The warlocks bride, p.6
The Warlock's Bride, page 6
“Oh, thank you, Signor Lazzaro,” the woman crooned.
Liliana rolled her eyes. He was selling magical beauty products? Why was she even surprised?
Seeing that he was much too busy flirting, she motioned for Fiorella to the back room. Surely, he wouldn’t mind if she set her talismans there. She wasn’t going to waste her day waiting for him to acknowledge her.
Fiorella hesitated, her hand on the knob. She glanced at Dante and back to Liliana.
“It’s fine. We’ll just set this back there and leave. He’s obviously too busy,” Liliana reassured her.
Shrugging, Fiorella opened the door for Liliana and shut it quickly behind her.
Sunlight streamed in from the little kitchen window. A dying fire flickered from the hearth, filling the room with the smell of burning wood and ash. There was a hint of mint and candlewax in the air, too.
Voices drifted from the front as Liliana set her crate down on top of his round kitchen table. Fiorella picked up a vial of black liquid that stood on the tabletop and held it up to the grayish light.
“Liliana, look! It’s a love potion,” she said excitedly, holding out the little glass out to her sister.
She pointed to the fancy written label.
Liliana snorted. “Love potions and beauty products. I hope he actually knows how to brew something helpful. Or at least perform some defense spells.”
“Do you think he meant to put it out front to sell?” Fiorella asked, taking a sniff of the corked vial.
“How should I know? Now, put that back, Ella. I want to get home.”
“Shh! Listen,” Fiorella said, motioning Liliana to be quiet.
Liliana frowned. “What is it? I don’t hear anything.”
The front shop had grown silent. Had everyone left?
Fiorella ignored her and walked over to the sink, still holding the vial in her hand. “Oh, look!”
“Ella, we have to go,” Liliana whispered, glancing at the closed door.
Setting the love potion down on the counter, Fiorella reached into the sink and picked up a small potted plant. She turned to show Liliana.
“Santos! What is that?” Liliana said with a gasp.
It had a thick green stalk with two large leaves sprouting from each side and a bulbous red petaled head with sharp spiked edges pressed together in the middle, giving the appearance of teeth.
“I think it’s a baby,” Fiorella answered, green eyes lighting up on it.
The plant’s head opened wide, giving them a view of the its inner green ‘mouth’. Then it slammed its teeth-like spikes shut.
“Put it down, Ella. Carefully,” Liliana said, eyeing it warily.
Fiorella’s brow furrowed. “I didn’t do this. I swear. It was alive like this before I picked it up.”
“Put—”
Liliana was cut off by the door swinging open. Startled, Fiorella backed up toward the sink, bumping the vial of love potion down. Before Liliana could stop it, the glass fell and shattered on the wooden floor.
Fiorella set the plant down on the counter quickly, eyes widening in horror at the growing black puddle near her boot.
“Was that one of my potions or yours?” Dante asked casually, entering the kitchen.
Liliana bit back a groan. “I’m afraid you’re going to need to make more love potion.”
Dante’s eyes snapped to hers.
“I’m sorry!” Fiorella said, bending down to pick up the glass.
“No! I’ll get it. Who knows what is in that,” Liliana told her, looking around for a rag.
Dante walked over to inspect the mess and looked at Fiorella. “No worries. I can clean it up. Are you all right?”
Fiorella nodded, eyes downcast.
Giving her sister a reassuring smile, Dante flicked his wrist over the broken glass and transferred the pieces to the waste bin. Liliana bit back the comment on her tongue. Using magic to clean up such a small mess was lazy.
The black goo didn’t budge.
“Hmm. That’s strange,” the warlock muttered, eyes narrowing on the mess.
“Don’t you have a rag or something to use? You do own cleaning supplies, don’t you?” Liliana asked.
His dark eyes met hers. “Of course. In the cupboard.”
Liliana opened the wooden cupboard he indicated and wet the rag in the sink. The little snapping plant seemed to be watching her though it didn’t have any visible eyes.
“Here, let me,” Dante said as she turned toward them with the cloth.
Their hands touched briefly, making Liliana’s heart jump. She let him take it and stepped out of his way.
“It doesn’t seem to be coming off,” Dante said with a perplexed look.
Liliana sighed. “Oh, let me do it!”
She knelt down to help him, reaching for the rag. Immediately, the black goo flung itself to their touching hands and disappeared into their skin.
“What just happened?” Liliana asked, holding her hand out in front of her face.
A warm, tingling sensation spread up her arm.
Dante met her stare with a shocked expression. “I don’t know, but I don’t think it’s anything good.”
Chapter 8
Easy Remedies
Dante
Dante’s arm felt like it was on fire. He didn’t feel any different otherwise, but he didn’t like the strange reaction he was having to the black goop. Burning wasn’t usually a good sign.
“What was in that potion?” Liliana demanded, dark eyes furious.
“I wish I knew,” he muttered.
Her eyebrows knitted together. “What do you mean? Didn’t you brew it?”
He shook his head. “No. I… it was a gift from a friend. I never planned on using it… I didn’t think… let’s keep calm. I’m sure there’s an easy remedy to this.”
Liliana’s face hardened. “What exactly does this love potion do?”
Dante flashed her an apologetic smile that felt more like a grimace. “I’m not sure. She only told me that it would lead me to my true match. But—”
“This isn’t just a potion, Dante. Can’t you feel it? There’s a spell attached to it,” Liliana cut him off, voice rising.
The use of his first name surprised him and would have made him smile if it weren’t for the murderous glare that accompanied it.
“Well, now that you mention it, yes. I do feel it. A powerful spell, too. Huh.”
Liliana growled in frustration. “Don’t just stand there gawking! Do something. How do we break this… whatever this is?”
Dante frowned. “We could try a dividing spell?”
“Do you have all the ingredients for that?”
She looked around, her gaze snagging on her little sister, who watched silently with her hand over her mouth and watery eyes.
“It’s alright, Ella,” her voice softened.
“Let me grab something from the front,” Dante said, heading for the door.
Pain shot through his arms and legs as he walked away. A heaviness followed, making it feel he was wading through the thickest mud.
“What are you doing?” Liliana asked behind him.
He turned to her. He’d only made it two steps. “I think it’s the spell. I’m trying to leave.”
“If this is some sort of prank, I swear…” Liliana said, letting her warning fade away.
Dante spread his arms with a huff. “I swear, I’m not trying to irk you. This is difficult. My legs won’t listen.”
He took a wide step, sucking in a breath at the pain that spread up his limbs. Pushing through the pain, he took another giant step. He was halfway to the door now.
“You look ridiculous,” Liliana said behind him.
Dante glanced back to see her frown and Fiorella’s amused smile she tried to cover with her hands.
He gave Liliana an annoyed look. “Let’s see you try and move then.”
With a snort, Liliana stepped toward him, one eyebrow raised.
“Well, of course, because you’re moving closer to me,” Dante said, taking another step toward the door.
The sharp pain returned, making his head throb with a dull ache. Dante grit his teeth and rushed to the door, gasping.
He put his hand on the knob and looked at Liliana. “How come you’re not feeling the pain?”
She shrugged. “Maybe because I’m not the one trying to leave? Does this help?” she asked as she moved toward him.
The pain ebbed. He sighed in relief and nodded to her. Motioning for her to follow him, he opened the door and walked through. The door slammed shut behind him.
A jolt went through his body, making him bend over in pain.
“What are you doing?” he gasped out.
“I just wanted to see something,” Liliana’s voice called from the other side of the door. “Are you still in pain?”
Dante glared at the door. “Yes.”
“I think I’m starting to feel it too.”
“Wonderful. Now are you coming out to help me get the stuff for the spell?” Dante asked, his irritation bleeding through.
“Hold on. Maybe if we stay like this for a little while longer the pain will stop.”
Before he could point out how foolish her plan was, his body leapt at the door, his head banging into the wood.
“What the…” His words were cut off as the magic threw him at the door once again.
“What are you doing? Stop it. You’re scaring my sister,” Liliana said sharply.
“I’m not doing this on purpose! Open the door, Liliana,” Dante shouted as his body rammed itself against the door once more.
The door swung open, making him tumble forward and into the glaring witch.
She caught his fall, her touch sending a shock of awareness through him. The pain settling into something more manageable, Dante straightened and smoothed back his curls.
“Are you alright?” Liliana asked, a touch of amusement in her tone.
Dante glared at her and rubbed his forehead. “I just had my head slammed into the wood.”
Liliana glared back at him. “I didn’t tell you to run into the door repeatedly.”
Feeling irritated himself, Dante scoffed. “You do realize it’s the potion, don’t you? You don’t think I purposefully slammed myself into the door, do you? You could have opened the door the first time you heard me running into it.”
Ignoring him, she turned to her sister. “Fiorella, can you take Fabrizio back home and get Mama? Bring some of the lilies from the garden.”
Fiorella hesitated. “I’ll just walk up the mountain. I’ll be fast.”
Liliana shook her head. “It would be faster with the wagon.”
“But I’ve never driven it by myself before,” Fiorella said, glancing embarrassedly at Dante.
Her sister sighed and nodded. “Okay, but please hurry. And bring my spell books too.”
Fiorella nodded, glanced back at the little potted plant on the counter, and hurried past them to the door. The bell jingled behind her as she left the shop.
Dante stared at the curly-haired witch before him. Her eyes were dark and calculating, meeting his gaze.
“Well, this isn’t quite what I’d envisioned when I told you we should work closely.”
She gave him a flat look. Clearly, she was in no mood for jokes. If he could have just gotten one smile out of her, he would have considered it a win.
“The division spell?” Liliana asked, pulling Dante out of his thoughts.
He cleared his throat and motioned for her to lead the way to the front. She waited for him to follow before moving forward. Together, they walked to the long, black-painted counter and shelves of product.
“This one should work. Though I have to warn you, it does leave a bitter taste for a few days,” Dante said, grabbing a vial from the shelf behind the counter.
Liliana peered around him, squinting at the label. “That won’t be strong enough. We need to know the ingredients of the potion and steps to the spell. Can you ask your… friend?”
“I can, but she’s in the city. It will take a few days to get a letter to her and hear back.”
Liliana groaned, rubbing her forehead. “Lovely.”
“How was I supposed to know you and your sister would go nosing through my kitchen?”
Her brow furrowed. “We weren’t nosing. We were dropping off the talismans I made for the Hallow’s Eve.”
“You could have left them on the front counter,” Dante replied with his back to her.
He pulled down all the bottled spells and potions that might help them out of their predicament.
Liliana snorted, drawing his attention. He met her eyes.
“You were so busy flirting, I thought it would be best if we didn’t disturb you.”
Dante frowned. “I wasn’t flirting. I was… making a sale.”
She rolled her eyes and waved his words away. “Let’s try one of these and see if it helps. You’ll still have to write your friend though. As soon as possible. Why did she give you a love potion, anyway?”
Dante shrugged and glanced away. “It was just a nice gesture.”
Liliana studied him and shook her head. “People don’t give love potions as a nice gesture. She’s probably some poor woman whose heart you’ve broken with your games.”
A scoff escaped Dante. “I beg your pardon? I don’t know what you’ve heard about me, but I assure you, I don’t make it a habit to go around and break women’s hearts.”
“Your habits are none of my concern. Or at least they won’t be as soon as we’re free of this spell,” Liliana muttered under her breath.
She picked up one of his vials and waved it at him. “Let’s start with this one.”
Following her lead, Dante grabbed the rest of the vials and jars to carry toward his kitchen. They set them on the little table and walked over to the sink to wash their hands.
“What is that thing?” Liliana asked pointing at the little potted plant.
“I’m not sure. I bought it from a peddler in the city before I left. They claimed it came from deep in the Youngfrou forest. Its leaves’ secretion is supposed to have healing properties, but I haven’t found that to be so.”
Liliana frowned at it.
“Ready?” Dante asked, drying his hands on the towel.
Her eyes snapped to his. “Let’s see what you can do.”
Dante bit back the suggestive comment that came to mind, remembering his promise to Massimo. Things were strictly business.
After several vials of potions and spell attempts later, daylight was starting to fade, and they were still no closer to breaking the spell as they’d been before.
Dante slumped into the chair, leaning forward on his arms. His head throbbed from the effort. Liliana stood beside him, fanning herself in the heat of the kitchen. The fire roared from the hearth, warming Dante’s cauldron for the next brew.
“Fiorella should be back any moment with the lilies for the breaking spell,” Liliana said, wringing her hands together.
Dante groaned. “That’s what you said before.”
She frowned and opened her mouth to respond but was cut off by a loud shriek.
Her eyes widened. “Santos! What is that?”
Dante glanced up at his closed bedroom door. “She’s starting to wake up.”
Liliana gave him a sharp look. “She?”
Standing to his feet, Dante motioned for her to follow. Their footsteps echoed loudly in the silence as they walked to the room.
Dante opened the door and waved her in. Too tired and drained for another spell, he picked up the box of matches on the side table and pulled a match out to light the candles.
Liliana stood close beside him, the smell of her lavender soap surrounding him. Dim sunlight streamed in from the large window above his wide bed. In the corner of the room, Ometta nestled atop a large wooden post.
The golden glow from the now lit candles gave the room a soft, romantic air. Dante turned to watch Liliana as she took it all in. Her eyes roamed the sparse furniture, briefly snagging on his giant bed, before landing on Ometta.
She glanced at him. “Is that your… pet?”
At the sound of the witch’s voice, Ometta looked up, blinking her large yellow eyes.
Liliana gasped.
“You have a familiar?” she asked, a touch of awe in her voice.
Dante smiled and met her questioning gaze. “Her name is Ometta.”
The owl flew closer, its eyes fixed on Liliana. Landing with a loud thud on the side table and knocking the lamp over, she cocked her head at the witch and let out a high-pitched shriek. Dante waited for Liliana’s reaction.
Unsurprisingly, she didn’t flinch or gasp. Instead, her lips broke into a smile. It was the first genuine smile Dante had seen and, though it wasn’t directed at him, he couldn’t help but smile too.
“I think she likes you,” Dante said, motioning Liliana closer.
“She’s beautiful. I’ve never met a familiar before… Is this her only form?” Liliana asked, reaching a hand out to the owl.
Ometta looked to him.
Dante hesitated. “No, she has three forms. This one, a child’s, and her true one. But she only shows that one to me.”
Liliana’s eyes snapped to his. She didn’t say anything, but Dante couldn’t help but feel that something had changed between them. Maybe she was beginning to see that he wasn’t just the flirtatious peacock she’d branded him as.
She opened her mouth but was cut off by the sound of knocking. Muffled voices shouted from outside the store.
Dante frowned. “Who could that be making all that noise?”
Liliana shook her head ruefully. “My family.”
Chapter 9
A Family Dinner
Liliana
“Did you all have to come?” Liliana asked as her mother and sisters filed into the shop, one by one.
“Yes,” Alessia answered, followed by Massimo.
“Except for the elves. They’re dining together at my villa tonight,” she added as she handed Liliana a stack of her spell books.
