The Rose Witch - Chandelle LaVaun Page 0,17
my body tight from the halter collar at the base of my throat down to where the skirt flared out above my knees. The entire bodice was made of metallic gold feathers, I looked like I was being hugged by an angel or like I was in fact a bird. But in a good way. From a distance, the feathers looked like sharp metal yet they were soft like silk – which was a tad magical on its own. The skirt was silk, a glorious golden color the exact shade of the feather that fanned out around me like a mermaid’s tail. My favorite part was the tear-drop shaped cut out that started between my collar bones and stopped right about my navel.
“It is too pretty. I suppose you are right.” I smiled and gestured around me. I’d been hiding against the side wall, behind the elaborate columns. “I will not hide myself anymore.”
She reached out and ran her fingers over the clear quartz pendant hanging in the cut out of my dress. “I am glad you’re still wearing this.”
My cheeks flushed. “Dad gave it to me…I never take it off.”
Her eyes watered and I saw her swallow, like mentioning my father still hurt her all these years after his death. “He would be happy to know.”
“Mum—”
“It looks different today, now that your magic is back. Did you notice?”
I frowned and followed her stare — and gasped. I gripped the inch-long quartz crystal and lifted it off my chest to get a better look. My eyes widened. In the chaos of the day I hadn’t noticed. Normally it was a plain clear quartz but now it had a blue crescent moon in the middle that glowed brighter than the neon sign at a pub. My jaw dropped. My breath caught in my throat. There was something…something so familiar about this. It was there on the tip of my tongue, yet I couldn’t place it.
“Well, it’s even more beautiful now as well. Treat it with care.” She squeezed my shoulder and winked before turning and strolling onto the dance floor, her long red skirt trailing behind her.
“CHLOE!”
I jumped and dropped my pendant, it slammed against my chest just as a familiar face bounced into view. She pounced on me, wrapping her arms around me tight. Ever since she came back from America after uni she’d been a hugger. Though I had to admit it was nice. When she pulled back, I smiled. “Carole Lancaster – I mean Hayes. My apologies. How was the honeymoon?”
She squealed and grinned. “Just ravishing.”
“As ravishing as that dress I bet.” I chuckled.
Her gown was spectacular. A burgundy skirt draped loosely from her hips but the bodice was made of delicately placed gold embellishments atop a mesh shirt. It had to be the most daring gown I’d seen all night, though Carole wore it well. Her normally turquoise-dyed hair was an elegant shade of aubergine mixed with sandy blonde. The deep warm tones made her green eyes pop.
“Honestly, after today I’ve almost forgotten I even had a honeymoon.” She wiggled her fingers and little glittery puffs of mist danced in the air. “Can you believe we have magic? Isn’t it magnificent? I thought it would never happen in our lifetime.”
My stomach tightened. I hated that I was the only one who didn’t feel comfortable and at ease with it. Mine scared me a bit. It made me nervous. But not Carole, though I wasn’t surprised. If anyone in the family was a witch, she had the right vibes. She was always telling me about her essential oils, tarot cards, ecstatic dance, and something about a level two gong master, though I had absolutely no idea what that meant. She was a photographer and her new husband was a nurse.
I cleared my throat. “How is your husband dealing with the revelation?”
“Oh, Clint?” She fanned herself as her eyes sparkled with excitement. “You didn’t know? Clint is a witch, too. He was a healer. That’s why he’s a nurse in the hospital after he gave up his magic to marry me and now look – it’s back!”
My jaw dropped. “Clint is a witch too? Did everyone know that but me?”
“No. I hadn’t wanted to make a big deal out of it since I was going to give it up,” a deep voice rumbled from behind me and then Clint stepped out.
“Oh, hello, Clint!”
“I had been planning on telling everyone once we were married,” He grinned and kissed my cheek.