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But Kelley needed this more than I did, and giving her this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity felt right, considering all she’d lost because of us.
I couldn’t bring Harold back, but I could make sure his daughter was well taken care of in his absence, and that’s exactly what I planned to do.
30
When I came home, I showed both cats the empty bottle I’d used to pass my wish on to Kelley.
“Yup, it’s gone,” Merlin whined, rolling onto his side dramatically. “I can’t believe you gave that away.”
“She’s a good one,” Luna told Merlin as she pressed her body against the side of my leg and shook her sleek white tail. “My familiar destroyed herself by craving power. Yours freely gave it away. You’re a lucky witch.”
“That, I am,” Merlin admitted with a wink. “Even if she is a little bit crazy.”
“What’s done is done,” I said with a shrug. Before I’d gone to see Kelley, Merlin had whipped up an anti-pain potion, taking the hurt out of both my shoulders and my cheek, which meant I could move freely now. “Let’s focus on what we can still hope to change.”
“Are you sure you’re ready to enter Nocturna?” Merlin asked me tersely. “It’s rather overwhelming for a first-timer, especially one so new to magic as you are.”
“I’m sure,” I said, pressing my lips into a tight line. “I’d rather have the knowledge than not.”
“The sun is setting,” Luna said, and we both stared at Merlin, waiting for him to speak.
“Then let’s go,” he acquiesced.
I followed Merlin as he slowly stalked toward the door.
He ran through, but Luna waited for me to open the big door. “Remember, you can do this,” she assured me with a simple smile.
I took in a deep breath and stepped outside into the evening twilight.
Merlin had already seated himself upon the bird bath. “The moment the sun disappears over the horizon, we’ll be able to use the cauldron as a doorway to Nocturna. Shouldn’t be long now.”
“How am I going to fit through that?” I squeaked, studying the small stone fountain.
“Magic, duh!” Luna answered with a laugh and then hopped up beside Merlin.
“Step forward,” he said as he splashed in the water and placed a wet paw on Luna’s forehead.
“Lean in close,” he instructed. When I did, he dipped his paw again and touched it to my head. “Luna will go through first, and I’ll go in last to make sure nothing goes awry.”
“Goes awry? Wait. Does that mean this is dangerous?”
“Don’t worry about it, sweetie,” Luna cooed.
In the distance the sun finished its descent. The cauldron glowed a bright mint green, swallowing Luna whole.
“Whoa, I don’t want to do this!” I whined and took a giant leap back.
“Too late,” Merlin said, then summoned a gust of wind that sent me stumbling right into the fountain. I closed my eyes as I braced for impact, and I screamed and screamed and screamed, until I noticed that everything was absolutely fine.
When I opened my eyes again, I stood on a dark stone path. Both cats were at my side. The surrounding buildings had been built in a Bavarian style, white with dark crossbeams.
Luna nudged me forward. “What do you think?”
“It looks like something out of a fairytale,” I said, instantly falling in love with the quaint magical city.
“This area was settled during peak popularity of the Brothers Grimm. Everyone wanted the German village look, and Nocturna was no different,” she explained with obvious pride.
“Where is everybody?” I asked.
