Chapter 82- Into The Thorns

“You’re really going to do this?” Levi asked with a look of loneliness.
“I will be fine. After all you were the one that said my light was my greatest power,”
“That’s when you were fighting a demon. Not becoming one,” he muttered with ice.
“I am not becoming a demon. I won’t allow the darkness to settle. There is too much at stake,” Crystal defended herself. Yeah, she was terrified that the darkness would corrupt her. But she needed someone to believe in her. She had thought that Levi would have been that person, giving her support and the strength she needed.
“I am scared of losing you,” he whispered, and she smiled.
“You have to have me to lose me,” she joked and watched the light return to his eyes.
“Are you ready?” asked Margon as she waltzed into the attic with a large cardboard box in her arms.
Crystal and Levi both watched silently as she placed the dark objects in order on the floor. Black candles that were placed at each point of a star. Black dust that made up the star and in the centre was a brass bowel.
“Now, you need to slice your hand with this,” Margon handed her a gold dagger that was riddled with jewels.
“You must do so when you utter the last word of the spell. Your blood needs to hit the water as you begin the spell again,”
“And if it doesn’t?” Crystal asked.
“Then a new virus will be born,”
“No pressure then,” she mumbled as she sat crossed legged inside the star.
“Let’s begin,” Margon ordered, and Crystal began to chant following her instructions.
The water bubbled and foamed as her blood swirled inside. She felt a pressure inside her heart and her words became low, almost inaudible.
“You must continue. Ignore the pain and keep going,” Ordered Margon and Crystal closed her eyes and let the words tumble out of her mouth; she put power behind them and almost bellowed the Latin words. She gritted her teeth as the pain became unbearable while trying to keep the chanting going.
Her body began to shake uncontrollably, yet she still chanted until a pressure filled her head and everything became black.
***
“Crystal!” Levi hollowed as he rushed towards her lifeless form. He was thrown back by an invisible shield cracking his skull on the stone wall.
“The spell is complete,” Margon said firmly.
“At what cost! Her life!” he was beyond angry and wanted to rip the old woman to shreds.
“She is not dead. The spell as taken its toll. She will be fine by morning,” Margon said using her hand to wipe the black dust way and deform the star.
She stepped into what was once the symbol and brushed Crystal’s hair away from her face.
“You my girl are brave. You will save us. That I have faith in,” Levi felt his heart melt as he looked at the tenderness that Margon held towards her granddaughter.
“Take her to her room. Let her rest,” she ordered, and Levi scooped her up in his arms. She clung to his t-shirt and let out a small moan as he made his way to the second floor.
The girl was beyond insane. The lengths in which she would go too were too much for Levi to handle. If he had lost her, he wouldn’t be able to live. She had given him back his life. If she died, she would take his soul with her. Leaving him empty and numb inside, the world was cruel to her, to them all. Day after day they were finding themselves fighting to survive.
What if she couldn’t fight the darkness inside her? What if it consumed her? They were questions he would know the answers to in time. All he could do was be there for her. Remind her of the girl that she was and pray that she was strong enough to overcome whatever was sent her way.
***
Perl wondered through the streets. In her hand she held a gem that was coated in her blood and had been charmed to locate anyone that shares her blood. It had proved useless. Not once did the stone glow to show that she was close. Not even a flicker.
Sighing she entered a café. A cup of coffee and a sandwich would give her the strength to carry one searching. She sat by the window while she waited for her order, when a man came in pushing a stroller. The gem glowed a bright blue. Jumping from her seat she strode over to the man and baby who was now queuing to order. She bent down and put her hand over her mouth. The baby was half black American and witch. There was no doubt in her mind. He held the bright green eyes of their kind.
She looked up at the man who was staring at her oddly.
“Have we met?” he asked, he also was black American.
“No, sorry your baby is just beautiful, I love his green eyes. They’re just dazzling,” Perl responded with a welcoming smile.
“He gets them from his mother,” the man said with a smile.
“He’s a beauty,”
“Thank you,” the man replied as he turned to make his order. Perl unstrapped the child while the man was occupied and dashed out the door holding him close to her chest.
“My baby!! Stop that woman!” he yelled after her. Perl ran and jumped in a cab.
“White Chapel please,” she said, and the cab pulled away as the baby’s father made it to the sidewalk. She hadn’t really thought it through. She wasn’t only planning on murder, but she had just committed kidnap.
The baby began to cry, loud piercing sheiks. She had no idea how to care for a baby and tried rocking him backwards and forwards making shhing sounds. Yet the child got louder.
Still with a screaming baby she thanked and paid the driver before making her way to her motel room.
When she entered her room, she placed the wriggling baby onto the bed and began to search the internet. “How to care for a child” it sounded simple. If they cry, change their bum. If that doesn’t work feed them. She needed supplies. What was she thinking? She didn’t want to care for the child. Sighing she dropped down on the bed and studied the baby.
He was beautiful with his dark skin and piercing eyes. He had Ruby’s button nose and sharp facial features. He would grow up to break many hearts. But he wasn’t going to grow up thanks to her. The voice in her head was driving her crazy. Blowing out a puff of air she picked up the baby and headed out. She couldn’t just kill him. Supplies then she would think about how she would go about the next step.
Giving the child another glance, she couldn’t believe that the baby could end them all for simply existing. All he had done was be born. He didn’t choose to be born into the crazy world that she was involved in. He had no choice and would pay for the sins of his ancestors.