Destiny of the Witch (The Other Witch #4)

17. Chapter 17

Chapter 17

There was a silence that dragged slowly on. As nothing happened, I wondered whether we needed the power of the runes and the awakening potions to bring Benji back to life. Maybe Grimmy’s life force alone wasn’t enough to kick-start the golem.

Unfortunately, it takes weeks to brew the awakening potions. Luckily there was a potion mistress in Edinburgh whose sole job it was to keep those two volatile potions ready in case the Council needed a golem in a hurry. There was always a golem ready at any one time to be woken up, and I had no doubt that some acolytes were beavering away under someone’s watchful gaze building another body now that we’d awakened both Benji and David. I could travel to Edinburgh to get the potions, but I feared that any further delay would be too much for Benji and Grimmy .

The aching silence continued and I reached out to grasp Bastion’s hand. His solid presence comforted me, even as despair crept in. I clenched my teeth. No! It wasn’t fair. I had lost too much and I would not lose Benji. I couldn’t. He was such a golden soul that he deserved to live more than many others that walked this Earth.

As always in moments of despair, I turned to my Goddess. Inspiration struck and I grasped the pendant around my neck. Why hadn’t I thought of using it before? Stupid!

‘ Sisters,’ I entreated silently. ‘ What can be done?’

‘Touch the pendant to the golem, Princess. If the Goddess wills it, she will assist in this matter. There will be a cost,’ Abigay’s voice said. Despite the warning her words gave me a flash of hope.

‘I’ll pay it gladly if it will bring Benji back,’ I replied desperately. I let go of Bastion’s hand and stepped closer to Benji, lifted the necklace from my neck and placed the pendant flush against his chest.

There was a flash of bright white light and Benji groaned. Relief flooded me as his eyes opened. For a moment, they shone with the white light of the Goddess but then it faded.

Benji blinked and looked at me, and his wide innocent smile beamed across his face. ‘You saved me, Am Bam!’ Then he grimaced. ‘Why now, Mr Benjamin, we cannot be calling a refined witch – the Crone no less – “Am Bam”. That is just not dignified.’ I blinked as the refined southern accent fell from Benji’s lips. Well, I guess that answered the question as to whether or not Grimmy had survived the amalgamation into Benji.

‘Grimmy!’ I gasped, more relieved than I expected that the book was still with us – albeit trapped inside Benji.

‘Quite,’ he said, his tone also relieved. ‘It seems I have survived the transition from book to golem.’

‘Benji?’ I asked urgently. ‘Are you still okay in there?’

His expression was open and delighted. ‘I am! I’m fine, Am Bam. Mr Grimmy saved my life. I am very grateful to him.’

‘As am I,’ I admitted.

David was gaping. ‘So now there’s two of you in there?’

‘I’ve always liked the idea of a roommate,’ Benji said shyly. ‘I have very much enjoyed living with Oscar.’

Oscar stepped forward and clapped the golem into a hug. ‘As I have with you, Benji. I am so relieved to see you’re okay.’

Benji hugged Oscar back and that made my eyes well up. I hadn’t seen Oscar hug anyone ever besides me or Mum .

Bastion’s arms wrapped around me and I let the scent of him settle me. We’d been through hell and back, and it wasn’t even 9am. I dreaded to think what the rest of the day would bring.