by Raven Steele
Chapter 3
"Lucien."
I said his name, but the word barely crossed my lips. I pictured him still sitting with Henry in Dr. Han's office. I needed him here before I passed out. Hunwald’s presence had been too sudden. It brought back images of the past I couldn’t slow.
"Lucien." It was louder this time, but I simply couldn't get a breath to yell it.
"Luc—"
"I'm here." His arm came around me.
"Hunwald." I stared at the spot I had just seen the wolf, but he was gone.
"I know. I heard him. Henry too."
The lines in his face were as sharp as blades. They reminded me how I needed to be when dealing with beings like Hunwald. My earlier fear morphed into rage. No matter where I went that wolf found me. "What's he doing here?"
"I don't know, but I want you to stay here. Henry and I are going out there. We'll take Liam too."
Anger thrummed in my veins. "I’m going with you.”
His face pained. "You're not ready."
"I don’t think I could be more ready. I want that wolf dead!" All of me shook, partly from the sudden rush of memories and partly from a deeply rooted hate for the wolf. Hunwald had assisted Boaz in keeping me prisoner, and he had nearly torn Lucien's throat out. He was a monster that needed to be put down.
"Your memories,” Lucien began, his voice gentle, “they are affecting you too much. You need to be able to clear your mind and not let any emotions affect your abilities on the battlefield."
I opened my mouth to argue, but the fight got stuck in my throat. He was right. The memories I'd already experienced had temporarily paralyzed me, and there was still more to remember. What if I was fighting and something came to me with the same paralyzing force? Any hesitation could cost me my life—or worse, someone else's.
He kissed me on the forehead. "We'll be back soon. Just stay here. Gain your strength."
I nodded. "Be careful."
"I will." He leapt from the window, bursting into smoke before he hit the ground. I leaned out the window to follow his path. Henry was already out there, standing on top of the wall, two Guardians on each side of him. A blast of wind, surely Liam, shot past him, billowing up Henry’s long, black jacket. Henry jumped from the wall, followed by the Guardians next to him. In seconds, the forest and the darkness swallowed them whole.
I watched for a few more minutes, hoping to catch a glimpse of one of them, but all was quiet and still. I leaned away, worry settling deep inside me. I should be out there with them. I was a strong witch, possibly one of the strongest. At least, that's what I'd been told my whole life. But the last couple of years, I hadn’t felt strong. I turned toward the hidden necklace. Its power pulsed throughout the small room.
Even though I no longer wore the cursed jewelry, it still held some kind of power over me, preventing me from becoming who I was meant to be. It was the source of all my pain and fears. I walked to the spot where the necklace lay hidden behind a layer of stone and touched it softly.
"You no longer control me," I whispered, then shuddered. There was no strength in my words.
I backed away slowly, realizing I couldn't do this on my own. I needed to know more about this necklace, where its power came from. Maybe if I understood it, I could control it, or myself in its presence.
I hurried back to Chadni Hall. The lobby was empty, Llona and May gone, the halls quiet. I retraced my steps back to Dr. Han's office and opened the door. Dr. Han sat behind his desk writing something inside what looked like a journal.
"I'm sorry to bother you, but I need help."
He looked up at me and lowered his pen. "Come in."
I closed the door, my feet shuffling against the wooden floor. My legs were weak, practically shaking within my jeans. I could do this.
He stared at me thoughtfully. "Sit down, Eve."
I hesitantly lowered into a chair across from him.
"You're frightened. Why?" he asked.
"The necklace," I blurted. "I'm afraid of what it will do to me or others. I mean, I will never put it on again, but it's still dangerous."
"Do you not believe you can overcome its power?"
I laughed out loud. I didn't mean to, but it just slipped out. "Don't you think I tried? I would've given anything to not hurt Lucien or kill Charlie!"
Dr. Han stood and rounded the desk. He pulled a chair next to me. "There is great power in you, but you haven't learned to tap into it. It's a strength that goes beyond anything you've ever encountered, including Genesis, the ancient magic most witches only dream of obtaining in their lifetime."
"Does this have anything to do with what you were saying about Charlie?"
"It has everything to do with it. It's a power that stretches past our realm. The glass orb on the necklace was made from Lucifer's mirror, a mirror that can transport anyone, anywhere. In my many years of existence, I've learned a lot about different time periods and species. In almost every culture, they speak about a First magic that created everything—space, worlds, even time. It's a power that can't be shut off and runs continually."
"And you think this mirror can transport someone to this First magic?"
"Not exactly. I think someone with incredible power could use the necklace as a bridge to find it. They just have to discover the path. Once they do, they will have unlimited access to magic that can be used in all dimensions."
I leaned back in my chair, thinking hard. Was this what Alarica had discovered? She had seemed so sure she could use the necklace's power for more. "Why do you think I might be able to do this, more so than anyone else?"
"Because you've worn the necklace. In everything I've researched lately about Lucifer's mirror, those who were around it often could feel this First magic. It's power bleeds into all dimensions acting like a beacon for others, though few find it. I think that's why the seven devils kept using Lucifer's mirror. I think they were trying to find this never-ending source of power."
"Is it evil?"
He shook his head. "It just is. The barer decides how it will be used."
"So what do I do?"
"That, I'm not sure of. Start with the necklace. Go inside of it."
I couldn't repress the shiver that burst on my skin, but he kept talking.
"If you could somehow find this power, you would never be afraid of the necklace again, or anything else. Even death would not be something to fear."
I swallowed around the growing tightness in my throat. "When you spoke of Charlie, do you really believe I can see him again?"
"If the moment is right."
My chest expanded as I inhaled a great breath and blew it out. "I would like to learn more, research some of this on my own."
"Be my guest. You'll find everything you need in the basement of Denelle Hall. Do you know how to get there?"
"I do." I stood, my legs already feeling stronger. "Thank you for your help.” I turned to leave but stopped. "You remind me of someone."
"Oh?"
"A Dr. Skinner in Wildemoor. He works for the Deific."
He smiled. "I know him and have spoken with him on many occasions. Thank you for the wonderful compliment."
I smiled and left the room, my mind reeling with everything Dr. Han had shared.
By the time I reached the first floor, it was crowded again, class having just let out. The air smelled of cinnamon and freshly baked bread. It must be dinnertime. I kept my head down as I dodged in and out of girls until I stepped outside. I glanced toward the wall, but saw no sign of Lucien and the others. I hoped they were safe.
The basement of Denelle Hall was nicer than I expected, with plush lounge chairs and rows of cherry wood bookcases. I'm glad it wasn't like the one beneath Chadni.
I found the section on history, specifically the history of magic, and began to read. Much of it I already knew, but some of what I found about different kinds of spells brought back memories from my childhood, especially those containing jasmine, my mother's favorite plant. I ha
ted those memories of my parents' cruelty, but they didn't invoke any kind of painful emotions for me any longer. I had long since left that trauma behind.
I moved on to information about dark magic. There was a book right in the front with a bookmark tucked into its pages. I picked it up and turned to the marked page. It had a drawing similar to the one I'd seen in Dr. Han's office depicting the Seven Devils of Hell. Henry must have read this book recently. I scanned the contents. It spoke about Erebus escaping Hell. The pictures of him were truly frightening. He was a tall creature, nearly seven feet from what I could tell. He had a great head on top of wide shoulders. Two long, black horns stuck out the sides of his head. And his eyes… there were dark as night, and even though he was simply an image on a page, I could feel his power.
I flipped through several more pages, stopping when I came across the section that spoke about Lucifer destroying the mirror, that magical gateway to other worlds that Erebus had been abusing. I turned the page and sucked in air.
In the center of the page was a drawing of a stone well. Shooting straight up from its center was a pillar of light eerily luminescent for the old parchment paper it was sketched upon. This was the First magic Dr. Han was talking about. I knew it. I brushed my fingers across the surface, my heart beating faster. It felt familiar somehow, as if I had seen it before in a dream.
"Eve?"
I startled and glanced over. Llona was standing in the doorway.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
I rubbed the back of my neck. "I don't know. Just trying to figure things out."
"Life can be confusing, can't it?"
"Unfortunately." I crossed the room to her. "How are you?
She shrugged. "I'll be fine. It's just hard, you know? But I know I made the right decision about Christian."
"Have you told Liam yet?"
"No. He left with Lucien before I could. I wish I would've had time though. He's probably out there, anger burning right through him, which isn't a good thing, being half-Vyken and all."
"Why would he be angry?"
She rolled her eyes. "He didn't want me to talk to Christian. He doesn't think Christian deserves anything from me, but I have to constantly remind him that I can't blame Christian for everything. It was poison from a Vyken that changed him into the monster he was. He couldn't help it." She glanced around the room. "So what are you doing down here?"
"Just trying to learn everything I can about the necklace."
"There are a lot of books to go through. Do you need any help?"
"No, " I said. "But there is something you might be able to help me with."
"Name it."
"That thing you did to me, when you transferred your Light. I was wondering if you could do it again."
She touched me briefly on the arm. "Are you still having a hard time with your memories?"
"Nothing like that." I struggled to find the right words. "I need to access the necklace's power. Dr. Han told me about using it as a bridge to find the First magic. I thought since your power is the oldest I know of, it might help me find it easier."
She raised her eyebrows as if she had no idea what I was talking about.
"Never mind," I said, my face reddening.
"No, no. I can do it, but I'm not sure how it will help."
"It was silly of me to—"
"Let's try it. I'll give you what ever I can." She held out her hands. "Rest your hands on top of mine and when you feel my Light, I want you to follow it as it goes through you. The theory is that light will always find light. So as I'm transferring mine into you, it should travel through you until it reaches another source. You may have to guide it with your magic though."
"I'll try."
"For now, just close your eyes and breathe."
I did as she asked. Inhaling and exhaling, focusing on the way the air traveled through my lungs. After several seconds, my hands began to warm and tingle like putting my hand on a hot stove, but I wasn't getting burned. Before it became painful, the sensation seemed to go right through my skin. The warmth spread into my hands and up my arms. I concentrated hard, opening my consciousness to keep better focus.
At first, it wasn't difficult, but when the light reached my mind, I lost track of it. The space there was too great, and there was too much darkness. I strengthened my awareness, searching for the light, but there was so much to sift through. I groaned in frustration.
"Focus!" Llona whispered fiercely.
I shifted my focus and imagined I was clutching a broom. I mentally swept away all the distractions: Lucien, the necklace, Erebus—anything that prevented me from seeing the light. Slowly, my mind began to clear. That's when I saw it. A small, bright tendril. I pushed my awareness toward it until it was as bright as the sun.
Finally having a mental grip on Llona's Light again, I continued to follow its path, but the deeper it went, the more I had to rely on magic to hang on to it. I thought of a quick spell to help me along:
By the moon and stars who rule the night, give me strength, find the First magical light.
Power surged through me, and I was able to continue on.
The light stretched further than I thought possible. I didn't even think we were in my mind anymore, but instead inside … I couldn’t find the right words to describe where I thought I was. Even though the space had darkened, it was peaceful here and felt endless, or really timeless. Not at all how I felt on Earth. This thought startled me, because I was clearly still on Earth, but where my consciousness was now, I felt no rush of time or constrained boundaries.
In the distance, I spotted a ball of light. It was small and appeared far away. Llona's light traveled toward it, even picking up speed as if it sensed its likeness. I began to lose my grip. I had gone so deep inside me that even my magic couldn't push this far. I attempted to reconnect to it, but found my consciousness slipping away. Just before I tumbled out completely, I caught a glimpse of the two lights connecting. As soon as they touched, a jolt of intense and extremely powerful magic shot outward. The force was so strong that Llona and I were tossed across the room away from each other.
I moaned and struggled to get up. The room still pulsed with an ancient energy that, if harnessed, could have lit up an entire city.
"Llona? Are you okay?"
She rolled over, a giggle erupting until she was laughing out loud. "Did you feel that? Wasn't that the coolest thing ever? Man, what a rush!"
I laughed with her. "It was intense."
She sat up. "Do you think you can tap into that again on your own?"
My laughter subsided. "I don't know."
"Maybe we can try it again sometime—"
She stopped talking midsentence and her eyes grew wide at the same time as mine. I don't know if it was the added power in the room that allowed us to sense the same thing, but both of us knew in that moment that Lucien and Liam had returned.
"Let's go!" I said, scrambling to my feet.
I followed after her and sprinted up the stairs, my heart racing. Maybe he had found and killed Hunwald. Maybe he was hurt. I pushed my legs faster, having a difficult time keeping up with Llona. Something told me she was relying more on her Vyken half right now rather than her Auran side.
We burst through the door leading outside and stopped to look around, breathing heavily. Night had arrived, bringing with it a cold chill in the air.
"There!" Llona said. I followed her gaze through the darkness.
Liam and Lucien strode across campus, moonlight illuminating their dark figures. I took off running toward them at full speed. Llona joined me, but quickly passed me up. She reached Liam and threw her arms around him. Her legs came up a second later and wrapped around his waist. He held her tightly as she showered him with kisses.
I slowed when I reached Lucien, grinning widely at Llona and Liam, but when my eyes met Lucien's, my smile disappeared.
"What's wrong?" I asked. That's when I noticed the blood on his arm. "Are you hurt?" I reached
for it, but he shrugged it away from me.
"I'm fine. We couldn't find Hunwald."
Llona slid off Liam. Liam looked confused yet pleased by Llona's behavior.
"Are you hurt?" she asked and felt all over him. She touched his stomach but quickly removed her hand. It was covered in blood. "What happened?"
"It's not bad," Liam said. "We tracked the wolf into the woods for some time until we hit a pack of Vykens. It's been awhile since I've seen them gather like that. Not since Cyrus—"
"But you're okay?" she asked again.
"Yes."
"I think Hunwald deliberately lead us to them," Lucien said. His face was all hard lines and jagged edges. "They were waiting for us."
"Who is Hunwald?" Llona asked. She held Liam's hand.
I gave them the shortened version of Boaz and his supernatural wolf.
"Is it possible Hunwald belongs to Erebus now?" Liam asked. He doubled over suddenly and grimaced.
"Looks like you could use some medical attention," Lucien said.
"Where's Henry and the Guardians I saw go with you?" I asked before Llona could escort him away.
The men looked at each other but didn't answer.
"Liam?" Llona said, her voice stern. "Where are they?"
"Henry had to teleport them out of there," Liam answered. "I think one might be dead. We did all we could to help him, but there were too many."
Llona's face darkened. She looked at me with a fierceness that scared me. "I want to help, but I won't have your battles spilling over to my people. Something needs to change." She tugged on Liam. "Come on. Let's get you taken care of." She looped his arm around her shoulders and let him lean into her as they walked back to Chadni Hall.
I stayed back with Lucien. We stood there for a few minutes in silence. Llona was right. I brought this fight to them. It's time I took it away.
"Are you okay?" I asked him. He was unusually quiet.
"Hunwald's presence disturbs me. Something feels off about it, but I don't know why."
I shivered and folded my arms to my chest. It upset me too.
