The Potion Masters

Pip laid by the window, basking in the warm morning sun. It was the best way to start the day. He stretched out and his head droop down from the sill, letting out a small yawn. There was some scuffling and hurried steps coming and going from where the food comes from, but he couldn’t care less. He has a full stomach and ready for a much earned nap.

“I have to get everything ready. I have to get everything ready.”

A familiar voice kept muttering over and over. Pip opened one eye and saw Drella walking back and forth from the kitchen to the shop counter. In her mouth was the bread she’s been trying to finish since she woke up. She had been too distracted with preparing to open the shop that the bread just remained in her mouth, not really eaten.

Drella placed sealed potions on the counter and started writing names on their tags. The customers will be coming by today to get them . To Pip, Drella’s anxiousness was part of their morning routines. He stayed by his spot by the window as Drella finally started chewing the bread.

As part of their morning routines, Pip knows that a head petting comes next. And right on cue, he heard Drella rush to the window and he felt her warm hand patting his head.

“Good morning, Pip. Let’s hope it’s another good day at the shop again.”

Pip opened both eyes and Drella’s bright green eyes greeted him. Her bright red hair is pulled up in her usual messy bun. She continued to pet him as she mentioned her plans for the day. “Perhaps we can enjoy an afternoon together in the backyard, if it’s not too busy today,” Drella mused. With her soothing voice, Pip closed his eyes again until he drifted off to sleep.

Sometime later, he was woken up by the sound of the store door opening and a bell ringing. An elderly lady and a blonde little girl came in. “Good morning, potion masters,” said the old lady as she placed a small bag on the counter. The young child bounced up to the counter and started patting her small hands on the tabletop. “Pippy! Pippy!” she called out.

Pip opened his eyes and stared at the young one. With every visit, this little girl has always greeted him. Happily obliging, Pip moved from spot and stretched out, claws coming out and retracting as he jumped down from the sill and walked on the counter. “Master Pippy!” the girl quipped and Pip approached, rubbing against the gentle hands.

Drella came out from the back room and beamed a smile at the visitors. “Madam Barbara and Miss Stella,” she greeted. Pip stayed by Stella as he got more pets. “I have your potions ready. How’s the throat faring, ma’am?

Madam Barbara smiled, “It’s been doing great. Two weeks of taking just tea was not doing anything. But your potion did wonders! As you instructed, potion master, I put two drops into my tea and the soreness was gone in two days.” She patted the bag she had set on the counter top. “It’s not much, but here’s something extra for you and Master Pip.”

“Oh ma’am, you don’t have to give me gifts every time. The potions are goods you paid for already. And I’m incredibly glad they worked for you.”

Drella produced two potions and gave instruction to the old lady. She then turned to the little girl, Stella, and gave her a smaller potion. “As promised, Miss Stella, I have something for you.”

With wide eyes and an agape mouth, Stella reached her hands out and stared at the bottle in her hands. “Is this…”

“Sprinkle this around your bed when you get scared at night, and you will have little Pip guardians to stay with you and make sure you sleep safe and sound.”

“Oh potion master, we don’t have extra coins for—”

Drella shook her head. “Please do not worry about it. It’s all Pip’s idea.” Pip purred at the mention of his name and he watched the old lady open the bag she had placed on the counter earlier. “Thank you, potion master. May you and master Drella enjoy this bread and milk.”

A few more exchanges happened, but Pip had returned to his spot at the window sill and was getting ready for another earned nap, when he paused. His ears twitched and his whiskers shuddered. Something rotten was approaching.

The door opened and a well-dressed man walked in; lips pursed and eyes judging. He sniffed the air and cleared his throat, and the old lady and the girl said their goodbyes and hurriedly left the store.

“So this is the infamous witch dwelling. It smells like cat piss in here.”

Drella wiped her hands on her apron. This man smells like trouble. Pip jumped down from the window sill and hurried in front of Drella. There, he eyed the man. It seems to Pip that the man was not fond of cats as he stepped away from the counter and frowned upon seeing him.

“Why is this animal in this establishment?”

Pip hissed at him. How dare this human act like he’s superior? Pip kept hissing and snarling, even as Drella picked him up in his arms. “I assure you, this establishment is clean Pip is just as much the owner of this establishment as I. How can I be of service, sir?” Pip stopped his snarling, but remained vigilant at watching this vile of a human.

The man laughed. “Oh gods, you’re one of those. If it were up to me, animals like that would be banned from any place we humans set foot on.” He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and covered his nose. “Onto my business. I need a vial of your best charming potion. And this service is to remain a secret.” From his other pocket he procured a small but heavy bag. He shook it gently and Pip heard the sound of coins jingling. What a pompous sack of—

“Sir, my apologies. I don’t do charms that affect people’s sensory that can make them not themselves. I…I think it’s best you leave—” Drella respectively bowed her head and gestured to the door. Pip watched as the man’s nostrils flared; his face red as beet. He threw the bag on the counter and added another one.

“I need one tonight and you’re the only store in this god-forsaken town. How much more coin do you need? This is clearly blackmail!”

Pip jumped out of Drella’s arms and snarled at the man. How dare this manure-filled piece of—

“Sir, again I do not have that kind of product, nor will I ever make a product like that in my establishment.”

The man had jumped at the sight of Pip’s aggressiveness, which Pip liked very much. He threw a menacing glare at Drella, and then at the collection of vials behind him. “I will have this establishment torn down soon enough!” With that, he collected the bags from the counter and slammed the door behind him.

Pip heard Drella sigh in relief and then scooped him back up in her arms. “Well, that was a disaster well avoided.”

He meowed.

Drella squinted her eyes at him. “I know that meow. What are you planning, Pip?”

He purred in answer.

Later that night, when Drella is fast asleep—and she was a deep sleeper, Pip went downstairs and jumped at the shelf where a green potion was sitting. He sat in silence on the shelves, waiting.

A little past midnight came when the door gently opened and the bell made a soft jingle. Pip watched as a hooded person came in, shaking what seems to be a bag of sardines. The smell was a giveaway.

“Ugh this putrid smell of nastiness. Where is that stupid cat?” Pip heard a voice mutter. He jumped down from the shelves and on the counter, tilting his head at the mysterious visitor.

“Ah, there you are, you simple-minded creature. A big bag of this fish and you find me the potion, eh? Being a witch’s pet should mean you answer to treats.”

Pip blinked and watched for a couple of minutes as this human make a fool of himself to tell him in cat language—whatever that is—the he wants a charming potion. The kissing sounds the man’s making was enough for Pip to know he has endured enough.

He jumped back on the shelves with potions. With dexterity, he moved along the bottles until he eyed the green potion he was with earlier.

“Oh is that it? Smart little pet. Bring it to me so you can get this treat.”

Pip swung his tail as he waited for a few more seconds of the man bribing him greatly. It’s a pathetic sight. With his mouth, Pip grabbed the vial and jumped back down on the counter. He watched as the hooded figure pocketed the sardines back in his pocket just as quickly as he grabbed the vial with the green liquid.

“Perfect. Stupid cat. You can find your own treat.”

Pip watched quietly as the figure left the premises just as he had entered. The smell of the sardines still lingered in the air.

That morning Pip had been woken up by Drella talking to a customer. Apparently, the gala last night at the duke’s mansion was the talk of the town. A visiting merchant had attended the gala, uninvited, and started talking about how he plans to take over the duchy by marrying his daughter and that the potion he took will bring her to her knees, begging to marry him. Obviously, the duke did not like it and there was a spectacle of the man suddenly getting his wits about and telling everyone a cat had given him a potion.

“So is the duke suspicious of any cats?” Drella asked, though Pip could tell there was seriousness in her question. Her green eyes looked at him, and he gave a small meow.

The lady laughed and shook her head. “Suspicious of cats—of course not! It sounds preposterous!”

Pip meowed again and went back to sleep.