Renewed Magic (The Ancient Magic Series Book 2)

by Stephany Wallace

  “Briana, no!” Cyn's voice resounded somewhere in the background, but I was too blinded to hear.

  I stopped about ten feet from Leigh and pointed the Spear of Light at him. His sky blue eyes widened and filled with terror just as the ray shut out from the crystal.

  Time stopped.

  Grandpa’s blue eyes replaced Leigh’s, and his voice blocked everything else.

  “…I didn't want to darken your essence. Let the pain and the bitterness change you…”

  The air was sucked out of me as time resumed. My hand closed over the sphere blocking the ray and stopping it from killing Leigh. It went into my body instead. A Jarring scream escaped my lips as what felt like pure lighting rushed through me without an outlet. Its power struck me over and over, and it was everywhere at once, in my veins, in my heart, on my skin, in my core. I was barely aware of my body convulsing with each charge of power the sphere released into me, until I saw Cyn's horrified face in front of my eyes. He reached for me, but the energy threw him several feet back.

  My words came back, mocking me.

  “… I know what people are capable of, but that doesn’t change who I am or who I decide to become….”

  My knees gave out and my body crumbled to the ground, but I refused to let go of the sphere. No one else would die for my mistakes. My eyes rolled back as another lightning shocked me. It ran through me like the rest, while I hopelessly tried to regain control. I vaguely noticed Leigh being taken by the soldiers. They began to beat him on the ground. Our eyes met once more, and I could see the new terror in him, it grew as the ones he trusted turned on him. My back arched when the energy finally found its outlet. It exploded through my head, and the bright light clouded my vision, consuming everything inside and out until there was nothing left.

  I gave into the light.

  CHAPTER 15. BLESSED

  BRIANA

  The light and I were one.

  * * *

  From the void I was immersed in, I could suddenly sense the light begin to recede. I had no recollection or grasp of how long I had been in this empty space, except that I had been here. It felt infinite.

  My senses awakened one by one while the light continued to dissipate. I could clearly hear my heart beating now, feel my chest rise and fall with my steady breathing, as the oxygen filtered through my nose and the remains left my lungs. The hazy veil that hindered my vision was gently removed.

  The light was gone.

  My eyelids fluttered with the effort it took to finish pulling myself from the void. Warmth reached my hand, and a familiar feeling traveled through me.

  “I am here, my Goddess. I am with you.”

  Cyn's face appeared before my eyes. I smiled and lifted my hand to his face. My thumb caressed his cheek while I tried to clear the fog from my mind.

  “You are all right, Briana. Nothing happened to you.”

  I looked at him amused. What an odd thing to say. Of course nothing had happened to me. I was just sleeping. Still, I couldn't remember what I was doing before I fell asleep. All I could see was a bright light.

  “How long have I been sleeping? Why aren’t you in bed with me, baby?”

  Cyn’s gaze filled with concern. “How long have I been sleeping?” I asked again. An odd feeling settled inside me. There was something I needed to remember.

  “Only a day,” He answered, confused.

  “Why would you say that? That nothing happ…” The question died on my lips as the images bombarded my mind. The fighting, the blood, the dead soldiers at my feet. My horrified gaze met Cyn's. I sat up. “What have I done?”

  “No, Bri..”

  “Cyn…” My trembling hand flew to my mouth. “Marcus…” My eyes watered and I shut them trying to force the images out of my mind. “Where are the Warriors? Where's Eisha, Art?” I tried to get up, but he held me down. “Please, Cyn. I need to know they are ok,” I said, as the anxiety grew inside me. “I need to know they are not hurt because of me.”

  He pulled me into his arms and held me. “They are all right. Everyone is all right, thanks to you. Even Felix. Your protection spell saved them. They are all safe.”

  Relief rushed through me even as dread filled me. “I’m sorry. I should have listened to you, but I couldn’t let go of the pain… the loss. I thought I could, I tried but I had this need inside me, a force driving me forward and all I wanted was justice.” My eyes searched his for forgiveness, for understanding although I knew I didn’t deserve it. “Oh, Cyn. I killed those men.” The tears spilled from my eyes while the lifeless bodies of the Roman soldiers haunted me. Cyn kissed my forehead and pressed his against it. “What have I done?” I asked once again not knowing the answer.

  “What you had to do to protect your people, what we have all done to protect our Druid family, Briana. You did what you needed to do.” He leaned back and looked into my eyes. “You were right before when you said they needed to know what we were capable of. That we could not keep hiding from them while they hunted us down and killed our loved ones. Perhaps, if we had stood up to them before, things would have been different.”

  “It doesn’t feel like I did what you would have done.” I looked at my hands remembering the blood I spilled. “It didn’t register, Cyn. I didn’t feel the pain or the shock that I should have felt taking a human life. I didn’t even think. I just reacted. I attacked.”

  “No. You defended yourself. You defended me. I would have killed every single one of them if they had hurt you, Briana. That is something I know without a shadow of a doubt. You reacted when they shot at me like I would have, if they had shot at you. The way I did when they took you from me.” He cradled my face. “I wanted to keep you pure, because from the two of us you are the light, Briana. However, I failed to see one thing. You and I are more alike than we think. How could we not be when we are born from the same essence?” He kissed me and looked into my eyes. “We can both be Warriors and Priests. Be strong and bring peace into our druid family. We can both forgive and protect.” He took a deep breath and took my hand in his. I held him tightly, needing his comfort. “The words the Warriors shared with Marcus in the tent were not born from a need to please your desire. They were forged from a need to have this persecution against our people cease. We all have had enough, Briana. Yesterday we showed them who we are. We showed them that we are not alone and that they cannot toy with us as they please. We are strong, and we have allies. We are a force they did not expect. You are a force to be reckoned with, and now they are aware of that.”

  It would take a while before I could come to terms with what I had done, but I was thankful for his words, and I could see the truth in his eyes.

  “Thank you.” My eyes suddenly widened, and dread filled me. “Leigh! Where is he?”

  Cyn looked at me, pained. “They took him. We tried to stop them, but it occurred while you were battling the light from your staff and we were not able. It all happened so fast. They hurt him badly. They used him and filled his mind with lies so he would help them, and once they had no more use for him, they tried to kill him. I probably could have stopped them but you…” His eyes filled with fear. “You were weak, and I thought the light was killing you, my Goddess. I thought I was losing you.” He shook his head perplexed. “Nevertheless, the light did not hurt you.”

  “… The light shall not hurt you…”

  My eyes widened, it was Asrhia’s message. Did she know I would go after Leigh, and was trying to tell me I could stop it?

  “She was right.”

  “Who was right?”

  I shook my head. “No one. I’m sorry I scared you. The truth is I scared myself.” I tried to get up but Cyn stopped me. I frowned. My mind told me I should feel weak, or hurt after the battle but I felt perfectly fine.

  “Are you all right?”

  I looked into his eyes, wondering the same thing. “Yes, I'm fine.” He nodded and gave me his hand, helping me get up. I stood, and the first thing I noticed was my Warrior suit
lying on top of the trunk. My hands reached my stomach pulling the soft cotton away from my body. “Did you change me into my pj's?”

  He smirked and nodded. “And I enjoyed it.”

  I chuckled and hugged him. Reaching for the suit, I lifted it and gently caressed the outline of the Goddess. I took the cloth that Seima had wrapped it in and folded the suit the same way she had, placing it inside the sack.

  “Never again.”

  I told Cyn, and he nodded accepting my decision. He lifted the lid of the trunk, and we placed the suit inside. I took a deep breath, willing myself to move on.

  “Briana, wait. There is something I must tell you.”

  I smiled walking towards the tub. “What? You did a little more than change me into my pj's while I was knocked out?” I turned to wink at him, but I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror. I staggered back at what I saw. My hands flew to my mouth and I gasped loudly. I looked at myself, shocked.

  “I am truly sorry, my Goddess. I wanted you to learn it from me.”

  My breathing became ragged, and my hand began to tremble as it left my mouth and touched the mirror. “My hair,” I whispered looking down at my shoulder while my hands reached for it. Thick black strands of hair disrupted the red I was once so proud of. They framed my face as they seem to originate in my scalp, and mixed with different sections. I lifted it to my eyes, and they filled with tears. Parts of my hair had turned black as charcoal, after the lightning force had burst out of me. My gaze returned to the mirror, and I put both hands on it. I looked at the strange strands, following their curve and length through my hair over and over again. Dread filled me. The truth was staring me right in the face. There was darkness in me, no matter what Cyn thought of me, I had darkness inside my essence, and this would forever be a reminder of how I had succumbed to it.

  I turned towards Cyn and walked to him as my heart tore. He attempted to wipe my tears, but I stopped him.

  “We all have weaknesses and strengths, and realizing them helps us be a better version of ourselves. We must be certain of what they are so we can manage them or avoid them. It makes us who we are, and it pushes us to who we should become. Now you know yours.”

  I shook my head feeling desolate. I closed my eyes and kneeled before Cyn.

  “Briana…”

  “Please,” I said interrupting him. “Please bless me, Cyn.” My lips trembled as I looked up to him and held his hand. “I need you to bless me.” I kissed his hand and put it on my head like the villagers did. I didn't want to feel lost again. I didn't want to lose myself again. “Please…” I begged. When I opened my eyes, he was kneeling in front of me. His eyes shone as he looked into mine. He nodded. I closed my eyes and felt him put his right hand over my heart. “I'm sorry, Grandpa,” I whispered ashamed, and heard Cyn recite the words I had heard him used so many times before.

  * * *

  “Grant Oh Mother, what I ask today,

  Sanctify the essence before me,

  Use me as your humble instrument and

  Pass on your blessing through me…

  Let it be so.”

  * * *

  I could tell the moment his hands glowed because my skin started to tingle. Then a small gasp escaped my lips as a rush of the most beautiful feeling I had ever experienced transferred from his hands to me. It spread over my skin and seeped into my pores reaching the very recesses of my soul. It was light and peace, love, understanding, and everything I had imagined the pure love of a mother would feel like, if I was ever touched by one. In this moment, I was. The Mother Goddess was blessing me through him. New tears fell from my eyes, but this time they were tears of delight and wonder. The feeling turned into warmth and overwhelming peace, and something opened up inside my heart. Suddenly, the pain was gone, the hurt, the loneliness the loss were nothing but a faint memory. The Goddess had blessed me, and I had never felt her before. I did now. I could feel her love flowing from Cyn and into my heart, pure and unwavering. Cyn removed his hands from me, and I opened my eyes as the feeling remained inside me.

  “I can feel her, Cyn. She's in my heart… I can feel the Mother Goddess. She's with me. She has always been with me.” I sobbed, smiling as the love she had given me astounded me.

  He kissed me while his eyes filled up with emotion and held me tightly in his arms.

  “Thank you,” I whispered, as we remained there. Kneeling on the floor, undone and yet complete by the overpowering sensations we had just shared through our connection.

  “I want to do the initiation, Cyn.” Whispered in his ear and he leaned back looking into my eyes. I offered him a small smile. “I want to go into Tha naomh bolg de aiseirigh and cleanse my essence. I am ready.”

  His lips curved into my favorite smile and his dimple winked at me.

  “Then it shall be so.”

  EPILOGUE. REBORN

  CYNWRIG

  * * *

  The modest white linen dress moved with each step Briana took as we walked towards the cave. My eyes roamed every inch of her. I already missed not having her in my arms that night.

  I was in awe of her. The resilience of her heart amazed me. She was such a young soul compared to ours. Nevertheless, after everything she had been through, she still found a way to accept and keep moving forward. Such was the strength of the human spirit.

  “My Goddess.” We stopped at the entrance of the cave, and I brought her hands to my lips, kissing them.

  “A destiny of peace and selflessness awaits me.” Briana said, using my earlier words and I smiled.

  “That is our hope. The darkness takes each of us through a different journey of awareness. The light pulls us out and gives us all a calling. It might not be the one we expected; yet it is the one we are destined to fulfill. It offers a new chance for our lives to be meaningful. I am protection. I always knew I wanted to be a Warrior, but our Mother Goddess’ light made it my destiny. It proclaimed it and once it was so, I would never be able to turn back from my calling.”

  “I understand.” Her hand reached for my cheek and her pinkie pushed against my dimple. I grinned, and she raised herself on her toes kissing it. “I can do this,” She added looking into my eyes, and I had no doubt she could.

  “I am certain you can.”

  “Well, little Sis. We will see you in the morning.” Art pulled her to him and gave her a hug. “Don’t let the rats bite you.”

  “There are rats in there??” She asked horrified, and Art laughed.

  “Ouch!” He whined, after Eisha’s hand hit him upside the head.

  “Do not pay attention to him.” She stepped closer and embraced Briana as well. “I will be here in the morning with these two. I will see you then.”

  “Thank you,” Briana answered, and they stepped back, giving us one last moment before she went in. “I will miss you tonight,” She said, wrapping her arms around my neck.

  I held her waist, pulling her to me and took a deep breath. “I will too.” Leaning in, I kissed her forehead and her temple. My fingers caressed the black strands of her hair, and I kissed them too, then her neck. “I will be out here waiting for you,” I whispered in her ear. “You shall not be alone, my Goddess. I will spend all night with you, only on the other side of the cave.”

  She pulled back and smiled. “Thank you.”

  I kissed her lips, and battling everything inside of me, I let go of her. My eyes followed her every step until she disappeared from my view.

  “Ok, Bro. Let’s go. We’ll come back first thing in the morning.”

  I looked at Art and walked towards the closest tree. Sitting on the ground, I rested my back against it, extended my legs and crossed my arms.

  “Well, if you are staying then so are we,” Eisha said smiling, and walked towards me. She sat right next to me and rested her head on my shoulder. I held her hand in mine.

  “Fine, let’s sleep on the cold hard ground, why don’t we?” Art said, sitting on the other side of me and bumped my shoulder with
his.

  “Who are you trying to fool?” Eisha asked. “You would not leave Briana alone in the cave, so stop complaining.”

  “Yeah, but my mattress is so soft.”

  We chuckled.

  I rested my head against the tree as my eyes settled on the entrance to the cave. Art created a fire, and we fell into silence while we waited.

  * * *

  Time had never passed this slowly. My gaze lifted to the canopy of trees focusing on the glimpses of the moon I could see through it. Eisha's head still rested on my shoulder as she slept. My brother had curled up on the grass, resting his head on his arm, yet I could not muster sleep. The entrance of the cave called to me. All I wanted to do was walk in and hold Briana in my arms, but I could not go through this for her. This was a journey she must endure alone. I pressed my cheek to the top of Eisha's head and stared at the cave while the minutes stretched to hours.

  I was not aware of when it occurred, but at some point my eyelids became heavy and sleep dragged me under.

  The sky was bright up above when my eyes opened once again. Beautiful rays of light filtered through the trees illuminating the ground and I could see the bright light coming from inside the cave. I stood abruptly, forgetting Eisha was resting on me.

  “Ouch!” She complained, pushing herself off the ground.

  “I’m sorry, a chara. I...” I stopped talking as I noticed Eisha’s eyes widen while they settle on the cave’s entrance.

  “Holy Shit!” Art said, standing.

  My heart lodged in my throat, and I whirled around to find Briana walking out. Her bare feet were the first thing to call my attention. Her linen dress was slightly soiled from sitting on the ground, but that was expected. My gaze continued its way up her body as though I needed to make sure she was intact. That nothing had occurred to her while I had not been by her side. When I finally reached her face, I was rendered speechless. My pulse raced at the sight of her.