Seth yelled out in pain as Sadie fell to her knees.
The flames died down, leaving the earth scorched. She knew it would never regrow.
“Seth,” Sadie whispered. His name had barely left her lips when he was blown back outside the circle of salt and collapsed to the ground.
Despite the echoing ring pounding through her ears and the lightning-like pain searing through her body, Sadie fell forward, grabbing Seth’s shoulders, cradling his head, calling his name. The ground was still smoking, its acrid stench making Sadie gag. And then Sage and Florence were there on either side of Seth.
They each took a hand in theirs, and they closed their eyes. The harsh wind still blew, but the connection points of their skin emanated a heat so strong and sweet it smelled like hope and remembrance. They were siphoning their energy into him to bring him back.
Sadie could barely breathe, the iron cage around her chest constricting until her skin prickled in pain. The aunts and Uncle Brian were still linked, their eyes closed, heads tilted heavenward, mouths moving in silent prayers and spells.
And there was nothing she could do. Her magic gone. No spark remaining. Florence held her tight as she sobbed, silent and watchful as she held Seth’s hand.
And finally, Seth opened his eyes. They were clear.
He looked around. At the charred spot in the center.
“I think we destroyed the Death Star,” he choked out, and Sadie laughed through her sob as she threw her arms around him.
“Did it work?” Sadie asked, looking to Florence, who she suddenly realized was ghostly white and looked on the edge of collapse. Anne rushed to her before Sadie could, sliding a strong arm around her sister and holding her up.
“I’m okay,” Florence said with a wan smile, reaching a hand out to Sage, who looked shaken but healthy and relieved.
“It worked,” Seth answered for her with wonder in his eyes and awe in his voice. “The darkness—it’s faded away. I can feel the control now. I can even feel … the earth?” he said questioningly. “It’s humming. I can feel the energy, the living things.” He put his palm to the ground and then slowly pulled it up. Out of the earth came a single yellow daisy. “That’s why the garden always kicked me out as a kid,” he whispered. “Because of the curse.”
“Great.” Sadie sighed. “Now you’ll have another thing to be better at than me.”
Seth laughed shakily.
“It’s over,” Seth said in wonderment.
“It’s over,” Sadie echoed. And she cried. From relief and exhaustion and guilt that she’d lost her magic but saved her brother. There was an emptiness she’d never felt before. The hum of the earth that Seth had mentioned, that she’d always been able to feel, had vanished. She reached for the light she’d always held inside her, that spark of magic, and came up empty.
“Hey now, Ugly Duckling,” Seth teased, pulling her into a hug, “it’s going to be alright.”
“I can’t feel it,” she sobbed. “It’s really gone.”
“I’m sorry.” His whisper sounded pained.
“I’m happy. I really am. I would do it again—it’s just … I feel lost.”
“I promise I’ll be here to help you find yourself again. You’ve always been so much more than your magic, Sadie. But I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
She leaned against his shoulder, and he kept his arm around her as they walked back to the car.
“Thank you,” Sadie said to Aunt Anne. “For bringing everyone.”
“Wouldn’t miss it, baby,” said Kay.
“Who needs a margarita?” Uncle Brian asked, and Sadie laughed through her tears.
“Hot chocolate for you, little miss,” said Tava, giving Sage a squeeze.
“You go ahead,” Florence said to the group at large. “I need some time here alone. To say my piece and complete the ritual for Julian’s grave. I want to do it by myself. I need to,” she added when Seth opened his mouth to argue. She pulled Sage into a hug and kissed her on the head before turning to Sadie. “Well, honey, you did it. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Sadie swallowed so hard it hurt, but couldn’t stop the tears from coming again. She hugged her mother. Really hugged her for the first time in her life. And doing so made her feel closer to Gigi somehow. “And my golden boy,” Florence continued, pulling Seth into a hug. “You’ve been fighting your demons for so long. You deserve this. Don’t waste it,” she added. “Now, go.”