She nods but cries.
“Sorry.”
She shakes her head. “You’ve nothing to be sorry for. I feel sad that I didn’t know as much as I thought I knew about your dad. Why didn’t I know about the rebels? Or that he was planning to go back in time? I wish he’d shared more with me.”
“He wouldn’t have wanted to worry you.”
“I know it came from a good place; I don’t doubt that. But it still feels like I’ve done something wrong. I wish...”
“You could go back in time?”
She laughs. “I know I can’t go to him. I know there’s an entire list of things we can’t do if we go back in time.”
“If?”
She sighs. “I want to do it. I know we have to do it. It’s atonement if nothing else. The other supernatural creatures have wanted their freedom for the longest time, and maybe we can give it to them. There’s no way we won’t do it, but I’m exhausted. You know? I’m on my own, I have to worry about you. Then I have to worry about Ellis. Then there’s a war, Zeta... I still can’t believe how things have turned out. I suppose you never really know anyone. No matter how much you think you might.”
“You know me. I love you. And I loved Dad. He loved you, and he only wanted to protect you. There’s no other reason he would have kept anything from you. Now we get to finish what he started. Doesn’t that sound good?”
“It sounds wonderful. Then maybe I can sleep at night instead of worrying.”
“Do you think we’ll be able to make me head witch?”
“I don’t know. Lincoln said we couldn’t fix this accident. What does Ellis want?”
“I think she’d like to be normal again.”
“With a witch for a boyfriend?”
“I hope so.”
“You should ask her. Look at everything that happened because your father didn’t want to worry me, or trouble me, or whatever reason he had in his head for not sharing everything with me. Don’t assume.”
“I won’t. I will ask her. I want her to be happy.”
“That’s sweet.”
He laughs and takes a drink, trying to hide his blushes.
Elodie smiles and drinks her tea, already worrying about what’s next. Demons today, time travel tomorrow. Will it ever end?
“I’m going up to talk to Ellis.”
“Just talk.” Elodie raises an eyebrow at him, and he shakes his head, refusing to say another word.
He knocks on his bedroom door and slips inside. Ellis is sitting in fresh pyjamas, hair wet, tears streaming down her face.
“Hey.” He rushes to her side, wraps her in his arms and lets her cry, finds that he’s crying too. “Stupid question, but are you okay?”
She nods, even though she’s still crying, although her sobs have died down. “I was just overwhelmed suddenly. I was in the shower, washing my hair, and then realised that any of those demons could have gone rogue, and killed us. We were so close to them. It could have gone wrong so easily. Then I thought about Zeta and Efa – they were so desperate to kill me.”
“It’s all scary, I know.”
They stay in each other’s arms, just enjoying the warmth and the safety, the comfort and the cuddling.
“I felt like I couldn’t breathe, and I panicked.”
“But you can breathe now, I mean?”
She nods and smiles at him. “Until the next time.”
“I’m so sorry. I know you don’t let me apologise and I know you won’t want to hear it, but I am sorry. I’m sorry that you’re caught up in it all.”
“I don’t want to hear it because it’s not your fault. You didn’t cause it and you can’t undo it. Besides, one good thing has come from it. I’m here with you.” She looks down at her hands, unable to meet his eyes, but he tilts her head up, a finger under her chin, forcing her to look at him.
Then he leans in and kisses her, kisses her and kisses her, one hand on her leg, one hand cupping her face. And then they fall back on the bed, mouths kissing and hands roaming. Ellis pulls away and sits up, her face flushed and her breathing a little ragged.
Fletcher stands up, facing the window and brushing his hair off his face. “I want to kiss you forever. Touch you forever. Be with you forever.”
She stands up, hugging him from behind, laying her cheek against his back, feeling the softness of his t-shirt, breathing in the smell of him. “Really?”
He turns and takes her in his arms. “Really. Will you stay with me after all this? Even if we turn you back, even if we make me head witch, will you stay with me?”
“Yes. I can’t imagine being with anybody else.”
“Do you want to stay a witch? My mum told me I should ask you. I think she’s overthinking all this stuff with my dad – worrying about the things she didn’t know. She wants me to make sure I talk to you. That I never assume I know what you want. Do you want me? Do you want to be a witch?”
Her voice breaks a little. “I want you. And... I don’t know. If I could go back to being just me and not being a witch, I wouldn’t hate it. But... would you want me if I wasn’t a witch?”
“I don’t want you because you are a witch. I’d like you to stay a witch... not that it makes a difference. Not now that you know the truth.”
“Can a witch fall in love with a human? Is that allowed?”
He nods and kisses her again. “It’s allowed. It’s rare. Mostly we fall in love with other witches, because it’s easier, I suppose. But I don’t want a witch. I don’t care if you’re a witch or not. I just want you.”
“I want to go back to normal, but I know I can’t. I want to be home with my family, and I suppose if I could stay a witch, that would be cool. I won’t
