by Nora Lee
They were already halfway up.
Rowan climbed the stairs as though heading to the gallows, step by ever-so-slow step, with the sound of hammering growing louder as she got closer.
She stepped through the doorway to find Enid, Gemma, Adora, Caedmon, and even Nana working. Boards and tools continued to float around as though being wielded by a dozen clumsy spirits. Magical glitter coated the entire apartment. It would fade eventually—but for the moment, everything sparkled.
“What the…?” Garrett stood in the open doorway, mouth hanging open.
The group turned to the newcomer.
Nana somehow recognized him instantly. “You must be Garrett! I’m pleased to meet you after all this time. Rowan has told me so much about you.”
Garrett looked at Rowan as though he didn’t recognize her as he shook hands with Nana. “She hasn’t told me everything about you, I guess.”
“Ha! These guys are a bunch of jokers.” Rowan’s heart shattered into a million tiny pieces as she saw her worst fears realized. “They’ll do anything for a laugh.”
“Pretty good joke.”
The construction stopped with a motion from Caedmon. “This is no joke, dude.” He also extended a hand to the newcomer. “Welcome to the Secret Hallow coven.”
Chapter 12
ADORA LED THEM to a free table in front of her coffee shop. “I’ll get you all a cup of today’s special.”
“Oh, goody,” Nana said. “The blend is magical.” She winked at Rowan, who dropped her head into her hands.
Garrett settled into the seat to Rowan’s left as he gaped at Secret Hallow, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. The village looked gorgeous in the twilight, the lanterns lining the street alight with a golden glow, the shop windows bright, the local residents finishing their end-of-day rituals before heading home.
If she weren’t so terrified about the showdown to come, Rowan would have been proud for Garrett to see Secret Hallow like this for the first time.
Caedmon helped Nana settle in on Rowan’s right before sitting across the table from her. Rowan glared at him. He smiled as though he had not a care in the world.
“This is a beautiful place. Seems very serene,” Garrett said. “It’s not what I expected at all, based on what you told me about it.”
“Every kid thinks the place where they grew up is horrible.” Nana laid a reassuring hand on Rowan’s arm. “Their home becomes more dear to them as they come to realize life out in the greater world isn’t any better than what they left behind.”
She felt the warmth of her grandmother sharing the power of her love and support through her touch and managed a tremulous smile in return. As much as she might hate the current situation, she felt glad to have reconnected with Nana.
“Yeah, you got that right,” said Caedmon. “I couldn’t wait to leave home and get away from my parents. Now I miss them.”
“So you’ll be going back soon?” Rowan couldn’t help but get a jab in at him.
Caedmon leaned across the table toward her. “Not at all, Rowan. I don’t plan to go back now that I’ve found a purpose here.”
“Here we go.” Adora returned to the table bearing a tray with four steaming mugs. The brew smelled of cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin. A dollop of whipped cream and caramel melted into the rust-colored coffee.
The cups were being stirred by spoons all on their own. They were enchanted that way. Even the steam rising from the coffee sparkled as though infused with glitter.
“Bless you, Adora,” Nana said. She inhaled a deep sniff of the autumn spice latte and sighed happily.
Garrett stared at his coffee as though it might bite him. “The spoon.”
“Sorry,” Rowan said. She plucked it out of the coffee and set it on her napkin. It didn’t really fix the problem at hand, but it made her feel better.
Without an enchanted spoon of his own to stare at, he stared at hers instead. “I take it that’s not machinery or an illusion.”
Rowan held her hand out and the spoon leapt willingly into her palm. She set it beside Garrett’s. “I’m sorry.”
“Why would you be sorry?” he asked. His eyes were bright. “This is incredible! None of you look like witches, though. Especially you, Ms. Winterblossom.”
“What should witches look like, eh?” Nana asked. She concealed her impish smile behind the rim of her coffee mug.
“Warty and green?” Garrett ventured.
“Racist,” Nana said. She cackled when Garrett looked aghast. “I’m teasing you! Witches don’t look like any one thing. Oh, but you are cute when you’re surprised. I like this one, Rowan.”
Rowan contemplated using her earth magic to open the sidewalk underneath them and vanish into a hole forever.
“I haven’t seen any green witches before, but some witches dress better than others.” Caedmon looked from Nana to Rowan. “I can think of one in particular who could use some fashion tips.”
“No one asked you!” Rowan snapped.
Garrett looked at his ex-girlfriend as though seeing her in a new light. “You mean…you are one of them, too?”
Nana gave Rowan’s hand a reassuring pat. “Garrett, as Caedmon said, Secret Hallow is home to a coven. We’re all witches. My granddaughter here is the child of the high priest and priestess. She’s the most powerful earth witch we’ve seen in several generations. I called her home to help us heal our beloved Elder Tree.”
“But she won’t do it for reasons unknown,” Caedmon interjected. “That’s why I’ve come to help this drifting coven. We, Rowan and I, will become the high priest and priestess in her parents’ absence once we’re wed.”
Rowan’s anger-fueled magic surged and the mug shattered in her hands. “I refuse to allow you to usurp my parents’ place as leaders of this coven!”
The smile he gave caused her stomach to churn. “Stop fighting. You won’t win this one.”
“Wait,” Garrett’s soft voice broke into the strained silence. “You’re engaged?”
If she weren’t caught in the middle of such a frightening situation, Rowan might have laughed. Garrett seemed more concerned that she might marry another man than learning he used to live with a witch.
“We’re not engaged. The warlock is delusional. He’s not staying here to take over as high priest, either—not as long as I have breath in my body.”
“We’ll see about that,” Caedmon said, pushing his chair back to stand.
Garrett stood, too. “Back off,” he said calmly.
Nana’s voice broke through the tension. “Stop this right now, all of you, and sit down. You’re causing a scene.”
All the other patrons of Java by Candlelight, as well as several people who’d been walking past, stared, transfixed, at the confrontation. Even Adora watched with a smug smile spread over her face as she leaned against the doorframe to her shop with careless ease.
“Go back to work, Adora,” Rowan said. Adora sent them a jaunty salute before vanishing. “Garrett, please sit down.”
He lowered his voice, as though they could possibly have a private conversation around the nosy busybodies of the Secret Hallow coven. “So you’re all telling me the truth about this witch thing?”
Rowan closed her eyes, unable to bear the thought of how he’d look at her, and gave a slight nod of assent.
Garrett knelt at her feet so he could look up into her downturned face and took her hands in his. “Why didn’t you tell me all this before?”
“I didn’t want you to find out how strange I am. I left magic behind me forever but there’s no escaping my heritage, and I couldn’t bear to catch you in that web.” She couldn’t look away from his warm brown eyes despite her fear of seeing his disgust in their depths. “You can go at any time. I understand.”
“I don’t want to go,” Garrett said. “I meant it when I said I want to know all about you, Rowan. Now more than ever!”
“Drink your coffee, then,” Nana said. “I have a long story for you.”
Garrett pulled his chair close to hers and put an arm across her shoulder once more as Nana gave told him the full history of Secret Hallow, Rowan’s ancestry, and about the problems they would face if the Elder Tree died. On occasion, Garrett interjected an intelligent question, each of which Nana answered with patience as she shot her granddaughter a reassuring smile.
Caedmon sat across from them in silence, glaring at the moon now hanging overhead while chewing on his pinkie fingernail.
A slight nudge from Garrett recaptured Rowan’s wandering attention as she imagined the Elder Tree falling onto Caedmon. “Hmm?” She tried to focus her eyes on his face. “What was that?”
“I asked if you can heal the tree?”
“She couldn’t if she tried.” Caedmon got to his feet and picked up his mug. “I’m going for seconds.” He strutted off as though he owned the place.
The ground gave a slight tremble.
“Don’t be too angry with him, Rowan,” said Nana. “He has good intentions. He’s simply not used to being refused, and he doesn’t know how to express his feelings properly. He’ll never learn if we don’t help him.”
Rowan took a few deep breaths. “You’re kinder than I am.”
Nana’s smile was a little too kind. Heat pricked at Rowan’s eyes. “I have more practice at letting things go, granddaughter.”
☆★☆
Morning dawned. Rowan slipped out of Nana’s house before the sun climbed high enough to wake Garrett, who was unconscious on the couch, a blanket pulled up to his chin and feet sticking out the bottom. He always woke up with the sun and Rowan didn’t want to have to talk to him.
Rowan was far from alone as she wandered through Secret Hallow. It felt like she had to stop every ten feet to talk to someone who claimed that they had missed her: a third cousin, a great-great aunt’s best friend, her babysitter from twenty years past.
Everyone had heard about what was happening with Caedmon and Garrett. And they all practically vibrated with excitement about it.
It was emotionally exhausting.
Rowan scrambled to the apartment above Books of Shadows as soon as she could get away with it.
Orianna was already awake, of course, though she looked exhausted. Fern must not have let her sleep in.
Though Orianna looked like she wasn’t doing well, the apartment was in perfect shape. Adora and the Ash sisters had done a great job getting everything back together and needed only a little more time to put on the finishing touches for the place to look as good as new.
“This looks great, Ori!” Rowan glanced around at Orianna’s rebuilt living room with relief. “I’m so glad the gang did such a good job.”
Orianna gave her a bashful smile. “I appreciate you organizing this, Ro. You’re a good friend.”
The two women embraced.
When Rowan pulled back, she noticed Orianna’s flush and an extra sparkle in her eyes. “You look happy today.”
Her friend motioned toward the two overstuffed chairs set side-by-side in front of the fireplace. “Caedmon and I had a good talk during our lunch. We feel if we combine our powers we can help heal the Elder Tree.”
“Sounds logical. The tree needs both soil and water, so mixing your powers should work.” Rowan leaned close and took Ori’s hand. “This seems like more than just figuring out how to help the tree, though. What’s up?”
“Well…” Orianna ducked her head, her hair falling over her face. “I guess I can tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
She looked up at Rowan again with a broad smile. “I think I’m falling for Caedmon.”
Thank the Goddess. Trying her best to hide how relieved she felt, Rowan patted the hand she held. “That’s wonderful. I think the two of you would make a great couple.”
“The problem is that he couldn’t stop talking about marrying you.”
Rowan dropped Ori’s hand. “He’s still stuck on that ridiculous idea? What a pile of bat droppings! He’s not going to give up easily, is he?”
“I don’t think so. That’s the problem. Even though you aren’t interested in Caedmon, he’s not going to give you up without a fight. Not even with Garrett around. Plus,” she motioned toward the back of the house, “I’m not sure he, or any other man, would be interested in a woman with a special-needs child.”
“Fern’s fine, Ori. She just needs to learn control.”
“Like you?” Her hand flew to cover her mouth. “Oh, Rowan, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean that.”
“You don’t need to apologize. You’re absolutely right.” That was why Rowan absolutely could not be with Garrett, even if he seemed to be one hundred percent on board with the witch thing. Rowan still didn’t have enough control. “Any worthwhile potential partner won’t be scared away by your daughter, Ori. He’ll be more than happy to get to know her because she’s a part of you and of your life.”
“You’re sweet.” Orianna sighed. “I don’t have the nerve to find out if Caedmon might be that man. He’s hosting an esbat tonight for the full moon, and I can’t even bring myself to go.” Fern wandered into the room, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. Orianna settled her daughter on her lap and stroked her hair.
“I’ll watch her for you. There’s no way I’m going.” She thought with longing about the esbats led by her parents before they had left Secret Hallow. The coven meetings had once brought her joy and peace even during her periods of great turmoil. Rowan could use some of that solace at the moment. But then, so could Orianna, judging by the way she stared out the window at the sky.
Orianna looked down at the top of her daughter’s head as she considered the offer. “I’ll agree under one condition.”
Rowan knew she’d have to agree to the condition in order to get Orianna to go. She only hoped she wouldn’t have to do anything too terrible.
“If you have problems with Fern again, you’ve got to promise me you’ll use your powers to help get her under control. I don’t want to come back to find either one of you injured, and I also don’t think my house can withstand being rebuilt too many times.”
I can’t agree to that. I just can’t. Using my powers will just make matters worse. Rowan stared at Fern as a feeling of dread grew within her. She had to agree otherwise Orianna wouldn’t go, and then how could Orianna ever find out if she had a future with Caedmon? She deserved happiness.
“I promise,” Rowan heard herself say. “If something happens, I’ll use my powers to help contain Fern’s.”
Chapter 13
WITH NIGHTFALL CAME time for the esbat—when Orianna left with the Ash sisters for her very first full moon celebration in years. Rowan’s heart sang with joy knowing that Orianna was going to go out without her daughter, reconnecting with the coven and healing all the fears that had kept her distant from witchcraft all too long. Rowan’s heart especially sang with the idea she might flirt Caedmon’s attention in her direction.
Unfortunately, nightfall also brought dinnertime around, too.
Fern had been good all afternoon. She wasn’t talking again, but she had been entertaining herself with the little black kitten and a piece of string for hours.
Rowan couldn’t delay dinner, though. The idyll was over.
“Tantrums are coming,” Rowan murmured to herself, watching Fern play from the doorway.
She had promised Orianna she would use her powers to contain Fern. Maybe she wouldn’t have to hit the magic as hard if she let it out preemptively—just a little bit.
Taking a deep breath, Rowan stood straight, hands at her sides and eyes closed. She continued to take slow, cleansing breaths as she pushed her worries to the back of her mind and visualized the energy within the ground beneath her.
A gentle tingling sensation not unlike the feeling of placing her hand on a Van de Graaf generator started at the tips of her fingers and the soles of her feet and spread up her arms and legs. Warmth filled her torso and her heart leapt with joy at the feeling of being one with the world.
She’d denied this for so long she’d forgotten how positive the energy felt when used well. The magic spread all the way up her neck into her mind until the power became a tangible thing.
Rowan raised her hands to hip level out to either side of her body and released the energy toward the walls of the house to reinforce them against potential outburst that might happen before Orianna returned home. Tendrils curled out of from the nearest philodendron along the floor in her direction and she leaned over to stroke one of the shiny new leaves with a smile on her face.
“Pretty.” Fern had appeared to watch the plant with intense fascination.
Rowan felt guilty, like she had been caught doing something wrong. “Hey, Fern. You ready for dinner? I have some delicious, tasty broccoli for you.”
Fern’s expression shuttered.
“Wait,” Rowan said. “You like the plant? Watch this…”
All it took was a wave of the hand.
Miniature roses bloomed on all the potted bushes along the windowsill. Evergreens in planters next to the front door grew a couple inches right before their eyes. A few sparrows appeared just outside, their lilting song accentuating the perfumed air.
It was so easy to call back the power. She fell into comfortable grooves that she’d left behind in Secret Hallow, as though the village had been waiting for her return.
Joy filled Rowan as she saw Fern’s wide-eyed appreciation of her powers. The energy she’d fought so hard to stifle in the years since she’d left Secret Hallow filled every part of her being. Her mind opened to each life force in the vicinity and she welcomed their presence within after years of feeling sad and alone.
“Pretty,” Fern said again.
“Pretty,” Rowan agreed. She forked a piece of broccoli out of a bowl and offered it to Fern.
To her delight, the little girl ate it without protest, still gazing at the roses that sparkled with magic.
Encouraged, Rowan beckoned to the plants again. Ivy grew through the windows and spilled across the floor. Flowers budded on the tips of the vines. Blossoms exploded in puffs of pollen.
