The coven (2)

"What guest are you talking about Minerva? Have you been drinking those weird things again? Oh, we really have a customer. See, I told you this was a good place to set up Agatha," Morgan, one of the sisters said coming up from a cellar.

"Oh shut it you old fool. We all thought this was a good spot. You just want to take credit. Why are you hiding from us?" Agatha questioned right after Morgan when she saw their customer was hiding her appearance. " We're showing ourselves to you, it would be rude if you don't do the same in our shop."

"We don't need another one of our sisters surprising us. Reveal yourself, girl," Minerva said inspecting the guest. "What are you?"

Aurora removed the cloth from covering her head and revealed her white hair and blue eyes. "Why did you ask what I am instead of who I am?" Aurora asked.

She took in the appearances of the three women who were supposed to be sisters. They all looked different from each other except for their bright emerald-looking green eyes. Morgan was tall with long dark hair, Agatha was average height with blonde hair, and Minerva was short with reddish hair. They were an interesting trio of siblings.

"We just have to make sure. Strange things have walked through our doors before. Never one with an appearance quite your one. Right sisters?"

Aurora felt chills spread throughout her body when this was said because they all looked at her and smiled at the same time. Maybe this wasn't the best shop for her to enter.

"It brings back memories of someone we used to know. What are you looking to buy? Have a look around our shop," Agatha said pointing to the many jars filled with different things.

"You did come with money right?" Morgan asked, ready to cast a spell on their customer if she really walked into their store without any money and was wasting their time. She had the perfect potion to make with human flesh if this one was a waste.

"Yes, I brought money," Aurora replied looking at a jar filled with what looked to be fingernails and beside it was one with snakeskin. Just what on earth were they selling?

"Have you brought frogs? We're low on those critters," Agatha said looking for any signs of the small creatures.

"Frogs?" Aurora said, puzzled. She swore this side of town used coins also and a frog was such a weird way to pay for something. "I brought gold coins."

"Ignore my stupid sister. The coins will be just fine. Now tell me, what is it that you want?" Minerva asked.

"I know this isn't a common request but do you perhaps have anything on werewolves? A book or anything else…" Aurora's words trailed off when all three of the sisters looked at her in shock.

Agatha was the one to speak up first and asked, "Why do you want to know more about werewolves? You know speaking of those things is forbidden right? You're certainly no wolf so what is fueling your interest in wolves? Regular wolves are not werewolves if that is what you are curious about."

"Ah but sister, some of them do turn into wolves."

"But how would she know it's a werewolf? You see a wolf, don't you just assume it's a regular wolf?" Agatha asked, trying to see what made their customer interested in the wolves.

"No, I saw a man change into a creature when the moon was in the sky and he said he was a werewolf. That is why I want to know more about them," Aurora said, explaining why she was interested. She wouldn't have told just anyone about what happened to her but the sisters spoke as though they knew a lot about werewolves. They might be the solution to all the questions she had.

Minerva was surprised when a human saw the alpha and remained unharmed. The girl was already strange because of her peculiar hair and eyes but hearing what she said about the alpha made her more interesting. "You're a special one. I should've known from just your appearance. It is strange you were able to see the alpha and talk about it. They are normally aggressive when they shift and kill anything in their sights, especially humans."

"Tell us, why did it show its appearance to you and let you live?" Morgan questioned amused by the information their customer was spouting.

"I don't know which is why I would love a book about werewolves. Do you have any here or know anything special? I can pay for what you have," Aurora replied, pulling out a small bag of gold coins from her dress.

"Werewolves are normally creatures of the night like vampires but they are much stronger under the moon thanks to the moon goddess Artemis. She is the God they follow because she gives them strength. We can tell you all about wolves but the Goddess is the only one who can tell you why the alpha wants you if he is playing a game and won't tell you."

"Moon Goddess? Didn't the kings kill all of the Gods? How can I speak to what is dead?" Aurora wondered, feeling like she suddenly came to a dead end.

Agatha chuckled at her blind innocence in believing her stupid king. "Artemis is very much alive and close by but a mere human like yourself won't be able to get to her. Until the alpha tells you what it wants, Artemis would be the only one who could tell you why you're special. Are you sure you weren't cursed as a wolf?"

"We would know if she was a wolf you stupid fool. Stop drinking all the potions we make and leave them to be sold."

"Potions? Are the three of you perhaps…" Aurora paused, not wanting to say the name of the creature which she heard could cast spells on you and make potions.

"Witches? We are dear. Don't be scared to say the word," Morgan smiled revealing her identity to their guest. Someone with a werewolf appearing near them couldn't run and tell the whole kingdom about witches residing here.

"That is why you should bring frogs when you visit," Agatha said, still wanting a frog for her latest potion. Maybe she should just turn a human into a frog at this point.