The Magician's Witch

Reunions and Rekindlings

About a half hour later, Erik and Eilis got up and got dressed. Erik went to place his mask over his face. Eilis laid a hand on his arm.

"You don't have to do that," she told him gently.

Erik smiled knowingly at her. "I know you can handle my uglier side, but the rest of Paris won't take very kindly to my affliction—especially in broad daylight."

Eilis returned his smile. "That's not what I meant."

She dug through the inner pocket of her purse, pulling out a small diamond, holding it up for Erik to see. Erik looked at her, surprised. Eilis grinned.

"I had a few gems stored in my bag before I was taken from you," she explained. "I kept most of them in a safety deposit box."

Erik took the diamond from between Eilis' fingers, turning it this way and that. He nodded after a moment. "That is...what was the phrase you used to use? A horse of a different color."

Eilis chortled. "You remembered!"

She took the diamond back for a moment, enchanted it, and gave it back to Erik. Erik stared into the depth of the diamond, twisting it counterclockwise. Immediately, the transformation took place; Erik's hair grew out, returning to its usual dark brown, but with flecks of silver in it now. His nose came to a point, his cheeks were thin but not gaunt, and his eyes shone brightly.

Eilis grinned, then pulled him to her, kissing him deeply.

"Mmm...Eilis...if you keep kissing me like this, we will never leave."

"Mmm," Eilis responded. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

Erik chuckled, holding her tightly a moment longer. He sighed and stepped back. "Later," he promised. "Believe me, I am not done with you yet."

Erik assisted Eilis into the gondola he had sitting on the edge of the water, then pushed off from the shore, using a long pole to steer the boat through the murky water.

"How can you see down here," Eilis asked as Erik pushed the boat forward again.

"I have always had keen night vision," Erik responded from behind her. "You know that."

Eilis smiled. "I've always thought you were part feline. No wonder you like cats so much."

Erik laughed softly.

When they got to the stone wall that was Erik's "front door," Erik's pole pushed the button just before the archway, and the wall lowered itself.

"How did you get passed my front door," Erik inquired of Eilis.

"I asked it nicely," Eilis told him simply, shrugging.

"No really," Erik pressed, sounding intrigued.

"You are a magician, Erik. Do you reveal all your secrets?"

There was a pause. Erik huffed, amused. "Touche."

They floated silently over the water, only the sound of the laps slapping the walls as the boat glided past could be heard.

"I thought Caron drove the boat," Eilis teased lightly, referring to the ferryman of the Underworld.

"He has the day off," Erik retorted.

Eilis laughed.

They made it to the far shore. Before Eilis could disembark, Erik sprang lithely out of the boat, picking up the chain and securing it to the bow of the watercraft, then held out his hand to Eilis, helping her out, then pulling the boat further out of the water.