Witch In Charge - Celia Kyle Page 0,27
of tea. “They are kind of like shifters. There’s a legend that they get turned to stone when the sun hits them, but it’s not quite true. They can move in the daylight, they just don’t like to. They are comfortable when they settle next to something they want to protect and then they simply…stay there.”
Cora grimaced and rubbed a spot on her bulging tummy. Kelly almost burst in with a thousand questions, but managed to hold her tongue.
“Ronun is different,” Cora finally said. “His entire family line was cursed a long, long time ago. During the day, they really are stone. They have limited awareness, but they can’t move.”
She looked off into the distance, sighing as she fiddled with her spoon.
“I can’t imagine the torture,” she whispered. “Someone somewhere must have done something really terrible to earn such a long-lasting curse.”
They both sat in silence for a moment, poking at their dessert. Kelly’s heart broke as she thought of how painful it must be to be locked in stone all day every day. He really was living a half-life.
No wonder he’s so grouchy. Here I’ve been thinking of him as a mean, selfish douche and I didn’t even consider what he might be going through.
Even so, Kelly thought she might finally have an idea why Ronun sat on her porch every day. It seemed a bit too good to be true, though.
“So… They don’t have a choice about where they end up during the day? I mean Ronun and his family specifically. Because they’re cursed, they don’t have any control over it?”
“Not at all. They're still gargoyles. They'll be drawn to the things they hold dear and are bound to guard them.”
Kelly felt as if every single one of Tiffany’s butterflies had burst free inside her stomach. Her heart pounded and her head swam.
He likes me…
Even though she couldn’t be completely sure, she was really hoping to be right.
Kelly managed to put her thoughts aside and asked Cora all about the pregnancy and what it was like being the size of a truck. If she was honest with herself, she felt a bit warm and fuzzy over the whole concept of babies, even if the suggestion of permanent stretch marks and saggy breasts gave her the absolute willies. They parted ways with hugs, and Kelly promised to come and visit her soon.
Before leaving the mall, Kelly took a spin through a department store and ran smack bang into Ryan. He was admiring himself in the mirror as he tried on a bold pair of plaid pants and a pink shirt.
“No,” she said firmly. “No, Ryan! Bad Ryan! Where the hell did you get this idea from?”
“Really?” His voice was questioning, clearly mystified as he assessed himself in the mirror. “It looked great on the rack.”
“Look, forget your momentary brain damage for now.” Kelly held up a hand to guard her eyes from the truly ridiculous pants. “We’ve got a fate to save.”
“Ooh, lay it on me. We’re gonna be like those movie witches, aren’t we? Saving innocents and—”
“Ronun is not innocent. Wait. He is. But he’s not one of those innocents.”
“Kelly. You’re starting to sound like you had a recent head injury. What’s Ronun got to do with all of this?”
“He’s under a curse!”
She leaned forward, quickly relating what she knew of the story in a hushed whisper. Ryan’s eyes got bigger and bigger as she went on. By the time she was done, his expression was somber as hell and Kelly was getting worried it was all too heavy for him.
“What is it, Ry?” she asked.
Ryan nodded, eyes big and serious.
“There’s only one thing to do,” he said in a low voice.
“What?” Kelly practically jumped out of her skin.
“Curse breaking par-tay!” Ryan jumped up in the air, strumming an invisible guitar. “I’ll get the band. You get everyone else.”
Kelly laughed. “Is this just an excuse for a party?”
“But of course. But it’s also experience—for work. It is your job, isn’t it?”
“Supposedly. And I have been wanting to spread my wings, so to speak.”
Ryan fluttered his in response.
“Let's do it! In the name of work.”
“In the name of work!”
Ryan was always so sweet. His sass about throwing a party was just a cover. He genuinely wanted to help Ronun, any way they could.
Eleven
It was an hour before sunset when everyone gathered in the main living room of Hollow House. Ornate tapestries hung off every wall and the entire room smelled like a gigantic dust bunny, but it certainly set