Poor Little Witch Girl

by Robin Roseau

  "So, in short, I just gave you a great deal of magic?"

  "Let's just say this: I'm as full as I can hold."

  "So what happens to me?"

  "We all regenerate magic naturally. I also suspect that you gain some from your connection to your friends. This takes a lot longer. If you were a practicing witch, you'd be demanding some of this magic back. Well, probably not yet; the complacency spell hasn't worn off. But in the morning."

  I nodded. "If I were a practicing witch, would I get more magic this way, too?"

  "I don't know. You don't have the aura of a death witch, which means you probably get power from emotions. But until you learn for yourself, we wouldn't know which emotions feed you. You might be like me. Or it might be the negative emotions. Or any strong emotions at all. There are some witches who only get magic through sexual energy. Sex can be very powerful, after all, so that's not much of a hindrance for them. Do you see?"

  I nodded.

  She caressed my hair for a moment. It felt nice, and I murmured something at her.

  "It's time to sleep now, my little witch. Sleep, Lyra." She caressed my hair again, and I slept.

  Binding

  I slept the sleep of the dead. When I finally woke, it was full daylight. I was in the same position I'd fallen asleep in, and Raelyn was still pressed behind me, her arms around me, her breath warm against the back of my neck.

  It felt really good.

  I hadn't woken in another woman's arms in far, far too long.

  "Good morning," she whispered.

  I rolled onto my back then rolled my head so I could see her. Even all bed-tossed she looked amazing. "Good morning."

  "How do you feel?"

  I thought before answering. I stretched, and I could feel I was stiff. But I felt so amazingly good at the same time. "Good. Oh, so good."

  "Stiff?"

  I laughed. "Yeah, but I just feel so happy, Raelyn. What we did last night." I sighed. "Wow. Thank you."

  She smiled. "Good. And you're welcome. I enjoyed it every bit as much as you did."

  "Did you?"

  "Of course. Do you remember what we talked about before we went to sleep?"

  "About where your magic comes from."

  "Right. My own magic feels good, but it feels amazing when another witch basically is throwing her magic at me. It feels really, really good, and it's a high that can last for days." She smiled. "Your mouth and tongue felt really good, too."

  I laughed. "I don't think I used much artistry."

  "Probably not, but I was pretty lost in the experience, too. You weren't the only one of who was insatiable."

  We smiled again.

  "Now, not to be a Debbie Downer," she said, "but there are things we need to talk about."

  "Serious things?"

  "Not deathly serious, but yes. Serious. And I'm not sure how you're going to react. It doesn't have to be today, but I don't think we should wait too long. And I want to do it here when you're dependent on me for a ride home."

  "Why?"

  "So I have a chance to help you moderate your reaction."

  "Are you going to tell me this was a one-night thing."

  "Hell no." She paused. "It's about your friends."

  That sobered me immediately. "Bad news? Raelyn?"

  "No. Just... They're fine. You're fine. Your relationship with them is fine. It's amazing, actually. But you're a witch in a tight relationship, and there are things you need to know. Some of it's good, really good. But some of it can be unsettling."

  "All right," I said slowly.

  "I need to know your schedule today. Can we do it today? We could shower and go hit a bakery, then come back here to talk. But if you have to get to work..."

  "Felicity and Jaime will have opened the shop." I looked out the window. It was full morning, but it might not be all that late. "Or will, anyway. But we're open late tonight. If they took the early shift, then..."

  "Right. So, we can talk today?"

  I nodded. "Unless it's going to take all day."

  "No." She kissed my nose. "I have to get up now."

  "Yeah, me too."

  "You can use the bathroom here." She pointed. "I'll use one of the other ones."

  * * * *

  She had planned ahead. There were fresh toiletries and a towel waiting for me. I took a long, lovely shower, and I realized how tired my body felt.

  When I returned to the bedroom, there were fresh clothes waiting for me along with a bag for my old clothes. I got dressed, took care of the clothing from last night, then went in search of Raelyn.

  She was nursing a cup of coffee in the living room, and there was one waiting for me. I sat down, and she smiled at me.

  "You look cute in my clothes."

  "Thanks," I said. I cradled my cup.

  We sat quietly for a while, drinking our coffee while making goo goo eyes at each other. I felt a little like a teenager, but I didn't care. I hadn't felt this good in a very, very long time.

  "Raelyn, are we dating?"

  "Yes, but I want to take it one day at a time. Don't fall in love too rapidly."

  "Are you seeing anyone else?"

  She shook her head. "And I don't want you to, either. But one day at a time."

  "So that means I can't count on tomorrow?"

  "All right. Maybe a few days at a time. But not weeks or months. No U-Hauls."

  "Ever?"

  "Yet."

  I nodded. "I can handle that," I said.

  "I tend to be a little flighty on relationships," she said. "Not that I've dated that many witches."

  "You've dated other witches?"

  "Two others. I don't want to talk about them, though." I nodded acceptance.

  "Then I should warn you, I have two business partners, and we negotiate ahead of time who is working when. If you want me for dates that overlap our business hours, you need to plan ahead, and no promises."

  "Halloween. I want you from five PM on."

  "I thought we weren't talking weeks at a time. That's nearly two weeks away."

  She laughed. "We'll play the rest as the cards fall. But I want you for Halloween."

  "All right."

  We took her car to the bakery. She said there was a lovely path we could walk, but I hadn't worn the right shoes. We kept the conversation light. We ate our breakfast in the kitchen, washed up, then moved back into the living room. She made us sit separated "or we're going to start pawing each other."

  I smiled. I thought she was right.

  "All right," she said. "Your friends. I like them. And I think they warmed up to me last night."

  "I think so, too. I'm glad."

  "I have a point, but I'm going to work my way around to it. Felicity and Dyson have been dating for a while."

  "They're pretty serious," I said. "Felicity expects him to propose."

  "He's not going to."

  "Excuse me?" I raised my eyebrow. "I happen to be a pretty good judge of character. Dyson is the marrying kind, and he loves her."

  "Hold that thought," Raelyn said, holding up a finger. "You're right about that. Let me work our way back there."

  "Fine." Now I was annoyed.

  "Do you remember when I said a portion of your aura was mixed in with both Felicity and Jaime?"

  "Yes."

  "And I said in a way, you own them."

  "And I told you that you were wrong."

  "Well, I'm not wrong."

  I folded my arms.

  "Just hear me out," she said. "They're both exceedingly protective of you. But they're not as protective of each other remotely as much."

  "We are three best friends," I said.

  "It's not a triangle, Lyra. It's just an angle, and you're at the middle of it. There's you and Jaime, and there's you and Felicity."

  "You're wrong."

  "Oh, they're friends, but what they have in common is how they each feel about you."

  "They love each other."

  "Not the way
they love you. Not the way you love each of them. If you walked away, they would stay together for a while, united in their shared grief for losing you, but eventually, and it wouldn't take that long, and they would drift apart."

  I didn't say anything. I thought she might be right about that, but I wasn't going to admit it, at least not so easily.

  "Lyra, you are, for lack of a better word, their queen."

  "The hell I am. If anyone is in charge, it's Felicity."

  "Nevertheless," she said. "You're at the center. Let me ask you something. Whose dream was the bookstore?"

  "All of ours."

  "Think back. Did Jaime ever say his dream in life was to run a bookstore?"

  I didn't say a word.

  "Does Jaime read a lot?" Raelyn asked.

  I looked away. I didn't like where this conversation was going.

  "Lyra, don't be upset. He's doing exactly what he wants to be doing, and he thinks his life is quite fulfilled. He may not know this, but he's doing it because it's your dream, not his."

  "You're wrong," but I didn't put any conviction behind it.

  "Felicity is ecstatic to be running a business," Raelyn added. "But a bookstore? Maybe a chain of bookstores, but that's a tough market now."

  I didn't respond to that, either. Raelyn didn't say anything further, and I sat on her sofa, staring out the window for a while. Finally I asked in a small voice, "I made them give up their dreams for mine?"

  "No, Lyra. They wouldn't know to express this, but their top dream right now is to be with you. You're the queen bee."

  I looked back at her and brushed a tear from my eye.

  "Oh Lyra, no. They are happy. They are as happy as people can be."

  "But-"

  "They are happy. Life isn't perfect, but life isn't perfect for anyone. But they are happy."

  I tried not to cry. I tried very hard not to cry, but I brushed more tears from my eyes.

  "Lyra, listen to me. This is not something that is wrong. You haven't ruined their lives."

  "But I never asked what they wanted. I told them what I wanted, and then it just all sort of happened. Felicity jumped on my bookstore wagon, and Jaime, well, Jaime harnessed himself up and began pulling it along."

  "I imagine he did."

  "What does he really want to do?"

  "He wants to be your friend, Lyra. He wants to be with you, just the way he is. It's why his relationships with guys are fleeting. I don't really have all the answers about Jaime yet. Does he bring guys home?"

  "Not very often."

  "I think he feels weird about it. Bringing guys home would change the dynamic. I don't know him well enough to be sure."

  "I-"

  She held up her hand again. "Whatever you were about to say, don't say it. There's more."

  "Felicity and Dyson."

  "Yes. And now you're thinking you should run away, or drive them away so they can pursue their own dreams."

  I looked away. I had thought about both. I'd also had the fleeting thought of calling Verity and accepting her offer -- for one.

  "Those are both options, but they would be mistakes, Lyra. Big, huge mistakes. You would leave a hole in their hearts that would never, ever fill. If you were gone long enough -- and I mean years, maybe decades -- a portion of your aura would still be wrapped in theirs, and they would both be shadows of who they are now."

  I started crying in earnest.

  "In a way, you're a three-way married couple."

  "Without the sex."

  "You could have seduced Felicity any time you want, and I think she's been hoping you would."

  "She's as straight as I am gay."

  "She loves you with every fiber of her being," Raelyn said. "She won't act on it, but if you did-"

  "We tease."

  "Ever act on it?"

  "No. I wouldn't."

  "I am going to very selfishly say I'm glad for that."

  I laughed, just a quick bark. Raelyn nudged the tissues closer, and I blew my nose. I'm sure it was attractive.

  "Felicity and Dyson," I said again.

  "Deep down, Felicity knows she belongs to you."

  "Stop saying that!"

  Raelyn ignored me. "She might not ever voice it, but deep down, she knows. And Dyson probably knows, too."

  "Oh god. I should... let her go. Somehow."

  "No. I don't think it's even possible, Lyra, and I know it's not possible without hurting both of you a great, great deal. And that's not your only choice."

  I lifted my eyes to hers. "What are my other choices?"

  "You have several that I can think of. You can do nothing. The three of you are happy. She and Dyson will eventually break up. She won't be that upset. She'll lean on you for a while and at least on the inside, feel it was for the best."

  "She wants to marry him."

  "She thinks she does. Maybe she does. Your next choice is to seduce her."

  "I couldn't."

  "You could, and you know it."

  "And what does that do to Jaime?"

  "Nothing, although I don't have answers about him."

  I didn't say anything for a minute but then asked, "Do I have other choices?"

  "Claim Dyson."

  "What?" I screeched.

  "Claim Dyson. Three becomes four."

  "I can't claim Dyson."

  "Certainly you can, and it wouldn't be that hard. Start thinking of him like a brother. Start treating him like you do Felicity and Jaime. It will take time. You'd have to be careful so his romantic affection for Felicity doesn't transfer to you. If you claim him, then he and Felicity can marry. They'll both belong to you."

  I stared at her. "You're insane."

  She looked away for a moment. "Please don't insult me."

  "I'm sorry," I said. "I didn't mean it literally. I'm sorry."

  She was quiet then finally turned back. "I know it's a lot to absorb. I don't blame you for being skeptical. I'm going to give you some advice mixed in with a few more things."

  "Fine."

  "My advice is this: don't do anything rash. Think about this for a while. Lyra, there is no rush. You could drive Dyson away in a heartbeat, but if you are accepting of him, he's not leaving, at least not for a while."

  "Felicity is starting to wonder-"

  "If Dyson will propose?"

  "Yeah."

  "You have time. You have time to think about what I said. You have time to look at the relationships and see if you agree. We can talk more about this when you're ready. Even if we don't continue to date, you can talk to me."

  I nodded, but I wasn't ready to thank her for any of this.

  "Lyra, if you make any decisions at all, you are making them for three or possibly all four of you. Keep that in mind."

  I nodded again.

  "Don't do anything rash. And I'm not sure I'd talk to Jaime or Felicity about this yet, either." She paused. "Dyson doesn't know we're witches."

  "No."

  "Keep it that way for now." And again I nodded. "And you probably figured this out, but the world doesn't believe in witches, and you will be in a great deal of trouble if they find out from you."

  "I don't intend to be labeled the crazy one."

  We sat quietly for another minute, then I looked up at her again. "What would happen if I claim him?"

  "It would take time, unless you either were to seduce him or learn to actively use your magic. And that by itself takes time. Years."

  "All right."

  "You would start to see hints of your aura mixed in with his, but only if he actually accepts what you're trying to do. That would grow. You would find him more likely to stop by the shop when he knows you're going to be there. He'll treat you like a sister or, if you're not careful, a lover."

  "He knows I'm gay."

  "That won't matter. So if you do it, you need to use the phrase 'like brothers and sisters' a lot to describe your relationship. You would need to be absolutely clear about it. And while you allow both
Felicity and Jaime -- especially Felicity -- to be dominant in your relationships with them, you absolutely must not be submissive to Dyson. Or you risk him trying to claim you instead of the other way around."

  I nodded. I understood, I guess.

  "Eventually, it will just seem like there are four of you. He'd start spending nights more regularly. Eventually he would stop going home at all."

  "He never spends nights now."

  "The entire apartment -- the entire store -- is infused with your aura, Lyra. It's not visible, but it's tangible. It's your lair, and he feels like an outsider. But I bet Felicity doesn't spend nights at his place, either. Do you know why?"

  "Because it's not home to her, and it never will be."

  "Exactly."

  I turned away again. "What about... their dreams."

  "Jaime may not actually have any. Like I said, I can't be sure about him. I haven't been focused on him. Last night I spent learning about Felicity and Dyson so we could have this talk today."

  "And your demonstration last night."

  She laughed. "He didn't know what hit him."

  "No, he certainly did not."

  "For now, as long as you run the bookstore, your dream is their dream, and unless you want to drive them away, that isn't going to change. If your dream changes, then that might be an opportunity to help them explore what they want, as well. But they will want to remain tightly wrapped in your life, as much as you will allow. And they will want to protect you, as much as they can."

  I nodded again. I thought it was a lot to take in, but I also thought I believed her.

  "Did you have more to say about it?"

  "Not today. Did you have questions?"

  "Probably, but not today. Will you hold me for a while?"

  "Yes." She didn't wait but moved to me on the sofa, pulling me into her arms. I clung to her for a long, long time, my eyes closed, just taking comfort from holding her.

  After a while, Raelyn said, "Lyra, I'm going to help soothe you now. Is that okay?"

  I nodded slowly, and a moment later, she began stroking my aura. It felt nice, but instead of being tantalizing, this time it was soothing. I found myself relaxing in her arms.

  "Feels good," I murmured after a while.

  "Good," she said. She kissed my hair.

  "Raelyn, if we get serious, what does that do to my relationship with Jaime and Felicity?"