She returned and moved a couple of her displays to make room on the black velvet cloth covering her table. With deft fingers, she straightened out the piece to its full length, and the flash of metal and stone sparkled under the display lamps.
“Based on your predicament,” Misty winked again at Deacon, “I focused on strengthening the root chakra, so I chose stones to help with that.”
I marveled at the entire piece. The spirited artisan had worked the different colored stones into settings in an intricate pattern that seemed both random and purposeful at the same time. Where the silver ended, velvet strands wove together in braids. The clasps on each end looked like two hands reaching for each other, one palm up and the other facing downward.
Misty held up the piece to point at each stone. “We start with amethyst, which makes for an all-around great grounding stone. Smoky quartz helps protect against negative energy, so I chose that to maybe help block the overall effects of the spell.”
“Curse is more like it,” Deacon grunted.
Misty continued with a sympathetic nod. “This green stone is chrysocolla, and it increases the confidence and manifests courage to overcome obstacles. Call it a natural boost to your ego.”
“That’s the last thing my son needs,” Uncle Jo chortled.
“Now, this stone with the blue-green flash to it when you turn it in the light?” The woman turned the piece to show off the colors. “It’s Labradorite. It really helps with transformation and can guide you to connect to your higher self.”
“As long as I transform into my real self, I don’t care about anything else,” Deacon snorted.
Misty gazed down at the pig. “But real change takes true effort,” she challenged. “Let me put it to you another way. If you want your outsides to change, then you might have to alter how you think about yourself and your place in the world.”
My cousin snorted and snuffled in frustration. He bumped into me in his agitation, and I reached out to pat his hide for reassurance.
“Listen, I’m not here to rain on your parade.” Misty leaned over the table in an awkward position just to scratch my cousin’s head. “I truly do hope my work can be integral in helping you. All I’m saying is that it’ll take some effort on your part to ignite the magic.”
Deacon accepted her words and pushed his head into her touch. “Okay, I’m listening.”
Misty scrambled back into place and finished her explanation. “These last stones at the center are a mix of garnet and jasper. Red is the color of the root chakra, and both types of stones should help ground you in your true self. I set them during the full moon, so I’m hoping that supercharged them.”
“Your craft is really beautiful,” I complimented.
“Thanks. I have to admit I’m a little nervous.” She grimaced at Deacon. “I really want this to work.”
“You and me both,” my porcine cousin grunted.
Uncle Jo reached into his back pocket and drew out his fat wallet he always stocked when going to the market. “Four hundred I believe was the agreed-upon price.” He counted out several bills and laid them on the table.
Misty stared at the money. “I feel like it’s unfair for me to take anything. Not without knowing for sure.” She bit her lip and asked Deacon, “Would you mind trying it out first?”
Her question surprised me. If it worked, it could be a huge endorsement for her and bring in more potential buyers tonight. But if it didn’t work, I didn’t want us to hurt her business. That was too many ifs to be betting on.
Deacon took a couple of steps away from the table. “But what if it doesn’t…you know?”
“Then I can see for myself and assess what’s working and what isn’t.” Misty gathered the long piece in her hands and scooted around her table to stand in front of my cousin. “We’ll keep trying until we get it right.”
“Sounds like you might end up spending a lot of time with me,” Deacon flirted. “You sure you can handle it?”
“Pfft.” Misty waved off his doubt. “I’m half witch and half elf. I’ve faced tougher challenges than you. Besides, I get the feeling that underneath it all, you’re just a big ol’ pussy cat.” She scratched him under his chin, her eyes sparkling with coy teasing.
“Darlin’, if you could see the real me, you’d know I’m definitely a big—”
“Maybe you should put the necklace on him and see what happens,” I interrupted, not wanting to hear my cousin finish his sentence.
Misty crouched down and stretched the long necklace across Deacon’s jowls. Holding an end in each hand, she encircled her arms around his neck.
Before she stood up, she paused to gaze at him with her head tilted. “What?”
“Nothing. Been a while since I’ve had a cute girl’s arms around me,” my cousin admitted.
“Now, that’s just sad. Here, hold this in place,” she instructed, waiting for me to grab ahold of the two ends.
With her hands free, the jeweler wrapped her arms around my cousin’s pig body and leaned into him with her eyes closed.
Uncle Jo watched over his son with surprise and approval. My cousin had taken for granted all the attention he’d garnered most of his life. When Deacon grunted in approval and nuzzled into the young woman’s touch, I realized how starved he must be just for regular affection. The coin around my neck warmed against my skin in approval.
Squeezing him tight, Misty leaned her head against his hide. “Everybody should get hugs,” she declared, before releasing him and taking the clasps from me. “Now, no more waiting. Let’s see what this baby can do.”
She hooked the two silver hands together, and they clicked into place. I held my breath, waiting for something to happen.
“Is it working, oink?” Deacon asked. “Something’s definitely happening. I feel tingles down to my hooves.”
“Hmm,” Misty replied. “If everything was
