Morning my compatriots of words. Today is Friday and Quite honestly I could not be happier. I don’t know why this week has just felt longer than most. I think it might be because this week I actually felt the darkness of the morning. Hopefully it is just the first week of fall feeling. Time doesn’t change until November 5th so morning darkness will be a thing for a while. But here we are at Friday so let’s jump into the last prompt of the week. Everyone ready? Excellent, let’s go.
I think I may have to give some thought to the magic system of this world, but after that, this could be a fun story. Besides, I like contemplating different magic systems.
Friday, September 29th: There was a stain on the carpet.
There was a stain on the carpet. Whoever staged the house did a good job of covering it up. But Cassie happened to look down at exactly the right time and saw it. Once she saw it, she felt oddly drawn. As she wandered the house, she made certain to move closer to the stain on one of her circuits. When she was as close as she dared, she sniffed.
Magic.
She half smiled to herself as she looked around. The magic was old and sue suspected that someone tried every trick they knew to get the stain out of the carpet and was probably disappointed when it didn’t budge.
Cassie suspected the rest of the carpet was fine pr someone would have tried to replace it. One small stain was one thing, an entire carpet with stains was another. She took another deep breath as the realtor rattled on about the school district. While houses were selling fast and often for much more than their listing price, this one sat on the market.
Surprisingly, there were no other people at this open house and the realtor looked a little nervous around the edges. It was a small thing, but it danced around the edges of his eyes.
Cassie looked down at the carpet. A large area rug was placed over the main carpet of the area. There was a lull in the realtor’s prattle. “Tell me,” she asked. “Is the main carpet all stained or just this area?” she asked. She pointed to the splodgy part by her foot.
The realtor looked momentarily defeated. “That is the only spot I assure you,” he said. “I told him we should have replaced the carpet but he wanted the quick sale, minimal changes. It’s why the lowered price.”
Cassie nodded. “The current owner has moved or something?” she asked. I would have thought with a quick carpet change this house would have been much higher.”
“It was his Aunt’s house,” the realtor said. “An aunt by marriage I believe, the uncle predeceased her by some years apparently. He didn’t seem to loke the aunt and just wanted the money quickly. The thought that he might actually have to pay taxes on it seemed to bother him.” The realtor blinked in surprise and chewed his bottom lip.
Cassie knew he hadn’t meant to say that. Thinks had a way of slipping loose when she asked questions. It was what her mother called her gift. Each child born with magic had one. Sure anyone could learn spell craft if they were inclined. That was mostly chemistry helping magic along. It was the magic of the blood that made things …different.
Cassie liked to think about it as an disregarded scientific field. She tried not to keep her ability in check and not use it for personal gain, but there was that spot.
“I see,” Cassie said. “I have some family members I’d rather not pay taxes for as well,” she said, trying to make him feel better. In truth she hadn’t expected him to say so much. The owner must have bothered him for some reason.
Ten til Midnight 