If we did everything correctly, the remaining magical beetles would drop dead, and we’d be able to sweep them away and act like they never existed in the first place. At least, that was my plan. I shivered just thinking about it.Gods, I hate bugs.
I still didn’t know where they came from or who had sent them here, but that was a problem for future Fiella. Right now, I just wanted them gone. It had been a nightmare trying to squish the insects and shoo them away while cleaning up the mess they had caused. They slowed the process down immensely.
Redd was grumbling under his breath, something that sounded like “... got to be fucking kidding me…” but I chose to ignore him. He could grow up and prance around the room with us like a real man.
“Okay, whatever, let’s get this over with.”
“Great! This is going to be fun!” Kizzi shouted, clapping her hands and bouncing on her toes like this was the most exciting event in the realms.
She was lucky I loved her, because sometimes she wasannoying.
“No, not there,there!” Kizzi called for what felt like the hundredth time. Redd was not very good at strategic crystal placing, apparently. I had to stifle my laughs.
Redd grumbled under his breath but moved the crystal to the correct location. It had taken uswaylonger than it should have to set everything out properly.
“Finally! Alright that feels good, I can sense the magic aligning. Now we need to whip it up and get this thing rolling,” Kizzi stated, grabbing my hand and yanking me to the cauldron in the center of the room.
Redd reluctantly joined us, looking like he’d rather be doing literally anything else. He grasped our hands and completed the circle.
His hand was warm, strong, and calloused and his grip sent a shiver of awareness through me.
Gods damned, I was embarrassingly touch starved. I bet a full-blown hug would knock me off my feet.
Looking like fools, we spun and spun and spun until I was sure I was either going to fall over or be sick. Both options were not ideal. Redd was looking a little green in the face so at least I wasn’t the only one.
Kizzi looked green too, but that was nothing unusual for her. She usually fluctuated between shades of brown and jade. Maybe she was a bit greener? She was smiling and giggling like a little, though, so she was probably feeling perfectly fine.
Before I could make a new mess on the (already very messy) floor and embarrass myself any further, Kizzi declared that the magical energy had been sufficiently whipped and we could now proceed with the rest of the spell.
I didn’t know what whipped magic felt like, but the hair on my arms was raised a bit. And there was a slight knot in my stomach, but that could’ve just been indigestion. Or a lingering hangover.
We all collapsed onto the floor, our brains spinning. Thank the gods Sookie was gone–she probably would’ve been internally laughing her cat ass off at the spectacle. It took us a few minutes to be stable enough to pass around the cauldron ladle.
This concoction wasn’t as dreadful as the last one I had tried, but it certainly wasn’t pleasant. Sea water, maple syrup, dried grass, sweet cream, and… was that fur? I tried not to think about it too hard as I held my breath and swallowed the concerningly textured mouthful.
I needed to stop letting Kizzi feed me things. She had a bad track record.
My still-tender stomach heaved, but I managed to keep the liquid down. Redd actually gagged once. Softie. I barely held myself back from making any rude comments. I was surprised that the surly vampire had stayed for the ritual, as he could have easily made an excuse and left, but Kizzi did tend to have that effect on people. It was Kizzi’s realm, and we were all just living in it.
It was inspirational, honestly.
Stomach full of a mysterious magical liquid, I was beginning to feel the magic in the shop more acutely. The magic of the potion was moth wings fluttering in my stomach, the whipped natural magic was gentle breezes kissing my skin, and the lingering magic of the beetles was pins and needles in my legs and acidic burning in my nostrils.
It must be strange to be a witch, to constantly be so in touch with the lingering magic in the world. The magic must have been overwhelming ages ago, when the Old Gods’ magic was still flooding the realm. Witches weren’t the only creatures able to connect with magic–sprites, elves, faeries, and other folk could as well, but witches and wizards were the best at it.
“Time for the final stages. We’ve got to boil and burn this stuff and repeat this tune,” Kizzi stated. “Fi and I will take the high notes, tough guy over there is going to take the low notes. Let’s harmonize.”
“Is that necessary?” Redd asked uncertainly. “Back home the witches usually just chant their spells. In normal speaking voices.”
“Boo, you guys are no fun,” Kizzi complained. “Whatever.”
Kizzi placed the cauldron on a hot plate and tossed a lit match on top. The liquid, somehow, caught fire.
We sang (or chanted, because Redd was lame) the verse for what felt like hours but was probably more only like thirty minutes. The stuff burned down pretty quickly.
I was exhausted, and my throat was hurting. I couldn’t tell if that was from my lovely singing or if thirst was creeping back up on me. Probably a mixture of both.
