Sargon and Marie walked silently to Marie's room. He opened the door, holding it open for her.
After they both entered, he closed the door behind him and leaned on it silently looking at her and then at the floor.
Marie could see he felt helpless. His energy felt so sad and heavy.
She walked up to him and reached her arms around his neck hugging him tightly.
She felt him exhale, releasing tension into her arms the longer she held him. She absorbed as much of his hurt as she could.
She gently released her arms from around his neck and cradled the side of his face with her hand.
"I am going to work as fast as I can. Do not let anyone interrupt me. I need to focus. Place a guard at my door if needed. Remember, no matter what is heard, this door must stay closed. No one shall enter, not even you." She said softly.
Sargon lifted her chin and gently kissed her. "Thank you." He said as he walked out and closed the door behind him.
Marie placed her hand on the door and took a deep breath. "I can do this." She whispered.
She walked over to the table near the balcony entrance and observed the contents on it. She quickly cleared everything off and started removing items from her bag.
She pulled out her mother's spellbook. She hadn't used it since she lost her mother, but she knew she would need it.
Most of the spells she had memorized when she was in training. Her mother made sure of it, but there were some spells that she had forgotten.
She wanted to use Beth to reveal the witch who was causing the harm, but she would have to do it alone. Time was running out.
She stopped for a moment and pulled out her mother's letter and looked at the back of it.
She read the spell her mother wanted her to use to give her powers full strength. She wondered if she needed it. She was afraid she wouldn't be strong enough to save Vianna. This was her biggest concern. She didn't have enough faith in her power.
She crumpled the paper in her hand and slammed her fists on the table, bracing herself with both hands as she rocked back and forth. She had to save this child. She could die if she couldn't bring her back. This family could not handle that.
She unfolded the crumpled letter and smoothed it out. She neatly folded it and placed it back in the back of the book.
Marie flipped through the book until she found the perfect spell.
A witch can invade a person's body in many ways to do their bidding. Children are easier targets because they are inviting and trusting. They also spread the curse to others depending on the type of spell used. She read.
For this spell, she would need additional items. She quickly took a piece of paper off the desk in the room and began writing a list. When she finished, she ran to the door, pulling it open.
"I need the Alpha!" She said to the guard standing outside of her door.
Sargon went down the hall to his room after leaving Marie. He had too much on his mind that he needed to figure out.
The guard, escorting Marie, knocked on Sargon's door. A few moments later, Sargon opened the door. Before the guard could say anything, Marie barged into the room.
"I am sorry, but I figured out what could save Vianna. I need you to get me these things." She said, giving Sargon the list of items.
"Aright. Are you sure this is everything?"
Marie was thoughtful for a moment. "No! I need a doll. It must be one that Vianna really likes, preferably one that looks like her. Oh, and a piece of jewelry, like a necklace. See if her mother has anything she can give her. I also need a kettle of hot water immediately. Hurry!"
"Ok, give me a few moments. I will send a maid with the kettle and then I will bring everything else to you myself." He said, as Marie thanked him and left his room.
Marie and the guard rushed back to her room.
"When the maid brings the kettle, knock on the door. I will come get it. When Sargon arrives, let him in, please." She instructed.
"As you wish my lady." The guard replied.
"Thank you." Marie said, closing the door behind her.
Marie walked over to her bag and pulled out her black salt and white chalk. She drew a very large pentagram in the middle of the floor and placed her candles in it.
She removed her protection stones from her bag and placed them on the pentagram as well.
By the time she finished setting up, a knock on the door indicated that the kettle had arrived.
She took the kettle from the maid and walked over to the table where her tools were located.
She then poured a cup of hot water into a teacup and placed a mixture of mugwort, myrrh, lavender, and a few additional herbs in it. She stirred the mixture setting her intention. She covered it and let it steep.
She walked over to the bed and sat on it for a moment to slow down her rapidly beating heart. She would do the spell to confirm who the witch that was harming this family.
"I can do this. I am my mother's daughter." She convinced herself.
Sargon would take a moment to retrieve the things she needed to help Vianna. She would also need to complete the reveal spell before breaking the spell placed on her.
Marie began feeling overwhelmed. She hopped off the bed and walked over to the balcony. Opening the doors, she walked outside to see the sun beginning to rise. The cold air blew her long hair in the wind as she wrapped her arms around herself.
She looked over at the garden and imagined what it would be like if she had a garden as lovely as what she looked at and the peace in her life to match it. She wondered if she would have to become the inevitable in order to protect the ones she grew to care about.
Marie pushed her thoughts out of her mind and began focusing on what she needed to do.
She walked back into the room and closed the doors to the balcony. Picking up the cup of tea, she removed the cover and began to drink it slowly.
When she finished the tea, she lit her candles in the pentagram and placed herself in the center of it. She slowly lay down and closed her eyes.
Taking three deep breaths she whispered:
"A deep sleep reveal to me, the enemy that haunts our dreams…un fiat fiat"
The herbs in the tea made Marie lightheaded, placing her into a slumber. She lay on the floor motionless as she began seeing colors spiraling.
Marie found herself in a green field of hills and valleys with sunflowers everywhere. The sun was bright and warm, and the breeze was cool.
She was wearing a white dress that blew in the wind. Her hair was pulled back with two twists as the rest of her hair fell in the back. White flowers were woven through her hair.
She looked around, realizing that she was alone. Reaching down, she touched one of the sunflowers that crumbled into a cloud of dust.
Suddenly, the sky turned dark, and she found herself in a cave. Bats circulated towards the top of the cave as Marie ducked out of their way.
The walls were covered with old bones and a dark burnt substance.
Marie looked behind her but there was only darkness. She slowly walked down the pathway and tried to do a spell to create a light, but her magic wouldn't work.
A green light emitted from the end of the cave drawing Marie towards it.
"It took you long enough. Your mother was much quicker at figuring things out." Sybil cackled.
Marie tried to take a step back, but she couldn't move. Sybil was controlling her.
"Did you really think you could look for me and stop me? You are cute. You couldn't even fulfill your own destiny, much less save a bunch of worthless wolves." She growled.
Sybil stood up and walked towards Marie. "You are more beautiful than your mother. We can fix that." Sybil cackled as she slashed her nails across Marie's face. Marie could feel the blood running down her face.
"No!" Marie whispered as Sybil smiled.
"Your mother would never be caught dead trying to save the enemy. Oh wait, she is already dead." Sybil said forming a sad face to mock Marie.
"Look at you, saving wolves and falling for them. What a waste of The Chosen."
Marie tried to cast a spell, but she still couldn't move much less use her magic. She knew Sybil was strong but not this strong.
"What do you want?"
"I want your power and I will get it. Don't worry. When I do, all the wolves will be gone, and you will have the same fate as your mother." Sybil smiled.
She reached for a dagger and sharpened it on a stone.
"You could have been so much more than you are. What a pity. This will hurt you more than it will hurt me, but I need a whole lot of your blood in order to take your powers so hold still. Wait, you have no choice." Sybil cackled.
Sybil grabbed Marie's hand and turned it over, exposing her wrist as she raised the dagger up and swiftly forced it downward.