Chapter 13 #4
‘Like cornucopia,’ Katie explained. ‘You add liquid, and it adjusts to whatever the drinker wants it to be.’
Mia stared at the cup – and the red-brown liquid that slowly steamed within it – watching as the green herbs calmly rearranged themselves into a heart. She swallowed hard. ‘Anything?’
‘Well, anything that would usually come in a cup, obviously.’
‘Obviously.’ She took another sip. ‘Hang on, all these years I’ve been bringing over bottles of wine and you had this?’
‘It doesn’t work for alcohol. That would be irresponsible.’
‘Of course it would.’ Mia shook her head.
‘It’s OK.’ Ophelia patted her knee reassuringly. ‘You can take as much time as you need to get used to all this. It’s a lot to take in.’
‘Yeah, it really is.’ She sighed.
‘That reminds me. Phe, Mia wanted to ask you something.’ Katie ignored Mia’s mumbles as she chewed frantically. ‘She said sex with Aiden has been unusually intense and wondered if it’s a normal magic thing?’
Mia’s cheeks were burning hot as she swallowed under Ophelia’s gaze. This was somehow so much more awkward than the sex ed demonstrations she did for work.
‘Intense in what way?’
‘Like I can feel… more… than I’m used to when he touches me. Like little electric shocks, but nice ones.’ It didn’t even come close to explaining it, but she hoped it was good enough.
‘Is it only intimate touches?’
‘When we were down by the river, I saw a glow over the water when he held my hand. And when he hugged me, I saw it everywhere. He said it was living magic. It was beautiful.’
‘Can I have your hand?’
Mia put down her plate and gingerly rested her fingers against Ophelia’s cool ones.
‘Don’t worry, I’m not spelling you. I wouldn’t do that without permission. I’m just testing a theory. Can you look at Katie’s necklace for me, and tell me what you see?’
‘A silver fairy sitting in a bluey-silvery moon?’ She’d seen the necklace hundreds of times before.
‘Nothing different about it?’
‘No. Should there be?’
‘Try now.’ Mia felt her fingers tingle, but nothing else changed.
‘No.’
‘Well, that answers that question.’ Ophelia released her hand.
‘I think you might be what we call “resonant”. It means that you’re somewhere between being gifted and not.
You don’t have magic in your own right in the same way that I or Aiden do, but you do have the ability to reflect and strengthen – to resonate – the magic of others.
And it seems you – whether through unconscious choice or some star-fated design – at this point in your life are resonant to Aiden.
Because if it was with anyone, you should have been able to see the protection spells on Katie’s jewellery. ’
‘Do I… need to do anything or is it something to worry about?’
‘Not at all,’ Ophelia reassured her. ‘Mist and Rayenne can tell you more about it, if you’re interested.
It might be that – in the future – you’re able to learn to resonate his gift at will, more deliberately, and even work to strengthen other people’s workings, but that would take a lot of conscious effort.
It’s certainly not something to worry about. ’
‘If it’s nothing bad, then is it OK if I don’t talk to anyone else just yet? It’s just a lot to take in, and I think I want some time to get my head around it first.’
‘Of course.’ Ophelia patted her knee gently. ‘But let me know if you want me to translate for Mist. Would you rather talk about the Samhain ball instead?’
‘Yes please. It’s funny. I’m so excited about something I’ve been avoiding for all these years. This magic is very strange.’
‘It is.’ Ophelia laughed. ‘But also very clever. The first time you’re welcome – and it knows – so it’s letting you be excited.’
‘When Katie says you’re going to “help” with my dress, do I assume she means with more than just sewing?’
‘Of course, you can’t exactly wear an ordinary dress to your first ever Samhain ball. This is your public coming out into our world, Mia, and – unless you object or are uncomfortable with it – there’s no way I’m letting you wear anything that’s even a bat feather’s breadth less than spectacular.’
‘Are you sure you have time for this? It’s not long until the ball and this is one of your busiest seasons.’
‘You’re family, Mia. For you, I make time.’ Ophelia gave her a quick squeeze. ‘Plus we’re starting with an old dress rather than from scratch. Katie, sweetie, do you want to show her your sketches? And we’ll see which way she wants to go?’
‘Absolutely. I’m so excited for this!’ Katie opened up a sketchpad. ‘But you have to promise me something, OK?’
‘What?’
‘You can’t tell Aiden about any of these. It’s top-secret girl stuff from now until the moment he first sees you!’
‘Don’t you think that’s a bit silly?’
‘No. Not at all. Every good romance movie – from fairy tales to chick-flicks to teenage dramas – has that one perfect scene where he sees her in a new outfit or a spectacular dress and he looks at her like he’s seeing her for the first time all over again.
You deserve that magical moment, Mimi. In fact, I insist on it.
I’m refusing to help unless you promise! ’
‘OK, OK. I promise.’