“But you’re a guy.”
“Magic isn’t a gendered trait. All of us at Briarwood are witches. Does that make you feel any different about us?”
Kelly’s eyes widened. “Even Arthur?”
I nodded. “He’s a fire witch. You should see him toast marshmallows.”
Kelly snorted.
“What are you thinking right now?”
She didn’t look at me. “I’m thinking that this is scary as hell. I’m thinking that God has sent me here to test me. I just wish I knew what the test was. I’m thinking that if Arthur’s a fire witch, then he might have had something to do with my Uncle’s house burning down. And I guess I’m thinking…that Maeve’s my sister, and I’m supposed to love her no matter what, even if she is cavorting with the devil.”
“You’re an amazing woman, Kelly Crawford.” I patted her shoulder. She looked up at me then, and her lopsided smile told me she still wasn’t sure. “I think if your parents were alive, they’d say exactly the same thing. Maeve says they fought about religion a lot, but they always supported her. She’s not perfect. She should have given you more credit and she should’ve respected your beliefs more. But she’s Maeve and she doesn’tthink like that.” I laughed. “You should’ve seen how skeptical she was when she first saw us wield magic and we told her what she was. I think it would be easier to convince her the earth was flat.”
“That’s saying something. You should hear her rant about flat earthers.” Kelly laughed. “You love her, don’t you?”
Her question came as a shock. I knew what Maeve would want me to say. But as Kelly’s eyes bore into mine I knew that she’d see through the lie anyway. I sighed. “I love her very much.”
“But she’s with Arthur, and he’s your friend.”
I nodded. Both of those statements were technically true. “Love doesn’t always obey the rules. That’s why so many people believe the rules are bullshit.”
“Flynn said something weird to me once, back in London at that tower.” Kelly chewed on her lower lip. “He was making up these silly history facts, and he said the monarchy of England practiced polyamory. He was asking me all about it, as if he really cared about my answer.”
My pulse sped up. “Don’t pay any attention to Flynn. He loves stirring up shite.”
“I said that being with more than one person was an abhorrence against God.”
“Do you believe that?”
She laughed. “My parents are dead. My science nerd sister is practicing satanic witchcraft, and her mother’s come back from the dead. I don’t know what I believe anymore.”
“It’s okay to not know. It doesn’t make you a bad Christian, or a bad person.”
Kelly glanced up at the tower. “Seeing Maeve here with all of you guys…she belongs here. I know that, even though all this witchcraft stuff is scary and I don’t understand what’s going on. I don’t want to deprive her of it. I guess I just wish she felt she belonged with me.”
“I’m sure she does.”
Kelly shook her head. “I always tried to include her. I invited her to hang out with my friends, even though no one liked her. She’d come to parties with me and then hide in the corner with a book. I’d drag her to Bible Study class so she’d have something to do, but she’d just get into arguments with the Pastor about evolution.”
I laughed. “I can imagine.”
“She was always going to leave.” Kelly stared down at the plum she clasped in her hands. “Ever since I could remember she’s been talking about MIT and what her life would be like when she finally escaped Coopersville. It’s hard being a sister to someone like her, knowing she’d choose the stars over you.”
Kelly squeezed her fingers. Plum juice dribbled between them, staining the front of her dress. I thought about our recent visit to Oxford, how Maeve’s eyes had lit up as she’d explored those learned halls. How at home she’d looked there, because a fancy university like that was her destiny. I understood what Kelly meant, and after talking to her I thought I understood something about Kelly that might never have occurred to Maeve before?—
“What are you two doing out here?”
I jumped. Maeve stood at the end of the row, her hands folded over her dress – a summery one Flynn had brought her in Avebury, covered with a pattern of twisting vines. It looked like an old woodcut, and I half expected to see the faces of fae peeking out from between the vines.
“Talking,” Kelly snarled, her voice instantly turning hostile. “Or am I not allowed to talk to anyone else now?”
Maeve sighed. “I didn’t say that. I came to find you, because I wanted to explain all the things you heard this morning. There’s stuff you need to know so you can stay safe…unless Corbin’s already answered all your questions.”
Her gaze flicked to mine. I could see she’d been crying. I wanted to run to her and wrap her in my arms, but I knew it was more important she and Kelly talk and figure this out. I shook my head.
“Unlike everyone else around here, I can actually have a conversation with someone that doesn’t revolve around you,” Kelly shot back. “What do youwant, Maeve?”
