Witch's Bell Book One

Now she could see the corners jutting out from this picture and fraying like a garment about to fall apart.
    It was just a feeling. But now Ebony had a box to potentially back it up.
    She heard Ben start to make his way towards her. 'I'm going to give you a lift,' he said with a sniff. 'I've heard some of your recent spectacular experiences with public transport, and I'd rather take you home myself.'
    Ebony was torn between the conversation and the overwhelming urge to tear open the box and see what was inside.
    'Whatever you are doing now, can wait until Monday,' Ben cautioned, as if in reply to what Ebony was thinking. 'Right now you should go home and get some rest.'
    Ben finally appeared around the corner, his face a picture of kindness, but determination. He was not in one of those moods where he would back down, Ebony realized as she turned to him, her leg hiding the box.
    It was odd, but even though Ebony had such a strong feeling about Miss Grimshore, she wasn't yet ready to share it with Ben. There was still a large section of her mind that doubted her feeling, that was trying to tell her she was just clutching at the hope she hadn't made a mistake back in that crypt, so that she could fob off dealing with the reality of her punishment.
    That's why she needed time to make her case, as her dad would have no doubt told her. Keep your thoughts in the dark until you know what they'll look like in the light of day.
    'So, you coming?' Ben cast an eye over the files on her desk, then back to her.
    'I have to go to Harry's first,' Ebony smiled politely, trying to damp down the urge to stay here all night and devour this box completely.
    'I figured. The old codger mustn't be too happy with all the time you're spending away from him.'
    'Not too happy at all,' Ebony fixed her bag back onto her shoulder, making it comfortable. 'Okay,' she said with a breath, trying to put the box out of her mind. She'd come back to it first thing on Monday, she assured herself. She might even get here early. 'I'm ready to go.'
    Ben just nodded and led the way.
    ––––––––
    I t didn't take Ebony long to make it back to Harry's. And after she'd plunged a hand into the bowl of sweets on her counter, tossing several to Ben as a thank-you for the lift, she was finally alone again.
    She pottered for several minutes. Tidying up books, and just generally talking to Harry.
    'You wouldn't believe the week I've had, Harry, you just wouldn't believe it,' she picked up a box and shifted it to one side, making a wider avenue for customers to walk towards the red banana lounge at the back of the store. 'It's just been so... different.'
    Harry didn't reply, or perhaps he did, but Ebony couldn't pick up on it any more. If he'd chosen to speak to her through the whirling dust motes sifting through the air – she couldn't hear. If he'd spoken through the creaking old floor boards, once again, she wouldn't be able to make it out.
    She wasn't magical any more.
    No, if Harry wanted to talk to her, he would actually have to speak.
    So Ebony continued on in silence for a while, just pottering while she muttered and sighed to herself. The edge was gone from her week. And even though she still resented it, she was starting to get vaguely used to not having magic. Or rather, she was starting to get used to the feeling. There was still too much to readjust to, too much to experience anew. But the new sensation of being more fragile, well, that was starting to seep into the background a little. And while Ebony was still aware that she didn't have anywhere near the skill or ability she'd once had, the fact was starting to scare her less.
    But still, she felt adrift. Lost in an ocean that was too large, too deep, and too everywhere to get away from. Perhaps a better way to describe her current state was not one of being comfortable with her lot, but one of resignation. She couldn't change it, could she?
    As Ebony leaned down to shove some books onto a shelf, she heard the door open gently, and the bell tinkle several times.
    Confused, Ebony bolted upright. She'd left the closed-sign on, right? And she'd locked the door behind her? Was it Ben, was it her dad?
    Ebony walked carefully into the center of the store, trying to get a better look at who had come through the door. She still had a book in her hands, and was clutching it far tighter than in needed to be held, her knuckles popping up against white flesh.
    'Umm, hello?' someone said from the