Page 65 of Charmed, I'm Sure

The silence between us feels different now. Not hostile. Not empty. Just…charged. As if we are on the cusp of something life-changing and we have to decide either to take the leap or back away.

We all file back out of the graveyard, Miles walking in step beside me. He’s unusually muted and solemn. As if even he isn’t sure how the night will go, only that he wants to say more. I can see it in his eyes, the thoughts that seem to race across his mind. When we reach the edge of the graveyard, the path splits. One way leads back to the festivities, while the other heads deep into the Whispering Pines. He lingers, as if he wants to follow me, like he’s not quite ready to let go of this night.

He looks back and forth between the two directionsbefore his shoulders droop and he turns to face me.

“Thank you for tonight. It was more than I imagined it would be, and I can only pray to my Moon Goddess that I’ll be lucky enough to have many more with you. Good night, Bellamy,” he says finally, his voice low, whispering across my skin in a caress.

“Good night, Dog Boy,” I reply, his nickname having far less bite than it used to. I don’t know how to say that I don’t want the night to end either, or that I’m scared. So, I do the only thing I know how to, I duck my head and walk back to my tasks. Even if I don’t want to, I have a job to do tonight.

Turning towards the barrier, I make my way alone, spell in hand, to do the thing I’ve always done on Samhain. Seal the barrier for another year.

It’s easier to trust in my magic than to trust in another. At least one of those has never abandoned me.

Chapter Twenty-One

Spellbound Hearts

Bellamy

I’ve always wondered why it needed to be a dark magic witch to seal the barrier, and just what would happen if one of us weren’t around? For a town that treats us like a pariah, they sure rely on us when it comes to keeping them safe. An odd oxymoron if you ask me. What would happen if the one and only dark twin wasn’t born on the seventh generation?

The last words of the spell leave my lips as the barrier hums in appreciation. I’ve always considered it a sort of living sentient object, as it reacts to my touch and whispered words. Most residents won’t even see the barrier, as if it doesn’t exist to them. It’s nothing but an open area in their eyes. But for me, I see the shimmer, the pale white translucent object between us and the outside world.

My fingers stroke along it as strobing light flickers away from my hand. The rainbow of colors that flows from where my hand touches is always mesmerizing in its beauty.

“There you go beauty. Another year of protecting us and another year of our friendship. Thank you for being vigilant and true.”

“Talking to the barrier again, I see.” Elora’s humorous words come from behind me.

Twisting around, I watch as she steps out of the shadows of the tall oak trees. I can see the worry etched in thecorners of her eyes. She’s had another vision, but this one has left her far more shaken than the previous ones. Whatever it is, it won’t be good.

“The barrier listens, and it doesn’t judge.” I squint my eyes at her, and she smiles hesitantly in return. Definitely not good, whatever she’s seen.

“Bellamy,” she says cautiously.

I hold my hand up, stopping her before she can even start her rant about me not taking fate seriously. I get it; she’s seen something, and it’s bothering her.

“Don’t.” I turn, hoping to flee another one of her impending doom visions. I know she’s scared, fuck so am I, but I want a sister who holds me through my tough moments. Not the sister who haggles me about not following in fate’s predetermined steps. “Don’t lecture me, El, not tonight. You know, you really know how hard tonight is on me. Not only mentally but also emotionally and magically. You know my walls are down, not because I want them to be, but because I don’t have the strength to hold them up any longer.”

She sniffles as tears fall. “Bells, I’m not trying to add to your burden. I wish that premonitions weren’t a wall between us. That I could look at you and not see your death. But, neither of us had a choice in the life we were handed. Please…I beg of you to hear me out…it’s about Miles.”

I stop mid-step, whirling around to face her. My heart races as I scan her fear-stricken face as the tears stream down. “What about him?”

“He’s…” She covers her face as she sobs, her pain radiating off of her. I can feel it in my soul. “Bellamy, I saw it. The curse doesn’t end with you or even begin with you.”

“What do you mean?” I say as my anger rises, fear ripping its way through me.

“The curse never took the witch or wizard first. No, it takes their mate first. Then as punishment, you have to live for longer until it finally claims you.”

My hands shake as I move towards her. “Are you saying…”

She nods her head frantically. “Bells, if you don’t breakthe curse, Miles will die. I’ve seen it. He doesn’t just die; it’s horrific what happens to him.”

She squints her eyes hard, clutching the side of her head, as she shakes back and forth. “Stop, I don’t want to see it anymore. Stop showing me.” Her withered cry pierces the air. “I’m trying to show her, Weaver, I’ll make her see, I promise.”

I grasp her shoulders, trying to stop her. “Elora,” I shout over her frantic rattling. She doesn’t stop, just keeps begging The Weaver to stop. Her head snaps back, her eyes pure white.

Slowly, as if she’s not even herself anymore, she drops her head down, those solid white eyes staring at me. “It’s time for you to see the truth.”