Page 69 of Mated to the Monster Under my Bed
“It’s a tradition—you have to be skyclad for big rites. It shows trust, vulnerability, and openness to the magic.”
“Oh,” I’d said faintly, thinking I didn’t feel magical—I just felt embarrassed.
Luckily, since my little cottage sat right at the end of Main Street, it only took me a minute to sprint home. And, as if it knew what I needed, the cottage had anticipated me again. A thick, forest-green wool cloak was waiting on a hook by the front door, smelling faintly of clove and pine.
I stripped fast, knocking my elbows into a towering stack of boxes in the process. I’d opened a few earlier in the day to kill time before the ceremony and discovered that—sure enough—they were filled with exactly what I’d asked the Wishing Tree for. Yarn in rich jewel tones…crystal-clear glass jars for buttons…a fancy espresso machine…even a shop sign that read THE WITCH'S STITCH in curling black letters were all waiting for me.
My wish had come true…but it had cost me everything. I was tempted to throw it all away—I probably would have if I hadn’t had hope that I might get Shadow back again. But if he was lost forever, I was going to move away from Hidden Hollow, I told myself. I didn’t want to be here without him. I’d go home and live in my car in the Human World.
But hopefully that wouldn’t be necessary.
Now, I stood at the center of the cobbled street, barefoot on the cold stones, wrapped in my new cloak and trying not to shake. Whether I was shivering from the cold or my nerves, I couldn’t tell.
Goody Albright stood before us, regal in her deep purple cloak and silver cat-eye glasses, holding a large white pillar candle in both hands.
“This meeting of the Hidden Hollow Coven will now come to order," she said in her usual calm, ringing tone. "Tonight, we have two orders of business—first, we will strengthen and renew our town’s guardian bubble. Second, we will be opening a door to the Shadow Lands."
There were murmurs of surprise around the circle.
"Why are we doing that?" Sarah asked.
"One of our number has lost someone dear to them," Goody Albright replied. "We will only be calling the door into existence—it will be her responsibility to open it and bring him from the other side."
My voice wavered, but I forced myself to speak.
"It’s me. I…I lost the monster under my bed."
The admission hung in the air like fog.
God, I sound ridiculous. But it’s true—he was mine and now he’s gone.
Harmony squeezed my hand.
"I’m so sorry—you should have said something," she murmured.
I shook my head.
"There’s nothing to say. I just hope I can get him back."
"You will," she promised, and I wanted—desperately—to believe her.
"All right, now that we all know what we’re doing, let’s call the circle," Goody Albright said, lifting the candle.
She closed her eyes and raised her face to the night. The moon, round and silver, hovered just above the rooftops, and the stars overhead sparkled like diamond dust on black velvet.
"Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East—Powers of Air and Invention—hear us!" Goody Albright’s voice was powerful and sure.
Sarah picked up the chant next.
"Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West—Powers of Water and Intuition—hear us!"
"Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South—Powers of Fire and Feeling—hear us," Celia intoned.
Goldie finished.
"Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North—Powers of Mother Earth—hear our plea tonight."
As she spoke, the white candle in Goody A’s hands sparked to life, the flame curling up like a serpent, catching fire without even a match.
