The Witch and the Wolf

What Now?

[Emi]

Ennis is gone. I have been trying to get in contact with my spirit elements. With no luck, might I add. The over-whelming sense of grief and anger is engulfing me.

'Ennis is gone, and I'm alone.' I thought to myself over and over again. This was the longest walk of my life.

I have no clue what to do now. I replay what Ennis said with her last breath...

"You will learn to unlock its power and someday you will meet your m..."

What could she have been saying? Mom? That wasn't possible. She knew that my mother had died. What else? I am thinking of other words that start with the letter M.

Man? Mate? Maybe...

I glanced up at the man walking in front of me. He gracefully carried Ennis's lifeless body as though she were weightless. He said that he was my mate. What is that though?

I know from the romance werewolf novels I used to read that werewolves have mates. Like soul mates. They can't live without them. I shake my head. Werewolves aren't real, are they? Let's think about this logically. If witches are real, magic is real, and fairies are real, then werewolves could be real. He didn't look like a werewolf though. He was muscular but he wasn't hairy.

Thinking of the existence of werewolves was distracting. I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't notice the large branch that I had just tripped over. The man glanced back as if asking if I were okay. I brush myself off, nod, and continue walking.

After a long, silent walk, we finally arrived at the house. The man carefully and gently places Ennis down next to the fire pit.

He looks at me with a compassionate glance as he grabs the ax lying next to the house. He walks into the forest and a while later he returns with beads of sweat rolling down his brow.

"Excuse me?" I said, clearing my throat.

"Yes, dove?" He says with a gentle smile.

"What are you doing?" I asked curiously.

"We need to help her pass. So I am doing just that. I will ask for your assistance shortly. Until then, watch over her and make sure no one disturbs her."

I nod, and he continues his work. I watch him bring large logs over and set them together until they are stacked four high and four across. The logs look to be about six feet long. 'How did he get them all here so quickly?' I wondered to myself.

"Dove?" He says, interrupting my thought.

"My name is Emilia," I said to him.

"I know that, Emilia. I have known you my entire life. We will have time to talk about all of this later. Right now I need you to get Ennis's Book of Shadows and bring it out here with her box that has the bones in it."

I knew exactly which box he was referring to. I walk into the house and grab her book, then place it on top of the chest. I carried it out carefully because I knew the fragile items lying inside.

Once outside, I gently set the items down on the ground near Ennis. I tried not to look at her. I have just finally composed myself and I know if I look at her I won't be able to contain the tears.

"Open the box, pull out the cloth, lay it out next to her, and place her Book of Shadows in the middle." He said softly.

I nodded and did what he asked me to.

"Now place yours on top of hers."

I pull my cheat sheet out and place it on top of her. Looking at him, I asked, "What now?"

"Now say, 'What was once yours is now mine.' while looking at Ennis."

With a confused look, I said, "What was once yours is now mine?"

"I need you to say it with more feeling. Like you want it." He said, staring at me. "Place your hand above the books when you say it this time."

I looked over at the books and raised my hand towards them. "What was once yours is now mine."

"Repeat it until you believe it." He said firmly.

I close my eyes tightly and start chanting, "What was once yours is now mine. What was once yours is now mine."

After the fifth or sixth time, I felt a warm sensation in my hand. It felt as though someone had placed their hand on top of mine. I opened my eyes and looked at my hand. A transparent hand was laid on top of my arm. My eyes followed up the arm and I looked over. There stands a transparent Ennis.

A waterfall of tears streamed down my face. Her lifeless body still lay across from me, but next to me stood a see-through version of her. I can feel the warmth coming from her as though it were her actual body.

"B-but how?" I stammer.

"What once was mine is now yours." I heard Ennis whisper in my ear. She gently kisses my cheek and disappears.

A few moments passed as I tried to figure out what had just happened. 'That was Ennis. Her body is right there. How could she have been next to me? How could I feel her warmth touching me? I don't understand.'

"Are you okay, dove?" I heard the man's warm voice break my train of thought.

I gave a simple nod, although I didn't know if I was actually okay. "Did you see her?" I ask.

"See who?" He asks.

I just shook my head in response. I knew he couldn't see her. This was a special moment between us.

"Let's finish everything before daybreak. I want to see her off." He spoke softly.

It took me a few moments to gather myself. I nodded towards him and cleared my throat. "I'm ready." I grabbed my book from the top of Ennis's. I felt an overwhelming sense of power coming from my book. It seemed different than before. I opened the book and instead of a meager thirty pages, there were hundreds of pages filled. I go to look at Ennis's book when a voice interrupts my thoughts.

"Place her book on her," he said.

I looked up and saw that Ennis had been moved. She was no longer lying on the ground. She was on the logs with her sleeping blanket placed under her. She looked so peaceful.

"Her book?" He said with a bit more directness.

"Oh. Sorry." I said. I grabbed her book and walked over to them. I placed her book on her body. Then the man proceeded to wrap her arms around the book so that it looked as though she were holding it.

"I need you to find 'The Last Right' ritual in your book of shadows and begin reading out loud."

I opened my book and placed my hand above it and said "The last right." This was a nifty trick that Ennis taught me. It allowed me to find rituals and incantations quickly. The pages fluttered and turned to the page that was needed. I skimmed the first section and saw that it was already completed by him. I will follow the instructions for the next part. My arm extends as though I were reaching for her.

"Return to the earth. Return to the water. Return to the air. Return to the fire." I said. The moment I say fire, the logs begin to be set ablaze. A bit startled, I looked down at the book. I turned my hand so that my palm was now facing her.

"Mother of elements. Hear me. Come take your daughter back. Bring her home. Mother of elements. Come. Hear my words. Take her so she may be at peace." I feel a rush of wind and watch as the air connects with the fire making it engulf her still corpse.

I closed my book and bowed my head. "Goodbye Ennis. Even though our time together was short, you were more than just a teacher to me. You were the closest thing I have ever had to a mother." I sniffled. "I'll miss you."

I feel the warm embrace of muscular arms wrap around my torso. Not wanting it to end, I gently placed my hands on his arms. We stayed like this for what felt like hours. The sky was beginning to get lighter when I felt his embrace lighten.

"Dove?"

"Yes?" I sigh.

"I have to go. I will be back tonight." He whispers. I can feel his warm breath tickle my ear.

Not knowing what to say and not wanting to argue, I simply replied with, "Okay."

"I'll be back when the sun sets. Have your things ready. We'll leave as soon as I get here."

I nod. In the blink of an eye, he was gone.

I looked around and he was nowhere to be seen. I shake my head. Too exhausted to want to try to make sense of the day, I go inside and sit on the edge of my bed. Today has been...

No words can be used to describe today. I lay down and closed my eyes. It didn't take much and I was fast asleep.