Page 102 of Impractical Magic

Luna squeezed Scarlett, who whispered into her sister’s wild hair, “Thanks for not calling me an idiot.”

Mama stepped forward, her jaw set with determination and love. “My brave, beautiful girl. I am so proud of you; I know your father is too. You can do this. Just remember, when you’re zipping around in the sky, stay the hell away from mean boys with stones. And don’t get so enamored with flying that you forget to return to the ground.”

Scarlett nodded. “I promise I won’t.”

Finally, it was Nate’s turn. He pulled Scarlett close, his arms wrapping around her in a tight, desperate embrace. “I love you,” he whispered.

She couldn’t begin to process that statement, so she made a joke instead, “I know.”

Nate shook his head, chuckling. “A moment like this, and you’re going all Han Solo on me.”

“You better believe it.” Scarlett kissed him fiercely and then said, “I love you, too. Now back up and let me do this.”

Scarlett settled herself against the tree trunk, surrounded by Luna’s herbs and her enchanted candles. “Hey, wait,” she said suddenly. “I just remembered: Luna, you never showed me how to do the floaty candles thing.”

“Well then.” Luna forced a smile. “I guess you have a reason to return to us.”

Scarlett’s gaze shifted to Nate, and she winked. “Oh, finally, a good reason to return.” Nate winked back.

She closed her eyes and let her mind drift. She found herself floating back through the years to the countless memories she shared with Papa. There he was, standing in the garden, his hands caked with dirt as he carefully tended to his beloved delphiniums. There he was, sitting at his big carved desk, surrounded by books. There he was, dancing with Mama in the living room, their laughter echoing through the house as they twirled and swayed to “Blue Moon.”

She could feel her father’s presence all around her, his love and strength flowing through her. Where before these memories had been tinged with guilt and regret, now Scarlett felt only joy at feeling his spirit twinned with her own. Under the ancient oak tree, surrounded by her family, both living and not, Scarlett knew that she was exactly where she was meant to be now.

Suddenly, a burst of blinding light illuminated the forest, and a ferocious wind tore through the air. Scarlett’s human form shattered into thirteen starlings, each one glimmering with silver flecks like tiny jewels against their jet-black feathers. With a synchronized flutter of wings, they soared into the sky, their movements fluid and graceful as they weaved through the trees. The sound of their trills filled the grove, echoing off the ancient oaks.

The starlings flew in in perfect unison, creating an intricate and mesmerizing display against the blue sky. As if controlled by a single mind, they twisted and turned, their path forming an intricate, spiraling pattern like a glittering black tornado. They descended upon the unsuspecting dragonflies with a furious hunger, devouring the insects with precision and grace.

Scarlett’s family watched in awe as the starlings feasted. They laughed together as the birds swept through the trees.

“Look at her go!” Delilah exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder. “I’ve never seen anything like it!”

Mama unfolded one of the chairs and sat down, back straight as always. “That’s my girl.”

***

In the shadow of the oak grove, a man and a woman in top hats and capes lurked behind some shrubbery.

“Are you seeing what I’m seeing,” hissed the gentleman magician.

“That I am,” his companion whispered back.

“This is bad. This is very very bad. What should we do?”

“Don’t fret,” said the lady magician with a wink. “I know exactly what we do.”

***

Thirteen starlings versus a thousand dragonflies was an epic battle, and not a brief one. Ever patient, the family gathered on the blankets to watch the show.

As they snacked on the sandwiches Zahir had sent, conversation turned to the future and all its many possibilities.

“So, Nate,” Delilah said with a mischievous glint in her eye, “when are you going to make an honest woman out of our sister? I mean, you can’t very well burn down Polly’s store every time you want to fool around.”

Nate coughed, his face turning pink. “Well, uh . . . You heard about that, huh?”

Mama frowned. “What’s this about the bookstore?”

“Nothing, Mama.” Luna giggled, nudging her sister with her elbow. “Leave the poor boy alone, Del.”