“The…your hair and is that…is that a cut?”
“I tried to walk through a wall in the dark. That’s how I discovered the curse was broken.”
Sven hovered over to him and touched his hair and then his face. “Is your heart beating?”
Magnus nodded. “Yeah, but my skin stayed white and my eyes are still red.”
“Well, I guess you can’t win them all.” Sven pulled his hand away. “I’m happy for you.”
Except Magnus could hear the sadness in his voice because Sven was still cursed and the woman Sven loved had disappeared. And it was evident that one day Magnus was going to die. He was mortal and Sven wasn’t. It had been the two of them for so long.
“Are you okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Sven asked stiffly as he floated back to the reception desk. “You found love with Mercedes and that’s great. I am happy for you.”
“I know it happened the night…”
“Don’t talk about Flo,” Sven snarled. “I don’t want to talk about that. I have a lot to focus on, as do you. You have to prepare a stellar menu for our guests who are arriving tomorrow and staying for a week.”
“A week? That’s great.”
Sven nodded, but wouldn’t look him in the eye. “You know, I think I’m going to take a walk. When Mercedes comes back, could you get her to give a deep clean to room four for our guests.”
“Sure,” Magnus responded. “Hasn’t she been cleaning though this whole time?”
“Yes, but we want it completely fresh for our guests.”
“I think you’re over thinking and stressing too much. It’ll be fine,” Magnus said.
“Right. Sure. Of course.” Sven wasn’t looking at him though and he floated away, disappearing through the wall. Appearing completely oblivious to the conversation. Magnus knew exactly where Sven was headed. He was going down to the cemetery. There was an empty grave there for Flo, and nearby was their old home, the cave.
I need to be with him. Even if he doesn’t want to talk to me, I need to be there for him.
Magnus left a note for Mercedes about cleaning room four and then tried to follow Sven out, slamming into the wall again and bonking his nose, which hurt like a son of a bitch.
“Hrisungr!”
Right. I can’t go through walls anymore.
This was something he’d have to get used to. As he stood there rubbing his nose, the front door opened and Finn and Margaid walked in.
They didn’t notice him at first, but as they climbed the few stairs up to the main reception area, they both paused. Finn’s eyes went wide and his mouth dropped open, while Margaid gasped and covered her mouth.
“Magnus?” Finn asked.
“Yes. Before you say anything further, my curse is broken.”
“How?” Margaid asked. “Oh my gosh, the do-over date with Mercedes? I take it that went well?”
Magnus smiled, thinking about Mercedes and the incredible night they spent together. Even if they never got to experience his cheese soufflé, which he knew he still needed to throw out. In fact, he had a lot to clean up, but it had all been worth it to be Mercedes. And not because he thought she could break his curse, but because he was so in love with her.
He came to that realization when they spent the night together. He loved her. He had since their first message on the app.
“Yes, it went well and she did break my curse. I am mortal now.” He pointed at the bandage on his forehead. “I’m trying to navigate in a fully solid world.”
“So, you can probably leave Harmony Glen and not rot,” Finn stated in awe.
“I suppose so.” It was something he hadn’t considered. He could go back home. Take a plane and return to where their village was. Except, what would that matter? No one he knew would be there and no one would remember him. “What’re you two doing here so early?”
