Page 10 of Their Witch Bride

“You all look so nice,” I gush, hoping that I’ll look at least okay beside them.

They stop walking and face me. Edna gives me the up and down, then nudges Lilac. Snickers erupt from both of them.

“Nice dress,” Edna says, not bothering to hide her sarcasm.

Hey, it’s the best compliment I’ve received from a fellow witch in a long time, so I’m going to take it.

“Thanks! I picked it out myself,” I reply, smiling at the three witches and twirling for them.

“No surprise there,” Edna says, followed by a snort.

“Well, the blue and red actually looks kind of–” Clio begins.

Lilac elbows her. Hard. “Stupid?”

Clio rubs her arm, wincing. “Yeah, stupid.”

I shrug. “I never claimed to be good at fashion.”

“You don’t claim to have a lot of talents, do you?” Edna asks, her voice dripping with venom.

I shake my head, then a thought occurs to me. “What’s your specialty, Edna? I mean, I know you’re good at all magic, but what’s your specialty? Lilac, I know you’re great with nature and plants. I’ve seen your vegetable garden! Seriously, it’s fantastic! But with Clio and Edna, I’m just wondering what you guys think your roles will end up being?” I know these ladies are amazing. I’ve seen each of them use their magic with an ease I can’t even dream of.

Clio pipes us. “Well, Edna’s obviously going to be a Crystal Witch, since it’s the most powerful, most respected role, and she’s the best there is. Lilac does want to be a Green Witch, since she’s not only good with nature, but loves it, and I'm hoping to be an Elemental Witch.”

Edna elbows Clio and shushes her. “The best Princess Tara can hope for is being a useless Metal Witch.” She laughs, and her friends laugh with her.

I mean, she’s probably right. That’s the only thing I’m good at, and it’s completely useless to our people. Witches fight with magic. Swords are given to humans and our husbands to give them some protection in case of monsters and shifters. It’s really a role no one wants or respects.

“Right? What do witches need with weapons when we have magic?” I laugh too. “I mean, witches who are good at their magic don’t need weapons at all. I need my weapons because my magic is iffy.”

Edna just looks at me with a blank look on her face that I don’t understand. What’s the problem? I’m agreeing with her. We should all be laughing together.

Maybe I’m not making my stance clear enough.

“Our enemies can’t even get close enough to us to use their weapons. A little flourish of your hands, and they’ll be laid out.” I laugh more, imagining a witch fighting with a sword. “Can you picture it? Me running at you guys with a sword? I’d be so dead!” I laugh harder, and glance at them, only to realize I’m the only one laughing.

Edna, Lilac, and Clio stare at me with their mouths wide open. Probably because they’re surprised that I seem to be too dumb to realize they’re making fun of me. I’m not though. It’s just that either you laugh or you cry, so I’m always going to choose to laugh.

I catch my breath and smile brightly. “Anyway, I hope you all get the roles you want in the coven.”

“Whatever, freak,” Edna mutters.

They swiftly turn away from me and head towards the Crystal Ceremony, starting down the winding staircase that will eventually lead to the caverns. I follow behind them. The glow from our conversation dulls, and my nerves start to jump once more. My mother will be there during the ceremony. All our most important people will be there. Chances are that no matter what happens, I’m going to embarrass myself and my mother. Something there will be consequences for. And then, that’ll be it. I’ll have that role for the rest of my life.

There will be no escape.

But I have to do this. No matter what. There is no escape. So, I might as well paint a smile on and face it head on.

As they open the doors, I take a deep breath, trying to prepare myself for whatever’s about to happen.

FIVE

Tara

The Crystal Ballroom is not so much a ballroom as it is a massive cavern deep beneath the palace with a smooth floor that looks like dark purple polished marble. Massive crystals in a variety of colors grow from the walls and ceiling. Torches have been placed all over the room to catch the light from the crystals, sending the different colors dancing around the room.

This place simply feels powerful. I like coming here on hard days. When you lie on the floor, the magic vibrates from the ground and the crystals whisper, even though I don’t know what they’re saying.

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