Chapter 39 Floaty Candles

The early morning sun cast a soft, golden light over the oak grove as Scarlett made her way up the hill, her mother and sisters by her side. The air was crisp and cool, and the dew-covered grass sparkled like diamonds beneath their feet. Despite the seriousness of the task at hand, there was a sense of warmth and unity among the women as they walked together, their steps in perfect sync.

Over her shoulder, Luna had a satchel filled with candles, herbs, and other mystical tools to help amplify Scarlett's power. Delilah carried a few soft blankets and a couple of folding chairs, while Mama had a large basket overflowing with food and water. They were prepared to stay by Scarlett's side for as long as it took. Also, Kelly Melrose had never once in her life turned down a picnic.

As they approached the edge of the grove, they weren't surprised at all to find Nate there waiting for them. Without a word, he fell into step beside the women. His hand found Scarlett's and he gave it a reassuring squeeze.

But as they entered the grove itself, the mood shifted dramatically. The trees were even more sickly and withered than ever, their leaves drooping and bark peeling away in large, brittle chunks. The air was tinted a vague, unsettling red, the color of rust and decay, and it was filled with the constant, droning buzz of countless glowing dragonflies. The insects flitted from tree to tree, their wings leaving trails of crimson light in their wake. The stench of rot and disease was almost overwhelming.

Scarlett made her way to the center of the grove, where the largest and oldest oak tree stood. Its mighty trunk was gnarled and twisted, its branches reaching up and out like the grasping fingers of a crone who'd lived far too long. Luna began to arrange her herbs and candles in a circle around the tree—her hands moved with practiced grace as she sent the candles floating into the air.

Delilah approached Scarlett, her eyes shining as she pulled her sister into a fierce hug. "You're an idiot," she whispered. "But you've got this."

Luna came next, her smile soft and encouraging. "Remember, Scarlett," she said, "you are stronger than you know. Trust in yourself and in the magic that flows through you."

Luna squeezed Scarlett, who whispered into her sister's wild hair, "Thanks for not calling me an idiot."

Mama stepped forward, her jaw set with determination and love. "My brave, beautiful girl. I am so proud of you; I know your father is too. You can do this. Just remember, when you're zipping around in the sky, stay the hell away from mean boys with stones. And don't get so enamored with flying that you forget to return to the ground."

Scarlett nodded. "I promise I won't."

Finally, it was Nate's turn. He pulled Scarlett close, his arms wrapping around her in a tight, desperate embrace. "I love you," he whispered.

She couldn't begin to process that statement, so she made a joke instead, " I know ."

Nate shook his head, chuckling. "A moment like this, and you're going all Han Solo on me."

"You better believe it." Scarlett kissed him fiercely and then said, "I love you, too. Now back up and let me do this."

Scarlett settled herself against the tree trunk, surrounded by Luna's herbs and her enchanted candles. "Hey, wait," she said suddenly. "I just remembered: Luna, you never showed me how to do the floaty candles thing."

"Well then." Luna forced a smile. "I guess you have a reason to return to us."

Scarlett's gaze shifted to Nate, and she winked. " Oh, finally , a good reason to return." Nate winked back.

She closed her eyes and let her mind drift. She found herself floating back through the years to the countless memories she shared with Papa. There he was, standing in the garden, his hands caked with dirt as he carefully tended to his beloved delphiniums. There he was, sitting at his big carved desk, surrounded by books. There he was, dancing with Mama in the living room, their laughter echoing through the house as they twirled and swayed to "Blue Moon."

She could feel her father's presence all around her, his love and strength flowing through her. Where before these memories had been tinged with guilt and regret, now Scarlett felt only joy at feeling his spirit twinned with her own. Under the ancient oak tree, surrounded by her family, both living and not, Scarlett knew that she was exactly where she was meant to be now.

Suddenly, a burst of blinding light illuminated the forest, and a ferocious wind tore through the air. Scarlett's human form shattered into thirteen starlings, each one glimmering with silver flecks like tiny jewels against their jet-black feathers. With a synchronized flutter of wings, they soared into the sky, their movements fluid and graceful as they weaved through the trees. The sound of their trills filled the grove, echoing off the ancient oaks.

The starlings flew in in perfect unison, creating an intricate and mesmerizing display against the blue sky. As if controlled by a single mind, they twisted and turned, their path forming an intricate, spiraling pattern like a glittering black tornado. They descended upon the unsuspecting dragonflies with a furious hunger, devouring the insects with precision and grace.

Scarlett's family watched in awe as the starlings feasted. They laughed together as the birds swept through the trees.

"Look at her go!" Delilah exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder. "I've never seen anything like it!"

Mama unfolded one of the chairs and sat down, back straight as always. "That's my girl."

***

In the shadow of the oak grove, a man and a woman in top hats and capes lurked behind some shrubbery.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing," hissed the gentleman magician.

"That I am," his companion whispered back.

"This is bad. This is very very bad. What should we do?"

"Don't fret," said the lady magician with a wink. "I know exactly what we do."

***

Thirteen starlings versus a thousand dragonflies was an epic battle, and not a brief one. Ever patient, the family gathered on the blankets to watch the show.

As they snacked on the sandwiches Zahir had sent, conversation turned to the future and all its many possibilities.

"So, Nate," Delilah said with a mischievous glint in her eye, "when are you going to make an honest woman out of our sister? I mean, you can't very well burn down Polly's store every time you want to fool around."

Nate coughed, his face turning pink. "Well, uh . . . You heard about that, huh?"

Mama frowned. "What's this about the bookstore?"

"Nothing, Mama." Luna giggled, nudging her sister with her elbow. "Leave the poor boy alone, Del."

"I'm just saying," Delilah continued, undeterred, "if he's going to be part of this family, he might as well make it official. We've all been waiting for it for years."

Slowly but surely, the tide turned against the insect invaders—the starlings had them on the ropes, swooping and darting through the branches of the old oak trees. The red tint that had suffused the grove began to fade, replaced by the warm, golden glow of the afternoon sun. The air grew fresh and sweet, the stench of decay dissipating like a bad dream. The trees themselves seemed to stand a little taller, their leaves unfurling and their branches reaching toward the sky with renewed vigor.

By sunset, the grove was dragonfly-free and utterly transformed. The starlings, bellies full and wings heavy with exhaustion, returned to the base of the great oak tree, settling into the circle of candles with soft, contented coos.

"Look! It's worked!" Luna cheered.

Mama, Delilah, Luna, and Nate all rose to their feet in applause. They had so much they wanted to say to Scarlett, so many words of love and pride. They wanted to sweep her up in their arms and never let her go. They stood happily and watched the starlings peck the dirt, and groom themselves.

As the minutes ticked by, the starlings remained huddled beneath the tree, a sense of unease grew. Where was she? Why hadn't she returned to her human form?

"Luna," Mama said, concerned, "what do you know about the timings here?"

"I . . . I don't know anything. I mean . . . this isn't a common spell, so . . ."

Delilah turned to Nate. "Do you remember when she did it with the fish? It happened pretty quickly, didn't it? Didn't she come back pretty soon?"

"Could something have gone wrong with the spell?" Luna asked. "Mama? Did something go wrong that we didn't notice?"

"I . . ." She shook her head. "I don't know . . ." Mama stepped forward, her brow furrowed with concern as she approached the circle of candles. She counted the starlings one by one.

Twelve. There were only twelve starlings beneath the tree.

Mama's hands trembled as she counted the birds again. Twelve. Only twelve starlings returned.

A choked sob escaped Delilah's throat as the horrible truth set in. "No," she whispered. "No, it can't be!"

Luna's knees buckled, and Nate quickly moved to catch her before she collapsed. His face was drawn with anguish and disbelief. After finally getting Scarlett back, the thought of losing her again was too much to bear.

"This isn't happening." His voice was raw and broken. "She'll find a way back to us, I know she will." But even as he spoke the words, doubt crept into his heart.

Mama stood frozen, her eyes fixed on the starlings. Tears streamed down her face, but she made no move to wipe them away. "My baby," she whispered, her voice so soft that it was almost lost on the evening breeze. "My darling girl. Where have you gone?"