Dammit! I smashed the mirror showing Isabella barging in the hospital’s room to stop the doctor and nurses. I was so close and Isabella had to butt in. How the hell did she know something was wrong? Why can’t things just go my way for once?
Why? Elena asked me. Why can’t you just be happy with what you have?
Because it’s not enough, Elena. Can’t you see that? As long as she is here, she’s a threat I yelled back. As long as her baby is here it’s a threat to mine.
But it doesn’t have to be that way, Alaia. She agreed to your terms. She doesn’t want Isaiah. She doesn’t want to be Luna. All these insecurities are of your own making. Can’t you see that Elena snapped back.
Maybe you’ve been spending too much time with Devon. You've been blinded by love. The moment Zira has that baby, we won’t matter anymore. I can feel it.
I’m not blind, Alaia. The only person pulling us from our mate is you. Maybe you’re the one who’s blind. Blinded by the past. Blinded by your jealous nature.
I pushed Elena back to the furthest part of my mind. If only there was a way to get rid of her? What does she know anyway? She’s barely on the surface when these things happen. She only comes out when it’s convenient. I grabbed the sink to steady my breath. I didn't help the fact I already felt queasy from morning sickness.
I fixed the mirror and cleaned the blood around the sink. I walked back to my desk and sat down feeling defeated. I looked at my necklace and there was only a bit of magic left. I was feeling desperate and then I heard it.
The whispers and voices coming from my drawer. I opened it and pulled out the grimoire. The grimoire was speaking to me and I couldn't pick up any words it was saying. So I opened it. Still the pages were blank. I slammed it closed with frustration.
I tried thinking about what Mirja said. Something about sacrifice. I looked at my necklace and back at the grimoire. This was the last of my power, the last little bit of me left, so maybe.
I stepped away from the grimoire in a panic. What if this doesn't work? I wouldn’t be losing much right? I paced around the office looking back at the grimoire every now and then. I groaned in frustration and took off my necklace. I placed it on the grimoire and waited. Nothing happened. I sat down, giving up completely when I noticed a glow from the book.
It was coming from the pages. I reached out to grab my necklace and it was swallowed by the book. I jumped back, not sure what I just saw. My necklace was gone. Everything I left was gone right before my eyes.
The voices came back and the grimoire opened itself onto a blank page. Then out of nowhere an outline of my necklace appeared. I reached out to try to touch it before my necklace slowly disappeared again.
The pages turned black with a glow radiating off of them. I felt a gentle pull towards the grimoire as if something was beckoning me. I knew I was scared but that didn’t stop my hand from floating towards the grimoire.
The moment I touched the pages, the grimoire slammed shut and began to float in the air while casting shadows on the walls. The air moved around as if there was a storm brewing, as paper and small objects swirled around me.
“Alaia,” a voice said as my name echoed through the room.
“Who are you? Show yourself.”
“We are here. We are all around. We are the grimoire.”
The grimoire opened up to reveal its pages, full of words. The words floated off the pages and swirled around me. I could feel it’s power prickling against my skin. The feeling was familiar.
“How,” I heard myself ask.
“You gave us something that’s a part of you. Something worth devouring. You gave us sustenance.”
Sustenance? Is this what Mirja was talking about?
“Power,” it said, gaining my attention. “You want your power back.”
“Yes, please. I just want my old self back.”
“To get oneself, we want something of equal value in return. We need something more from you.”
Something of equal value. I didn't have anything to give at this moment. So what will they want?
“What do you want,” I asked. I bet they could feel my desperation.
“Do you want your power back,” they asked, completely ignoring my question, but they knew exactly how to pique my interest.
“Yes.”
“When you need the power, place your hand on our pages and we will grant you what you wish.”
I hesitated for a moment. This is what Mirja was warning about but I didn't have anything to give. So no harm right. I reached out and the swirling words attached itself to my arms. I can feel the power surging through me like a current. It felt like the first breath you take from holding your breath for a long time.
I felt… Good. The room returned to normal and I went to the mirror. I could see the tattoos sigils down my arm wondering how I was going to explain this to Isaiah. However at the moment I really didn't care. It was time to finally squash my bug. For good.
I grabbed the grimoire and the jade necklace I found in Isaiah's desk to conjure up her location again in the mirror. What I saw was a surprise. Isaiah was there in the motel. I could still influence the situation a bit and flex my newfound powers.
I opened the book and the pages were still blank but I had an idea. Something to test the waters. I touched the pages and I felt the power moving through me. The sigils ran down my arm onto the blank page and the spell I wanted appeared. This was going to be fun.