Page 34 of Love's a Witch
“Yeah, cause I’m a huge fan?” I tugged my Keep Calm sweatshirt over my head, and put a pair of wool cottage socks on, before scooping Blue up and following Nova downstairs. Blue snuffled at my neck, and then licked my chin, and I smiled despite my apprehension. He was trying to calm me, in his own way, and I hugged him more tightly to my chest. I hadn’t known how much I needed Blue until I had him. Something of my own—that wasn’t my sisters—to take care of.
“How did the fire start?” Broca asked as soon as we entered the living room. Lyra had helped her to her armchair, and she wore a dressing gown in acrid lime green with feathers at the wrists.
“It was me,” I said, plopping onto the couch and cuddling Blue close.
Nova went to the kitchen and opened the fridge, and Blue popped his head up, torn between comforting me and the possibility of cheese.
“Go on,” I said, loosening my arms, and he took off from my lap, wheeling his way through the air to Nova.
“Walk me through it.” Broca clasped her hands together, her eyes steady on mine.
I took her through what had led up to the curtains exploding in fire. Lyra curled up next to me, braiding my hair like she used to do as a child when she needed something to focus on and calm her nerves.
“Let’s try it again.” Broca nodded toward a blue-and-white ceramic vase tucked on a side table by the front window. “Can you bring me that vase?”
A shiver of unease rippled down my back.
“What if it explodes or something?”
“I’m ready for it, Sloane.” Broca waved a hand in the air. “Give it a go.”
Biting my lower lip, I focused on the vase and reached for my magick, like I’d done countless times the day before, all with the desired results.
The vase lit on fire and cracked in pieces.
I didn’t even know ceramicscouldlight on fire.
Tears pricked my eyes, frustration filling me, and Blue threw his head back and howled, the sound morose and pulling at my heartstrings. Broca muttered something under her breath, and the fire winked out. Abandoning his cheese, Blue flew to me and plopped down in my lap, desperately licking my face as though he could take my worries away with his kisses.
“What am I supposed to do?” I asked, crestfallen.
“We’ll have to see how tomorrow goes, but if this is what I think it is, well, I guess I’m not entirely surprised,” Broca said.
“What is it, Broca?” Nova brought a tray of bagels and cream cheese over to the coffee table and put it down, and Blue turned toward the food, his eyes hopeful.
“Is it the curse?” I asked, my mind whirling. I couldn’t go around lighting things on fire left and right. Already I had to watch out for Blue, who was still inadvertently torching things at random. We’d burn the house down before the day was over, at the rate we were going.
“It might be, if it is what I think it is. I’ve only known one other witch in our family to have this particular… affliction.”
I flinched.
“?‘Affliction’?” I repeated. I raised an eyebrow. “I’m diseased?”
“I… That’s not quite the right word.” Broca sighed and smoothed a crease in her dressing gown. “It’s still a gift, but you’ll have to make the best of it.”
“Please stop talking in riddles and just give it to me straight.” I closed my eyes and waited, butterflies churning in my gut.
“It’s entirely possible that every day you will wake up with new magick.”
“What?” My mouth sprang open, and I gaped at Broca.
“Like a reverseGroundhog Day?” Lyra asked.
“Badass.” Nova air-cheersed me with her bagel, and Blue almost fell off my lap to try to get a bite.
“Yes, like a reverseGroundhog Day. It’s been known to happen before, though it is quite rare. Which means that just when you get a handle on your magick, you’ll be given new magick the next day… the old one gone.”
“But… but…”
