CHAPTER 7 #4
“How does this work?” Cam asked.
I quirked a brow for him to elaborate.
“These,” he gestured to the cute little bundles lined up in a row. “They’re made from magical ingredients, but do you have to use your own magic too?”
“Yep,” I told him. “Most spells require a source. Something they can pull energy from to cast. Some don’t need anything special except for the caster’s own abilities while many need multiple things.
Like these complex unlocking spells. They are also combined with a few anti-hex spell ingredients.
That’s what my research has been focused on lately,” I added as an afterthought.
“Combining spells, charms, enhancers... Curses. Some pair well while others are...” My fingers tapped on the desk’s surface. “Unstable.”
He gave me a knowing look, then grinned playfully, “Just how many times have you blown yourself up, Victor?”
I squawked, mildly offended.
“Not... that many,” I said hesitantly. “Only a few times.”
Cam quirked his pierced dark brow at my obvious denial, so I rolled my eyes.
“Don’t you want to see if these work or not?” I asked him pointedly. But my attempt at a serious tone fell flat and Cam and I both found ourselves laughing together, giggling like schoolgirls.
“Alright, alright,” I amended with a sigh. “We should test it first. Just in case it...”
“Blows up?” Cam finished for me, snickering.
“Just to be safe. Not for any particular reason.”
I liked my hands attached to my body, thank you very much. Can’t just reattach them like I could with Cam. Wait… Or could I?
I picked out an old-fashioned brass key from the little crystal ashtray of miscellaneous items. I didn’t smoke, but it was nice to throw little pieces of junk into like the racoon I was.
After casting a hex lock as well as physically locking the top drawer of the side table next to the sofa – RIP my dildos if this spell went awry – I balanced one of the small black bundles onto the drawer’s handle.
Next up, I was going to pull all the stops to ensure this worked.
“Ready to meet Jinx?” I asked him with a grin.
He gave me a puzzled look paired with that adorable head tilt, “Who’s-”
With a flick of my wrist, a flash of darkness burst next to us.
Cam jumped, eyes fixating on the little blackish-brown creature that had suddenly appeared from thin air, membranous wings flapping madly.
Jinx zoomed about the room above our heads, chirping excitedly before coming over to settle right on the top of my head, nestling in my mess of curls.
“Cam, meet Jinx,” I told him. “My familiar.”
The look of shock on Cam’s face was quickly replaced with awe. His blue eyes practically glittered with curiosity as he stared at the little bat on my head who was eye-level with him. A tiny squeak was the only warning we got before Jinx abandoned my hair to soar directly at Cam.
To Cam’s credit, he didn’t even flinch as Jinx used the top of his head like a perch, little feet clinging onto the dark strands of his hair.
“Hey, you traitor, what do you think you’re doing up there?” I narrowed my eyes at the top of Cam’s head.
Jinx chirped at me, clearly getting comfortable.
I chuckled incredulously, “Damn, he’s already smitten with you.”
You and me both, buddy.
Cam’s answering smile was blindingly bright. It seemed that I perhaps had some competition with charming the socks off Cam, who was now thoroughly charmed by Jinx’s antics.
“What does a familiar do?” he asked as he reached a hesitant hand up toward Jinx.
A tiny nose sniffed at his fingertip before Cam gently rubbed the top of that fuzzy little head. Warmth suffused my chest, heart trembling at how freaking adorable that was.
Clearing my throat, I told him, “They help witches focus their magic. He’s kind of like a little power boost.” I smiled fondly. “I give him partial credit for helping me bring you back.”
Cam’s eyes widened before he glanced up at Jinx who was now hanging upside-down over his forehead to stare directly into Cam’s face. His smile was soft and gentle as he said,
“Thank you, Jinx. I am in your debt.”
“Careful,” I warned mischievously. “You don’t want to be indebted to a familiar. What if he demands your soul?”
Cam’s worried gaze snapped to me. With Jinx still draped over his forehead, the sight was rather hilarious.
“Can... Can he do that?”
I stared at him in all seriousness before my mask broke and a cackle erupted from me. A full-on chortle of a laugh that left me wheezing and pathetically hunched over clutching my aching stomach muscles.
“Satan, you’re too cute,” I gasped, vibrating with the aftershock of another laugh. “Ready Jinx?”
He chirruped and reluctantly abandoned the nest he’d made of Cam’s hair. Once he’d flapped over to land on my shoulder, I grabbed Cam’s hand to pull him to the other side of the room. Just in case.
“Let’s uh... stand back. Shall we?”
“Wait, can he really ask for my soul?”
A smile twitched at my lips, but I didn’t answer.
Instead, I spoke the spell aloud in ancient Arcanic so that Cam got the full show.
Normally, the words would just echo in my head; I didn’t have to speak them.
Maybe I wanted to show off for him, just a little.
There was a sizzling noise that emanated from the lock of the drawer before the black sachet crackled then popped, emitting a thin, wispy smoke before disappearing.
I flinched instinctively, eyes squeezing shut.
My fingers clenched around Cam’s hand tightly but then the sound of a lock unclicking graced my ears.
I released Cam’s hand and cautiously, as if approaching a live grenade, reached out and pulled the drawer open.
“Hah!” I exclaimed, nearly jumping with joy. “It worked!”
Cam approached me smiling. “You sound surprised.”