Magic & Monsters (Starry Hollow Witches Book 12)

by Annabel Chase

  “That you gave away to other members of the family.”

  “And now I want them back.”

  “I knew it! The whole reason you gave them to Marley was because you thought she would be able to unlock them and access the magic. Well, surprise, Auntie. It was me, not Marley. I did it.” I jabbed my thumb into my chest.

  “Ivy’s power is of no use to you,” she said. “I’m a much more worthy recipient.”

  “If you’re a better recipient, then why weren’t you able to access the magic yourself? Why did you have to wait for years until someone came along who could do the job? Your own children couldn’t even do it.”

  Aunt Hyacinth didn’t seem to like this response. “Have I not given you and your daughter a comfortable home? A job? Respectability?”

  Like I cared about respectability. “I thought that was because we’re family, not because you wanted something from us.” Although she was shorter than me, right now she seemed about ten feet tall.

  “Ember, I am asking you nicely.”

  “And I am telling you no. Nicely. Thank you for the drink. I’ll show myself out.” I turned on my heel and marched toward the house.

  “Mark my words Ember,” she called after me. “I will acquire Ivy’s magic, with or without your permission.”

  I barked a short laugh and turned to look at her. “I’d like to see you try.” With those parting words, I left Thornhold.

  “I can’t believe you did that.” Marley stared at the screen where the video of my impressive leap of faith had just finished. I decided to tell her about my unpleasant conversation with Aunt Hyacinth another time. For now, I just wanted to enjoy this time with my daughter.

  “I’m fearless, didn’t you know?”

  She beamed as though she’d done the jump herself. “Can I watch it again?”

  I laughed. “Later. It’s getting late and you need to finish your homework.”

  PP3 began to bark wildly.

  “I guess we have a visitor,” I said, pushing back my chair. “I’ll see who it is.”

  I opened the door to reveal my familiar. “Raoul? Why are you knocking?”

  He seemed animated, pointing excitedly to some distant location.

  “What is it, boy? Did Florian get drunk and fall down a well?” I asked.

  Marley joined me at the door. “He wants us to go somewhere.”

  “Clearly. His thoughts are so jumbled that I can’t understand him.”

  Raoul scurried over to the car and pawed at the door. One word flashed clearly in my mind.

  Tepen.

  “Hurry, Marley.” I grabbed my keys and fled the cottage.

  Balefire Beach, he said, starting to calm down as he climbed into the backseat.

  “Did you run all the way here?” I asked.

  He nodded in the rearview mirror. Marley buckled up and we sped toward the beach just in time to catch the sunset. I smiled as we chased after Raoul amidst the burning hues of red, pink, orange, and yellow that streaked across the sky.

  “Mom, there!”

  A lone creature slithered across the sand. With its hawk head, long serpentine body, and rattle tail, it was like nothing I’d ever seen. I slowed to a stop, wanting to keep a respectful distance.

  “If this is the last view the tepen has, I think it chose well,” I said. I clasped Marley’s hand on my right and Raoul’s paw on my left. Together, we watched as the creature crawled across the sand. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the tepen reached the water.

  Marley sniffed. “Isn’t there anything we can do?”

  “This is life,” I said quietly. “It’s a hard lesson, but we have to let go of the things we can’t control.” The tepen knew that. Its whole job was to live long enough to help the next generation come into existence and then go softly into that good night. If that’s not letting go, I don’t know what is.

  “Sounds like a lesson Aunt Hyacinth still needs to learn.”

  “You don’t know the half of it.” That was a story for another day.

  “Maybe that’s why she’s such a bitter and unhappy witch,” Marley said. “She refuses to let go and it’s making her miserable.”

  Her words pierced my heart. Under no circumstances did I want to become like Aunt Hyacinth. She managed to push everyone away by trying to control the relationships, by setting conditions instead of accepting her loved ones as they are. As happy as she seemed with Craig at the moment, I suspected that relationship, too, would eventually suffer, once the honeymoon period ended. Although I wasn’t quite to my aunt’s level, I realized that I, too, tried to control certain relationships to produce my desired outcome and it wasn’t healthy.

  I don’t want to end up miserable and alone.

  The tepen splashed its way through the surf until its head disappeared. Our last glimpse of the magnificent creature was of its tail as a wave crashed over it, swallowing it completely.

  Darkness now blanketed the beach, but I remained rooted to the sand. It was a strange moment, knowing I’d just witnessed the end of a life. I felt more admiration for the tepen than I ever thought possible. It did what needed to be done no matter how difficult the task.

  Marley leaned against me the same way she had a thousand times before. “I love you, Mom.”

  I stroked her hair. “I love you, too.”

  What about me? Raoul asked. I found the tepen.

  I smiled at the raccoon. “And I’d love you even if you hadn’t. It’s called unconditional love.” Aunt Hyacinth should try it sometime.

  Raoul fixed his dark eyes on me. I’d love you even if you didn’t feed me…but I’m glad that you do.

  The three of us continued to hold hands as we slowly made our way back across the beach, making the most of our time together. I looked skyward at the twinkling lights above, inhaled deeply, and thanked my lucky stars.

  Don’t miss Magic & Misfits, Book 13 in the series.

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