Chapter 1

Gertrude

"T hank you, come again!" I say for what must be the hundredth time today, while handing over a brew to my customer. My shop, Eye of Newt, is busy today, which isn't surprising, given the time of year.

"Happy Halloween!" groans back the ghoul, taking the potion bottle from my fingers.

"Happy Halloween!" I smile, excitement tingling in my veins. The big day is only a week away and we can all feel it, the biggest day of the whole year for the Halloween Neighborhood of Holiday Village. Creatures from the other neighborhoods will come visit, and we can go to the Human Realm and mingle, the one night it's safe to do so, and share our spookiness and magic. I'd been pulling double shifts at the shop all month to make enough mischief brews, glamour potions, and will o' the wisps for everyone.

I don't have too much time to dwell on it though, as another customer takes their place in front of my register and starts up with their order.

"Type AB Positive, reheated . . ." starts the customer, but I finish it for him, knowing this order by heart.

" . . . with a double shot of vitality and just a touch of energy?" I grin.

"Oh, Gertrude, you just get me," flirts Vlad Everdark, the Halloween Neighborhood mayor, and my belly flutters a little. I've always had just a teensy-tiny little crush on our vampire mayor. Who wouldn't? He looks dashing under the dim autumn sunlight that filters in through my front windows. Vampires can exist under the sun in Holiday Village, but he wears a wide-brim fedora and sunglasses to protect his delicate skin and eyes. Not that I would ever do anything about my crush, mind you. I have a boyfriend and we've been together for a long time. I'd never jeopardize that for anything.

Still, I can't help but like when he flirts with me, even though I know it doesn't mean anything. He's charming with everyone. "I would have to be missing some bats in my belfry to forget my most faithful customer's standard order," I tease back.

"What would the neighborhood do without you, Gertrude?" Vlad smiles, flashing some prominent vampire fang at me.

"Shrivel up and die most likely, begging for Energy Brews and Vitality Shots," I say, playing along with his game, all while preparing his order. I've made this particular order so many times, I could do it blindfolded and spun around.

"You're probably right," Vlad says leaning against the countertop, watching me mix everything up. "Eye of Newt is an institution. We couldn't do without it."

"Oh, someone would replace me in a heartbeat, if I really did close down," I say to him, adding the dash of energy to his order before corking the bottle.

"No one could replace you, Gertrude Nightshade," he says, looking a little more serious than normal as he says it.

I smile at him before handing over his order. "You must say that to all the witches."

Vlad frowns for a moment while taking his potion bottle from me. When he opens his mouth as if to say something, the bell at my door jingles. I look around the mayor to see my boyfriend.

"Harry! What a nice surprise!" I beam. This day couldn't get any better.

"Hey, ‘Trudes. Just thought I'd stop in for a bit. I have something I need to talk to you about." Harry smiles with his sharp, werewolf teeth, but it doesn't quite reach his yellow eyes. Is something wrong? I feel a shot of worry go through me. Harry almost never comes to see me at work. There must be something up.

Still, he wouldn't want to discuss it in front of a customer, especially Vlad. They've never liked each other, even back in high school days. Harry would probably have an aneurysm if he knew about my innocent little crush.

Sure enough, when Harry sees who I'm currently assisting, his face immediately shutters. "Everdark," he greets with a stoic nod.

"Moonkin," Vlad says back, at least making an effort to sound friendly, though it sounds strained after the affable banter we were just sharing. "Well, I was just heading to City Hall. Old Nick doesn't like it when the City Council starts late. See you later, Gertrude."

"Sure thing, Vlad," I say waving a little, but I stop when I see Harry frowning at me. Right, boyfriend . No waving at the boyfriend's rival. I'm about to ask Harry what he wants to talk about when the door jingles again.

"Welcome to Eye of Newt," I say cheerily. "Be right with you."

I turn back to Harry and say, "I'll get Gretchen to watch the counter and take an early lunch, then we can talk okay?"

"Fine," Harry returns, still looking a little cagey. What's got him in a twist?

Then I remember: The Halloween Welcoming Ball. It's a ball that takes place every year, starting right at midnight the day of Halloween. Sort of like a New Year's Eve countdown, but for Halloween. It's how the neighborhood welcomes the holiday every year and it's a big festival with dancing, games, and food. Harry still hasn't asked me if I wanted to go this year. Maybe that's what he wants to talk about. The big goof. Like I'd say no to his invitation.

With one final smile to my customer, I duck into the candy-scented back room. My twin, Gretchen, works over a boiling cauldron making a sweet of some kind. She's a candy witch and is saving up to get her own shop like mine, but as it is now, I let her work out of my back room for her orders. In exchange she watches the till and delivers my orders occasionally.

"Hey, Gretchen," I say, "can you watch the front? I need to step out for a bit."

My twin looks up, a little startled, but I'm not surprised. She's more shy than I am and always in her own little world. I often startle her out of her little trances.

"Sure," she replies, stepping down from the cauldron, her long wooden spoon continuing to stir by itself. "How long will you be out?"

"I'm not sure actually," I say, still feeling a little worried. What if it's not about the Ball? "Harry needs to talk about something."

Gretchen frowns as I say my boyfriend's name. She doesn't like him and has a hard time not showing it. She always says that I can do better and that it's not right that we've been dating for five years and he still hasn't proposed or even asked me to be his mate. I just think some people take more time than others. Harry's always been a little skittish of commitment and I don't mind waiting.

"C'mon Gretchen. It won't be all day."

My twin just shakes her head, but says, "I can watch the store. Go do what you've gotta do."

"Thanks, Gretchen," I smile. "I owe you one."

∞∞∞

"YOU'RE brEAKING UP with me?" I practically screech, decorum totally forgotten, even though we're sitting in the middle of a public park. Mummies and daddies push their babies in strollers, giving me the side-eye, but I can't bring myself to care.

"Keep your voice down, ‘Trudes," Harry winces, his eyes looking this way and that at the passersby. He never was one for a scene.

Fighting to modulate my voice, I say, "Seriously, Harry, tell me you're joking. You're breaking up with me after five years ? What the hell?"

Harry's lips twist slightly and he shrugs. "Well, you're never home . . ."

"I'm working, Harry! I have a business to run. I put a roof over both our heads and food on the table, so that you can chase your passions. What's so wrong with that?"

The werewolf just shrugs again. "I get lonely okay? You're gone all the time and even when you're home it's like you're still at the store. You're always planning and preparing. You don't have time for a boyfriend anymore."

His words sting, but something about his complaint sticks out and makes my blood run cold. "Who is she, Harry?"

"What?" He looks a little freaked out. "There's no one else, I swear. It's just you're gone all the time . . ."

But I don't let him distract me. "No way, Harry Moonkin. I know you. You're never ‘lonely' for long. So, who is she?"

Looking chagrined, my now-ex-boyfriend sighs. "Look, nothing's happened yet, okay? I wouldn't do that to you. But I've been talking to Calliope Aetos . . ."

"The medusa?" I almost shriek again, but barely stop myself. He's been talking to the monster that made my life hell in high school? The betrayal cuts deep. I can feel tears pricking at the backs of my eyes, but I'll be hexed before I cry in front of the dirtbag who, at the very least, has had an emotional affair with my childhood bully.

Harry doesn't even have the grace to look ashamed. "We have a connection, okay? I think I have feelings for her. She might be my mate."

He might as well have stabbed me. His mate ? After I've been with him for five years, supporting him, never pushing. But a medusa he's been "talking to" might be his mate?

"How long?" I choke out, still holding onto my tears. "How long have you been ‘talking' to her?"

"Don't say it like that, ‘Trudes . . ."

"Don't call me ‘Trudes," I snap icily, my anger helping me to keep from falling apart. "‘Trudes is the gods-awful nickname my boyfriend gave me and you're not him anymore."

"You don't like my nickname for you?" he asks, sounding hurt.

Oh, screw him.

"Focus, Harry. How long?" I demand. I'm not going to let him change the subject.

Now he has the decency to look a bit sheepish. "Only a month . . ."

"A month!" I exclaim, the words feeling like glass in my mouth. Somehow a month seems like too long and not enough. Not only has he been talking to another woman behind my back for a whole month, but he's also willing to throw away everything that we have for a month's worth of "conversations."

I think I might be sick.

"Look," he says, standing up, "‘Trudes . . . I mean, Gertrude, what we had was great, but we've grown apart and I've got to look out for myself, alright? My own happiness. And right now, Calliope looks like the way for me to be happy."

"I want all your stuff out of my house by tonight," I seethe at my treacherous ex.

Harry just sighs again, like I'm being unreasonable. "Oh, Gertrude. This didn't have to be ugly. We could have gone our separate ways and wished each other well. We could have been adults about this."

"I am an adult," I spit at him. "With a job , and a business , and a house . Where you are no longer welcome and you're not on the deed. I'm serious, Harry. Get your crap out of my house or I'll burn it on the front yard."

His eyes widen a bit, then he shakes his head. "Jeez, I've already moved out. I'm going to be staying with Calliope. Like I said, we have a connection and I want to be with her."

"Hope she likes dead weight and jobless bums," I say bitterly, looking away from him. I can't even bear to look at him for a second longer.

"Seriously, Gertrude. There's no need to be so nasty. You know that I'm just finding my passion. But, whatever. I wish you well, Gertrude, I truly do."

His words send the tears back to my eyes. How dare he act like he's the bigger, more mature person when he's leaving me to shack up with another woman after just unceremoniously dumping me after five years.

I turn back to say something caustic or biting, something that will let him know that he can't just get the last word. But when I turn my head, all I see is Harry already walking away, far down the street and I'm left alone on the park bench with nothing but my embarrassment and my broken heart.