Page 26 of Hidden By the Gargoyle

Three dots immediately popped up, so I knew then that she was waiting by the phone for me to wake up.

Just something to relax you and help you sleep.

I could sense the smirk she must have been wearing when she sent her answer. My thumbs moved furiously over the on-screen keyboard.

Not cool, Minnie. Don’t ever give me something like that again. I felt like blurting out every single thought in my head. The only reason I didn’t is because I fell asleep on the couch before I could. I know you want me to open up but forcing it on me isn’t okay. At all.

There was a pause before the dots popped up again. It took a while before her answer came through.

I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention. You must have reacted to the relaxation potion in an unexpected way. I promise I won’t ever do it again. All I wanted was for you to rest and I was afraid that you wouldn’t, and you’d end up fainting and scaring the hell out of Dax. Please don’t be mad at me.

I sighed, my shoulders drooping as the anger drained out of me. I knew she wasn’t lying because my aunt never lied to me. She always told me the truth, even when it was incredibly uncomfortable for both of us.

Unlike me, who hadn’t told her the entire truth about my dreams. Nor had I told her what Sommerton said when he called earlier about Talant’s brother. Mostly because I’d already lied by omission in not telling her about Talant at all.

Which only compounded the guilt I was feeling.

Even though I never manifested my magic as a teenager, my aunt still educated me in some of the basics of magic, potions, and teas. Living in Devil Springs meant that I needed to understand how magic worked. Especially when I used to work at her shop in high school. I needed a knowledge of herbs and how they would aid in certain spells and potions, or the other uses they might have. I also had to understand how semi-precious stones and crystals affected magic. Though I couldn’t utilize power, I probably knew as much about magic as any other witch my age. Except how to release and use my power.

I understand and I’m not mad anymore. And I promise that I’ll rest if you tell me I should. Especially after a magic lesson.

Her response was immediate this time.I love you.

I love you too. We’ll talk tomorrow. No magic lesson though. My brain still hurts.

I would tell her about Talant and how I met up with him in my dreams then. And about Sommerton’s claim to know Talant’s brother. Then, we would figure out what to do.

Sure thing, sweet girl. Be sure to practice for a little bit tomorrow though.

Will do.

I put my phone down and walked into the kitchen. Now that I was awake, I was thirsty.

Dax was still watching me. Usually, I would have tried to ignore the way he was looking at me, but this time I paid attention. Because of my conversations with Poppy and Minerva, I realized that my usual tactic for dealing with Dax was avoidance and disconnection. And because of that, I was unaware of a lot of things about him and how he interacted with me.

Now that I was focused, I noticed that his eyes followed my every move.

Hm. Interesting.

I got a glass out of the cabinet and filled it up at the sink. No one here drank bottled water in Devil Springs because it couldn’t beat what came from the tap. The water here came from a natural spring that ran beneath one of the mountains. That was how the town got its name. The mountains here weren’t very high, but there were some rock formations. The one closest to the entrance to the underground spring resembled the horns often drawn on a devil in religious illustrations.

Considering so many of the residents of Devil Springs had horns in their natural forms, it had become a sort of joke that had eventually stuck.

I drank half the glass before I lowered it and asked, “What kind of soup are we having for dinner?”

“Vegetable beef,” he answered.

Another of my favorites. Especially the way he made it.

“Cornbread too?” I asked, my mouth watering.

He nodded and turned back to the stove, stirring the contents of the pot. “It’s in the oven. This will be done in twenty minutes.”

I moved around the kitchen, getting out bowls and cutlery. I loved Dax’s cooking, but I didn’t like feeling like a burden.

“I can make dinner tomorrow,” I offered as I set our places at the bar.

Dax looked up from the pot. “You don’t like my cooking?”

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