Page 52 of Rewitched

A rustle sent Belle’s glance darting to check behind her.

Just a fox, face-first in the neighbour’s bin bags, although not Artorius’s faithful friend. The leaves of the trees ruffled as a strong breeze pushed itself down the alley, sending her hair trailing back. Belle wrapped her arms around herself tighter, making small clouds of breath as she trod down the path, the click of her footsteps the only sound to break through the silence.

She picked up her pace, trying to calm herself. But she was unable to shake the uneasy feeling. She knew it, could feel it. She wasn’t alone. Another shuffle, barely audible this time, but she heard it. Someone. She went rigid, spun around.

No one. The lack of sleep was getting to her. She rubbed at bleary eyes, chastised herself for letting the sense of unease become silly paranoia.

“Should I be afraid of those powers yet?”

Belle jumped twenty feet out of her own skin, feeling her soul leave her body.

Lit by a small beam of torchlight emitting from his palm, Rune stepped out from the shadow of an oak tree, barely visible in his long black coat. Belle clutched at the spot where her heart used to be as she shot him a look of pure daggers.

“What is wrong with you? You’re lucky I didn’t kick you in the throat.”

Rune looked taken aback. “My apologies.”

“Throat kick, knee to the crotch, elbow to the face. Maybe all three. You are the worst watchman in the world. Why do you insist on being creepy every single time?”

“I was just waiting for—”

“Did we not learn from the last time you pulled this ‘mysterious in the shadows’ move?”

“I don’t have moves,” he said sulkily.

“Wait, why are you here?” Belle asked, still annoyed.

He stepped towards her, judging it safe now that her anger was subsiding. “It seemed a little too ‘love interest in a teen rom-com’ to come knocking on the door to ask if I could walk you home.”

“So you thought you’d just lurk around the empty streets until I happened upon you, prowling underneath a tree?”

Rune looked at his hands, twiddling the ring on his thumb. “Looks that way.”

“For future reference, I’d rather the teen rom-com moment than the homicidal ‘slasher in the darkness’ moment.”

“Noted. I was just trying not to intrude, you made it clear you want your space,” he replied, glancing up. “But the offer for a walk home still stands. If you want.” He shrugged.

Belle looked at him sceptically.

“C’mon, don’t turn me down,” he said, one side of his mouth twitching upwards in a smile. “I’ll conjure you some chips on the way.”

Her stomach rumbled at the mention.

She nodded. “For chips.”

Belle gestured to the right with her shoulder, and he gave her a quick nod as they set off side by side. With a click, Rune conjured a hot carton of chips to share. Ignoring the billows of steam, Belle impatiently popped a couple into her mouth, immediately burning her tongue. She winced.

“Hot…” she said, embarrassed as he watched her.

“This is already the best date I’ve ever been on,” he said dryly.

“Needs more vinegar, though,” she quipped.

He rolled his eyes and cast his fingers again. “I’m so glad that the centuries of magic under my belt can be put to expert use.”

“Ketchup too.” With a furtive side glance, Belle noted that he bit down on his lip to stop himself from laughing. “And this is absolutely not a date.”

“A romantic moonlit walk, side by side, with dinner included? Sounds like a date to me.”