Chapter Twenty-Four
It Takes a (Haunted) Village
Bellamy
The problem isn’t the magic. I’ve got plenty of that. It isn’t anything like sacrificing baby animals or the blood of a virgin. It would be so much easier if it was.
Hello? Virgin here! Not by choice because I’ve got needs. But it’s kinda hard to get someone to date you when everyone treats you like you have the black plague and might die coming in contact with you. Which is fair, it was that way until a certain someone showed up.
Shaking my head, I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. Lady Bandit chitters and claps her paws. I’m starting to wonder if she’s a normal raccoon.
Nyx, popping into existence smelling of cheap cologne and stale beer, tilts his head when he sees the smile on my face.
“Don’t you start! You already have quite a bit of explaining to do.”
He holds up a paw in surrender. “I won’t mention how I saw this coming. What can I do to help you?”
I cringe a little, pulling my shoulders to my ears. “Eh, is it possible for you to wake everyone up who's gone to bed? Possibly encourage them to come help?”
I don’t like the look on his face, or the sly grin that spreads across. I probably should have worded that differently.
“Wait…” But it’s too late. He’s gone. Whoops.
Elora sucks her teeth. “That’s going to be bad. What can I do to help?”
Scratching the side of my head, I look around. Trying to gather my thoughts.
I snap my finger. “Can you go tell the coven? We are going to need all the witches we have. Each one has to be so many feet so we can create a link. With a witch every fifth person, holding hands with each neighbor, we will form a power share between each person. As long as our hands stay linked together, we will have an unbreakable chain.”
She nods her head before leaving. Now I’ve only got to gather the wolves and the fae. Shouldn’t be too hard…right?
I rush into the town square, spinning in a circle as I decide which species I should go to first, when I hear the first scream.
My heart races—am I too late? Are the hunters here already?
The first scream is still ringing in the air when the next one joins, followed by more.
Before I know it, house after house is lighting up as people wake up from their slumber and pour out onto the cobblestone paths.
What is happening? I don’t even have to ponder it long as Nyx shimmers into existence next to me again. His sly smile is still firmly in place.
I run my hand down my face as I sigh heavily. “What did you do?”
Looking mighty proud of himself, he says, “Exactly what you asked me to do. Wake up the entire town. It might have been a nightmare about hunters burning down the village and a savior standing in the town square, but the point is, it worked.”
I glare at him. He doesn’t move or blink. Just stares, as if he’s daring me to be mad about it.
“You know that isn’t what I meant.”
“Yeah, well, I like my method better.”
Before I can lecture him more, Miles comes running up with the wolves trailing behind him but I don’t see Clarissa in sight. While I’m grateful for the wolves, I really needed Clarissa.
“I know what you’re thinking,” he says, holding his hands up for mercy.
“Oh, do you now?”
He nods his head. “‘Where is Clarissa?’ Well…see, after I told her what I needed and why I needed it, she sent me off to grab the wolf pack. While she ran off to grab the fae. So, like, that’s really a win-win-win in my book.”
“You think you are so clever, don’t you?” I say as I pinch the collar of his shirt between my thumb and forefinger. Tugging at it as I stare into his eyes.
Blush spreads across his freckled cheeks as his hazel eyes flicker between his wolf’s and his. Oh, it’s going to be so much fun messing with him.
“Uh…yeah…I was hoping you would be super proud of me.”
I curl one of his curls around my finger. “Oh, I am very proud of you.”
Someone clears their throat beside us and we both turn to find Clarissa and the fae coven standing behind her, each faerie trying really hard to not stare at us. Whoops.
“Sorry to interrupt, but Miles said it was urgent and it is kind of the middle of the night. So, if you two don’t mind, can we get on with it?”
Miles’s blush blooms even more intensely. “Sorry,” he says as he ducks his head.
“It’s alright, Miles. We get it. I’ll just have to find a new way to glamour you instead.”
Um, excuse me, but the only person who will be casting spells on Miles, is me and only me.
Miles smiles, but it's not the same smile he gives me. “That’s okay. I’d rather you use the glamour magic for helping the town. I’ve already won over Bellamy here,” he says as he wraps his arm around my shoulder.
Clarissa smiles, but I know that look. It’s the kind that fae get when they achieve their intended reaction.
“Alright.” I clap my hands together and everyone quiets down. “I know it’s late, but we are in serious need of your help. The barrier is down.”
Everyone gasps, many of them whispering to each other. I’m trying to get their attention again, but the panic is swelling and if we don’t stop it now, all hope will be lost.
Miles wolf-whistles and all the talking comes to an abrupt stop as they turn towards him.
“I know we are all scared, but let’s hear out the person with a plan!” he shouts to the crowd.
Everyone quiets down again, fearful eyes blinking at me as they all give me their undivided attention.
Going from someone everyone has avoided to the center of their attention is a hard curve that I’m not mentally prepared for.
The words are stuck in my throat as I swallow, trying to wet my mouth.
My hands are clammy as they start to shake.
I’m not sure I’m going to be able to do this. Maybe…maybe I’m not the person for it.
Miles’s warm hand presses against my back, slowing the mental spiral I was on.
“You’ve got this. Believe in yourself and your magic. You don’t need a grand speech, just the directives of where you need us.” He whispers against my hair where only I can hear it.
I nod once, swallow hard, and push my shoulders back.
“We are going to build a circle around our town. I need a witch every five or so people. Once the circle is formed, everyone will join hands as I whisper the incantation. Fae,” Clarissa steps forward as a representative.
“To make this a barrier we never have to renew again, I need you to add your glamour magic to it. Wolves,” The Alpha steps forward.
“I need your strength. Bring your beasts to the top, but don’t shift.
I know it will be a strain, but you will infuse the barrier with the strength of a wolf. ”
Everyone starts moving in their directions as the witches walk up to me. All the people who have been the most terrified of me are now waiting for me to direct them.
“What do you need from us?” one of the witches says from the crowd.
“I’m going to give you the spell. Once we start, we can’t stop until the barrier is complete. It could be hours. Stay strong.”
Everyone nods as they disperse amongst the crowd. I watch as they all mingle together, each group gathering who they need and heading out.
This has to work. Otherwise, I’m the reason everyone is in danger, and I don’t know that I can live with that.
Everyone is clearing out of the town square, all of them animatedly chatting as they move off. Even the ghosts are all lingering as they frantically search around.
Matilda, the last person I want to see right now, floats over to where Miles and I are standing.
She claps her hands excitedly, even though none of us can hear it. Don’t ask me why we can hear them talk but not hear claps. Wild stuff really.
“See?” She swoons. “I told you I knew what I was doing,” she says as she looks between the two of us.
Miles and I look at each other before we both burst out laughing. Matilda is absolutely not the reason this is happening.
She holds her hand to her chest, a look of revulsion on her face. “I beg your pardon, but what is so funny?”
Miles holds his hand up as he’s bent over, trying to stop the laughter. “Stop, I can’t.” He laughs harder. “This isn’t the time for this.”
Her eyes flick between the two of us and honestly, she looks like those rich people who were denied a spot at the table. Nose wrinkled, head tilted back, with all the bravado of a society wife. Who knows, maybe she was one before.
With one hand on my hip, and the straightest face I can make today, I tell her exactly how it is. “Matilda, you are not the reason this is happening. Not even close. But you are the reason I have a pet raccoon. So I guess I can thank you for that.”
She crosses her arms over her chest and pushes her nose even higher up. “Well…you’re welcome. Besides that, is there anything we can do to help?”
“Honestly? Not really. Thanks though. I’m afraid if I let you help that I’ll end up with glitter running through the barrier instead of, you know, hiding us.”
She humphs before she floats away.
Miles, after finally getting himself under control, wraps his arm around my shoulders as we make our way to the edge of town.
“You might disagree with her methods, but you can’t say you don’t love Lady Bandit,” he says with a smirk.
“Fine, I love her. But don’t tell Matilda that! Who knows what crazy idea she will come up with next.”
He chuckles. “Fair enough.”
We walk in companionable silence to join the others as the circle takes shape. I might not have always felt welcome in this town, but looking around at everyone banding together, I can’t help but think this is why I love my community.
And for the first time I don’t feel like the town's cursed witch. Instead, I feel like I’m part of them.
With everyone in place, I can feel the combination of power. It sits thick in the air, only fueling the deep hum when the witches start the incantation.
Miles squeezes my hand from his place on my right as Elora squeezes my left hand. With their love, devotion, and determination pouring into me, for the first time I’m not scared when I feel the deep well of magic in me rise up.
Outside of earlier when my magic exploded, I’ve never dabbled with my full magic. I was terrified that something I couldn’t take back would happen. But, instead of letting that fear wrap around me, I let their love wrap around me instead. I don’t stop my magic, don’t shy away, I just…let go.
The soft glow of the barrier begins at the ground, slowly building as we continue to chant.
Where before it was clear, now it glimmers with reds for the wolves, golds for the fae, and purples for the witches.
Binding all of us together in a new way that perfectly represents each of the citizens of our community.
With each additional layer we add to the barrier, the witches chant louder and louder. Some wolves even howl, adding to the music of the night. It’s beautiful and something I never imagined I would bear witness to.
It takes a while, and I can feel my magic straining, but we are almost there. If we can hold out just a little longer, then we will never have to worry again. Looking up towards the sky, I watch in fascination as the barrier fills in the last remaining parts.
The barrier seals, and everyone sighs in relief. The last of the chanted notes fade into the distance as everyone finally stops. I watch as everyone turns and hugs their neighbor. Broad smiles and happiness are written across everyone’s faces.
I turn, ready to escape back to my home, feeling as though my time is up here. Everyone is going to go back to hating me, or treating me like an eighteenth-century incurable plague. But before I can escape, Miles wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me flush against his side.
His lips press against my hair, already a familiar gesture of affection, as he mumbles against it. “How about instead of determining what their response will be, we instead wait to find out?”
“Why? So they can openly judge me and ridicule me to my face?” I whisper my fears, leaking out before I can stop them.
“I have a feeling you’re going to be mistaken.”
We don’t have to wait for long; people are crowding around us, even my own parents. I didn’t even know they were here. They have a skeptical look on their faces, as if they aren’t sure how they should react. Are they waiting for the others to show love to me before they themselves will?
I brace for the condemnation, the questions, but none of them come. Instead, people begin clapping. It starts quietly, but builds into a loud, echoing sound. Everyone is cheering my name, thanking me for protecting them in a whole new way.
They hadn’t burned me at the pyre. They were cheering for me in the square. If you would have told me even six months ago, hell a week ago, that this town would be here cheering my name, I would have laughed till my sides ached.