The Ex Hex

Dr. Arbuthnot asks Vivi and Rhys about their research. Rhys says only that there was a mishap with the ley lines that must be fixed. Dr. Arbuthnot says their “mishap” released the ghost from a powerful binding spell. Vivi is surprised to hear that a ghost had to be bound at all; Dr. Arbuthnot explains that the ghost, Piper McBride, died in 1994 when she accidentally sacrificed herself while attempting to contact “beyond the veil.” The circumstances of Piper’s death and her deep interest in the darker arts made it necessary to bind her spirit to protect others. Dr. Arbuthnot orders them to fix their “mishap” immediately. In Vivi’s office, she pitches an idea to Rhys: In the time it takes to break the original curse, they can also solve the problems created by the ley-lines mishap, including rebinding Piper’s ghost. Rhys gets a call that something has gone wrong at his travel company. Vivi lets him use her office to sort out the problem, and she finds his competency and confidence attractive. Vivi is also surprised by Rhys’s efforts to make her feel better, when he could just as easily heap blame upon her.

At Something Wicked, Vivi helps Gwyn restock merchandise while they discuss the ghost. Vivi says the college witches are involved; Gwyn rolls her eyes and calls the “academic” witches “weirdos.” Gwyn can somehow tell something happened between Rhys and Vivi, and she presses Vivi for details. Vivi reveals nothing, but Gwyn is unconvinced. She encourages Vivi to hook up with Rhys if she wants to: “I say smoke ’em if you got ’em, babe” (157). Rhys enters the shop, and Gwyn teases him about their “encounter” in the library, but he ignores her. Vivi feels guilty about unbinding the ghost because Piper’s spirit looked so scared and confused.

Vivi and Rhys go out for tea. He comments that the town looks like a postcard that reads, “Greetings from Halloweentown.” Vivi explains it is not that hard to be a witch in Graves Glen, especially in an age when so many have a casual interest in tarot, crystals, and the like. Vivi tries to brush off their earlier intimacy as “just a kiss,” but Rhys knows it was more. Rhys makes a game out of guessing who in the shop is a witch, and Vivi says all the employees are. The coffeehouse employs only witches and uses an enchantment to make sure everything runs smoothly. Rhys worries that because the town’s magic went bad, their drinks might be bad too. Their teas are fine, but before they can feel relieved, a table by the door flips over and all the glasses on it shatter. The man who sat there is now on the floor, frozen. Rhys sees traces of magic in the man’s spilled drink. The coffeehouse owner is visibly concerned, but when the turquoise-haired employee sees Rhys looking at her, she hides in the back. Vivi and Rhys slip into the back room and find the girl, Sam, hiding. Sam finally explains that recently, a man wanted a potion that would achieve the same effects as Viagra. The potion was so successful that other men came to the shop specifically to order it, but she had never seen it freeze someone before. Vivi suggests Sam hold off on doing magic while things in the town are weird, but Sam says Vivi would not understand because she is not a witch. Sam is surprised when Vivi corrects her. Afterward, Vivi and Rhys briefly discuss their kiss and agree that, as adults, they should not get involved again.