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It was the night before the wedding, and I laid in my bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to find the peace I desperately craved. Alice had insisted I head home and get some beauty sleep, but sleep felt like a distant dream. Instead, my mind raced with anticipation, a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions swirling around.
I could already picture the house adorned with flowers, the soft glow of fairy lights twinkling like stars, and most importantly, Emmett waiting for me at the end of the aisle. Every little detail played over and over in my mind—the way my dress would flow, the sound of my heels, and the moment when I would say, "I do." But amidst the joy, a nagging fear lingered in the back of my mind, a reminder of the impending transformation that awaited me just days after.
I shook my head gently, trying to push those thoughts aside and refocus on the joy of the day ahead. I tossed the covers aside and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. Just a few inches away lay the Book of Shadows, its worn cover catching my eye. A smile spread across my face as I stood up and crossed the small distance between us. I picked up the book and cradled it in my arms, feeling a sense of comfort as I brought it back to my bed.
As I settled into the centre of the bed, I placed the Book of Shadows before me and opened its pages. Despite my best efforts, I still hadn't made it through the entire book; my focus had been consumed by wedding planning. Even if I hadn't been preoccupied with that, I felt certain there was still more to discover within these ancient pages.
As I turned the page the book began to flip through its pages on its own, moving at an astonishing speed. It continued until it slowed down and eventually settled on a page featuring the title "Handfasting" elegantly inscribed. It felt as if the book had a mind of its own, guiding me to this particular page as if it sensed my upcoming marriage.
On the page, just beneath the title, was an illustration of two pairs of hands joined together, bound by a deep red ribbon intricately wrapped around them. Beneath the illustration was a block of text, and I began to read the words carefully, taking in each line written on the page.
"Handfasting is the eternal joining of two people in Love. It is a sacred ceremony of commitment, presided over by a High Priestess. Best performed at a time of sunrise or sunset where both the Sun and the Moon are present in the joining of the two lovers,"
The entire concept of the ceremony sounded beautiful, and it would be the final act I performed as a witch. With my Grams' help, we crafted a potion that would ease me into death. We had to create a spell to accompany the potion, ensuring it would have the necessary effects. Emmett's venom had already been added to the potion—just a small droplet. When I drink it, I would need to recite the spell, and then Emmett would have to bite me, releasing more of his venom to complete the transformation.
Tears splashed onto the page, and it wasn't until then that I realised I was crying. Crying had become a constant companion these past few weeks. It would break anyone's heart to give up everything that defined who they were.
