“Who’s there?” he asked, pulling a dagger from his waistband.

  “You’re not from around here.” said a girls’ voice. Robert’s head whipped about this way and that but didn’t find the source.

  “No, I’m not.” he answered. “Princess Cassandra? Is that you?”

  “There’s nobody here by that name.”

  “Show yourself.”

  “No, I don’t think I will.” said the voice coming from everywhere and nowhere at once.

  “Fine.” He said before replacing the dagger in his waistband and raising his arms in a ‘V’ White hot fireballs “poofed” to life in his palms to illuminate the area around him. “If you won’t come out, I’ll find you myself.”

  “Put away your fire.” The voice said. “You’re spoiling my darkness.”

  “No, I don’t think I will.” He said moving closer. The fireballs gave him almost as much light a full-sized torch and he waved his hands around to light up the bridge. At first, he approached it from the side. When he saw no one underneath, he climbed up top and looked over the far edge. Still….no one. “You’re a tricky one, aren’t you? You’re good at stealth.”

  “I prefer not to be seen.” Said the voice from somewhere around him he could not identify.

  “And why is that?” He asked, peering over each edge time and again to hopefully catch a glimpse of his unexpected guest.

  “Some people find the way I look to be…off-putting.”

  “Then we have something in common.” Said Robert

  “Is that why you cover yourself from head to toe in cloaks and scarves?” she asked him.

  “It might be.” He said with squinted eyes. “You’re really not going to reveal yourself?”

  “No.” The voice offered. “Please put out your light.”

  “Very well.” Robert said, dumping the fireballs off the edge of the bridge. They fell into the water where they sizzled before extinguishing. He clapped his hands to finish casting and took a seat on the edge of the bridge where his feet could dangle. “Marzipan the librarian is your sister?” he asked.

  “She is.”

  “So, that would make you Marigold.” He deduced. “That’s a very pretty name. My name is Robert. Robert Hex.”

  “I’m not concerned with what you think of my name.” she said gruffly.

  “But a marigold is a type of flower.” He added. “Flowers bring bees and bees bring honey. I like honey. I have an extra bit of honeycomb here.” Robert reached into an inner pocket and set a piece of honeycomb upon the edge of the bridge. “You’re welcome to it if you’ll come out.”

  “You want to bribe me with treats to get what you want?” she asked. “That’s a cheap tactic to use.” She said before pausing. “Your sister is Siouxsie? She’s the new lightning witch?”

  “Yes.” He said with some surprise. “How did you know?”

  “I heard the news and peered into the temple through the window to catch a glimpse when she was presented.”

  “You showed up to a temple packed with witches, but you won’t show yourself to me?”

  “No one saw me at the temple.” She said in a very matter of fact tone. “I made sure of that.”

  “You’re a strange one.” he said. “I like talking to you.” But this time there came no reply. He twisted his head about in every direction and saw nothing. “If you’re not going to come out then I’m going to have to take this tasty piece of honeycomb and be on my way.”

  “What honeycomb?” the voice asked. Robert looked down to find the treat had been snatched from under his nose.

  “Hey! That was my last one!” he protested.

  “You offered it to me.” Munched the voice as it smacked and licked.

  “I offered it to you in exchange for you to show yourself.”

  “You attempted to bait me, but you didn’t pay close enough attention.” A little miffed at the way things had played out, Robert pushed himself off the bridge to look beneath it.

  “You like these games, don’t you?” he asked the shadows. “What are you hiding?”

  “I don’t hide anything.” The shadows said. “I just stay out of everyone’s way.” Robert found the situation as confusing as it was interesting. For the life of him he could not see the girl. “You should go, Robert. it’s getting late.”

  “Perhaps I will.” He said, thinking it might be for the best. “If I come back tomorrow night, will you be here?”

  “I cannot say.”

  “If I come back tomorrow night with more honeycomb, will you be here?”

  “Perhaps.”

  “If I come back tomorrow night with more honeycomb, will you come out of the shadows?”

  “I make no promises.”

  “Then I’ll return tomorrow night.” Said Robert, turning to leave. “Goodnight Marigold.”

  “Goodnight, Robert.” said the voice. Robert Hex took one final glance under the stone bridge before talking back up the slope to the field. On the whole way back to Spellvale, the witch felt the oddest of sensations; a flutter of emotion he couldn’t quite identify began to dance in his black little heart.

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  Back at the temple, witches were pouring out from every side, each talking in animated tones. A quick jump of the broom put Robert over the crowd and back on the stage. There, in the back rooms, Vickiri, Valerion, Marzipan the librarian, and Ignatius gathered around his sister.

  “Robert!” she shouted excitedly when she saw him. Siouxsie practically shoved Vickiri aside to run to her twin’s side to embrace him. “Everything went superbly!” she gushed. “I played some songs and by the end all the people were clapping along and singing and having a grand time! Where have you been? I missed you!”

  “I was out for a walk.” He replied. Siouxsie made a strange face and pulled away from him. All over her hands were traces of fresh mud.

  “Have you been rolling in mud?” she asked.

  “No, of course I haven’t.” he said.

  “Turn around.” She commanded him, grabbing his shoulders to twist him around. Each of the witches looked upon his back to find the black cloak slathered from top to bottom in muddy hand prints.

  “Ha!” Marzipan snarfed with laughter.

  “What’s so funny?” asked Ignatius.

  “Those are my sisters prints.” She pointed. “See how they’re all left hands? That’s my sisters’ mark. He’s been to the east bridge.” Everyone looked. The librarian was correct. There weren’t pairs of handprints, just the same left-handed print over and over and over again up and down his back. “She’s usually not so bold with strangers.” The witch smiled. “You didn’t see her, did you?”

  “No.” answered Robert. “It was voices in shadows the whole time.”

  “That’s her way. You must have intrigued her a little or she never would have gotten close enough to mark you. It’s a game she plays. She loves to stalk.”

  “That’s very strange.” Offered Ignatius.

  “Those are very accurate words to describe my sister.”

  “She’s not made of shadows, is she?” asked Siouxsie.

  “No, she’s flesh and blood the same as the rest of us, but she prefers her solitude and that means staying out of sight.”

  “Then you two should quickly become great friends.” Siouxsie said wiping her hands on his cloak to get the last of the mud off.

  “Perhaps.” He sighed.

  “I am overjoyed beyond words that this great passing of power has come at last! ” Vickiri said with great gusto. “I wasn’t sure if it would happen in my lifetime! Come, you’ll be guests in my home, and I’ll see that you’re each fed to your stomach’s contentment! Tomorrow is another big day and the people will all want to each meet with Siouxsie. She’ll need to be well rested. Oh! This is going to be such a healing occasion! Siouxsie, you have no idea how much this means to all of us.”

  “What do I have to do?” she asked.

  “Just be yourself! Your singing and dancing just now has done wonders to uplift the spirits of all of Spellvale! All the people will line up to greet you and bring you gifts and offerings for your blessing!” Siouxsie and Ignatius exchanged a quick silent glance.

  “Great Vickiri, I don’t know how to give blessings.” She said

  “No?” he asked. “Don’t worry, I’m sure it will come to you. What’s important is that you’re here and been seen by the others. When you held your older form, the people couldn’t talk with you like I am now. Having you back amongst us walking and talking with us as again is a constant reminder of how closely we are tied to greater powers. It will keep us rooted to our foundations and keep us on a path to greater things!” Siouxsie still didn’t feel wholeheartedly convinced but Vickiri seemed quite convinced in his enthusiasm. She tried to stay focused until a grand yawn overtook her. “Dear me!” Vickiri said as he led them toward the exit. “You must be exhausted after such a performance. Follow me, follow me and I’ll see to your lodging. This way please.” As promised, the witch provided very comfortable accommodations and enough food to feed a dozen people. The three got comfortably settled in and their hosts left the siblings alone. A witch hammock was constructed big enough for the three of them. Ignatius climbed in first, removed his hat and opened his cloak before the twins removed their cloaks and hats to climb in on either side of him. They situated themselves with their heads in the crooks of his armpits and outer arms interlocking fingers across his chest. Ignatius’ cloak enveloped them whole under the light of a singular candle. Delicate fingers stroking the hair of the twins as they lay.