"Okay," I said, "I need a lair. But where am I going to put it? I'd rather not have Mom or Robin walk in while I'm casting spells."
"Agreed," Mrs. Walters replied. "But your lair will be hidden from cowan eyes."
"Cowan?"
"People who aren't witches. Open your closet door, and push your clothes aside."
Puzzled, I did as she said.
Mrs. Walters took out her own wand, and pointed it at the back wall of my closet. "Goddess mighty, Goddess fair, Give your daughter a secret lair." Immediately, a beam of light shot out of her wand and struck the back wall.
When the light faded, I was puzzled. "It doesn't look like it did anything."
"At this point, it shouldn't. Let's go into your closet; close the door behind us."
We crammed into the closet, and I shut the door. When I did, a doorway appeared in the back wall, leading to another room. "Where did this room come from?"
"It's now over your garage," Mrs. Walters replied. "My spell connected it to your closet, so you can work here in secret."
I looked around my new lair. A wall was completely covered in bookcases. A desk sat nearby, waiting for me to work here. An inviting fireplace sat in the corner; there was also a fire pit in the center of the room. A table sat against the wall. The lair also offered a small plant nursery, or at least a place to put it. "Thanks, Mrs. Walters."
"You're welcome, Nicole; however, please, call me Tanith when we're in here. That is my witch name; it will help you think of this place as somewhere special."
"Incredible is the word I was thinking," I replied. "To think, witches are real; and I'm one of them. Who can I tell about this?"
"Ideally, you will tell no one. Magick and witchcraft may not get you hanged or burned anymore; but why take unnecessary risks?"
"I can't tell anyone? Well, I suppose. What's the first thing we'll do?"
"The first thing is to get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow, I'll take you to a part of the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall you've never imagined; there, we'll get you the things you'll need to begin on this path. Goodnight for now, Nicole; tomorrow, we'll begin in earnest."
With that, she disappeared.
Going to the doorway where I came in, I opened the closet door. When I did, the wall closed again.