Of Frost & Cinder (Old Version)

Down the Rabbit-hole

The twigs act as a barrier between me and Pete when moves to sit beside me. 

"What're you thinking, Shell?"

"I don't understand why it didn't work. I did everything right." I toss the map on the floor where Beck had been sitting. "I could feel the magic, but something wasn't connecting properly.  Like I was a repellant instead of a magnet."

His brows crinkle. "I don't mean this negatively or anything, but maybe you're just not strong enough yet? I mean, you literally just learned that you could channel this stuff tonight. Don't be too hard on yourself."

"I don't know."

"Besides, you've had one heck of a day."

"Yeah, a day full of murder," I sigh.

Pete ignores my quip. "Maybe we can try again when circumstances are more forgiving?"

I shake my head. "But the thing is, I feel like I can do it. The magic was there. It was willing, but it felt...blocked. It felt like I could almost reach it, but the rope I was tied down with was too short."

"I can do it," I say after being slammed with a revelation.

Without hesitation, I shift into the middle of the circle, reaching around to reposition all of the candles upright and into their original positions.

"That's a bad idea—"

"Trust me," I give him a nod to reassure him, but the skepticism never leaves his face. I position the map on the floor between my legs and the witch-hazel fence and take a large breath to refocus. I can hear the others arguing behind me for a brief moment, until I'm able to force them out of my head.

I stretch out my palms, aiming them at the candles, and whisper, "Incaendo."

After a hesitant second, all four candles surge to life, the flames licking high until they reach my eye-level again.

Pete jumps back. "Um, Olivian?"

I light the remaining two candles.

"Not now Pete," she pushes out between the long strings of curses expelled at Beck. It's less than a second later that she shrieks, "What are you doing!"

Ignore her. You've got this. The energy surges back as my surroundings rise.

Hecate, to you, this spell we speak

Lead us to the one we seek

The room immediately begins to swelter and the humid air sticks to my skin, saturating my body in sweat. I breathe out. Breathe in. Focus.

Unearth her soul, our sister lost

Through water, air, and fire crossed

The blood on the map begins to lift from the pages, forming into boundless blobs above the pamphlet, waiting to be guided.

Hecate, to you, this cry we plead

Guide us to the one we need

Olivian tries to penetrate the circle, but we're locked together, contained and barricaded by an invisible force. Finally, I can feel the Umbra magic snaking along my skin, soothing me in a familiar embrace.

Reveal her heart, our brethren gone

Through metal, earth, and air cast on