Page 26 of Hexual Healing

Oh FUCK

I gasped, slapping my hands over my mouth.

Illanya's eyes widened.“Did you just tell me off…with poetry?”

“Across the years we've danced this dance,

You never gave real love a chance.

You held too tight, you burned too bright,

And now you've lost the right to fight.”

Stop talking!

I begged myself to stop—the embarrassment alone could kill me—but the hex had taken hold.Every word came out in perfect rhyming couplets.

Gary laughed.“She's magicked herself into a Shakespearean tragedy!”

I tried to say, “This isn't funny!”but what came out was:

“The snail finds joy in my dismay,

While dragon's fire keeps love at bay.

But know this true, you scaled disaster,

I'll never be with you now…or after.”

Illanya's expression went through about seventeen different emotions before settling on incredulous rage.“Stop it!”

“My magic's weird, this much is true,

But still it's better than serving you.

You say you love but only take,

Andthat'sthe curse I'll never break.”

“ENOUGH!”Illanya roared, and actual fire exploded from her mouth.The house absorbed it again, but this time it seemed to give it indigestion.The walls groaned ominously.

“You have until tomorrow night,” she snarled.“Twenty-four hours to decide.Come with me willingly, or watch everything burn.And bear?”She looked at Baz with pure venom.“When she chooses me, and she will, I'm going to enjoy making you watch her beg for me to take her back before I kill you.”

She turned to leave, then paused.“Oh, and Tansy?Nice poetry.Really drives home what a fucking disaster you've become without me.”

She walked out, leaving scorch marks on the floor with every step.

We all stood in silence for a moment.

Then I said, “The dragon leaves with threats of doom,

While I'm stuck rhyming in this room.

Someone help me break this curse,

Before I speak another verse.”

“I don't know,” Baz said.He was clearly trying to hide a smile.“I kind of like it.”