CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN – THE REAL SORCERER

As she climbed the creaking stairs, Laura felt a glimmer of hope for the first time in days. She had a plan now, a way to fight back against the darkness that threatened to consume her. The next morning, Ezekiel presented Laura with a list of ingredients for the counter-spell. "Moonflower petals from the botanical gardens, a scale from the lake monster in Lake Eola, powdered unicorn horn from the magical black market... oh, and we'll need some milk. I'm all out." Laura stared at him incredulously. "Lake monster? Unicorn horn? Are you serious?" Ezekiel's mismatched eyes twinkled. "Magic is rarely convenient, my dear. Now off you go! Time's a-wasting!" Laura's first stop was the Orlando Botanical Gardens. As she approached the moonflower exhibit, a group of tourists blocked her path. "Excuse me," she said, trying to squeeze past. One of the tourists, a portly man with a Hawaiian shirt, turned to her. "Oh, are you a guide? Can you tell us about these flowers?" Laura opened her mout