The Dog Days Are Over: Chapter One

Chapter One: Bringing a Dog to Heel

                Amelia leaned forward in her chair, cradling the book in her hands as her brown eyes skimmed the page rapidly. Finally, she found something potentially useful to her research. She had wondered if Benjamin misunderstood her needs when she asked to borrow one of his potion texts. Perhaps she had been a bit evasive as to why she needed it.

                When brewing potions that transform a living creature from one state of being to another, it is imperative to coincide the brewing with the phases of the moon. Potions that build upon the current state, like muscular enhancers, must be brewed upon a new moon and simmered throughout the waxing phase. Reducing potions, like fat burners, are the reverse. They must be brewed on a full moon, and aged through the waning phase.

                That sounded easy enough, though it grated her nerves that the text never offered why it should be done that way. The chapter continued with the recipes and descriptions of some of the most common Enhancers and Reducers, but when she flipped to the end, she huffed in disgust. There wasn’t a single page on Changeling potions, and while she understood the reason, it was still irritating to have read so far into the book only to be disappointed. She supposed she should be grateful to the author; no ignorant reader would be brewing up a batch of illegal Changelings on accident.

                Kat sighed across the room, her fingers clicking rapidly on the keyboard. Amelia spared her a glance, then flipped to the back of the book. Of course there was no index. She thumbed through the rest of the pages, but nothing remotely useful popped out at her.

                This was one reason why she had chosen to study practical magic instead of potion making. As much as she loved books, muddling through dusty tomes or glossy manuals looking for the perfect recipe proved both time consuming and potentially unrewarding. She never knew if she would find the right information in a particular book, or copy a worthless recipe, or even brew a dud. Wand-waving and incantations may look silly, but they provided instantaneous, measurable results.

                Kat interrupted her musing. “You’re never going to believe this.”

                “What’s happened now?”

                Amelia vanished the book with a flick of her fingers, giving it up for a lost cause. It appeared across the room on top of the pile of books they seemed to be accumulating. Kat’s voice was tight as she responded.

                “My grandmother has issued a pack-wide decree that any wolf found to be in contact with me will be stripped of their title and rank. I’ve been officially ostracized.”

                Cringing, she offered a sympathetic, “Gosh, I’m really sorry, Kit-Kat.” What else was she supposed to say when her best friend’s entire family had turned their back on her?

                “I’m not,” Kat snapped, jamming her finger into the computer’s power button. Amelia frowned at the mishandling of her brand new equipment but decided not to comment. “It means I won’t have to hear from any of those prats anytime soon.”

                Kat stalked to the chair across from her, ruffling her faux-hawk in irritation. The legs screeched against the wood floor as she pulled it back roughly. A sad smile touched Amelia’s lips. This was the typical Kat outlook- there’s no room for hurt if you’re angry. Combined with her “I’m better off without you anyways” bravado, Kat could almost have fooled her into thinking this last blow didn’t break her heart. Almost.

                “Have you heard from Kent? What does he think about this?” Amelia asked gently. Anyone else would have been clawed open from throat to groin for broaching such a sensitive topic, but Kat just shook her head as she dropped into the chair. Amelia’s heart panged, both for the friend sitting across from her and the friend she knew was suffering at home.

                She suddenly wished that Kent was there with them. He would have known what to say to Kat. He always knew what to say, how to calm her, and when to let her stew. Amelia shifted in her chair, the silence growing uncomfortable, until finally Kat threw her hands into the air.

                “Do you ever wish that you weren’t a witch?”

                Amelia’s mouth popped open in shock. Kat watched her impatiently, her brows furrowed, and Amelia realized that she expected an answer.

                “Umm, no, not really. I haven’t thought about it before.” A sudden suspicion flared into consciousness. Her eyes narrowed reflexively. “Why do you ask?”

                “Nothing, nevermind,” Kat grumbled. A slight flush crept up her neck. Amelia rolled her eyes, her suspicions confirmed.

                “For heaven’s sake, Kat, don’t make me lug your butt off to jail for purchasing illegal potions! You’re not actually considering becoming… human, are you?”

                “No, not…not really. Stop looking at me like that, it’s not that bad!” Kat barked defensively.

                “I know of a few laws and by-laws that say it is,” Amelia muttered in an undertone. Kat’s ears pricked in annoyance.

                “I heard that. You know I wouldn’t actually do it. Do you really think I’m that much of a pansy?”

                I think you’re hurt, you’re lonely, and you’re looking for a way out of your situation, Amelia thought. She chewed her lip, wondering if she dared to say it out loud. Kat leaned back in her chair.

                “And let’s just say I did,” she continued, holding up her hand when Amelia opened her mouth in protest. “Purely hypothetical. What’s the worst that could happen? Admit it, you would love it if I lost some of my wolfish temper.”

                Amelia raised a brow. “You really think that would happen? Just from a potion?”

                “It’s a possibility. After all, it is the wolf in me that-“

                “Oh no, honey, I’m pretty sure that’s just your nature: taciturn, temperamental, and tenacious.” Amelia shook her head. “But that’s not the point. You could die.”

                Kat scoffed, but Amelia cut her off before she could protest. “Kathryn, there’s a reason these potions are illegal. If anything goes wrong in the brewing process, they become deadly. Even if it’s brewed correctly, there’s a chance your body will have a reaction. I’ve been researching how Changeling potions are made and-“

                “You? Researching illegal potions? Why?”

                “For a project. Don’t get sidetracked. There is a one in eight chance that the potion will turn your magic against you and kill you from the inside. There is no cure. Now, I know you’re unhappy right now, but think outside of yourself for a moment.” She pegged her with an intense stare. “What do you think I would do if you died? Your pack may be mad at you, but it would devastate them. And Kent would go crazy with grief.”

                Kat hung her head, her hands clenched on her thighs. It was a low blow, but Amelia wanted to crush these thoughts before they could take hold. Though she appeared calm on the outside, her heart pounded in her chest. Her hands trembled as she pointed an accusatory finger at Kat’s chest. “Are things really so bad that you would do that to us?”

                “I wasn’t actually going to do it,” Kat’s voice rang with a familiar whine. “I was just asking.”

                “Well, don’t scare me like that. That’s not like you.”

                “Yes, ma’am,” her friend grumbled sullenly. Amelia breathed a sigh of relief. That was the closest Kat would get to flashing the white belly of defeat.

                “Besides,” she added lightheartedly, “I really don’t want to have to wrestle you into a squad car. I’m not sure who would win, but it wouldn’t be pretty.”

                Kat shot her a small grin, but the pain in her eyes was still raw. In her heart, Amelia knew that her friend would have to reconcile with all the emotion she kept burying. It killed her to know that there was nothing she could do to prevent it. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she watched helplessly as Kat retreated behind her emotional walls, a smirk quirking her lips.

                “So, why are you studying illegal potions?”

                “I’m never going to get you off of that, am I?” Amelia laughed, the sound strained. “Don’t you have work to do?”

                “Yeah, guess I should go beat the ghosts out of people’s couches. I should be home around midnight. You working tonight?”

                “I have some charms I should probably attend to. At least if I plan on being paid.”

                “Work,” Kat spat as she slid out of the chair. “Gosh, I miss our teenage years. Life was so much simpler then. I just harassed Gram into giving me an allowance.”

                Amelia smiled wanly. “Welcome to adulthood. Nice of you to finally join us.”

                Kat barked a laugh. She turned as if to say something, then closed her mouth with a frown. Amelia could see the fragility lurking beneath the punked up hair and stony expression.

                “You sure you’re going to be alright?”

                “Yeah, yeah, those ghosts can’t get a pounding on me,” Kat deflected easily. “Werewolf, remember?”

                “Call me if you need me.”

                “Will do.” Kat gathered her belongings, her keys clanking noisily in her hand. Amelia had just started to ponder what case to work on first when she heard her friend pause at the door.

                “He’s not mad at you, is he, Mia?”

                The question was murmured so quietly she almost didn’t hear it. Amelia knew without asking that she referred to Kent. “Why would he be mad at me?”

                “For… for choosing me over him.”

                “I didn’t,” she responded honestly. “I love you both as much as I always have. Nothing can change that.”

                Nodding, Kat hurried out the door. She thought she heard a sniffle over the clattering of Kat unchaining her bicycle, but it could have just been her dog Diamond snorting, his teeth clamped around their newspaper. He gazed up at her with eyes that glowed amber against his black fur.

                “It will all smooth over with time,” she reassured him. “I promise.”

                She heaved herself from the chair, making a mental checklist of what she needed to do before she met her client. A wet nose on her fingers distracted her, and she knelt to stroke her hand down Diamond’s shaggy back.

                “Thanks, buddy,” she scratched behind his ears. “At least I have one mutt that I know won’t do anything stupid."

This is something of a one-shot, since I have decided it will not be the actual chapter one. So consider it a bit of a teaser ;).