Goodbye, Keira. I hope we meet in the spirit world — but not until the time is right. For now, you must bless the world of the living with your talents.
With all my love,
Edna Morrigan
My heart broke for Edna, and my mother. The pain they endured had been a nightmare. In my heart, I took back all the bad things I ever said or thought. It wasn’t you, Edna. It’s not your fault, Lara.I just didn’t know.
I got it now. The emptiness at my core now held a sliver of peace. I knew that I must nourish that tiny bit of hope. I saw the pain and heartbreak my family suffered. Their terrible dilemma - knowing the only way to keep me alive was to give me up. Even if they had hope for the power that might someday come my way, it must have been agony for them to accept. They choose to protect me, at the cost of their own lives. They gave up everything, to shield me, to give me the best chance to survive this battle that was coming my way.
For all their faults, I knew now that they did love me, in the only way possible. Now they both were gone. I had no other family I could turn to, no aunts, uncles, or cousins. But Edna did leave me something: four very different men who believed in me. And I believed in them to help me through this. I was going to be the solution to a problem that had plagued my family for millennia.
I carefully folded the letter and slid it back in the envelope. I returned it to the wooden case. Next, I reached for the little silver box next to the grimoire. I opened it, and as I did, I felt tingles of magic along my fingertips. Inside the velvet lined case was a silver necklace, holding that charm with the three spirals of the Triskelion. It was the same necklace Edna wore in the photo at Edward’s office. My gasping breath caught in my chest as I took it in my hand. The pendant was pure silver, and looked freshly polished. I unhooked the clasp and put it around my neck. As soon as I locked the fastener, I felt the pendant against my skin, and looked at myself in the mirror.
But once the clasp was closed, the necklace started to warm on my skin. Suddenly, I began to feel nauseated. I gripped the vanity for support and tried to breathe slowly, but the pain only increased, sending waves of scorching fire through my body. I fell to the floor, and rolled up in a ball. Gripping my sides, I could hear phantom echoes across time. People screaming and shouting, all around me. I shut my eyes tight as the images of battle flashed before my eyes.
The sounds of swords clashing slowly ebbed. The shouting of the injured and dying echoed in the air, mingled with the thick, coppery scent of blood. A woman in black armor walked barefoot amongst the dead, as the ravens feasted. Her right hand gripped a bloodied sword, and with her left, she pulled the souls from those who were gone. The ground, once a lush green, glistened with the blood of enemies and allies...
I watched clouds fly past me, as I soared through the heavens. I lifted my black wings and flapped faster, rising above the forest, taking in the landscape below me...
Next, rows of weapons appeared, laid across a wooden table. Bows and arrows, long swords, knives, and axes. Maces and morning stars. Pikes. Clubs. Spears. All ready to be used, waiting to cut into flesh…
My hands were out in front of me, as smoke tendrils floated from my fingers. I clenched my fist, digging my nails into my palms. My mouth was filled with a coppery taste, from blood I assumed. I felt fire rushing through my veins. I threw my gauntlet fist into the face of an enemy in front of me, and watched him fall to the ground. The images of battle and magic flooded my head, as I finally let out a scream. My eyes watered as a stream of blood dripped from my nose. My muscles were on fire. All I could do was writhe, praying the pain would stop.
In the distance, I could barely make out a deep voice, muffled words I could not understand. I felt my body being pulled up off the floor into a warm embrace. Strong arms wrapped around my body, as the burning started to fade away. My mind was clouded with pain, and all I could do was cry. I felt a hand press my head gently into a muscular chest. The smell of tobacco brought me back, and I gripped the arm around me.
“Keira! Talk to me, please,” Weylyn stammered. I clenched my eyes shut even tighter, and shook my head, straining to come back to reality. “Just breathe. You’re at the house. It’s me, Weylyn. I’ve got you,” he choked out, as he tightened his grip on me.
“I- I don’t feel so good,” I whimpered. I struggled to sit up before I lifted my hand up to cover my mouth. I struggled out of Weylyn’s arms and crawled over to a trash bin. I heaved and heaved, retching until there was nothing left in my stomach but sour bile. His firm hand rubbed my back until I was done.
“Take it off of me,” I struggled to say. “The necklace. Take it off!”
I felt a small relief when Weylyn didn’t ask for an explanation and began fiddling around the sweaty back of my neck. “There’s... there’s no clasp,” he mumbled.
I started to panic. “Then rip it off! Just get it off me!” He gripped the chain and pulled, but no matter how hard he yanked and twisted, it stayed put.
“I can’t break the chain. What happened Keira?”
I sit up and wipe my mouth with my hand. “I put the
