I closed my eyes and let the familiar dark magic take over. Light dimmed, and the colors in the forest dulled. The smell of the magic filled my nose, but it was no longer repugnant. In fact, I preferred it to any other smell. Why hadn’t I used magic growing up? It was amazing!
With my hands upon the wall, magic warming my palms, I became aware of a sudden stillness in the forest. Birds no longer chirped, animals no longer scurried, and the wind ceased to blow. I continued to concentrate despite my growing unease. I wasn’t alone, and whatever was in the woods with me wasn’t human.
When the pressure in the air changed, I dropped my hands and turned around. I peered into the trees, squinting, but saw nothing. I waited a moment longer before I returned to the task at hand, but stopped again when something moved out of the corner of my eye.
Floating directly to my left was the black fog I’d seen the night before. It was my height but wide, the length of two of my arms. The mist never kept one shape as it was constantly shifting and moving. But I didn’t care about its strange form; it was the dark power emanating from it that fascinated me.
The fog moved toward me, and I felt the shapeless shadow’s power grow proportionately stronger the nearer it drew. The thick smoke parted then and circled round me, rising in stature. Ever so slowly, as if not to frighten me, it crept up my body until it had entirely consumed me. I inhaled deeply, enjoying what felt like warm wine going down my throat. It was intoxicating, powerful and…familiar.
“Boaz,” I whispered.
Immediately, the black fog retreated and crossed the invisible barrier to the other side. I couldn’t help but smile as the smoke took shape into the man I craved. Boaz stood across from me, grinning back.
“How are you doing, love?” he asked.
“Better now that you’re here.” I smoothed back my tangled hair. “So you can turn into smoke.”
“Only when I need to, but if I cross this barrier as myself, those inside the house will be alerted.” He looked me up and down and frowned. “You haven’t changed your clothes. Are they not taking care of you?”
I laughed. “Is that what you’re worried about? I could care less about my clothes. I just want to get out of here.”
“Eve, listen to me. You must treat this place as if you are their queen. Do not allow them to treat you any less. Do you understand?”
“Last time I checked, I’m their prisoner. I highly doubt they’re going to give me what I want.”
“Demand it. You must not appear weak in any way.”
“Are you going to help me get out of here or what?”
He glanced away. “I’m sorry, but I can’t. You must stay.”
“But I want to leave. I’ll demand it.”
“Anything but that,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
“I refuse to stay here a second longer, and if you won’t help me, then I’ll do it myself.” I raised my hands to do just that.
“Stop! Don’t you want to prove to your family, to your parents, that you are more powerful than all of them?”
“I don’t care about proving myself. I know what I’m capable of, so what does it matter what they think?”
“Trust me, it matters. Do this for me, Eve.” He leaned forward, almost on his tiptoes, as if any moment he might reach across the invisible wall and shake me. “Show them what you can do and don’t hold back. They must witness your power.”
His passion surprised me. “It means that much to you?”
“It’s all I ask.”
I lowered my head and sighed. “Fine. I’ll do it, but on one condition. When I get out of here, will you tell me why this was all so important?”
“Deal.”
“Do you want to know what will be the hardest part of all this?” I asked.
“Tolerating those twin horses?”
I laughed. “That will be difficult, but not as hard as being away from you. What am I going to do for fun?”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“And what exactly am I supposed to do with an intangible ball of smoke?”
“Sorry, love. It’s the best I could do under the circumstances. I’ll come visit you whenever I can.”
“I guess it will have to do.” I glanced back through the trees and toward my grandfather’s home. “How long do you—”
I turned to Boaz, but he was gone.
***
I waited a little longer before I returned. The twins were sitting outside on the steps, looking much younger than their actual age. They wore identical pink floral dresses and held a sucker in their right hand. Both heads turned as I approached.
“Grandfather’s been waiting,” Helen said.
“For hours,” added Harriet.
“Poor grandfather.” I walked past them and through the front door. I headed straight for my room despite hearing my name being called. Inside, I searched the closet but only found a couple of plain dresses. If I was going to be here for a while, there was no way they were going to treat me like my parents had. I was done with that life.
Taking Boaz’s advice, I stormed into the living room. My grandfather, sitting in a high-back Queen Anne chair, watched me curiously. Anne stood next to him with another drink in her hand. She still had on the same robe from earlier.
Anne swayed slightly. “We’ve been waiting for you.”