Hidden Magic: An Ancient Magic Novel

by Stephany Wallace

  I took her hands in mine tightly and looked into her eyes, hoping she would understand. “I need you to go back into trance.”

  Her eyes widened in shock and she pulled her hands from mine.

  “What?”

  She gasped at the same time my brother yelled behind me. She shook her head adamantly and her eyes became tearful. My brother had been correct in his assessment. She was traumatized.

  “How could you ask such a thing of me?” Her lips quivered while she pushed herself against the wall, impossibly so. “You know how my mother…” her voice broke. “You saw what this did to me. I could have died. I already told you to help her. I cannot.”

  I reached for her hands and she stood from the bed walking away from me. My heart tore to see her like this. She was a strong and determined woman, a dedicated warrior, proficient and capable. Better than any of us. Yet these powers, her destiny terrified her. I had never seen her afraid of anything except of this. I stood and walked towards her. She stood next to Art and gripped his shirt.

  “Please do not make me do it. Please Cyn,” she begged.

  My brother wrapped his arms around her and caressed her back in a soothing motion. “What is this about brother.”

  I looked into his eyes, my soul ripping apart. I needed her to do this.

  “I need her help.” I faced Eisha standing a few feet from them. “I shall never force you to do anything a chara. You are a sister to me, I love you like my own flesh and blood. And because of this I am standing here before you, asking you to please do this for me. I need you.”

  I took a step closer trying to calm the anguish in my heart.

  “Briana was taken. She is not home any longer. She traveled for work and was abducted with her friend. I tried to find her but her essence is being blocked from me. I need you a chara. Please, go into trance and find Briana’s location.”

  She left my brother’s embrace and staggered backwards. Her hands cupped her face and she began to cry.

  “No, no, no.” She repeated over and over, her sobs distorting the words.

  My eyes hurt from holding back my emotion. I walked towards her.

  “I need you to please go into trance and try to find them. Please.”

  Her back reached to the door. “I cannot do it. I cannot witness that over,” she whispered raggedly. “Please do not ask that of me.”

  I took a final step and stopped before her. I looked into her eyes. My hands cupped her cheeks.

  “I love her a chara. I was destined to be with her and I cannot lose her. What you have witnessed, that which is so horrible you never want to see it again, is what she is being forced to endure at this very moment. Briana and her friend are suffering. I need you to help me save them. I must save her.”

  The sobs overwhelmed her and she collapsed into my arms. She clung to me crying. I held her tight and shut my eyes praying.

  “This power that was bestowed upon you it is not a curse. As you choose to see it. It is a gift. I need you to comprehend it. Use it. It was given to you for a reason. Be strong for me, a chara. For the love we share. For what I mean to you, I need you to please do this for me. I beg of you. If she dies, it will be my undoing. You are the only one that can help me save them. Will you do this for me? Will you help me?”

  It took a few moments for her to respond. Yet when she lifted her head from my shoulder and regarded me, her eyes filled with a different emotion. She took a deep breath and wiped the tears off of her face. More fell, though her eyes filled with determination. She placed her hand on my neck and rested her forehead to mine. I held her neck.

  “I will do it.”

  She said barely above a whisper and walked passed me to her cabinet.

  Art regarded me with worry and his eyes reflected the pain I felt inside.

  “I am truly sorry, Brother. You know I will do whatever it takes.”

  I nodded. “I know,” my heart tightened. I had to tell them the truth. “There is something more you must learn.”

  Eisha turned to face me, she was sitting in the center of the room with her mother’s robe and a candle placed in front of her. Tears steadily streamed down her face.

  “The Árd-shagart is alive. I have found him,” they gasped and stared at me astounded. “That is not all. He is Briana’s Grandfather.”

  Art shook his head “That’s not possible. There has never been a woman born in the blessed family.”

  “The prophecy…” Eisha spoke at the same time. She trailed off frowning and looking at her hands. I went to her and kneeled before her.

  “You know about the prophecy? Have you seen it?” She shook her head and her thoughtful eyes settled to mine.

  “No. I only know what my mother conversed about with the High Priest. They did not mind me much since I was only a child. They spoke of a High Priestess, the first baby girl in the blessed family…” her pained gaze fell to the candle. “We must hurry.”

  Art and I watched her recite the words her mother had used so long ago. Her eyes instantly began to glow and a new tear rolled down her face. She took a deep breath and rested her trembling and weakened body onto Art, who sat behind her, yet she did not fall unconscious into the trance. My brother and I exchanged a glance. This was completely different from what we had always experienced with her. Art held her up, as her body got deeper into the trance, nevertheless she did not succumb to it. She gripped my hand fiercely, and a chill ran down my spine. She was there. She could see them.

  I ran into my hut and undressed as fast as I could manage. Taking my warrior suit from the trunk I put it on. I took my clan necklace and placed it on my neck, slipping the medallion inside my leather vest. Pulling my hair back I tied it with the leather cord and walked to the center of the room. I secured my iron-lined bracer and boots and called on my enhanced strength.

  “From my essence to yours, I beg for your protection, fast as lightning and light as the wind I’ll be. Bring my bogha-saighde to me.”

  My bow and arrow instantly materialized under my grasp. I threw the stones in the air and assumed my fighting stance while placing an arrow on my bow and pulling it back. Focused and alert I walked into the mountain forest.

  *

  BRIANA

  Exhausted. I regained consciousness and all I could feel was exhausted. From screaming, and crying. From the pure terror I felt seeing them do the things they put Lia through. I pleaded and begged them to stop, only for them to do more. I was tired of being beaten but I was not going to give up. I opened my right eye and blinked once again. My left eye was swollen shut. I took a deep breath and tried to focus. My eye immediately found Lia. She was unconscious and for that I was actually grateful. She had passed out from the pain, almost immediately. Not that it stopped them from doing more to her. Her legs were cut in several places. From her thighs to her ankles. The floor was slowly being bathed in her blood. Julius had played with the scalpel on her skin as if it was a brush and he was an artist. Bastard. They didn’t want to understand that I couldn’t do the things they wanted me to do. If I had the power Cyn had, I would have stopped them already.

  “Cyn where are you? Please, I need you to find me. Please.”

  I begged hoping he could feel me. I wasn’t sure I could tolerate more of their torture. I winced as the image of Marcus’ fist connecting with my eye returned to me. It throbbed in response. Oh yeah, everyone had taken a swing at me, including Felix. His slap hadn’t been as harsh as the others’ though. It was almost like he was holding back. Although His Father had made sure he didn’t. He had bellowed and barked orders until Felix took his turn. I had hoped he wouldn’t be the same way. I thought he wouldn’t be capable of this atrocity. I believed he might help us. I was terribly wrong.

  The light was on this time. I slowly turned my head taking in everything around us. I believed we were inside the mountain. Somewhere. I didn’t know how or were but I was certain we were inside. There were small pedestals placed all over. Gemstones and crystals stood on the
m. I frowned when I recognized them. Grandpa had those in his room. The same combination of stones… My eye widened and I cringed from the sting. They were blocking my energy. I took a ragged breath.

  If Cyn can’t feel my essence then…

  Dread began to fill my soul. No, I couldn’t let it. I needed to get myself untied from these restraints. But what if, I managed to break free? Was I strong enough to carry Lia? She would not be able to walk like that. Tears began to flow down my cheeks. This was helpless. I sobbed, feeling helpless. I hated it. My temper flared and fury replaced the feeling. I began pulling at my wrists in every direction I could think of. Maybe the tugging would loosen the ropes. Or whatever they were. Instead, they begun cutting into my skin.

  Damn it!

  I fought harder. If ever there was a time to have a two-year-old-bitch-fit this was it. I was not going down without a fight. I planted my feet on the floor pushing myself up and threw my body forwards and backwards. I jerked like I was being denied a banana split after midnight.

  This will not be the end of me. We are NOT going to die here. I refuse to accept this.

  Arrg! I was exasperated. My wrists hurt and I could feel the blood trickling down my hands.

  Let me go, let me be free! Untie damn it! Untie!

  Suddenly, my hands became free and my body lurched forward. I stretched my arms, palms first, bracing myself as I fell with chair and all. The chair hit my back and I groaned but I didn’t care about the pain. I was free. Well partially. I bent my body and reached the rope around my feet. I tried to undo the knot but that thing was not getting loose. There was no way to untie this.

  How the hell did I…

  I stopped when I realized what had happened. There was no way this type of knot would become loose from my attempts. If anything it would have gotten tighter. I looked at the other rope and it was lying on the floor where my chair had been. It was perfect. It didn’t even show signs of struggle. My pulse began to race, and I understood the implications. I tried to think fast. What the hell had I thought? The words came to me.

  Let me go, let me be free! Untie damn it! Untie!

  The rope around my ankles shimmered and the knot became undone as if by… “Magic. I used magic,” I whispered amazed my voice breaking. There was hope. Loud voices came from the hallway and I jumped on my feet. I placed the chair back in its place and grabbed the ropes. I looked around for some kind of weapon but I couldn’t find anything. My eyes fell on the torture tray and I reached for the scalpel. It was still stained with Lia’s blood. My eyes watered. No. I was not going to cry. I was going to defend her if it was the last thing I did. A tear ran down my cheek.

  Well maybe I could still cry a little.

  I sat on the chair and wrapped the rope loosely around my ankles. Gripping the scalpel firmly in my hand I put my arms back and instantly felt the shooting pain on my muscles. My arms had been bound for too long. It was then I noticed the two men outside were fighting. My eye widened, and I winced. It was Felix and his dad.

  “I don’t care what you and your mafia think. I will admit it sounded good when you offered power and immortality. When you said we could protect our people from them and fight them at their same level. And yes, of course I thought of what that kind of power might mean. Having everything I ever wanted at the tip of my fingers. Having everyone do anything I asked. But what you have done goes way beyond that! You crossed the line dad. This is Brutality. You are torturing those girls even though Briana has told you a thousand times she doesn’t know how to do what you asked. Do you think if she was lying and she actually had that kind of power she wouldn’t have used it already to defend herself, to save her friend? How does doing all this make you better than them? You are behaving like terrorists and I didn’t sign up for this!”

  “You will do whatever I ask!”

  A loud thud reverberated through the air. My heart was slamming against my chest so hard it hurt. Had Marcus hit him?

  “You will do what I want because I am your Father. You do what I say, how I say it and when I say it understood? And don’t you ever dare, raise your voice at me again!” another thud.

  I swallowed afraid, gripping the scalpel tighter in my hand. I didn’t want to hurt anyone, but I would if he came at me again.

  Please don’t let Marcus come in here. Please don’t let Marcus come in. Please.

  I dreaded the kind of beating he would give me after that fight. There was silence for a moment and I wondered if they had left. I almost felt relief. Almost.

  “You will go in there and watch that girl until we return. We are going to meet the others. Make sure she doesn’t do anything weird.”

  The sound of his steps grew faint and I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding. He was a robust man, even with the scalpel I wasn’t sure I could hurt him enough to be able to take Lia and escape. Wait there were others? He was bringing more monsters with him? And just like that my hope began to die. I could maybe manage to take down Felix, and probably a guard if he didn’t have a gun. But not several of them, I couldn’t take them all. I took a ragged breath trying not to cry. I needed to stay strong for Lia. My eyes went to her limp body on the chair. She was still unconscious. I prayed she was ok. She had lost a lot of blood. A tear slid down my cheek, pissing me off. The door opened and I froze. Felix entered. His cheekbone was turning blue and his lip was busted. He left the door open and I thought this might be our chance. Then the guard walked in behind him. He had a Taser in his hand. I closed my eyes and prayed to whoever was listening.

  Please just throw me a freaking bone.

  Maybe if I aimed at his eye. Both of them? I sighed. Who the hell was I kidding? Maybe I could try to reason with Felix again. My throat hurt, my voice was basically gone from screaming and crying but I had to try. “Felix please, you don’t have to do this. You…”

  “Shut up!”

  I jumped back, startled by his outburst. His eyes were pure rage.

  “Shut up you stupid bitch. Shut the fuck up! All this is your fault. You had to come into our lives and cause this fucking mess. Why didn’t you stay in your filthy Druid hole, wherever the hell that was?” He reached for my hair and turned my head. “She is hurt because of you. Look at her.”

  Tears stung my eyes while I looked at him. He was right. It was my fault. I shut my eye trying to stop the stupid tears.

  “Look at her!”

  He bellowed and I opened my eye. Lia was waking up. Her whimpers were the first indication. My heart broke for her.

  “You are going to do everything I tell you, when I tell you. You hear me?

  I looked at him. But I didn’t answer.

  He pushed my head away and turned to the guard.

  “Give it to me,” he ordered, his hand extended. The guard looked at the taser then at him doubtful.

  I began to panic. Was he going to use that on me? I had to use the scalpel on him. If he came close I could stab his eye, then grab the taser and use it on the guard. My mind rushed while I planned my move of attack.

  “I gave you an order. Give it to me!” He yelled and the guard gave in.

  I fixed my grip on the scalpel. My hands were sweating. I would only get one chance at this. He turned around and faced me.

  “I will only say this once. If you don’t turn me immortal, I will…”

  He didn’t finish.

  Felix whipped around and tasered the guard. It happened so fast the man didn’t see it coming. Neither did I. He caught the guard before his body hit the floor and laid him down. He rushed towards me.

  “We don’t have much time,” he said reaching for my hands to untie them. He froze when he noticed they were free and I held the scalpel. He pulled back looking into my eyes. “Were you going to use that on me?”

  I nodded panting. Adrenaline began rushing through my body.

  He took a deep a breath. “Don’t let go of it. There is another guard outside and one down the hallway. I’ll be right back.”

  He t
ook the taser from the table and walked outside. The buzzing came again and he came back, dragging the guard inside. He placed him next to the other. I pulled the rope from my ankles and stood up walking towards Lia.

  “Lia it’s me Bri. We are getting out of here. Felix is going to help us. You are going to be ok,” It was hard to speak because of my rasped voice and my swollen lip. But I hoped she could understand me. I turned to face him fully. I could only look at him through my right eye. “Can you carry her?”

  He nodded. “But I will need you to hold her while I take down the guy at the door.

  “I will.”

  He walked to Lia and bent down to hold her. His gaze went to her legs and for a moment I though I saw pain in his eyes. He picked her up and she cried out from the agony. My heart ripped a little more.

  Will she ever forgive me?

  She was half gone from the torture she endured. We walked out of the room and I noticed the walls were half concrete, half rock. The hallway was narrow and a bit dark even though there were fluorescent lights hanging down the rough ceiling. We reached the corner and he rested Lia against my body. I braced myself on the wall behind me and held her. Felix walked to the corner and attacked the guy.

  “Fuck!”

  His voice echoed through the air followed by punches and grunts. The taser gun slid on the floor towards me. My eyes widened. Had the guard knocked it out of his grasp? I extended my leg trying to reach it and kick it towards me while they continued to fight each other. I couldn’t move much with Lia’s weight on me. I realized to my dismay the grunts stopped. Everything became quiet. Too quiet.

  Crapola! Who the hell won?

  “Felix?” I called my voice barely audible, but there was no response. I began to panic. In theory I could barely defend myself with the scalpel. In reality I was holding Lia and the scalpel was in the pocket of my hoodie. “Felix?” I asked again dreading that this time he had lost the battle.

  “Shush carrot curls, do you want to let everyone know we are here?” He hissed at me and I saw him dragging the security guard towards me. This guy had a gun.