When I wake up, it’s almost noon. I can hear movement downstairs but when I reach the hall, everyone moves out into the garden. Freddy gives me a nod and Marley and I bump fists but, in the end, it is Opal and I left alone in the dining room.
I sit across from her, and I stare at the improvised Christmas lunch on the table. Wrapped sweets
and croissants.
“What happened?” I finally ask.
She unravels the satin teal pocket square that has been tied around her wrist and lays it on the dining table. “I called in a favour.”
“The Stranger?”
“Yes.”
I stare at the small scrap of fabric. I remember him giving it to her. “I didn’t know he had that power.”
“That is… all his power is.”
“And you knew Portia?”
“In another life, it feels like, but yes. When we were younger.”
“You were friends?”
“Yes.”
“Like Freddy and me?”
“Sort of.”
I try to make sense of this revelation. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
She arches an eyebrow in that superior way of hers. “Why didn’t you tell me about that dragon? Or your secret trips here?”
I flush and she nods.
“Oh, yes. Marley caved and told us.”
I pull a croissant towards me. “Sorry. I’ve been…
a version of me I didn’t really like.”
She smiles, gently. “I know that feeling.”
“You let Portia live.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Sometimes you have to ask yourself: who are you willing to live with and who can’t you live without?”
I’m not sure I completely understand. but I nod.
I decide to apologise, feeling all the rash decisions that I’ve made over the last few days now sitting in
my stomach.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t more honest. I’m sorry I didn’t listen. I thought, because my magic was getting stronger, that meant I could make all the decisions.”
She watches me for a moment and then grabs a croissant for herself. “You know?” she says, taking a bite. “There’s no one in this world I love more than you. But you drive me absolutely out of my mind.”
I snort and burst out a laugh. I glance down at my hands and conjure up the tiniest little flame. “I don’t know. I really wanted to be good at something without having to practice.”
Opal leans forward. “You’re already good enough. Okay? The practice is for you, no one else. You’re not in competition with anyone but yourself. You’re already great. I just know you can be greater. But that never means you’re not enough. You are. You could give up magic tomorrow. It would not lessen you in any of our eyes. Nothing could do that.”
I take that in. I let it cool some of the burns I’ve been carrying around in me for the last few weeks.
“Who were all those women with Mum and Gran?”
“Other witches. Your mum and grandmother have been gathering allies. Like I said. We had a plan. But, thanks to you being kidnapped, we had to bump it forward a bit.”
I flush again. “I said sorry.”
I don’t show how truly embarrassed I am. I thought I had to be the hero. I thought that was my purpose.
“Uh huh. But don’t worry. I should have been honest, too. Truth is: that Siren and I had a ton of unfinished business and I didn’t want anyone else to handle it but me. Yes, we had a plan, but we should have shared it with you and Marley. I just… couldn’t get to grips with the idea that we might be recruiting you. Ruining your childhood.”
“We wanted to help.”
