Page 35 of How Not to Hex a Gentleman (Witches of Edinburgh)

Chapter Thirty-Five

KENNEDY

" A re you sure about this?" Bennett asks as we get off the bus. I'm too distracted to answer because he takes my hand in his, locking our fingers together like it's the most natural thing in the world.

It's been three days since our movie night and it's the weekend. I'm feeling like myself again, so of course I insisted we come check on the cemetery with the mysterious thistle headstone. Now I'm more focused on the feel of his skin against mine and maybe I'm not as over my fever as I thought.

"Kennedy?"

"Huh?" I glance up to find him watching me, that soft look back on his face. I swear he doesn't need any magic to be able to read my mind. I force myself to at least appear normal as I straighten my shoulders and clear my throat. "Yes, what?"

"I asked if you're sure about this," he says, smiling. He squeezes my hand once, scrambling my brain all over again, but I fight through it.

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"

"Because you're just getting over being sick and it's okay if you don't want to do this right now."

"We're already here, Bennett. Let's get on with it."

I appreciate the concern, but we can't keep putting it off. I want to know more about my magic and how it connects to Edinburgh. I need answers, not just a constant flow of questions.

We cross the street and head inside the cemetery, hand in hand. Compared to other cemeteries in the city, this one is on the small side. There's a quaint cottage at the entrance and three pathways spreading out from it.

"Any ideas?"

I shake my head no, because while we tried to see where the tombstone was in the cemetery, we couldn't pinpoint it. There's no name on it, no matter how closely we looked at the picture and nothing in the text around it. It's a wonder Bennett noticed the thistle at all.

"Let's head this way," I say, pulling Bennett to the right.

The trees here are large, but without the leaves, they look extra menacing. It would take us too long to check every tombstone because even though the cemetery is smaller, there are a plethora of tombstones.

I stop abruptly, pulling Bennett beside me.

"What is it?"

"I want to try something."

I have no idea if it'll work or what exactly is possessing me, but the moment the idea enters my mind, I have to follow through. There's so much about my magic that is left undiscovered, and I hope that with time, we won't be strangers but friends. Every time I get an inkling of my magic, I have decided to follow through. So here goes nothing.

Bennett watches me, a quiet encouragement on his face and I offer him a quick determined nod before I take a deep breath and close my eyes.

According to Olivia, every witch has a connection to the earth. We are part of the intricate balance of the way things work and our magic can be the enrichment it needs. Once I find my affinity, it'll be that much easier to understand where in the balance spectrum I stand, but for now, I can work with the basics.

I let my magic unfurl, and it stretches slowly, as if it doesn't want to pull any muscles after being in one position for too long. As it moves, I don't have a particularly clear idea of what I'm doing, but I give my magic a nudge to look for any kind of energy. It's not exactly the best idea, considering Edinburgh is brimming with magical energy, but it's the only thing I can think of, so I go with it.

My magic continues to move slowly, as if stopping by each tombstone to read the names. Bennett's hand is still holding mine and I use that as an anchor. I don't rush and I don't try anything I'm not comfortable with; I simply walk. Or my magic does. When it suddenly perks up, I know it has found something. I open my eyes to find Bennett watching me. He's wearing that same look in his eyes that always takes my breath away—like he's completely amazed by me.

"Wow," he breathes out.

"What?"

"You're just—incredible."

I'm not sure how he can tell, considering I didn't do any visual magic, but I don't comment, letting his praise soak into me. Tugging on his arm, I pull him along as we head toward the middle of the cemetery. There are a few hills along the pathway and then, along the back wall, there are plaques overgrown with ivy. Bennett and I head past the hill and toward them. I give myself a moment, calling up my magic once more, and then the energy almost slaps me in the face. I turn my head sharply to the left, to the overgrown area of the wall, and pull Bennett toward it.

Ivy grows all over Edinburgh, usually on the trees in cemeteries and the outer walls. It's beautiful and green for most of the year, and right now, it covers a whole panel of tombstones on the wall.

"What are we looking at?"

I see why Bennett is asking because this looks nothing like the picture we saw in the book, but the pull of magic is undeniable.

I drop Bennett's hand and step closer, pushing some of the ivy away. It takes a little rearranging so I don't disturb the plant, but finally, a tombstone etched into the wall peeks through. The name is mostly worn off and there's barely any of the design left on it. I push at the ivy until I reach the top of the tombstone. My heart is beating in anticipation and I don't remember holding my breath, but I am. I pull the ivy back and there it…isn't.

"It's not here," I say, glancing back at Bennett. He steps closer to look over the plaque.

"But your magic called you?"

"It did. I don't understand."

Maybe it's a me problem. I mean, I'm not exactly well acquainted with it, so maybe I messed something up.

"It's okay. We'll figure it out," Bennett says and I don't want to feel discouraged, but if I can't even do this simple type of magic, what good am I to the girls? Even as I think that, I know I felt something. This isn't just me being bad at magic, it's something else. Maybe? I don't actually know.

I take a step closer to the tombstone again and this time, I reach out. I run my fingers lightly over the edges until I reach the top, where the thistle is supposed to be. I'm not sure why, but I feel the urge to trace the thistle there. With my right hand, the one that carries the tattoo, I begin to draw the thistle over the tombstone. Before I even finish, I feel a slight pinch. Almost like I touched some electricity and then the thistle is suddenly there.

"Kennedy—" My name is but a whisper on Bennett's lips and I turn to grin at him. Then I look back at the thistle and this time, I don't hesitate to touch it. That's when everything goes dark.

BENNETT

I can't believe we actually found it. Well, more importantly, Kennedy found it. Watching her do magic brings an immense kind of joy to me. I don't understand it, but whenever she wants to perform magic in front of me, she is more than welcome. I don't think she realizes how much she glows when she's in her element. And magic is definitely her element. It's like she carries this radiance around her; the moment she lets her magic out she becomes even more breathtaking.

The grin she gives me is staggering and then she reaches for the thistle again and I hope this finally brings the answers they've been looking for.

Then something changes.

The moment her fingers touch the thistle, she freezes. Her body goes completely rigid.

"Kennedy?" I call her name but she doesn't turn. She doesn't give any indication that she heard me. Cautiously, I step around to see her face and find her eyes open, looking at something but not seeing. "Kennedy?" I try again because I don't want to disturb her if something is happening, but she doesn't register me at all. I have no idea what to do. If she's performing some magic or seeing something, I don't want to interrupt. But how long do I leave her like this? What if something goes wrong? We should've brought the girls with us.

I watch her for what seems like hours, but it's probably only minutes when she starts crying. I move closer immediately, but she's still frozen, with only tears pouring down her cheeks now.

"Kennedy?"

Still nothing and now, I know I can't just let her be. A magpie flies right over my head, almost jerking me into action. I reach for my phone to dial Parker, but before I can the phone begins to ring. Her name flashes on the screen.

"What's wrong?" Parker asks by way of greeting.

I'm not even surprised she knows before I tell her. These girls are connected.

"Kennedy found the thistle and when she touched it, something happened. I think she's in a trance and she's crying. I can't reach her."

"Where are you?" I can hear Lily's voice in the background as I give Parker the address. "We'll be right there."

Parker disconnects and I pocket the phone before I step in front of Kennedy again. I could pull her hand away from the thistle, but I have no idea what that would do. I don't know what's happening and I feel absolutely helpless.

The only thing I can think of is being here. So I reach for her hand and take it into mine. Her skin feels hot to the touch, the kind of hot that comes with a fever. Concern beats in time with the rhythm of my heart and I would do anything to be able to understand what's happening. It feels like Kennedy is going through something alone and I want to be there to share the burden. I wipe at her cheeks gently, hoping that whatever it is, I can at least be here for her in the aftermath.

"Bennett!" Parker's voice carries across the cemetery and I have no idea how much time has passed while I've stood here holding Kennedy's hand.

"We're here!" I shout back. "By the back wall."

The girls come through the trees a minute later, both looking flustered. Their eyes are on Kennedy immediately and they crowd in around her.

"She hasn't moved," I say, still holding her hand, "but I think she stopped crying."

"Tell us exactly what happened," Lily says and I do.

When I finish, the girls exchange a look. Lily pulls out her phone and takes a step back.

"Olivia, we need your help," Lily says, walking away.

"What is it?" I ask.

"I think she's seeing the past, but maybe not just seeing it, experiencing it. I felt her despair all the way across town," Parker replies.

"That's why you called," I say and Parker nods. "How do we get her back?"

"We anchor her to the present," Lily replies, coming back with the phone to her ear. "Olivia wants to know how long have you been holding her hand?"

I glance down at Kennedy's hand and then at the girls. "Since I hung up the phone with you?"

"Good," Lily says, nodding, "Olivia said you helped. Now it's our turn. Okay, I will." She says the last part to the phone and then hangs up. "Parker."

Lily steps up beside me and reaches for Kennedy's hand, the one I'm holding.

"I will hold on to her here and Parker will hold on to her there," she points to the hand touching the thistle, "and we pull her back, okay?"

I nod. I let Lily take my place beside Kennedy and it's very difficult to let go of her hand. Lily takes it and Parker moves to stand beside her, placing her left hand over Kennedy's on top of the tombstone. Lily and Parker then join hands with each other, creating a circle.

They close their eyes and a sudden wind rushes through the cemetery, sending everything spinning. I stumble back a few steps, just so I'm in no way hindering whatever is happening here. The wind continues to play with their hair and the leaves spinning around them. They don't speak and they don't move, they simply hold onto each other as the wind twirls. Then, as suddenly as the wind came, it's gone. The girls open their eyes and glance at Kennedy who blinks, shaking her head a little, and I exhale. She looks at the girls and then her knees buckle.

I rush forward, catching her before she can hit the ground.

"My hero," she mumbles, before she passes out completely.