San Francisco with her family. To find
out about her latest work, visit http://oliviaboler.com.