24. The Comfort of Friends
TWENTY-FOUR
THE COMFORT OF FRIENDS
The luminous language of bioluminescence is spoken by countless creatures and organisms and serves as a silent yet profound means of connection within the natural world.
Fireflies use it to woo potential mates. Deep-sea inhabitants signal to one another in the darkest depths, and countless other organisms summon it to convey messages, announce their presence, or evade predators.
What can we learn from these creatures? It is up to us to find our own ways to glow.
EXCERPT FROM THE MUDPUDDLE MANUAL OF NATURAL MAGIC
Maida excused herself to her room to freshen up before heading out to Primrose Court. She was stalling. Although she’d put a brave face on for her father and Arthur, she wasn’t actually sure she was ready. Her legs were still shaking from her morning misadventure in the tree.
She needed more time to process that magic was real.
It was something she’d always wished for, hadn’t she?
She’d spent so much time seeking it out, and sketching it.
She’d stashed bits and pieces of it in drawers and on bookshelves.
Under her pillow, in her pockets when she went on beach walks, and spilling from the pots on her balcony.
For most of her life, Maida had been cataloging and collecting snippets of magic like it was evidence with which she would one day make her case.
And today was that day. She was surprised, but she was not shocked.
Perhaps she had known it all along. She’d been waiting for this moment of enlightenment.
All she’d needed was permission to believe in what she already knew.
But it still felt like a dream, this world of shifters, witches, and fae.
Like she’d stepped sideways into an alternate universe—a world that was basically the same, but with portals in donut shops and pendants that contained pocket universes.
One moment it all made sense, and the next, it seemed preposterous.
She had the overwhelming urge to call Zani. Her friend would be worried about her, particularly if she’d tried to call last night. She needed to let Zani know that she was safely back in Boston. But beyond that, she was less sure about what she could share.
If anyone was going to listen with an open mind, it was Zanfira.
But she didn’t want to put her friend in danger.
It was difficult to decide what to say when she hardly knew the rules.
It was possible that Zani would think she was crazy if she told her the truth.
But it was also possible that she already knew.
As if on cue, the phone on her nightstand rang once and went silent. Then it rang twice.
Maida didn’t wait for it to ring a third time. Considering Zani’s uncanny knack of calling or texting her, precisely whenever Maida needed her most, she played her hunch.
“How long have you known?” Maida asked.
She heard Zani’s sigh. The line was silent, save for the crackle of long distance wires, as Zani considered her reply. Had she been ready with a flippant reply or made a joke, Maida would have known that Zani was Ordinary. But the time Zani was taking with the reply was a tell.
Finally, the response to Maida’s question came through with another question.
“About magic, or yours specifically?”
There it was.
“You knew magic was real?” Maida accused.
“Of course. I’m a witch, Maida. I’ve been studying magic all my life.
I don’t do a very good job of hiding that.
” Zani had a point. Her favorite tee shirt was emblazoned with the slogan ‘wandering witch’ and she’d gone so far as to top her graduation cap with a witch’s hat.
Maida had chalked all that up to her friend being eccentric, like her.
“You knew about my family?” Maida asked.
Zani snorted. “I’m an archaeologist who specializes in folklore, legends, and cursed items. Your family’s story has all the above.
” Maida could practically hear the eye roll in Zani’s voice, and it irritated her that her friend didn’t seem to be taking her big news seriously.
“Are you going to stay there in Boston?”
“Wait. How did you know I came home?” Maida peeked out the window to where the others were waiting by the van.
“Will Porter popped by this morning. I guess it was last night, your time? He filled me in. I hope whoever broke into your place didn’t follow you! I can’t wait to see that gearheart locket. What a find!” Zani said.
“Will just popped in?” Maida was surprised.
“Well yes.” Zani sounded flustered. “I messaged him when I couldn’t reach you. I was so worried. He just wanted to reassure me you were okay, and he explained the whole situation to me. I’m glad he brought you home. I think that was the right thing to do.”
Maida decided not to mention the mess with the tree just now. Or anything about Arthur. There wasn’t enough time, and she wasn’t ready to discuss the feelings Arthur had stirred.
“What are you doing right now?” Zani asked.
“I’m just about to leave for Primrose Court. I can’t believe you’re a witch, Zani. And magic is real!” Maida blurted.
“And yet we still can’t fix climate change.” Zani sighed.
“My father is working on it,” Maida said. “Also he is a buffalo shifter. Were you aware?”
“I was,” Zani confessed.
“My mother was a witch,” Maida blurted.
“I know. Larkspur Lathrop was a legend!” Zani’s excitement was palpable, but so were the stabbing pangs of betrayal that Maida was feeling. Zani had been her closest, and perhaps only true friend for the last seventeen years. But this hadn’t been the friendship she’d thought it was.
“You knew…” Maida could not complete the sentence, so she started again. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this?”
“Would you have believed me?” Zani’s voice was sad and apologetic.
“Maybe?” Maida swallowed the lump in her throat. “I might have. But you never gave me the chance.”
“Please forgive me, Maida?” Zani pleaded. “I need you to know that I never believed you were Ordinary, and even if you were, I didn’t care. You were and still are my best friend. But there are rules about sharing, and trust me, there are sound reasons these rules exist.”
“Such as?” Maida asked. She was weary of hearing about the rules for everyone. Her heart was still having trouble understanding the reasons for those rules.
“Ordinaries aren’t meant to see beyond the veil,” Zani explained, listing out the reasons.
“They go crazy, fall prey to dark influences, waste their lives trying to prove or be something they’re not meant to be.
Knowing the truth about magic when you command none is not a comfort, Maida.
It’s a curse. More often than not, a death sentence. ”
“I still wish you would have considered making an exception,” Maida grumbled.
“There’s no way I was going to risk losing you like that.” Much like Buffalo had been, Zani was resolute. “I’m sorry. Enlightening you wasn’t an option. Not without a clear sign of your magical endowment.”
“Some endowment,” Maida said. “I’m not so sure what the point is when I don’t have any idea what it is I am or what I’m supposed to do.”
“That part will come,” Zani assured her.
“Give it time. You see people. Really see them. And you’ve always had the ability to make something from nothing.
Your touch brings things to life. I can’t think of anyone better to bring people together and bring back the Mudpuddle.
Haven’t you always dreamed of living in a bookshop? ”
“Yes,” Maida admitted. “But that’s mostly because I wouldn’t have to go out as much. I don’t know that I have what it takes to bring people together. I’m a loner.”
“I don’t know, Maida. I think maybe you just haven’t found your tribe yet.”
Maida heard the honk of a horn and glanced out the window. Granny and Will were waving at her to come down. Arthur and her father were already seated in the van.
“I’ve got to go, Zani, but let’s talk again real soon?” Maida said.
“Just you try and keep me away, Maida. I can’t wait to see you when I’m back in the States. We have so much to talk about.”