Page 24 of Rewitched

“I might not have exhibited a whole lot of flair or special talent,” Belle said, “but I also haven’t done anything terrible. I’ve never upset the balance, I’ve never touched time or death or true love. All the golden rules.”

Caspar straightened his burgundy blazer, smoothing the lapels. “Which certainly works in your favour.”

Belle frowned. “How do you decide if I’m…worthy? If I’m enough?”

“The trial begins when the coven recites the EquiWitch incantation together,” he explained. “Once we begin, the pendulum at the back of the room…I’m sure you noticed it? That pendulum is a force of greatness. Its presence is no decorative choice. It stands on a precise nexus point. I don’t mean to patronise you, Belle. Are you familiar with the word?”

“Nexus? It’s a crossing point. Full of elemental energy,” Belle said, relieved to have an answer.

“Exactly. Earth, air, fire and water all merge at those exact coordinates. And magic theory dictates that nothing is more powerful than that. Crossroads in the ley lines of magic itself.”

Belle nodded keenly.

“In the wrong hands, the presence of the nexus can be manipulated towards dark magic, too. It’s why the coven came to be in Hecate House, and one of the reasons why the place is guarded by the unpleasant challenges you faced earlier. The pendulum is a huge resource which we only call upon for this traditional, sacred ceremony of endarkenment to cement magic in its rightful place for good. The coven only leans on the abilities of the nexus when huge numbers of us are present together for fairness and protection. Otherwise, it is best left well enough alone.”

“That pendulum holds access to time itself,” Bronwyn said. “It resets magical balance, essential for completing endarkenment, cementing magic where it belongs and welcoming a witch fully to the coven.”

“The nexus also allows us to bend time as needed, which is how your manifests will be shown,” Caspar added.

“It’ll call on the elements to show crucial moments from your past,” Bronwyn said. “Key milestones from your life that have made you who you are and when you’ve notably used your magic to the benefit of yourself or others. Your highlight reel, so to speak, lovey.”

“The jury will review the selection of manifests that the nexus creates and, with the advice of Bronwyn and Morena, decide whether your past history and present self meet the expectations of Selcouth, in truth, certainty and bravery,” Caspar said.

Belle swallowed hard, feeling neither truthful, certain or brave. On reflection, maybe she never felt those things.

“What could possibly go wrong?” Rune said, tossing some kind of orb that he’d lifted from Caspar’s display into the air and smoothly catching it with a grin. She ignored him.

“Thank you, Rune,” Caspar said shortly. “Again we must stress that an expellation, a full removal of magic, hasn’t happened in…well, a long time. I’ll have to check the records. Certainly not in my lifetime, or in yours, Bron?”

“Only one banishment I’ve ever known of. But the circumstances were different. You’re not about to break that record, Belle,” Bronwyn continued. She leaned forwards and patted Belle’s hand, which was still stress-gripping the arm of the chair.

“Told you, nothing to worry about, eh?” the elder witch chimed. “You’ll get your coven colours, and then it’s time for chocolate and buttercream.”

Belle tried to offer a smile. Walking head first into the blaze with the blindfold removed wasn’t all that much of a comfort when the flames were still licking at her feet.

“It’s just that I’m not absolutely, entirely convinced at this moment in time that my historical use of the craft is going to be up to scratch. I mean, to reiterate, I’ve never done anything bad,” Belle clarified, waving her hands. “World domination attempts have not been in the cards. It’s just that I’m a bit…I’m more of a back-seat witch, I guess. A wallflower. A witchflower?”

“Nonsense!” Caspar bellowed happily. He clapped Belle on the back, making her cough, and dusted down invisible lint from his carefully pressed trousers. “All we’re doing is taking stock—considering what you’ve achieved, the decisions you’ve made, the responsibility you’ve shown, celebrating the milestones.”

Although he meant well, this made Belle feel even sicker.

He flashed her a dazzling smile and gestured for Belle to exit. “All protocol, you understand.” He clearly considered the matter closed.

Bronwyn locked her hands over Belle’s and grasped them with a tight grip. “You’ll be gone before you know it.”

Belle rose to follow Caspar and Bronwyn back into the courtroom, gathering her cape around her. Rune held the top of the door-frame. He reached for her shoulder as she passed underneath his arm. Belle looked at his hand as though it were a foreign object, then their eyes locked again.

“Seeing as no one else around here seems to have properly said it,” he murmured, “happy birthday, Belle.”

9

Belle’s Manifests

“HOW CONSIDERATE OF you all to rejoin us. I hear the sun is in its last moments of burning, the final reckoning should be upon humankind any second.” Morena rifled through a stack of papers on the podium, peering over the top of a pair of reading glasses as she addressed their re-entry into the courtroom.

“Third time’s a charm, Ms. Blackthorn,” she continued with dripping sarcasm. “Unless you have a further tête-à-tête to bring along to the court today. I can grab my knitting, if you’d like? Help pass the time a little.”

“Now, now, Morena. Play nice,” Caspar warned.