AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A NATURAL
“Good, Stephanie. You’re doing so well.”
I smile as Bernadette praises Steph, who beams back at her with a wide grin. This is obviously my first time watching a newly unbound witch learn to use her powers, but I have to agree. Everything seems to be going smoothly, with Steph successfully completing each spell Bernadette teaches her within a few tries.
Like she’s a natural.
We’re in one of the parlors downstairs, and I watch them from a comfortable chair in the corner while Jesse and Erik stand guard outside the closed door. Bernadette insisted she and Steph would need more room than their bedroom afforded, and Jesse led us to this space before he and Erik moved all the furniture to the outer edges of the room.
Steph groans when her tongue gets tied on the unfamiliar words Bernadette asks her to repeat. But instead of letting her frustration take over, she stiffens her spine and tries again. I’ve never seen her so focused and dedicated before, and I’m highly impressed by her fortitude.
A gasp rips up my throat as she finally repeats the words correctly and disappears from sight. My wide eyes search the room before landing on Bernadette, who’s smile is bright and filled with pride.
“Did she just…teleport?” I whisper.
“I’m right here,” Steph’s disembodied voice calls out, making me yelp.
“Witches can’t teleport. That’s not a real thing,” Bernadette says with a shake of her head. “But we can make ourselves invisible.”
As she turns her attention to teaching Steph the spell to make herself visible again, my mind wanders back to that day at the beach…with Shannon. I assumed she’d teleported when she disappeared, but apparently, she was still there with us. Perhaps if I’d paid closer attention, I would’ve seen her footprints in the sand. Hell, she probably waited right where she was until Jesse came to collect us so we wouldn’t see her footprints moving away from us.
I startle as Steph suddenly reappears, letting out a whoop of joy and dancing a little jig before grabbing Bernadette’s hands and exclaiming, “Magic is awesome!”
“Your power is very strong, just as I’ve always suspected,” Bernadette says, giving her a warm smile. “Eventually, these spells will become second nature, and you won’t even have to speak them aloud. You’ll just think the words, and the magic inside you will do the rest.”
Steph’s face scrunches up like she’s trying to blast her thoughts into the universe, then her shoulders slump in defeat. Bernadette chuckles and pats her on the shoulder.
“Patience, Stephanie. It will come with time.”
I manage to control my own laughter when it threatens to burst from my chest, but I must make some noise because Steph levels a narrow-eyed glare on me. I hold up my hands in surrender, and she flips me off, at which point I do laugh.
If there’s one thing Steph lacks, it’s patience. And she knows it, too.
Bernadette starts to chant again, and Steph turns her full attention back to her aunt. She repeats the words slowly at first, her tongue working out the pronunciation of each one before she recites them with more confidence.
My body stiffens as the sound of her voice suddenly cuts off. I straighten in my seat, straining my ears, but as her lips continue to move, there’s not even a whisper of sound. I look over at Bernadette, who must sense my gaze because she answers my unspoken question while keeping her eyes firmly on Steph.
“Barrier spell,” she says. “We can’t hear her, but she can hear us. Isn’t that right, dear?”
Steph nods, her lips still moving as she chants, and Bernadette motions for me to come over. Standing slowly, I shuffle forward, stopping beside the older witch. She reaches out and grabs my wrist, lifting my hand and pushing it toward Steph.
I freeze as my hand comes up against a solid, invisible barrier. I test its strength, pushing harder before lifting my other hand and lending my weight to it. It’s like leaning against a rock wall. I jerk my head toward Bernadette, staring at her with wide eyes, and she smiles back at me before looking back at Steph.
“Very good. Now the spell to take it down.”
She starts speaking, enunciating each word carefully. I see Steph pause to listen, then her own mouth moves soundlessly for a few moments. Then there’s an audible pop, and I stumble back as Steph’s voice rings loud and clear in my ears.
“That was amazing,” I say, my voice filled with wonder as I wave my hand around, searching for the barrier. My fingers meet nothing but air, and I cross my arms over my chest and grin at my best friend. “You really are a natural at this.”
“Thanks,” she says with a wide grin. “It feels natural, like I’m finally the person I was always meant to be.”
“I am sorry for that,” Bernadette says quietly. “Binding you went against everything we stand for as witches, but it was the only way to protect you.”
“I know that, Aunt Bernie,” Steph says, leaping forward to wrap her arms around her aunt. “I know you had my best interests and safety in mind, and it was the only thing you could do.”
“Thank you for that, dear,” Bernadette mumbles, and I can hear the tears in her voice. “The guilt has always eaten at me.”
“No guilt,” Steph says firmly, squeezing Bernadette’s upper arms and pushing her back to look into her eyes. “You protected me when my mother couldn’t. And now, you’re protecting me again by teaching me how to protect myself.”
