He maintained that I didn’t enjoy reading because I just hadn’t found something I liked or was passionate about. I never believed him but he was right. It wasn’t until he gave me this book that I truly understood what he meant. I’ve loved reading since then.
“That book changed my life forever.”
I whispered as I remembered how it felt when I read it for the very first time. I still have it, Merlin, Book of Secrets. I could probably recite it front to back. That is how many times I’ve read it. From then on, I was always looking forward to my Grandpa getting me a new book each birthday. It became a tradition of ours. The library became a second home to me. I loved reading about worlds full of magic and wonderful inexplicable things. Merlin provided all the fantasy I needed in my life and so much more.
Don’t even get me started on Harry Potter.
I jumped on the cushion excitedly, feeling like a little girl once again and pressed play on episode one. There were five seasons recorded and I was overjoyed. Reaching for the basket I began folding the clothes as the story began.
I woke up drowsy. My hair covered my face. The flickering light of the TV startled me and I sat up. I was still on the sofa and I had totally passed out binge watching the show. I grabbed my phone and realized it was 1:30am. I had three missed calls from Grandpa.
“Crapola!”
I said and I put my finger on the screen, calling him back. The last call had been at 1am and while the phone rang, I wondered if Grandpa was driving like a maniac on his way home thinking something had happened to me. Poor Grandpa.
“Briana, is that you? Are you ok? What happened?” His rushed nervous voice and the fact he had used my full name made my heart squeeze. I felt horrible for not calling him earlier.
“Yes Grandpa, I’m fine. I’m sorry I didn’t answer your calls, I fell asleep watching TV,” it was the lamest excuse ever but it was the truth. I heard his deep sigh of relief on the phone and I swear I could see the life returning to his face from here.
“I was just about to leave the library and go check on you sweetheart.”
I knew him like I knew the back of my hand. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you, it just happened.”
“It’s ok, I’m glad it was nothing. Did you eat the food I left you?”
“Yes, it was delicious. Thanks Grandpa. How is work?” I smiled and I mouthed the words as he answered.
“Quiet and full of wonderful worlds waiting to be discovered, little Bee,” he chuckled. “You knew I would say that, didn’t you?”
I laughed. “I mouthed the words right alongside you.” His laugh filled the air wrapping me like a warm hug and I sighed in content.
“I guess your old man is becoming a little predictable. Are you going back to sleep?”
Right on cue I yawned, “Yes Grandpa. Goodnight, I love you.”
“I Love you too, little Bee. Sleep well and have blessed dreams.”
I dragged myself upstairs like a zombie and placed the clean clothes on Grandpa’s dresser. I walked into my room, slipped into my warm bed and let sleep drag me under again.
CHAPTER 3. HAUNTED
Present Day, The Amazon Rainforest, Brazil.
CYNWRIG
I could hear the cries behind me. The cries that told me I had been too late…
“I am deeply sorry Alena, he is gone…”
Their bodies lay unmoving on the red stained grass. There were so many soldiers….
“I am the Laochra ceannaire, …if he was dead, I was to blame.”
“Gildas…”
“I am not strong enough…”
“Bond our essence to yours, together as one. One with the ocean, One with the sky, One with the sun, One with the land…”
“Mo mhac… Protect them.”
“If I am not there by the third day of winter solstice, do not come searching for me.”
“Speak the words”
“I cannot…”
“Do not come searching for me…”
I opened my eyes and stared into the darkness surrounding me as the midst of my nightmare dissipated. It was not the first instance in which I had relived the occurrences of that horrid night. The screams, the faces, and the darkness were always with me. It followed me like a, ominous black cloud preparing to strike with lightning. Although different parts of the night played before me each time, surrounded by blackness, my reaction to it was always the same. My heart thundered in my chest, sweat covered my entire body and the bed sheets clung to my skin… Two thousand years had past since that night had defined who we were, and what our destiny would be. We were immortal, but as far as the world was concerned our race had died long ago.
I tugged at the sheets freeing my body and stood, slipping my feet into the leather shoes as my eyes adjusted to the darkness. Picking up my linen shirt from the table, I walked towards the door. I opened it and stepped outside. It was hot and humid in the rainforest but the canopy of trees around and above our village offered a cool mist that refreshed the air. I slid the shirt over my head and looked around me. Only the brilliance of the moon and the remaining fire torches pierced in the dirt floor, served as faint light for my path. But I did not require their guidance. I had traveled this trail many times.
The night was silent as the village slept. Taking a deep breath, I began my journey out and I tried to appease my mind. Slowly, I made my way through the darkness and felt its presence. Gazing to my left, yellow luminescent eyes locked with mine. I took a deep breath as a calming energy washed over me. Nodding in appreciation, I looked forward at the trees. My breathing returned to its natural pace, although my heart still thundered in my chest. My steps were slow yet determined, my shoes lightly pressing on the wet soil. I remembered the night we arrived here.
I prayed for guidance and understanding and I was rewarded. It was the longest and most arduous trial we had ever endured. It took many nights and desolate days in our journey. Counting on the stars to be our guide, to find this place. And many prayers and stops along the way to provide for my clan. Our first stop was Africa. We would spend our waiting stretch there, until it was time to meet our brothers and sisters again. Seven boats filled with my Druid family had sailed from Môn ~ Island of Anglesey as our paths divided that night. On the second winter solstice, only three boats made it back to ár sráidbhaile mháthair—our mother village.
My boat was the first one to arrive, Eisha’s boat the second. Her arrival provided me with a relief that I was not fully aware I had desperately required. In that moment it seemed as though my family would be whole once again. When the last boat touched sand the third day of solstice, my chest constricted as realization carved my insides with fine precision. The last boat to drop its anchor was not my brother Art’s, neither was it Leigh’s nor Mo meantóir’s…
Arriving at the waterfall I stopped and pulled my shirt over my head. My shoes and trousers followed, falling on a rock at its edge. I felt the brief sting of the cold water on my skin, refreshing it as I dove in. Moving my arms and feet to propel me forward, I emerged from the water in the center of the lagoon. Took a deep breath and dove back in swimming to where the cascading water fell. Breaking the surface, I turned my back to the waterfall, paused and allowed the water to run over my back, relaxing the tension my muscles carried. I stared into the night as the fireflies danced between the trees ahead, creating a captivating scene. I was fond of this place. It was my refuge. The only place where I found anything somewhat close to peace. I swam to the other side of the cascading water and pulled myself up sitting on one of its rocks. The water fell over me, covering my body. I leaned forward allowing my head clarity and breathing room. My gaze fell on the canopy of trees surrounding me. The dancing lights among them wrapped me in a calming haze and my thoughts returned to the past…
On the fifth day of winter solstice, Eisha, Phelan and I recognized the incontestable truth before us. No other boats would arrive. It was time to sail away from the place we had once called home to n
ever return. When our boats touched this final sand, a poignant feeling conquered my heart. We found refuge. Peace. We were safe, for the first time in a long time although we had not yet discovered it. Nonetheless, we had lost so much. I had lost so much.
After the boats were pulled inland and hidden, we walked another two days to get to what today founds our sanctuary. We slept among the trees those nights. The earth our bed and the mist our blanket as our journey concluded and our new destiny began.
“Do not come searching for me…”
The words resounded in my head for such a lengthy period after that night. They were carved in my subconscious. Singing its cruel song, over and over, with implacable force. A torture, a mockery, a reminder that no matter how much we believed we were safe, we would never truly be. We had survived by hiding. And that’s the way it should remain. When neither my brother, the High Priest nor his son had arrived to meet us as arranged, I realized to my dismay that they had been found. It was then I decided that isolating ourselves from the rest of the world would be the only way to endure. If the Romans believed they had succeeded in eliminating our kind, they would stop coming for us. I was certain of it. If we stayed here, and lived in hiding, the rest of the world would have no knowledge of our existence. We could restore our family. Our home.
I also understood a different truth that night. Something needed to change in our way of life. My people were peaceful. They had always been. And as such they would stand in the midst of a battleground. Between two armies ready for death, and be able to bring about peace. They were knowledgeable, and they used that knowledge to aid anyone that needed it. They were just, and they would oversee the trials of the people to ensure the innocent remained free of blame and the guilty found lesson and consequence in their actions. My people would grant advice to even the mightiest kings who sought our help. They were healers, and would take it upon themselves to ensure wellbeing for all that needed it. We had warriors, not to fight wars but to defend anyone if required. We had poets and singers to enlighten the soul of those around us. My people were peaceful. Yet it was also known we were capable of harnessing elemental magic, and although we aided anyone that needed it, we did not share our knowledge with anyone other than our Druid clan. It was understood by our High Priest, that such power was not to be taken lightly. That meant not everyone could handle all our knowledge, all our justice, all our healing or all our magic. This had caused others to want what they could not have, to fear us without reason, and seek our demise.
It was now my duty to keep my Druid family safe, and there was nothing that could stop me from assuring they survived…
I sat under the waterfall as the time stretched. Letting my head fall back, I allowed the water to wash over my hair and face. When the fireflies disappeared, I realized the first light of dawn would be upon us soon. It was time to return home.
Following my duty, I decided to check on the village. I dressed myself once more and began the journey back. Lifting my left sleeve, my gaze fell on my forearm and the familiar tingling rushed through me. The magic awakened inside.
“Sealltainn dhomh Mo dhachaigh”—Show me my home.
In an instant, golden lines illuminated my skin. As the shimmering light dissipated the lines turned black giving them the appearance of a drawing. The lines glided and swirled and the map began to form, replicating our village to its last detail. My eyes lingered on it and I inspected it closely. I saw its grounds and outskirts free of unfamiliar energies, reassuring me of its safety—the map’s magical essence emanated from the Drombeg blessed stones I had placed inside and around our village. The stones harvested the elemental energy of the ley lines flowing under our earth. The points of each line converged forming a pentagram, which increased their power to allow the stones to act as a natural sensor of sorts. It detected any unfamiliar essence not belonging to its habitants. The map and stones were tied by the same energy. They were one in the same, and since I was a conductor of the elemental connection the map could manifest on my skin allowing me to see the place I had desired. In this case our village—I let go of the connection and the map retuned to its essence. Raising my gaze, I continued my stroll under the trees and I made my way back. The fine mist on the air settled on my skin as I witnessed the awakening of the rainforest around me. The light of dawn was perceivable through the trees above me. The animals nearby commenced their daily song, receiving the new day. The needle thin rays of sunlight started filtering through the trees and illuminating my path. I gazed ahead, towards the entrance to our village while I considered the decisions I had made…
It had taken several days and nights to build our village and settle here. I knew our Earth Mother would bless us, yet we had to present an offering and prepare for our new lives here. Being the laochra ceannaire, our survival was in my hands. As the teachings of the order of the Druids detailed, only a select few were chosen to learn about the elemental connection that pulsated around us. Only a small group obtained the knowledge of magic through the elements of our Earth Mother and through the sacred blessed stones. Warriors were not meant to learn the ways of elemental magic, yet I had been the exception. I was born with the magic flowing through me. Mo meantóir had recognized that and taught me everything there was to know, even though it was not my path to learn. And so it was my turn to decide. I understood that my brothers and sisters should be able to protect themselves if the situation ever arose in which it was needed. If my warriors had been able to channel elemental magic that horrid night, like I was, perhaps the rest of our family would have been saved. Perhaps, Mo meantóir & Leigh would be here.
So I decided to teach them. They would all learn the ways of our connection to the elemental essence and the basics of how to harness it.
I entered the village and after passing my hut, instantly a small smile curved my lips as I saw the little ones playing on the dirt. The women were up and taking care of the chores and the men, attending to their trades. Eisha sat on the ground near her hut, with Aengus and Dana, the children of the candle maker. They were ten-year-old twins, and they had vowed to become warriors as I once did at their age.
I walked towards to them. Eisha had begun their training and was teaching them a spell. I observed her as she opened her palm up, and a small white stone began to float above it when she whispered the simple words. Dana picked up her stone from the floor and held it on her palm as she repeated the words. The stone trembled a bit on her hand but soon it began its way upwards until it was floating steadily upon it. Dana squeaked with excitement, and I noticed Aengus struggling with his stone. I stopped at his side.
“Blessed morning to you, Eisha,” I said smiling, not taking my eyes from an apparently frustrated boy who could not seem to make his stone float.
“Blessed morning Cyn, want to join us?” She offered and I nodded sitting beside her and across from the boy. I felt her eyes on me and I knew what was coming.
“Midnight bath at the waterfall again, Cyn?” She asked holding a strand of my wet hair between her fingers as proof to her statement. There was reproach in her voice, but there was also deep concern.
I sighed and allowed my eyes to seek hers, “Nothing you should burden yourself with, a chara”—dear friend. I offered her a smile then turned my gaze back to the boy.
“Not going as planned?” I asked a bit amused, he seemed close to throwing the stone away. A chuckled escaped me when a memory came upon me.
My brother Art had only been a year younger than I when he decided he wanted to observe my practice with Mo meantóir. He sat next to me on the floor of the hut, while the High Priest sat on a chair to my right. For a reason I could not understand at that moment, the more I tried to show off my skills to my little brother, the more I failed at performing the simple spell. I got so irritated with the stone and my temporary lack of ability to do something I could have normally done in my sleep, that I took the stone and pulled my arm back as far as it would go, fully intending to throw it. Before I relea
sed, the High Priest caught my eye. His arms were folded over his chest, his lips were pursed and his left brow was raised as high as his forehead would allow. The look he regarded me with killed my temper instantly. I sighed. More frustrated than before and he nodded once letting his arms fall to his sides. He was pleased by my decision not to misbehave. Suddenly, I felt Art’s hand rip the stone out of my palm and throw it against the wall with all his might. He stood up and ran out of the hut as fast as the wind would carry him, to avoid getting in trouble with the High Priest. I gasped and looked at Mo meantóir’s shocked expression for a second. I wondered what my brother’s punishment would be for throwing the stone. He had done it for me. He had wanted to help me defeat the stone, and since I was not able to disobey Mo meantóir, he had done it in my place. Before I understood what was happening, I was the one rendered shocked. The High Priest’s laughter rang through the hut. His shoulders shook, his body bent forward, and he placed one hand on his stomach. The other on his knee while he tried to hold himself up from the laughing fit. Taking a deep breath, he wiped the tears from his eyes and urged me to go look for my brother so I could try again.
I looked at Aengus and sobered up. His eyes were on me, expectant.
“Allow me to help you.” I said.
Taking the stone from him, I placed it on the dirt and waved my fingers over it.
“Os cionn Mo pailme”—Above my palm.
The stone lifted from the ground and followed my hand as I turned it upwards. I watched it hover above it until it placed itself on the center of my palm. My eyes settled on the boy’s face and I saw his awed expression. I smiled.
“Would you like to try?” I asked and saw him shake his head saddened. I sighed.
“I think I know a secret that might help. Would you like to know it?” I asked and saw curiosity fill his eyes. He nodded.
I placed the stone on the ground between us. “When you channel the essence of the elements, you should not try to reach it from here,” I placed my fingers on his temple.
Hidden Magic: An Ancient Magic Novel Page 5