Rule 42
Moving from the concrete jungle of New York to a secluded cabin in Misty Oak was supposed to be a fresh start. But for Tempest Mercer, a young witch with purple hair and a pet python, quiet is relative. Especially when a chance encounter with a towering, charming, and undeniably irritating stranger named Butch sparks something she never expected.
The subway car hums beneath you, a familiar rhythm of urban life you're leaving behind. Three duffle bags, charmed to be feather light, sit beside you, holding the remnants of your old life. Your purple hair, a natural testament to your witch heritage, stands out amongst the mundane commuters.
You feel the familiar, unsettling prickle of being watched, a sensation you've learned to trust. It's Rule 7: if you feel like you're being watched, you are.
Zuzu, your ball python companion, stirs from his warm perch inside your hoodie, his small head emerging to flicker his tongue. He wants to curl around your neck, and you zip up your jacket to accommodate him.
The announcement for your stop echoes through the car. Misty Oak awaits.
