Page 32 of A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poison

32

B isma and Xander arrived at the Enchanted Forest to find more than a dozen workers already cutting down trees. The fog that usually protected the Forest’s border was completely gone, making the home of the Unwanted Girls easy prey.

A weak whistle sounded in the air—it was the Forest crying out for help.

Rage cracked through Bisma with the force of a whip. She dropped her hand from Xander’s and sprinted straight to the workers, picking up a branch along the way. ‘Stop!’ she cried, swinging. Beside her, Xander was fighting another worker, trying to unhand the worker from his ax.

Bisma hit one of the men, knocking him over, and he cried out. As Bisma reared to attack another worker, she felt an arm lock around her from behind, hauling her back.

She screamed, trying to wring free.

‘Don’t touch her!’ Xander cried. He was there in an instant, striking the worker who held her with the hilt of an ax.

The worker released her, falling back, unconscious.

Xander’s green eyes were wild. ‘Are you alright?’ he asked, caressing her cheek.

She nodded. Then something caught her eye behind him. ‘Watch out!’

Xander turned in time to see a worker running at him.

He ducked, and Bisma fell to her knees, sticking her hands into the soil. Usually, her magic was stronger in the Enchanted Forest, even just outside its borders, but as she felt deep in the earth, she knew the Forest had no magic to lend her.

She called upon her own, drawing up vines which sprouted from the ground, hitting the worker Xander was fighting.

The worker was thrown back, and Xander turned to her, a bruise forming above his cheekbone.

The sight splintered through her. She pushed more of her magic into the earth, and vines emerged everywhere, reaching out to strike workers with vicious precision. Satisfaction coursed through her as she watched them scatter and fall.

But it wasn’t enough. The workers got back up, redirecting their axes to her vines, while some trees were lined with dynamite.

‘No!’ she cried, as they lit the matches, the flames flickering in the darkening evening. Explosions sounded, one after another, and she shut her eyes, her heart tearing.

Mighty trees fell, and dew slid from the other trees’ leaves, as though the Forest was weeping. Bisma felt each loss keenly. She focused on her magic, calling for it to help her, to help her home, and Xander was doing the same. But they were outnumbered—they couldn’t do this.

Just then, Bisma heard a feral scream. She turned and saw the Unwanted Girls running toward the Forest, and they weren’t alone. Behind them was Haru and his family, Razan and her husband, Diego and his teenage kids, as well as a few other villagers who she had sold poisons to, people she had helped.

They attacked the workers, striking them and taking away their axes. Nori bit at hands and kicked at shins. Mei was to the side with Deeba, keeping her safe, while Azalea and Luna threw dirt into the workers’ eyes, temporarily blinding them. The villagers helped her sisters, watching their backs, fighting and pushing back the workers.

Bisma’s heart flared with hope, and she realized she had been wrong.

It was not a weakness to ask for help; rather it was a strength to open yourself up to it, even if it was frightening.

She could not save her home by herself, but perhaps with her community she might be able to.

Spirit renewed, she had an idea. ‘Xander!’

He was protecting her, fighting off anyone who came near. ‘I’m here,’ he said, his eyes bright. ‘What do you need?’

‘Your magic,’ she said. ‘If we grow poisonous hedges along the border of the Forest, the workers won’t be able to pass through.’

‘Brilliant idea.’ He flashed her a smile, coming down to his knees to put his hands in the soil beside hers.

‘Feel with me,’ she said. ‘Let your magic connect with mine, and I’ll guide it.’

‘I’m all yours, Bis.’

He closed his eyes, focusing. It took a moment, but then she felt his magic pulsing in the earth. She took hold of it, and it did not resist her. With double the strength, she grew thorny bushes all along the border, one sprouting after the other, each six feet tall.

A worker lifted his ax, trying to cut at it, but as he did, a leaf from the hedge brushed his hand. He screamed, falling back, revealing blistering skin.

The poisonous bushes coupled with the efforts of the Unwanted Girls and the villagers was enough to act as a ward to protect the Enchanted Forest. The battered, bruised, and poisoned workers looked at one another, then promptly dropped their axes, running off.

Bisma’s home was safe.

‘We did it!’ Nori cried, jumping up.

‘Woo!’ Luna shouted, twirling and laughing with Haru.

‘No one messes with us!’ Azalea said. She clapped hands with Razan.

Everyone cheered, euphoric at the victory.

On the ground, Bisma and Xander both sat back, spent. Catching her breath, she leaned against his chest, and he wrapped an arm around her as they breathed together.

After a moment, they both stood, and everyone joined together into a circle.

‘Is everyone OK?’ Bisma asked, scanning their village friends and the girls. They were a bit dirty but seemed unharmed. ‘Thank you all for your help … truly. It means the world to me and my sisters.’ She looked at the girls, and they echoed back a chorus of thanks.

‘Do you want us to stay?’ Diego asked. ‘In case they come back?’

‘No, I think it’s alright,’ Bisma said. ‘The poisonous hedges should keep them away.’

If the workers came back in greater numbers, the hedges could not do much, but for now it was enough. She would think about what else to do until then.

‘If you need help, please just let us know,’ Haru said. He was standing with Luna, holding her hand. Their fingers were entwined.

‘Or if there’s anything you need,’ Haru’s mother added.

‘Thank you all,’ Bisma said, feeling touched. ‘Really.’

The villagers said goodbye, all except for Xander, who stayed by her side. She leaned against him, feeling anchored.

‘Lu, take the girls home,’ Bisma said, addressing Luna, who was staring at Haru as he walked away. Haru turned back to wave, and Luna beamed at him. ‘ Luna .’

‘Yes, I am paying attention!’ Luna said, corralling all the girls together. ‘Girlies, let’s go!’

‘Get some sleep, OK?’ Bisma said, kissing Nori and Deeba. ‘It’s been a long day, and Forrie needs you all to be at your strongest so it can recover.’

‘What about you, Baji?’ Mei asked, coming to give Bisma a hug.

‘I’ll make some more bushes to keep the workers away.’ Bisma tucked Mei’s silky hair behind her ear. ‘I’ll be home soon, promise. Now give me a kiss, and off you go.’ Mei kissed her cheek, and Azalea and Luna settled for blowing kisses before skipping into the Forest and taking the path home.

When they had gone, Bisma and Xander reinforced the poisonous bushes along the border of the Forest as best as they could, until they were both exhausted.

Then they sat down against a great walnut tree, resting. Moonlight shone above them, its milky white light illuminating their faces as soft wind rustled the remaining leaves on the trees. The night was cold, but as long as she was with him, she felt warm.

‘I’ll speak to my uncle,’ Xander said. ‘I’ll stop him from doing this. And I’ll have Mother speak to him, too—I don’t know what’s gotten into him to be so blinded by greed.’ He ran a hand through his hair, clenching his jaw. ‘I’m really sorry for all of this.’

‘You have nothing to be sorry for.’ She kissed his cheek. ‘How do you feel about all this? I know you and your uncle are close …’

‘I feel …’ He released a long breath. ‘Sad. Really sad, to be honest. It will be a loss, but I cannot keep my ties with him after all he’s done.’

‘I don’t want to pit you against him,’ Bisma said, feeling badly.

‘It isn’t your fault,’ he said. ‘It is his, entirely.’ He stood, offering her his hand and helping her stand. ‘I should go and speak with him now, though I dread to do it.’

She held onto his hand, squeezing. ‘Speak with them tomorrow,’ she said, voice soft. ‘I don’t think the workers will come back tonight, so hopefully we’re safe for now. You deserve some rest.’

‘You’re right.’ He ran his free hand over his face, rubbing his jaw. ‘I can hardly think straight. I suppose I should go, then—let you get some rest as well.’

‘Stay here,’ she said, not letting go of his hand. ‘Stay with me. I want you to.’

The Forest had accepted Xander now, and anyway, even if it hadn’t, it was too weak to cause a fuss. Xander looked at her as though she was a wonder.

‘I’d like that,’ he said, cheeks pink. ‘I’d like that very much.’

Hand in hand, Bisma led Xander home. Together, they walked up the steps of the quiet treehouse, which was finally full again. The candles were blown out. The girls were already asleep. She listened to the sound of their breathing, to Nori’s snores, before leading Xander up to her room.

Once there, she lit a candle, setting it down on her desk. Then she released a long breath. She was tired, but more than that, she was worried.

‘What’s going to happen?’ she whispered, turning to Xander.

‘Hey,’ he said, pulling her into his arms. He held her as if she was something precious.

Melting against him, she inhaled the sweet spice of cloves, comforted by the familiar scent. Her hair was twisted up in a knot, held together by a twig, leaving her neck bare. His nose grazed her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. She relished the feeling.

‘Everything is going to be alright,’ he whispered against her ear. ‘I promise.’

‘Is it?’ She pulled away, looking at him.

He took her hand in his. ‘Build your home here,’ he said, holding her hand over his chest. ‘In my heart. Where you will always be safe, warm, and loved. That is my vow to you. I am forever yours.’

Her heart overflowed. Even though there was still danger out there, here with him she felt safe, like everything would be alright. The world was so much better because he was in it. She wanted to keep him close always and forever.

‘Can I tell you a secret?’ she asked, her voice soft. She slipped her hands up from his chest up around his neck, holding his face.

His hands came around her waist, anchoring her. ‘Always.’

‘I love you,’ she said, looking deep into his beautiful eyes. His breath hitched. ‘Truly, deeply, madly. I thought I knew what love was until I met you and you expanded the very definition of the word, as if you were the one to invent it, this tailor-made emotion just for me.’

‘Bis, I love you, too,’ he said, pulling her closer. ‘I’ve been waiting for the right time to say it, but I’m glad you’ve said it now because I could hardly wait another moment without telling you. You’re the very best thing I’ve ever known—you’re pure magic.’

Warmth spread through her, filling her with starlight. She felt so lucky to know him, luckier still to be known by him.

She lifted her face and he pressed his lips against hers, kissing her deep enough that she felt it in her bones. She opened her mouth against his, tasting him.

Her hands roamed over his chest, feeling his heart beating against her palms as his hands moved up her body, trailing up her arms with a feather-light touch until they reached her collar, then her neck.

His hand came around her throat, fingers gently pressing into her skin, and her heart rate spiked against the delicious pressure. As they continued kissing, his hands slipped further up, into her hair, which was still twisted up.

‘Take your hair down,’ he said, his voice gravelly.

She shivered, doing as she was told, and something glinted in his eyes.

‘So you do like to be commanded,’ he said.

‘Shut up.’ She pushed him back onto the bed.

‘So bossy.’ He grinned, pulling her onto him, then rolling her over so he could trail kisses down her skin. She gasped in delight, holding tight onto his hair as he went further down, kissing her just where she wanted.

A starry eternity later, when they were both thoroughly exhausted, they fell asleep, bodies entwined.

She hoped he was right—that everything would be perfectly fine—but even as she fell asleep to the steady pound of his heart, her own heart dreaded what was to come.