A soft breeze picked the witch's red hair up off her shoulders. Zoey stood on her balcony, enjoying the fresh air. Her home was on the cliffside of the village, so her balcony overlooked the ocean. She had a client who was supposed to be picking up his order for a Vile of Decease, but he hadn't showed up yet.

"He'll probably be here soon…" Zoey mumbled to herself. She lifted up her index finger and a tiny pink spark formed on it. Slowly, the witch twirled the little spark around her fingers, letting it tickle her.

Being a witch was cool and all, but sometimes Zoey felt as if all anyone cared about were purchasing potions from her. She was more than just a potion seller, she could cast all sorts of spells. Charms, curses, she could even make an object come to life. Mike had always questioned how she kept her home so clean, but her secret was just turning everything to life so they could clean up themselves.

Zoey then heard the sound of hooves clipping against the ground. She went to the side of her balcony and peered around the side of her house. Someone in a black cloak was getting of a horse right by her house. It must be her costumer.

Quickly, Zoey cast a protecting shield around herself (just in case her costumer did try to throw the Vile of Decease at her) and walked into her house. The protecting shield was invisible, so they wouldn't be able to see it. She walked down the narrow hallway that had two doors on either side of the walls. One lead into her bedroom, and the other lead into the bathroom. The hall lead into a big room. In the center at the other side was her front door, to the right of it was her small kitchen, and to the left was her living room with stairs that lead into her basement, which is where she had all her brewing equipment. As Zoey liked to call it, it was where her "inner-witch" came out.

Zoey waited for the knock on her door. Once her client knocked, she hurried to the door and opened it.

"Good morning, miss, are you Zoey?" The man asked.

Zoey gave him a small smile. "Yes I am, and you are Chris McLean?"

"That's correct," he grinned.

"Ah, so you're here for the Vile of Decease?"

He nodded.

"Ok, why don't you come in while I go get it for you," Zoey held the door open for the man. Her eyes widened when she saw two guards standing at the bottom of the stairs that lead up to her porch and front door. The taller guard, a woman, gave Zoey a stern look.

"It's alright, Scarlet and Max," he turned to seemingly his guards, "I won't be long."

"Um…" Zoey murmured as Chris walked into her house. She closed the door behind them and saw Chris taking off his hood to reveal his slicked back, black hair.

"Don't mind my guards," he smiled at her.

Zoey blinked. She hadn't noticed before, but Chris was wearing very fancy, and most likely very expensive clothing. A thick black cloak with white fur lining all around it, and on the center where it clipped around his shoulders was a pure gold big button. Under his cloak was a long-sleeved white shirt with the ends rolled up slightly, and over that shirt was a blue half jacket that buttoned down his torso. Ha had on a pair of silky black gloves, and his pants were a yellowish-brown colour. He had a brown belt with a long sword in its keeper, and finally, he had on a pair of tall black boots.

"So, the potion?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, yes!" Zoey chirped and hurried down the stairs. She walked across her basement and grabbed the Vile from the little table it was on.

"Here you are," she smiled as she came back up the steps.

He took the vile from her. "Thank you so much. How much again?"

"Four coins."

Chris reached into his pocket and pulled out five bronze coins. He handed them to her.

"Oh, it's only four coins," Zoey told him.

He shook his head. "It's ok. Take all of them. Consider it a tip."

She sheepishly took the coins. "Thank you…"

"Now, I must be on my way. Pleasure doing business with you, Zoey," he grinned as he walked out her door.

Before she could reply, he slammed the door shut. Zoey heard a couple horses neigh, and then they were trotting away. She moved over to her window and watched as Chris and his two guards rode away. They were heading towards the palace.

"What's Chris McLean going to the palace for?" She asked herself. She shrugged it off and continued on her day.

"You ladies are the absolute worst maids in the entire world!" Heather screeched at the baffled Lindsay and Beth, "Why in Omaria did you think it would be a good idea to put scented soap in my bath!? You know I have a reaction in certain areas!"

"I'm terribly sorry, ma'am-" Beth started.

"I don't wanna hear it!" The queen snapped, cutting her off. "You two have shown a lack of respect to me the last couple of days, but you really screwed me over this time-"

Suddenly, Ezekiel burst through the big double doors. He hurried over to Queen Heather, huffing and puffing.

"Your majesty, I have come to tell you that your uncle has arrived," he informed as he quickly bowed down.

Queen Heather's eyes widened. "Oh! Of course…" She turned to Beth and Lindsay, "If you two put scented soap in my bath one more time, I'll have you thrown in the dungeons!" She flung around, whipping her long black hair in their faces and marched out of the throne room.

Beth rolled her eyes. "As much as she says she will, I know the woman doesn't have the gut to put us in the dungeons."

Lindsay sighed. "I just wish she wouldn't scream at us like that. I think my eardrums are damaged."

Beth snorted. She looked at Ezekiel. "Ezekiel, how do you feel about the queen?"

"Huh?" He snapped out of whatever daydream he was in, "Oh… I'm not sure I have an opinion on her… But I know she doesn't like me."

"With you picking your nose all the time, I can see why," Beth pointed out.

Lindsay snickered.

"Well I gotta get the bats outta the cave somehow, eh?" He shrugged.

"Ew!" Lindsay shuttered.

"That's disgusting, Ezekiel," Beth scrunched up her nose.

The butler half grinned. "Everyone picks their nose, eh?"

Beth and Lindsay both hesitated.

"My point exactly," he smirked.

Lindsay scoffed. "Well at least we don't do it in front of people!"

"Yeah but-" He was cut off when the doors burst open again, and in walked Queen Heather with another man and a few guards.

The three all straightened up and turned their attention to the new royalty that had just walked in.

"Uncle, may I introduce Ezekiel," Heather gestured to her butler.

Ezekiel hurried up to the man and bowed. "At your service, sir."

"And those are just two of my maids who should be getting back to their work…" Heather narrowed her eyes.

Lindsay and Beth quickly curtsied to both Queen Heather and her uncle, then hurried out of the room.

"I'm terribly sorry about them. Sometimes my maids can get a bit distracted," Heather shook her head.

"Do not worry, my dear, I'm sure my being will make them a bit less distracted," he chuckled.

Heather laughed nervously, quickly wiping her sweaty hands on the back of her dress. "Ezekiel, why don't you show Sir Chris McLean to his quarters?"

"Oh, not now. Why don't you just take my things to my quarters, I wish to speak with my niece for a bit," Chris held up his hand.

"Yes sir," Ezekiel bowed and picked up his luggage, hurrying out of the throne room.

Chris rubbed his hands together and looked at his niece. "Now, how about you and I do some catching up?"