I thought the effect was from grief. Dimitri, the dragon who previously owned our house and crafted all these designs, lost his wife—his mate—just before moving to Folk Haven.
Emotions have a touch of magic to them. They can tie themselves to a place or object.
That’s often how ghosts come about.
And if you’re a witch like me, constantly aware of the emotional auras of those nearby, lingering feelings can also register.
But none were ever so strong as those in the statue garden.
Turns out, that’s because they weren’t leftover feelings.
All the pain and rage and remorse and fear belong to this creature, held prisoner in an all-encompassing cage of metal.
“Anyone having second thoughts about letting our metal buddy loose?” Anthony asks. “Looks like they could do some damage.”
“Most everyone in Folk Haven can do damage,” Ame points out. “That doesn’t mean they deserve to be trapped.”
“I checked with Levi and Selena.” I name the monster and witch, respectively, who sit on the town’s Mythic Council. “There’s no record of a monster being imprisoned. They claim the town has never done that. They attempt to use less painful methods to deal with any problems.”
Like Ame’s magic, which can be utilized to persuade people. She’s worked spells to have people want to leave Folk Haven behind forever.
“And Jack has agreed to act as protection if it gets violent,” my sister reminds us.
All five of us turn to stare at the statue’s snarling mouth.
“My bet is on attack first, talk later,” Anthony mutters.
“Do you want to leave?” I snap at my brother, already on edge because of the bombardment of emotions and the pressure of working a large spell I’ve never done before.
He pouts. “No. I don’t want to be left out of family activities.”
“Then stop nitpicking. I’ve had months to consider this, and I’m doing it.”
I finally faced my fear this past summer, venturing into the statue garden, and that was when I realized this terrifying creation was actually a living creature.
But I couldn’t simply grab a spell book, waltz back, and free him.
This is a delicate process, requiring some rare ingredients and a helpful boost from the cosmos. Today is the autumn equinox, and I plan to channel the power of the season to supercharge my spell.
Our group takes the next hour to set up everything for the curse breaking.
Lighting bonfires and burning the herbs I’ve gathered.
Drawing chalk circles, filled with spell words in the witch language.
And something new—marking the statue with a tracking symbol. I have to climb up on the creature’s shoulder to reach the spot behind their ear where I want to draw it. This puts my face next to theirs, so close to their saffron-colored fury that pulses like a heartbeat.
“You’ll be free soon,” I whisper to them. “We’re here to help.”
There’s no response in their aura, and I wonder if maybe they were frozen in the last emotion they felt.
“Please don’t kill us,” I add before climbing back down.
Preparations complete, I kneel in front of the grimoire, watching as my three siblings pierce the skin of their thumbs with the sharp blade of a dagger. They’ve agreed to be power sources while I work the spell.
I tug off my sweatshirt, shivering, as I’m left in only leggings and a sports bra. Broderick and Anthony flank me, each pressing a hand to the bare skin of my shoulders, while Ame settles her palm on the middle of my back.
They speak the words to share power, and I can’t hold back a yelp of surprise at the amount of magic flowing into me. My veins buzz with the excess strength.
