Blair was cleaning up her shop like she regularly would on a glorious Wednesday morning.

"So, you're saying that Maddox is the soulmate our ancestors chose for you," recapped Anastasia from behind the counter.

"Yeah," confirmed Blair. "See this locket-" she pointed to her neck- "it came with a message and a sign. That I would meet my soulmate and I should marry him within the year."

Anastasia shook her head. "That's rude of them," she sighed dramatically, "they didn't even ask you."

"I'm being serious," stated Blair.

Anastasia laughed as she fiddled with the many rings on her fingers. "I don't see what you're so upset about. If the ancestors chose Maddox Steele as my mate, I would be counting my blessings. Besides, you're already dating the man, just make him fall madly in love with you now."

"I don't want to force him to fall in love with me," confessed Blair. "And what if he doesn't even love me like that?"

"We could always fix that," whispered Anastasia craftily. "A little love potion in his tea in the morning should do the trick."

Blair slumped down on the seat. "I'm not going to trick him like that."

"I know," her cousin giggled. "Just let things go their course, dear. Nothing you do will stop or change the minds of our ancestors."

"I still have one problem," Blair said, "how am I supposed to tell Maddox this?"

"Tell me what?" asked Maddox from behind them.

Blair jumped like a cat. She spun on her feet with wide eyes and her hand on her heart that felt like it dropped off a cliff. Maddox stood inside her shop with his mom and sister. His amber eyes looking curious and very boyishly sweet. She opened her mouth and then closed it because she didn't know what to say to him. Maddox had this way to always tie her tongue in a knot. He was the only one who could do that and she hated it.

"Eleanor, Melinda," she purposely ignored him, "welcome."

Eleanor looked radiant with life like her daughter. "Thank you dear," she put her warm hand on Blair's arm. "You have the sweetest shop."

"Thank you," said Blair matching Eleanor's generous smile. "This is my cousin, Anastasia."

Anastasia came around the counter. "It's nice to meet you," they shook hands. "Hi, Melinda and Maddox." The siblings had the same crooked smile. "Doing more sight-seeing, I see."

"For sure," answered Melinda. "But Blair called us here today for something special."

"Only for your mom today, Melinda," said Blair.

Melinda sulked. "I'm still going to shop nonetheless." And she did as she declared. Anastasia got pulled off to the side with Melinda to help her look for some gifts for herself.

"This way, Eleanor." Blair took Maddox's mom to a long display that circled around a pillar. The glass display had series of bracelets with healing stones. Blair opened the first glass lid and pulled out the one her eyes knew was going to do the trick.

"This is a kyanite stone," said Blair. She unclasped the silver chain that was dainty and thin and then wrapped the pure silver (that was cleansed in moonlight water) around Eleanor's right wrist. The single blue kyanite crystal glimmered like a Rigel star on the top of her wrist.

"It's beautiful," said Eleanor. "What's it for?"

Blair closed the glass case. "It's a stone for new beginnings," she said. "After what happened yesterday, I knew that you would need help overcoming this new change in your life. This stone will help you with the little bit of nervousness you carry in your heart."

Eleanor's eyes widened. "You knew I was nervous?"

Blair nodded. "Everyone is scared of change," she said. "But this is nothing to fear, Eleanor. You have moved past your guilt and sadness, which is the first step to change."

"Thank you," said Eleanor. "Maddox," she called out for her son, "pay this sweet girl for the gift."

"Oh no, that's not necessary," Blair said. But none of the Steele family members were listening to her. Maddox paid for the bracelet with Anastasia.

"We were heading in town for brunch," said Melinda. "Would you care to join us?"

"Er- I just opened shop-" Blair hesitated when Eleanor turned with a raised brow and Blair closed her mouth. "We'll be out in a moment."

Anastasia followed Eleanor and Melinda outside the shop under the sunny and blue skies, leaving Maddox and Blair all alone. Blair turned away and waltzed into her office. She dug through her purse to find her keys to lock up the shop.

"Blair," Maddox called out for her. "Blair?"

"Yes, Maddox," she finally answered.

He leaned on her office table. He purposely got in her way so she couldn't go to the cupboard on the side. "Why aren't you looking at me?"

"I'm searching for my keys," she said lamely. "Now, will you please move?"

Maddox pulled his legs back. "Did I do something wrong?" he asked softly.

Blair met his gaze. "No," she said quickly because the last thing she wanted was to make Maddox feel sad. "I'm just working through some witchy stuff."

"I'd wish you tell me," he said. Maddox got to his feet and towered over her. He put his hands on her waist. "What's bothering you?"

She licked her lips and opened her mouth to speak when they were interrupted. A girl stormed into the shop with a panicked expression. Blair and Maddox both froze.

"What's wrong, Holly?" asked Blair as she pushed past Maddox and ran to the girl.

Her sad eyes were full of tears. "It broke," she sniffled. Holly presented her hand and opened her palm. The necklace that Blair gave to her was broken, the chain looked like it had been ripped apart and the crystal was in tiny little shards.

"How did this happen?" asked Blair calmly when her eyes went to the girl's pale neck, which had disturbing red marks sliced on each side.

"It...It...fell..." she stuttered through tears.

Blair pulled the girl in her arms. "It's okay, Holly. You're safe now," she whispered for only Holly's ears to hear. Blair and Maddox had the same dark expression like Blair. His arms were crossed and his mood grew dangerous like he was mad for Holly. He saw the same tears and the brutal mark on the girl's neck. Blair guided Holly to the back room and gave her a cold drink and a seat before she returned to Maddox. "You're going to scare the poor girl if you don't stop glowering like that," she crossed her arms like him.

"Who is that girl?"

"Holly," Blair answered calmly. "I need you to tell everyone to wait a few moments. Can you do that?"

Maddox nodded stiffly. "Find out what made that girl cry and curse the hell out of them," he said grimly.

Blair chuckled even if it wasn't really appropriate to. "Just go and let me do my thing." Maddox kissed her lips before he joined the others. Blair returned to Holly. "Okay, Holly. How did this happen?" She asked as she sat down and met the girl's vibrant green eyes that were clouded with angst.

"He didn't like it on me," she said faintly.

"What's his name?" asked Blair.

Holly swallowed. "Bill," she mumbled.

"Is he your step-father?"

Holly's eyes widened. "How do you know about him?" she asked. "You really are a witch."

Blair chuckled. "Jack told me about him."

"Oh," she seemed disappointed by Blair's answer.

"Holly," Blair laid her hands on the girl's knees. "Does Bill hurt you?"

Holly shook her head. "I can't tell you anything-" she wiped her tears- "or he'll find out."

Blair's jaw clenched. "Holly, look at me," the girl's wet eyes raised, "if you really believe I'm a witch, you have to tell me the truth."

Holly's eyes filled again but not with tears...with courage. "Can you get rid of him, please?"

Blair released a weary breath. "Do you have anybody you can stay with?"

"My aunt, but she lives too far away," said Holly.

Blair smoothed down Holly's hair that was tousled by the morning breeze. "Do you want to stay with me tonight?"

"I don't want to be a burden," she mumbled.

Blair smiled. "You're no burden, sweetie," she said, "you'll stay with me until I can grant your wish." Holly's eyes finally brightened. She grabbed Holly's hand. "Come on, let me introduce you to my friends."

"Was that your boyfriend earlier?" asked Holly.

Blair slightly blushed. "Yeah." Holly nodded and didn't ask further. Blair opened the door and introduced Holly to everyone. As expected Holly wasn't quick to trust anyone and quietly waited for Blair to return.

Blair entered her shop thinking she was alone, but Maddox had stubbornly followed her. "My key must be at home," she muttered to herself.

"What made the girl cry?" asked Maddox. "And how do you know her?"

"I think... No, I know for sure that her step-father hurts her," she said.

Maddox grew stern. "Did the step-father break the necklace?"

"Yeah." Blair opened the closet door in her office.

Maddox leaned on the wall. "What's in the closest?" he asked when Blair disappeared inside and he suspiciously tagged along behind her. Blair didn't even realize until she opened the door under the stairs in her house that she was followed.

Maddox teleported through the portal with Blair.

"How'd you do that?" asked Blair, she couldn't hide the astonishment in her voice.

"I have no idea," gaped Maddox. "Where are we?"

Blair looked around just to make sure she really was standing in her house. The kitchen was on her left and the door was on the right, everything was at its right place. "We're at my house," she told him.

"But we were just at your shop?" asked Maddox.

They shared a confused look together as they stood in the middle of her foyer.

"The door you walked through has a spell to act as a portal for witches," said Blair. "It's connects my shop to my house."

"Like a magic door," remarked Maddox with a mystified grin.

"It only works for witches, Maddox," said Blair. "And last time I checked, you're not a witch."

Maddox looked over her head to look around the view. "Then how did I get through?"

"I don't know," she rubbed her forehead. "If a human goes through the portal, it's supposed to return back to a broom closet." Blair got her keys from the table. "Let's head back and see if it was just a fluke in my spell-work. Which isn't possible because I'm very thorough with my work."

Maddox chuckled. "So, then how do you explain this phenomenon?"

"Maybe, you just passed with me really quickly and got through," she shrugged it off as an accident and opened the door once again. They both walked through the two doors with no hesitation in their feet. Blair opened the door to shop and both of them strode out of the small closet door.

"I can't believe a human used my portal," she mumbled.

"I can't believe I used a portal," added Maddox. "I won't die or get cursed, right?"

Blair hesitated, which worried Maddox. "I don't know what's going to happen to you," she said. "Or me for that matter."

They both joined the others outside who had no idea what just happened. An extraordinary trick worked its hand, that even the witches couldn't understand this unprecedented magic.