Chapter Eighteen
Schuyler stood stunned for a moment, trying to process the information. With a myriad of questions burning to be asked, he muttered only, “Huh?”
“Well,” Dev said, his tone carrying a slight inflection reminiscent of Bewitched’s Samantha Stephens. “They told you my death was a car accident, but that wasn’t true. And, like, don’t be angry with me, ’cause remember—I’ve been dead and stuck here for twenty years, so trust, I feel bad.
“I was… experimenting,” he confessed. “I pushed further into the Dark Magics than I let anyone know. I’d been exploring what lies on that end of things, and I found this well, with all this immense power that no one seemed to know about, just waiting to be tapped.
I thought maybe invoking a little of it would be okay, but it was far more potent then I realized, but I didn’t care, all I wanted was that power.
“And I know you’ll be disappointed in me because of that.” Dev’s enthusiastic energy faded. “The amount I took was enough to threaten our magical ecosystem and wake the Elders. Their punishment extended past my execution.”
That last word hit Schuyler in the chest. The love of his life had been executed?! He knew Dev dabbled; part of the allure Schuyler felt for Dev was the darkness churning within him. And everyone knew there was fun to be found in the Dark Magics, especially when you were young and unburdened.
“They stripped my entire blood line of their gift; left them all earthbound. As we both are well aware, when I fuck up, I really fuck up.”
The final piece of the puzzle. Schuyler realized now why Dev’s family had moved out of Bairwick so quickly after the burial ritual, without a word.
Why instructions were ignored, and the journal packed away.
Sky wondered if Beau knew the truth, if the event took some dark turn and became a secret, a cautionary tale the whole town whispered about.
“I didn’t realize how deep into things I’d gotten until it was too late,” he said, kissing Schuyler with every ounce of remorse within him.
Many witches had the same story: dabbling one minute when it was fun, addicted the next, and needing help to sway the pull of power before they too defied the Edict.
Schuyler was shooketh to his core, but the events were so far in the past that he held no anger at the situation, and he accepted Dev’s apology.
“And this is why you’re the bestest Smudge to ever Smudge. And I love you.
“But this lil’ bitch right here—” Dev pointed to Issac. “This one has some explaining to do because if he’s my nephew, he can’t be a witch. And if he is a witch, he isn’t my nephew.
“Tight little ass though.” Dev leaned over and slapped Issac’s butt. “Got some recoil to it. Damn Smudge, you did well for yourself. Get it.”
“Oh, it’s been gotten many times,” Schuyler confirmed. “Babe, I’m confused. He knew things about your family. He described your sister to a tee, and he has been doing magic.”
“Then it’s time to find out.” Dev floated up into the air backwards, returning to his original spot above the grave. “It’s more intimidating if I’m mid-air,” he winked and blew Sky a kiss as he straightened out his cloak, which now billowed behind him. “Sexy, yes?”
“Well, yes, always, but Dev, there’s no reason to intimidate him. He’s sweet and nice.”
“Baby,” Dev cooed, “totally get this is your boy toy and all, happy for you, but things aren’t adding up. What’s bothering me most is if he’s not a witch, he knows about Bairwick now, and that puts you in danger.
“Do you love him?”
Schuyler was not expecting that question.
He looked down at Issac, unconscious on the ground.
He didn’t know how to answer. There were deep feelings but he wasn’t sure if it was truly love.
Standing there, hearing Dev’s voice, seeing him, having been with him, there was no questioning what true love felt like. He knew it with Dev.
“I’m not sure,” Schuyler admitted. “I might. We have a connection, can’t deny that, but I don’t know what I feel at this moment because, honestly, there’s a lot to process. But I care for him, so go easy on him.”
“We’ll see.” Dev clapped his hands together and ordered, “Wakey, wakey.”
Issac’s eyes fluttered open as he was wrenched from his sleep and pulled to his feet. “What the hell happened?” he asked groggily. “Did the spell backfire? Did I do it wrong?” He caught Schuyler’s attention with a pitiful face. “I did it wrong, didn’t I?”
“Hello there,” Devion spoke loudly, diverting Issac’s attention to him. “Issac, is it?” He spoke with an insincere, but overly enthusiastic cheeriness. “No backfire. The spell worked great. I mean, I wrote it, so of course it did. Guess a thank you is in order.”
“Uncle Devion! You don’t have to than-”
“Oh, I’m not going too,” Dev smirked, cutting him off. “We got ourselves a bit of a conundrum. Now that’s a big word—do you know what it means?”
“Dev.” Schuyler chastised the condescending tone.
“Um, I do, yes,” Issac replied, unsure of what was going on.
“Cool, cool. So, we’re both wondering if there are any third-act surprises you’d like to gag us with. For instance, your true identity?”
Issac scowled. “Um… Uncle Devion, I’m your nephew.”
Dev dismissed him. “No, no. You’ll need to try that again.”
“I’m Issac Carrow,” he defended. “Deana Kincaide is my mother. Adriana Kincaide is my grandmother. Neither of them are the nicest.”
“Truth, they’re raging bitches, but still, nope. What else you got?”
Issac turned to Schuyler seeking an answer. “What’s going on? I haven’t lied about who I am.”
Dev snapped his fingers, demanding Issac’s attention. “Over here. You’ve put my boo in enough danger.
“Issac—if that is your real name—my reckless, selfish ass ruined magic for my whole family. None of them are witches, so, you cannot be my nephew and a witch.”
“I am a witch,” Issac snapped.
“Not possible. Wanna try again?”
“You seem confused, Uncle. Has being dead affected your intelligence? Which is it you want me to prove—that I’m a witch, or that I’m your nephew?”
Schuyler saw the same side of Issac he presented to Azrael: snarky and arrogant. He found himself questioning why Issac became so defensive so quickly. Even with Dev being antagonistic, Issac’s only goal was to resurrect him.
“Not doubting the family relation part so much. You definitely appear to have the Kincaide attitude. But… you’re not a witch.”
“I am,” Issac asserted, stomping his foot.
“No.” Devion continued to needle him, constantly interrupting and dismissing everything Issac said in defense of who he was.
“I’ve proven myself as a witch, haven’t I?” His eyes turned to Schuyler, pleading for confirmation, but Sky now questioned him, too. “I passed your tests, didn’t I? I did the spell, and I deserve to-”
“Shut up,” Dev said, interjecting again. “You’re not entitled to shit. Now tell me who you are and why you performed this spell?”
Angry, Issac snatched his wand from his back pocket and threw his arm forward, threatening Dev. “You shut the fuck up,” he screamed, in a violent outburst. “This is all your fault to begin with. I would be a witch if it wasn’t for you.
“You robbed us of magic, destroyed our family. Forced me to live in the shitty mortal world, with shitty fucking people who never recovered from what you did
“I should have been here.” Spit flew from his lips as Issac unleashed years of pent up resentment. “I should have lived this amazing enchanted life, and you—you selfish, arrogant fuck! Everything that should have been mine—you ruined!
“I read your whiney-ass journal.”
A string of pearls appeared around Dev’s neck, which he then grabbed with a loud gasp. “The nerve!”
Issac grew angrier at Dev’s flippant, childish responses. His nostrils flared as he gnashed his teeth. “I know all that power is still very much active inside you, even after death, waiting to be claimed.
“I want the life you stole from me. And I will rip that magic out of you with my bare hands if I have too!”
Dev laughed, flipping around in the air, clapping his hands together at Issac finally revealing his truth. “And there it is, folks.”
Lowering his voice, Issac let his face soften as he turned to address Schuyler. “I’m sorry. All I wanted was the power at first because it can me a witch, that was all. Then I met you. And I got to know this place, and I wanted to stay; I want us to be together.
“I love you, Schuyler. I know you’re probably not going to say it back—and that’s fine. It’s okay if you’re not ready. But I’m ready, and I know this situation is fucked up, but I love you.”
How many dramatic bombshell revelations is one delicate homosexual expected to take in a day, I ask you? I think I’ve reached my limit.
The entire situation, even for a witch used to crazy situations, bordered on overwhelming.
Sky once again questioned the young man he cared for, who looked back at him with eyes pleading for Schuyler to understand, to agree, to confess his love.
Why were there suddenly sides he’d have to pick?
He had wanted only to spend a moment with his past.
Do I love him? Do I hate him?
“Million-dollar question, Issac.” Dev rescued Schuyler from having to give Issac any kind of answer. “If you are my blood nephew, how the hell are you wielding magic?”
Issac snickered, his posture turning cocky. ‘Oh c’mon, you know you don’t have to be a witch to summon a demon.”
What did he say?
Schuyler wasn’t sure what explanation he expected, but summoning demons wasn’t on his bingo card.
“You don’t have to be a witch to make a deal with one either. I let them use this tight little body for a whole month. And, oh, did they ever have a good time.