Witch rose, p.19
Witch Rose, page 19
“But is friends enough?”
“It is for me,” said Bryony. “It has to be, you know why it does.”
“But it’s not enough for me,” said Gabriel.
“Are you planning on ignoring me?”
“I’m thinking of leaving the village.” Gabriel let out a sigh. “There’s a commission at the Flagstones Enclosure in Dorset. The Druid stone has been misbehaving and residents are worried something dark is trying to break through.”
“You’re leaving Old Sarum?” Bryony felt lightheaded. She didn’t want Gabriel to leave.
“For three months,” said Gabriel. “The time apart will do me good. I need to get some clarity back into my thoughts. Even now, talking to you, I can feel my good intentions fading away. Make sure I go.”
“If you’re sure.” Bryony blinked tears from her eyes. This was cruel. She wanted him nearby, not miles away fighting dark magic and risking his life. “I will miss you.”
Gabriel groaned. “If you ask me to stay I will. But please don’t.”
“If you really want to go then go.” Bryony felt her bottom lip trembling. “I won’t stop you.”
Kristoff strode over to Gabriel and Bryony. “I don’t want to break up the party, but high solstice is almost here, and I will be needed at the club. Magical mayhem is no doubt underway already.”
“You can go,” said Gabriel, his gaze still on Bryony.
Kristoff stared at him in silence for a few seconds. “Is everything sorted?”
Gabriel sighed again. “Everything is fine.”
“Yes, everything’s fine,” repeated Bryony as her heart lurched uncomfortably in her chest.
“Let’s leave the witches to their celebration,” said Kristoff to Gabriel. “They do not need demons and angels getting in the way and muddying the magical waters.”
Gabriel frowned but then nodded. “I’ll see you soon,” he said to Bryony as Kristoff slowly led him out of the garden.
“What did he say to you?” Ivy nudged Bryony with her hip.
“He’s having a break from the village, and me.” Bryony's voice wobbled.
“It’s for the best,” said Ivy. “The two of you were getting close. It could have been dangerous, for him and me.”
Bryony nodded. “I know, but there’s just something about him. I hate our stupid curse.”
Ivy placed an arm around Bryony’s shoulders. “Kristoff told me that Gabriel shared information with him when he was siphoning the poison.”
“But they don’t like each other,” said Bryony. “Why would he do that?”
“It must have been the impact of the magic being used,” said Ivy. “But Kristoff knows how Gabriel feels about you. It’s dangerous for Gabriel to stay. He will get his heartbroken and you could lose a sister.”
“I know all of that,” said Bryony. “But it doesn’t make it feel any better.”
“Kristoff was the one to suggest Gabriel take time out of the village to get his thoughts together,” said Ivy.
“Why is Kristoff being so nice to Gabriel?” asked Bryony.
“Beats me.” Ivy looked at the rose tucked into her scarf. “That demon has issues.”
“I think he has a good side,” said Bryony.
“Maybe some of your goodness transferred to him when you gave him your powers.”
“No, it’s always been there.”
“If you say so.” Ivy extracted a long twisted length of wood from her pocket. “I got you a new wand. A gift on solstice eve.”
Bryony smiled as she accepted the wand. “You shouldn’t have.”
“Don’t worry, I got myself a new one as well.” Ivy pulled out another polished piece of wood. “This one has a phoenix feather woven through it.”
“That sounds powerful.” Bryony tested out her own wand, swinging it through the air a few times and feeling the wood warm under her fingers.
The family familiars emerged from the kitchen, their black ears erect and tails swishing as they sniffed the air. The power of the solstice was almost upon them. Spike gave a loud bark of pleasure and chased the cats around the garden, while Sweetie continued to swoop overhead and screech into the magical night.
“Girls, you must join in with the dancing,” called Aunt Isadore as she leapt around the bonfire, her eyes bright with the flames.
“Aunt Lilith isn’t dancing,” said Ivy as they walked over to the bonfire.
“I never dance,” said Aunt Lilith from her reclined position on the ground.
“Yes you do,” said Adeline. “I remember that night ten years ago when you had too much rum and fairy dust punch. You threw off your clothes and danced naked in the woods for at least an hour.”
“You’re thinking of someone else,” said Aunt Lilith.
“It was you,” laughed Aunt Odessa. She placed more plates of apple infused treats on the table and joined her sister around the bonfire.
Adeline walked over to Ivy and Bryony and linked her arms through their elbows. “My beautiful girls. Both equal in power. We must celebrate tonight’s union of dark and light magic. And I can’t think of a better way to celebrate it than with my family all around me.” She kissed their cheeks in turn.
“You’re right, tonight is a time for celebration,” said Bryony.
They joined their family around the bonfire, testing out their new wands and throwing out spells of celebration and joy.
The huge moon peered down at them from overhead as the whole of Old Sarum celebrated the solstice and the beginning of a new magically infused year.
Bryony grinned at Ivy. “The light and the dark uniting. I can’t think of anything better.”
“A bottle of damson wine and a large pizza might be better.” Ivy watched her family dance around her with an amused glint in her eyes.
“Don’t be mean. You love solstice, and you love us.” Bryony wrapped her arms around her sister.
Ivy squirmed in Bryony’s embrace, before relenting, and giving her a loud kiss on the cheek. “Happy solstice. Here’s to hundreds more.”
K E O'Connor, Witch Rose
