by Melody Rose
Those who weren’t in the loop and in my bedroom for the past few days gasped, shocked that Theo would admit to one form of violence. Obviously, he wasn’t interested in painting himself in the best light.
“And can you prove this?” Chamuel simply challenged in a gentle voice, not at all swayed either by Serafina’s deception or Theo’s exertion of force.
A gleam of mischief emerged in Theo’s eyes.
“Gladly,” he deadpanned, though I could tell that he was ready for a climactic surprise.
“Murel, viens à moi sous tes multiples formes!” Theo cried out. “Murel, come to me in your multiple forms!”
An innocent-looking black kitten sauntered out shyly, her tail swaying back and forth. Serafina raised an eyebrow and curiosity, unsure as to how this small critter would be Theo’s “smoking gun.”
“You see,” the warlock began, “I always thought I was a lost cause when it came to familiars, but apparently, this one is quite attached to me. She is so intuitive to my needs, in fact, that she has been able to shift forms when the circumstances call for it.”
He tapped his chin and looked up at the ceiling, a smile playing on his lips. Theo was really lapping up this moment. I wondered what he had on Serafina.
“I wouldn’t have thought about it in the heat of the moment,” he admitted. “But Murel was clever enough, without provocation, to shift into a horde of recording ravens. As we all know, these rare birds are gifted with the psionic ability to impress past moments within their psyches for future review. A third party wizard, please?”
As Murel leapt in the air, she split her material form and redistributed herself into a collection of ravens, each of whom fluttered to each juror and perched upon their head. One of the neutral spellcasters that Theo requested strode to the front of the court hall and held his staff up, topped with blue calcite. Suddenly, a beam of light shot out from the sphere, and a wide pane projected upon the wall behind Theo.
The recording ravens, widely revered for their objective perspectives, allowed each juror to experience the quarrel that Theo was forced to endure. They gasped and squirmed in their seats, dodging every time the warlock needed to. The astral guardian glanced behind him, reviewing the reactions of the rapt audience, then evaluated the violent histrionics of Serafina until they reached their sadistic conclusion.
A pause heavy with thought punctuated the silence while the jurors reeled from what they’d just witnessed.
“I see,” Chamuel simply said. “The jurors and the third party wizards will reconvene and discuss all available evidence and then decide upon the Fate of Joan MacKenna.”
32
Joan
When all was said and done, all third party wizards and jurors, even the students most suspicious of me deemed me innocent. And how could they not? The hard evidence of recording ravens couldn’t be denied, as their psionic abilities were too untouched by deception. Even so, when I was asked how to deal justice, as I was the innocent mage wronged, I requested truth serum. It was a rarely used elixir, but one that was applied when a spellcaster’s lies were so labyrinthine that even they didn’t know what the truth was anymore.
Serafina ended up admitting that she was infernal royalty of Baphometic lineage. In fact, she was Nascha’s sister. Of course, she missed her sister terribly, she was also driven mad by envy. While succubi were resigned to the underworld and despised as heartless seductresses, Nascha managed to escape and design her own Fate where free will reigned supreme. Not only that, the runaway succubus was widely loved all across Lemuria, embraced for her compassion and commitment to elevating the circumstances of mages in need. Her reputation was so spotless before Serafina came along that everyone hardly even remembered her infernal background.
In tears on the witness stand, Serafina confessed how she wished to be reunited with her sister and was consumed by ambition. The talented actress wished to have her cake and eat it too, so to speak. Being a princess in the abyss wasn’t enough to satiate her ego. She needed to rule on the surface, as well. Apparently, Serafina believed her ticket to achieving this was to either seduce Theo or Abelard until she became spiritually tied to Bouclier. It didn’t really matter which man fell for her, but with me around, her chances of success were nil. Theo was too smitten by me, and with me by his side, I softened him, even encouraging empathy toward his father.
In the end, I took pity on the shattered succubus. I was sure, deep down, she felt horribly about betraying her sister. As it was Lemurian tradition for me to decide upon her sentencing, I opted to spare Serafina from death and send her back to the abyss from whence she came. I also restored Nascha to her original position and arranged that her sister could visit on either Lemurian or infernal festivals, provided that we had enough sentinels and oversight to prevent further sabotage. Maybe in time, when Serafina and other demons were able to respect Lemurian traditions and ethics, they could be welcomed on the surface.
As for Abelard, his Sight was fully revitalized, and when he could finally tap into his full intuition again, he was deeply apologetic. I shrugged it off as silly drama that we would all laugh about years from now and threw an outdoor banquet as a celebration for those who believed in my inherent goodness and a peace offering to those that doubted in it. Even the dragons were invited, and they arrived to greet everyone in their full glory. Instead of being the lethargic beasts they used to be, they performed aerial acrobatics in the sky, to the delight of the audience below them.
33
Abelard
Tasting Joan’s midsummer strawberry cake was like opening my eyes for the first time again after an era’s-long slumber. As the medley of flavors danced upon my tastebuds, I knew I was in the presence of not only a legendary Beast Tamer but also a once-in-a-multiverse culinary witch. Every bite was laced with her boundless empathy and sensitivity for the experiences of others.
“Do you know,” I mused aloud as Theo and Joan watched me with rapt interest. They must have been startled to witness me free from my stupor. “You are just like the former queen, the late Audrei von Brandt. She was renowned for her fiery heart and soft spirit. Always willing to fight for and defend others, but also as ethereal as an angel straight from the astral plane with her remarkable ability to decipher what others dearly wished for.”
Theo exchanged looks with Joan, squeezing her hand and nodding. Memories of his mother reemerged, although this time, he savored them with wistfulness rather than resisting them in a fit of anger.
“It’s true,” my son murmured with the deepest affection for his paramour.
“Now that the plot against Bouclier has been foiled,” I continued, “we forge ahead and accomplish your mother’s life work and the Van Brandt legacy. Our castle, after all, is not only an academy to raise the finest mages in Lemuria but also a stronghold in which true Tamers and their amazing beasts can co-exist in harmony, bound by the common calling to protect the realm.”
I gestured toward the skies, marveling at the lively dragons winding through the clouds.
“After all,” I explained, “the two of you have earned the trust of our noble but enigmatic beasts, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished in centuries. I have no doubt in my mind or my spirit that you and Theo are Chosen Tamers.”
My fervor began to build up, my heart filled with unfettered enthusiasm. “Now, all creatures can unite under our banner! As mages and amazing beasts, we are truly a force to be reckoned with!”
Epilogue
Joan
Theo and I waited until we had finished our fourth year, graduated, and chosen our rites to commit to each other in a sentimental handfasting ceremony. Of course, he would have preferred that we did so sooner, especially after all the scares we’d endured, but I acted as the voice of reason. I didn’t need to add planning for an epic romance on top of the stresses of exams and final rituals!
The service was truly beautiful, held in the field of lavender right before the circle of eternal death, where Theo had first br
ought me to Bouclier in an enchanted carriage. The timing was perfect, as well, as we had chosen a full moon for our big day as the silver light spilled upon the sprigs of purple. I was effervescent with bliss, radiant with the special energy that the serene botanicals and lunar power provided me.
It was a small, intimate gathering, attended only by Theo’s parents, our closest friends, and all the beasts we were tasked to protect. I thought I also caught a glimpse of my late mother and father, but maybe I was just hopped up on mulled wine and wishful thinking. Since this wasn’t technically a wedding and more of a sentimental placeholder, I wore a dress of amethyst scale mail fashioned from the magic of Zesy’s token instead of a traditional white ensemble. I liked to think it represented both the beauty of the union between Theo and myself as well as the fortitude we’d need as Tamers.
We chose four ribbons consisting of blue and grey, for the Bouclier clan, and red and green, for the MacKenna family. These hues also set an intention for calm serenity, stalwart strength, fiery passion, and clever imagination. We’d need all of these qualities if we were going to take on such hefty responsibilities!
Though we were young and had many years ahead of us, Theo and I exchanged rings, and he even asked me to take on his name. Even though nothing was sealed in blood… yes, that’s how marriages really worked in Lemuria!... I was an honorary Van Brandt now. I was proud to be one, too.
As the night progressed, I sweet-talked Theo into the human tradition of sharing a tiered wedding cake. My laughter rang in the night as my beloved even let me smash the iced concoction in his face. He glowered with good-natured sarcasm, then allowed me to lap the mess from his lips.
Happy tears trailed down my cheeks. All this after spilling pies on a strange man and tending to his sweet, white hound in a vet clinic. Even though I went against the old axiom of never trusting strangers, I was glad I crossed the portal with him.
I marveled over how Theo made a Beast Master out of me, and I tamed him into a decent human being! No one, least of all me, could have known how reasonable he would be, but now mages far and wide say we’re bound to be Headmaster and Headmistress of Bouclier one day.
It’s all I could ever wish for, and I looked forward to that day. For now, though, it was time to eat more cake and be merry!
The End.
Lady Audrei’s Impish Cayenne Brownies
Ingredients
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate
1 stick unsalted butter
4 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
¾ cup dark brown sugar
1 ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Prep pan with butter and line with parchment.
Place broken chocolate and butter in saucepan.
Melt chocolate over low heat, stir often.
Once chocolate is melted, remove off the heat and add both sugars.
Stir chocolate and sugar mixture, set aside.
Sift flour, cocoa powder, salt, and cayenne powder, set aside.
Add one egg at a time and whisk in warm chocolate mixture.
Add spoonfuls of dry ingredients and stir until smooth.
Pour batter in preferred pan and bake in oven for 35-40 minutes.
Let cool and remove. Sprinkle with leftover cocoa powder if you’re called to!
Joan’s Wildly Delicious Wily Whisps
Ingredients
2 sticks of butter
1 ½ cups of graham crackers (crumbs)
1 small can of coconut (3.5 ounces)
1 cup of crunchy peanut butter
½ cup of pecan pieces
1 box of powdered sugar (1 pound)
½ block of paraffin wax
6 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate
Instructions
Melt chocolate and wax together in a pot of hot water.
Mix all other ingredients together and roll into evenly shaped spheres.
Mix spheres into the chocolate-and-wax mixture, then let cool.
Theo’s Brunch Scramble
Ingredients
Scramble
8 ounces of extra-firm tofu
2 teaspoons of olive oil
¼ of one red onion, thinly sliced
½ of one red pepper, thinly sliced
2 cups spinach (loosely chopped)
Sauce
½ teaspoon of sea salt
½ teaspoon of garlic powder
½ teaspoon of ground cumin
½ teaspoon of chili powder
½ teaspoon of water
½ teaspoon of turmeric
Instructions
Pat down tofu and roll in a towel, then weigh down with skillet for 15 minutes.
While tofu drains, prepare sauce by adding spices in a bowl and adding water.
Chop vegetables and warm a large skillet over medium heat.
Once hot, add olive oil, chopped onions, and chopped red pepper.
Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, then stir.
Add spinach, season with salt and pepper, cover to steam for 2 minutes.
Unwrap tofu and crumble into bite-sized pieces with a fork.
Use a spatula to move the vegetables to one side of the skillet, then add the crumbled tofu.
Sauté for 2 minutes, then drizzle the sauce over the vegetables and tofu.
Cook for 5-7 minutes until the tofu is slightly browned.
If desired, serve with diced potatoes, toast, or fruit. Flavor as you please with a civvie “hot sauce.”
A Note from the Author
Hello, reader! If you read this far, I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your time, and I hope that you loved Dancing with Demons! If you did, I wanted to let you know that it is very important that you leave a review.
The more reviews, the more likely others will find it, and the more people who do and love it, the more likely I can write more books in the series. Also, I won’t lie, it really makes my day to see someone talking about how much they loved my book.
Also, if you want to be notified when my next book comes out, you really need to join my Facebook group and follow me on Amazon. It’s best to do both, and even sign up for my mailing list, because there’s always a chance one or the other won’t tell you!
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