“Oh!” squealed Primrose. “That sounds lovely!”
The odd sisters laughed. “Is it always like this? So happy? We hadn’t expected to see such a happy group of witches when we decided to venture here.”
Hazel spoke. “I mean no offense, but why do you ask questions when you already know the answers?”
The witch sisters smiled at Hazel. “Ah. We thought you were the empathetic one,” said Lucinda.
“How so?” asked Hazel, speaking up more than was usual for her.
“We were hoping the three of you could read minds,” said Ruby. “It makes things so much easier when getting to know new witches if we can just read each other’s minds.”
“Wait, you can read minds?” asked Primrose.
The odd sisters laughed. “Yes,” they said.
Primrose frowned.
The odd sisters laughed again. “I wouldn’t worry about it, Primrose,” said Lucinda. “You have such a pure heart, and you are so kind, you really have nothing to hide.”
“I like these girls!” said Primrose, smiling at her own sisters. “I think we should keep them!”
“I am curious,” said Hazel, “how it was you were able to enter our woods. Our mother always told us the boundary was enchanted.”
“And so it is, but we devised a counter spell that allowed us to enter. We didn’t think you’d mind,” Lucinda said, taking Hazel’s measure.
“That’s rather audacious,” said Hazel.
“It is audacious! And I like it!” Primrose said, smiling, then laughing.
“Yes, of course you would,” said Hazel.
“I’m sorry if we overstepped, Hazel. I thought we were welcome,” said Lucinda.
“You are welcome,” said Primrose. “I think what Hazel was trying to say is that she is impressed with your magic.”
“Is that what you’re trying to say, Hazel?” Ruby asked.
“As a matter of fact, it is,” said Hazel. “You’ll have to excuse me, ladies. We’re not used to visitors here, and I’m afraid I don’t share my sister’s flair for entertaining. I’m not quite as charming as my other sisters here.” She returned her attention to her meal.
“Please, don’t apologize, Hazel. We are honored to be here,” said Lucinda, raising her glass. “To the witches of the dead woods!”
“To the witches of the dead woods!” said the other witches, laughing and clinking their glasses.
After another hour or so of chatting over dessert, the ladies moved the party into the morning room. Several more trays of desserts, tea, and coffee were on a rolling cart near one of the larger window seats, where all the ladies made themselves comfortable. Each set of sisters found themselves seated across from the others.
“Sisters,” said Gothel, talking to her own sisters, “I have told Lucinda, Ruby, and Martha they may stay as long as they wish. And depending on how you feel about this, I would like to give them access to Mother’s books. They have agreed to help us learn our magic.”
“Oh! I think that’s a lovely idea,” said Primrose. Gothel was surprised. “I know how important magic is to you, Gothel, and I’d much rather have these lovely creatures teach you than Mother.” Primrose looked at Hazel and asked, “What do you think, Hazel?”
Hazel contemplated the witches carefully before answering. “I think that is a very fine idea, but I have a feeling Gothel isn’t being entirely honest with us.”
Gothel’s heart sank. She didn’t know what Hazel was talking about. Lucinda smiled and answered for her. “You’re right, Hazel. We didn’t want to mention it and put a damper on the festivities, but we are here for another reason. We want to help you and Primrose. Gothel has been worried about you—so worried, in fact, that she unintentionally called us here. You see, we can feel magic in the world. And we felt Gothel’s when she destroyed your mother.”
“But I don’t even know how I did it! I still don’t think it was my magic,” said Gothel.
“Well, we’re here to help you figure that out,” said Martha.
“Why are you worried about me and Hazel?” asked Primrose.