Chapter 4 #2
The portal wavered as the Forgotten One's concentration broke. The remaining wolf finally broke free from Vera's moonbell barrier. Instead of attacking, it bolted straight for the portal.
"They're retreating," Jean-Marc observed.
"No," I said, watching the way the Forgotten One's eyes remained fixed on me even as it backed toward the portal. "They got what they came for."
"Which was?" Mom asked with a frown.
"Information," I replied grimly. "They know more of our defenses. They've seen how we fight, what magic we use, and how we are protecting the house. This was reconnaissance disguised as an attack."
The Forgotten One's horrible smile widened as it stepped through the portal. "Until next time, star-bearer. My employer sends her regards."
The portal snapped closed, leaving us standing in a garden that looked like a war zone. Chunks of lawn were missing. The ritual circle was also completely destroyed. And the house would need new windows. Again.
"Is anyone injured?" Clio called, already moving toward Murtagh, who was bleeding from several deep gashes.
"I'm fine," he said, though he was far from it. "It’s nothing fatal. Tseki's fire cleaned out the corruption before it could spread."
I pressed both hands to my belly, checking on the triplets. They were agitated but unharmed. Their magic was still humming with defensive energy. The parasitic connections felt stronger than they had an hour ago, as if the Forgotten One's presence had somehow amplified them.
"The good news is that ritual materials are intact," Vera reported as she surveyed the scattered herbs and candles. "We can rebuild the circle."
"Not tonight," Aidon said firmly. "They'll be watching for another attempt. We need to change tactics."
That's when a new voice cut through our post-battle planning session. "Actually, we might have another option."
Everyone turned to see Hades materializing near the water. He was carrying an armload of ancient scrolls that practically radiated historical significance. When had he left the fight? The last time I saw him, he was fighting a wolf intent on attacking me. I needed to pay more attention.
"Melinoe found records in the deepest archives," he continued, setting the scrolls on the picnic table. "Parasitic bonds like these were used during the Faction Wars three thousand years ago. There are documented countermeasures."
"What kind of countermeasures?" I asked, hope flickering despite our recent setbacks.
"Something about using lunar phase rituals," he replied, unrolling the first scroll. "The bonds are weakest during the new moon when magical barriers are thin. A properly timed ritual can sever them completely."
"When's the next new moon?" Jean-Marc asked, already pulling out his phone to check.
"Three days," Mom said before he could look it up. "Which gives us time to prepare properly instead of rushing into something that could get us all killed."
"Three days might be too long," I pointed out. "Lyra's ley line corruption is spreading, and these connections are getting stronger."
"Actually, that might work in our favor," Aidon said thoughtfully. "She believes we’re focused on the ley lines. That means she will be less likely to notice what we're actually doing until it's too late to stop us."
"There's something else you should know," Mythia reported as she flew out of the house holding a large leather-bound book. "I was going through Hattie's family records, and I found something relevant."
The tiny pixie set the book next to the scrolls and opened the journal to a page covered in faded writing and detailed diagrams. "In 1743, three of Hattie's ancestors faced similar parasitic connections.
It was three sisters who were being hunted by a witch who wanted to steal their bloodline magic for herself.
The witch used the connection to try and obtain the Pleiades power for herself. "
"How did they solve it?" I asked, leaning forward despite the way the movement made my back ache.
"They used a lunar phase ritual combined with ancestral magic," Mythia replied, looking at Hades’s scroll. "The technique involved calling on the power of their dead relatives to help break the bonds. They used their bloodline to reject it."
"That's brilliant," Vera said admiringly. "Using the target's strength against the attack itself."
"Could it work for our situation?" I asked.
"It might work," Mom said as she looked over the documents.
"But we'd have to reach out to Hattie's ancestors.
We've never met them and have no idea how they will feel about her giving you the power.
Some of them..." She made a face that suggested she'd rather eat expired yogurt. "Some of them might not like it."
"Fantastic," I muttered. "So, our brilliant plan involves asking potentially pissed-off dead people to help us break magical baby bonds. I'm sure they'll be thrilled to get involved in our family drama."
"Oh, everything will probably go sideways," Nana said cheerfully. "When has that ever stopped us from doing something spectacularly stupid?"
"Never. Let's get to work," I said, settling into the chair that Aidon brought over for me before I could face-plant from exhaustion.
"We've got a witch to stop and some ancestors to guilt-trip into helping us.
And this time, we're going to be prepared for whatever fresh hell she decides to throw our way.
" What followed was the kind of night that made you question your life choices while simultaneously being grateful you had people crazy enough to make terrible plans with you.