The statue was about half completed. Harvey was working in the mines and Nick was studying at the Academy. This left Ambrose and Sabrina with having a late night chat session in Sabrina's room.
"So the statue is coming along?" Sabrina asked as she sat on her bed.
"Yes it cousin, better than expected," replied Ambrose in the corner armchair, "and how is your project coming along?"
Sabrina gave a quizzical look.
"The you and Nick project," Ambrose replied.
Sabrina smiled and flipped onto her stomach.
"Me and Nick are good. When I'm with him…-,"
Ambrose watched and listened attentively.
"-I feel right. Like I'm in the right place."
"So what's the issue?"
"I don't know….it almost feels like we plateaued. Like we're just going through the rhythms. If I feel this way about Nick why hasn't our relationship evolved?"
Ambrose sat digesting her words then asked, "Have you and Nicholas…went to the next level?"
Sabrina blushed and bit her lip, "We've…went places. Though I don't think that's it."
Suddenly Sabrina lit up. Ambrose could see an idea washing over her.
Ambrose said slowly, cautiously, asked, "What is it cousin…."
Sabrina sat up, "Is there some type of spell or ritual we can do? I mean, some type of scrying spell or divination that can help clarify our subconscious?"
Ambrose flinched, "What do you mean our?"
Sabrina grinned, "Ambrose. How long have we lived together. I can tell something has been on your mind."
Ambrose sat still. He was surprised that it was noticeable. He had been mulling over his experience with Harvey. Guilt, confusion and intrigue weighed on him about his seeming attraction to his cousin's ex-partner. Yet he could use that. It wasn't subconscious at all but increasingly conscious so there was no worry of exposure from a spell or ritual targeting the subconscious.
"Well okay cousin. I think I have just the ritual."
Moments later downstairs in the kitchen Ambrose and Sabrina collected a small cauldron and filled it with water. Ambrose placed two black candles on each side of the cauldron and lit them.
"Okay cousin. We will each dip our index finger in the cauldron. We will repeat the incantation 'Qui sub lumine mentis. Se patefaciat' three times then snap."
"Then what…," Sabrina asked.
"We will see," Ambrose replied.
They stuck their fingers into the cauldron and began the incantation. The candles began to dance and flicker. Both flames shot up a feet in height startling both Ambrose and Sabrina then returned to their normal sizes. They nodded to each other and removed their fingers. Seconds passed and nothing happened.
"Ambrose, I'm not sure it-,"
Suddenly the water in the cauldron began to churn and a moon like image appeared in the center.
The white illumination shifted into red, then blue then an array colors that swirled into the image of a Jaguar in a day lit jungle.
The Jaguar ran through the woods swiftly, weaving through the trees in an agile display. Another Jaguar appeared and ran along with the other. The Jaguars began to run up a hill as day turned into night.
The Jaguars began to shake in discomfort, their bodies bulging, morphing. A scream ripped from Sabrina when the face of a snarling Jaguar filled the entire cauldron. Both of the Spellman's flew back on their butts when a fountain of water erupted from the cauldron, it spinning into the ceiling with force.
Sabrina picked herself and found an empty cauldron. Ambrose joined her. They looked at each other with looks of astonishment.
Sabrina, fresh out a shower, exited the bathroom wearing a light pink robe and a white towel wrapped around her head. She made her way to Ambrose's room who was lying on his bed in thought. Sabrina leaned on his doorway.
"What…do you think that meant Ambrose?"
Ambrose let out a breath through his nose.
"I'm not positive cousin."
"There were two Jaguars. Do you think they could have represented us?"
Ambrose pursed his lips. A sting of anxiety shot through him.
"Possibly…." Ambrose replied.
Sabrina nodded, "I'm going to go check out the library at the academy. I'm sure some books go in depth on the symbolism of Jaguars."
"That sounds like a plan cousin. Now, I think I'm going get some rest."
"Okay Ambrose, goodnight."
Sabrina left Ambrose with a whirlpool of feelings. Why were there two jaguars? Ambrose felt like one did represent him but why when his feelings for Harvey were rattling his conscious mind? As Ambrose dozed to sleep the anticipation for his and Harvey's next meeting hummed within him and admittedly he couldn't help but savor it.
