The Iron Thorn - Caitlin Kittredge [125]
Tremaine took my shoulder and led me back to the hut and the hexenring where Dean waited. He pushed me over the ring of toadstools and I shoved the brass bell into my pocket. The last thing I saw before the ring closed was Tremaine watching me, the wolf’s smile still on his face.
The Enchantment’s End
MY FATHER’S ATTIC room appeared around me again by degrees, as the enchantment of the hexenring slipped away. Dean grabbed me by the shoulders. “Aoife. Aoife, what did he do to you?”
I blinked at him. “Nothing. He did …” I breathed deep to compose myself. “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“Did he hurt you?” Dean gave me a shake. I winced as he grazed the shoggoth bite.
“Not any worse than you are right this moment.” I shrugged Dean’s hands off. They were too heavy, too hot. The spot where Tremaine had touched my face was cold—felt brittle, as if it could break.
“Doll, you look like something chewed you up and spat you out the other end.” Dean moved my hair out of my face, his fingers rougher than Tremaine’s, warmer and livelier.
“I think I want to go downstairs,” I muttered. I wasn’t up to reassuring Dean I was all right. I wasn’t sure I was all right.
Dean opened the hatch and gave me his hand to help me down the ladder. “Are you sure nothing’s wrong?”
“Honestly?” I paused on the bottom rung. “I’m more concerned with you. You were trapped in that ring.… I thought you might have lost years when he took me out.…”
Dean put his hands on my waist and lifted me the last foot to the floor. “I told you they lie, Aoife. Besides, it takes more than the Folk flashing magic to stir me up.”
“Still.” I smoothed a speck of dirt from the Thorn Land off Dean’s shirt, his skin beneath warming my fingers. “I’m sorry you had to see that.” I didn’t want Dean to see the ugly consequences of my Weird. If he did he’d give me a wide berth, and I didn’t want Dean to be gone. I needed him there.
Dean nudged me. “Forget about that. Come with me.”
He took me to the back parlor and stood me in the center of the room while he flipped the switch on the hi-fi to start the aether warming up. I regarded him suspiciously. After what Tremaine had threatened me with, I wasn’t in the mood to switch back to cheerful.
“I tinkered with it while you were gone,” Dean told me. “The hi-fi. You can get a little more than static and the Miskatonic U station now.”
“Cal will be thrilled,” I said. “But what’s it to do with me?”
“Listen,” Dean said, “I know that what happened is twisting you up. Twisted me up, and I’m fairly sure I’ve seen a lot more oddness in my life than you have.”
He turned the hi-fi’s dial until a wax record scratched and dropped over the aether, burbling pop music. “You’re not gonna think straight until you calm down. So will you trust me for a few minutes? I want to help.”
The song continued, and Dean held out his hand. “Now or never, princess.”
“Never,” I said, darting out of Dean’s reach. His mouth turned down, but I held firm. “I don’t dance.”
“And I aim to rectify that situation,” Dean said. “Please, Aoife. Trust me.”
I hesitated. Tremaine had shaken me terribly. I was getting better at not showing it, but my stomach was churning and I couldn’t stop thinking about his last words.
Dean was right. I wasn’t going to figure anything out in my state.
I jumped as Dean slipped his arm around my waist. “Here we go,” he said. “Put your other hand on my shoulder.”
“Dean,” I said as we swung in a wide, parabolic circle. “This is ridiculous.”
“Listen,” Dean said. “Close your eyes and listen. Let yourself move.”
My steps smoothed out as I obeyed him, though I still kept a death grip on his hand and shoulder. And just like a switch flipping over, we were dancing in time, moving by turns around the parlor. It was easier to focus on my feet than the storm inside me. I felt a tiny bit less terrible.
“It’s, well … not so bad,” I conceded.
“And?” Dean gave me a small smile.
“I might like it,” I admitted.