Page 13 of Enchanted By the Gargoyle

Chapter 10

Ezren

Icheck my reflection in the mirror one last time before closing up my office. Tamsin is waiting for me, dressed in tight jeans that hug every curve, and a blush pink sweater that feels like silken marshmallow fluff.

“You ready?” She tucks an arm into mine, and we walk the familiar route back to the boulder, where a circle of witches wait for us.

One steps from the circle, reaching for Tamsin for a quick embrace, the top of her head brushing just under Tamsin’s chin. She has wild, white hair and is wearing a tie-dye shirt that says ‘Spelling is my specialty,’ complete with floating books.

“Do you like my shirt, Ezren? We’re selling them at the bookstore to promote the Coven’s book club night!”

“I like the colors very much.”

Merna flashes a grin at me and gestures me forward. “Well, this has been a long time coming. When Tamsin told me yesterday that you’ve been bound here for so long, I went back into our records to figure out what the heck happened, and unfortunately, the spell that was used was cast by Virelai Thorn.”

A collective shudder passes through the circle, ominous glances between the witches are exchanged. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Tamsin cover her mouth in shock. I look at them, bewildered by this obvious revelation to them.

“Uhm, I don’t know who that is? Should I know who that is?” Scraping my memories, which have gotten fuzzy as the years have gone by with me trapped on that dias for years on end, I come up empty. I can’t even recall a face.

Merna pats me on the arm, her mouth downturned. “You…wouldn’t remember, most likely. She was a very powerful witch. Her magic centered around emotions, memories, illusions.” She shakes her head. “She used you to anchor the node and most likely wove a spell to make the Coven forget about you. It wouldn’t be the first time she’s done something heinous. She was exiled not long after the town’s formation.”

My legs have gone stiff, my hands wringing themselves over and over.She made the town forget about me?The familiar tight feeling is in my throat, cutting off my breath.

“Ezren? I know it’s a shock, but we’re going to make it right.” Tamsin’s arm has slid around my waist, her hand on my chest, anchoring me. “Right?” She looks at Merna and the Coven.

“That’s right. You can’t stay bound to the property forever; that isn’t a solution. So, we need to create a sigil, and I think this is what the town’s magic wanted all along.” Merna’s eyes are twinkling as she looks at Tamsin, and then at me.

“What do you mean?” This entire conversation is making me feel dumb, or maybe witches are naturally secretive, but Inotice all the witches in the circle are smiling at Tamsin and me, like there is something they know that we don’t.

“Well…you two are obviously in love and you’ve known each other for what, three days?” Several witches chuckle along with Merna. “This is a cut-and-dried case of fated mates if I’ve ever seen one. The sigil spell is simple - Ezren, you’ll give some of your stone dust, and Tamsin will give over something of the earth. We’ll bind your love together, strengthening the sigil with stone and earth magic. It will be stronger than any bond that Virelai could come up with, that’s for sure.”

“Why is that?” Tamsin asks. She’s fishing around in her pockets for something.

Merna takes our hands together, entwining our fingers and pulling us forward toward the boulder. Tamsin’s magic is already seeping out from between our fingers, illuminating the path in front of us.

“Because, my dears, love is the strongest bond of all.” Merna’s eyes shine out in the dusk as she steps back into the circle, leaving us in the center.

Looking around, I see a few witches with watery eyes, happiness illuminated on their faces. Turning back to Tamsin, I look down to see she is holding out the citrine, the same stone I selected from her shop just a few days ago, the one that reminded me of the sun and her warmth. Lifting my right hand, I pinch my fingers together as though sprinkling salt, producing just enough stone dust to cover the top of the stone, and place my hand on top of hers.

“Ready?” She whispers.

“Ready.” I lean in for a kiss, the chants of the Coven surrounding us.

“Ligare per cor, unum in aeternum!”

Their voices mix together, gathering strength, and with it the winds of the forest send a gentle breeze in a swirl around us, sending the leaves and dust into a frenzy around us, intensifying the yellow light from our hands, until the earth gives a great shuddering breath, as though exhaling. Then, everything is still. We all turn to the boulder, to see a deeply etched ruin covering the face of it, encrusted with citrine and granite.

???

We’re sitting in ‘Churn and Charm,’ the ice cream shop owned by the Coven’s resident kitchen witch, Rowan.

“Alright, lovebirds, for Ezren I have a Honey-Lavender Rose ice cream with shortbread hearts, and for you, Tamsin, a Charmed Chocolate Lava Cake with a Cinnamon-Cayenne Whip.” She winks at us. “Just a little spice for later, if you catch my drift!”

I stare at her for a moment before remembering that I should thank her. “Thank you, Rowan, I’m excited to try ice cream for the first time. I’m sure it will be delicious.”

Rowan pats Tamsin on the shoulder. “Isn’t he a sweetheart?”

Tamsin sighs a bit. “Thank you, Rowan!”

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