Page 4 of How Not to Hex a Gentleman (Witches of Edinburgh)
Chapter Four
KENNEDY
" C ome on, we should walk in the garden on the way back." Parker beelines for the crosswalk before Lily and I can say a word.
"She's a doer," Lily comments, and I chuckle.
"That's one word for her."
We follow because we're not about to leave her alone. What she said about us looking out for each other, I stand by that. We cross the street and take the stairs down to Princes Street Gardens. Since we're entering the west end of the garden, we have the perfect view of the castle looming over the fountain.
"Oh my goodness," Lily exclaims, heading straight for it. "I've seen pictures, but it's just so beautiful in person."
"Ross Fountain," I supply, my own heart filling with wonder the closer we get. That sense of rightness comes again, and this time I'm sure I'm seeing the fountain sparkle—but not in a normal way. Maybe it's my tired brain playing tricks on me, but I do an internal check—like my aunt taught me—to make sure I'm not sending off any magical sparks. I clear my throat, focusing on the girls. "It was cast in France, a cast-iron piece of art, a really good example of 19th century sculpture. It was shipped here in 122 pieces and then assembled in 1872."
"How do you know so much about it?" Parker asks and I beam at her.
"That's my thing. History, specifically European history."
"Goodness, this is the perfect place for you then." Lily grins at me, her eyes shining. It seems like everything about her shines. While Parker seems to prefer darker colors, Lily is all sunshine. From her blonde cascading hair to the light green dress that goes right past her knees and peaks out below her tan coat to her light brown eyes full of laughter. I think the only lines on her face are laugh lines, while mine have got quite a few frown ones at this point.
"I think so too," I reply honestly, returning the smile. I give myself a moment to study the park around the fountain and notice a magpie sitting on one of the branches, staring at us. I turn back to the girls. "Everything about this exchange program felt right. What about you? What's your area of study?"
"Oh, I'm an English major," Lily replies. "Edinburgh is also a place of books, so it was right, ya know?" She's still staring at the fountain and her fascination with it feels me with warmth. If I look like that staring at the castle, then I can tell why the girls would think I'm in love.
"What about you?" We look over at Parker who stopped in front of the fountain and is now facing us.
"Art," she supplies with a grin. "Specifically relating to the Wicca aspects of history. And I think," she continues, looking back up at the fountain, "I'll have to come back in the daytime and sketch this monstrosity, because look at it."
Parker is now grinning up at it, but my mind is on the casual way she used the word Wicca . It's not a word I hear often, but just like with everything else surrounding magic, I am sensitive to it.
I try not to show it and focus on the fountain instead. It hits me square in the chest. The beauty, the history, it's all there, intricately woven together by a skilled artist who took the time to put all the pieces together. At the very top of the fountain resides a woman, overlooking the gardens. Below her are four nymphets, said to represent arts, science, poetry, and industry. Under the first tier is a collection of mermaids, cherubs, and walrus and lion heads. It's unique and strange in all the right ways.
"Did you know it used to be all gold?" I glance at the girls and they shake their heads. Instantly, I want to tell these strangers everything. This is a subject I'm comfortable with, a safe place for me when the anxiety of magical things starts to creep in. "They restored it a few years back and painted it this turquoise, brown, and gold to pay homage to the French style of that time."
"How did it get here?"
"A gunsmith, Daniel Ross, saw it at an exhibit in France and bought it before gifting it to Edinburgh. Not that they appreciated it; not with all the naked ladies. Victorian society was very scandalized to have so much unreal skin on display."
The three of us chuckle, looking back up at the structure. I think I could stay here forever. There's a sense of peace, simply enjoying the monument, with the gentle fall of water and the sound of the city around us. The park is nearly empty at this hour, and it's still early enough in the year that the streets aren't full of tourists.
Lily motions to one of the benches near the fountain and we take a seat as we eat our Cornish pasties.
I'm halfway through mine before I speak up again. "I never thought I'd be able to come here," I say, and I'm not exactly sure what possessed me to share, but it feels like I can speak my mind with these strangers. Maybe because they are strangers. "I applied every semester and always got rejected. It seemed like an unreachable dream."
I want to say more about how alone I felt in those dreams when I'd applied secretly and how much my aunt discouraged me and made me fearful of myself, but I take a bite of my pasty instead, finishing it off. Standing, I discard my trash and walk back to the fountain, unsure where this emotional part of me is coming from. I don't talk about feelings with anyone, but suddenly I want to and I have no idea why.
I hear them come up on either side of me and it's Lily who speaks first. "It was a miracle for me too, but I think—I think we're meant to be here. Don't you think?"
That last part is aimed at Parker and we both glance to the left, to see her staring at the fountain. There's something in her eyes that makes me pause and I wonder just how much history she carries behind that carefree spirit of hers. That's true for anyone, I suppose. We all carry a load of baggage.
Parker turns, looking at Lily and me with a little twinkle in her eye. "I think we're going to be the best of friends."
"Hey there."
The voice comes from behind us and we turn as one to see two guys approaching. They look to be in their twenties with broad grins on both of their faces. In the minutes we've been here, the park has seemed to clear out even more, save for these two—and the magpie still eyeing us from the branches.
"We were wondering, could you take a picture of us?" the slightly taller one of the two asks and I narrow my eyes a little. He’s looking at us in that sort of a way that immediately makes me uncomfortable—as if he sees his favorite dessert and is about to take a bite out of it. I can't tell if my brain is being overly cautious or if I'm picking up some vibes, but either way, I would like them to leave.
"Sure," Lily replies beating my automatic no.
She steps forward to take the offered phone as Parker and I move to the side. The guys pose themselves in front of the fountain, their hands in their pockets and those smiles in place. We're close enough to the fountain that it won't be fully in the picture, but I assume it's because it's dark out, the sun has set, and there aren't lights in this area of the park except at the fountain.
"Here you go."
Lily hands the phone back, but instead of accepting it, they move to either side of her, looking over her shoulders.
"Oh that's nice, could we try another?"
They're standing way too close, in her personal space, and when Lily goes to move back, they follow. And that just won't do.
"I think that's enough," I say, moving up to stand by Lily, my hand plunging into my pocket. I wedge my body right next to her, making the guys move.
"What? We just want another picture," the shorter of the two whines, and I can tell they're not from around here, but I can't place the accent either. It doesn't matter, we're done helping. The uncomfortable feeling that came when they arrived is intensifying by the second.
"Well, we're not your personal paparazzi, so how about you take your phone and move on?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.
"American, yes?" The taller one eyes me up and down. "I heard you tend to be feisty ."
"And I heard European men are good-looking, but I guess only one of us has the right information," Parker comments, flanking Lily's other side.
Lily grins at the guys before tossing the phone at them. The shorter one barely catches it, a harsh look coming over his features.
"Now, you little—" He steps forward, but I grab Lily's hand, pulling her slightly behind me, as I level the guy with a look.
"I suggest you move alone, before I shower you with a particularly feisty type of blessing," I say, raising a tiny cylinder can.
Parker barks out a laugh, as the guys take a surprised step back.
"Really, run along. She's pretty unhinged these days, especially after the day she's had. You don't want her—Oh look at that, they're gone."
We exchange a look before the three of us burst out laughing.
"When you pulled out the can I thought they were going to pee their pants. I thought pepper spray was illegal here. They didn't take it away in customs?" Lily giggles and I give the can a proud look, raising it higher and spraying a few pumps.
"It's perfume," I say as the girls quickly step back. "But looks legit, doesn't it? Never travel without one, even if it's a fake one."
"And you were shocked at me and my knife, Miss Self-Defense Goddess."
"Oooh, goddess. I like that." I do a little bow, and then the girls stumble into me, pulling us into an impulsive group hug. My instinctual response is to pull away, but for some reason, I don't. It's almost like this is what I was missing in my day—a hug between friends. We're laughing like we've known each other for years, and that sense of rightness washes over me once more. Nothing like an uncomfortable situation to bond girls together. I glance at the fountain as something catches my eye, and before I can look away, it begins to glow.
"Oh, hey, girls," I say, since I'm the only one facing it.
They turn as one and we watch the glow start at the top of the fountain, right over the statue's head, and slowly travel down the length of it. I blink a few times, making sure I'm actually seeing it. Maybe I'm more tired after my flight than I thought, but Parker shatters that notion with her next words.
"Is there a spotlight?"
I glance around but I don't see any lights pointing in this direction. I turn my attention back to the glow, watching it make its way over the intricate design and into the water. Before we know it, we find ourselves at the edge of the fountain, as the glowing orb moves all the way down and stops in the water, right in front of us.
"We all see that, right?" Parker asks.
"Yes," Lily and I answer at the same time, unable to look away.
Then, before we realize we're moving, we step forward and reach for it, as one. The moment our fingers touch the water, something happens. A tingly sensation rushes through my body, almost like I touched a live wire. My confusion turns to panic as the fear that's been instilled in me from a young age rushes in.
Control yourself, Kennedy. Breathe through it. But…I'm not doing this…this isn't my magic. No way. I—suddenly, my wrist is on fire and I jerk away as if there's a way to shake it off. The girls gasp and then we're stumbling back, each holding our right wrist in our left hand.
"What's happening?" Lily asks as we pant like we've run a mile.
I grip my hand over my skin, trying to keep the pain at bay. There had to have been something in the water, maybe something I'm allergic to. That is the only rational explanation because I definitely did not perform any magic.
"No idea," Parker manages, and then, just as suddenly as the burning sensation appeared, it's gone. Blinking a few times I stare at the fountain, but it's normal again. I look around the park, but we're alone.
"Umm, guys?" Parker's voice carries a note of concern in it and I spin around to find her staring at her wrist. I glance down at my own, shock holding me completely immobile.
Because where there was only skin before, in a spot on my wrist below the thumb, there are now black lines, about two inches long and one inch across.
A flower.
My mind tries to wrap itself around what I'm seeing when Lily speaks up. "Is that a thistle?"