Chapter 52

Angelica trudged through the quaint hamlet of Milefield, her journey lasting three arduous hours. Her brother's words perplexed her, filling her with a disquieting sense of apprehension. The ancient prophecy reverberated ceaselessly in her mind, the melody of its words once a lullaby she sang during her youth. Yet now, she couldn't help but ponder upon the legitimacy of its claims. Was it the truth or a mere figment of imagination? Her doubt intensified, a piercing sensation of trepidation clenching her heart.

Her grip tightened around the steering wheel as she commenced singing the song.

"May the Crescent Moon Clan be cursed,
With twins born, one light, one dark,
Forever bound in a fate coercively submersed,
Their destinies sealed, no escape from a starker mark."

She knew the initial stanza to be factual. The Crescent Moon Clan only bore pairs of twins, one embodying malevolence, while the other personified virtue.

"Twins from a single womb, but fated to diverge,
The bright one, meant to mend and lead,
The dark twin, cursed to wield a shadowed charge,
Empowering their clan, each driven with greed.

Countless years passed, the curse held steadfast,
The clan despaired, the twins brought only war,
Until fate intervened, with its gracious grasp,
A sole daughter, born without a twin to endure."

The melody poured from her lips, a haunting lament that filled the car.

"A child born with the might to unseal the witches' portal,
The clan exulted, believing their curse might soon lift
Yet the price for such a boon was steep and mortal,
The human realm forever changed with a single shift.

The girl grew, ignorant of her own fate,
The clan both eager and hesitant for what was to come
Her gift, their chance to escape a tragic state,
But at a cost to herself and all she'd known and loved.

The gate yawned open, the witches poured through,
Two worlds colliding with a jarring shockwave
The human realm's destruction, a horror come true,
The curse vanquished, yet at what cost?”

With a screech of tires, Angelic pulled up outside the unassuming storefront, its sign glowing with the words "Crystals" in bold neon blue. The engine sputtered to a stop as she took in a deep breath, her heart hammering against her chest. It had been eons since she had laid eyes on Crystal, that enigmatic sorceress with whom she had shared so much. The memory of her fated mate's death still haunted her, a scar that never fully healed. The war had been brutal, and Crystal's life had been saved while her own true love had perished. She knew it wasn't Crystal's fault, and yet the bitterness clawed at her heart, a reminder of all she had lost.

Angelica descended from the car with deliberate steps, approaching the door of the shop. But as she reached for the handle, a tremor ran through her, her heart fluttering with rapid beats. She paused, taking a deep breath in an effort to steady herself. The shop's door let out a soft creak as she pushed it open, the clinking of chimes announcing her arrival. And there stood Crystal, untouched by the passage of time. Her fiery locks spilled in untamed waves down her back, the vivid green of her eyes shining bright as ever. A smile exploded across her face as she caught sight of Angelica. "Hello, Crystal," Angelica murmured, her voice timid. The weight of guilt bearing down on her as she faced the years that had passed.

"Angelica! By the Angel, it is simply marvelous to see you!" Crystal exclaimed, her excitement causing her to bounce on her toes as she hurried around the counter to embrace her long lost friend. After a quick hug, Crystal swiftly flipped the sign on the door to closed and locked it, leading Angelica to a cozy back room. "Will you join me for a drink or a bite to eat?" she offered kindly, though Angelica politely declined with a nervous twist of her fingers. The pain of losing her soul mate still weighed heavily on her heart, but so too did the loss of her dearest friend. She sought absolution from Crystal, but did not know quite how to ask for it.

"I beg for your forgiveness, Crystal," Angelica spoke quickly. She clutched onto Crystal's hands as they sat side by side. Crystal's gentle aura seemed to ease Angelica's remorseful heart. "I know that I have left you behind, but I had no choice. The world I had to abandon was too much to bear, and I could not bear the thought of dragging you down with me."

Crystal's words were pure and genuine when she spoke. "Angelica, do not apologize. I comprehend your motives and why you had to leave. I bear no animosity towards you, my dear." Angelica felt her soul lighten at Crystal's words. Her dear friend always had a way of assuring her. How Angelica had missed that soothing presence.

“I come bearing a message from my brother,” Angelica spoke up after a pause.

"Kane? Here but a mere sun's turn past," Crystal exclaimed, eyebrows arched in surprise. "A crescent singleton witch has been marked by those infernal Witch Hunters," Angelica began, but stopped short as Crystal bolted up in alarm. "A crescent moon singleton? Are you certain of this?" Crystal asked, fear etched deeply into her features. "I am afraid so, Angelica confirmed, her tone heavy with sorrow.

"And so the danger looms large upon us," Crystal whispered, her voice heavy with foreboding. "Kane's plight is dire - trapped in the form of a wolf, his power waning by the minute," added Angelica, her brow furrowed with concern. Crystal nodded in agreement. "Fear not, for I shall summon aid from my trusted allies," she declared with a determined gleam in her eye.

"If we falter, then the fate of all hangs in the balance," Angelica breathed, deep anguish etched into the lines of her face. How desperately she longed to flee the realm of the supernatural, to abandon forevermore the weight of their burden. Yet now, in this instant, she knew beyond doubt that she could not deny her destiny nor evade the call to aid her dear brother. For the prosperity of the human world rested solely upon their shoulders.

"We cannot fail," Crystal declared with fierce conviction. Angelica desperately hoped that her companion's words held true, for the unthinkable consequence would be the destruction of all humanity. Yet how on earth could they hope to save the world from this perilous threat? The ruthless crescent moon clan would snatch up Divina in mere minutes, drain her blood, and pry open the door to eternal damnation. Did they possess the strength and power to thwart their nefarious schemes?