Page 9 of Elora and the Crow

Lilianna cawed and nibbled at Elora’s fingers. Taking another deep breath, Elora turned to the spell book and spoke the incantation. As she recited the words, she could feel the intoxicating power building inside her. Her pale cheeks flushed with colour, and she stared with wonderment at the blue light glowing from her hands. The power grew stronger, an addictive rush that Elora could chase forever and never tire of. Nothing felt as good to her as performing magic.

She chanted the spell a second time and then a third time until the candle flames burned so brightly, she had to squint. The blue light surrounding her hands pulsed and deepened, and an answering glow of blue emanated from the paste on Lilianna’s head and back.

Lilianna stared into the candlelight, her dark eyes reflecting the flames. Sweat dripping down her back and her whole body trembling, Elora shouted, “By my power, flame and flower, return her to her genuine form.”

Blue light shot out from Elora’s hands and bathed Lilianna in its soft glow. Lilianna cawed, the sound filled with pain.

Elora winced but shouted again, “By my power, flame and flower, return her to her genuine form!”

The magic surged within her. Her heart rate shot up, and her hands shook wildly as her entire body flooded with the electrifying and oh-so-addictive magic that ran through her blood.

“By my power, flame and flower, return her to her genuine form!” Elora shrieked as Lilianna screamed, and the blue light surrounding her turned blinding.

Lights exploded in Elora’s head, and pain instantly annihilated the power. She screamed and grabbed at her skull, falling to her knees as the agony made her back bow and her teeth snap together with a hard click that she felt more than heard.

The pain swelled in her head until she was sure she would die. That her brain would simply turn to jelly and ooze out her ears. She cried out when the brain-melting pain disappeared as quickly as it appeared, and she collapsed on the floor before the altar.

She kept her eyes closed. The only sound was her harsh panting and the faint rock music drifting through the ceiling from her neighbours upstairs.

“Shit, that hurt,” she groaned, rubbing tentatively at her temple. “I think I might have given myself brain damage. At the very least, I …”

She sat up straight, staring frantically at the altar. “Lilikins! Lilipad, are you… well, shit.”

Still very much in her crow form, Lilianna sat on the altar, staring unblinkingly at her.

“It didn’t work,” Elora said. “I can’t believe it didn’t work.”

Lilianna cawed softly as Elora crawled over to her. She was at eye level with Lilianna, and she gave the crow a glum look. “I’m so sorry, honey. I really hoped this would do it.”

Lilianna stretched forward and groomed Elora’s hair with her beak before spreading her wings and shaking her body. Wet and sticky flower paste splatted Elora’s face, and she wrinkled her nose. “I deserved that.”

Dejected beyond belief, she blew out the candles and climbed to her feet. Dizziness washed over her, and she grabbed the altar, steadying herself as she took a few deep breaths. Lilianna landed on her shoulder, clicking softly at her, and Elora nodded. “Yeah, I’m okay. Just exhausted. I’ve never felt the magic so strongly before. I can’t believe the spell didn’t work.”

She stared at the altar and then the ceiling. “At least I didn’t singe the ceiling or set anything on fire this time, right?”

Lilianna groomed her hair again, and Elora patted her sleek feathers. “C’mon, Lilipad. It’s late. Let’s have a shower and go to bed.”

* * *

Elora was much too hot.She shoved the quilt to her waist, but even the cool bedroom air didn’t help. Lilianna was crowded against her back, and the bird was even warmer than usual.

“Lilikins, move back,” she muttered, burrowing her head deeper into the pillow.

Lilianna snored softly before flinging one arm over Elora’s waist and cupping her breast. She elbowed the bird in the stomach. “Lilianna, you’re too hot. Are you trying to set me on…”

Elora’s eyes popped open, and she stared at the big hand cupping her breast through her sleep shirt. The fingers were long with short, blunt nails, and thick blue veins ran across the back of the hand.

Her sleepiness evaporated, and she turned her head, the tendons in her neck creaking like an old barn door. She stared at the man pressed up behind her in the bed.

“What the fuck?” she whispered.

She studied his face in confusion, her gaze traveling over his sharp cheekbones, broad nose, and square jaw. Dark stubble covered his pale skin, and his narrow lips were relaxed in sleep. His ink-coloured hair was thick and on the longish side, curling at the nape of his neck and around his ears.

“I’m having a dream,” Elora said, her voice faint and full of shock. “Time to wake up, Elora.”

The man’s eyes blinked open. He stared at her, his irises so dark, it was almost impossible to tell where they ended and his pupils began. He smiled sleepily at her, revealing straight white teeth, before leaning forward and rubbing his nose along her hair.

He froze, his eyes widening and his hand tightening on her breast. He stared at Elora before releasing her and lifting his hand into the air. He stared at it like he’d never seen a human hand before as Elora slid out of bed on legs that felt like rubber bands.

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