Smoldering heat hit her face as she opened the front door in the morning. She had expected coolness as the rain continued to pour down. It seemed to drown out every sound except for the rumble of the sky. It made her wish she could crawl back into her soft and comfy bed. 

A sigh escaped her lips as she looked for her umbrella, she was sure she had left it right outside the door the day before. 

“Why does this always happen?” She muttered as she glanced around for the bright pinkness of her umbrella. 

She saw only leaves scattered about and her own tattered flip-flops. Another sigh escaped her lips. Every time she needed her umbrella, it seemed to go missing like so many other things around the house. This was the sixth one this month alone. Her eyes wandered to the car which was parked across the street from her small house. Now how was she supposed to make it to her car without it? The relentless rain would ruin her perfectly done hair and make-up. 

She sighed yet again, could she call in sick? She leaned on the doorway, taking the phone out of her black knock-off designer handbag. Yes, it was a knock-off, she could barely afford instant noodles as it was. She hated her job, most days she worked ten hours, some days even twelve. Her pay was not even decent. 

She clenched her phone hard and walked back inside the house. She was going to call in sick, just this once. How she wished her grandfather for once would let her park her car right next to the house, she was the only one who worked after all. He used the spot for his old worn-down car, and he didn’t even work anymore. He went out early every morning to play cards with his friends at a cafe nearby. He didn’t even need the spot.

The door slammed shut behind her and the wind howled as it pushed the curtains high up. She gasped and rushed to close the windows, rain violently poured in as the wind pushed through. It knocked against her as she desperately tried to close the windows. 

“Just close, damn it,” she yelled out. 

She huffed and managed to slam the windows shut. The wind had ruffled her perfect hair and the rain pouring through the windows had made her completely wet. She felt herself tumble to the floor, what a mess she was now. She didn’t like being a mess. 

What was the thing her mother had always told her?

“Become the storm.”

She groaned and glanced at the mess in her house, water everywhere, a couple of minor things knocked over by the wind. How to not fall into despair? 

“Become the storm? Who the hell would want that,” she moaned as she got back up on her feet. 

“It is not so bad, is it?” She heard a squeaky voice behind her. 

As she turned she saw a small brown-ish snake glance back at her. She let out a shrill scream and stepped back.

“A snake!” She screamed and threw her handbag at it. 

“Careful, you almost hit me,” the snake squeaked, “Don’t be alarmed, I am not dangerous. Look how much smaller than you I am.” 

She stared down at the snake in disbelief, “Y-you talk?” 

The snake nodded, “I believe you summoned me.” 

“I did not summon any snakes. No, no, no. I don’t summon snakes. Are you out of your mind? Wait. Am I out of my mind? I’m talking to a snake. Have I finally snapped?” She felt her hands tremble. What was going on? 

“Oh. It is starting to sound like you’re about to snap. But I promise you, no one is out of their mind. I am here to help you, and by the looks of it, it does seem like you need a lot of help here. I mean the pixie problem alone is horrendous,” the snake said as he glanced around. 

“P-pixie problem?” She stared at the snake with a bewildered expression. 

“Before we get into that, maybe some introductions are in order. I am Paval, a dusky wolf snake, and a most excellent familiar,” the snake said as he coiled his body. 

“Uhm… I am Mei,” she stuttered, her eyes shifting around, “Why am I even talking to this snake?” 

“Snake has a name, and besides, I am not a normal snake. I am a familiar. Big difference.” Paval cocked his head. 

“How is this even possible? What is a familiar?” Mei asked as she sank into a chair next to the large windows. 

Paval slithered closer, coiling up the leg of the chair next to hers and placing himself in it, “You don’t know what a familiar is? Did your mother not teach you?” He asked curiously. 

Her expression was even more bewildered, “Why would my mother teach me? She died when I was just a little girl, and she never said anything about familiars.” 

The sky rumbled even louder before the lights went out. Mei sighed, wondering if the day could get any worse. She hadn’t even called work yet. Everything seemed so dark in this storm, and she felt as if she had been pulled right into it. 

Paval slithered up her leg, settling on her lap, “Let me tell you something then, Mei,” he began, “I live to serve. I serve the ones that are one with the elements, nature, the universe itself. Familiars serve witches, and you are one, Mei. Just like your mother was.” 

“Witches?” Mei started laughing, it all seemed ridiculous to her, “I am a witch? Very funny, little snake.”