Blood Prophecy: Kallen's Tale (8 page)

I tilt my head and raise a
brow.  “I did not know that Xandra was such a common name amongst this realm.” 
I chuckle at the look she gives me.

The Angel goes on to
describe three binders.  The first uses Ekstasis, the ability to separate a
Witch from the physical body, like in hypnosis.  This makes the Witch almost
brain dead.

“So he creates vegetables?” 
Xandra asks.

What is she talking about? 
Losing your mind is not equivalent to becoming a carrot.  Not even broccoli. 
Many of her metaphors are lost on me.  “What do vegetables have to do with the
power of Ekstasis?” 

She smiles.  She enjoys when
I am the ignorant one.  “It’s just a term we use when things happen like a car
accident and the person’s body is still alive but their mind is gone.”  Okay,
now I am imagining a giant green bean driving a car.  I still do not get the
reference.  But, I will let it go for now.

“That sounds like an apt
description,” the Angel says.  She goes on to explain how this Louhi can hold a
mind hostage indefinitely.  He must be fun at parties with all those minds
inside his head.

The next binder is able to
plant emotions in one’s mind.  What a useful skill that would be.  As I watch
Xandra and think of all the emotions I would like to plant in her mind, I can
see how this power could easily become addictive.  If I had it, we would not be
sitting here talking to an Angel about Witches.

The third binder practices
Sympathetic magic.  Such a cowardly branch of Witch magic.  You do not ever have
to face your enemy to use this.  It is sort of like playing with evil dolls. 
Instead of tea parties, you torture the dolls to cause physical harm to whoever
they represent.  I shake my head at spinelessness of it all. 

“Do I even want to know what
the last three can do?” Xandra asks. 

I am about to speak when the
Angel says, “One must always know their enemy.”  She took the words right out
of my mouth.

“Fine, lay it out for me. 
I’m guessing they can walk on water and control the elements.”  Doubtful, but I
would not be surprised if Xandra can do those things eventually.  That is a
scary thought.  The weather changing to match her mood swings.  Crops would
never have a chance.

Needless to say, the Witches
cannot do those things.  The next one the Angel describes is a scryer with a
thousand mile range for finding errant Witches.  I have to admit, that is an
impressive range.  Xandra compares him to a bloodhound, which makes me chuckle.

Even her grandmother
smiles.  “He could be compared to one, yes.” 

Xandra’s lips purse for a
moment before she says, “If he’s so good at this, why couldn’t he find Mom?” 
Excellent question.

Her mother’s translucent
lips curve up into a smile.  “Because a very powerful Witch taught me how to
shield myself.”  I suspect it was her Angel blood that shielded her. 
Obviously, I am not going to voice my opinion.

The Angel’s lips form a thin
line.  “Something that Witch deeply regretted when you couldn’t be found.”  If
this family was not so riddled with secrets, so much of this insanity could
have been avoided.  Then again, their secrets led me to Xandra, so thumbs up to
their dysfunction.

The next member of the Witan
is a Summoner who can compel Witches to follow her.  Perhaps I should learn
that skill.  Xandra is rarely good at following someone else’s lead.

“She’s a modern day Pied
Piper,” Xandra says.

Yet another subject I am not
familiar with.  I am beginning to understand how Xandra feels most of the
time.  I find I like it as little as she does.  “I am not familiar with that
reference.”

The amusement in her eyes
makes me wish I had kept my mouth shut.  “It’s a children’s story about what
happens if you don’t keep your word.  Basically, a town hired the Pied Piper to
get rid of rats that were running rampant.  When he did by compelling them to
drown themselves, the town refused to pay him.  To get even, he compelled all
the children except one to follow him away from the town and they were never
heard from again.”

“What happened to the one
left behind?”

“He was pretty lonely after
that.”  I have no idea if she is teasing me or not, but it seems doubtful an
actual Summoner would have outed himself by stealing all the children of a
town.

With a giggle at my confused
expression, Xandra turns to her grandmother.  “What does the last one do?”

It is this one that makes
her grandmother pause.  I also notice Xandra’s mother is trying to hide her
fear.  I have a feeling I know what the last member of the Witan does.  And
Xandra is going to flip out when she hears it.

Patience being an unfamiliar
term for her, Xandra asks again, “What does the last one do?”

Her mother squares her
shoulders and holds her head high.  “Tell her, Mother.”

Still, the Angel does not
speak.  Xandra looks to me but there is no way I am going to speak my hunch out
loud.  I do not want to be the one she takes it out on.  “Will one of you
please tell me?”

“Fatin is a master of
Evocation and Exorcism,” her mother says, admirably covering the fear in her
voice with indifference.

“Exorcism.  Like getting rid
of ghosts?”

I am about to explain that
this is actually a valuable skill, in other situations, of course, but her
mother beats me to it.  “Yes, Xandra, Evocation is the ability to call forth
spirits in preparation for exorcism.”  She sighs.  “Not all spirits who linger
in this plane are good.  Sometimes, a Witch will hold on because he or she
wants to take revenge on an enemy or someone who they believed committed some
wrong against them.  Some will even try to take control of another Witch’s
body.”

“But you don’t do any of
those things so he’ll leave you alone, right?” 

She is so innocent.  I would
like nothing better than to wrap her in my arms and take her as far away from
here as possible.  Instead, I have to stand by and watch threat after threat
come her way.  The only thing I can do is help her learn how these things
work.  I lay my hand on hers and squeeze gently.  “A threat to the ones you
love may cause you to do things you shouldn’t.”  I can tell she knows that I am
referring to her offering to open the realms to each other to save her brother.

“You think they’ll threaten
to exorcise Mom and Dad?”

Innocent.  So innocent. 
They will go after the easier target first.  With a look in her father’s
direction, I say, “I think they will threaten at least one of your parents,
yes.”

Her father understands what
I am saying.  “And I’m the only non-magical one here.  I would be the easiest target.”
 There is fear in the far corners of his eyes.  Good, there should be.  He
truly is the most vulnerable one here. 

A homicidal shadow is
clouding Xandra’s eyes.  I am going to avoid teasing her for the time being. 
Otherwise, I may end up on the wrong side of that shadow.

Her grandmother is thinking
the same thing.  “There are protection spells that may be used against all of
the Witan’s infinities.  As well as spells that can render
their
spells
null and void.  We’ll protect your family – whatever it takes.” 

Something clicks in Xandra’s
mind in regards to her grandmother.  It is apparent in her demeanor.  I do not
know if it is seeing a mirror image of her own homicidal thoughts in her grandmother’s
eyes, or if it a leap of faith, but she is no longer looking at her grandmother
as a potential threat. 

“How long do you think we
have before they arrive?”  Xandra’s father asks.  My guess is they’ll be here
in the morning.

“I would be surprised if
they’re not here by tomorrow morning,” the Angel says.  Hmm, good guess on my
part. 

“Do you really think they
can prepare in that short of time?” Xandra’s mother asks.  In all of history,
wishful thinking has never won a war.  In any realm.  The Witch needs to face
the fact her father is coming to kill her daughter.  Again.  I thought
grandmother was hard on me growing up.  She seems like a pussy cat compared to
the Witch’s family.  Well, a very large pussy cat, with sharp claws and teeth,
and a great deal of power.  Okay, bad analogy.

“What do we do first?” Xandra
asks.  She is getting antsy in her chair.  She needs to do something before her
head explodes.  Or we do, because she is starting to draw magic in her agitated
state.

The Angel turns to me.  “Are
you powerful enough to defend against any of these types of magic?”

“Ekstasis will not work on a
Fairy.  The Fae are too in tune with their mind and body for them to be
separated from each other.  It is the difference between how we draw magic –
filling ourselves with it as opposed to using it externally as Witches do.” 
That sounded more diplomatic than saying our minds are not as weak as Witches’
are.

“Do you think I have that
ability?” Xandra asks.

I wish I could give her a solid
answer on this one.  “I would imagine that is the case.  Your magic is
internal.  You command it from within as I do.”

“Okay, one down and six more
to go.  You said that the tree magic will strip away Maeva’s Seduction?” 
Xandra was paying better attention than I thought she was.  She asks several
more questions about the Witan and how we will defend against each of them. 

When the conversation comes
around to the Summoner again, I am happy to say, “Fairies are also immune to
Summoning spells meant for Witches.”  Superior mind control again.  I will
continue to keep that thought to myself.  I am a bit less smug when I am asked,
“What about Summoning spells for Fairies?”

“If the magic is still
known, it would be effective.”  I do not like admitting that.

“The magic is still known,” the
Angel says.  There is a satisfaction in her eyes that should not be there if we
are on the same side.

The conversation continues
with the surprise of Xandra’s mother being able to create illusions.  Another
Angel trait.  It seems she was kept ignorant of what, exactly, Witches can and
cannot do.  Otherwise, she would have been second guessing her heritage years
ago. 

Finally, after several more
long minutes of rehashing old family tricks from days long gone by, the Angel
rises to her feet.  “Alright, let’s make the mighty oaks become our shield.” 
Exactly what I have been waiting for.

Chapter 6

I have a hard time
containing my curiosity as we go outside.  I am about to witness magic that
even my grandmother has never seen.  The only downside is that I will never be
able to tell her about it.

As we wait for her
grandmother to pick the trees that will be used in the protection spell, Xandra
looks up at me.  “Why are you so excited?”

Guess I should tone it down
a bit.  Taking her hand in mine, I try for indifference.  “I am always
interested in learning about magic I am not familiar with.”

Her narrowed eyes tell me
she is not buying it.  “Uh huh, why do I think you’re not telling me the whole
story?”

Without meeting her eyes, I
say evenly, “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

Fortunately, her grandmother
stops walking and interrupts us to comment on the forest.  “The trees here are
marvelous.  I would have loved to live among them.”  Well, I guess she has her
destination picked out if she chooses to fall again.  Though, considering how
this trip to the Cowan realm turned out for her, I am guessing she will stay
with the Angels from now on.

Turning around to face us,
she says, “There are enough oaks surrounding the house that we will be able to
make a large circle of protection.  Xandra, I need you to take this,” she hands
Xandra a bowl of paste that smells god awful.  It is strong enough that if the
smell lingers on Xandra, it will be difficult to want to be near her.  That
says a lot because I am all about being near her. 

Xandra was squeamish about
adding her blood to the mixture.  She has no idea how powerful blood can be in
a spell.  Her blood, with its mixture of magical heritages, is like shooting a
cannon when you only meant to shoot an arrow.  I am really hoping that the
Angel has kept that in mind.  Then again, she is asking her to do magic that
neither Witches nor Fairies can do, so I am guessing she is keeping that in
mind. 

With a complex marking of
trees, Xandra says a spell with each one.  On the first tree, she says, “From
earth to heaven, I call to thee, Heavenly Divine, guardian of this tree. 
Circle of magic, circle of life, protect us now from mischief and strife. 
Forged images in malevolent aspect, our minds’ eye will forcibly reject.”  The
Angels always made their spells cutesy. 

The second tree, she says, “By
thou who whispers gentle yet strong, thou for whom my soul doth long, I beckon
thee with magic old, let your Divine light, darkness unfold.”

Next is, “By wood and wind,
crimson and clay, your wisdom guides me this fateful day.  Come to me, I beckon
thee, from beyond the gates of death and birth, the one who gives all life upon
earth.  Guide me through this tangled path, of knowledge gained and wisdom’s
wrath.”  Xandra looks confused on that last line.  I admit, it seems a bit odd
to me, as well.

Xandra’s next drawing looks
like a melted wine glass.  I do not think that it is supposed to look like
that.  “The Divine chalice filled with love, water, salt and wing of dove, from
your lips to mine, this elixir of life, hold me fast against nameless strife. 
Fill my body, cleanse my soul, wash away thine enemy’s hold.”

On the next tree, she draws
a stick with a dot on top.  I am assuming the spell works when the thought is
there, not the actual talent of drawing.  “By wind and fire, this molten flow,
brings light from dark in a hollow soul.  Bless me now with your love, light
and power, become one with me this fateful hour.”

I have no idea what her next
drawing is.  I am going to give her the benefit of the doubt and assume that it
is difficult to finger paint on a tree.  “Defender of sky, forest and field,
breathe upon me your heavenly shield.  Humbled by your mighty presence, fill me
with your holy essence.  With my life force held in hand, protect me as I make
my stand.” 

“This last tree will bind
the spell and close the circuit,” The Angel says as she moves to an elder
tree. 

“Shouldn’t it be another oak
tree?”  Xandra asks. 

Her grandmother shakes her
head.  “The elder tree is a magical entity that has enough power to bind the
oaks.”  Something Xandra would have learned if she had been taught, oh,
anything about magic.

The last part of the spell
is the Drawing Down of the Moon.  This is a spell still spoken by Witches, but
not with the same effect it had for Angels.  Or will have for Xandra.

            “Bewitching
Goddess of the cross roads

            Whose secrets
are kept in the night,

            You are half
remembered, half forgotten

            And are found in
the shadows of the night.

            From the misty
hidden caverns

            In ancient magic
days,

            Comes the truth
once forbidden

            Of thy heavenly
veiled ways.

            Cloaked in
velvet darkness

            A dancer in the
flames

            You who are
called Diana, Hecate,

            And many other
names.

            I call upon your
wisdom

            And beseech thee
from this time,

            To enter my
expectant soul

            That our essence
shall combine.

            I beckon thee O
Ancient One

            From far and
distant shore,

            Come, come be
with me now

            This I ask, and
nothing more.”