The ceiling was gradually coming into focus over her head. Dim grey light was spreading over the newly-hewn boards and Evie woke bit by bit, bleary gaze locked on the still-bright wood. She didn't feel rested, but she didn't feel exhausted. She just… lay there, as if she'd never fallen asleep. And she was sure this weird lethargy had nothing to do with the day of running around, goofing off, and fishing in the too-hot, too-bright summer sun.
Fortunately, she hadn't woken with crusty-dry eyes or a fuzzy headache, so she must not've cried (for once). Maybe she was getting used to going to bed disappointed in herself.
The soft puffs of breath next to her reminded her that Candace had fallen asleep with her, and a stirring of guilt and fondness coiled in her chest. She didn't deserve the kind of friends she'd managed to make throughout her life, especially here in Castanet when her second season wasn't even over yet. Flitting here and there like a hummingbird, never sticking around long, but still finding the best people along the way— that was Evie's blessing and curse.
She smirked wryly at the ceiling. Way to feel like the hero of your own story, she reprimanded herself, appreciating the irony, but also deciding not to dwell on it or send her own brain into circles.
A little trill sounded nearby, and Evie turned her head carefully. There Finn was, curled up like a little cat on her pillow. For once, he'd been the one out late. Her smirk softened with true humor when she couldn't help but draw parallels between herself in the role of a boring, uncool parent and Finn coming into his "adolescence.". Pretty soon, he'd hit that "teenager" stage and be the bane of her party-pooping, old-lady existence.
Finally, she slipped out of bed without dislodging either occupant while chuckling. Instead of going straight to her chores, or even changing out of her pjs, Evie went for the stove first to get started on breakfast. Just before the alarm went off, and just as Candace began to stir at the taps and rattles of eggs and pans and plates, Evie left the eggs frying and popping in their pan of butter and scooped Finn up. He mumbled awake and yawned wide enough for tears to gather at the corner of his eyes.
"M-Morning, Evie," he stammered.
"Morning, twinkles. Go wash up before Candy gets up, okay? I'm making eggs and toast with lots of cherry jam."
Finn's wings chimed loudly as he nodded excitedly. "Okay! Don't burn yourself on the pan again!" He zipped away as Evie set her fists on her hips and hurrumphed after him.
"It happened, like, twice. I don't always burn something, the little sassbucket," she muttered. The alarm went off and she hurried over to flip it off as Candace startled the rest of the way awake.
"Oh! You're already up? Is… is something cooking?" Candace asked, pushing herself up to her knees as her hair flooffed in every-which-way. (There really wasn't any other way to describe it, it definitely flooffed.)
"Yeah, snap, better get back before something does burn. Don't worry 'bout clothes, we'll have a slumber party breakfast before heading out," Evie said with a grin as she hurried back to the eggs. She flipped them, squinting and scowling when she noticed how slightly overdone the yolks were. She usually liked them extra-runny for toast… though… maybe it was better this way since she'd be bringing out the jam? She jerked up and looked over at Candace who was smiling sleepily. "You say something?"
Candace shook her head and didn't quite huff, though there was a slight exhalation there. "I only asked if you managed to get enough sleep?"
Evie busied herself with popping some slices of toast in her old battered toaster and sliding buttery, much-too-unhealthy fried eggs onto plates. "What makes you say that? We came in together."
"Yes, but…" Candace broke off and fidgeting with the edge of the blanket, twisting and tugging it. "I woke up a few times because you just seemed… restless all night?"
Evie winced. "Sorry, guess I wasn't a great bed-buddy this time around."
"N-no, that's not what I m-meant at all! I just… I was worried a little."
"Well, you don't havta. I'm fine. Just a long day yesterday. Too much stuff in my head, probably." She shrugged and set out the toast on plates, popped in a few more slices, then brought the plates over to the table. "Ready to dig in?"
There was a moment of Candace gazing at her, a little too knowing and aware. Evie squirmed a bit, carefully not making eye contact and grinning at Finn as he flew back into the room.
"Those eggs do smell delicious," Candace conceded at last. She neatly made the bed and came to sit at the table. For a brief moment, her blue eyes followed the trail of Finn's golden light before she smiled gently at Evie. "Should I make some tea?"
Evie's shoulders slumped and she turned the relieved grin to Candace. The unspoken things stayed that way and she was allowed another morning of reprieve. "Sounds perfect." Then, she turned to get the next few slices of toast.
"What are your plans for the day? Any more strange 'tourist' ideas?" Candace asked as she poured water into the kettle and came back to the table while it heated.
"They aren't strange ideas. They're great ideas. Having a picnic in the middle of Fugue was fantastic!"
"Wasn't there something about angry animals Cristina mentioned?" Candace asked incredulously.
"Okay, so the bears and the wild boar were a surprise, but apparently everything likes honey and they stopped chasing us when I tossed them an open pot of it," Evie said, trying not to laugh. "Casey and Cris really liked meeting all the animals at Renee's farm, so that went well!"
"... d-didn't you f-fall off a horse?" Candace hesitantly asked.
"Yeah, but Cris and Casey didn't! I'm used to getting the stuffing knocked outta me, no biggie."
"No b-biggie," Candace agreed breathlessly.
"Eviiieee, I need way more jam than this!" Finn interrupted, trying to wave his toast in the air, but only making it wiggle awkwardly across the table. Candace stared at the toast just before Evie snatched it up and proceeded to slather it generously.
"Anyway, today I made plans with Owen to see the ruins down on the twentieth floor in the Lower Mines. It's got weird, ancient language all over it and cool pictures, plus there's a hot spring down there! Mineral spas are super good for you, right?" Evie said, a determined gleam in her eyes.
"Well… yes, but… Why not just take them to Toucan?"
"Pfft, firstly, that's gotta be the grand finale! Or at least, not the first thing we do. And secondly, I want them to get a good feel for Castanet and meet everyone. It's not fair to everyone here if we just hang out on the tropical paradise the whole time. Castanet is just as much fun as Toucan," Evie said stoutly. She added with a shrug, "'Sides, Case hates beaches. The sand, he can't stand it."
Candace reached over to pat Evie's hand. "You're a good sister, Evie."
She swung her arm around Candace's neck and ignored the dry tightness in her throat and mouth. "Nah, the best sister in this room is definitely you. A pretty great best friend, too."
Watching Candace's face burn bright red just before she buried it in her hands and behind her curtain of wild blue waves had the tightness easing. Evie grinned and shoved the last of her egg and jam covered toast in her mouth.
"You take your time finishing," she said through the side of her mouth. "I'mma get started on my chores and then I'll walk you home. I have to see Gill today."
"Are you— I c-could hurry—" Candace began, half-rising from her seat and dusting her fingertips over her plate. Evie pffted and flapped a hand.
"Nah, nah, sit, eat up. I've got a few hours to kill since Cris won't get up before 10 and Casey—" Evie broke off with an uncomfortable shrug. "Well, he probably needs a few hours to pretend like he doesn't care. Flirting with Maya over breakfast will help."
Candace frowned uncertainly, but Evie just waved her off again and slipped out of the house with Finn at her shoulder.
"Did something happen with Casey? You're being weird, Evie," Finn said around his own mouthful of food. Cherry jam was smeared over his face like a bad horror movie make up job, and Evie chuckled.
"Everything's just fine, Lestat. No worries."
For once, her knock was timid on Gill's door. She wasn't sure Gill was home or down at the Town Hall. However, it opened within a heartbeat and Evie barely kept from reeling back in surprise. Gill's eyes widened slightly, looking just as startled, then his lips curved slowly upward with welcome.
"Ms. Evelyn, you were the last person I was expecting. Oh, and Mr. Finn, too? Would you like to come in for some tea?" he offered as he stepped back. Evie followed his movement past the threshold while Finn zoomed by.
"Do you have any milk?" the sprite asked eagerly.
Gill ran a hand through his strangely mussed hair and quickly tried patting it back, to little effect. "Of course, Mr. Finn. Come and sit, I'm sure you both can't stay too long."
Evie shrugged a little, and took a chair for herself. "So why am I the last person you'd expect? And… what's with the…" Evie broke off with a grin and a vague gesture towards him. Gill grimaced and adjusted the cuffs of his blindingly white and slightly wrinkled shirt. "I guess the only way to put it is less than perfect appearance? You look like you stared down a leaf-blower."
He merely groaned, and she could see him struggling not to roll his eyes.
"A leaf-blower? Why don't you just say the wind, Evie?" Finn tutted— actually tutted— at her.
She and Gill exchanged amused glances.
"Sorry, li'l dude. I'll try to stop being so weird. But just a little."
"Yeah, yeah," Finn scoffed.
The two humans carefully avoided eye contact, mouths twitching at Finn's world-weary sigh. Gill gathered up what he needed and set water to boil before returning to her questions.
"I just had to deal with a nuisance of a request. I suppose it'll be worth it… in the end," Gill said as he stared into the middle distance for a moment. He looked back towards her. "I thought you'd be spending every spare moment with your guests, that's all I meant by the earlier comment. My apologies if it sounded rude."
"You don't think much of my multitasking skills?" Evie's eyebrows jumped up at the overly polite reply, and overly vague one, too. Gill tilted his head towards her with a wry look.
"I suppose I underestimated your drive. After that—" Gill broke off uncomfortably and Evie's gaze dropped to her hands where they lay on the table. She could hear Gill suddenly fiddling with things, most likely for the tea, and she used the moment to school her features. She knew exactly to what Gill was about to refer and it hadn't been a great experience for either of them. He cleared his throat and continued, "I thought that after the previous visit with the— at the Spring, perhaps your visitors were a welcome distraction."
"I've actually been back since then. Focusing on the quest is more a welcome distraction from Casey, rather than the other way around," Evie admitted, grimacing as her cheeks heated. She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck when Gill turned and raised an incredulous brow at her. "There's a reason I'm here at all and it wasn't all about Finn."
Finn jerked his head up to stare owlishly at her. His cheeks were puffed chipmunk-like with cookie she hadn't even seen Gill give him. His fiercely confused scowl over the stuffed cheeks had her biting her lip to keep from laughing.
"Though, of course, he's the best part," she assured quickly with a wink. Finn preened, easily mollified. Or more interested in shoving more cookie into his mouth, who knew.
"Everyone has their own family dramas," Gill allowed with a dry and all too knowing tone. "Would you like red or green or herbal tea?" He held up a tin of each and Evie absently noted the green tea was a popular brand that could be bought anywhere instead of the Castanet Green label.
"Aren't all teas made of herbs?"
"Caffeinated or not?" Gill reiterated with a heavy sigh.
Evie grinned cheekily. "Caffeine me, Seymore!"
He snorted at that, then looked promptly disgusted with himself and quickly turned to measure out the leaves into metal tea-strain-ball-things. Evie had never seen a real person using those before.
"How did your last visit with the… with the Goddess go? Was it marginally less stressful? Anything I can help you with?" Gill asked, finally coming to sit and setting down a tea tray between them.
Evie groaned. "It was better, but I think I'm just at a point where I can't be shocked anymore. The stress levels are so high, I've reached the peak, the zenith if you will, because I'm officially too zen on stress to stress."
"That was the worst pun I've ever heard. Never attempt that again," Gill said, much too seriously. It had giggles bubbling past Evie's lips despite herself. "I also don't think stress works like that," he pointed out in amusement.
Flapping a hand at him negligently, Evie picked up her mug and swirled the tea-ball around to watch the water darken as it steeped. "Eh, whatevs. Thanks for offering to help, but I think we should focus on what to do about the Wishing Shrine. I mean… the other part of the quest, it looks like it comes down to schmoozing a bunch of folks and facing down a catch-22 that even Heller could be proud of."
"I'm happy to help brainstorm ideas with you, but… what catch-22?" Gill asked in confusion. Evie huffed roughly, the curls over her forehead flying up and falling down over her nose.
"Basically, I have to be proclaimed a hero by the whole town without, one, fixing the Tree first, or two, not feeling like a complete tool. I can't ring the Five Bells unless the town does that, but I haven't saved anyone until I've rung the Bells." Evie flopped onto the table, rattling cups on their saucers. "This is impossible! So, yeah, unless you can 'hero-ify' me without me coming off like a total … Summer's Evie first, then I'm kinda stumped on what to do next."
"A Summer's Evie… oh. Eve." Gill's face went bright red. Evie snickered without remorse and picked herself back up to sip at her tea. He cleared his throat— once, twice, oh, three times— and shook his head. "I can help you be proclaimed a hero, though. Without the… hygiene product feelings."
"Huh? Whatcha talkin' 'bout Willis?"
"Who's Willis?" Finn asked. He shook his head and stared up at Gill. "Can you really do that?" he exclaimed as cookie crumbs scattered every which way. At Gill's look, Evie quickly swept the crumbs onto her palm and dusted them off over a saucer.
"Of course. Though, it's more about Ms. Evelyn than what I can do. The town rankings, don't you recall? It wasn't just fishing, or even just crops. There are several categories, and it's possible to earn a Hero rank in any of them."
Evie stared at him. Finn squinted at him.
"So you're saying… if I sell enough tomatoes or catch enough fish—"
"— or any of the other categories—" Gill added wearily.
"I can technically be announced a hero by the whole town?"
Gill nodded, expression pensive. "The highest earners are even put up on the Town's Bulletin board for the entire next season. There are Miner, Rancher, Entrepreneur, and of course, Farmer and Fisher. You wouldn't be eligible for Entrepreneur, since you don't own your own business, but you could do any of the others. Let's check your profits for this season so far."
Slack-jawed and dumb, Evie stared at his back as he got up.
"Fortunately, I had these here to review before the Ocean Festival. My father is a poor accountant and secretary, so I've been going over the books ever since I returned. All of these are usually in the Town Hall," Gill explained before heaving a very tall stack of very thick, heavy-looking tomes from a nearby hutch. The table all but collapsed under their weight when he placed them in front of Evie. "He really must let me digitize them this year. It's absolutely ridiculous carting these around."
"Yes, absolutely," Evie squeaked.
"I think those could squash me, Evie."
"Like a grape."
"Was that… Tangled?" Gill asked, blue eyes startled. Evie pushed her glasses up her nose and grinned.
"Finally caught a reference and it was a cute Disney film. Okay there, Rider, I see you."
Gill flushed pink and busied himself flipping through pages. Evie quickly started to help, grabbing the Rancher ledger-of-death and searching for her name. It luckily didn't take long to figure out what category she was doing well in…
And it also didn't take long to realize there'd be no way to make enough profit in any of the categories and get the title of Hero by summer's end. The three of them slumped in their seats, Evie sliding lower down as guilt and embarrassment overwhelmed her.
"It's only your second season, Ms. Evelyn. It'd be quite astonishing if you'd managed it so quickly. What with your lack of experience and busy schedule, it's really impressive you're going to be making this much at all," Gill said while taking a pair of tortoiseshell-patterned glasses off.
"There's really no way I could sell enough in the next few weeks?" Evie asked again without much hope.
Gill shook his head. "I'm afraid not. You'd get very close, especially if you continue growing and selling tea leaves, but it would be a few hundred, maybe over a thousand, auree short."
"That's so… so frustrating!"
"Yeah! Now we'll have to wait all the way till winter!" Finn exclaimed growling and grumbling as he glared at the open ledgers.
"But… we have a plan now! There's a way! It may take us a while, but there's a solid plan to work with," Evie said, clenching her fist and grinning fiercely at Gill.
"Indeed. We can focus on collecting Wishes during the Fall," Gill agreed. "You mentioned you wanted to discuss Edge?"
"Oh, right!" Evie scrunched her nose and puffed at the curls hanging over her nose again. Gill shook his head with a huff and got up. "Hey! Where you going?"
"Not far, just tell me what you need to say." He went over to the fancy wooden-and-glass hutch and begin to search through the drawers.
"It's not just about Edge… it's about the Wishing Shrine and Pastor Park, actually. Did you know the Wishing Shrine is in Pastor Park's living space? Like… it's his bedroom," Evie said, leaning on her elbow towards him. Gill turned with a frown and something small in his hand.
"That's… I'm not sure I knew that, no. My mother always went straight to the Spring if she had a Wish," Gill said slowly.
Evie chewed her bottom lip, then blurted out, "I feel like me just carting the Wishes from people to the Shrine rather than people going themselves isn't really fixing any problem. It's not a solution. It'll help Edge now, but won't they just get lonely again later?"
"Hmm, yes… that does seem likely."
"Leaving the Shrine in Pastor Park's bedroom is not going to encourage people to go share their Wishes," Evie pointed out wryly. "I'm not some travelling evangelist, Gill. I have other things to do."
"All very good points. A great deal of doing your part here is focusing on your farm. You weren't brought here to be a new pastor," Gill said with a twitch of his mouth. He crossed an arm over his waist and then handed over the small something— or rather somethings, which turned out to be small blue barrettes. Evie took them with a shake of her head and eyeroll, but Gill wasn't even paying attention, his focus more inward. "It used to be that pastors were given free accommodation in town, or in the other districts if they didn't mind the walk. I'm not sure what changed or when."
"So… if there's a previous precedent, then perhaps we can bring it back?" Evie asked eagerly.
"A what? Is a…a president gonna help Edge or not?" Finn asked, looking absolutely bewildered.
"Well, last term's president, maybe, not so sure about this term's," Evie muttered. Gill turned away, but the loud, ugly snort couldn't be completely muffled. Finn just scowled up at her. She poked his tummy and winked. "Me 'n Gill are talking about helping out Edge, yes."
"I can look into it, the accommodations," Gill said, knuckles still pressed to his lips. Watching Evie struggle with the barrettes, he sighed, took them from her, and deftly brushed the too long curls away and snapped the hair-pieces in place. "I'll also look into some old Church events and activities. Perhaps some other town rituals were thrown by the wayside and affected the Wishing Shrine's location as well."
"After Cris leaves, we can sit down and brainstorm together some new ideas, too," Evie said determinedly. She touched the barrettes and grinned up at him. "Thanks, I usually keep it short enough that it doesn't matter so much. Where's the nearest barber?"
"Mineral Town?" Gill retorted with a smirk. Evie rolled her eyes, knowing just how far that town was. "Colleen is actually fairly good at it. You can discuss it with her, but the longer hair suits you. Curls are very chic these days," he told her. Evie grimaced.
"Try having curls, then tell me you still care how chic they are," Evie said with some distaste. She got to her feet, chair legs squealing over the floor and making them both wince. "I'll talk to Anissa about fall crops and come back with a viable growing plan. Hopefully there'll be something I can handle well and grows easy. I've gotten loads better, but there's a reason I've been steering clear of the fancier flowery things. I almost killed a whole line of tomatoes last week."
"It's true! The sticks weren't in the dirt deep enough and they all almost fell right over broke!" Finn said.
"Tattle-tale," Evie said, blowing a raspberry in Finn's direction. He just blew one back. She glanced at Gill and frowned slightly. "I actually have… one more question."
"Just one?" Gill asked wryly, leaning back on the table and bracing his hands on the surface behind him. "Are you positive it's only one?"
"Rude," she retorted with a glare over the rims of her glasses. Gill smirked cheekily. "It's about those ranking titles. … why Hero? I get Master and Champion, even Super and Ultimate. But Hero?"
Gill huffed in amusement. "It does seem rather childish. I remember… I was very young, not even kindergarten-aged, when my mother and father were discussing the rankings. My mother wasn't quite ill yet, just weak. She was adamant it must be included, despite my father's objections that it wasn't… posh," he told her. His eyes widened suddenly. "Oh."
"Oh?" Evie and Finn parroted. Gill glanced towards the hutch where the barrettes had been, and where a pretty picture of a blonde woman sat behind the glass.
"My mother put her foot down for me. I asked her to put it in, because my friend the fairy told me we needed it. My father didn't like to hear me talk about my fairy friends, but Mother… Mother always took it seriously," Gill whispered.
Finn and Evie glanced at each other, matching expressions of incredulity on their faces. A moment later, Finn was glowing like a little star, wings buzzing louder than a chainsaw to match the glee in his eyes.
"See, Evie!? See? Harvest Mother has been waiting for you!" the little sprite crowed triumphantly.
"Right, well, I better scooter," Evie said awkwardly while rubbing the back of her neck. Finn zoomed to her breast pocket and settled in for the walk.
"Yes, quite," Gill said as he shook himself out of his reverie. He walked her to the door and held it open for her. "Until Ms. Rosales leaves."
"Unless I have another spare moment to track you down in," Evie joked as she passed by him. She stopped, gnawed on her bottom lip, then turned to meet his expectant and surprised look. "Thanks… really, thank you." She placed a hand on Gill's arm and their eyes met. She smiled, her features earnest and sincere, smile growing wider as his cheeks flushed pink. "You've already come up with a solution to what I thought was an unsolvable problem. You're… you and Finn… you're both the only ones I've got, really. I'm just so glad you came back and that you're helping me. Thank you."
Gill shook his head, and then pressed his hand over hers on his arm. "Ms. Evelyn Tallesin, nothing I could do could ever repay the debt of gratitude I have for you. You're the first person since my… since my mother died to believe. What you're doing for Castanet as well…" Gill shook his head again, and then reached up to touch the barrettes in her hair. "My mother would have liked you, Ms. Evelyn."
Evie's heart skipped a beat and her nose stung with barely held back tears. She had the feeling there would never be a higher compliment from Gill.
"Gill… We'll do it. The three of us, we'll ring those Bells. For the Goddess, and for your mother, too," she whispered fiercely.
Her eyes darted over his face as pain pulled his features taut. Finn flew up and nuzzled against Gill's cheek, little hands patting his fair skin. Evie reached up and clasped his hand on her hair.
"We're a team. We'll help each other, right?" Finn agreed, chiming softly.
"Thank you, thank you both." The words were thin and wavering, but full of feeling that had her heart squeezing as if clenched in a fist. She'd never lost anyone, not in the way that Gill had. The hurt in him was completely unfathomable to her, but it still hurt her. "I suppose… I suppose there's one thing I could give."
Evie frowned. "What…? I don't need anything from you?!"
"There is this one thing." Gill cleared this throat and straightened. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes still too shiny and unable to meet hers straight on. "To make this town a great place to live, so that everyone may be safe and happy, I want this town to prosper as long as it stands…" His red-rimmed blue eyes finally met hers. "… that is my Wish."
Evie gasped and reeled back onto her heels. Finn cheered, whizzing in circles around her head, but her eyes were wide and unseeing as warmth hit her breastbone like a punch— as if he'd shoved the Wish into her heart. His hands gripped her elbows before she fell, but she wouldn't've. She grinned at him, pupils too wide, and he smiled back, sweet and boyish. She wondered rather wildly if that was the smile the Goddess knew best.
"You better hurry now, Ms. Evelyn. Your guests are waiting," Gill said as he stepped out of her personal space at last.
"Y-yes… Yes, I better— Thank you, Gill," Evie said again. He just shook his head and gestured her away. She pffted at him and then darted down the pathway to the gate. "Next time!"
He raised a hand. "Next time, Ms. Evelyn."
He froze and squinted down the lane as Evie turned past the Clinic towards Ocarina. His expression cleared and he raised his hand again in a more visible wave. The yellow-clad figure on road by the docks just looked up at him before turning towards the bridge leading out of town. Gill frowned in confusion.
…
"You want to take us where?" Cristina asked, looking up from her cheese omelette.
"You're not expecting us to bring hammers, too, are you?" Casey asked, smirking.
Evie rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. "Of course not! Owen is going with us to lead the way, and Phoebe will meet us at the ruins for lunch. It'll be fun! Like an Indiana Jones adventure!"
"Don't those adventures end with faces getting melted off?" Cristina said dryly.
"Just don't look in the covenant then," Evie retorted.
"Well, where's the fun in that?" Cristina took another bite as Evie snickered.
"I dunno, it does kinda sound fun. I've never been in a cave before," Casey said with a growing grin on his face.
"It's a mine, not a cave."
"Po-tay-toe, po-tah-toe," Casey said, flapping a hand. He'd long finished his breakfast, the gross early-morning riser that he was, and was sipping at a mug of coffee already. During his morning walk he'd picked up a sleepy-eyed Selena, who was glancing between the three of them as she sipped at her own coffee (and barely keeping from wrinkling her nose).
"How would you feel about me coming along? I've never been in the mines, either, and I always love spending time with Owen," Selena asked hopefully.
Evie shrugged. "I don't mind. The more the merrier, although… you might want to wear some more durable clothes."
"Yeah, you don't want to tear that pretty silk," Cristina agreed.
Selena smiled widely. "I've got something! Don't leave without me!"
"Bring a bathing suit and towel, too! There's a hot springs down there," Evie called after her. The door snicked shut and Evie slipped into her vacated chair. "Do you guys think she has a thing for Luke? Did she say anything?"
"Yeah, sure, she told us, two complete strangers, all about it," Cristina replied flippantly. She sipped the last of her juice and then made a small face. "But yeah… she did act like she was flirting a bit yesterday, he just didn't notice."
"He was too busy circling Candace like a puppy. This town is way too small," Casey said with a quiet snort.
Evie sighed at them. "Maybe I should tell him just to confess to Candace already."
"Wait… Luke and Candace aren't dating? My first night here I thought they were already together," Casey asked, shocked. "I just figured it wasn't anything serious yet, or maybe it was on the down-low."
Evie shook her head. "Me n' Luke both thought he shouldn't rush into it. Candy's the kinda person who'd literally run away if cornered by something like that, yanno? But… I think she feels the same way. Luna certainly seems to think so. She called me up to ask if Luke was actually as good as he claimed at woodworking, and then next thing I know, Luke's building Candy a new desk 'cuz Luna paid him to," Evie told them, leaning close to whisper it conspiratorially.
"Huh, this Luna is pretty sneaky. I like her. She seeing anyone?" Casey asked with a lopsided grin. Evie shoved at him and he barely managed to stay on his chair while he laughed. "What? Mama would like her! She's good with numbers!"
"I don't know these people well enough to care this much before I finish my coffee, but you and Luke are dumb as bricks if you think Candace would run away from him. She can barely keep her hands off of him," Cristina said with a roll of her eyes.
Evie blinked rapidly a few times. "I… I guess you're right. She's always trying to give him napkins or grabbing him if he looks like he's about to fall. She normally just… flutters anxiously around people…"
Casey and Cristina glanced at each other. "So, dumb as bricks, it is," Casey said with a wink. Evie smacked his arm again as Cristina laughed. When Cristina went to get some coffee, Casey leaned in close. "Where's Finn at?"
"He went down to the Fishery. Ben, another sprite, usually shows up to play with Paolo, remember Toby's cousin? He'll show up for dinner."
Casey nodded and sat back in his seat. "So. Ancient ruins, huh? I guess you really did like Classics."
Evie scowled at him. "Of course I did. I didn't choose it just to piss Mama off. I was good at it."
Casey shrugged and glanced down at the dregs of his coffee. "You're good at most things you try to do, Lupe."
Evie gnawed on her lip. "Case… about last night. I shouldn't have said—"
He raised a hand. "Cristina's already coming back. Let's not drag non-family into it."
She scowled harder, but managed to clear it away before Cristina could see it.
"So, Evie, ancient ruins? Didn't you get enough of useless long-dead things in college?"
"You both are the absolute worst." She groaned and slumped over the table as they laughed at her.
After Cristina finished her first cup of coffee, the two of them went to get their things and Evie went to the counter to buy a few thermoses of more coffee and enough food for lunch. She winced handing over such a large sum of auree after saving for the past few weeks. The price of guests was high.
"Aw, I wish I could come, too. It's not fair that Selena gets the whole day off to go," Maya whined as she handed over the thermoses. Yolanda was already cooking up a storm, humming loudly and slightly off-tune.
"I'm pretty sure she works most the night to make up for it," Evie pointed out. "I promise, next time we go climbing through the mines, we'll bring you, too."
Maya wrinkled her nose thoughtfully. "I dunno if I'd like that, though. Maybe just let me know if you wanna get something to eat together!" She clapped her hands together and twisted at the waist as she smiled brightly.
"You got it."
"Oh, I gotta go clean Dr. Jones' room while he's out. Tell Casey that I'm glad he liked my breakfast!" Maya grabbed a bucket and an armload of supplies and bounced away. Evie blinked and stared after her.
"He liked what?" Evie shook her head. She must've heard that wrong.
Thanks to no one wanting to try out the mine cart— Casey might've been game if Cristina and Selena hadn't cut in with their reasonableness— the foursome had to take the long way around to Garmon. Which meant being waved by by almost every townsperson walking along the docks, and every other townsperson enjoying the sunshine along the main drag in Garmon. They didn't make into the Mine until almost noon, Owen laughing at Evie's frazzled expression as her brother and friends teased her.
"How can someone so friendly be so not friendly?" Selena had asked as they made their way to the first Lower floor.
"Lupe doesn't like when people get in the way of her plans," Casey had replied for her.
"Group projects were hell in school," she'd grumbled under her breath. Cristina had almost cried from laughing.
"I'm pretty sure I hated you that entire semester when we shared that Lit class and you were such a control-freak!"
Once they started making their way down into the dark, and ever increasing warmth, of the Mine, though, they had backed off on teasing her. They ooh'ed and ah'ed over crystalline formations and helped hunt down wild mushrooms to sell. Owen and Evie of course did all the heavy hitting and hauling whenever rocks kept them from moving forward, but the others were good about keeping an eye out for ores or 'fuls… and just generally staying out the way and chatting. It was actually really nice to work alongside Owen. He knew the Mines so well, and got them to the next staircase downwards much faster than Evie was used to. She doubted she'd ever be able to remember all the entrances. Every time she stepped into a floor it was as if everything had changed and somehow looked exactly alike. Like a maze that was constantly regenerating. Owen just chuckled when she told him that, accompanied with a genuine compliment on his sense of direction.
"I swear they'd be whining and complaining for the past ten floors if you weren't leading the way, Owen. Thanks so much for agreeing to play tour guide," Evie said earnestly. He rubbed the side of his nose with his thumb, not caring (or maybe not noticing) that he smudged dark clay over his freckled skin.
"I've been doin' this my whole life, almost. My parents lived in Castanet, too, yanno, 'til the Lighthouse stopped workin' way back when. They decided to retire t'Florida, but Gramps ain't gonna leave his smithy 'til he dies with a hammer in his hand. I know that's what I want, too," Owen said with a shrug.
"That's an odd thing to walk in on you saying. You want to die with a hammer in your hand?" Cristina repeated with a quirk of her lips. Owen laughed again.
"Never wanted nuthun more than t'be a blacksmith. My mom still does a bit, but it's mostly just odds and bobs for fun. Sells 'em on etsy or whatever t'take my dad out on a cruise," Owen said without shame.
"Oh, a cruise? I've heard of those! Have you been on one? I thought about running away on a cruise liner, they pay good money for entertainers, don't they?" Selena asked, wide- and shiny-eyed.
"I wouldn' know. I get lotsa pictures from my folks, but I ain't never been on one. Never wanted t'leave Castanet," Owen said with a shrug. "And I get seasick, anyways."
"I've been on a cruise. It was was pretty nice. I liked the islands we stopped at more than staying on the boat, though," Cristina said.
"Hey, is it twentieth floor? I see light down there," Casey interrupted, halfway down the staircase and hidden behind a boulder.
"I've never been down this far… Owen?"
"Yeah, should be. Careful, man, the wood's worn down," Owen called, hurrying after Casey.
Cristina leaned in close to Evie and Selena. "Owen's a total sweetheart. He's been going out of his way to take care of us."
"Did you see when he just lifted me outta the way of that gas? It's too bad he isn't that light on his feet when he dances," Selena said with a guilty little giggle.
"I saw that! If he weren't looking so taken these days, my heart would've doki-doki'd," Evie agreed, snorting on laughter.
"Doki doki? Wait, isn't that that girly manga thing?" Selena asked curiously. "I went to an all-girls' boarding school until I was almost eighteen. We read a lot of those in the dorms after lights out."
"Yeah, this nerd had a bunch of incomplete series. It drove me crazy! How hard is it to finish buying a set?" Cristina exclaimed.
"Sometimes the store didn't have them!" Evie protested. She grinned over at Selena conspiratorially. "Or I'd just read a few volumes in the store when I was low on cash, then forget to buy them the next time I went. Yo, watch your head."
The three women followed Owen and Casey down onto the twentieth, and the niggles of concern Evie had been harboring evaporated when Selena and Cristina stepped off the stairs and saw the vast room. Evie glanced around, her own heart beating wildly and her mouth dry with excitement. As the Classics major, you could choose a track that would lead you to archaeology or another that led you to straight-up scholarship and reading lots of books. Being the bookworm and low-budget student she was, she went for the latter. But that little voice in her head that chose Classics because it reminded her of some of her favorites movies and myths wanted to jump up and down squealing at the sight.
A tumble of pillars lay over the ground, only a few were left standing and cracking in place. The walls were unnaturally smooth, the bricks fitted together without even mortar she realized as she let her fingers stroke over ancient stone. The long faded pictures had been painted, or even stained, onto the stone and were impossible to make out. Evie could see the repetition of certain symbols or shapes, but not enough to make sense of them. If she even could.
"Over here!" Owen's voice echoed through the cavernous chamber. Cristina, Selena, and Evie darted around or over the smooth, white pillars to see Casey and Owen crouched over a jumble of rock and stone. "Look here, ya see the pictures? It's prob'ly the best saved bits. You can actually make out some letters, there. Dunno what they say, but Gramps told me they're just like the carvings on the mountainside. Just look like scribbles t'me."
The three women knelt down close, all holding their breath for some inane reason, and squinted in the dim light. Then, Owen pulled out a flashlight and shined it over where he was pointing. Evie's butt hit stone.
"Oh," she gasped, eyes wide enough to hurt.
Those were the same exact kind of 'scribbles' the tablet Dr. Jones gave her had. And the same kind that were copied into Gill's notebook he'd shown her ages ago. In the corner of the stone, where the writings ended, was a faint drawing of what was undoubtedly the Harvest Goddess. The shimmering blue-green of the paint was stark against the dark stone. Across the expanse of it, on the other side of the writing, was some of another figure, but painted in a blinding reddish orange. There wasn't enough left to make out the features, or even the body type, not even if this figure had wings… but she just just barely make out the words 'on the mount'.
She leaned closer, heart hammering in her ears and black spots dancing in her vision, and touched the letters with trembling fingers. The song of Five… on the mount…
"—pe? Lupe!"
Rough hands grabbed her just as she lost the fight with gravity. She saw stone just a hair's breadth from her nose— oh no, that's gonna hurt— and then those hands had her yanked back to safety and the smell of sweat and soot. She gasped, then gulped in air, and leaned against Owen's broad chest.
"S-sorry, sorry. I don't know what happened," Evie slurred. She suddenly felt so dizzy.
"You just stopped breathing! And you all but pushed me and Selena outta the way!" Cristina exclaimed. She pulled Evie away from Owen and frantically searched Evie's face while her hands patted up and down her arms, shoulders, and face. Then, she scowled and shook Evie lightly. "You scared the hell out of me!"
"Us. You kept muttering something," Selena added, looking shaken and rubbing her own arms as if she were cold. Which was impossible with the amount of humidity and steam in the air this far down.
"Sorry, really, I don't even know," Evie broke off and rubbed her forehead. "I have a killer headache."
"Mebbe it's time t'eat then. I get kinda dizzy when I work too long, 'specially this close t'the bottom floor," Owen suggested, still worriedly looking over Evie's grey face.
"Yeah, it's pretty late. Let's set up," Cristina agreed, helping Evie to her feet as Casey came up to her other side.
"We'll sit over there. It looks like it used to be a stage or something," Selena said, taking Evie's admittedly heavy rucksack with a grunt and shaking arms. Owen quickly took the other side and lugged it over, while Casey and Cristina fussed over Evie.
"You sure you're okay, Lupe? You should drink some water," Casey said in low, anxious Spanish. His warm hand pressed to her forehead and Evie irritably smacked it away.
"I'm fine, just a headache. I'll be right as rain in two shakes," Evie promised, rubbing her own forehead with a frown.
"I might have some aspirin in your bag. I'll grab a water, too. Don't be a dick to your brother," Cristina ordered, then hurried away.
"Too late for that, eh, little sister?" Casey chuckled thinly.
"Hey, Case… wait, I should—" Evie started, grabbing his arm.
"Don't wanna hear it," Casey interrupted brusquely. His eyes searched her face a moment later, that concern already creeping back into his gaze. "Was that… fairy stuff just now?"
Evie hesitated, but sighed in defeat and nodded. "Yeah. Pretty sure. That's some old writing, and the Harvest Goddess was painted on that stone. Maybe it used to be an altar or something."
"You think they came all the way down here for church?" Casey asked incredulously. Evie shrugged and huffed.
"Heck if I know."
The sound of footsteps met everyone's ears, and they all looked towards the stairs leading upwards. They all jumped like startled cats when the voice came from behind them instead.
"It took you long enough! Do you know how long we've been waiting?" exclaimed an annoyed and strangely accented voice.
"Vi—! Witch Princess?!" Evie yelped, barely catching her slip as she turned to see Phoebe and Vivi walked up.
"We were having a fine time looking around. She showed me a passageway I'd never found before," Phoebe assured them quickly, with an exasperated look at Vivi, who sniffed and refused to recant. Of course.
"Well, it's not like you mortals know half as much about this old place as I do. It was old when I was young, but my grandmother knew it well," Vivi said with a elegant wave of her hand.
"Wait… wait. Go back to the Witch Princess part," Cristina interrupted, utterly baffled. "Is that your name, or are you really a witch and a princess?"
"Yes," Vivi said snootily.
Cristina scowled and Casey grinned his puzzled but 'I have no idea what's going on, so I'm polite on default' grin. Mama would be proud, Evie thought. Phoebe glanced away, pressing her fingertip to the bridge of her glasses as her shoulders shook.
"Um… I didn't know Castanet had a princess…" Selena said hesitantly, her eyebrow going up. "I did know about the Wizard, so I guess a Witch makes sense. Do you tell love fortunes, too?"
"Of course not!" Vivi said with a stamp of her foot. "That's complete twaddle. Potions, that's my specialty. Potions and warding sigils."
"You're… not serious? You can't actually do… magic?" Casey said slowly.
"What do you mean there's a Wizard? Like… 'you're a wizard, Harry Potter' wizard?" Cristina demanded.
"Harry Potter?" Vivi repeated, frowning and confused. "I've never heard that name. Are they a new family?"
"Okay, so, before this gets any wilder," Evie interrupted when he realized neither Phoebe nor Owen would help out. Both of them seemed to barely be keeping in their laughter at the out-of-towners' expense. She quickly introduced everyone. Casey and Cristina were still staring, dumbfounded, and Vivi was glaring down her cute button-nose at them, but she did magnanimously agree to allow them to call her 'V'. Phoebe and Vivi put their own food in with the bigger group's, and settled in for lunch.
"We just went by the hot springs to make sure it was still there, as well as hot enough," Phoebe told them as they passed around a tupperware of cherry tomatoes and sweet corn.
"I told her it would be fine. This is a sacred place. Alana's protection is still strong this deep," Vivi said.
"Yes, but since I have no idea who Alana is, that didn't really mean much," Phoebe pointed out. Vivi pursed her lips and squinted at Phoebe.
"You should've just trusted me."
"But then I would've missed out on that face you're making now," Phoebe replied, lips twitching at the corner. The smirk grew wider when Vivi huffed and blushed bright pink.
"Impossible," the witch muttered before tearing into her chicken sandwich.
"I was gonna look, too, while everyone was lookin' 'round here. Never know with these rockfalls," Owen said. Vivi scowled at him as she chewed fiercely.
"I remember when Evie was looking into moving here, about the hot springs cooling. I thought it was kinda strange," Cristina said.
"Strange, but true. Or well, it used to be. I can't explain it, but all the hot springs around Castanet are hotter than ever. It'd been lovely to come back down here again," Phoebe answered. "I don't get to often, I'm usually too invested in searching for Rare Ore veins, but it's nice when I make the time for it."
"I've always wanted to go to a hot springs, but my mom always said I was being silly. I grew up on a tropical island, why would I need more hot water?" Selena said with an eyeroll. "I liked the idea of going to Japan or Turkey or even Iceland! Wouldn't it be wonderful to bathe in a hot springs while watching the Northern Lights?" She sighed wistfully, her purple eyes dark and dreamy.
"I hate the cold, no way, but Turkey sounds interesting. I've always wondered what the food was like," Cristina said thoughtfully.
"I wouldn't mind going to Istanbul. I mean, it was Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire and later New Rome. I bet there are remnants of the Empire everywhere, not to mention the Hagia Sophia was an architectural marvel of its time and for centuries afterwards," Evie babbled, eyes lit up with her old Classics-fervor. "There were a bunch of study abroad trips, but I couldn't even afford to go to Rome…or Athens, and if I was going anywhere, it had to be one of them!"
"Ruins are great and all," Casey said, stretching out his feet and leaning back on his hands. "But I don't know. I'd rather see things like Tokyo, or really Rio de Janiero and Madrid or Barcelona. Go to a FIFA World Cup, or Carnaval, or Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Things in the now, with lots of people having a good time."
"You and Aron talked about going to the World Cup every year."
"It's every four years," Cristina corrected dryly. Evie waved a hand carelessly.
"I've been to a few places. I managed to do a few study abroad trips. Selling some of my inventions helped me get the money for it," Phoebe told them, taking off her glasses to wipe them clean. "I liked it, but I preferred the networking and studying aspects to the sightseeing."
Owen whistled through his teeth lowly and then shrugged. "I dunno, never had much itchy feet myself. Goin' over t'the city every week is already a pain. Maybe I wouldn' mind seein' a few places nearby, goin' campin' where them huge trees are or seeing the Grand Canyon, but I dunno, I wouldn' regret it if I never saw 'em."
"I agree with this one," Vivi said with a negligent gesture of her hand towards Owen. "Who needs to leave Castanet when it has everything you could want?"
"Everything? What exactly does a Witch Princess want that this place has?" Casey asked.
"It's nice, but it's pretty small," Cristina agreed.
Vivi plucked a blackberry from the tupperware it was in, ate it with gusto, and then shrugged at the two waiting expectantly from her. "It's mine. Every rock and tree and person, every curve of the road and shadow of the mountain, I belong here. I was important to the community once, people used to come to me for help and advice, and the forest thrives because I'm there. Leaving here… would be like leaving behind my name and everything that I am."
Silence reigned for a moment. None of them had expected such a poignant response from the woman still lounging as indolently as an ancient Roman on the old stone dais.
"You don't have to use past tense, V," Phoebe said quietly. Vivi glanced towards her, startled. "You've only hit a brief snag. You'll be able to create things like you used to."
Something soft and sad flickered through those pumpkin-orange eyes, there and gone again when she tossed another blackberry into her mouth and looked away.
"Well, I, for one, don't intend to have my identity be stuck in one place. Not yet. I've just gotten started seeing the world, so I can't stop now," Selena stated.
"I've never really thought about going anywhere. For family or with family, yeah, but I've never thought about going somewhere for myself," Casey admitted.
"Of course not. Fuenteses stay home and help out in the business," Evie said in a low, bitter voice. "Anything else means you're no Fuentes at all." Casey's mouth wrenched open, but Evie got to her feet and walked away. "I'm going to go change. For the spring."
"Uh right, me, too," Cristina said hurriedly.
Everyone quickly went to change out of sight, but when Casey moved to take off his shirt, Selena stopped him with a hand on his arm.
"I… I don't know what happened just now," she started slowly, her eyes glancing to where Cristina and Evie had went, "but it seemed important?"
"Just… family stuff. It's nothing," Casey said uncomfortably. Selena nodded slowly.
"Okay… did Evie tell you how we met?"
Casey's eyebrows jumped up. "Was there a story to that?"
Selena laughed airily. "You could say that. I used her first trip to Toucan as a cover to sneak on board the ferry and run away from home."
"Huh. Well. I think if you'd asked her, she probably would've helped you sneak on. That's her kinda thing," Casey said with a wry grimace.
"Oh, she did help me, in a way. She told me she gave up everything to come here, because all those things she had didn't feel right anymore," Selena said with a little smile. "Maybe… you should start thinking about if everything you have now still feels right to you, too. Maybe you need to look for your own Castanet."
Casey swallowed hard. "I… I never said anything about feeling unhappy or not right or—"
"You didn't have to," Selena said, shrugging. "I saw your face when you said you never thought about seeing the world before. You looked exactly like I used to, that whole year I was stuck on that damn island." Her voice heated, eyes flashing, until she was able to control herself again. She inhaled and exhaled slowly. "A cage is a still cage, no matter how much you love it."
She patted his chest over his heart, and then sashayed away. Even in Kathy's rough denim and old flannel, she walked like she was still layered in silk. Casey rubbed the back of his neck and scowled. She thinks just cuz she and Lupe weren't happy, then I can't be. That's not how it works. I like my life just fine! He hurried to get changed and find his way to the spring.
When Casey showed up, only Selena was still missing. The hot spring was pretty small, and smelled a little like rotten eggs— It's sulfur, Evie.—, but Evie couldn't help but sink low and groan peacefully. The heat was melting her bones, her muscles, all that knotted up stress, right down into jelly. She really needed to take more time to visit the one on her own land more often. Especially after spending a few hours on her farm plot.
She squinted open one eye to acknowledge Casey's entrance, but didn't bother speaking. Phoebe and Cristina were discussing classes and Vivi was arguing hotly with Owen about whether or not a wall in the ruins needed to be knocked down. Casey would join in somewhere with his usual aplomb. She just wanted to pretend like she didn't care how content and happy he was being the apple of Mama's eye. Or how easily it came to him to be the sort of dependable and family-first kind of son. She already knew she was the selfish one, the one who was never content.
She didn't want the petty envy building up inside her to ruin the Wish Gill had given her. Evie pressed her hands to her heart and blew bubbles in the hot, sulfuric water.
"So, there's a circus coming? When is it? … Evie, hey, Evie, I think we'll be in town for the circus. Is that something we should see?" Cristina asked, splashing at Evie to get her attention.
Evie shrugged without opening her eyes. "The ringmaster is… kinda a dork, but he genuinely loves and takes care of his animals. It's no worse than a zoo, I guess," she said with a little frown. She mentally hoped those three animals she and Finn found and sent home had made it safely. It still seemed so risky.
Also, do giraffes actually eat fish? That was weird, right?
"Oh, the circus! Kathy and Renee were tellin' me about that," Selena said as she approached. She dipped her toes in the water first, then squeezed in between Owen and Phoebe. "I've always wanted to see a lion. I like reptiles more, but lions are fun, too."
"Reptiles?" Phoebe repeated with a mildly surprised look at Selena. "Most people steer clear of those. Even Renee, the animal-lover, gets… well, squeaky around lizards. Something about them wriggling and moving too fast." She chuckled lightly, a few others joining her.
Selena just shrugged, smirking cockily. "But doesn't it fit my aesthetic perfectly? I'm," she paused to dramatically toss her hair over her shoulder and fluttered her lashes, "exotic."
Everyone laughed outright and Selena preened under the attention.
"Maybe I should ask that ringmaster advice about travelling. He must have a lot of things to say," Selena mused when the laughter died down.
"I think most of his advice will have to do with animal customs laws or whatever it takes to drag lions and elephants around the country," Cristina pointed out. Selena pouted, but conceded with a little nod.
"Why does it matter?" Vivi said sharply. "Travelling the world, it's expensive and uncomfortable. It's just silly, childish daydreams. Can't you just be happy with what you have?" she asked in a tone dripping in disdain.
Everyone in the little spring tensed, each with their own reasons. Even Owen shifted awkwardly making the water ripple and slosh around his burly shoulders. Various warning or annoyed glares were aimed at Vivi, while they all occasionally flicked glances towards Selena's down-turned face. Evie felt her own ire rising, feeling cornered and guilty at a question that felt just as pointed at her as at Selena. But then she got a good look at Vivi's face. While her tone and words were 'judgey' (and outright rude), her lips were quirked just barely at one corner and her eyes were calculating. And staring right back at Evie and causing her defensive and angry words to stumble and choke in her throat. Slowly, she tilted her head and frowned at Vivi, who just continued to smirk enigmatically.
"V…" Phoebe admonished softly. The witch merely sniffed haughtily and rolled her eyes.
"Maybe it is a silly, childish dream," Selena said suddenly, making everyone jerk towards her. She and Vivi looked at each other, the younger girl fierce and the witch seemingly bored. "But it's my silly, childish dream and it makes me happy."
"I don't think it's childish or silly," Cristina said with a frown.
"Neither do I," Casey said quietly, looking towards Evie. Evie's eyes widened slightly at the serious and almost sad expression on his face.
"I don't just want to travel. I want to dance. I want to see the world and dance, and share how much I love dancing and how happy it makes me with everyone I meet," Selena added with a determined gleam in her purple eyes and a shining, excited smile on her face. She looked somehow girlish and older.
Thud. Thump.
Heated air rushed down Evie's throat as she gasped, near silently, her whole body jerking and her hand pressed hard to her chest. Where Gill's Wish rested, suddenly it was heavier, fuller, hotter. Tears pricked at Evie's eyes as she grinned behind her trembling hand.
Wish number 5. Thank you, Selena Toucan.
"You're doin' a good job here with that, Selly," Owen was saying as he gave Selena a one-armed hug. Selena giggled and snuggled closer, looking shy and pleased as Phoebe quickly agreed.
"Lupe?" Casey whispered, leaning in closer and brushing a wet hand over the barrettes still holding back her curls.
She slipped her eyes closed and shook her head. "'m fine, just fine," she whispered.
Across the way, Selena was laughing and tugging at Owen, trying to convince him to dance with her right then. Cristina was cheering them on and Phoebe was chuckling behind her hand, neither helping nor hindering Selena's enthusiasm. Vivi was smiling, eyes glancing between the shenanigans around her and the twins leaning their heads close together.
"Lupe, if you're fine, why are you crying?" Casey whispered back in Spanish. Evie shook her head again. "Hey, look, I get it now. Why you came here, why you're staying. I know, bla bla, fairies, but… it's like Selena, yes? This place, these people, even that guy, they make you happy." He rubbed the back of his neck with a wince.
"Case…" Evie took a small breath and, in halting and terrible Spanish, said, "I shouldn't have said all that. Especially what I said about Toby… and you. It was mean and a lie. Kinda." She unconsciously mirrored his action and rubbed the back of her neck. "I don't hate being your twin, your sister, a Fuentes, whatever. I just hated not knowing me. I'm just trying to be happy, but… I don't actually know if this place is my answer. But… it feels like… right now…maybe it is." She smiled and glanced towards Owen and Selena and Cristina, who were clapping and dancing in their bathing suits, dripping steaming water everywhere and egging each other on.
"Yeah, and I shouldn't have made you feel like crap about it," Casey said guiltily. "I just miss it, the way we were when we were kids. Whenever I turn around you're trying your best to be as far away from it, from me, as possible. I'm tired of seeing you chase your dreams, without me… and also because it reminds me that I don't have any." Casey laughed awkwardly. "I just do what Mama tells me. I love being home, I even love the work, but sometimes I wish I were more like you… or Selena, with your big, brave dreams."
Thrum.
Evie gasped and grasped Casey's arm. The feeling was there and gone again in a flash, but… just for a moment, a third Wish beat in her heart.
"I think you give me too much credit," Evie said hoarsely with a wavering grin at the suddenly bewildered Casey. "I don't have any true Wish or dream, but… you do. Almost. You're a lot closer to it than me."
"What?"
"Hey, you two! Stop being weird and anti-social and let's show this gringo how to dance," Cristina interrupted. Evie and Casey looked up to see Cristina yanking and tugging Owen around in a horrible facsimile of a merengue. Selena had pulled Phoebe out of the water, Vivi standing nearby and scowling at their feet as Selena led a stiff Phoebe through the steps. Phoebe was almost, though not quite, as bad as Owen.
The twins laughed, glanced at each other, shrugged, and got out to do their best. Evie might've been pretty terrible at Spanish, and home cooking, but she'd always loved dancing at family get-togethers. This Mama could be proud of.
…
Serenity Farm was glistening with the morning's watering as Evie looked over her little kingdom. Fortunately, the mining trip the day before had tired both Cris and Casey out and they had begged off going to Toucan too early. Even Selena had taken the evening off of work to recover. Owen and Evie had done most of the work, but she remembered her first few days trying to navigate down there— avoiding geysers and weak floors, climbing over rocks, and running from gasses. The ruins and amazing mineral rich hot spring had been worth it, luckily, but she doubted Cris or Casey (or Selena) would ask for a repeat.
Thanks to their early night, though, Evie had managed to get up early and had time to go foraging for herbs and wild mushrooms. The heavy heat of Gill and Selena's Wishes accompanied her the entire morning, and she couldn't help but hum as she peeked under bushes and behind trees. Occasionally her hand would press between her breasts to feel the solid thump of her heart and the resulting echo of the Wishes.
"You're really happy today! I don't get how you like mining so much," Finn noted, all but floating lazily by.
"I'm feeling pretty lucky now that I've already got the next two Wishes. And I know I complain a lot, but I'm glad Cris and Casey are here, Cris especially," Evie said with a little chuckle. She was feeling especially light after that brief heart-to-heart with Casey in the spring. There was more to say, obviously, but some of her guilt had receded just a bit whenever she repeated his words to herself. "Let's get these all to Dr. Wang and spend the day at Toucan. You ready to enjoy the beach?"
"Yeah! Let's bring lots and lots of pineapples home!" Finn cheered.
"It's always food with you. How are you so tiny when you should be the size of a basketball?"
"What's a basketball?"
Laughing, Evie got back to her feet. Just beyond the frame of her glasses, she saw movement and she glanced up the hill towards the bridge coming from Garmon. She saw a glimpse of black and silver and the pointed silhouette of a wide-brimmed hat. Despite the overwhelming need to stare open- and fish-mouthed (two sightings in as many days?!), Evie managed to smile and wave genially.
"Vivi! Are you on your way to Fugue?" she asked as soon as the Witch Princess got close enough.
"No, I'm here to see you," Vivi said. She stopped and propped one fist on her hip. She bit the tip of her thumb, a tiny frown marring her perfect brow. With a sudden and blazing fierceness, Vivi lifted her bright eyes to Evie. "It's time to tell you the full story."
"The full—?" Evie started.
Vivi took a deep breath and cut Evie off with a sharp movement of her hand. "I'm going to tell you about the curse. So stop interrupting me and invite me into your home."
Evie turned to Finn and stared with her eyebrows high. Finn gazed back with eyes just as wide and bewildered as hers must be.
"Uh… sure… I can do that…?" Evie said, turning back to Vivi and gesturing for the witch to proceed her towards the house. Her heart, and the Wishes therein, thudded uncomfortably before beginning to race with adrenaline. The curse…
A/N: I think I still have TWO MINUTES of Dec 26th! so HA! Here it is, just barely on time lolol. Lastly, BIG BIG THANKS to Keto, my bestie, for jumping in to beta for me and catching a bunch of typos 8DD. I hope y'all are ready for the next chapter: Curse Cast over Castanet. Next Update by Jan 14th 2020! My birthday will have already passed lol. (but I'mma try for earlier!)PS The curls comment Evie makes is almost verbatim what my friend says about her naturally curly hair lol