“And you know her?” Brianna asked as she sipped her soda through the straw.

“Yeah,” Karen sighed heavily. “I’ve known her since I was a child, and she always, always managed to get under my skin. I don’t know what she has against me. Now this.”

Helplessly, she gestured in the air. They were sitting at a fast food restaurant close to the dormitories where Brianna was staying.

“Do you think she did it on purpose? To specifically get your boyfriend?”

Karen contemplated the question while nibbling on fries. She dipped one into mayonnaise before eating it. Brianna made a face at her friend’s weird habit but didn’t comment on it.

“Rose certainly has it in her to do something like that,” Karen said eventually.

“Maybe she doesn’t like him.”

“Maybe.”

“So what are you gonna do?”

Karen grimaced as she sipped her own drink. She still felt shaken, but at least her tears had stopped. She pulled on her hair in frustration.

“I don’t know.”

Brianna put her drink down and leaned forward, looking into Karen’s eyes with a serious expression.

“Do you want him back?”

Karen opened her mouth to say “of course!” but then closed it without a sound leaving her lips. Did she want him back? Someone who so easily threw her away?

“Dunno...”

“You are an idiot-magnet, you know.”

“I do,” Karen sighed, slumping in her seat. “But what do I do now?”

“Well, you’ll have more time to come to parties with me.”

Karen looked at her strangely. She wasn’t a very outgoing person.

“Or to study for your exams. Seriously, girl, do you even have a hobby?”

“A hobby, huh?” Karen looked away in thought. She liked thinking up new methods to apply her special magic on items, but ever since college started, she barely had any time for that. Then Ciara disappeared and her thoughts were consumed by finding her cousin.

Come to think of it, didn’t Jason say the same? Karen frowned and looked at Brianna.

“What is it?” Her friend was just finishing off her cookie.

“Bria, have I... neglected you the past few weeks?”

Despite what Karen feared, her best friend burst out laughing, almost choking on the cookie.

“What are you talking about?”

“But Jason said—”

“He wasn’t good enough for you,” Brianna cut her off. “And my friendship is not something as trifle as his feelings!”

“Bria...”

“Now, get yourself together and let me help you plot their demise!”

“Uh... that isn’t really necessary...” Karen tried to protest. Bria wrote crime novellas in her free time and sometimes had the wildest and scariest ideas.

“Don’t you dare refuse me.”

Karen sighed, reaching for another fried potato. She had a feeling that it was going to be a long afternoon.

***

She spent the evening talking on the phone with her parents, making plans for next week’s family get-together.

“I wish Ciara could come.”

Karen froze for a moment before asking, “Still no news?”

“No.” Her mother choked and gave the phone to Karen’s father to continue the discussion.

“It’s so suspicious how they found nothing. I can’t help but think it has something to do with magic.”

Karen’s family was a powerful clan of witches, and it went back a few generations. Every now and then, someone married who didn’t have magic into the family, like her father, but it was rare. There were a few rival families, including the one Rose belonged to.

“Maybe. Which reminds me, I’ve run into Rose.”

“Oh, Ruby and Alex’s daughter? I heard she moved there a couple of months ago.”

“Really?” That was new information for Karen. Had she really been so busy that she forgot to keep tabs on her childhood nemesis’s movements? She shook her head. No, I just didn’t care. “Is she studying here?”

“No clue. Ah, your mother is back. See you next week, sweetie. Love you.”

“Love you, Dad. Take care!”

“Dearie?” Karen’s mother, Kelly, asked as she came back. “What’s with Ruby’s daughter?”

“Oh, nothing really. She just showed up and stole my boyfriend.”

There was silence on the other end of the phone. Then Kelly remarked with a conflicted tone, “Well, I’d be lying if I said I’m surprised at her behavior. She always wanted what was yours. But how are you doing?”

“I’ll be okay.”

“Do you want me to—?”

“Thanks Mom, but no need,” Karen smiled. Her mother was ready to cast a binding spell on Rose anytime, but this was something between the two girls. “I can’t let you do that. Anyway, I’m gonna go to bed early. I have some reports due next week before I can head back home. I’ll get an early start tomorrow morning.”

“I understand. Sleep well and call me!”

“Will do! Love you, Mom!”

“Love you, dearie! Oh, and Felix misses you. Come home soon!”

“Mooom, I’ll be there next week! Bye!”

Karen ended the call with a smile, thinking of Felix. He was a beautiful black cat she had rescued a few years ago. Unfortunately, she couldn’t bring him here. For some reason, Ciara had never gotten along with him.

She sighed and put her phone down, looking around the empty apartment. As soon as she was alone, Karen’s thoughts returned to the scene from early afternoon and she was moping. Why do I never learn? Don’t fall for idiots. And if you do, don’t let them break your heart. She went to prepare dinner. I’m an idiot, aren’t I?

She was just finishing her sandwich when she heard a noise from the door. Karen raised an eyebrow and walked over, curious. A slip of paper waited for her in front of the letter opening. She retrieved it and looked at its contents.

Her mind blanked out for a second as she recognized Ciara’s handwriting.