Double-Sided Witch (Covencraft Book 3)

by Margarita Gakis

  Under the table, he felt one of her socked feet bump into his and then rest against his instep. It wasn’t a huge or overt gesture, but it warmed him just the same.

  “What-“ she began and then paused to clear her throat. “What was her name? My name. Do you know?”

  The kitchen was silent except for the spitting and hissing of the coffee pot. At her question, and emboldened by her foot resting against his, Paris reached down into her lap and took one of her hands. She held his loosely, letting him pick her hand up and cradle it between his palms and then rest it on the kitchen table.

  “Her name, your name,” Paris corrected, “is Josefina.”

  Jade’s nose wrinkled slightly. “Like my boss at Counter-Magic?” He could almost see the wheels turning in her head. “Oh my God, Daniel… Daniel told me that girl that drowned was Josef’s niece.”

  Paris nodded. “Yes.”

  “That’s me? I’m… her?”

  “Yes.”

  She took a slow, shuddering breath, blinking suddenly. Her hand was stiff and tense in his and he worried that she would pull it away and he would have to let her go. Instead, it felt as though she willed herself to relax, her joints slowly going soft. “Have you… have you told him?” She looked up at him, her eyes wide and clear - perfectly grey with a dark circle around the iris. Having looked at more Coven archives over the last couple of days, he could now see the resemblance to Josef’s sister, her mother. But only in her eyes. The rest of her face was Lily’s.

  Paris shook his head. “No, I haven’t told anyone. I wanted to talk to you first and find out what you’d like to do.”

  Jade looked down at their hands, hers held between his, and then toward the coffee pot. Her eyes went unfocused as she thought.

  “I think,” she began slowly, her words halting and carful, “that I’d like to tell Josef. If you think, I mean, that is, if you think he might-“

  “I think he’d be quite pleased.”

  Jade shrugged. Although the gesture should have implied she didn’t care one way or the either, Paris could tell that it mattered a great deal to her. “I guess. I mean, he might think it’s weird or creepy.”

  “I think he’ll be happy to know his niece is alive,” Paris said. “And that it’s you. I think he’s fond of you anyway.”

  Jade looked over at Paris, somewhat shyly. “Yeah?” she asked, like she couldn’t trust his words completely.

  “Yes.”

  Jade nodded and took a deep breath. “Okay, then I’d like to tell Josef. But, not the rest of the Coven.”

  “All right,” he readily agreed. “May I ask why?” He couldn’t say he was surprised at her decision, but he was curious to know her reasons.

  “I know that I’m not the most liked person here and that I’m, like, odd witch out, or whatever. Maybe if people knew who I used to be, that might change. But, I’m not that person. Or I guess, I’m not the same person I would have been if I grew up here. I’m still the same person they’ve been wary of and kind of shady to and I don’t think I want that to change because they suddenly think they know me.” Jade paused, looking down at their hands again. The skin between her knuckles was smooth and soft - softer than he thought it would be since she didn’t seem like the type who cared about keeping her hands safe or well kept. He ran his thumb over the space between her second and third knuckle. “They don’t know me,” she continued. “I don’t want them to feel like they do just because they maybe knew who I was when I was four.” She looked back up at him. “Does that make sense?”

  It was his turn to nod, slightly touched by the raw honesty in her answer. “I will abide by your wishes.”

  She smiled. “That sounds like the closing line of historical letters. Next you’ll be saying you remain my most humble and obedient servant,” she teased.

  Paris smiled back, feeling his lips curve up. “That too.”

  Jade fidgeted again and Paris could feel the tension come back into her hand, her joints going stiff with it. He waited for her to speak, sensing that she was gathering her words.

  “Are you… Do you understand why I didn’t tell you?”

  “About Lily?” he asked and she nodded, again casting her eyes away from his.

  “I thought about telling you. Maybe it would have changed the way it all turned out. Maybe not. I don’t know. But I… no one had ever known. And I thought… I mean I didn’t know what to say. I was scared and…” Her eyes went glassy with moisture and she blinked furiously.

  “I understand,” he said, even as he wondered if it was true. He supposed it was true. He understood why she didn’t confide in him, but at the same time, he wished she had. He wished she had felt comfortable enough, safe enough, to come to him with the truth. Whatever she thought it had been at the time. He gave her hand a soft squeeze and she smiled at him - quick and easy. “Would you like to be there when I speak with Josef?”

  “Uh, no. What if… I mean, it’s been a long time and even if he likes me fine at Counter-Magic, that’s totally different than finding out I’m related to him. Whatever.” She was trying so hard to act as though it didn’t matter to her. He was astounded how at times, she could mask her feelings completely from him and how at other times, like now, it was painfully obvious how much she cared.

  “It’s your decision. I’m happy to do whatever you wish.”

  Her lips quirked. “Don’t let Lily hear you say that.”

  “Why not?” he asked, intrigued.

  Jade shook her head. “Nothing.”

  “How is Bruce?”

  Jade’s eyes lit up and she sat back, pulling her hand from his as she did. He found he missed it as soon as it was gone from his grasp. “His scaly patch is almost gone,” she answered, motioning with her hands around her own neck. “It’s just a little flaky now. Even though it was starting to get better after Lily and I separated, I put that poultice that we made on it. It didn’t smell nearly as bad after it had ‘sat’ in the fridge for a while and Bruce really seemed to like it.”

  “They tend to smell better after all the ingredients have had time to settle.” He could see from her expression that although he’d mentioned that to her before, she’d doubted his words until she’d seen it for herself.

  “I put some cream on him too. He came into our room after digging out my purse cream and I figured he would know best what would be good for his skin, so…” she trailed off, giving a half shrug that seemed to say, ‘whatcha gonna do.’

  Paris smiled. “It’s charming how you refer to it as your shared room. You and Bruce.”

  Jade’s eyebrows came together. “I meant me and Lily.”

  Paris thought about the arrangement upstairs in Jade’s cottage. “She didn’t take the guest room?”

  “Why would she take the guest room?”

  “Did you move the bed over?” he asked, trying to figure out how the spatial arrangements would work. The master bedroom was roomy, but not enough for two queen sized beds.

  “No.” The way Jade answered his question clearly implied she thought he was a little strange for even asking. “My stuff is her stuff. It’s just… our stuff. Our things.”

  “Oh. I see. My mistake.” Paris couldn’t think of anything else to add. He quirked his lips in a slight smile.

  “Are you staying for a cup of coffee?” Jade asked, getting up from the table and heading to the cupboard with her mugs.

  “I should be off. I was hoping to speak to Josef today. I don’t feel right about keeping this from him longer than necessary.”

  “Oh. Yeah.” Jade held her mug close to her chest. “I guess… I’ll wait to hear from you then.”

  Paris stood and stepped over to her, carefully resting a hand on her shoulder.

  “He’ll want to talk to you. He’ll be happy. I know it.”

  She nodded, but he could tell she didn’t believe him.

  He squeezed her shoulder. “I’m sure I’ll be calling you shortly to arrange something.”

 
“Okay.

  “I’ll see myself out.”

  It didn’t occur to him until he’d already left Jade’s cottage that she’d not had a chance to bring up what she’d wanted to discuss with him. He supposed whatever it was, it could wait.

  #

  Paris thought it was a good idea for both Josef and Jade to ‘sit’ with the news about Jade’s past for twenty-four hours before seeing each other.

  “Blah, blah, blah, something about processing and getting used to it. Blah, blah, blah, something, something about not getting caught up in the moment so we could better appreciate it,” Jade said, waving her hand as she paced back and forth in her living room. Josef was supposed to be on his way over. She chewed at her cuticle, pulling a flap of skin off that made her finger bleed slightly. She winced as she looked at it, grabbing her purse from the foyer table to find her small manicure set.

  Lily swiped her finger on her tablet, not looking up from her magazine. “He’s a smart guy.” Lily’s hand dropped down to rest on Bruce’s head. Bruce looked about as agitated as Jade felt. His tail was swishing back and forth, his tongue kept poking out and he’d kept making his ‘pfffft’ sound with no provocation.

  “I’m not saying it was a bad idea, just… a day is a long time to sit around and think about stuff,” Jade replied, trimming her cuticle and then tossing all her stuff back in her purse without putting it away properly. Lily got up from the couch and took Jade’s purse from her, organizing her things correctly before slinging it over her own shoulder.

  “I’m going to head out. Take the car and grab some stuff from the store.”

  “What? But he’s coming over right now!” Jade exclaimed.

  Lily’s face softened. “And he’s here to see you.”

  “But, we’re, I mean, you and me…”

  “Are separate now,” Lily finished for her. “And we can do separate things. I think this is one of them.”

  “He probably wants to meet you too.”

  “He will. I’m living here now.”

  “But-“ Jade began again, feeling unsettled in her stomach. Lily darted forward and hugged her tightly. Jade took a deep breath at the feeling - safety, security and warmth all at once.

  “I’ll give you guys about an hour. Text me if you want me to stay out longer.”

  “I won’t,” Jade replied quickly as Lily pulled away. Lily put on the one pair of tennis shoes they had and their one winter coat.

  “We have to go shopping,” she said ruefully.

  Lily’s face brightened. “Good idea! I’ll text Callie and Henri and see if they want to come with.”

  Jade made a face. “Ugh, it’ll take all day if there’s four of us.” She crossed her arms, the words she was thinking about saying sitting heavy on her tongue. She looked up at Lily - her eyes patient and relaxed, knowing what Jade was about to say, but waiting until she was ready to say it.

  “Maybe… maybe you guys should go without me,” Jade said carefully.

  “Maybe,” Lily hedged. “Or maybe I could promise to keep it to two hours and entice you a little by mentioning those boots you wanted are in the store at the west mall in our size.”

  “In that distressed brown color?” Jade asked.

  “Yep.”

  “Sold. Two hours and we’re getting those boots.”

  Lily waggled her fingers at Jade and then was out the door. Jade resisted the urge to rush after her and ask her to stay. That would be ridiculous. Jade knew Josef. She liked Josef. She liked working for him. She saw him every day at Counter-Magic. It was absurd that she should be standing in the middle of her foyer, feeling like she was about to break out in a cold sweat.

  Absurd.

  The tickety-tack of Bruce’s talons on the floor announced his presence moments before he listed to the side and rested his weight against Jade’s leg, letting his butt hit the ground with a thud. She looked down and he peered up at her - his hooded eyes looking large and solemn. His tail swished back and forth, the arc so large that he hit the small stand where she kept her keys, some spare change, and the detritus that ended up in her pockets. The table wobbled, sending some coins and a gum wrapper to the floor. Bruce looked over at it, startled, and then back at her sheepishly.

  “It’s okay, I’ll clean it up.”

  Jade was about to bend over to get the coins, when there was a knock at the door and she froze. Her heart thumped in her chest - uncomfortable and thick. Bruce tapped his tail against the back of her calf and it was enough to jar her into action. She reached for the door handle, hand hovering for a moment as Bruce pressed up against her leg and she took a deep breath.

  Josef stood on the doorstep, eyes meeting hers immediately. Considering they saw and spoke with each other every day at Counter-Magic, it was almost comical that neither one of them seemed able to say anything.

  Almost comical, but not quite. Jade nervously tried to read his expression. Did he look happy? Regretful? Sad?

  Wary, she supposed. If she had to put a word on his face, it would be wary. She felt the same way.

  “Uh, come in, I guess,” she said, having to clear her throat when the words got caught. Though she invited him in, she didn’t budge from the doorway until he raised his eyebrows at her and leaned slightly forward, broadcasting his intentions to step inside. “Sorry,” she blurted, stepping aside and letting him in. A ‘swish-swish-swish’ sound had her looking down at Bruce to see him wagging his tail, the serpentine length of it sweeping across the floor.

  “Hello, Bruce,” Josef said, bending down to pat Bruce on the head. Bruce’s tongue came out and landed on Josef’s hand and then Bruce preened, closing his eyes as Josef pet him. Josef stood and then took his coat off and Jade had a momentary panic that she didn’t have a hanger for it until Bruce snatched it from Josef’s hands and darted out of the foyer and into the living room, stealing the coat.

  “Bruce!” she hissed after him before turning back to Josef. “Sorry, I don’t know why… ugh. Bruce!” Not quite knowing if it was the ‘right’ or ‘okay’ thing to do, Jade rushed after Bruce, finding him already in the living room, in front of the fireplace, using Josef’s coat as a blanket. He was nestling down in it, almost doing a wiggle-shimmy as he got comfortable.

  “Oh, wow, I’m… he usually doesn’t… Bruce, give him his coat back.”

  Josef laughed and Jade felt some of the tension leave her. “It’s all right,” he said. “Actually, I’m flattered.” He came to stand by her, the two of them side by side, watching Bruce settle in for what looked like an epic nap. Bruce gave Jade a significant look, looked at the empty fireplace and then back at her.

  Jade rolled her eyes. “Fine,” she said, drawing the word out like it was two syllables. She snapped her fingers and flames lit up in the fireplace.

  “That’s a neat trick.”

  Jade could hear how careful Josef was being. His tone was an almost too perfect mix of curiosity and flattery, all very casually delivered.

  “Um, thanks. I figured out how to shortcut some small spells with gestures. Finger snaps for the fireplace. Some tongue clicks for lighting candles. Hand claps for lighting some bigger flames. Like for a campfire or something.” Jade didn’t look directly at him as she spoke, instead, trying to keep her posture easygoing and her tone light.

  With a mighty sigh, Bruce didn’t so much roll over as fall over onto his side, belly exposed to the fireplace, his jaws smacking as he soaked up the warmth.

  “He’s so spoiled.” Jade shook her head fondly.

  “My grandmother had a familiar who was equally as spoiled,” Josef said quietly. “Your… great-grandmother.”

  Jade’s felt her stomach clench at his words. Josef’s grandmother. Her great-grandmother. Her family.

  “Did she?” Her words came out so quietly she was afraid at first that maybe Josef hadn’t heard them. She licked her lips and was about to try again when he continued.

  “Yes. An owl.”

  “Did it,” she began, having to
clear her throat again. “Did it have a name?”

  Jade could see Josef’s lips curl a bit, out of the corner of her eye. “She did. Cyclo.”

  She finally turned to look at him, knowing she wore a questioning look.

  Josef shrugged. “She had only one eye.” He closed one eye, squinting it shut in a prolonged wink. “Like a cyclops.”

  “You’re making this up.”

  “‘Fraid not.”

  Jade laughed, feeling even lighter when Josef joined her.

  “It seems like …” he said, hesitating for a moment, “the women in the family aren’t too creative when it comes to names.” He tipped his head toward Bruce and Jade startled for a moment when she realized he was including her in that sentence, just like he had when he talked about his grandmother. Jade’s great-grandmother. She was part of his family. It was surprising every time she thought it, but not in an ugly or scary way. It was like opening up a box and finding cake and coffee inside or putting a hand in a coat pocket and finding a twenty-dollar bill. It was bright and shiny.

  “If…we weren’t creative,” she said slowly, testing out the word ‘we’ between her lips. It felt smooth and easy and she saw Josef smile again when she said it. “They’d be named Owl and Lizard.”

  Josef laughed. “I suppose you’re right.” He nodded to himself, still watching Bruce.

  “Do you want to have some coffee?” Jade asked, still slightly afraid he’d say no. “Maybe… maybe you could tell me more about Cyclo? It might be helpful for me and Bruce and… I’d like to hear it.” The last words rushed out before she could think too much about them and stop herself.

  “I’d like that.”

  #

  Paris didn’t lie to himself that he wasn’t checking in on Jade and Lily in Counter-Magic. That was exactly what he was doing. He’d managed to keep his distance all day and finally gave in by five o’clock. He peered into the Counter-Magic office’s, trying to be discreet and could see them both, Lily and Jade, sitting at Jade’s desk. Jade looked like she was going through some spell work, Lily at her side taking notes in a spiral book. Lily stopped Jade by resting a hand on her arm, then pointing at the screen. Jade pointed at something else quickly and Lily nodded, making another note.