Chapter 5 THE Wizard AT THE DOOR

I forced a smile, walked over to him, and gave his shoulder a little pat.

"This is kind of... better than being an owl. At least you can walk, smile, and go about your daily routine. I've seen plenty of hybrids, so I think you'll be fine..."

He shot me a dangerous glare, and I pressed my lips together.

"Let's try again," I said.

We repeated the instructions. I threw two vanilla seeds at him.

"Abracadabra! Abracadabra! Abracadabra! Turn Calvin back to his normal self!"

This time, there was no smoke. His hands and legs shrank right before my eyes and sprouted brown feathers.

He became an owl again, a proper one this time, with no hybrid parts.

His large eyes widened as he looked down at his body. The disappointment on his face was impossible to miss.

Oh, goodness. Why is the universe treating me this way? How do I turn him back?

I swallowed hard and stepped closer.

"Don't look so disappointed. See, on the bright side, you're a full owl now, not a hybrid," I said, trying to sound like an inspirational speaker.

"Owls are intelligent, sensitive animals and full of surprises, just like you. Did you know they can turn their heads almost all the way around?" I giggled, trying to make it sound encouraging. "And that's not all! They can see clearly in the dark. So why not try adapting to your new form? Think of the benefits. You can twist your neck, walk around..."

"Shut the hell up and turn me back!"

"I can't!" I finally blurted out, cutting him off. "Because I don't know how!"

A slow, disbelieving laugh escaped his beak.

"If this is a joke, stop it. I don't entertain those."

"I'm not joking. I really don't know how to undo the spell," I said, pronouncing every syllable slowly so he'd understand.

Judging by his eyes, he still didn't believe me.

"Look, if this is payback for sending you outside..." His voice dropped. "I'm so... so..."

He choked on the word as though it were forbidden.

"I'm sorry," he finally said. "Please reverse the spell."

I sighed. He still wasn't getting it.

"Pay attention and read my lips," I said.

He tilted his fluffy head, hope shining in his eyes.

"I do not know how to turn you back."

The hope in his eyes turned to fury.

"You must be insane!" he yelled, his voice turning cold. "I think it's high time someone taught you some manners."

He fixed his gaze on me like a man about to commit murder and launched himself off the chair.

My heart skipped a beat. I shut my eyes and braced for impact.

Nothing came.

A minute passed. Still nothing.

I slowly opened my eyes and found him on the floor, struggling to stand on his tiny feet. Every time he tried to take a step, they slipped out from under him.

I burst out laughing before I could stop myself.

He stopped moving.

"If I were you, I'd save your strength and look for a way to fix yourself," I said. "You're a magician, right? You can disappear, appear, make people disappear, and create barriers. You could just reverse the spell yourself, I guess."

I whispered the last part.

"I'm a magician, not a wizard."

My mouth fell open.

"But the things you did earlier..."

"I perform tricks. I don't cast spells."

"Oh," I mouthed.

"Then maybe you should learn to adapt to your new life," I whispered.

Who knew? Maybe this was a sign. Maybe that was why he had no soulmate. Perhaps his missing soulmate was an owl. That would work! I'd simply find him a female owl, bring them together, and my mission would be complete.

"You're insane! Listen carefully. No one leaves this place until I'm back to my real self."

I rolled my eyes. I wished someone would mute him. At least my ears wouldn't suffer so much.

"Fine, do as you please."

I picked him up off the floor and set him on the table.

"Good luck with your transformation. As for me, I'll be on my way."

I'd barely finished the sentence when he flew straight at my head, pecking and yanking at my hair, ruining my carefully arranged hairstyle.

I shot my hands up to shove him off.

Just then, the library door swung open. A young man stepped inside, and both of us froze.

He was tall, with neatly combed hair and a pair of spectacles perched on his nose. His eyes swept across the library before settling on me.

I frowned. Hadn't Calvin put a barrier on the door? How had he gotten in?

A small smile crossed his lips as he walked straight towards me. He narrowed his eyes slightly.

"I haven't seen this pretty face in the library before." He paused, as if realizing something. "You're Calvin's new assistant?"

"Oh, yes. I'm his new assistant."

"Assistant? Since when?" Calvin muttered.

I bit my lip and glanced at the guy. He didn't seem bothered by the talking owl.

"Aren't you shocked at seeing a talking owl?"

He frowned. "How am I supposed to understand an owl? I'm a wizard, but I don't speak to animals."

"You didn't hear what he said?"

He shook his head.

Wait. Does that mean only I can hear Calvin?

"But it's strange," the wizard continued, tilting his head. "Calvin has never let a woman breathe the same air as him. Every girl who ever flocked to him ended up being driven away. So why would he choose you?"

I forced another smile. My cheeks and jaw were already aching from all the smiling I'd done today.

"Ah, I get it. You're so pretty. That's why," he concluded.

"Pretty?" Calvin hissed, glaring. "You've always been blind, but I never imagined it was this bad."

So he's a wizard. Maybe he can help.

The guy suddenly scrunched up his face and stared at Calvin with disgust.

"What's that ugly creature staring at? And why is it glaring so much?!"

Ouch. That definitely hurt Calvin's pride.

Just as I expected, Calvin flew straight at him, clawing at his face and pecking furiously.

"How dare you call me ugly? Get out of my library!"

With a single movement of the wizard's hand, an invisible force hurled Calvin against the wall.

I almost laughed, but suppressed a chuckle. I didn't bother helping him. He deserved it.

I turned to the wizard.

"You're a wizard, right?" I asked.

He nodded.

My face brightened.

"Then you can help me. Look, I... I mean, a friend of mine accidentally turned her lover into an animal with a misspelled spell..."

"I'm not your lover!" Calvin managed to shout from the floor.

I ignored him.

"Is there a way to turn him back?" I asked, praying for a yes.

"Hmm. Yes, there is a way."

He paused.

"A kiss."