Chapter 4—Seamus
THE BOTANICAL DANCE Stage glows with enchanted lights as we approach. Bella walks slightly ahead of me, her green hair catching the magical illumination in ways that make my heart skip. The stage sits in the center of Evershift Haven’s largest park, a circular platform surrounded by ever-blooming flowers that change color with the music.
“This is where the clue leads?” Bella asks, her voice tight with suspicion as she studies the empty dance floor. “Seems too quiet.”
I nod, scanning the area. “Lady Winifred’s riddle mentioned ‘where nature and rhythm combine.’ This has to be it.”
The dance stage holds special significance for us. Two years ago, during the LoveLuck Festival, I first saw Bella here. She was dancing alone, her hair then a vibrant purple, moving with such joy that I couldn’t look away. By the end of that night, we’d danced together and won the “Most Magical Connection” category.
Now, the stage stands empty. No musicians, no dancers, and no obvious clue.
“Maybe we need to—” I start, but my words die as the stage lights suddenly intensify.
Music swells from nowhere as fiddles and pipes play a familiar tune. The flowers surrounding the stage shift to deep emerald green.
“Welcome, welcome.” A booming voice cuts through the night.
I groan inwardly as my cousin Fergus materializes at the edge of the stage in a shower of golden sparks. His red hair is even wilder than mine, and his green suit is adorned with shamrock patterns that actually grow and shrink as he moves.
“Seamus O’Connell, my favorite cousin.” Fergus spreads his arms wide, his smile too bright to be sincere. “And the lovely Bella Brewster? What a delightful surprise.”
“Fergus.” I keep my voice neutral. Noticing his gold vest, a trademark of another cousin’s business, I add, “I see you’ve taken over Finnigan’s Lucky Charms.”
Fergus preens, adjusting his emerald bow tie. “Someone had to step up when you abandoned your post.” He looks around. “This dance thing is strictly voluntary. Certain parties asked me to meet you here.”
Bella crosses her arms. “We’re looking for a clue. Lady Winifred sent us here.”
“A clue? Oh, my.” He arches his bushy red brows. “How exciting. Yes, I do have something for you both.” His eyes narrow with mischief. “First, there’s the small matter of participation.”
I step forward. “What kind of participation?”
He gestures grandly to the stage. “This is a dance floor, cousin. What do you think? Three dances and three challenges. Complete them successfully, and I’ll give you what you seek.”
“We don’t have time for games,” says Bella.
“It’s not a game, my dear.” Fergus winks at her. “It’s tradition. This stage is enchanted to reveal truths through movement. The clue you seek won’t materialize unless you dance for it.”
I glance at Bella, noting the tension in her shoulders. “Is this legitimate, Fergus? Or are you just toying with us?”
“Cross my heart.” Fergus makes the gesture dramatically. “The magic of this place requires payment in performance. Always has.”
A small bark draws our attention. Hecate trots up, materializing from wherever she’d been hiding. The tiny dog gives Fergus a suspicious look before sitting primly at Bella’s feet.
“Fine.” Bella sighs. “Three dances. Then we get our clue and leave.”
“Splendid.” Fergus snaps his fingers, and the stage lights shift to a soft blue. “First dance is The Waltz of Memories.”
I offer my hand to Bella, trying not to look too eager. “Shall we?”
She hesitates, then places her palm against mine. The contact sends a jolt through me—familiar yet new, like returning to a favorite place after a long absence. We step onto the stage, and the wood beneath our feet begins to glow. Soft music of a waltz with haunting undertones fills the air.
“The Waltz of Memories reveals what once was,” says Fergus, now seated on a conjured throne at the edge of the stage. “The floor will show you moments from your shared past. Dance well, and the memories will flow clearly.”
I place my hand at her waist, maintaining a respectful distance. Her gaze meets mine, and her eyes are guarded but not cold. “Ready?”
“Let’s get this over with,” she says with less bite in her words than before.
We begin to move, and the magic activates instantly. The wooden floor beneath us transforms, becoming transparent like glass, as images form beneath our feet. They’re memories playing out like living photographs.
Our first meeting was at this very stage. The memory appears of me approaching her with two glasses of enchanted cider, and her laugh as I introduced myself.
“You spilled that cider all over your shirt,” she says as we turn.
“Worth it to make you smile.”
The images shift as we dance.
Breakfast at Moonwake Café.
Bella teaching me how to properly steam milk.
Hiking through Whispering Woods, hand in hand.
Stargazing from the roof of my workshop, wrapped in blankets against the autumn chill.
A fight we had in the Moonlit Inn library just a few days before I made the painful decision to leave. She’d wanted to meet my family, and when I put her off, she’d accused me of bein ashamed of her. I hadn’t denied it quickly enough—though I was never ashamed of her. Just worried about my family’s response to our relationship. Those few seconds had led to a big argument.
The next memory is of us making up, but even in that memory, I see the anguish on my face as I hold her back then. I remember being sick to my stomach because I knew we couldn’t really be together. It seemed so clear back then.
Funny how two years can drastically change a perspective. I’m willing to face all the consequences, including being banished and cut off from my fae family, if she’ll just give me another chance.
Each memory flows into the next, creating a tapestry of our relationship. I guide Bella through a gentle turn, and the floor shows us sitting by Luminous Lagoon, skipping stones across the glowing water.
“You made that stone skip seventeen times,” she says, her voice softer now.
“Leprechaun magic.” I wink. “Though your thirteen wasn’t bad for a witch.”
The waltz continues, our bodies remembering the rhythm even as our minds process the flood of memories. I notice Bella’s resistance fading, and her movements become more fluid and in sync with mine.
The final memory appears as the music reaches its crescendo. It’s our last night together before I left. We’d danced in her apartment, no music except what we hummed together. The image shows us holding each other close, unaware of what the next day would bring.
A slight awareness had been in the back of my mind that our happiness couldn’t last, but I hadn’t expected a binding spell to yank me from Evershift Haven either, barely leaving me time to write the letter and put it in the book she’d been reading. I’d been so sure she’d come back for it.
Bella’s grip tightens on my hand. I meet her eyes, finding them shimmering with unshed tears.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
The music ends, and the floor returns to solid wood. Fergus applauds enthusiastically.
“Marvelous. Simply marvelous.” He wipes away a fake tear. “Such emotion. Such grace. You pass the first challenge.”
Bella steps back from me, composing herself. “What’s next?”
“The Jig of Joy.” Fergus says as the lights shift to vibrant yellow. “This dance tests your harmony and ability to move as one.”
New music erupts, this time a lively Irish jig that makes my feet itch to move. This is my heritage, the music of my people, and I grin.
“I don’t know how to do a jig,” says Bella, looking faintly alarmed.
“Don’t worry,” I say, taking her hands. “Just follow my lead. It’s all in the footwork.”
The stage floor begins to glow again, this time with patterns of light that move and shift. I recognize the enchantment. The floor will guide our steps if we pay attention.
“Trust me,” I say, looking into Bella’s eyes. “Just for this dance.”
Something in her expression softens. She nods once.
I launch into the steps, keeping them simple at first. Bella watches my feet, then begins to mirror my movements. The patterns on the floor pulse beneath us, encouraging certain steps and discouraging others.
“That’s it.” I laugh as Bella catches on quickly. “Now faster.”
The music accelerates, and we move together, following the glowing patterns. Our feet tap and stomp in perfect rhythm, creating a percussion that adds to the music. I spin Bella, and she follows the movement naturally, her green hair whirling around her face.
For a moment, it’s like no time has passed. We’re just Seamus and Bella again, dancing without care, enjoying each other’s company. Her genuine and unguarded smile makes my heart soar.
The floor beneath us shifts colors with each correct step. Green to gold to silver and back again. When we move in perfect harmony, sparks of magical energy rise around us, creating a dazzling display.
“We’re doing it.” Bella laughs, her eyes bright with excitement.
“We always did make a good team,” I say, spinning her again.
The jig reaches its climax, and I lift Bella in a final flourish. She lets out a surprised yelp that turns into laughter as I set her down gently. The music ends with a triumphant note, and the floor beneath us glows solid gold.
“Spectacular.” Fergus claps wildly. “The Jig of Joy approves of your harmony. Two challenges complete.”
Bella steps back, slightly breathless. Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes are bright. For a moment, she forgets to maintain her guard, and I glimpse the woman I fell in love with.
“Final challenge,” says Fergus, his voice dropping dramatically. “The Tango of Truth.”
The stage lights dim to a deep crimson. The atmosphere changes instantly, becoming charged with intensity.
“This dance reveals what lies beneath the surface,” he says. “No hiding, no pretending. The Tango of Truth lays bare what you truly feel.”
Bella’s expression shifts back to wariness. “I’m not sure I want to do this one.”
“We need that clue,” I remind her gently. “Just one more dance.”
She takes a deep breath, then nods. “One more.”
The music begins, It’s slow, sensual, with an undercurrent of passion and longing. This time, the floor doesn’t glow with patterns or memories. Instead, a soft mist rises around our ankles, swirling with colors that reflect our emotions.
I step closer to Bella, placing my hand at the small of her back. She rests her palm against my chest, her touch light but electric. The mist around us shifts to a deep blue, tinged with gold.
“The dance begins with connection,” says Fergus softly. “Eye to eye, and heart to heart.”
I meet Bella’s gaze, and something passes between us. The mist darkens, swirling more intensely. We begin to move, our bodies remembering this dance from long ago. The tango requires closeness, intensity, and trust. Each step, each turn, and each pause is loaded with meaning.
“The truth reveals itself in layers. First, what you show the world.”
The mist around us forms images as my cousin speaks. I see the separate lives we’ve built. I guide her through a complex turn, and she follows flawlessly, her body responding to mine as if we’d never been apart.
“Then, what you hide from others.”
The mist shifts again, now showing shadows of loneliness—me sitting alone in my family’s grand hall, staring at a photograph. Bella closing her café late at night, her smile fading as soon as the last customer leaves.
Our movements become more intense and passionate. Bella’s grip tightens on my shoulder as I dip her low, arching her back gracefully. When I pull her up, she’s closer than before, our faces inches apart.
“Finally, what you hide even from yourselves.”
The mist turns a deep, burning red. Images form around us of our dreams, hopes, and desires. Bella in a wedding dress. Me returning to Evershift Haven for good. Our hands intertwined, gold bands glinting on our fingers.
Bella gasps softly as she sees these visions. Her eyes are wide with vulnerability. “Seamus,” she whispers.
“I never stopped loving you.” The words escape before I can stop them.
The music swells, and our dance becomes something transcendent. Every move is perfect, with every turn precise. We’re no longer dancing for the challenge but for each other, expressing through movement what we can’t say in words.
I spin Bella outward, then pull her back against my chest. She presses her back against me, tilting her head back to rest on my shoulder. My arms encircle her waist, and for a moment, we simply breathe together.
“I wanted to hate you,” she says quietly as we sway. “It would have been easier.”
“I know.” I turn her to face me again. “I deserved it.”
The final notes of the music approach. I dip Bella one last time, deeper than before, and completely supporting her weight. Her hair cascades toward the floor, exposing her throat in a graceful arch. When I pull her up, our lips are a breath apart.
For a heartbeat, the world stops as the music fades. The mist swirls around us, now a brilliant, shimmering gold. Then reality crashes back as the music ends. She steps away, her expression guarded once more, though her eyes remain soft.
“Magnificent.” Fergus wipes away what might be genuine tears this time. “The Tango of Truth has spoken. Your connection remains unbroken, despite all obstacles.”
From her spot at the edge of the stage, Hecate gives a small bark.
“I give it a solid eight out of ten,” she says in her tiny but clear voice. “Points deducted for unnecessary smoldering.”
Bella laughs, breaking the tension. “Hecate.”
“What? I’m a critic now.” The little dog preens. “Someone has to maintain standards around here.”
Fergus approaches us, clapping his hands together. “You’ve completed all three challenges magnificently. As promised, here is your reward.” He waves his hand with a flourish, and a parchment materializes in the air between us. It floats down gently, and I catch it before it reaches the floor.
“‘Where luck runs deep and wagers are bold, seek the place where fortunes unfold,’” I read aloud. “Fortunes...?”
Bella peers over my shoulder. “The private gaming rooms at Finnigan’s Lucky Charms.”
I nod. “That’s what I’m thinking.”
Fergus grins. “Aye. Clever as always, you two. The private gaming rooms await your presence.” He winks at me. “You know the way, cousin.”
I roll up the parchment and tuck it into my pocket. “Thank you, Fergus, though I suspect you enjoyed this little performance more than was necessary.”
“Guilty as charged.” He laughs. “But can you blame me? The legendary Seamus and Bella, dancing once more. It was worth orchestrating just to see.”
Bella narrows her eyes. “Orchestrating? You mean you planned this?”
Fergus waves his hands dismissively. “I merely facilitated what the magic required when asked to take on the task. The dances revealed truths that needed revealing.” He bows dramatically. “My work here is done. I’ll see you both at Finnigan’s when you’re ready.”
With another shower of golden sparks, he vanishes, leaving Bella and me alone on the stage. Hecate trots over, looking smug.
“That was entertaining,” says the little dog. “Though if you two stared any harder at each other during that last dance, you might have set something on fire.”
“Hecate,” warns Bella, though her cheeks flush slightly.
I clear my throat. “We should head to Finnigan’s. The private gaming rooms are in the back, behind the main bar.”
Bella nods, not quite meeting my gaze. “Lead the way.”
As we step off the stage, the enchanted lights dim behind us. The flowers return to their normal colors, and the magic of the moment fades like a dream.
Still, something fundamental has changed between us. The dances revealed truths we’ve both been avoiding, and now, they can’t be unseen. I glance at Bella as we walk, noting she’s fighting it harder than I am, this pull between us, but the Tango of Truth doesn’t lie. There’s still hope for us.