I regret the hasty message as soon as I send it and immediately make it worse trying to overexplain what I mean.
Not like that—nothing weird.
Just with magic. It seemed like you were interested in it the other night when you were at the shop. When I braided your hair.
I was reading this book, it’s a bit of a weird one. I’m not sure if it will even work. But I think there is a way to, like, pass magic through you? Like an electrical circuit or something.
I’m about 70% sure it’s not dangerous. I’m fact checking now. But this website looks like it was made before we were born. It’s not even formatted for my phone and has that dancing poltergeist animation that was popular back in the internet dark ages. I always thought it was so creepy as a kid.
Sorry, that was a tangent. Okay. Site is terrible but the information seems legit? I’m about 90% sure it’s safe, but will keep researching.
Unless you’re not interested. In which case please disregard all of these msgs and pretend I said something witty and cool instead.
Oh! And how was the band?
I add the question about the band like it will somehow erase the seven other messages sent in rapid succession before it, and make me seem like I’m totally chill and not dying to see him again. Outside the maze-like depths of the library stacks, it’s still broad daylight, so I have plenty of time to stew in my regret.
The sun is barely down when the phone buzzes on my kitchen counter. I abandon my dinner cooking on the stove when I realise it’s Nikolo calling.
“You’re gonna have to explain this to me. Slowly. Little words. Why do you want to electrocute me?” His voice is scratchy from sleep, sending hot sparks through my guts, straight to my dick.
“I’m not going to electrocute you.” I huff. “I’m going to raise some magic and… flow it through you.” Still holding my wooden spoon, I flick sauce everywhere waving my hands as I talk.
There’s a lengthy pause following my pronouncement.
“I—what? How does that even work?”
“It’s exactly like what I said, like an electrical circuit.” Nikolo makes a confused, disbelieving noise. Which is fair—my understanding of electrical circuits is shaky at best. It’s probably a terrible metaphor, but I persevere with confidence. “Magic is just energy, right? Like electricity. So, we create a circuit. I raise the energy, and pass it to you. At the very least I should be able to pass the energy through you, back to me, completing the circuit, and you’ll be able to feel the magic.”
“And at the most?” Gods, is that a hint of curiosity in his voice? I tamp down my excitement to get the rest out.
“At most, you may—with practice—be able to hold the energy. Not use it, but like, hold the magic.”
“You’re having me on, right?”
And we’re back to disbelief. I go back to my sauce, giving it a quick stir and turning off the heat before it burns.
“I’m not having you on, Nikolo.” I sigh. “I mean, it’s not a guarantee. But it’s possible. Apparently.”
“How come I’ve never heard about it?”
“Well, the practice’s legitimacy is mostly disputed.” Ignoring Nikolo’s snort, I carry on. “But there are sources. It’s not like anyone’s everencouragedvampires to seek out magic. And it’s not a practical skill. I haven’t seen anything written anywhere about vampires being able to use the magic, to direct it or channel it. It’s just… there. So it’s not exactly information beings are going looking for.”
“Except for you.” Nikolo’s voice is soft and warm. I’m extremely glad he’s not here to see the way I’m blushing.
“Well, yeah. You seemed to like when I did your hair. I wanted… I wanted to see if there was anything else. Any other way you could have that.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s nothing, seriously.” I manage to sound casual, thank the Gods. “But what do you think?”
There’s another long pause.
“Let’s do it.”
It’s well after midnight when Nikolo arrives at the shop three nights later, adding an illicit air to the whole endeavour.
“Are you sure this is going to work?” He whispers, even though we’re safely locked away in my ritual room.
