Page 26 of Spirit Witch

So much joy.

But I still didn’t understand what went wrong.

How did I end up in that hospital with Leanna Stolbright peering down at me?

“You are thinking too much, and I know you feel confused.Your brain will need time to sort through the memories.I don’t know how you were stolen, but I never stopped looking for you.”

“I know.I feel your truth in my heart,” I replied with a watery smile.

And it was the truth.Everything he said echoed with honesty, and I saw our bond clearly.He was my soulmate, and his love was like a beacon in all the darkness I’d seen in the world.

“Don’t forget, Nizhoni.We are more than our past.We are our present, and our future too.”

“Our future.I like the sound of that,” I said, offering a small smile.

My heart was pounding inside my chest, and yeah, I didn’t know what had happened before and I could not tell the future, but I knew I loved him.

That would have to be enough for now.

“Me too,” he replied with a grin.“Come on.Your friends are waiting for you.”

“Wait,” I said, pulling back on our joined hands.“I’m scared.”

Admitting that wasn’t easy, but knowing Judge was on my side helped.Besides, there was nothing he didn’t know about me already, and guessing my moods was a rather infuriating specialty of his.

“Fear is good.It means you’re smart.The world, and the supernatural world especially, is a scary place.Facing your fear is what makes you brave.And I don’t know anyone braver than you.”

Pleasure filled me at his words, and I followed him outside, watching in awe as Judge sang his magic, vanishing the tent from this reality.

That was something else I’d learned over the past few days.The multiverse was a real thing, and it was filled with many realms and realities.Part of my power was the ability to walk among the many different levels of existence, changing form to suit them, and yet keeping the core of who I was with me at all times.Still, I had so many questions.

“So, does being a spirit witch mean I am similar to a Spiritwalker, like you?”I asked him, needing to know now that I had passed through the fog wall to access my magic.

“Um, no, you see, that’s based on part of my cultural heritage.You have no Native American ancestry like I do, but our Welsh and Celtic roots do bind us.You are what your friends guessed, but I think there is much more to being this spirit witch than they know.I think maybe you don’t even realize it yet.”

So, I was a definitely that elusive creature called a spirit witch.I’d finally confirmed the truth, and it was an eye opener for sure.But so was the rest of what I had to tell my friends.They already knew about my ability to see fades, but my past was something I’d only just rediscovered, including what Judge and I were to each other.I just wasn’t sure how they would take it.

Newly awakened magic hummed inside my veins as I walked beside Judge back to the dormitory through the Winter Forest.Magic was waning, but the evening seemed to hold a little bit of extra.Music and the hush of voices sounded in the distance, and Judge and I looked at each other.He canted his head curiously in the direction it was coming from and suddenly, I remembered.

Westwood Academy was known for holding games and parties throughout the break, where students, faculty and staff alike could take part in celebrations for all the holidays they’d be observing during the season.

The first thing I saw was a stand of fir trees decorated much like Christmas trees in the normal world would be at this time, only the ornaments represented magical creatures and symbols, such as the arrows, ankhs, heptagrams, sigils, runes, moon phases, and of course, an ouroboros.They were lit by magic, with thousands of tiny little fairy lights in every color imaginable.

“Beautiful,” I whispered.

“Yes, beautiful,” Judge repeated.

Only his eyes were on me and not the spectacularly decorated trees.I felt my blush heating my cheeks, and it pleased me to know he felt that way about me.

People chatting and the sounds of food being grilled, and popcorn popping reached my ears.The fragrant smells of said food hit me next, and my stomach rumbled hungrily.

We turned the bend and saw a delightful array of food stands, bonfires, and what resembled carnival games set upon with dozens of people from the Academy milling about.

A particularly loud squeal seemed to slap me in the face, and I turned a split second to catch Jade before she toppled me over in the earth witch’s version of a bear hug, which, to be honest, was pretty much on point.

“You’re back!YAY!!!!”

I hugged my roommate back, surprised by her reaction.It had only been a few days, but she acted like I’d been gone for months.I couldn’t say it wasn’t gratifying, knowing I’d been missed.After spending so much of my earlier life ignored or neglected, well, her welcome was a balm to the soul.

---