Page 58 of Rewitched

Belle nodded, decisively brushing pastry crumbs from her jumper. “I’m experimenting with this new thing where I try to believe in myself a little. I was almost there with transference last week. Sort of.”

Reaching the sports pages, Artorius carefully folded his paper.

“Very well. But first, a little warm-up to start us off tonight, Miss Blackthorn. Some manifestive magic, perhaps. Pansies, pancakes, a polar bear…although I would perhaps advise against the latter. Selcouth’s health and safety regulations towards me may struggle to approve any large mammals. Stick to ferret or smaller. Shall we adjourn to the attic?”

The old man was fully settled into his mentor role and was taking to it like an owl to the night sky. No longer did he politely suggest they try something. He was in fact rather bossy at times and apologised on a number of occasions when he found himself getting carried away enough to earn a scowl from Belle.

When her magic was warmed up, pleasantly balmy under her skin, Artorius gave her the nod that it was time to tackle transference. They had agreed to start with summoning by transference, inviting someone to join them before Belle gave it another go for herself. Pen lid between her teeth and notebook propped on her thigh, she scribbled the incantation quickly. Artorius watched in interest and admiration, rocking back and forth on his heels with his hands clasped behind his back. She tucked the pen behind her ear and examined her handiwork.

“We await with bated breath,” Artorius encouraged.

Belle closed her eyes and sought out calm. Magic rose once again like mercury in a thermometer.

Mother of mine, I call to join here,

Wherever you stand, journey to near.

Company precious, enduring love strong,

Come to me now, this is where you belong.

Belle felt the rush of power course through her veins, molten and flowing. She flicked her pointing finger. In a fraction of a moment, Bonnie Blackthorn appeared before her, solid and real. An older version of Belle, everyone always said, although shorter, her hair a little fairer and much curlier. The curls were usually kept at bay with a brightly coloured scarf or a headband, and inevitably featured some form of greenery plucked from her garden—sometimes intentional, more often not. But the same dark eyes as her daughter, and the same kind but ever so slightly worried expression behind them. Plus, of course, the enormous Irish wolf-hound who was perpetually by her side. On arrival, Wolfie lolloped over to Artorius for an immediate sniff, followed by an approving hand lick.

Bonnie rushed to her daughter and grabbed her hands desperately. “What’s wrong? What’s happened? Belle, are you hurt?”

“What? Nothing, nothing. Mum, I’m fine.”

“You are? You’re fine? Why did you summon me?” The panic didn’t leave Bonnie’s face.

“Mum, take a breath. I’m okay, look. Everything’s fine.”

Appeased, Bonnie sighed with tangible relief. “I thought something awful had happened. You’ve never transferred me before. I thought you needed me, I thought—”

“I was practicing transference incantations. I needed to make someone appear, and who else would I have brought?”

Bonnie, still clasping her daughter’s upper arms in fear, closed her eyes and steadied herself, loosening her grasp a tad. “Gosh, love. You gave me such a fright.”

“Sorry. But hey, successful magic,” Belle offered as compensation.

Bonnie pulled her into a tight hug. “Now that I know you’re not in imminent danger, yes, I’m proud of you,” she said as she kissed her daughter on the head. “Now, where are we, exactly?”

“Ms. Blackthorn. It’s a great honour to have you here. I’ve read so much about you, your abilities in herbal magic are the stuff of legend,” Artorius said, taking a soft step forward.

Bonnie’s eyebrows jumped, chin shooting back as she realised who was introducing himself. “Mr. Day.” She took a measure of the room around her and darted her eyes back to the man who lived there.

“This is Artorius, Mum. Everything’s been going well.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear it,” Bonnie said with a polite smile, her tone unusually clipped. It was clear to Belle now that her mother had reservations about her daughter’s mentor and had simply been keeping them private thus far. They were written all over her face. “I appreciate everything you’re doing for my daughter.”

“No trouble at all, my dear. I am of course delighted to be in her company. Such a bright witch, I can see it already. A flawless summoning transference tonight…It’s promising, very promising. I’m thrilled to witness her progress,” Artorius said with his usual wholesome enthusiasm.

Belle noticed a subtle shift in her mother’s posture that echoed her own when she had first met the man. It changed from defensive and questioning to etched with pleasant surprise. She gave her mother the smallest, almost indistinguishable nod that she hoped meant Trust me, he’s very strange but kind of great.

“Sorry again to pull you from…whatever you were doing with no warning. What does that even feel like?” Belle asked, wrinkling her nose at Bonnie.

“Summoned transference? The same, a little like you’d imagine being sucked up through a hoover would feel.”

“Does it give you a warning?” Belle asked.