Page 49 of The Bairwick Witches
“I’ve proven myself as a witch, haven’t I?” His eyes turned to Schuyler, pleading for confirmation, but Sky now questioned him, too. “I passed your tests, didn’t I? I did the spell, and I deserve to-”
“Shut up,” Dev said, interjecting again. “You’re not entitled to shit. Now tell me who you are and why you performed this spell?”
Angry, Issac snatched his wand from his back pocket and threw his arm forward, threatening Dev. “You shut the fuck up,” he screamed, in a violent outburst. “This is all your fault to begin with. Iwouldbe a witch if it wasn’t for you.
“You robbed us of magic, destroyed our family. Forced me to live in the shitty mortal world, with shitty fucking people who never recovered from what you did
“I should have been here.” Spit flew from his lips as Issac unleashed years of pent up resentment. “I should have lived this amazing enchanted life, and you—you selfish, arrogant fuck! Everything that should have been mine—you ruined!
“I read your whiney-ass journal.”
A string of pearls appeared around Dev’s neck, which he then grabbed with a loud gasp. “The nerve!”
Issac grew angrier at Dev’s flippant, childish responses. His nostrils flared as he gnashed his teeth. “I know all that power is still very much active inside you, even after death, waiting to be claimed.
“I want the life you stole from me. And I will rip that magic out of you with my bare hands if I have too!”
Dev laughed, flipping around in the air, clapping his hands together at Issac finally revealing his truth. “And there it is, folks.”
Lowering his voice, Issac let his face soften as he turned to address Schuyler. “I’m sorry. All I wanted was the power at first because it can me a witch, that was all. Then I met you. And I got to know this place, and I wanted to stay; I want us to be together.
“I love you, Schuyler. I know you’re probably not going to say it back—and that’s fine. It’s okay if you’re not ready. But I’m ready, and I know this situation is fucked up, but I love you.”
How many dramatic bombshell revelations is one delicate homosexual expected to take in a day, I ask you? I think I’ve reached my limit.
The entire situation, even for a witch used to crazy situations, bordered on overwhelming. Sky once again questioned the young man he cared for, who looked back at him with eyes pleading for Schuyler to understand, to agree, toconfess his love. Why were there suddenly sides he’d have to pick? He had wanted only to spend a moment with his past.
Do I love him? Do I hate him?
“Million-dollar question, Issac.” Dev rescued Schuyler from having to give Issac any kind of answer. “If youaremy blood nephew, how the hell are you wielding magic?”
Issac snickered, his posture turning cocky. ‘Oh c’mon, you know you don’t have to be a witch to summon a demon.”
What did he say?
Schuyler wasn’t sure what explanation he expected, but summoning demons wasn’t on his bingo card.
“You don’t have to be a witch to make a deal with one either. I let them use this tight little body for a whole month. And, oh, did theyeverhave a good time.
“In exchange, my ticket to witchydom.” Issac waved the wand, which he kept a tight grip on. “They gave me the wand and the spell to use when I duel you. Because that’s all I have to do, right, uncle? Duel your already deceased ass?” Issac’s eyes were wild, glaring at Devion intensely. “Then all your power becomes mine and I’m a real witch.”
At Dev’s chest, a ball of red-black energy appeared, swirling around like a dark, chaotic sun through which Dev whisked his fingers, streams of energy coming off as he did. “It’s this you want,” he asked, stirring the stream up. “Well… I hope you’re ready, little bitch.”
From Dev’s right hand, ribbons of black-red energy raced up his arm, and a sleek, slender black wand formed in his hand.
“Can we all just put those away for a minute and figure this out?” Schuyler begged, wanting—needinga breath to graspthe situation unfolding around him. To find a way to deescalate Issac.
“No.” Issac held his ground.
“Can’t, babe, sorry,” Dev said, blowing Schuyler another kiss.
Schuyler pleaded with Issac to reconsider. He hadn’t been taught to duel; he couldn’t trust what some random demon had implanted in his head. They could find another way, work something out. Issac declined all, determined only to defeat Dev and take what he believed was his.
Schuyler stepped back from a fuming Issac, wanting no part of it as he and Dev traded barbs. Sky noticed the spirits in the cemetery; they were gathered around as spectators. Ghost bookies worked the crowd, taking bets and collecting money, as vendors moved through, waving their snacks around. Some spirits already had signs saying who they were rooting for.
Um… how long have they been watching us?
“Babe.” Dev nudged Schuyler’s attention back with his voice. “Hate to interrupt your disassociation time, but since this is a proper duel, you’ll have to oversee. Make sure your little bitch doesn’t fire off prematurely.”
