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Nova’s face twisted as she tried to fight a smile and welling tears at the same time. She compromised by rolling her eyes instead. “That was like…supercheesy, Vesper.”
I smiled. I couldn’t tell if Nova and I were friends yet, but we were allies, at least. And that was a place to start.
The adults reached us then, and we said our goodbyes.
“It’s done,” Ostara said solemnly. “Now the more daunting task lies ahead. The Darkness wielded more power and influence than we thought possible, especially while bound. We are facing unknown dangers in the coming days.”
“Oh for goddess’s sake, Ostara, save the doom and gloom for tomorrow, at least,” Lydian barked from her mobility scooter.
“Tonight’s feat was not lightly accomplished,” Xiomara added, nodding. “Let us honor it, and let it be enough.”
Ostara paused before nodding, reluctantly. “Very well. For now.”
We lingered a few minutes more under the stars, saying goodbyes.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come hang out?” Eva asked. “Xiomara’s going to cook.”
I shook my head. “Thanks, but not tonight. I think I’m going to head home instead.”
“Of course,” Eva said. “We’ll see you around.”
“Yeah, you will,” I said, and the thought made me feel lighter. “What do you guys do around here during vacation, anyway?”
“Oh, the usual,” Eva said with a casual shrug. “Seances, summoning demons. Summer shit, you know.” And with one last laugh, she turned with a wave, and followed the others back toward town.
Only Persi, Rhi, Mom, and I remained. Rhi had the cauldron clasped in her arms, wrapped in a quilt to protect her from the heat.
“I asked you if you had a cauldron, and you said no,” I accused her.
“I didn’t say no. I said it was in the closet next to my broomstick,” Rhi said, winking. “And if you’d looked in the closet, that’s exactly where you would have found it.”
“Can we get going?” Persi asked. “The summer solstice is only a few days away, and I haven’t even finished my outfit.”
“What happens on the summer solstice?” I asked.
Persi grinned. “You’ll see,” she said, and she turned to head down the path, dark hair swinging.
I reached for my mom’s hand. “Ready?” I asked.
“Ready,” she said. A single word, heavy with meaning. But shared between us, the burden was lighter.
There was a light burning in the window of Lightkeep Cottage, guiding our steps like the lighthouse guides ships, toward the safety of the Cove.
We followed it home.
