Page 7 of Overwhelmed By Magic

I choke on the potatoes and quickly wash them down with a glass of water as Harlow cackles at my side. If she only knew that I slept better when I was wrapped up in Harlow’s arms or goddess forbid when his cock was stuffed up my ass and I was crying out his name. No need to let my poor mother know that my spirit boyfriend fucks me to sleep. I especially shouldn’t mention that I’m still experiencing those nightmares.

Harlow leans over and nibbles on my ear, whispering every last position he put me in yesterday to ‘wish me good luck’, my cheeks heating as I try to smack him away. The problem is that the bastard slips so easily into that void that only his voice and the ghost of his touch linger. A shiver runs down my spine as I try to keep my composure, choosing to take a rather vicious bite of my sausage in response.

My stepbrother’s jokes stop immediately.

Serves him right.

Where most parents are overjoyed that their children are Magila, mine want nothing to do with essence. It doesn’t help that they blame Harlow for taking me to that party and nearly dying. They won’t even look at the marks on my wrists, my mother going so far as to say that Harlow has condemned me. A mere conversation about it will turn into an argument and then a sermon on how Magila are unnatural beings. I don’t agree but keeping my relationship with Harlow post-death a secret is important if I want any relationship with my parents.

One day I’ll be strong enough to stick it to my parents and let them know that Harlow isn’t going anywhere. “No, he’s at his own graduation,” I lie. I don’t need another fight right now.

“He’s been so much trouble since he became a Magila. I heard that he’s not even going to graduate, which means that you won’t have to worry about his presence at your side any longer. Thank the goddess!” My mother sounds way too overjoyed about that prospect. It also means that she has relayed that little tidbit of information to everyone she meets. Harlow isn’t safe here any more than he is safe at Astral Academy. The Magila council will force Harlow to attend Grimrose and if he tries to slink past them, the consequences won’t be good. “Now, let’s talk about why you aren’t here in the arena…”

“Because it’s breakfast time and the ceremony is this afternoon. Give me a little freedom before I become one of your lackeys, alright?” I spit back and then hang up, shoving the phone in my bag before glaring at Harlow. “If she calls back, don’t you dare answer. I don’t want to talk to her or your father.”

Speaking with my mother just brings back the reality that even my future is laid out for me, heading down a path I’m not all too excited about. I wanted to major in something that would make a difference, counseling and psychology what stood out to me most. Unfortunately, my mother has taken it upon herself to somehow open a position at her Fortune 500 company that will allow me to explore my degree while working in her shadow.

Harlow huffs, materializing beside me again with an ease that doesn’t make sense. He’s facing me now, his legs on either side of the bench, his chin placed on my shoulder as his arms wound around my waist. “I wouldn’t want to talk to them either but if you don’t shovel those potatoes a little faster, you’re going to miss my ceremony.”

“And you’d like that.”

“I would, very much.”

I don’t answer him because there isn’t any answer he’ll accept other than ‘I’m not going’. It’s dangerous but I need to see this through. Harlow’s presence doesn’t draw anyone’s suspicions and I frown, looking around confused. “Why isn’t anyone having a conniption that you’re going in and out of existence?” Magila on this campus aren’t forbidden but it is uncommon.

Harlow grins wide at me, those blue eyes flashing with a hint of amusement. “Because they can’t see me.”

“You’ve materialized. I can feel you.”

“Yes, but only you.”

My confusion is silenced by Harlow twisting my chin toward him for a full kiss, the man demanding my submission until I’m leaning into his chest, silently asking for more. When one of his hands slips between my legs, I pull away. “Nope. What the fuck? You mean the reason everyone is staring at me these days is because they think I’m talking to myself?”

Harlow doesn’t look even remotely sorry as I grab my tray to discard what’s left. “Just here at Benson. I’m not supposed to be here, remember?”

Harlow moves swiftly behind me as I try to grapple with the several revelations I’ve had since finding myself in the shower.

My stepbrother isn’t a ghost, spirit, or undead that makes any sense.

He’s going to Grimrose.

Some kind of strange pink essence is fiddling around the burn marks on my wrists.

And fucking Harlow has been making me look like a crazy person for the last four years.

I understand why he can’t show himself but goddess, I’m going to rip him a new one the next time we’re alone.

“Babe, wait. I don’t-” His words trail off as I continue down the sidewalk, the man grabbing my hand and slipping his fingers through my palm. He easily picks up on my anxiety, softening his aura, my entire body responding to his essence. None of this makes any sense. “Hey, everything will work out. I promise you that.”

He can’t promise me shit. No one can. “It feels like I’m walking you to your death, Harlow.” Grimrose is an abyss of mystery and I know that Harlow will try to use his essence to stay at my side even when he does have to attend that academy. I just hope it doesn’t get him killed. Harlow squeezes my hand and brings it to his lips to kiss my knuckles, the scrape of his lip rings keeping me present. I wish I had his confidence.

Scratch that.

After what he told me this morning, I wish I had been the one those spirits had pulled in so that it would be Harlow graduating from Benson University.

5

RUMI

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