Page 75 of Charmed, I'm Sure
With one hand on my hip, and the straightest face I can make today, I tell her exactly how it is. “Matilda, you are not the reason this is happening. Not even close. But you are the reason I have a pet raccoon. So I guess I can thank you for that.”
She crosses her arms over her chest and pushes her nose even higher up. “Well…you’re welcome. Besides that, is there anything we can do to help?”
“Honestly? Not really. Thanks though. I’m afraid if I let you help that I’ll end up with glitter running through the barrier instead of, you know, hiding us.”
She humphs before she floats away.
Miles, after finally getting himself under control, wraps his arm around my shoulders as we make our way to the edge of town.
“You might disagree with her methods, but you can’t say you don’t love Lady Bandit,” he says with a smirk.
“Fine, I love her. But don’t tell Matilda that! Who knows what crazy idea she will come up with next.”
He chuckles. “Fair enough.”
We walk in companionable silence to join the others as the circle takes shape. I might not have always felt welcome in this town, but looking around at everyone banding together, I can’t help but think this is why I love my community.
And for the first time I don’t feel like the town's cursed witch. Instead, I feel like I’m part of them.
With everyone in place, I can feel the combination of power. It sits thick in the air, only fueling the deep hum when the witches start the incantation.
Miles squeezes my hand from his place on my right as Elora squeezes my left hand. With their love, devotion, and determination pouring into me, for the first time I’m not scared when I feel the deep well of magic in me rise up.
Outside of earlier when my magic exploded, I’ve never dabbled with my full magic. I was terrified that something I couldn’t take back would happen. But, instead of letting that fear wrap around me, I let their love wrap around me instead. I don’t stop my magic, don’t shy away, I just…let go.
The soft glow of the barrier begins at the ground, slowly building as we continue to chant. Where before it was clear, now it glimmers with reds for the wolves, golds for the fae, and purples for the witches. Binding all of us together in a new way that perfectly represents each of the citizens of our community.
With each additional layer we add to the barrier, the witches chant louder and louder. Some wolves even howl, adding to the music of the night. It’s beautiful and something I never imagined I would bear witness to.
It takes a while, and I can feel my magic straining, but we are almost there. If we can hold out just a little longer, then we will never have to worry again. Looking up towards the sky, I watch in fascination as the barrier fills in the last remaining parts.
The barrier seals, and everyone sighs in relief. The last of the chanted notes fade into the distance as everyone finally stops. I watch as everyone turns and hugs their neighbor. Broad smiles and happiness are written across everyone’s faces.
I turn, ready to escape back to my home, feeling as though my time is up here. Everyone is going to go back to hating me, or treating me like an eighteenth-century incurable plague. But before I can escape, Miles wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me flush against his side.
His lips press against my hair, already a familiar gesture of affection, as he mumbles against it. “How about instead of determining what their response will be, we instead wait to find out?”
“Why? So they can openly judge me and ridicule me to my face?” I whisper my fears, leaking out before I can stop them.
“I have a feeling you’re going to be mistaken.”
We don’t have to wait for long; people are crowding around us, even my own parents. I didn’t even know they were here. They have a skeptical look on their faces, as if they aren’t sure how they should react. Are they waiting for the others to show love to me before they themselves will?
I brace for the condemnation, the questions, but none of them come. Instead, people begin clapping. It starts quietly, but builds into a loud, echoing sound. Everyone is cheering my name, thanking me for protecting them in a whole new way.
They hadn’t burned me at the pyre. They were cheeringfor me in the square. If you would have told me even six months ago, hell a week ago, that this town would be here cheering my name, I would have laughed till my sides ached.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Small Town, Big Gossip
Bellamy
The barrier has barely been up five minutes and the gossip is already flying, quite literally, around.
The crows dive-bomb overhead screeching, “Did you see the wolf grounding the dark witch? Without him we all would have perished in the fires of doom!”
Ghosts are zipping around, whispering amongst themselves loud enough they might as well have just given up trying to be quiet. “It seems fate found the perfect counter balance for the evil twin!”