Chapter 15
Book of Shadows
“I hope you are not too freaked out over this. I think we can all be great friends now that we know the truth about each other,” Matilda suggests.
“Yeah it will be nice to have full disclosure with someone outside of our family,” I admit, glancing over at Ebony.
She smiles and replies, “It will be nice to have someone we can trust with our family secrets. I would be up for trying to be friends, as long as you don’t like witch blood.”
We all begin laughing.
“Nah… it’s a little too bitter for my liking,” Isaac jokes.
“I was just wondering where Caspian went. You said he left?” Eliza asks.
“Well, that’s a whole story of its own, but the condensed version is that he fell in love with a mortal. They became very close and decided to become intimate. Caspian could not control himself, and in the end, he accidentally killed her. It upset him so much that he decided to run away. He gave us his day crystal and left. It all happened about thirty years ago. Last we heard, he was in Inuvik, Canada,” Elijah says as he shares a pained glance with Florence.
“Wow. That must have been horrible for all of you.” she replies with sympathy.
“It is always difficult to lose a family member, but he lost so much more in her death. We hope to find him and have him rejoin our family one day,” Florence admits.
Ms. Edwina rises from her chair and heads to her private office down the hall. When she returns, she is carrying a large leather-bound book. I notice the book has hundreds of pages; all old parchment with some smudged gold edging, and on the cover, the same symbol Ebony was doodling in class. I now recognize it as a triquetra, a very special symbol to witches.
Ms. Edwina later explains that it represents the mind, body and soul. It also resembles their belief of threefold, whatever you do to someone else, that will come back to you threefold. Mrs. Edwina quotes from the Wiccan Rede “Mind the Three-fold Laws you should, three times bad and three times good. An ye harm none, do what ye will.” Both of the girls perk up with excitement when she addresses them. “Girls, now that you are old enough and have some understanding, this belongs to the two of you now. This is your Book of Shadows. Anything you may need is in here. If and when you come across something that is not in here, add it for future generations. Study this and learn it, for this book will teach you and give you a few surprises too. You can also learn about those before you, as there is history in these pages, so make sure to add some notes about yourselves as well,” Ms. Edwina explains.
“Really? What kind of spells does it have?” Ebony asks.
“Anything you can imagine, my dear. You must always remember though that you must never use any magick to improve your life or make things better, easier, wealthier, or happier for yourselves. That would be considered personal gain or black magick, and being self-serving with your craft can prove very dangerous. You must only use magick to help others.”
Ebony releases a smirk from the corner of her mouth. “So I can’t use it to deal with that awful girl at school? That really sucks.”
In a very stern and intimidating tone, Mrs. Edwina looks at the girls and says, “Ebony Triggs, this is no joking matter. Can you not understand that magick is serious? I trust you girls, and Wenham needs you.”
“I’m sorry, Grams. I was just kidding. I would never do anything to disgrace you like that–even though, that Mel is her own kind of witch most of the time. You and Eliza are all I have. I am serious about receiving this information and great power, and I’m ready to help people however I can.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Now both of you girls come here.”
The two girls stand in front of their Grams, ready to receive the power that is rightfully theirs. As they reach for the Book of Shadows together, the triquetra symbol in the center of the cover illuminates with a green glow, and when they both touch the book, everyone in the room can see the energy that flows from the tome to each girl.
Almost frozen, we all watch as before our very eyes the most amazing thing happens. Ebony and Eliza both look up to the ceiling, their eyes never leaving the light that radiates from the book. It is similar to the light on top of the Luxor hotel in Las Vegas, albeit on a much smaller scale.
This is when I notice the girls’ eyes are almost completely white; they are in a trance of sorts. In that very instance, the light retracts, and the girls drop the book to the floor and fall to their knees around it. The area around them begins filling with their steamy breath, as if they have just stepped outside on the coldest night of winter.
“Are they okay?” Matilda asks.
“Yes, my dear. What you are witnessing is the transfer of power from all the ancestors in our family. The girls are feeling no pain–just a miraculous serge of power and energy. They are now fully connecting as the Magnificent Ones and can begin learning their craft,” Ms. Edwina explains in a very soft voice, so as not to interrupt the energy transfer.
Once the girls become lucid and coherent again, we help them to the sofa. They both appear exhausted, and we allow them time to compose themselves. Florence, Constance, Matilda, and I decide to help them to their rooms so they can prepare for bed.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Ebony. If you want to talk, I left my cell number on your nightstand. Call me anytime,” I whisper softly.
It has been a long day. We say our goodbyes and excuse ourselves. Our family needs to go scout some animals and prepare for the week ahead by stocking our supply again. Since Isaac brought donated blood home from the clinic yesterday, we should be good on human blood for a while. I can’t face the same temptations as that first day. I need to be stronger. But a new sense of relief rushes over me. I’m glad to have Ebony to trust, for I was so scared yesterday when she figured it all out. I have never truly trusted anyone outside of my family before, and now I know I might be able to trust others–to let some of them in, if only a little.
Immortal Embrace Page 15
