Page 4 of Knotty Bargain (Monster Holidays #3)
CHAPTER 4
CORDELIA
I trace the lines of the circle on my bedroom floor, the white chalk stark against the dark hardwood floors. Tiny specks cling to my fluffy pajamas as I work. My vision is a bit hazy and I have to re-read every rune three times before writing it down. Miranda’s book is open next to my knee as I read from it.
My stomach’s still full of delicious lasagna, and I’m in that stage of drunkenness that makes you sleepy and heavy and comfortable. I glance at Sylvia.She snores in my bed, dark hair fanned across the pillow, one arm dangling off the edge. We had dinner, and we chatted and drank, and then Miranda went off to bed and Sylvia said it was the perfect time to work some spells.
I can’t believe my best friend convinced me of this. Drunkenly writing runes into the hardwood floors at three in the morning. Witching hour indeed. I sigh. A love spell. And I’m not even sure I’d like it to work.
Sylvia mumbles something unintelligible and rolls over, burrowing deeper under my floral quilt. I chuckle and return to my task, inscribing the runes along the outer edge of the circle. The picture in the book is oddly beautiful.I consult the yellowed pages, squinting to make out the faded ink.
Done. I put the chalk down and slap my hands together. Now, the icon. I pick it up.
It’s very... solid. I eye the appendage-shaped statue with doubt before placing it in the center of the circle. “This better not summon an incubus or something.”
Satisfied with my amateur spell-casting setup, I pad over to the bed and poke Sylvia’s cheek until she grumbles awake.
She blinks at me blearily. “Is it done?”
“Yes, no thanks to you.” I cross my arms. “Get up. If something goes horribly wrong, you’re facing the consequences with me.”
She grumbles, yawns, and stretches languorously before stumbling to her feet. “Go on then, Sabrina. Do the thing.”
“If I’m Sabrina, are you Salem?” I grin asI retrieve the book and stand at the edge of the circle.
Syl makes claw hands. “Meow, bitch.” She scoots closer to me. “I’d claw at Vivian’s fake face. She looks like Temu Kim Kardashian.”
“No, she doesn’t,” I say, though I laugh. “That’s so cruel. You get so cruel when you’re drunk.”
“The filter disappears.” She leans back in bed, propping her hands behind her. “Go on, I can’t wait to meet your very tall, very handsome boyfriend.”
I stick my tongue out at her and flip to the appropriate page, clearing my throat. It’s not easy to read the small print with this much alcohol in my blood. The words feel strange and heavy on my tongue as I begin the incantation. Sylvia watches with rapt attention, her eyes glinting in the dim light.
As I speak the last phrase, a frisson of... something... skitters up my spine. I shiver. Is it working? I keep going, my voice going stronger and stronger until...
Nothing.
Nothing happens. The circle doesn’t light up; there’s no weird breeze, sound, or anything.
I snap the book shut with a sigh. “Well, that was anticlimactic.”
Sylvia pouts. “Give it a minute! Maybe your soulmate has to, like, receive the message.”
“Doubtful.” I scoff. “Love isn’t some grand, mystical force, Syl. It’s messy and complicated and overrated.”
She gasps, pressing a hand to her chest in mock affront. “You take that back! Love is beautiful and pure and?—”
“Fictional?” I raise an eyebrow, then shrug. “It’s alright. I’m perfectly content being invisible to the opposite sex. Means my heart stays intact.”
“Oh Lia,” Sylvia sighs, looping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me to bed. “You’ll meet the right someone one day. I know it. Maybe the magic worked and we’ll meet them tomorrow down the block! You never know!”
“I think I’ll stick to my romance novels, thanks. Less risk of disappointment that way.”
We sit there in silence, staring at the decidedly unmagical circle. No spark, no flash of light, no sudden appearance of a devastatingly handsome stranger. I’m not surprised.
But as I flick off the lamp and crawl into bed beside Sylvia, a tiny, treacherous part of me can’t help it.
I can’t help but hope she’s right.