CHAPTER 145: SAVE THE KING
I ignored the chanting and the energy that came out from what Emaline was doing and tiptoed towards the bookcase.
I had no idea if trusting in some books was all that I needed but I had to trust my guts that I would find something. Anything at all.
As soon as I got to the bookcase, I ran my hands across the lined-up books, my fingers brushing against leather-bound books. I inhaled the scent of the old paper ignoring the dusty books that were mostly on history and herbalism. That wasn’t what I needed. Something of symbols and strange runes would do or at least something like marking the floor.
But there was nothing or maybe, I couldn’t place my hands on anything that made sense to me. I dropped down the books not minding if Emaline might hear the thuds and come after me there. Searching endlessly through the piles of these books pained my eyes. My hands had begun to grow weak and I could feel the wetness in my eyes. The more I delayed, the more my chances of saving Kieran drew thin. I wished I could just hit her off with a stool and gag her mouth but the lights had become so high that I might die if I tried to do anything of that sort.
Just as I was about to give up, my fingers brushed against a worn-looking book that had an emerald cover.? The front had a symbol that looked just like the one that Emaline had just poured the purple liquid onto.? I swallowed. This could be it.
I yanked the book open scanning through the faded text. Everything seemed vague and filled with instructions about ancient magic long forbidden.
“There has to be something here,” I whispered scanning through, and just as I had thought,? my eyes landed on a passage highlighted in faded gold ink.
“The ceasing spell, bingo.”
I held the book up with my eyes still on the words. It was my chance.? Reading through ancient magic text wasn’t as easy as I had thought it would be. The words just didn’t make sense e and so it was impossible to make out anything. But the clock was ticking and Kieran was being drained of his soul.
I took a deep breath forcing myself to focus.
“Focus Clara, this is your only chance. You’ve got this.”
I shut my eyes for a minute and when I opened them again, they weren’t just my eyes opening, they were my inner eyes. The special eyes that being the chosen one had gifted me with. It could see beyond the normal. And so, reading the text again through my eyes, I could finally understand it.
I couldn’t let the tension in the room get in my way. So, I began saying the chants and practicing the hand motions. It needed both to stop Emaline. Finally, it was time.
I slammed the book shut.? It was time to act.? Raising my voice above Emaline’s chanting, I began to recite the words again and do the hand gestures from the book. My hands began to tremble.
As I spoke, I felt the energy reducing. The lights from the symbols under Emaline’s feet were reduced.? And her eyes snapped open. They were wide with shock and anger.
But I didn’t stop, I kept on saying the words even louder. Emaline tried to keep up with her chants but mine were much more powerful as I combined both wills. Gradually the lights reduced and finally went off.
Emaline stumbled back as the force threw her against the wall and the book in her hand burst into flames.
As soon as I saw her against the wall, I rushed towards the altar where Kieran lay. His body was cold when I touched him. I began to unfasten the straps that bound Kieran.
“Kieran, please open your eyes,” I said.
“Oh God” he mumbled.
“It’s okay, I’m here,” I whispered, finally freeing him.
“Who are you?” He asked.
I stopped for a second and watched him trying to keep his eyes open, “you might have hit your head hard. You’ll be alright,” I kept on strong.
Kieran began to shake, snapping me back to the present.
“Oh Clara, you are alive. I thought the witches took you away. She made me wage a war amongst them. I’m so sorry”
“Kieran it’s okay, I’m here.,” I watched as his eyelids shut once more.? This time, however, his body had become stiffened.
“Kieran!” I screamed, scrambling to my feet, and throwing my arms around him.? His body remained rigid.
“What did you do to him?” I roared. I could hear my breathing.
I left Kieran and faced Emaline who stood in the doorway, a cruel smile twisting her lips. She had cast a spell on the room that had somehow made the guards unaware of what was going on. So, I was on my own.
“Oh, don’t worry,” Emaline purred, “He’s just… transitioning.? Becoming one with my love.”
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Emaline’s smile widened.? “The ritual, my dear, I completed it before you interrupted our little… performance.”
My stomach lurched.? No.? It couldn’t be.? I had disrupted the ritual. It had to have worked.
“You’re lying,” I said.
Emaline chuckled, “There’s no point in lying anymore,” she said.? “You see, the ritual doesn’t need anything big or long to get it done. A simple touch and whispered word… that’s all it took to forge a connection.”
She raised a hand towards Kieran, “And the connection is already formed.? Unfortunately, your little stunt may have disrupted the vessel, but the essence… the essence is already bound.”
My mind reeled.? She was right. And I was fucked. So was Kieran.
I knew that there had to be a way to stop all of this.
“There has to be another way to get him back and I’m going to find it and when I do, you would regret ever touching Kieran.
Emaline chuckled, “I’m not afraid of Clara. There is in did a way to stop this from happening. But that would mean the end of Kieran,” she laughed out even loud.
“What is it?” I asked, ignoring her laughter.
“You Clara. You have the powers to draw out the essence… both of them.? There’s a chance you’ll expel the bound soul, leaving Kieran whole.”
I didn’t like the glint in her eyes, she was tricky.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because even if I let you leave, you will always come back so it is either you let me have his body. At least he would still be alive or you’d let your selfishness kill him. The ball is in your court. Surprisingly, it’s now your decision to make.”
The thought of Kieran being trapped away while someone else took over his own body was horrible. And then absorbing a life force in a case like this without hurting Kieran was impossible. The thought of him dying haunted me and the worst part of that thought was that I would be the one responsible. What would I tell our child? I needed him. I needed Kieran. I wished I was the one lying there and him here. He always knew what to do.
I looked at Kieran’s place face and lifelessness.? His eyes fluttered open for a moment. They met mine, I rushed towards him. Tears flowed down my eyes.
“Hey,” I sniffed.
“Clara,” he called out, his voice barely above a whisper.? “Do it.? Please… I’d rather die than…”
His voice trailed off, but I had already gotten the message.? He wouldn’t live a life possessed by another.
“I could kill you. I’m not strong enough. I’m not ready for this.”
“Hey, you’ve got this. I believe in you,” His voice was weak.
I knew it wasn’t the time to show weakness but it was Kieran, the man that I solely loved. And whom I carried his child. I couldn’t help my emotions.
The decision was no longer mine.