“Why is she here?” Mrs Grey asked the minute she sets eyes on me, with Britney clinging so tightly to me. Britney had cried, argued, gave me uncountable reasons on why I should bring her along, 90 percent of the reasons didn’t make any sense.
“Because she’s my best friend.” I replied calmly.
“Yes. What she says.” Britney giggles, placing her head on my shoulder.
“I can see she’s your best friend, but she is not supposed to be here.” Mrs Grey argues frowning.
“If I’m going to be wrapped up in the world of magic, I think I will need a reminder of what is like, just living a normal life. Plus, Britney is my emotional support.” I concluded.
“What she said again.” Britney giggles some more. She’s really not helping her case right now.
“Awwn, I’m your emotional support. That is so sweet.” She whispered in my ear, I chuckled.
Mrs Grey sighed, “Well, whatever. Just come in, but I do not know if the others would be in support of this.” She eyes Britney from head to toe, then sighed again… turned around and head for the house. Britney and I followed from behind.
“You are here.” Christian exclaims, and a smile crept on my lips. I feel so happy to see him, it’s weird.
“And you have company?.” He added, staring at me questioningly.
“Hi, my name is Britney. I’m Anastasia best friend, and also her emotional support. I’m a very big fan of yours, and Anastasia needs me here with her.” Britney ends her short introduction with a heart warming smile, sent at Christians. Just for the records I was totally going to answer Christian’s question and introduce her myself.
“Wow. I’m happy to meet you.” Christian returns her smile. Britney did the unexpected next, she took hold of Christian’s left hand that was just idly next to his thigh, and shook it vigorously.
“I can’t wait to see you in your dragon form, Christian.” She winked at him, Christian raised and eyebrow staring at me confused.
“She knows. I had to tell her.” I said dryly, shrugging my shoulder.
“Well it’s nice meeting you Britney, once again. We should go in Anastasia.” Christian said and together we head for the hall.
“Welcome Anastasia. And who is that?” Great gran welcome me with a smile, while staring at Britney suspiciously. Ugh. How many more people do I have to explain Britney’s appearance here in the mansion to. This is so tiring. Hopefully, the whole clan is here and I wouldn’t have to explain her to anyone again.
“She’s my best friend and I can’t keep secret from her. So I had to tell her everything.” I explained tiredly.
“I guess there’s nothing we can do about your decision. But, are you sure she could be trusted.” Great gran asked scrutinizing Britney with his eyes.
“We could just cast a memory spell on her and she won’t remember a thing concerning magic, or connecting to magic.” My aunt strolled into the hall.
“No thank you aunt. And I assure everyone, that my friend here is indeed trustworthy.”I held onto Britney’s hands really tightly.
“Can she really make me loose my memories?” Britney asked gulping.
“Yes I can sweetie. So you had better be trustworthy, just as my niece had said.” My aunt pat Britney on the head.
“Since she called you niece, I’m guessing she’s the aunt. Well… I really don’t like her.” Britney whispers in my ear. I chuckled.
“Can we just begin this meeting. I have somewhere important to be at.” My uncle voiced out from a corner he is sitting at.
I cleared my throat… “I think I can find a way to break the curse.” I started, and everyone paid rapid attention on me.
I continued… “Arkalis made up the spell for the curse, so I just have to make a counter attack spell… that could break it. I just have to study the ingredients Arkalis used in making the portion and find out what the core ingredients is, that way… I can find an ingredient that could be reactant to the core ingredients, and then hopefully… the curse would be broken.” I paused.
“We already know that one of the main ingredients to make the portion is Arkalis magic… which has already been passed on to me. Now I just have to figure out the ingredients for the portion but I don’t know how to do that.” I added.
“I think it would be best if you are there when Arkalis is making the portion. Then maybe you could see all the list of ingredients he used.” My aunt suggested.
“You mean I should travel back in time, again?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Wait! If she’s going back in time, I volunteer to go with her.” Britney yells raising her hands up in the air. She just doesn’t know when to speak and when not to. I let out a silent laughter while shaking my head.
“You won’t be going with her girl, if she would be traveling back in time.” My aunt glared at Britney menacingly.
“My name is Britney, not girl.” Britney muttered loud enough for my aunt to here.
“I don’t care, girl.” My aunt folded her hands below her boobs still staring at Britney with the look of menace.
I prayed in my heart that Britney doesn’t reply, thankfully she didn’t.
My aunt redirected her focus to me, with satisfaction that Britney didn’t reply her. “And Anastasia, you won’t be traveling back in time.”
“If I won’t be going back in time, then how would I watch Arkalis make the portion?” I questioned confused.
“Simple. You would travel there in trance like state. Your spirit would be there but not your body.” My uncle answered.
“Okay. When do we do that.” I replied, already ready.
“We just have to get the necessary stuffs for the spell, which we can only get at the school of witches. You have to come with us, Anastasia and you are not coming girl.” My aunt said, pointing her fingers at Britney. Britney snickered, glaring hard at her.
“Okay, when do we leave?” I asked eagerly.
“We leave now, if you are ready.” My aunt answered.
I was about nodding my head yes, when Christian called my name… “Anastasia, can I see you outside. I need to talk to you.”
“He wants to see you. Why am I sensing love in the air.” Britney whispered joyfully in my ear. I only shake my head at her.
I excused myself from the hall and then followed Christian outside.
“So what is it you want to tell me?” I asked standing behind him, and he turns around.
“Come with me.” He stretched for his hand and I placed my palm on his. I said nothing him as he took the lead. Where we were going to I had no idea.
We got to the mouth of a cave and I stopped wondering where the heck he is taking me to, but instead… why they have a cave.
“It’s okay. Nothing to fear.” He smiled at me reassuringly walking into the cave. I breath exaggeratedly following him.
With his phone light showing us the way we walked deeper into the cave. Then he suddenly stops… “Do you trust me?”
“Maybe, I guess…” I answered unsure. Do I trust the dragon boy with the blue eyes? My heart is in uncertainty.
“That’s enough.” He shrugged.
“Okay…”
“Close you eyes Anastasia.”
“Why should I?” I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously.
“Because there’s a one percent chance that you trust me. So close your eyes. It’s a surprise.”
“This past few days have been a hell lot of surprise Christian, I don’t think my heart can take another one but nevertheless… I will close my eyes. This better be good.” I frowned closing my eyes slowly.
He takes hold of my hand and led me deeper into the cage, asking that I do not open my eyes. He came to a stop finally… “Open your eyes pretty.” He whispered in my ear.
I opened my eyes slowly and I can only say that I have never been surprise in such a way. The cave is lit up with radiance from gems, blue, green, yellow…. It gives the cave a really beautiful ambiance.
“Wow, this is so beautiful.” I gasped covering my mouth. “Are this real gems?”
“As real as they can ever be.” He grins. I couldn’t help but stare at him lovingly, he looks so handsome in the radiant light from the gems.
“If you think this is cool, you should see this.” He said taking a left turn.. I followed.
“Wow.” Words can’t describe the scene before me, it was beyond me.
The gems here are really big and beautiful… but that wasn’t the only thing here, there’s a water fall here and walls full of drawings. Beautiful drawings of dragons and men.
“When one of us dies, we throw the ashes here in the water. And this dragons and men on the walls are the ones dead. It’s their mark.” He explained sitting down on one of the gigantic gem stones.
“Wow. This drawings are so beautiful. I feel so close to your ancestors already.” I joked. He chuckled.
“So did your ancestors just stumbled on this place?” I asked sitting besides him.
“Nah. This place was created by the witches.” He answered and I nod.
We stayed quiet. I didn’t know what to say and I guess he also didn’t know what to say.
“So…” I drawled cutting through the silence.
“So…” He repeats.
“You said you needed to talk to me.” I cut to the chase.
“Yeah. That’s true.” He pouts thinking.
He cleared his throat sitting upright… “I was wondering if we can finally talk about that night at the stream.” He said and I coughed repeatedly.
I thought this was like a forgotten case.
“That… I really..”
“If you are going to say, you didn’t mean to kiss me then don’t say it.” He cuts me off. I remained quiet my fingers entangled together.
“Anastasia I like you. I like you so much.” He confessed. On hearing *I like you* I raised my head up in shock.
“You like me??” I questioned staring at him wide eyed.
“Of course I do. I didn’t want to keep disturbing you about the kiss in the past, cause I wanted you to focus on your training and not be a distraction in the past. And now we are in the present, I still want you to focus on the spell and all… but I can’t keep on holding my feelings back. I have always liked you.” He breathes out his eyes staring deeply into mine affectionately.
I returned his affectionate gaze, my heart beating irregularly… our face draws closer, my breathe hitched, I had to breathe out of my mouth because for some reason I don’t know how to breathe from my nose anymore… his mouth closed up on mine, my whole body danced in excitement, my heart beat like crazily.
His hands sneaked around my back… dragging me really close to him, till there was no space between us anymore. He moaned into my mouth, my fingers grazing deep into his hair…
“We should stop….. My aunt…. She… she would be waiting…. for me.” My lips tells him to stop, my body wants him to go on. I want his hands all over touching and feeling my naked flesh.
He produced a low grunt his lips trailing kisses down my neck. I wasn’t the only one having an internal battle…. We both knew we had other serious issues at hand but neither of us is ready to make a decision.
He stopped. He made the decision.
“Why?…” I muttered frowning.. my eyes still close, willing for him to continue.
“When you get back, we are going to revisit this.” He whispered in my ear.
I wasn’t okay with that but i guess is something I could look forward to. Now I would have gathered up all the information I need really quickly and head back to Christian.
I opened my eyes with a sigh, standing up from the crystal gem. “You are right, I should go.”
He stands up also and together we left the cave.
When we got back everyone… most especially my aunt was waiting really impatiently.
“Finally! Can we leave now?” She asked sighing in relief. I nod my head in reply.
I hugged Britney good bye. “You had better give me all the deets on you and Christian when you get back.” She mumbles in my ear before I separated from her.
My uncle whispered a spell opening up a portal to HUDRATS, that’s the name of the school my family owns. It’s a school for witches and wizard. And also anything supernaturally related. The school exists to help people learn their magic.
“Welcome home, honey.” My Aunt gave me a big welcoming smile as we stood by the gates of HUDRATS.
The gates opened widely and we walked in.
“I will be at my important meeting, if you need anything, do not disturb me.” My uncle waved I and my auth goodbye walking away.
“Do not mind him. Come with me.” She beckons leading me on a different direction my uncle took.
Students in the school kept pointing at me, giving me *She’s the one* or *Is she the one* look.
“Don’t be spooked out by the look. You are one popular girl in this school. They have all heard your story and that you are the chosen one.” My aunt said.
“I have been chosen just to break the dragon’s clan curse, I don’t know why it’s a big deal.” I huffed.
“Ohh darling, your destiny is much more bigger that that. You will see.” She smiled warmly, fear engulfed my heart. I hope this destiny is something I can handle.
“And here we are.” She announced opening up the doors of a really big house… and now that am in it, it feels like some sort of coven.
“I will get the things we need, you should light up the candles. I don’t have to instruct you on how to position them right?” She asked walking hastily to a door by the left.
“Yeah, you don’t have to.” I replied.
“The candles are in the cabinet to your right, you would also find some chalks, candle stand and a match box” She shouted from the inner room.
“Got it.” I shouted back.
I took out the chalks, candle stand, candle and match box from the cabinet then got to work.
I set up the place and my aunt brought the other necessary stuffs like incense.
“Are you ready?” My aunt asked. The both of us are currently sitting down in the middle of the circle I drew with the chalks, she already locked up the house from inside so we wouldn’t get disturbed.
“Yes I am.” I nod.
“Alright, let’s do this.” She held my hand tightly, then we started to chant the spell… in no time I was back in the past again, but this time I was unseen.
There he was… Arkalis, but this time around he was slightly older.
Arkalis could be seen standing before a stone alter, a bowl was placed on it. He had twelve wooden dolls with needles on them… I guess he did a binding spell on it.
The binding spell is to lock up the human gene in them. This is my theory.
He poured water in the bowl from a silver cup (chalice) then emptied a bottle of witch hazel in the bowl.
Next he sprinkled salt.. then sprinkled the leafs of vervain in the bowl. Next he puts in the twelve dolls, then pours in his magic…. while chanting…
“Winds in the north, run through the trees.
Three times three, let them see, let them see.
Sands of the east, rich soils beneath.
Three times three, set them free, set them free.
Fires in the south, awaken from sleep
Three times three, let them see, let them see.
Water of the west, flow to the seas.
Three times three, set them free, set them free.
Grant me the powers I seek, let it run through their veins three times three.
Once the cock crows by night time, turn them back.”
He chanted the spell three times over, then he takes a knife and was about doing something with it, but then my time in the past came to an end.
“Why are we back here?” I questioned confused looking around the house.
“We already saw what we needed to see, I didn’t think we had to stay anymore.” My aunt shrugged leaving the circle.
“He held a knife Aunt! We didn’t know why he held it.” I uttered also leaving the circle.
“If you ask me… I say he needs it to turn his portion. We already have the ingredients Ana, and that’s all we need to know.” She pats me on the shoulder calmly walking away.
I know it doesn’t seem like there was anything more to the knife, but I just feel so unsettled. What if there’s more?