10. Check

Chapter 10

Check

A lice stood alone in her wine cellar with her arms crossed and a hand placed on her chin. She was lost in thought, staring off at the stone wall behind her workstation. Shadows from the candlelight danced on the stone wall. The room was dim, as if she didn’t want any spirits to see what she was doing.

Thoughts raced through her mind. The emotions of the past few days had finally caught up to her. She wanted to run. She wanted to hide. She wanted to fight. She wanted to take out the Savinos.

Alice couldn’t act or speak. She was lost in a sea of confusion and anxiety as she contemplated her next move. The pieces on the chessboard had been in motion without her knowledge, and now it was finally her turn to make a move. She was at a loss of what to do.

Alice’s eyes focused on a single stone in the wall. The only stone in the wall holding a secret. It was more than a secret—it was a curse. It had ruined many lives. It had caused devastation and destruction. So many lives lost. She only wished she could have destroyed it.

Why did she have to carry the burden? She never asked for it. She didn’t want it. It was thrust upon her. Her grandmother knew its history. Her grandmother knew what it meant for her to carry this throughout her life. Why did her grandmother give it to her?

Alice sighed.

She approached her workstation and snapped her fingers. The stone in the wall opened. Inside the wooden box was her terrible curse. She pulled out the box and set it amongst the mortars and pestles neatly organized on her workstation. She opened the lid and pulled out the spell scroll.

It was worn and yellowed with age. No one knew how old it was. Its architect was lost to time. Its ultimate power remained unknown. All Alice knew was a portion of the spell worked.

She wouldn’t be standing there if not for her desire to make the spell with Hugo. If not for his quick thinking, she would have died at the hands of Johanna Newes.

Alice unfurled the scroll, reading its components over and over. She tried to commit them to memory, but as soon as she removed her eyes from the arcane words, all knowledge of them were gone. The spells protection so it couldn’t fall into the wrong hands . . . or be made with the wrong individual.

Her memories slipped back to a time when she first made a promise, when she swore her oath of protection.

“My sweet, Allie, let me look at you,” the old woman said. “You’re all grown up. Give your old grandma a hug.”

“Hi, Grandma Bee,” an eighteen-year-old Alice Primrose said as she wrapped her arms around the flowing dress of the woman.

Beatrice ‘Bee’ Hawthorn was tall and slender. The colorful, floral print dress brushed against the ground. A sharp contrast to Alice’s tight-fitting, black clothes. She was in her late 60s with wild, naturally gray hair. Her fingers were filled with various colorful rings, and her wrists were wrapped in beaded bracelets .

“I love what you’ve done with your hair,” Bee said as she ran her fingers through Alice’s hair. “It’s so vibrant.”

“Thank you. Purple is my favorite color, so I thought, ‘why not?’”

“What does your mom think?”

Alice hesitated, her eyes drifting as if she was trying to find a diplomatic answer. “She doesn’t like it. She wants to know why I would ruin my perfectly good black hair.”

“Don’t listen to her. You keep being you, no matter what,” Bee said. “Got me?”

“Yep. I’ll always be me.”

“That’s my girl.”

Alice hesitated. “It’s also kind of permanent.”

“Oh?”

“I used a spell to do it, and well . . .” Alice paused. “It’s not exactly a dye job.”

Beatrice laughed as she patted Alice’s shoulders. “You’ll get better. Come. I have the tea ready.”

She led Alice through her home. An eclectic mishmash of furniture and items with no central theme were scattered throughout her living room. In her cozy kitchen, green vines hung from baskets. An assortment of herbs grew in small pots in a window above the sink. There were a few glass vials and baking utensils haphazardly placed on the kitchen counter.

They pulled out their chairs and sat at the square table. A mint-colored teapot sat in the middle of the table with two matching cups.

Beatrice snapped her fingers. The teapot rose to fill each cup before floating back to its original position. “So, tell me all about your plans for school.”

Alice picked up the cup. She held it aloft with both hands, her elbows on the table. She took a sip; its refreshing liquid warmed her throat. “I’m going to focus on my apothecary skills. I want to be a witch who brews potions and makes people feel good.”

“Oh,” Beatrice said as she took a sip. She focused on Alice. “What does your mother think? ”

“She doesn’t want me to. She said I should be something else, a kitchen witch or a green herbal witch like her. I’m sorry, but cottagecore isn’t exactly my aesthetic.” Alice pointed to her black, mesh sleeves. “I want to be an apothecary witch.”

Beatrice took another sip and set her cup on the table. She placed her hand on Alice’s elbow. “You are you and not anyone else. You get to define who you are—not your mom, not me, not anyone. If your passion is in apothecary, then go be an apothecary witch.”

Alice nodded and took a sip.

“I think I might know why your mom was so apprehensive about you wanting to focus on apothecary,” Beatrice said as she rose from the table. “I think it’s time you learned your family secrets.”

“Secrets?”

Beatrice exited the kitchen. Alice turned to follow her with her eyes. She disappeared back into the living room and onward down the hall to her bedroom. Alice took another sip from her cup and placed it onto the table.

A moment passed.

Beatrice returned carrying a large hat box. She placed it on the table. She removed the lid and pulled out a black witch’s hat with an oversized brim. A leather band with a brass buckle wrapped around the tall point. The tip was bent over with age.

“If you’re going to tell me I’m a witch, I’m already aware,” Alice said with a slight chuckle.

“Funny,” Beatrice replied. “But this is more than a witch’s hat. This is our family legacy. It’s why your mother doesn’t want you to be an apothecary witch. I was going to wait to show you, but now is as good of a time as any.”

“Does the hat have special powers?” Alice asked.

“It’s not the hat, but what’s inside,” Beatrice answered. She stuck her hand into the hat. “There is a secret pocket inside. The pocket contains one of the most valuable, sought after spells in the world.” She pulled out a weathered scroll and handed it to Alice .

“What does it do?” Alice asked as she unfurled it. She read the spell, memorizing the ingredients. “The Lovers’ Kiss?”

“No one knows,” Beatrice said. “It’s rumored to have the power to grant great strength, give you whatever your heart desires, or even bring someone back from the dead.”

Alice tore her eyes away from the spell. Every ingredient and method vanished from her mind. “I- I completely forgot what I read.”

“You must maintain eye contact, or you forget. It’s the reason there is only one.”

“Have you ever tried to make it?”

“Once, with your grandfather, God rest his soul,” Beatrice said. She bowed her head and placed her hands over her heart. She paused for a moment before lifting her head back up. “We tried, but nothing happened. They said it only works after an expression of love.”

“By love, do you mean . . .?” Alice’s words trailed off.

Beatrice placed her hands on her hips. “There is more than one way to express your love for someone. But it must be shared together.”

“How did you get it?”

“This hat belonged to your great-great grandmother—my grandmother. She passed it down to me right before she passed. This was her witch’s hat. She kept it safe in there. It was passed down through generations. We’ve kept it hidden and safe.”

“Why?”

“People have fought and died over it. My grandfather and grandmother defended an entire town to keep it safe. There are those who seek it to use it for nefarious purposes. It’s been that way for ages. And now, the responsibility falls onto you.”

Alice shook her head and handed it back. “I don’t want it.”

Beatrice cupped Alice’s hands with hers. She gazed into Alice’s eyes. “Your mother didn’t want it either. If you don’t take it, there will be no one left. I’m an old woman. I can’t keep it forever. It could easily fall into the wrong hands, and then who will stop them? ”

Alice leered at the scroll. Her eyes lingered on the weathered paper.

“I don’t know if I can handle the responsibility,” Alice said.

“I know it won’t be easy, but I believe in you,” Beatrice assured her. Alice raised up to meet Beatrice’s eyes. “Keep it hidden. Don’t tell anyone. And when the time is right, you’ll know when to try it for yourself.”

“How are you doing?” Hugo’s voice jolted Alice out of her memory.

A shiver ran down her spine.

“I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“You didn’t startle me,” Alice said as she rolled up the scroll and placed it back into the wooden box. She snapped her fingers. The box rose, entered its clandestine hiding spot, and the stone closed behind it. “I was only thinking.”

“What are you going to do?” Hugo asked.

Alice placed her hands on the workstation. She leaned her head forward, hiding behind the purple hair cascading down around her. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“Will you answer me truthfully?”

“Always.”

She stood up, brushing her hair back behind her ears. She turned to face Hugo, tears in her eyes. “Why do you love me?”

“Why do I love you?” Hugo took a step back His head tilted and eyebrows scrunched like a curious puppy. “Is this a trick?”

“Please . . . please just answer.”

“Okay,” Hugo said as he took her hand.

She lost herself in his icy blues as they locked with her emerald greens. A glint in his eye.

“I love you because you’re kind, compassionate, caring, understanding, and patient. ”

Alice smiled, holding back tears. She let go of Hugo’s hand to wipe away a tear and immediately took it again.

Hugo continued, “I’ve been in love with you since the moment you leaned over my fence promising to accept me for who I am. Ultimately, that’s why I love you. You accept me for who I am, and I accept you for who you are. Everything about you. Your witchy powers. Your love of wine making. I can’t imagine my life without you.”

“Thank you,” Alice said. “I love you because you accept me. I’ve loved you since I first met you in the backyard. I knew you caught me flying, and yet, you said nothing. That’s why I kept following you until you asked me out.”

Hugo smiled. “What brought this on?”

Alice slumped her shoulders. “I was thinking about what brought me here. How the spell turned my life upside down and led me here. How I’ve hated the spell since it was first given to me. How I never wanted it.”

“I’m sorry,” Hugo said. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

“But if not for the spell, I would have never met you,” she said. Alice let go of Hugo’s hands and fixated on the ground. “I’ve been thinking it over. The spell has put more than just me in danger. It’s caused trouble for Ez and now the Raskins. All because of me. I can’t ask them to stay in harm’s way.”

“What are you getting at?”

“I’ve decided the best thing to do is run again,” Alice said, returning to Hugo’s eyes. “I’ll understand if you don’t want to follow me.”

Hugo took her hands again and leaned closer. He fixed his gaze on her, never taking his icy blue eyes away. Her soul set ablaze by their connection. A connection deeper than anything spoken. Something not born out of infatuation or lust—a connection born out of love.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe,” Hugo said. “If you think it’s best to move, then let’s move. ”

A tear rolled down Alice’s cheek. “You don’t have to?—”

Hugo let go of one hand to cup her face and used his thumb to wipe away the tear. She placed her hand on top of his. He gently lifted her chin.

“I love you. Your very essence has bewitched my soul. I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth to make sure you’re safe. Whatever it takes. You have my word. Everything will be okay. I promise,” Hugo said.

“Thank you,” Alice mouthed; no words spoken.

They wrapped their arms around each other, connecting their hearts and souls together. Alice wanted this moment to last forever, safe and secure within Hugo’s arms in their wine cellar.

“It’s almost sundown,” Alice said. “We should get going if we’re going to Ez’s place.”

They relinquished their hug, much to the dismay of Alice’s soul. They left the wine cellar. The candles extinguished as the door closed shut behind them. They made their way up the creaky basement stairs to an awaiting Max. Her tail wagged as she welcomed them back from the basement.

“So, will Ez take us some place tonight?” Hugo asked as they made their way to the front door. “Do we need to bring Max and Gwennie?”

Alice pulled her black and purple tailcoat from the coat rack. She slipped her arms into the sleeves and pulled it tight around her body.

“Probably not,” Alice said. “But we can begin preparations.”

“Why not call her?” Hugo asked.

“Because she’ll say no. This is going to require showing up in person.”

“If it won’t be tonight, then maybe I should stay behind,” Hugo said. Alice tilted her head in confusion. “If they see us both leave, what if they try to do something to the Raskins or someone else in the town? No doubt they’re tracking our movements with their ghouls. It’s a little suspicious if we both leave. ”

Alice grabbed her curved witch’s hat. “I see your point. I don’t like it, but you have a point. Stay inside until I get back.”

“If they make a move?”

Her fingers crumpled the black brim as she nervously rotated the hat in her hands. “Don’t do anything unless you absolutely must. Call the Raskins to let them know our plan. Tell them not to leave under any circumstances. If they move on the town, then we’ll have to let them.”

“I can do that,” Hugo said.

She gave him another hug, laying her head on his chest. She squeezed him tightly, not wanting to let him go. He leaned his head against hers.

“Be safe,” Hugo said.

“You too,” Alice replied. She kissed him on the cheek. She placed her hat on her head, tugging on the brim to ensure a snug fit. She pulled back the black curtain. It was clear. She opened the door. “I love you.”

“Of course you do,” Hugo said with a wink. He blew her a kiss.

Alice smiled. She acted as if she caught it in the air and put her hand in the coat pocket. “I’ll save it for later.” She gave him a wink and left, shutting the door behind her.