The cherubic face was now set in stern concentration. “Alright, Mr. Malachi, let’s see what we can do. I’m going to try my best, but that spell on you is pretty darn powerful. No guarantees, okay?”
Nodding, Malachi smiled. He was grateful; yet another human was willing to do something nice for him with nothing in return. It was such a strange yet comforting feeling. It was something he could get used to. Well, when it wasn’t something that would expose him and ruin the good life he had with his only friend.
Glenda was now muttering to herself as she directed them to her workroom, where she had him stand inside a metal circle hammered into the stone floor. Unlike the rest of her home, this space was ruthlessly organized with not a single object out of place. Neatly labeled jars and boxes lined the shelves, dried herbs hung on nearby racks, and more books covered one wall. These titles were covered in tooled hides and bore no publisher marks. A small cauldron bubbled cheerfully in the corner fireplace.
Eyebrows raising, Malachi realized Glenda was much more than just the casual dabbler Chuck believed her to be. A thought that was confirmed at Chuck’s low whistle.
“What is all this, Glenda?” she asked with trepidation in her voice. Her fingers were clenching and unclenching. Her aura was wavering again, yellow streaking through it with her fears.
“It’s my workshop,” Glenda replied nonchalantly. “I dabble in spells. Teas, herbal remedies, salves, and small blessings. But it’s always good to have protection when dealing with forces outside of the norm. Thus, my circle.” She waved a hand flippantly at the circle, which Malachi studied with further interest.
Chuck,he called softly,Glenda is more than she seems. This circle is silver. Hammered silver. That’s not just a casual protection thing. She means business.
“What are you going to do, and will it hurt him?” Chuck demanded. “This isn’t some basic protection. I’m not blind. There’s something elsegoing on, and I won’t have you harming Malachi!” She was frowning now, her tone combative.
“No.” Glenda smiled reassuringly, patting the air between them. “I won’t hurt your Malachi. And you’re right. It’s not a basic circle, and I’m sorry I underestimated your willingness to believe. But don’t you worry, Kelly.” She rubbed Chuck’s shoulder gently, reassuringly. “I’m only trying to help. I dare say you’ll like the results.” She widened her eyes at Malachi and subtly jutted her chin towards Chuck. “Oh, Kelly, I left my amethyst on the shelf out there. Will you grab it for me? It’s on the left side.”
As Chuck hurried from the room, Glenda put her hands on her ample hips and raised an eyebrow at him.
Studying Glenda, Malachi came to the conclusion that she knew exactly what he was and what he was supposed to do. But somehow, she seemed okay with it. What did she know he didn’t? It was almost like she was going to perform some showy ritual just to give him the chance to turn himself human.
Glenda stared at him intensely, then nodded slowly. Giving him a wink.
What the fuck? What the actual nine levels of Hell and all the hookers in L.A. is going on?
A small chuckle escaped the witch, and she smirked. “Language,” she muttered.
Ears flattening, Malachi crouched and whimpered.Shit, you knew all along, didn’t you?
Nodding again, Glenda smirked. She squatted in front of him and leaned down to his ear. “Don’t worry, Malachi, I won’t tell. I think Kelly is good for you. It will be fun to watch how this plays out. Girl needs some excitement in her life. And whoever killed her dad? They’ll come for her next. They want her grace. I bet you’d protect her with your life, wouldn’t you?”
Her low voice sent shivers through his body, and he slowly raised his eyes to hers.I will,he growled.No one is going to hurt my Chuck—Kelly—with me around.
A small smile graced her full lips. “Then make this look good, boy.”
Chuck sauntered back in, waving the crystal. “It was on the right shelf!”
Apologizing and blaming her hopeless sense of direction, Glenda took the crystal and turned to her table to grab some candles. She placed them haphazardly around him as he watched in fascination.
Muttering nonsense and waving her hands theatrically, Glenda continued to ‘prep’ for her spell that Malachi now knew was just a show so he could turn human for Chuck. He tried to keep his laughter to himself at how dramatic she was being. He didn’t want Chuck to catch on that this was just a farce. Silently, he monitored her progress while he continued to turn it over in his head that she not only knew what he was, but she was willing to play along. It went against everything he knew.
Before too long, Glenda motioned Chuck into a corner and began a serious-sounding chant in Latin that Malachi realized was just her grocery list. He wasn’t quite sure how she conjugated Nutella into the ancient language, but somehow it worked. As she dropped dramatically to her knees and threw herbs over him, he understood it was his turn to add to the performance. Flopping on his side, he released an anguished whimper and began convulsing.
“Malachi!” yelped Chuck, leaping to her feet. Her aura was now yellow and gray, full of sorrow and fear for allowing harm to befall him.
“Back!” Glenda ordered. “Don’t interfere; this is the most dangerous part. Any interference can cause the spell to backfire.”
Giving it his all, Malachi stretched his mouth into a grim rictus, writhing in pain and moaning before he fell still. Only the bellowing of his chest indicated he was still alive and breathing. At the sharp intake of breathfrom Chuck, he jolted, and his limbs trembled. He allowed them to slowly change, the hair falling out in clumps before dissolving into nothing. First, his legs lengthened and then his arms. His back arched, and he groaned as the change continued to spread over his form, growing in size and shaping into a human. Lastly, his muzzle shortened, and his fur turned into shaggy black hair. The process was actually fairly painful to do this way, versus just dissolving and reappearing. It was so exhausting to do with theatrics. Malachi slumped, gasping on the floor, curled in on himself.
“Malachi?” came Chuck’s quiet whimper.
Opening his eyes, Malachi sought out her stunned gaze with his human eyes and took a deep breath. Limbs trembling with the effort, he pushed himself back to his hands and knees, then slowly rose to his feet. Something silvery, a wave of unfamiliar magic wrapped around him, making him dizzy. Swaying, he opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Clearing his throat, he tried again and choked out one word. “Chuck…” before his eyes rolled up and he collapsed.
Malachi came to, his head feeling stuffed with cotton, a throbbing ache brewing behind his eyes. Groaning he ground the heel of his hand against one temple, then flinched. A hand? “What the fuck?” he shouted and jerked upright before moaning again and flopping back down as a wave of dizziness washed over him.
“Easy there, Malachi, that was a hard transition, and I’m sure you’re exhausted,” came a reassuring voice. “I knocked you out so you could get some rest.”
Blinking blearily, he focused on the source of the words. His eyes found the soft, kind brown face of Glenda the good witch as she studied him in curiosity. “Glenda?” he croaked.
